The mana serpent was even more terrifying up close.
Its body was easily thirty feet long, thick as a tree trunk, covered in scales that shimmered between silver and emerald green. Each scale looked sharp enough to cut flesh, and when it moved, they made a sound like knives sliding against one another. Its eyes—three of them, arranged in a triangle on its wedge-shaped head—burned with an intelligence that was distinctly wrong for an animal.
And it was charging straight at him.
Nolan's barrier flickered, the blue energy unstable. He had no idea how he'd even created it—instinct, desperation, the power responding to his need. But he could feel it draining him already, pulling at something deep inside his chest.
Let me help, Diablo whispered urgently. You can't win this alone. You're untrained, exhausted. Let me guide your hand and we'll—
"No!" Nolan gritted out, pouring more energy into the barrier.
The serpent hit it with the force of a battering ram.
The impact drove Nolan back several feet, his boots digging furrows in the cobblestones. Pain lanced through his arms as if he'd tried to catch a falling boulder. The barrier held—barely—spiderweb cracks spreading across its surface.
The beast reared back for another strike.
"Move!" someone shouted.
An arrow slammed into one of the serpent's eyes, and the creature shrieked, thrashing its head wildly. The archer—a lean dwarf with dark skin and hair tied back—was already nocking another arrow, this one glowing with faint orange light.
"Kaida, bind it!" he yelled.
The water mage thrust her hands forward, and the fountain in the center of the square erupted. Water streamed through the air like living ropes, wrapping around the serpent's body, trying to pin it down. The beast fought against the restraints, its immense strength making the water mage grit her teeth with effort.
"I can't... hold it... long!" she gasped. Sweat poured down her face, her hands trembling.
The swordswoman—the one with auburn hair—had recovered enough to rejoin the fight. She charged forward with a battle cry, her blade gleaming with what looked like white fire. She aimed for the serpent's exposed underbelly, but the creature twisted impossibly fast, and her strike only scored a shallow cut across its scales.
It lashed out with its tail.
The swordswoman tried to dodge, but she was too close. The tail caught her in the ribs, and Nolan heard the sickening crack of bones breaking. She flew backward, crashing into a wall, her sword clattering away across the stones.
She didn't get up this time.
"SELENE!" The archer's concentration broke for just a moment, his next shot going wide.
That moment cost them.
The serpent broke free of the water restraints with a surge of power that sent Kaida stumbling backward. It moved like lightning, faster than something that size had any right to move, and suddenly it was right in front of the water mage, jaws wide, venom dripping from fangs the length of daggers.
Kaida raised her hands, but Nolan could see she wouldn't be fast enough. Wouldn't survive.
Now, Diablo urged. NOW. Save her. Show them what you can do.
This time, Nolan didn't argue.
He moved.
The world seemed to slow down as the power flooded through him. He crossed the distance between himself and Kaida in the space between heartbeats, so fast that observers would later swear he'd simply appeared in front of her. His hands came up, and blue energy erupted outward in a wave that caught the serpent mid-strike.
The beast's momentum reversed.
It flew backward like it had been hit by a trebuchet, its massive body smashing through a market stall in an explosion of splintered wood and scattered merchandise. Before it could recover, Nolan was on it, running with speed that shouldn't have been human, his fists blazing with crackling energy.
He'd never been in a real fight before three days ago. Had no training, no technique, no style.
But the power knew what to do.
His first punch caught the serpent in its wounded eye socket, and the creature's shriek split the air. His second strike hit its jaw, snapping its head sideways. The third—
The beast's tail whipped around and caught him in the chest.
Nolan felt ribs crack as he was launched into the air. He hit the cobblestones hard enough to crater them, pain exploding through his entire body. For a moment, he couldn't breathe, couldn't think.
Weak, Diablo hissed. You hesitate. You hold back. STOP FIGHTING ME.
The serpent loomed over him, blood streaming from its ruined eye, its remaining two eyes burning with rage. It opened its jaws impossibly wide, venom dripping onto Nolan's face, burning like acid where it touched skin.
Nolan's hand shot up, catching the beast's jaw before it could close around his head. His palm sizzled where it touched the venom, but he didn't let go.
Blue energy poured from his hand directly into the creature's mouth.
The serpent's eyes widened. Its body went rigid. And then—
BOOM.
