The chamber shook again, dust falling from the cracked ceiling.
Ravian staggered back, clutching his wounded arm, but his smile never faltered.
"So the little traitors come crawling back," he sneered. "Celeste, Kai... and you, Nyra. My three broken weapons, finally standing in the same place."
Weapons. The word burned.
Celeste raised her blade higher, her eyes blazing. "We are not yours anymore."
Ravian chuckled, his voice echoing like thunder. "Not mine? You think your fates were accidents? You were born in my shadow. You, Nyra, were never meant to exist beyond my design."
My heart slammed in my chest. "Stop speaking in riddles. Tell me the truth."
Kai's voice cracked, softer, hesitant. "Nyra… I think he's telling the truth."
I spun toward him, disbelief slicing through me. "What do you mean?"
Kai's jaw tightened. His eyes avoided mine. "Before I turned against him… I read the files. The experiments. The Project Arin. We weren't just survivors of his cruelty… we were part of it."
The floor beneath me seemed to vanish.
"Lies," I whispered, though my hands trembled.
Ravian leaned closer, his eyes glowing with something monstrous. "Not lies. You were created to surpass every limit. To destroy every rival. To serve me."
Celeste's blade pressed against his throat, fury shaking her voice. "Say one more word, and I'll carve the truth out of your bones."
But Ravian only laughed—low, guttural, like the growl of a beast.
"You can't kill me. Because if I die, the truth about your bloodlines dies with me. And then, Nyra, you'll never know who you really are."
The lamp flickered again. My chest felt heavy with fire and fear.
For the first time, I wasn't afraid of Ravian's threats.
I was afraid of the truth.