The valley lay in ruins. Smoke curled from the shattered arena stones, and the once-glorious runes of the trial were broken beyond repair.
Arhaan stood alone at its center, his chains still glowing faintly crimson-gold, blood dripping down his torn arms. Every disciple stared down at him in stunned silence.
Not one dared cheer. Not one dared mock.
Because in their hearts, they all knew—
He had broken heaven's judgment.
---
The Sect Divided
On the cliffside, whispers rippled like wildfire.
"He survived…"
"He didn't just survive—he won."
"No… he's not one of us anymore. He's something else."
Some disciples looked at him with awe, others with terror. And some, with jealousy sharper than blades.
---
The Elders' Chamber
That night, the elders gathered in their private hall.
Elder Rahn slammed his staff down, his voice sharp.
"He is a danger. You all saw it—those chains were not forged by mortal hands. If we allow him to remain, he will eclipse every disciple we've trained."
Another elder shook her head.
"And if we try to kill him, and fail? Then the heavens themselves may turn against us. Do you not feel it? His awakening shook the bindings of fate. To strike him now could doom us all."
The chamber filled with argument—fear, ambition, rage all clashing.
Finally, Elder Rahn hissed,
"Then we watch him. If he slips once—just once—he will be erased."
---
Selene in the Shadows
Outside the chamber, hidden in the rafters, Selene listened silently.
Through her veil, her eyes glimmered with quiet satisfaction.
So. The boy has taken his first step.
She turned, vanishing into the night, her voice a whisper to the wind.
"Now… the true chains will begin to break."