The energy exploded outward from inside the beast. Not enough to turn it to gore—Nolan retained that much control—but enough to send it flying backward, crashing through another building's wall. When it slid to the ground, it didn't move again. Unconscious, maybe dying, definitely defeated.
The square fell utterly silent.
Nolan lay in his crater, staring up at the sky, his entire body screaming in agony. The power was still there, still crackling around him in faint blue wisps, but it felt different now. Unstable. Like a door he'd opened too wide and now couldn't quite close.
See? Diablo's voice was smug. Together, we are unstoppable. Imagine what we could do if you stopped resisting.
Faces appeared above him. The archer, his expression caught between gratitude and suspicion. Kaida, her elvish features pale with shock. And the swordswoman—Selene—limping badly, blood matting her short auburn hair, her gray eyes sharp despite the pain she had to be in.
"Who are you?" Selene demanded, her voice hoarse but commanding. Even injured, she radiated authority.
Nolan tried to sit up and immediately regretted it. Pain lanced through his chest—at least three broken ribs, possibly more. "I'm... nobody. Just... was passing by..."
"Nobody." Selene knelt beside him with a grimace, studying his face with an intensity that made him want to look away. "Nobody just happens to have that kind of power and uses it to save complete strangers from a Venomscale Wyrm."
"I just... I saw you were in trouble..." Nolan's head was spinning. He needed to get away, needed to hide before they asked more questions he couldn't answer.
"Your power," Kaida interjected, her musical elven accent making even her concern sound elegant. "It's incredibly unstable. Raw. You have no proper control at all, do you?"
Nolan shook his head weakly. "I... I only awakened recently. I don't really know how to use it yet."
That much was true. Three days ago he'd had nothing. Now he had more power than he knew what to do with and absolutely no idea how to control it without Diablo's "help."
"Recently?" The archer—the dwarf—laughed, but it sounded strained. "Brother, you just threw around enough power to level a building. 'Recently' doesn't usually come with that kind of punch."
A crowd was gathering now that the immediate danger had passed. Nolan could hear whispers, feel dozens of eyes on him. His hands were still glowing faintly, and he couldn't make them stop.
They fear you already, Diablo whispered. Good. Fear is the beginning of respect.
"Can you stand?" Selene's question cut through both the crowd noise and Diablo's voice.
"I... think so?"
She offered him a hand. After a moment's hesitation, Nolan took it. She pulled him to her feet with surprising strength for someone with broken ribs. Up close, he could see the determination in her eyes, the set of her jaw. This was someone who didn't back down. Ever.
"What's your name?" she asked.
"Nolan. Nolan Thorne."
"Selene Ashford." She gestured to her companions. "The elf is Kaida Silvervein. The dwarf with the bow is Darion Stonebreaker."
"We call ourselves the Warriors Three," Darion said, shouldering his bow despite the suspicion still evident in his dark eyes. "Professional adventurers, monster hunters, problem solvers."
"And apparently, people who needed rescuing today," Kaida added with a slight smile, though her lavender eyes were still studying Nolan carefully. "Thank you. Truly. I would be dead if not for you."
"We all would be," Selene said, her voice softening slightly. "That wyrm was supposed to be a standard cleanup job. Someone gave us very bad intelligence."
Before Nolan could respond, a new voice cut through the crowd.
"Warriors Three! Stand down!"
The crowd parted, and a squad of guards pushed through—six of them, wearing the mixed armor that marked them as capital guardsmen. Their leader, a stern-faced human woman with captain's insignia, strode forward with her hand on her sword hilt.
"Captain Thera," Selene said with forced casualness. "Always a pleasure."
"Spare me, Ashford." The captain's eyes swept over the destruction—the broken stalls, the unconscious wyrm, the cratered cobblestones where Nolan had fallen. "This is the third incident this month. Your license is already on probation."
"This was a contracted job!" Selene protested. "We were hired to—"
"I don't care who hired you. The Council is tired of explaining property damage to merchants." Captain Thera's gaze shifted to Nolan, and her expression hardened further. "And who's this?"
"He helped us," Darion said quickly. "Saved our lives, actually."
"How noble." The captain didn't look impressed. "Name."
"Nolan Thorne," Nolan said, trying not to flinch under her scrutiny.
"Registered mage?"
