Ronald took a deep breath, reorganizing his thoughts before beginning to speak.
"I had already been in the New World for a few years, wandering from place to place in search of something exciting, monsters, conflicts… If something looked interesting, I'd dive right in. Among the many things I came across, ruin exploration was the most intriguing."
As Ronald had previously explained, the New World was filled with ancient ruins that told stories far older than anything known on the continent of Astoria. Some of them even seemed to date back to the legendary, and long, forgotten, Era of the Gods.
"My group and I discovered a particularly strange ruin, hidden among the peaks of a mountain range. It was unlike anything we'd ever seen before, its architectural style didn't match any known civilization. But one thing was certain: it was old. Very old."
Ronald crossed his arms, his expression growing more serious.
"The moment we stepped inside, we knew this wasn't just another ruin. The air felt ancient, and the sense of pressure was overwhelming. But the most disturbing thing? Once we entered, we couldn't leave."
Kael shivered involuntarily. "What?"
"Exactly," Ronald nodded. "As soon as we passed through the entrance, we found ourselves in a long corridor. And both ahead and behind us, where we had just come from, there stretched an endless hallway with no visible end."
Ronald stroked his beard, visibly uncomfortable at the memory.
"We tried to go back, to walk in the opposite direction. We walked for days with no sign of progress. It was impossible to tell if we were moving or trapped in an illusion."
"Ronald… I don't want to interrupt, but what does this have to do with me?" Kael asked, uneasy.
The truth was, he had already started to suspect the answer, especially considering how Ronald had begun his tale, but it all seemed too crazy to believe.
"Just give me a moment. I'm getting to that," Ronald said calmly, understanding the boy's discomfort. Then he continued.
"Once we realized we couldn't go back, we decided to move forward, convinced there had to be a hidden exit somewhere inside. Looking back, we were naive."
"What do you mean?" Kael asked, noticing the tense look on Ronald's face as if he were holding back a painful memory.
"That's when the trials began."
"Trials?"
Ronald nodded slowly. "After what felt like an eternity, we finally found a room. Without hesitation, we rushed inside, hoping it would lead us somewhere. But the moment I stepped through the threshold, everything changed. The others disappeared, and I found myself alone… standing before a warrior with an eerie presence. His fighting style was unfamiliar, and his armor looked like it was carved from shadows. He said nothing and started attacking."
Ronald paused, his gaze turning darker.
"If I hadn't reacted instantly, I would have died right there. His strength was real, his strikes deadly. But in the end… I defeated him. As soon as he vanished, I was surrounded by a blinding light. When I came to, I was back in the room. This time, the others were there too, just as confused as I was."
He sighed and continued.
"At first, the trials were simple challenges, nothing more than fights or puzzles to solve," Ronald went on, his tone now filled with melancholy. "But the further we went, the harder they became. Each room was designed to test our mind, body, and spirit. Every time we thought we'd reached the limit, something even worse came along."
Kael listened closely, his skin crawling as he imagined the scenes Ronald described.
"But the scariest part was that if someone failed a trial… they disappeared. No body, no blood. Just gone, as if they had never existed," Ronald sighed again. "Eventually, I was the only one left."
With no choice but to continue, Ronald kept going, trial after trial, becoming weaker and more wounded with each one.
"I started to doubt I would survive. When I completed yet another challenge, I was barely alive. I thought I'd wake up in one of those cursed rooms again… but something changed."
Noticing the shift in Ronald's tone, Kael leaned in, intrigued.
"There was no opponent this time, no riddle to solve. I found myself in a massive hall. Its walls were made of gleaming white marble, decorated with golden patterns. The air was thick with the scent of incense, and the flames burning on altars and candles gave off a soft, white light."
"Wow…"
Kael couldn't help but let out an exclamation. Ronald's words painted such a magical image that he could hardly picture it.
"Wait a second… what happened to your wounds?"
"Patience isn't your strong suit, huh?" Ronald joked, then continued with a more serious smile.
