The smoke from the burning truck still curled into the sky like a dark ribbon when Kresor Veil finally collapsed. His breath shook thin, broken, uneven as if the world had become too heavy to inhale. The silver-haired man beside him, Kael Hightower, lowered himself to one knee and placed a gloved hand on Kresor's shoulder.
"Easy," Kael murmured. "Your body's still in shock. Don't force anything."
Shock.
Such a simple word for the storm inside him. Kresor didn't speak. He couldn't. His throat felt tight, as if hands of invisible frost were squeezing it from the inside. The other three Order agents surrounded the scene, scanning for threats. Their faces held a strange mix caution, awe, fear.Mostly fear.
"K-Commander…" one agent whispered, voice trembling, "how can a boy create… that?" Kael didn't answer. His eyes stayed on Kresor soft, worried, and strangely sad. "Bring the Arcane Cart," Kael commanded. At once, the agents moved.
❖
Minutes later, Kresor heard a low hum.A strange metallic glow bathed the cracked pavement. A massive carriage rolled forward six wheels of black alloy, runes etched along every edge, pulsing with muted silver light. Two artificial steeds pulled it horses forged from metal plates and Aether crystal joints, their eyes glowing faint blue.
They weren't animals. They were essence-forged constructs—war machines shaped into the comfort of a familiar form. The "horse-cart." Its interior shimmered softly reinforced with purity steel, lined with runic coils that hummed like a heartbeat. A floating lantern swung inside without a chain, reacting to the presence of life. It wasn't built to travel.It was built to contain.
To restrain threats. To transport monsters.
Kresor shivered.
Kael noticed."Don't let the design scare you," he said gently. "It's simply protocol."
But his tone was too careful. Too practiced. Kresor understood what he wasn't saying. They feared him. Of course they did. He feared himself too.
❖ The Cart That Felt Like a Cage
Inside the cart, the air was warmer but heavy. The walls curved inward slightly, a subtle cage-like pressure that Kresor could almost feel against his spine.
He sat on a cushioned bench, hands shaky, eyes unfocused. Across from him sat Kael and one agent Captain Lyren, a woman with sharp golden eyes and a jaw tense enough to crack stone. She watched Kresor like one watches a blade lying too close to the throat. Kael offered him a flask."Drink. Slowly."
Kresor accepted.The water felt like swallowing liquid truths. "What… what happened to me?" he whispered. Lyren responded before Kael could.
"You unleashed a Purity Surge. High-tier. Multiple casualties avoided. Property destruction level three. Civil threat level unclassified." She leaned forward. "And the man who owned you is now dead."
Kresor flinched as if struck.His breath hitched. "I didn't mean" Lyren's stare hardened."That doesn't matter."Kael shot her a warning look.
"That's enough," he said calmly.
But she didn't back down."Commander, you saw the damage. This is no ordinary awakening. He could destabilize the entire district" "Lyren." Kael's voice cut, colder now. "I said enough."
Silence thickened like wet cloth. Kresor lowered his head, trembling.He felt like something small trapped in a giant's fist.
"Am I…"He swallowed."…a monster?"
He asked it quietly. So quietly it was almost a confession. Kael's expression softened. He leaned slightly forward, voice low, warm not romantic, but the warmth Kresor never had.
"You are a child who survived things no child should. That alone proves you're not a monster."
Kresor's chest ached at the words.Something fragile cracked inside him. Lyren looked away, uncomfortable. The cart rumbled forward, the metal horses clanking softly as they moved through the district. Rain began to fall thin, cold lines tapping against the metallic roof.
Kael continued gently, "Kresor… did you ever feel anything strange before today? Vibrations? Pressure in your chest?"
Kresor nodded slowly. "For months. Like… something sleeping inside me."
Lyren scribbled on a tablet. Kael tilted his head slightly.
"Did you ever see silver light before today?"
"…Only once." He hesitated."A few weeks ago. When I touched a wooden plank… it cracked. I thought it was just… me." Kael exchanged a silent look with Lyren one that held meaning Kresor wasn't trained to read. Lyren muttered, "Unstable. High purity. Untested. The Council will want him restrained." Kael ignored her.
"Kresor," Kael said softly. "Do you know anything about your family?"
"My… my mother." A lump formed in his throat. "She died when I was seven. My father too. I don't remember their faces clearly. Just her voice."
"What did she tell you?" Kael asked gently. Kresor closed his eyes.
"…'Remember who you are.'"
Kael inhaled sharply. Just for a second. Lyren noticed. Her eyes narrowed. Kael recovered quickly, offering a faint smile."A beautiful thing to leave behind."