"I... no. I only just arrived in the capital today."
"Unregistered." Captain Thera's hand tightened on her sword. "Using magic in public without Guild certification is illegal, boy. That's three months in the city jail or a thousand silver fine. Your choice."
Nolan's blood ran cold. He didn't have a thousand silver. He barely had the clothes on his back. And three months in jail meant no finding his grandfather, no answers, no—
"He's with us," Selene said firmly.
The captain's eyebrow rose. "Excuse me?"
"He's our newest team member. We take full responsibility for him. We'll escort him to the Mage's Guild, get him registered properly." Selene met the captain's gaze without flinching. "Consider it part of our community service for the property damage."
Captain Thera studied them all for a long moment. Finally, she sighed. "Fine. But I want him registered by tomorrow, Ashford. And if I catch him using magic without certification again..." She let the threat hang in the air.
"Understood, Captain."
The guards withdrew, though not before giving Nolan several more suspicious looks. The crowd was dispersing now too, already spreading gossip about the mysterious mage who'd appeared out of nowhere.
When they were relatively alone again, Selene turned to Nolan.
"Congratulations," she said dryly. "You're now a member of the Warriors Three. Well, Four now, I suppose."
"I didn't agree to—"
"Would you prefer jail?" Kaida asked sweetly.
"I... no, but—"
"Then welcome to the team." Darion clapped him on the shoulder, making him wince. "Don't worry. We'll get you sorted out. But first—" He looked at Selene and Kaida, both of whom were clearly in pain despite trying to hide it. "We need a healer. Now."
"Agreed," Selene said, already limping toward the edge of the square. "Come on. Our headquarters isn't far. We've got a regular healer who owes us a favor."
Nolan followed, partly because he had no other choice and partly because his legs were barely holding him up. His ribs screamed with every breath, and the power drain had left him feeling hollow and exhausted.
You should have let me take full control, Diablo grumbled. We wouldn't be injured at all.
"And what would that cost me?" Nolan thought back.
Everything. Eventually. But you'd be strong.
"I'll take injured and human over strong and gone, thanks."
Fool.
They walked through the city streets, and Nolan tried not to gawk at everything despite his exhaustion. Eldoria was overwhelming—buildings of stone and wood and living trees, shops selling everything imaginable, people of all three races moving about their business. Magic was everywhere, casual and constant.
The Warriors Three's headquarters turned out to be a modest townhouse tucked between a blacksmith's shop and a bookstore. The building was three stories, narrow but well-maintained, with a small sign out front: WARRIORS THREE - PROBLEMS SOLVED, MONSTERS SLAIN, REASONABLE RATES.
"Home," Selene said, unlocking the door. "Not much, but it's ours."
Inside was surprisingly comfortable. The ground floor served as an office—a large desk covered in papers and maps, weapons hung on the walls, a few comfortable chairs arranged around a cold fireplace. Stairs led up to what were presumably living quarters.
"Sit," Kaida commanded, pointing Nolan to a chair. "I'll fetch the healer. Selene, don't move. Darion, make sure they both stay put."
She disappeared up the stairs, moving with surprising speed for someone who'd just fought a giant serpent.
Darion busied himself starting a fire in the hearth, muttering about how they all needed tea. Selene collapsed into a chair across from Nolan, her face pale but her eyes still sharp.
"So," she said. "Nolan Thorne. Where are you from?"
Here it came. The questions. Nolan had known they'd come eventually, but he still wasn't ready for them.
"North," he said carefully. "Small village in the mountains. Lintbloom. In elf territory."
"Long way from home."
"Yeah."
"What brought you to the capital?"
Nolan hesitated. How much could he safely say? How much should he say?
Tell them nothing, Diablo advised. The more they know, the more dangerous they become. To you and to themselves.
For once, Nolan agreed with the voice.
"I... I lost my family," he said quietly. It was true. True enough. "Mana beasts attacked our home. They didn't survive. I came here because..." He touched the pendant hidden under his shirt, feeling its weight. "Because I had nowhere else to go."
Selene's expression softened. "I'm sorry. That's... that's a hard thing to lose."
"The beasts that attacked," Darion said from the fireplace, his tone carefully neutral. "What kind were they?"
"I don't know. Big. Wolf-like. They could talk." Nolan shuddered at the memory. "One of them said... said something about a master. About searching for something."