"The moment I entered that hall, the warmth of those white flames began to heal me. My wounds started to close, and the exhaustion that had been dragging me down for days slowly faded. I was shocked, but then I looked up, and I couldn't believe my eyes. Near what looked like an altar… I saw two of the most beautiful beings I've ever laid eyes on."
"…Hah."
A strange laugh escaped Kael at the description.
Ronald sighed at Kael's odd reaction but continued, his tone softening.
"They were... ethereal like they didn't fully belong to this world. Their skin was pale, almost translucent, and they wore thin, flowing robes. Both figures looked relatively young. The woman had long brown hair and a gentle expression. The man had platinum blond hair and a more serious look, though there was a hint of warmth in it. But they had one thing in common, their amber eyes, just like yours, Kael."
At that moment, Ronald reached the heart of the story. Kael, now expressionless, looked shocked and confused by what he had just heard.
"My... parents?" Kael asked, his voice cracking from surprise.
"Yes," Ronald confirmed, his tone serious.
"But then..."
"Before you start asking questions, let me say this: I don't know much either," Ronald cut in, placing a hand on Kael's shoulder. "They didn't answer any of my questions, because I wasn't the one meant to receive those answers. I have no idea what those ruins were, what happened, or why they were even there. In exchange for saving my life, they made me swear an oath, to take care of the child lying on the altar. As soon as I did, they vanished into fragments of light. I found myself outside the ruins, holding you in my arms, and everything behind me had disappeared... leaving only emptiness."
Ronald sighed, his words falling like a heavy weight. His story had come to an end, but for Kael, it was only the beginning of a sea of unanswered questions.
"My... parents... do you think they're still there?" Kael asked, his heart heavy as he tried to grow used to the word "parents."
"Unlikely," Ronald replied, shaking his head. "They didn't exist in a physical sense, at least not in the way you think. From what they told me, they were remnants of will... entities that watched over you, waiting for someone to take you away. Once their purpose was fulfilled, they had no reason to remain."
Kael felt his head pounding. Every word Ronald spoke added another layer of confusion, making him feel overwhelmed. Everything tied to his existence seemed far from human.
"Ronald... what exactly am I?"
For the first time, Kael felt scared, afraid of who he was and what he might be connected to. He had imagined hundreds of scenarios about his past, but never this.
Seeing the fear in Kael's eyes, Ronald felt a pang in his chest. He gently cupped the boy's face.
"You are Kael."
"But, "
"It doesn't matter what your past is. I watched you grow up. I saw you become a kind and selfless young man. You're ambitious and full of drive, though yes, that does make you stubborn and impatient."
At that remark, Kael's expression softened slightly.
"I understand that you're scared, who wouldn't be? But don't let that fear take over. If you ever truly want answers, go to that place. But until then, don't think your life is fake. Your parents would be heartbroken."
Ronald slowly pulled his hands away and gave him a gentle smile, seeing that Kael had calmed down.
"...Can I ask you something?" Kael asked quietly.
"If I know the answer."
"What kind of people were my... my parents?"
"I told you they were beautiful, but I doubt that's what you mean."
Kael nodded.
"When they spoke to me, they seemed cold and distant... but when they looked at you, I could feel how deeply they cared. You were loved, Kael. And if not for whatever happened to them, they would've never left you."
"I see..." Kael nodded slowly, but this time, a faint smile touched his lips. "I would've liked to meet them."
"Maybe you still can. Like I said, if you want answers, you'll have to find that place."
Kael let those words settle in his mind, setting them as a goal, then looked down at the book in his hands.
"By the way... why am I only receiving this book now?"
"It was their request. They told me to give it to you only once you turned fifteen. Something about your body or something like that. Try reading it."
Ronald encouraged him, visibly curious.
The truth was, Ronald had tried reading the book himself multiple times in the past, but there hadn't been a single word inside.
"Remnants of a Star?"
"Sorry?" Ronald asked, catching Kael's whisper.
"It's the name of the book. Remna- "
Before Kael could finish, the book exploded into thousands of shimmering particles that shot toward him, and in the next moment, he began to glow like the sun.