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Chapter 34 - beneath the mask

Kealix devoured the roasted meat like a man starved, biting into each tender piece as though the world might end before his next breath. And honestly, for him, this—the taste, the fire, the warmth in his belly—this was all that mattered right now. Hunger gnawed at him with a force he'd nearly forgotten, and the meat… gods, the meat was incredible. Rich, smoky, faintly sweet—each bite felt like it poured raw energy back into his limbs.

He didn't keep track of how much he ate. He just kept going—plate after plate—until finally, after what felt like hours, he leaned back with a groan and a hand on his stomach. The fire crackled softly beside him, casting long shadows across the camp. His breath came slower now, heavier, and a small laugh escaped his lips.

"…That was way more than I thought I could eat," he muttered, dazed.

Thalia's head turned slightly at his voice. Though quiet, his words had caught her attention. She tilted her head toward him, her tone calm and instructive.

"It makes sense," she said. "You're Awakened now. Handling aether puts a heavy toll on your body, it burns through calories like wildfire. You'll find yourself hungrier more often, especially after major surges like what happened at the lake."

Kealix blinked, still half-lying on the ground, his body warm and tingling from the food. "So… the more aether I use, the more I have to eat?"

"Exactly," she nodded. "And there's more to it. Aether doesn't just enhance strength or speed—it changes you. It reshapes you into what your mind believes is your ideal self. Doesn't matter what class you're in—whether you're a mageor a different class. Once you Awaken, the transformation begins. Subtle at first... but undeniable."

Kealix's eyes flicked to his arms, the faint glow still lingering beneath the skin, and then down to the snug fit of his clothes—now molded perfectly to his shape. It had felt like a trick of the light earlier, but maybe not. Maybe this was part of it. His body... changing. Becoming.

He sat up slowly, brushing a hand through his hair, then glanced across the fire at Thalia. Her mask glimmered in the firelight—smooth, white, almost featureless except for the faint etchings near the jawline. He couldn't even tell if she'd eaten at all.

"Thanks," he said softly. "For the explanation. And... sorry. You've had to explain so much to me already. I feel like a burden."

Thalia didn't answer. Not right away. Her stillness said enough. She didn't seem irritated, but she also wasn't rushing to reassure him.

Kealix rubbed the back of his neck, awkward. Then, in a gentler voice, he added, "You know, you could eat with us too. If the mask's uncomfortable, you don't have to keep it on... right?"

The moment the words left his mouth, Leo froze mid-chew. His jaw stopped moving, and his eyes darted toward Kealix like he'd just stepped on something sacred.

Kealix felt the tension spike. "Did I say something wrong?"

Thalia's head turned slightly, just enough for the fire to catch the edge of her mask. Her voice, when it came, was quiet but certain.

"No," she said. "You didn't. It's just… I can't take it off. Not here. Not ever." She paused. "It's a tradition. A sacred one. From our clan."

Kealix's curiosity flared. "You two are from a clan?" He tilted his head. "Where are they now?"

And just like that—the night shifted.

The fire still crackled. The wind still stirred the branches. But the silence that fell between them was suffocating.

No one answered. Not at first.

Kealix felt it immediately, like he'd pulled the thread on something tightly wound. Leo had gone stiff, eyes down, fingers clenched around a bone stripped clean. Thalia hadn't moved at all. The only thing that did shift was the air—thick now, like it was holding its breath.

Kealix's voice dropped. "I... I didn't mean to—"

"They're dead." Leo's voice cut in, flat and raw.

Kealix looked up sharply.

"All of them," Leo continued, gaze fixed on the fire. His usual energy—gone. "Every last one. Only we remain."

The words sank into the earth like stones dropped into deep water.

Kealix's breath caught. His stomach turned—not from the food, but from the weight of what he'd just stirred. Guilt burned hot in his chest.

Kealix didn't know what to say.

He wanted to say something—anything—but no words felt right. He knew what it was like to lose his parents. That pain still echoed in him, raw and tangled. But to lose everyone? Your whole family? Your entire clan?

He couldn't imagine it. Not really.

So he said nothing. Let the silence stretch. Minutes passed, slow and thick. The fire flickered quietly, casting orange light across his guilt-ridden face. He shouldn't have asked. He should have known better.

Then Thalia finally spoke, her voice cutting through the heavy quiet.

"Well," she said, her tone flat but not unkind, "there's nothing we can do about it now, is there?"

Leo stirred at her words. He sat up straighter, the energy creeping back into his posture like a mask sliding into place.

"You got it, sis," he said, trying to sound upbeat.

But Kealix saw past it. Leo's grin might've returned, his tone might've lightened—but his eyes… they still carried that sharp edge of grief. It was buried, maybe even controlled, but it was still there. Unmistakably there.

Kealix shifted awkwardly on the log. His voice came out small, unsure. "Is… is there anything I can do for you guys?"

Thalia didn't answer right away. She stood, quietly gathering a plate full of meat, her movements precise—almost ritualistic. Then, without looking back, she began to walk away, into the darkness beyond the firelight.

"No," she said gently over her shoulder, "not at all. Just relax. Do your own thing."

And just like that, she vanished into the shadows, out of sight.

Kealix was left with Leo and the dying fire between them. He hesitated, then glanced over, meeting Leo's gaze.

"Hey… I'm sorry," Kealix said. "For what I said earlier. I didn't mean to—"

Leo cut him off with a shrug and a bitter laugh. "Doesn't matter. Most of them were heartless scumbags anyway."

Kealix blinked, stunned. Heartless scumbags? The words didn't line up with the solemnity from earlier. There was something biting under Leo's tone, like a wound still festering beneath the surface.