The three warriors exchanged glances—meaningful ones that made Nolan's instincts prickle.
"What?" he asked.
"Nothing," Selene said, but her jaw had tightened. "Just... there have been reports. Organized mana beast attacks. Usually targeting specific people or places. The Council thinks it might be connected to a cult that's been operating in the capital."
"A cult?"
"The Eternal Flame," Darion supplied, settling into a chair with a cup of tea. "Human supremacists. Nasty bunch. They believe humans should rule Eldoria, that the other races are inferior. They've been quiet for years, but lately..." He shrugged. "Lately they're getting bolder."
The name sent ice through Nolan's veins. The Eternal Flame. That's what the werewolf had mentioned. That's who had killed his family.
And they will keep hunting you, Diablo whispered. Until they find what you carry. Until they rip it from your chest.
"You okay?" Selene asked, leaning forward. "You went pale."
"I'm fine. Just... tired. It's been a long few days."
"I bet." She studied him for another moment, then seemed to make a decision. "Look. I know you're keeping secrets. I get it—you barely know us, you've been through trauma, you don't owe us your life story. But if you're going to be part of this team, even temporarily, we need to know you're not going to be a liability."
"I won't be."
"Your power says otherwise." She gestured at him. "You're incredibly strong—stronger than anyone I've seen who just awakened. But you have zero control. You're dangerous, Nolan. To yourself and to anyone around you."
"I know." It hurt to admit it, but she was right. "I'm trying to learn. I just... I don't know how."
"That's what the Mage's Guild is for," Kaida said, descending the stairs with an elderly human woman in tow. "They have training programs, instructors, resources. They can help you understand your magic, build proper control."
The healer—a woman with kind eyes and hands that glowed with soft green light—set to work immediately. She examined Selene first, tutting over the broken ribs and various bruises, then moved to Nolan.
"Three cracked ribs, extensive bruising, minor burns from venom exposure," she announced after a moment. "You're lucky. That wyrm could have killed you."
"It tried," Nolan said.
"Hold still."
Her magic felt different from anything Nolan had experienced—warm, gentle, like sunshine on skin. The pain in his ribs eased gradually as bones knit and bruises faded. Not completely healed, but better. Manageable.
"That's all I can do today," the healer said, straightening. "Both of you need rest. Real rest. No adventuring for at least three days."
"Three days?" Selene protested. "We have contracts—"
"Three days, or those ribs will break again the first time you swing that sword." The healer's tone brooked no argument. "I mean it, Selene. Your body needs time."
After the healer left (with payment from Darion, who waved away Selene's protests about team funds), they sat in comfortable silence for a while. The fire crackled. Tea was poured. Slowly, Nolan felt himself beginning to relax for the first time in days.
These people had saved him from jail. Had offered him a place to stay, help with registration, a chance to get his feet under him in this overwhelming city.
Maybe he could trust them. Not with everything—never with everything—but with enough.
"Thank you," he said quietly. "For... for helping me. You didn't have to."
"You saved our lives," Kaida said simply. "We don't forget debts like that."
"Besides," Darion added with a grin, "you're interesting. Mysterious past, incredible power, terrible control, and you showed up just when we needed you most. That's either fate or really good timing."
"Or really bad timing," Nolan muttered.
Selene laughed. "Maybe both. But whatever brought you here, you're here now. And you need help. We can provide that. In exchange—" She gestured around the office. "You help us. Join the team for real. We need the extra muscle, honestly. And you need people watching your back."
"I don't know how long I'll be in the capital," Nolan said. "I'm... I'm looking for someone. Family. When I find them, I might have to leave."
"That's fine. No contracts, no obligations. Just... while you're here, we work together. Sound fair?"
It did sound fair. More than fair, really.
"Okay," Nolan said. "I'm in. Temporarily."
"Temporarily," Selene agreed with a smile. Then she stood, wincing slightly. "Now. Let me show you the rest of the house. We've got a spare room upstairs—it's small, but it's yours if you want it. Better than sleeping on the street."
The spare room turned out to be on the second floor, tucked between what were clearly Selene and Kaida's rooms. It was indeed small—just a bed, a small desk, a wardrobe, and a window that looked out over the street below. But it was clean and warm and safe.
