Eyes of destiny-Chapter 32: Starting now

I needed those words...

I needed to hear them...

I needed someone to say them to me...

Leni walked slowly down the long corridor, leading Edo to the chamber of the court mage, Adam. He was the one who was supposed to heal the boy's injured hand.

In that conversation—seemingly unnecessarily harsh—there was more truth than she wanted to admit. No one had ever spoken to her like that before. No one had ever pointed out her flaws so directly, even though deep down, she had always been aware of them. But he... Edo... he was the first to have the courage to say it to her face.

He yelled.

He yelled really loudly.

His voice carried not just anger, but honesty. His words came straight from his heart—he didn't hold back. Maybe he thought he had hurt her. Maybe he believed he had accused her unfairly, that he had done something unforgivable.

But for Leni, those words were salvation.

She knew she lacked responsibility. That she wasn't living up to the role she was supposed to fulfill. People around her judged only her talent for magic, never her actions—or rather, her lack of them.

For years, she had traveled, and she had only taken up this position a year ago. And what had she done in that year? Nothing. She had wasted it. She told herself she needed a break, that without the king, there was no work for her because he was the one who gave orders to the court mage.

But she could have done something. Anything. Trained. Helped someone. Supported the people.

And yet, she did nothing.

Now, guilt weighed heavily on her shoulders. She had brought Edo with her—a boy who had nearly died—driven by his own convictions. She wanted to convince him. She wanted to repay her debt to Nolan.

"Will he ever forgive me...?"

The thought gnawed at her as she walked forward, the warm glow of the magical torches casting flickering shadows on the stone walls.

She stopped and glanced at Edo.

"Edo... do you—" she began, but then their eyes met.

His gaze was exhausted. His eyes wet with tears.

Leni fell silent and turned away.

"Never mind..." she muttered.

"No... I can't ask if he'll forgive me. Those are empty words. I have to make him forgive me. This was all my fault. If I want to change anything, I have to start with myself. I have to become better. Stop drifting in dreams and get my act together. I want to be someone people can always rely on!"

— Starting now.

---

I shouldn't have said those words...

I shouldn't have made her listen to them... I shouldn't have spoken at all...

I'm a fool. What was I even thinking? How could I be so reckless, so shortsighted? Even now, as I recall it, I see that look from just moments ago.

She must hate me.

Maybe she didn't say it outright, maybe she didn't show it, but I know deep down she resents me. How could she not? I let her down. I said one word... no, far too many words.

Will she ever forgive me? Is that even possible? And even if she does... will I be able to forgive myself?

No... Thinking about it won't change anything. What good does it do to dwell on my own failures now? Absolutely nothing. I won't fix anything by wallowing in self-pity. If I want to change something, I need to act.

I need to become stronger.

That's the only way. If I stay like this, I won't be able to avoid making more mistakes, suffering more losses. This situation—everything that happened—it was my fault. I took out my frustration on Leni when she wasn't the one to blame. I was the weak one, the helpless one, unable to do anything else.

I need to become someone who doesn't have to rely on others all the time.

Someone who can face reality on their own.

I need to become someone... someone others won't have to worry about.

I can't allow another tragedy like the one in the forest. I won't let it happen again.

I need to become stronger.

— Starting now.

After a walk filled with heavy silence, they finally reached the door leading to Adam's chamber.

Leni, walking ahead, knocked on the door, but they creaked open on their own, as if expecting them. They were already unlocked.

— Come in, please,a firm voice echoed from inside.

Edo and Leni exchanged glances before cautiously stepping inside.

The chamber looked exactly as Edo had seen in Leni's memories—messy, with alchemical tools scattered everywhere. Shelves overflowed with books, some opened, others stacked haphazardly. The air was thick with the scent of herbs, mixed with the metallic tang of elixirs.

— Well, well, who do we have here?

A voice suddenly spoke up, startling them.

The speaker was a tall man with an unshaven beard, dressed in the robes of the court mage. His hood rested loosely on his shoulders, but the most striking feature was... his forehead. Large, as if nature had generously granted him extra space for thoughts.

—Need a hand? — Adam asked with a slight grin, reaching toward Edo's right arm—the one he no longer had.

