Resurgence: eternal evolution

The nurse's concerned expression deepened. "Mr. Kael, there's nothing there," she said, her tone cautious.

Kael's eyes darted back to the floating text, the dark glow emanating from it filling him with unease.

[Only you can see me.]

Don't bother explaining. She'll think you've lost it.

Kael froze. The system's words seemed to mock him, yet they held an undeniable truth.

The nurse leaned closer, studying his face. "Are you feeling alright? You seem… agitated."

Trying to mask his reaction, Kael forced a chuckle and shook his head. "I'm fine. Just… thought I saw something. Must be the meds."

The nurse gave him a skeptical look before nodding. "Alright, but let me know if anything feels off. You've been through a lot, Mr. Kael." She turned to leave but hesitated by the door, glancing back at him briefly before closing it behind her.

Outside the room, Kael could hear her whisper to another nurse, "I think he's starting to lose it. Poor guy's probably traumatized."

Kael sighed, rubbing his temples. "Great, now they think I'm insane."

[It's not my fault you reacted like that.]

The text shifted slightly as if to emphasize its presence.

Kael frowned, staring at the system. "Who… what are you?" he asked aloud, his voice barely above a whisper.

[I am your guardian.]

"Guardian?" Kael repeated, narrowing his eyes. "Guardian of what? My life? My soul? What does that even mean?"

[You'll understand in time.]

Kael's frustration flared. "That's not an answer!" He clenched his fists, the earlier confusion and fear boiling over into anger. "What do you want from me? Do you know what happened in the dungeon?"

[No.]

The simplicity of the response left him stunned. "You don't know?" he repeated, incredulous. "You're supposed to be my so-called guardian, and you don't even know what happened to me?!"

[I'm not omniscient, Kael. But I can help you.]

The text seemed to pulse with energy as the system's voice echoed in his mind.

[Do you want to become stronger?]

Kael paused, his anger momentarily giving way to confusion. "What?"

[Do you want to become stronger? To protect yourself? To survive?]

He looked around the room, his instincts screaming that this had to be some kind of prank. But as he studied the dark letters, the weight of the voice, the strange familiarity of it all… he remembered.

The endless black void. The voice that had spoken to him there.

Kael's breath hitched. "You… you're the one I heard in the portal, aren't you?"

The system didn't respond.

"Answer me!" he shouted, his voice trembling.

Still, silence.

Kael's hands shook as he sank back onto the bed, the weight of everything crashing down on him. He closed his eyes, trying to piece together his thoughts. The survivors' stories, the black void, his miraculous recovery…

"What the hell have I gotten myself into?" he whispered.