The forest whispered as Ren pushed deeper into Ebonveil. His Black Celestial pulsed faintly on his arm, each beat a reminder of the curse carved into his soul. He had survived his first Hollowborn, but only barely. His body ached, and the weight of mistrust gnawed at him.
That was when he heard the sound soft footsteps, not his own.
"Stay where you are," a voice called, sharp as steel.
Ren turned. A girl emerged from the shadows, silver hair cascading to her shoulders, a staff in her hand. Her eyes glowed faintly with starlight a Celestial mark spiraled across her cheek, delicate but dangerous.
She didn't lower her staff. "You're not from here."
Ren met her gaze without flinching. "And you are?"
"Aria Valenheart," she said. "Mage of the Northern Court. Or I was… before I left."
The way she said it carried weight like a truth hiding knives.
Before Ren could speak, the ground trembled. From the trees burst a Hollowborn twisted, half-human, half-beast, its chest torn open where a Celestial mark had once glowed.
Aria's staff lit up instantly. Flames spiraled around her, forming into lances. "Stay out of my way."
Ren's Black Celestial pulsed. His instincts screamed. She was strong but Celestials cut both ways. Could he trust her?
The Hollowborn roared, charging. Aria launched fire lances that pierced its shadowed flesh, but the creature kept coming. Ren moved on instinct, rushing forward, grabbing a fallen blade from the ground. His mark burned black.
He slashed, and for a moment, he felt his body move faster, stronger a remnant of the power he had stolen from betrayal. The Hollowborn shrieked and fell, consumed by black fire.
Aria lowered her staff, staring at him. "…That wasn't normal. Your Celestial. What is it?"
Ren hesitated. Every instinct told him not to answer. But if this girl was an enemy, she would know eventually. "…It's not like yours. I carry the Black Celestial. Every betrayal against me becomes mine to bear."
Her eyes widened. Shock? Fear? Pity? He couldn't tell.
"That curse…" she whispered. "It should have killed you. No one survives a Black Celestial."
Ren's voice was flat. "I did."
Silence hung between them heavy, sharp. Then, faintly, she smiled. But it wasn't a smile of comfort. It was one filled with secrets.
Before Ren could question her, another sound cut through the forest the clash of steel.
From the trees stumbled a man in tattered armor, a longsword in hand. His dark hair fell over sharp eyes, and a faint Celestial mark shimmered on his arm like a brand of fire.
"Stay back!" he shouted, swinging his blade at the Hollowborn that had followed him. He struck true, cleaving it down, then turned to Ren and Aria. "…You two don't look like enemies. At least, not yet."
Ren eyed him carefully.
The man smirked. "Kael Draven. Mercenary. Not here to kill you. Unless you try something first."
Aria muttered under her breath, "A mercenary, great…"
Kael caught it but only laughed. "Relax, I've had my fair share of betrayals too. I don't swing at allies unless they give me a reason."
Ren's Black Celestial pulsed again. Three strangers, bound by scars, all with eyes that spoke of broken pasts. Allies? Enemies? Time would decide.
But as the shadows thickened around them, the forest itself whispered of more Hollowborn approaching.
Ren raised his blade. "Whether we trust each other or not… we fight together, or we die here."
Aria lifted her staff, Kael his sword. For the first time since arriving in this cursed world, Ren stood with others.
And in Ebonveil, that was the most dangerous choice of all.