Edo immediately remembered his peculiar sense of humor. Adam was a tragic comedian—his jokes always teetered on the edge of being inappropriate, yet somehow, he made them work.

— Adam... that was a bit out of line... — Leni sighed, crossing her arms. — But that's not important right now. I have a favor to ask.

She pulled an object wrapped in cloth from her bag and carefully unveiled its contents. In her hands rested a hand, petrified in crystal, perfectly preserved and ready to be reattached.

Adam glanced at it, then at Edo, his expression unreadable.

— Hmm... well, I don't have too many patients today. Take a seat, I'll deal with you in a moment.

Edo raised an eyebrow.

— Wait, just like that?! No explanation, no discussion?

Adam shrugged.

— Discussion? If you're looking for conversation, ask for a HAND in marriage or go to a ball. Here, we heal, not chat.

Edo groaned, and Leni shook her head.

— Adam... I heard you emphasize the word 'hand.' That's not funny.

— Alright, alright, I apologize. Sit down. — Adam adjusted his hood. — Ahem... What's your name?

Edo hesitated slightly before sitting down.

—Edo.

Leni took a seat on one of the chairs in the room while Adam began preparing the hand.

— Alright, Edo... Give me a moment to free this hand from the crystal, and then we'll begin the procedure. — He paused, smirking. — Actually, I suppose I have time for a chat, despite what I just said about doctors not talking. I'm a man full of contradictions, you see.

Edo swallowed, a growing unease settling in his stomach.

— So tell me, Edo... how did you lose your hand?

The boy sighed, tension tightening his shoulders at the thought of the upcoming procedure.

— Well... I was in the forest with Leni when a monster attacked us. The fight... didn't go too well, mostly because of my own stupidity. But... somehow, we made it out alive.

Leni glanced at him sadly, but Edo didn't notice.

— **Mhmm...** — Adam murmured, not stopping his work. — **And what did this monster look like?**

— **It was huge, with a massive red crystal on its forehead... and it looked like something between a human and a beast. And it could speak.**

Adam raised an eyebrow and glanced at Edo.

— **A B-rank monster. If it could speak, it was close to reaching A-rank.**

— **Rank... B?** — Edo repeated, confused.

— **Yeah, monsters are classified by rank. I won't go into details now—if you're curious, study it yourself. But anyway, I've freed your hand from the crystal...**

Adam grabbed the limb and approached Edo with a mischievous grin.

— **Once I put you back together, you won't have trouble with tougher opponents anymore. Just raise your HANDS and surrender.**

Edo and Leni sighed almost in unison.

— **Alright, attaching the hand is going to hurt a bit. Brace yourself.**

Adam pressed Edo's hand against his shoulder, and the boy felt a piercing pain.

An unbearable agony, beyond comprehension. For a brief moment, his mind tried to resist, but his body failed him. He didn't even get the chance to scream—he simply lost consciousness.

***

— Damn... Something's not right... — Adam muttered, furrowing his brows.

His hands, usually steady and precise, trembled slightly as he tried to connect Edo's arm to his body. Something was off. This should have been easier.

— Why isn't this working? Why did it hurt so much? It shouldn't have been this painful...

Leni, who had been sitting nearby, impatiently stepped closer to see what was happening. Worry was written all over her face, and a shadow of panic flickered in her eyes.

— Adam, what's going on? Why can't you help him?!

Adam sighed, running his fingers over his large forehead.

— It feels... like my energy isn't connecting with him at all... As if his own energy doesn't exist... Damn, we have a problem.

Leni paled.

— Can't you do anything?— she asked quietly, her voice trembling.

Adam gave her a slightly offended look, as if she had suggested something ridiculous.

— Can't do anything? Of course, I can do something! I'm the best doctor in the kingdom! I won't let him spend the rest of his life doing That with his left hand!

— That joke was truly disgusting... You know that, right? — Leni said, disgusted.

Adam smirked and shrugged.

— Hey, how did you know what I meant?! Anyway, never mind, I'm getting to work.

With that, he carefully set Edo's hand on a metal tray beside the operating chair. Then, he focused, stretching his hands forward.