But Kealix didn't pry. Whatever Leo meant, it wasn't his place. Some things were better left untouched.

He exhaled and changed the subject, trying to smooth the tension.

"Hey… will Thalia be alright on her own?" he asked, his voice cautious, unsure if the question would land wrong again.

Leo turned toward him, grinning wide—almost too wide.

"Don't worry about her," he said with mock bravado. "My sis might look fragile, but she's way stronger than I am. Like, way stronger. If there's anyone out here who can handle themselves, it's her."

Kealix's eyes widened slightly. Sure, Thalia looked strong—tall, muscular, and radiating confidence—but this forest was something else entirely. He'd only been here three days, and he had already nearly died twice. If the trees weren't trying to strangle him, the creatures lurking in the dark were more than happy to finish the job.

Still... he didn't really know what either Thalia or Leo could do. Not truly. So maybe Leo's confidence wasn't just for show.

Maybe they really were that capable.

Kealix decided to push the worry down and trust them, for now.

Leo's voice pulled him from his thoughts. "Either way," he said with his usual upbeat energy, "what do you say about sharing our general abilities and arsenal?"

Kealix nodded, sitting up a little straighter. "Sure, I'm fine with that." He glanced at Leo—tall, broad-shouldered, the kind of guy who looked like he could punch a bear in the face and win. Sharing abilities was more than just smart. It could save their lives. Trust was going to be a currency out here. Better to start spending it early.

Leo's grin widened. "Great! How about you go first?"

Kealix took a second to gather his thoughts. He raised his left arm and gestured to it with a small nod.

"Well, first there's Dying Star," he said, tapping the pale, rune-etched skin of his forearm. The strange energy within it pulsed faintly, a slow thrum of contained power. "Still figuring out what it really does, but I'm starting to get the hang of it."

Leo leaned forward, eyes fixed on the arm with genuine curiosity.

Kealix continued. "And then… there's these guys." He reached into his coat and pulled out the deck of tarot cards, the weight of them familiar and oddly comforting. "They can be… a bit rude. Or weird. But they're useful. Most of the time."

Leo blinked. "Wait, what do you mean 'rude'?"

Kealix didn't have time to answer.

One of the cards suddenly shot out from the deck in a blur of black and crimson energy. It hovered between them, glowing with a deep, inky aura. Across its surface, a single word blazed like a brand:

BETRAYAL

Before Leo could react, the card spoke, its voice sharp, mocking, and full of disdain.

"Hey! Don't you dare touch us!"

Leo jerked back, startled. "What the—?"

His grin faltered into something more cautious as he stared at the floating card. The card seemed to glare right back, somehow radiating smugness despite having no face.

Kealix sighed and rubbed the back of his neck, already used to their antics. "Yeah… like I said. Rude. Each card has a mind of its own. Personality too, apparently."

Betrayal drifted back into the deck with a final scoff, disappearing into the stack as if it had never moved.

Leo blinked a few times, then let out a breathless laugh. "Okay, that's both terrifying and kind of awesome."

Kealix chuckled under his breath, surprised at how natural it felt to laugh again, even a little. "You get used to it. They're weird, but they've saved my life already."

"And you said you can make relics?" Leo asked, still watching the tarot deck like it might leap at him again.

"I think so. That part's still kind of blurry. Ever since I awakened, it's like I know how to make things—but I don't always know what they'll do until I try."

Leo's grin somehow grew even wider, lighting up his face like a sunbeam through storm clouds. "Relic creation, huh? That's rare. I've never heard of anyone who could make them the way you can. Most relics people create are minor—like, I dunno, a self-refilling water bottle or a cloak that always stays dry." He gave a short laugh, his voice full of genuine excitement. "But this? Tarot cards with minds of their own? That could be really useful. Honestly, I'm glad you're traveling with us."

Kealix felt a flicker of warmth at the words. Praise wasn't something he was used to. Not without expectation or strings attached. "Thanks," he muttered, brushing his thumb over the edge of a card in the deck. "Still figuring it out."

Leo clapped a fist against his chest with the flair of someone too proud to be humble. "Anyway, as for me? My capabilities are pretty straightforward." He flexed an arm with exaggerated bravado. "Enhanced physical traits—speed, strength, endurance. Nothing flashy. Pretty boring compared to relic magic or cool tarot voodoo."

"But effective?" Kealix asked, raising a brow.

"Very effective," Leo replied with a grin full of self-assurance.

Kealix smirked. "Is that why you eat like a starving beast?"

At that, Leo chuckled sheepishly and rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah… that's part of it. My abilities are fully physical, so I burn through calories like crazy. It's not optional—I have to eat, or I start losing strength fast."

He let out a small sigh, shoulders dropping just a bit. "Mages don't need to eat nearly as much as warriors like me. Their power isn't tied to the body the same way. So yeah, they're the lucky ones. Especially considering getting the mage class in the first place is super rare. It's like the universe just hands them a golden ticket."

Kealix tilted his head slightly. "Wait, there are only two main classes? Mage and warrior?"

Leo nodded. "More or less. They branch out later, but everyone starts in one of the two. Warrior for body, mage for mind. The rest unfolds from there."

That made sense, sort of. Kealix filed the information away, though it sparked another question: What was he? His powers didn't feel strictly magical or physical. Where did relic creation even fall?

He looked down at his deck again as if the cards might have an answer. They didn't speak—thankfully—but they buzzed faintly, a low hum of energy just beneath his fingers. Something told him he hadn't even scratched the surface.

 

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