Thorns of Obsession
---
The ceiling exploded inward.
Stone and dust crashed across the Hollow as crimson magic tore through the protective wards like paper. The shockwave threw all of us backward.
I slammed against the wall hard enough to lose my breath.
For a few seconds, all I could hear was ringing.
Then screaming.
---
Council hunters poured through the opening above us like shadows descending from hell itself.
Black robes.
Silver masks.
Eyes glowing crimson beneath the darkness.
---
Lucen reacted first.
He slammed both hands against the floor.
---
Lucen:
"Barrier formation!"
---
Blue fire erupted through the chamber, forming a protective circle around us. Several hunters were blasted backward instantly.
But more kept coming.
Too many.
---
Riven stepped in front of me automatically, blade drawn.
The crimson mark on his chest spread higher along his throat now, glowing violently beneath his skin.
He looked terrifying.
Beautiful.
And dangerously close to breaking apart completely.
---
Riven (coldly):
"You should've stayed buried with the Order."
---
One of the hunters laughed.
Then slowly removed his mask.
Dark silver hair.
Sharp eyes.
A familiar face.
---
Riven froze.
---
Riven:
"…Valen."
---
So this was him.
The cousin.
The betrayer.
---
Valen smiled lazily, but there was cruelty hidden beneath it.
---
Valen:
"Still alive. You sound disappointed."
---
Riven's grip on his blade tightened.
---
Riven:
"You led them here."
---
Valen:
"Of course I did."
He looked around the ruined Hollow with amusement.
---
Valen:
"You disappeared with the Council's greatest weapon. Did you really think they'd allow that?"
---
His gaze shifted toward me.
And instantly sharpened.
---
Valen:
"So this is the boy."
---
The way he looked at me made my skin crawl.
Not like a person.
Like a relic.
---
Valen (softly):
"You're even prettier than the reports said."
---
Riven moved so fast I barely saw it.
His blade collided with Valen's throat in a violent burst of sparks.
---
Riven (deadly):
"Look at him again and lose your eyes."
---
The room exploded into chaos.
---
Hunters attacked from every direction.
Lucen's magic crashed against theirs in waves of blue and crimson.
The Hollow trembled violently around us.
Bookshelves shattered.
Runes cracked across the walls.
And somewhere deep underground—
Something ancient began waking up.
---
I ducked as a spell shot over my head.
The air burned.
One of the hunters lunged toward me—
But Riven intercepted instantly, driving his blade straight through the attacker's chest.
Blood splattered across the floor.
For a moment—
Everything stopped.
---
Riven stared at the body beneath him.
Breathing hard.
Eyes glowing brighter.
The curse mark spread further.
---
Me (shaken):
"Riven…"
---
He looked at me slowly.
And for one horrifying second—
I didn't recognize him.
---
Not because he looked cruel.
But because he looked empty.
Like every time he killed to protect me… he lost another piece of himself.
---
Valen noticed too.
Of course he did.
---
Valen (smirking):
"There he is."
---
Riven's attention snapped toward him instantly.
---
Valen:
"The real Crimson heir."
---
Crimson energy burst violently through the chamber.
The walls cracked.
The lights shattered.
Even the hunters stepped back now.
Afraid.
---
Lucen (shouting):
"Riven! Stop suppressing it!"
---
But it was too late.
The curse had already started feeding.
On anger.
On fear.
On love.
---
Riven staggered slightly, gripping his head.
---
Riven (strained):
"Get… away from me…"
---
I moved toward him anyway.
---
Me:
"No."
---
The shadows around him lashed violently, destroying everything nearby.
The floor split open beneath us.
Magic screamed through the air.
---
Riven:
"I SAID RUN!"
---
But I saw it now.
Beneath the power.
Beneath the violence.
He was terrified.
Not of the Council.
Of himself.
---
Valen smiled wider.
---
Valen:
"He finally understands."
---
Then he looked directly at me.
---
Valen:
"You really don't know what you are, do you?"
---
My chest tightened.
---
Me:
"What are you talking about?"
---
Valen laughed softly.
---
Valen:
"The Council never wanted Riven."
He pointed at me.
---
Valen:
"They wanted YOU."
---
Silence crashed across the room.
Even Riven froze.
---
Riven (quietly):
"…No."
---
Valen's expression darkened slightly.
---
Valen:
"The living Seal. The final bloodline."
---
The words hit something deep inside me.
Suddenly—
The book.
The runes.
The dreams.
Wren's strange words.
Everything connected at once.
---
My heart started pounding painfully.
---
Me:
"…What did you call me?"
---
Valen took a step closer.
---
Valen:
"You are the only person capable of ending the Crimson curse permanently."
A pause.
Then—
---
Valen:
"Or controlling it."
---
Riven's expression changed instantly.
Fear.
Real fear.
---
Riven:
"Don't listen to him."
---
But Valen kept talking.
---
Valen:
"The bond between you was never accidental. The Seal chooses only one person every generation."
His eyes glittered darkly.
---
Valen:
"And it chose you."
---
Something inside me snapped.
Not painfully.
Not violently.
But like a lock opening.
---
The mark on my chest ignited.
White light burst through the chamber.
Not crimson.
Not dark.
Something older.
Stronger.
---
Everyone staggered backward instantly.
Even Valen.
---
The entire Hollow responded to me.
Runes exploded across the walls in brilliant gold.
Ancient symbols rose beneath my feet.
The ground trembled.
---
Riven stared at me like he'd forgotten how to breathe.
---
Riven (whispering):
"…Beautiful."
---
The power inside me surged violently.
But unlike Riven's—
It didn't feel consuming.
It felt calm.
Absolute.
---
I stepped forward slowly.
The hunters backed away instinctively.
---
Me:
"You spent centuries creating monsters."
The golden light brightened.
---
Me:
"And now you're afraid because one finally turned against you."
---
Valen's smile finally disappeared.
---
Valen:
"You have no idea what you're awakening."
---
Maybe he was right.
Maybe I didn't.
But I knew one thing for certain.
---
I was done running.
Done hiding.
Done watching Riven destroy himself trying to protect me.
---
The light around me exploded outward.
Hunters screamed as their crimson magic shattered instantly.
The Hollow shook violently beneath us.
And for the very first time—
The Crimson Council looked afraid.
---
I looked directly at Valen.
---
Me (quietly):
"Tell your Council something for me."
---
The golden sigils burned brighter.
---
Me:
"I'm done being their sacrifice."
---
Then the Hollow erupted in blinding light.
---
[End of Chapter 33]