CHAPTER 5

  

  Two months had passed since the incident with the elemental giant. Poul had become one of the symbols of hope; his name was everywhere. Jay could no longer go out freely to play with other children.

  No one had discovered the disappearance of the soldiers who had invaded Luis’s house. Even though he was the prime suspect, he was released due to lack of evidence. Currently, Jay and Poul lived with Luis, Mary, and Kyrai—not because of financial necessity, but because they wanted to.

  "Wake up, sleepyhead, it’s already morning," said Jay.

  'Hmm… let me sleep a little longer, mommy,' Kyrai replied stubbornly.

  "I’m not your mother, Kyrai. Wake up." Jay shook her slightly, but she didn’t wake. "You don’t get to choose." He lifted part of the sheet, grabbed Kyrai’s foot, and began tickling her.

  Kyrai woke up startled, slowly looking at Jay.

  "Damn it, Jay, you know I don’t like that," she said.

  "Yeah, but I do," Jay replied. Kyrai looked at him and thought he was an idiot. "Come on, go get ready for breakfast," Jay added.

  Jay went downstairs to have his breakfast, while Kyrai went to get dressed. In the kitchen, he found Luis, his father, and Mary. As always, he calmly enjoyed his meal while reading his book.

  "Jay, you really like reading," Luis said, surprised that he did this every day.

  "Yes, I enjoy reading a lot."

  'I’m pretty sure this has become a habit,' Jay thought.

  "Jay, you’re not just fond of it—you’re a reading addict!" Poul exclaimed.

  Jay only made a face at Poul.

  "And I’m wrong, you little brat?"

  "No." Jay turned his head.

  "Eat before it gets cold," Mary said with a smile.

  For Jay, Mary was like a second mother. He loved her dearly and wanted to make her proud. After all, his mother in this world had died horrifically in front of him. Jay had made some friends, one of whom stood out—a boy named Noa.

  Kyrai came down with a scowl. Jay looked at her and left the table, having already eaten. As he passed by, he let out a small laugh.

  'She noticed… she’s a bit irritated, but she won’t make a scene in front of our parents,' Jay thought.

  Jay sat on the sofa and began reading his book. While he read, his father left for work. Even though he was considered a hero, recognized even by the great human king, King Valerius Adelio, he was still just a soldier who would be promoted to captain of a troop in two days.

  Poul went to work. Before leaving, he said goodbye to his friend, his friend’s wife, and her daughter, giving a warm father-and-son hug.

  After some time, Jay went to his room to change—he was still in pajamas—to go to the park and play with the other children. But something still bothered him: his actions on that fateful day. The day he had killed someone.

  'I destroyed a family because of that decision… it scares me to think I could become the same person as—' Jay stopped walking, laughing at himself.

  'No, I’m still the same person I was before. I can’t change overnight. I can only change through the experiences the world gives me. How could I be so stupid as to forget that? I’m a young adult; I shouldn’t forget.' He laughed again and continued walking to his room.

  After dressing, he grabbed his book and went to the park to play with the other children.

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  When Poul arrived at the training center, he was warmly welcomed, performing his usual routine—but now with a new detail: the soldiers trained with him. He no longer trained alone, but alongside the best and strongest soldiers.

  When training ended, the soldiers looked at Poul.

  "Our future captain is tough," one soldier said, panting heavily.

  "It won’t be long until you’re promoted to royal knight," another said, full of expectation for his colleague.

  Poul chuckled. "I won’t reach that level anytime soon."

  'Nah! For our elemental giant slayer, this is nothing,' the other said.

  'All this just because I killed one elemental giant? “Slayer” is too much. I only killed one! What an exaggeration!' Poul thought, shaking his head at his colleagues’ praise.

  Meanwhile, Jay sat in the park reading with his friend Noa. He wanted to show him a part of the book he liked. Noa, however, was staring at Kyrai, completely lost. Jay frowned and laughed.

  'I’m going to become a love cupid. I’ll make Kyrai fall for him.'

  "Noaa!"

  Noa’s lovestruck face turned serious at Jay’s voice.

  "What is it… I mean, what’s up, my friend?"

  "Hey, you were about to call me a name, weren’t you?!"

  "No." Noa looked away toward where Kyrai was.

  "Don’t try to hide it. I know you’re in love with my adorable sister."