Kresor searched Kael's faceas if trying to see if this man knew more than he let on. He didn't ask. He was too scared of the answer. The cart swayed gently.The city lights blurred through the rain-streaked window. For the first time in years, Kresor wasn't freezing.
But he wasn't safe either.
❖ Arrival The House of Judgement
The cart halted abruptly.A metallic whine echoed through the frame. Lyren opened the door. Cold air rushed in. Kresor stepped out. Before him rose a towering fortressthe Eastern Branch of the Order of Grace.Black stone, silver sigils, massive spires reaching like fingers clawing at the sky. Lanterns of Aether flame floated above the entrance, illuminating armed sentinels and rows of armored agents. Every face turned toward him.
Fear.Curiosity.Suspicion.
Whispers spread like smoke:
"Is that the boy?""He caused the explosion.""Look at his eyes too calm.""What purity level is he?""Dangerous.""Unstable."
Kresor lowered his gaze, chest tightening. Kael placed a steadying hand on his shoulder."Walk. With me." Kresor followed.
Through cold halls lined with portraits of past Commanders.Through echoing chambers of marble and metal.Through a corridor that swallowed sound like a hungry beast.
Finally, they entered a meeting hall. A long table.Twelve high-ranking officers.Documents stacked like accusations.
At the head sat Lord Marshal Dravien grey hair, sharper eyes than a hawk, presence cold enough to freeze rivers. Kresor stood at the center, surrounded by people who had the power to erase him from existence. Dravien lifted a paper and clicked his tongue."Civil destruction. Unauthorized awakening. Potential purity anomaly. Possible heritage contamination."
He glanced at Kresor.
"Boy. Did you intend to kill?"
"No!" Kresor's voice cracked.
"Did you attempt to restrain the surge?"
"I I didn't know how"
"Did you feel pleasure from the destruction?"
Kresor stumbled backward."What? No! Why would I "
Dravien raised a hand for silence.
"It was a test. Monsters enjoy their own chaos."
Kresor's heart collapsed inward.It felt like falling without a ground. Kael stepped forward suddenly, voice firm, calm, sharp.
"Lord Marshal. With all due respect, this line of questioning is inappropriate."
Dravien's cold eyes turned toward him."You defend him, Commander Hightower?"
Kael did not hesitate.
"I do."
The hall fell silent. Kael continued, "The surge was uncontrolled because the boy was abused, untrained, and terrified. He is not a threat. He is a child who needs guidance. Protection. A chance." Lyren stepped forward reluctantly."His energy readings are… unstable, yes. But he shows no signs of intentional harm." Dravien's gaze hardened. "And what of his heritage? His name Veil. A cursed line. A wiped-out family."
Kresor froze.
He didn't know.He didn't understand.His mother never told him.His guardian never told him.
Kael spoke calmly."His past is not a crime." Dravien leaned back."And who takes responsibility for him, then? If he loses control again? If he kills someone? If he falls into the wrong hands? Who claims him?" Kael's answer came like a blade of light cutting through darkness.
"I will."
Every officer stiffened.
Dravien's jaw tightened."You would adopt him?"
Kael nodded."Yes." The hall erupted in low murmurs, shock rippling through the ranks. Kresor stared at Kael eyes wide, breath trembling.Nobody had ever claimed him before.Nobody had ever wanted him.
Dravien slammed a gavel.
"Silence."
He studied Kael for a long moment. "Very well… Commander. The boy will be placed under your guardianship. Temporarily." Kresor exhaled shakily—relief striking through him like a warm tide. "But," Dravien continued, "he will be sent to Aetherion Academy for proper training. Effective immediately."
Kael nodded."I expected nothing less."
Dravien dismissed them with a wave.
"Take the boy. Prepare the transfer."
The meeting ended.
But the weight of it stayed in the air like the shadow of a storm.
❖ As They Walked Away…
In the hallway, Kresor walked beside Kael quiet, trembling, overwhelmed.
"Why… why would you do that?" he whispered."Why help me?" Kael looked down at him with a gentle, unreadable smile.
"Because no one should face a cruel world alone."
"But you don't know me…"
Kael shook his head.
"I know enough."He paused."And… I know what it means to be feared for what you never asked to be."
Kresor blinked. He didn't understand. Not yet.
But something warm curled in his chest a soft, fragile spark. The first warmth he had felt in years. Kael placed a light hand on his shoulder.
"Kresor Veil," he said softly, "your life is changing. It won't be easy. But it will be yours." For a moment, Kresor felt like the world wasn't collapsing but unfolding.
Outside the hall, the lanterns flickered as if bowing to a new dawn.And somewhere deep inside the fortress, a sleeping force stirredwatching, waiting, whispering. The boy of forgotten bloodline had been claimed.
The Academy awaited.And destiny… finally noticed his name.