The storm had passed, but the sky hung low and brooding, casting the forest in a dim, silver haze. Water dripped from the gnarled branches above, every droplet echoing like a whisper in the uneasy silence. Kaelen walked behind Lyra, boots sloshing through mud, his limbs stiff with exhaustion and a pulse of raw power still simmering under his skin.
His black flames had vanished, but the memory of them hadn't.
He hadn't known he could burn like that. Not with fire that screamed.
Lyra moved like a shadow given purpose—quiet, sure-footed, and untouchable. The torn veil that covered part of her face fluttered lightly in the breeze, but Kaelen could feel the weight behind it. A thousand questions warred in his chest.
"Where are we going?" Kaelen finally asked.
Lyra didn't stop walking. "Somewhere safe. For now."
The answer grated. Kaelen picked up his pace to walk beside her. "You said you're not my enemy. That you're the reason I'm being hunted. So explain."
That earned him a glance. Lyra's eyes were dark as obsidian, rimmed with a faint glow that wasn't quite human. "I will. But not here."
"Why not now?"
Lyra stopped.
Kaelen nearly collided into her. The older woman turned slightly, head tilting like she was listening to something deeper than sound. The forest around them pulsed, low and steady—like a heartbeat in the roots. Symbols carved into bark shimmered faintly as they passed, not gold, not silver, something older.
"You hear that?" Lyra murmured.
"Hear what?"
"Exactly." She resumed walking. "It's never this quiet. Not unless something else is listening."
Kaelen's throat tightened. He followed, jaw clenched. Every instinct in his body told him to be ready. Even with the temporary calm, this forest felt alive in a way that didn't make sense—like the trees themselves knew who he was.
As they passed beneath an arch of twisted roots, Kaelen risked another glance at the woman beside him.
Lyra walked ahead with a hunter's gait, shoulders tense, hands never far from the strange blade strapped to her back. The veil across her face was still soaked from the storm, clinging to the sharp angle of her jaw. Her exposed mouth was a tight, unreadable line—but every now and then, her gaze flicked to Kaelen, calculating.
Watching. Like she was waiting for something to break.
"What are you?" Kaelen asked, unable to keep it in any longer.
Lyra didn't slow. "A mistake."
That wasn't an answer. It was a wall. And it pissed Kaelen off more than he wanted to admit.
"I don't need riddles. I need truth."
"And the truth could kill you faster than those Veilspawn did."'
"Maybe I'd rather face that than walk in silence behind a stranger who watches me like I'm a bomb."
Lyra stopped again. This time, she turned fully. The fabric of her veil caught in a breeze that didn't exist, lifting just enough to show the faintest edge of a scar across her cheekbone.
Her voice was quiet. Too quiet. "You don't understand what you carry."
Kaelen squared his shoulders. "Then make me understand."
Lyra stepped closer—just one step—but it felt like a storm rolling in. Her voice dipped lower, colder.
"You want answers? Fine. The Veilspawn aren't hunting you for fun. They're drawn to what's inside you. The flames. The blood. The mark."
Kaelen blinked. "What mark?"
Lyra lifted her gloved hand and reached toward Kaelen's collar, pausing. "May I?"
Kaelen hesitated… then nodded once.
Lyra pushed aside the fabric just enough to expose Kaelen's collarbone—and the jagged, burn-like pattern that snaked just beneath the skin. It hadn't been there yesterday.
Kaelen's breath caught. "What is that?"
"It's not a burn. It's a seal," Lyra said, voice softening slightly. "And it's waking up."
Kaelen stepped back, shirt clutched tight. "Why now?"
Lyra looked away. "Because your mother died protecting it. Because your father made a mistake trusting the wrong people. And because someone… somewhere… has finally realized you survived."
That hit like a punch to the chest. Kaelen's fists curled. "You knew them?"
Lyra didn't answer.
The silence stretched between them. It wasn't empty—it was full of ghosts, of things neither of them were ready to say.
But as they continued walking again, something shifted.
Lyra slowed her pace just a little so Kaelen didn't have to catch up. She didn't speak, but the air around them eased. A fragile thread of truce began to form—not trust, but something close.
And Kaelen… for the first time since the fire, since the shadows, since the screams…
He didn't feel entirely alone.
The path grew steeper as they ventured further into the heart of the forest. The towering trees seemed to lean in closer, their trunks wrapped in thick moss, their branches weaving together to form a canopy that barely allowed any light to filter through. The air was thick with moisture, and every step Kaelen took left an imprint in the soft earth beneath him. He was still processing Lyra's words—about the seal, about his parents, and about this strange connection that tied him to the shadow beasts.
His heart raced. He wanted answers. He needed answers. But the more Lyra said, the more questions piled up.
"You said my mother died protecting this mark," Kaelen murmured, glancing at Lyra's back. "But why? What does it mean?"