Small, sharp, glowing blue crystals formed in the air. A moment later, their color shifted to a deep red.

Without further explanation, Adam began embedding the crystals into both Edo's stump and the detached limb.

— Adam... What are you doing? I don't understand any of this... — Leni asked, her uncertainty growing.

— You're not here to understand, dear mage. But if you insist, I can explain my genius to you.

He spoke with pride, carefully merging the crystals with Edo's body.

— These blue crystals were created using I tier earth magic. Since I'm not the best at magic outside of healing, I also had to use I tier ice magic, which gave them their color. The light you saw came from I tier light magic, and when the crystals turned red, that meant I used I tier blood magic.

Leni frowned.

— Okay... but what's the point of this? And how do you know so many advanced disciplines? Most mages only master the basic four, sometimes an additional minor element...

Adam grinned widely.

— I'm a genius, that's all you need to know. Well, actually, these disciplines are quite similar to healing magic at the beginner level.

As he spoke, he carefully placed the red crystals at specific points on Edo's stump.

— Light-based magic emits energy similar to the one we have in our cores. Thanks to that, I can perform the procedure without directly linking my energy to his. Instead, I control my own energy sealed within these crystals.

Leni opened her mouth, but no words came out. She was in awe. She hadn't expected Adam to find a solution so quickly.

— **And blood magic...? Why did you use it?**

Adam was already inserting the last crystals.

— **It allows the body to regenerate from within. The boy will feel pain for the first week, but over time, the crystals will become part of his body.**

Saying this, he embedded the final crystal. Then he took a step back, evaluating his work.

— **Alright, let's see if this works.**

Leni stiffened.

— **See if it works? Wait... You don't know if it works?!**

Adam shrugged.

— **Nope... I've only tested it on Gnomlets before. Nasty creatures, by the way. Alright... time to begin.**

He placed his hands over Edo's arm and focused. The crystals began to pulse with a gentle glow, then slowly fused together. Energy flowed through them like living light, gradually reconnecting the severed limb with the rest of the body.

A moment later, the arm was whole.

— **Now, time to stitch it up.**

Adam reached for a needle and thread as if it were the most ordinary thing in the world.

— **A needle...?** — Leni looked at him in surprise.

— **What? Just because I'm a magic-using doctor doesn't mean I don't use traditional methods. Hand-stitching is far more precise.**

Leni sighed and sat back down.

After an hour of intensive work, Edo's arm—despite the visible stitches—looked as good as new. The skin was warm, circulation had returned to normal, and his fingers twitched slightly, as if just regaining their connection to the rest of his body.

Adam smiled with satisfaction, checking his patient's pulse. After a moment, he lifted his head and proudly announced:

— **Pulse is steady, so the procedure was a success!**

Leni practically jumped for joy. A wide smile spread across her face, and tears of relief sparkled in her eyes. Without thinking, she threw herself at Adam, hugging him tightly enough to make him grunt in surprise.

— **Thank you! Thank you so much!!! You're amazing!** — she said, squeezing the doctor even harder.

Adam rolled his eyes, but the corners of his lips twitched into a slight smile.

— **You don't have to tell me that. I already know,** — he said with his usual confidence, though his tone was warm.

Leni pulled away, wiping her eyes.

— **Alright, now we just have to wait for him to wake up.**

She looked at Edo, who lay still, his breathing steady, his chest rising and falling rhythmically.

— **That was... a really difficult procedure...** — Adam added quietly, staring at his hands.

***

Three hours passed.

Suddenly, Edo's eyes snapped open, and he almost immediately bolted upright from the chair. His breathing was heavy, his heart pounded in his chest, and his thoughts spun chaotically. He didn't know where he was or what was happening... but then the memories flooded back like an avalanche.

Instantly, he looked down at his right hand, dread creeping in, afraid of what he might see.

It was there.

Whole.

Unharmed.

The only difference was the stitches running along his forearm.

He swallowed hard and cautiously moved his fingers. The sensation was strange, as if the arm wasn't entirely his own, but it worked. There was some pain, but aside from that... everything seemed fine.

— Edo, you're awake! — Leni shouted, and within seconds, she was by his side, wrapping her arms around him in a tight hug.