  Noa’s eyes widened in shock.

  "Sis… sister?!" the poor boy stammered.

  "She’s my sister by heart, not by blood, you idiot."

  "Ah… now I understand."

  "Anyway, my friend, let’s get to the point." Jay leaned closer and whispered to Noa, proposing they go to his house to discuss plans to win Kyrai’s heart. They spent hours making strategies until night fell.

  Jay said goodbye and began walking home. Along the way, he turned left, then right, and realized someone was following him.

  'I have to speed up…'

  He ran, shouting for help, but the man caught his arm, dragged him into an alley, and pressed a cloth to his mouth. Darkness swallowed him, and he slowly lost consciousness.

  Jay woke up terrified. He could see nothing—only darkness.

  'I only remember walking home… and…' He remembered the man kidnapping him. 'That bastard is going to kill me. It’s all dark, and I can’t move.'

  A person approached and removed the cloth from Jay’s face, smiling.

  "Hello, how are you?" she said, smiling with happiness.

  "Where am I?" Jay asked, seeing a tall woman with blue hair and crimson eyes.

  "You’re in my house."

  "What do you want from me?" Jay asked, terrified.

  "What do I want?" She let out a dark laugh, her smile now psychopathic. "I want to sell you, isn’t that obvious? You’re the son of a hero and elemental, so you’re very valuable."

  Jay froze at her words.

  "We’ll send a letter to your family—they must be worried about you. How sad," she said, placing her hand on his face. "I feel pity for them and your father, a hero who couldn’t save his own son."

  Jay tried to attack her, but he was tied to a chair. The woman laughed at his failed attempt.

  "You’re pathetic. It must be terrible to be trapped in a child’s body, powerless."

  Jay turned pale at her words. 'How does she know I’m reincarnated? Could she be one too?'

  'You must be wondering, "How does she know I’m reincarnated?"' she said. 'It’s simple: your behavior gave it away.'

  'Does that mean I’ve been watched this whole time?!'

  'There’s also a chance she’s a genius…' Jay thought.

  "Yes, that’s possible," she said. "But your behavior revealed you long ago." She looked at the man beside her. "Make him talk so we know his true value, Hombi. You have three days."

  "Yes, ma’am. I’ll make the boy talk," Hombi said reluctantly.

  Hombi started torturing Jay, first with pliers, ripping his fingernails, and then fingers, and finally using white phosphorus on his back. Saikopasu, the woman, healed him fully after each torture session, repeating this for three days. Jay only revealed that he was elemental, nothing else.

  Meanwhile, Jay’s family searched frantically. Kyrai shut herself in her room, crying. Mary worked tirelessly to find him, and Luis pursued leads personally.

  Police came with updates. "We found a man seen chasing him," one said, showing a sketch. "And a ransom letter: 1 million lakqo in three weeks, or he will be sold as a slave."

  Mary considered paying. Luis agreed after discussion.

  Back with Jay, the torture continued. Hombi asked, "Are you a pure or impure elemental?"

  'I don’t… know,' Jay thought weakly.

  He endured flame, pain, and mutilation, while Saikopasu healed him repeatedly, smiling sadistically.

  One day, while unconscious, Jay felt a cold presence.

  "Hello, young one," said a faceless blue being.

  'Who… who are you?'

  "I am Roh, the spirit of ice sealed within you, the source of your powers."

  'So… I awakened my powers?'

  "No, not yet," Roh said. "I’m here to give you information about yourself."

  'What… information?'

  "You’re an almost entirely impure elemental—only 12.5% of your body is compatible with elemental power. And you’re pretending to be calm, aren’t you, Gabriel?"

  'How does he know my name?'

  "I’m sealed in you. I know all your memories."

  Roh scolded him for breaking his promise to never kill again. Jay realized he hadn’t changed, and felt deep guilt.

  During one session, Saikopasu approached, loosening his restraints. Jay bit her neck, killing her, and escaped with a knife, finally free.

  Outside, it began to snow. 'Why did I suffer so much? Am I paying for my sins? I killed again, but she deserved it. Sorry, father… I broke my promise again…'

  Jay awoke in a hospital bed, his father sleeping nearby, and Mary holding back tears of happiness. 'Who am I? Jay or Gabriel? A child in danger, or a young adult? Who am I really?'