Lyra didn't answer immediately. Her steps were measured, and her posture remained rigid, as if she were trying to keep her emotions in check. The deeper they went into the forest, the more Kaelen felt like they were crossing some kind of threshold—like they were approaching something dangerous, something that had been hidden for far too long.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity of silence, Lyra spoke.
"Your mother was more than just a sorceress. She was a keeper of the Veil," Lyra said, her voice low and tinged with something Kaelen couldn't quite place. "She was one of the few who could see beyond the physical realm, and she was tasked with protecting it—and the secrets it contained."
Kaelen's brow furrowed. "The Veil? What's that supposed to mean?"
"Do you remember your mother?" Lyra's question cut through the air like a blade, sharp and direct.
Kaelen stopped in his tracks, the question echoing in his mind. He remembered fragments—snippets of her voice, her smile, the way she held him close when he was young. But the memories were faint, like trying to hold onto water with his bare hands. They slipped through his fingers.
"I… I remember her face, sometimes," Kaelen admitted, his voice quiet. "But it's blurry. I was just a child when they died. I don't remember much."
Lyra stopped too, turning to face Kaelen. "That's because it was meant to be forgotten."
Kaelen's heart skipped a beat. "What do you mean?"
Lyra's eyes flickered with something dark. "The Veil isn't just a barrier between worlds. It's a prison. A prison built to hold things that shouldn't be free. Your mother knew that. She died trying to keep the balance. She and your father were part of a secret order—one that knew the truth about the Veil and the dangers it held."
Kaelen clenched his fists. "You keep saying 'the truth.' What truth?
What's the Veil hiding? And why are the shadow beasts after me?"
Lyra's expression hardened. "The shadow beasts aren't the only thing the Veil is keeping at bay. There's something far worse. Something older. And your blood—" She paused, letting the weight of her words sink in. "Your blood is the key to unlocking it."
Kaelen's breath hitched. "What do you mean, my blood?"
Before Lyra could respond, they reached a clearing. At the center stood an ancient stone structure, half-collapsed and overgrown with vines. It was a ruin, a forgotten sanctuary hidden deep within the forest. The air felt different here—thicker, heavier with an energy Kaelen couldn't quite place.
"This is where we'll find the answers," Lyra said, her voice distant. "This is the place where your parents' legacy begins and where their betrayal ended."
Kaelen's pulse quickened. He stepped forward, eyes scanning the ruin. The stones were etched with ancient symbols, some of which Kaelen had never seen before. There was a door, or what used to be a door, now nothing more than a broken archway. Beyond it, in the darkened interior, he could feel the weight of history pressing in on him.
As they entered, the air grew colder. The stone walls were lined with faded carvings—more symbols, more runes, all glowing faintly in the dim light. Lyra led the way through the ruin, her movements measured and precise. She didn't look back, but Kaelen could feel her presence, like a shadow looming just behind him.
They reached the center of the ruin, where a large, circular stone sat in the middle of the floor. The stone was smooth, polished, with more symbols carved into its surface. It looked like an altar, but the energy radiating from it was unlike anything Kaelen had ever felt. It was ancient, powerful, and… dangerous.
Lyra stopped in front of it and turned to face Kaelen. "This is where it all began," She said softly. "This is where your mother made her choice."
Kaelen stepped closer, his heart pounding in his chest. "What choice?"
Lyra's gaze softened, but there was something cold in her eyes. "To keep the Veil intact, to prevent it from shattering. She made a sacrifice. A great one."
Kaelen's mind raced. "What did she sacrifice?"
Lyra's voice dropped to a whisper, filled with an edge of regret. "Her life. And your father's trust. They betrayed her for something they didn't understand. And now, because of that betrayal, the Veil is breaking."
Kaelen's stomach turned. "You're saying my parents were part of the reason this is happening?"
Lyra nodded. "Yes. But they weren't the only ones. There are others who want the Veil to fall. There are others who are using your blood to make that happen."
The words hit Kaelen like a punch. His knees nearly buckled, but he caught himself just in time. He glanced down at the stone altar, then back at Lyra, eyes wide.
"Who? Who's trying to break the Veil?"
Lyra stepped forward, placing her hand on the stone. "You'll learn soon enough. But first—" She paused, eyes narrowing. "You need to see something."
Kaelen's pulse quickened. "What?"
Lyra reached down and touched the symbols carved into the altar. The stone hummed with power, and for a brief moment, Kaelen thought he saw something—no, someone—etched into the stone. A flash of memory, a fleeting glimpse of a woman with soft eyes and an expression full of sorrow.
And then, it hit him. A wave of warmth flooded his chest. His mother.
He gasped and stepped back, shaking his head. "What was that? Was that—?"
"That was the memory your mother left behind," Lyra said quietly. "It's the key to understanding the betrayal. The mark on your skin, the seal—it's all connected."
Kaelen's heart pounded in his ears. "I don't understand. What do I have to do with this? Why are they hunting me?"
