CHAPTER 169: THE CHOICE OF POWER.

Elysia’s head snapped toward it, her hand tightening on the hilt of her Oathblade.

But instead of another guard or a hidden beast, a small figure stumbled out from the shadows.

It was a little boy no older than ten, his clothes were rough and patched from farm work. His wide eyes were filled with fear, and his breathing was uneven, as if he had run far too fast.

Elysia blinked in surprise. "You... what are you doing here?"

The boy didn’t answer. His gaze flicked nervously to where Erainlia and his guards had gone, then back to Elysia.

He had been hiding. Listening.

Before she could stop him, he spun on his heel and darted down the forest path, legs pumping as fast as they could carry him.

Branches scratched against his arms, but he didn’t slow.

Elysia reached out instinctively "Wait—!"

But he was already gone, swallowed by the trees.

A heavy feeling settled in her chest. She didn’t need to guess what the boy was going to do. He had heard enough of the conversation. He would run straight to the village with the news.

"It doesn’t matter whether he heard of it or not," Elysia murmured under her breath, her eyes hardening as she turned away.

"A small village like this... there’s no chance of knowing anything."

Her steps were steady, yet her heart was not. Each crunch of leaves beneath her boots felt like a reminder of the danger that was inching closer, a danger she wasn’t sure she could shield Kael from. Still, she kept walking, leaving the forest path behind.

What she didn’t notice was the pair of wide, frightened eyes peeking from behind a tree trunk.

A boy, no more than ten summers old, had crouched there the entire time. He had followed the guards earlier out of childish curiosity, only to stumble upon a conversation far beyond his understanding.

He didn’t know what "Sealed Box" meant. He didn’t know why the lord’s voice carried such weight, or why Elysia’s expression was so full of conflict.

But he knew one thing: it was about Brother Kael.

The moment the guards and Elysia were gone, the boy darted from his hiding place.

His small legs carried him as fast as they could down the uneven dirt path, branches scratching his arms and grass brushing his feet.

His chest heaved, but he did not stop. He had to tell Kael—right away.

By the time he burst into the edge of the village, the sun was beginning to lower, painting the sky in orange and gold.

The faint sound of rushing water echoed in the distance. And there he was—Kael, returning from his training by the waterfall. His clothes were damp, clinging to his frame, and his hair dripped faintly.

A worn practice blade hung from his side.

Kael wiped the water from his brow as he noticed a frantic voice calling out.

"Brother Kael! Brother Kael!"

He turned sharply, spotting the little boy running toward him, his face red from exhaustion, his eyes wide with urgency. Kael rushed forward to meet him halfway, steadying the child by the shoulders.

"What’s wrong?" Kael asked. "Why are you running like that?"

"Did something happened to you?"

The boy gasped, trying to find his breath. His words tumbled out in uneven bursts.

"I—I saw... some of the people talking about you.!"

Kael frowned slightly, but he kept listening, crouching down to meet the boy’s eyes.

"They said... something about you being guilty... something about the Sealed Box," the boy stammered, still trembling.

"I don’t know what it means, but they were serious, Brother Kael. The guards were there too! I was scared... so I ran here to tell you."

For a long moment, Kael was silent. The boy’s worry-filled eyes searched his face for a reaction.

But instead of fear, Kael gave him a small, reassuring smile.

"You did well to tell me," Kael said, gently patting the boy’s head. "But don’t let it trouble your heart."

"But... aren’t you worried, Brother Kael?" the boy asked hesitantly.

Kael stood, his gaze drifting toward the horizon where the forest loomed. The sky’s fading light caught in his eyes, but there was no panic in them—only a steady determination.

"Worried?" he echoed softly. "No. If they think I’m guilty, then I’ll prove them wrong. And if they bring trouble to me... I’ll deal with it when it comes."

The boy blinked, as if surprised by his composure. Kael’s hand rested briefly on his shoulder before he turned toward the village path, his steps calm and unhurried, as though the weight of the words meant little to him.

Behind him, the boy finally let out the breath he had been holding.

Somehow, Kael’s calmness made him feel safer. Still, the boy couldn’t shake the chill of what he had overheard.

(I have only two days left... tonight, I should go.)

He checked for the medicine where the food had been kept for the little boy’s mother.

Almost all of the southern villagers have known Kael for his hard work.

Though they were strangers, they became like his family.

That night.

Kael stood by the edge of the village. The moon’s pale glow stretched across the fields, quiet and still, but inside him there was no peace.

He clenched his fists slowly, a faint ache running through his arms after long hours of training at the waterfall.

"I got almost all the information..." Kael muttered under his breath.

"The novel didn’t mention... the hidden powers," Kael whispered to himself, almost afraid of saying it aloud.

"The heroes I once read about never used them. They shone with brilliance, with righteousness, but there were things... things they never touched. Power that they feared, power that was buried away."

"If they won’t touch that power... then I will. Even if it’s what the devils once drew strength from, even if it stains me. I’ll take it. Because that’s the only way it should be."

"I can’t wait any longer," Kael decided firmly.

The thought settled heavily in his chest, but it also gave him clarity. He turned from the quiet road and walked toward the heart of the village.