Beyond Death: the rise of atreya

Atreya spent the next three months recovering in the royal palace. The queen ensured he was well-fed and clothed, while Celeste took it upon herself to show him around.

Despite their kindness, Atreya kept his distance. He trained alone, often sneaking into the palace's training grounds at night. The sword still rejected him, refusing to fully awaken, but he carried it everywhere.

"That sword," Celeste said one evening, watching him practice. "It's special, isn't it?"

Atreya didn't answer, his focus on his swings.

"You're hiding something," she continued, her tone light but curious. "But that's okay. Everyone has secrets."

---

Overheard Conversation

One night, while wandering the palace halls, Atreya overheard the queen speaking with her advisors.

"The war with the Kerwin kingdom is inevitable," one advisor said. "We must strike before they recover from the civil unrest."

Atreya's heart sank. His family's kingdom was already in ruins, and now another war threatened to destroy what little remained.

He clenched his fists, his mind racing. He couldn't let his past define him, but he also couldn't stand by and watch more innocent lives be lost.

"I need to become stronger," he murmured to himself, his gaze hardening. "For them… and for me."