Three months had passed since Arius and Luna arrived at Alexandros' house. Summer was at its peak, and the garden was full of color and life. Arius had adapted to his new routine: waking up at sunrise, having breakfast with the small family, then hours of training and study with Alexandros.
On this morning, there was something different in the air. Alexandros was more serious than usual, and Martha looked at Arius with eyes full of both worry and pride.
"Today, we begin your real training," Alexandros said as they headed to the training area in the backyard. "Everything you've learned so far was just the basics. Today, you will learn how to truly use the Memory Scar."
Arius felt a mix of excitement and fear. Over the past months, he had learned meditation, some simple spells, and the basics of swordsmanship. But the Memory Scar was still a mystery to him. It would sometimes pulse, especially when he felt strong emotions, but he hadn't learned how to control it.
"Before we start," Alexandros said, sitting on the grass and motioning for Arius to sit across from him, "I want you to understand something important. The Memory Scar is not just a tool or a weapon. It is a part of you, a part of your soul. It carries the memories and wisdom of your ancestors, and the love of your parents."
Arius placed his hand on his chest, where the scar pulsed quietly beneath his shirt. "But I don't know how to use it."
"That's because you're trying to control it instead of connecting with it. The Memory Scar isn't something to be used, but something to be communicated with. It is not a servant to your will, but a partner in your journey."
Alexandros stood and walked to the center of the training circle. "Close your eyes, Arius. I want you to feel the scar, not think about it. Let it speak to you."
Arius closed his eyes and tried to focus. At first, he felt nothing but his heartbeat. But gradually, a warmth began to spread from his chest. The scar started to pulse with a different rhythm, a deeper, older rhythm.
Suddenly, memories that weren't his own flooded him. He saw a tall man with black hair and blue eyes, holding a sword glowing with silver light. He was fighting against dark creatures in a fierce battle. Arius realized this was his great-grandfather, Artorius Draconis.
"I see my great-grandfather," Arius whispered, his eyes still closed. "He's fighting."
"Excellent. What do you feel?"
"I feel… I feel his strength. But not just physical strength. I feel his determination, his love for those he protects."
The memories shifted. Now he saw a beautiful woman with golden hair, placing her hands on a wounded soldier. A soft white light shone from her hands, and the wounds healed before his eyes.
"Now I see my great-grandmother, Isolde. She's healing."
"And what do you feel from her?"
"Love… a deep love for all living things. A desire to ease pain, to make the world a better place."
The memories continued to flow. He saw other ancestors—warriors and sages, healers and teachers. Each left their mark on the Memory Scar, each added something to the legacy Arius now carried.
Then, at last, he saw his parents. Victor and Isabella, in their final moments, pouring all their love and wisdom into the scar before they died.
Arius opened his eyes, tears streaming down his face. But they weren't just tears of sadness—they were tears of understanding and gratitude.
"I understand now," he said with a trembling voice. "It's not just power. It's love. The love of everyone who came before me."
Alexandros smiled with pride. "That is the first lesson, Arius. True strength does not come from anger or hatred, but from love. Now, let's see how that love can become real power."
Alexandros stood in the center of the circle and raised his hand. A complex spell left his lips, and suddenly, creatures of light appeared around him. They weren't real creatures, but magical projections—yet they looked very real.
"These are shadow creatures," Alexandros said. "Magical projections that simulate real enemies. They won't hurt you, but they will test your abilities. I want you to face them—not with anger or fear, but with the love you felt from the Memory Scar."
Arius stood slowly, his heart pounding. The creatures surrounded him, dark shapes with glowing red eyes. They were frightening, but Arius remembered what he had felt from the scar.
He closed his eyes again and focused on the love he had felt from his ancestors and parents. The scar began to pulse more strongly, and a soft golden light started to shine from his chest.
When he opened his eyes, the world was different. He could see the creatures more clearly, sense their movements before they happened, understand their weaknesses. But most importantly, he no longer felt afraid.
The first creature attacked, its claws reaching for Arius' chest. But Arius moved smoothly, as if he were dancing, not fighting. He dodged the attack and struck the creature with his open hand. Golden light burst from his touch, and the creature vanished in a gentle glow.
"Excellent!" Alexandros shouted. "But don't stop. There are more."
The other creatures attacked together. Arius moved among them like the wind, dodging their attacks and responding with touches filled with light. He wasn't fighting with brutality or anger, but with grace and love. Each touch healed the creatures of their darkness, turning them to light before they disappeared.
At last, Arius stood alone in the center of the circle, breathing hard but his eyes shining with a soft golden light. The scar on his chest pulsed strongly, but not with pain—with warmth and love.
"How do you feel?" Alexandros asked, approaching him.
"I feel… I feel like I'm not alone. Like all my ancestors are with me, helping me, loving me."