Lyra turned, her expression grim. "Because you are the last of your bloodline. And you are the only one who can stop what's coming."
The air in the ruin seemed to grow thicker, pressing against Kaelen's chest, making it harder to breathe. The weight of what Lyra had just said hung in the air like a storm about to break. Kaelen felt as though the ground beneath him was shifting, the ancient stones beneath his feet pulsing with a power he couldn't fully understand. Everything was connected—the ruin, the mark on his skin, the shadow beasts, and the haunting memory of his mother.
"Stop," Kaelen muttered, shaking his head as if trying to clear the fog that clouded his mind. "I need to understand this. I need to know why you keep saying I'm the key."
Lyra's face was unreadable, her usual guarded demeanor now replaced with something darker—more conflicted. She stepped closer to Kaelen, her presence overwhelming. "I've told you what I know. Your bloodline is tied to the Veil. You have the potential to destroy it, or you have the power to seal it forever."
Kaelen stared at her, the implications of the words heavy on his mind. "Destroy it? Why would I want to destroy it? What's on the other side of the Veil that's so dangerous?"
Lyra's gaze flickered toward the altar, and for a moment, Kaelen could swear he saw a flash of sorrow in her eyes. "What's on the other side… is something that was never meant to cross over. It's an entity older than time itself, a being who thrives on destruction. The Veil was built to keep it contained. Your mother knew this, and she sacrificed herself to ensure it would never be released."
Kaelen's throat tightened. "Then why are the Veilspawn after me? Why are they hunting me?"
Lyra turned away, her voice soft yet firm. "The Veilspawn are the remnants of the old power—beasts born from the shadow of the entity beyond the Veil. They've been searching for the bloodline that could break the seal. And your bloodline, Kaelen, is the last one capable of doing it."
Kaelen clenched his fists. The room seemed to spin, the weight of Lyra's words crashing down on him. He wanted to believe that there was another way—that his parents hadn't been part of something so catastrophic. But deep down, he felt it—the truth was there, buried beneath layers of lies and lost memories.
"But why me?" Kaelen demanded, his voice shaking. "Why am I the one who has to fix this? Or destroy it? What about my parents? Why didn't they—?"
"You think they didn't try?" Lyra's voice was sharp, her control slipping for just a moment. "Your parents fought with everything they had to keep the Veil intact. But they couldn't do it alone. And when the order betrayed them, they had no choice but to sacrifice everything—including you."
The words hit Kaelen like a blow. His stomach churned, and he staggered back, leaning against the cold stone wall for support. "I don't… I don't understand. You keep saying I'm the key. But what am I supposed to do? What's the price of all this?"
Lyra was silent for a moment, her eyes dark with something Kaelen couldn't quite place. Then she stepped forward, her voice softer now.
"The price is your soul."
Kaelen's heart skipped a beat, and he took a step back. "My soul?"
Lyra nodded, her face grim. "To unlock the true power of your bloodline, you must sacrifice something precious. The Veil won't let you pass without it. And the more you draw on its power, the greater the cost will be. Your very essence will be consumed by it until you are no longer you. That is the price of truth."
Kaelen felt the ground beneath him begin to tilt, his knees weakening as the weight of Lyra's words sank in. "And if I refuse? What happens then?"
"Then the Veil will break, and everything—everyone—will fall into chaos," Lyra replied coldly. "The entity will be freed. And there will be no turning back."
Kaelen's breath came in shallow gasps, his mind reeling with the enormity of what Lyra was saying. "But if I do this… if I choose to face this, to face the truth—"
Lyra's eyes locked onto his. "You will become something else, Kaelen. Something you may not recognize. You will be torn apart by the very power you seek to control. And you may never be able to return from it."
The silence that followed was deafening. Kaelen's heart hammered in his chest, and for a moment, he felt like he was drowning in the weight of it all. The truth—his parents' sacrifice, his bloodline's connection to the Veil, the price he had to pay to stop the chaos—was too much to bear. But what choice did he have?
"I have to do something," Kaelen muttered to himself, the words barely escaping his lips. "I can't just let it all fall apart."
Lyra's gaze softened slightly, though there was still a hint of caution in her eyes. "You don't have to do it alone," he said, her voice steady. "But you must decide. Soon."
Kaelen took a deep breath, his mind racing. The weight of the world seemed to rest on his shoulders. And yet, somewhere deep inside him, a fire ignited. He wouldn't let his parents' deaths be in vain. He couldn't let the Veil break. Not when the consequences were so dire.
But as he stood there, staring at Lyra, he realized something: no matter what path he chose, it would cost him more than he was prepared to give. And the price of truth, once paid, could never be undone.
As the ruin seemed to close in around him, Kaelen made a choice.
"I'm ready," he said, his voice trembling but resolute.
Lyra nodded once, her expression unreadable. "Then we move forward.
But know this, Kaelen: once you take the first step, there will be no turning back."
✦ END OF CHAPTER 1 ✦