The hall was silent—too silent.
Kaen sat alone, staring at the mark that had suddenly appeared on his chest the moment he touched the Bloody Rock. The others had left, either disappointed or confused, but Kaen hadn't moved.
A faint humming buzzed in his ears.
He looked down. The symbol on his chest wasn't from any book, scroll, or temple engraving. It pulsed faintly—dark red veins stretching outward like creeping cracks under skin. It felt… alive.
"Why can't I feel my Qi properly?" he muttered, his voice hollow.
He stood up slowly. Outside, the village continued its normal routine. The ranking ceremony had ended, and everyone had accepted the result: Kaen Draven Bloodborne, the "talentless son of a forgotten name."
Except… something didn't sit right.
---
Later that Night…
A cold breeze crept in through the wooden windows of his small home. Kaen lay on the bed, eyes wide open. The mark was burning now. Not painful… but heavy. As if something was pressing down on his soul.
Then it happened.
A whisper.
At first, it was faint. Just a breath against his thoughts. But then it grew louder. Deeper.
> "Finally… after so many years… you heard me."
Kaen shot upright. "Who said that?!"
No answer. Just the pulsing of the mark on his chest. He clutched at it, trying to will it away, but it only grew warmer—like fire beneath his skin.
> "Sleep, child of silence. You are not ready… but the world will burn when you are."
The voice disappeared. The room fell back into quiet.
Kaen stared into the darkness, shaken. He didn't scream. He didn't cry.
But deep inside, a silent demon had stirred.
And the Seal of Silence had begun to crack.
---