Alexandros placed his hand proudly on Arius' shoulder. "That is the true secret of the Memory Scar. It doesn't just give you strength—it reminds you that you are never alone. Everyone who loved you, everyone who sacrificed for you, everyone who taught you something—they are always with you."
But suddenly, Alexandros' expression changed. He looked up at the sky in concern, and Arius sensed something different in the air. A strange chill, despite the summer heat.
"What's wrong?" Arius asked.
"Something is coming," Alexandros whispered. "Something dark."
At that moment, they heard a scream from the house. Martha's voice, filled with terror.
"Luna!" Arius shouted, running towards the house.
They found Martha in the front garden, clutching Luna, who looked pale and trembling. Around them, the plants were withering and dying, as if something dark was draining life from them.
"What happened?" Alexandros asked anxiously.
"I don't know," Martha said, her voice shaking. "Luna was playing in the garden, and suddenly the plants started dying around her. And she… she looks like something is draining her energy."
Arius knelt beside his sister and placed his hand on her forehead. She was very cold, and when he touched her, he felt something dark and evil.
"It's a curse," Alexandros said grimly. "Malakar's curse was not just silence. It was deeper than that."
"What do you mean?"
"The curse is growing. The older Luna gets and the stronger her healing abilities become, the stronger the curse becomes as well. It's trying to turn her power to heal into a power to destroy."
Arius felt anger rising in his chest. "No! I won't let this happen!" He placed his hands on Luna and focused all his strength, all the love he felt from the scar of memory. Golden light radiated from his hands, fighting the darkness that surrounded his sister.
For long minutes, there was a silent struggle between light and darkness. Arius felt sweat pouring down his forehead, his strength waning, but he did not stop. He would never stop when it came to Luna.
Gradually, the darkness began to recede. The plants around Luna stopped withering, and color slowly returned to her face. She opened her eyes and looked at Arius with silent gratitude.
But Arius collapsed from exhaustion. Alexandros caught him before he fell to the ground.
"Well done," Alexandros whispered. "But this is only the beginning. The curse is still there, and it will return stronger."
"So what do we do?"
Alexandros looked at Luna, who was clutching her doll tightly. "We need help. There is only one person I know who can help us break a curse of this power."
"Who?"
"Ilaria the White Star. The strongest healer in the world, and the last who knows the secrets of ancient magic. But she lives in the Towers of Stars, very far from here."
Arius looked at Luna, who gazed at him with eyes full of trust and love. "Then we will go to her."
"Arius, the journey is very dangerous. The Towers of Stars are surrounded by powerful magical creatures, and the path to them is filled with dangers."
"I don't care. Luna needs me."
Alexandros smiled despite his worry. "I knew you would say that. But you will not go alone. I will come with you."
"And Martha? And Luna?"
"Martha will take care of Luna here. The house is protected by strong spells, and it will be safe for a short time. But we must return quickly."
That night, while Luna slept in her room, Arius sat with Alexandros planning the journey. It would be a journey that would take weeks, through dark forests and dangerous mountains.
"Arius," Alexandros said, "I want you to understand something. This journey will change you. You will face real dangers, and you may have to make difficult decisions. Are you ready for this?"
Arius looked toward Luna's room. "For her, I am ready for anything."
"Even if you have to kill?"
The question shocked Arius. He had never thought about this before. All his training had been about protection and healing, not killing.
"I don't know," Arius whispered. "I hope I won't have to."
"And I hope so too. But the world outside this house is harsh, Arius. There are real villains, creatures that understand only strength. Sometimes, the only way to protect those you love is to fight."
Arius was silent for a long time. "If that's what it takes to save Luna, I will do it."
Alexandros placed his hand on Arius's shoulder. "I know you will. But always remember why you fight. Not for revenge or hatred, but for love and protection."
The next morning, they prepared for the journey. Alexandros gathered weapons and supplies, and Arius said a painful farewell to Luna.
"I'll come back," he whispered in her ear as he hugged her. "I promise I'll return, and I'll find a way to make you speak again."
Luna nodded and placed her hand on his heart. Her message was clear: "I believe in you."
Martha hugged Arius tightly. "Take care of yourself, my dear child. And remember you have a family waiting for your return."
And so, on a beautiful summer morning, Arius and Alexandros left the safe house, beginning a journey that would test everything Arius had learned and push him to become the warrior he was destined to be.
The road ahead was long and dangerous, but in Arius's heart there was something stronger than any fear: his love for his sister, and his determination to save her no matter the cost.
The scar of memory pulsed strongly on his chest, reminding him that he did not walk alone. With him was the love and wisdom of generations of warriors, and also the love of his parents, which would never die.
This was the beginning of the true journey, the beginning of the transformation from an orphaned child to a legendary warrior. But in his heart, he would always remain the boy who loved his sister more than his own life.