Still slightly dazed, Edo returned the embrace.

— Can you move it?— she asked, pulling back to look at his face.

— Yeah... It hurts a little, but other than that, it's fine,— he said, trying to sound optimistic.

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Leni let out a relieved sigh and smiled widely, as if a heavy weight had been lifted off her shoulders.

— Of course, it's fine! — Adam interjected from across the room, sitting with his arms crossed. —Because I was the one performing the operation.

Edo sighed, but a small smile appeared on his lips.

— Thank you... Thanks to you, I have my arm back.

Adam shrugged, as if it were no big deal.

— Yeah, well, your case was one of the worst I've ever treated. For some reason, I couldn't heal you normally. It was like...

He hesitated for a moment, furrowing his brows, then continued:

— ...like you're not human. Something... different. My energy wouldn't reach you.

Edo froze. That statement made his heart lurch.

His mind raced as he quickly analyzed the situation. Could it be because of his origins? He was from another world. Maybe that's why Adam's magic hadn't worked as expected?

Instead of sharing his thoughts, he decided to change the subject.

— How long was I unconscious? — he asked.

— About four hours, — Adam replied with a yawn.

— Alright, then we should get going! — Leni suddenly said, grabbing Edo by his jacket.

— Hey, what...?

Before he could protest, she was already pulling him toward the exit, as if she wanted to leave as quickly as possible.

There was something in her behavior... as if she were running from something dangerous.

They were almost out the door when suddenly, Adam spoke:

— Hey, I have a question.

Edo stopped and looked over his shoulder.

— Maybe helping people connected to the court is my duty, and I don't get paid for it... But as a token of gratitude, could you help me with something?

Edo raised an eyebrow, eyeing him suspiciously.

— Uhm... And what exactly would I be helping with?

— I'm preparing for a comedy contest...

Edo blinked.

— Come again?

At that moment, he realized that Leni had already disappeared from the room.

After seven hours of pure torture, Edo finally stepped out of Adam's chamber, exhausted from the endless stream of terrible jokes. His head throbbed from the absurd humor, and the realization that he had survived the ordeal brought him no relief.

It was already late, and he felt like he had fought an intense battle—except instead of physical combat, he had endured the most embarrassing jokes he had ever heard.

Just before he left, Adam gave him one last warning:

— Try not to move too much for the next week. If you overdo it, you could ruin your arm, and I won't be fixing it again.

Edo just nodded and left the room.

In the hallway, he encountered an unexpected sight.

Leni was asleep on the couch, curled up like a small cat. Her breathing was calm, and a peaceful expression adorned her face.

— She fell asleep... — Edo murmured to himself.

He remembered that she was supposed to show him where the guest rooms were. Apparently, she had dozed off while waiting for him.

— Eh... Well, I'll manage. No need to wake her up.

After all, he was supposed to be someone others didn't have to worry about, right?

He walked down the corridor, trying to find someone who could point him in the right direction. He knew that each court mage had access to one guest room, so he just needed to find the one assigned to Leni.

As he wandered through the long stone hallway, passing by a few unremarkable statues, he suddenly noticed a strange shadow near one of them—a statue depicting some kind of musician.

He narrowed his eyes.

Someone was hiding there.

— Uh... Dude? What are you doing there? — Edo asked, slightly confused.

The hidden figure flinched as if burned. A moment later, a young man with light, slightly messy hair stepped out from behind the statue.

— I... I'm just standing here... Y-yeah... — he stammered, avoiding Edo's gaze.

His voice carried an obvious lie. And... was that embarrassment?

Edo examined him more closely, and then it clicked.

It was him.

The same person he had seen in Leni's memories. "The Fifth Royal Knight – Klein."

Edo smirked.

— So... You're just standing here?

— Yes.

— At the end of the hallway, where there's absolutely nothing except Adam's chamber?

— Yes.

— Behind a statue?

— Yes.

— You're spying on Leni.

— Yes... Wait, WHAT?! NO! How did you even come up with that?! — Klein shouted, his face suddenly turning bright red.

Edo barely held back his laughter.

— Alright, alright, don't get so flustered, Royal Peeping Knight. I don't blame you. Everyone has their needs, right? — he said with amusement.

— ROYAL PEEPING KNIGHT?! What kind of name is that?! I demand a retraction! — Klein protested, his face now even redder.

Edo figured he might as well have some fun with him.

— Listen, Klein.

— How do you know my name?!

Edo smiled mysteriously.

— You think no one in the kingdom has heard of the great... Peeping Knight?

— WHAT?! — Klein looked horrified.

Edo continued with fake seriousness:

— You know... Rumors spread quickly. "The knight who spies on mages"... Ahhh, how... immoral...

— NO! THIS CAN'T BE TRUE!

— Oh, but it is. Nothing but the truth... The kind of truth I just made up.

Klein looked at him with a mix of relief and frustration.

— Jokes aside. But seriously, what kind of people do they pick for the royal court? A crazy, energetic mage, a peeping knight—mentally a child... A terrible comedian... The kingdom really likes to take risks, huh?

Klein clenched his fists, turning even redder.

— Alright, alright, I'll stop teasing you — Edo raised his hands in surrender. — Anyway, I'm Edo. Nice to meet you in person, Klein.

The young knight looked at him uncertainly but eventually gave a polite bow.

— Sorry for my behavior...

Edo waved him off.

— Don't worry. Everyone loses their senses when they're in love.

— She's not...

— Okay, don't dig yourself a deeper hole — Edo chuckled. — Oh, right, Klein, I have a question.

— Yeah?

— Where are the guest rooms?

Klein cleared his throat, still a bit flustered.

— On the third floor of the castle, the highest one accessible to guests. The stairs are just down this corridor.

— Thanks, Klein. And good luck.

— Thanks... WAIT, GOOD LUCK WITH WHAT?!

Without turning back, Edo raised a hand in farewell and walked deeper into the corridor, leaving Klein with his own thoughts.

***

When Edo reached the third floor of the castle, the hallway was nearly empty, and the silence gave the place an almost mystical aura. He observed the doors as he passed, looking for the guest rooms assigned to the royal mages. Finally, he found the one belonging to Leni.

He paused for a moment, wondering if he should knock—but then decided that since it was a guest room meant for the mages' friends, there was no need to hesitate.

Without further thought, he pressed the handle and stepped inside.

The room was of moderate size but had everything a person needed for a comfortable stay.

A bed—not too big, but wide enough for a restful sleep.

A bookshelf—filled with books, most likely magical tomes that Edo didn't understand yet.

A desk—tidy, with a few notes and scrolls, suggesting that Leni used it often.

A bathroom—small but sufficient for basic needs.

A few chests and a wardrobe—probably containing clothes or other necessities for guests.

A window—the room's greatest feature.

Edo walked over and placed his hands on the windowsill. The view before him was breathtaking.

The city under the night sky looked magical. Narrow streets were illuminated by lanterns, and the warm glow of houses created a peaceful mosaic in the darkness. The capital was alive even at this hour, but from this height, everything seemed calmer, more harmonious.

He let out a heavy sigh.

— So I really ended up in another world... — he whispered to himself, gazing into the distance.

Thoughts swirled in his head.

— Ech... How did this even happen? Just a normal walk... It was just a normal day, like any other. And yet... One moment changed everything.

His hands clenched into fists.

— If not for that...— he stopped, but he knew exactly what he wanted to say.

He couldn't change the past. He couldn't undo what had happened.

But **he could decide what to do now.**

— I have to live with this.

I'll find a way back home... No matter what.

But he wouldn't do it recklessly. Not at the cost of others. He didn't want anyone to suffer because of his desire to return.

— I need to get stronger.

Not just physically, but mentally too.

— Smarter.

So he wouldn't be deceived, so he wouldn't be a burden to others.

— I have to learn many things to return home... But I'll do it without endangering those who live here.

He closed his eyes, recalling Leni—her dream to change this world, her determination, her smile, even if she was sometimes too energetic and chaotic.

— And in the meantime... I'll help Leni achieve her goal.

Because if he was going to be here for a while, he wanted to leave something behind.

He wanted this world to become just a little bit better.

Opening his eyes, a new determination burned in his gaze.

— Starting now.