"It's perfect," Nolan said, and meant it.
"Good. Get some rest. Tomorrow we'll take you to the Mage's Guild, get you registered, maybe start working on your control issues." Selene paused in the doorway. "And Nolan? Whatever you're running from, whatever secrets you're keeping... just know that we've all got our own demons. You don't have to share everything.
But if you ever need help, really need it..." She met his eyes. "We're here. That's what teammates do."
After she left, Nolan collapsed onto the bed, every muscle screaming.
He should have been planning his next move. Should have been figuring out how to find his grandfather, how to control the power, how to deal with Diablo's constant presence.
Instead, exhaustion pulled him under like a riptide.
His last conscious thought was that maybe, just maybe, he'd found something here. Not answers. Not safety—not really. But something almost as valuable.
Allies.
Don't get too comfortable, Diablo whispered as Nolan drifted off. Everyone betrays everyone eventually. It's just a matter of time.
But for once, Nolan didn't listen.
Nolan woke to voices.
Sunlight streamed through the window—morning, then. He'd slept through the entire night without nightmares, which was a small miracle. His body still ached, but it was manageable. The healer's magic had done its work.
He could hear people talking downstairs. Selene's voice, sharp and commanding. Kaida's musical tones. Darion's deeper rumble. And another voice—older, male, cultured.
Curious, Nolan got up and made his way downstairs as quietly as he could.
The office had been transformed. The desk was cleared, a simple breakfast spread laid out on it—bread, cheese, fruit, tea. The Warriors Three sat around it, and with them was a man Nolan hadn't seen before.
He looked to be in his fifties, though with mages it was hard to tell. Gray streaked his dark hair, and he wore expensive robes marked with official insignia—some kind of government position. His face was kind, his eyes sharp and intelligent behind reading glasses.
"Ah," the man said, looking up as Nolan entered. "You must be our mysterious rescuer. Selene's been telling me about yesterday's excitement."
"Father, this is Nolan Thorne," Selene said. "Nolan, this is my father, Minister Varrick Ashford. He... well, technically this is his house. We just commandeered the ground floor for the Warriors' headquarters."
"And I let you because I'm a permissive parent," Varrick said with obvious affection, standing to offer Nolan his hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you, young man. My daughter says you saved her life yesterday."
Nolan shook his hand, feeling suddenly very aware of his torn clothes and general disarray. "I... it wasn't anything special. Just happened to be there."
"Modesty. How refreshing." Varrick's smile was warm, genuine. "Please, sit. Join us for breakfast. You must be famished."
And Nolan was. He'd barely eaten in days, and the food smelled incredible. He sat, trying not to wolf down everything in sight.
"So," Varrick said conversationally as they ate, "Selene tells me you're new to the capital. Looking for family?"
"My grandfather," Nolan said between bites. "I've never met him, but my... my father told me he lived here. In the capital. I thought maybe he could help me."
"Help you with what, if you don't mind my asking?"
Nolan hesitated. How much could he say? Varrick seemed kind enough, but he was also clearly someone important. A minister. Someone with connections to the Council.
Trust no one, Diablo advised. Especially not those with power.
"Just... general help," Nolan said vaguely. "Getting settled. Understanding the city. I'm from a small village—all this is pretty overwhelming."
"I imagine it would be." Varrick's eyes were understanding.
"What's your grandfather's name? Perhaps I've heard of him. I've been working with the Council for over twenty years—I know most of the established mages in the capital."
"Kaelen," Nolan said, watching carefully for a reaction. "Just Kaelen. My father didn't give me a family name."
Varrick's expression flickered—just for a moment, something that might have been recognition—but it passed so quickly Nolan wasn't sure he'd seen it at all.
"Kaelen," the minister repeated thoughtfully. "That name does sound familiar. There was a mage by that name who worked as a consultant for the Council many years ago. Very skilled, very private. He specialized in seal-craft, if I recall correctly."
Nolan's heart leaped. "That might be him! Do you know where he is now?"
"I'm afraid not. He left the capital twenty years ago—shortly after I joined the Council, actually. No one knows where he went." Varrick's expression was genuinely apologetic. "But I can make some inquiries. I have access to old records, archives. If your grandfather is the same Kaelen, there might be information about where he went or why he left."
"That would..." Nolan swallowed hard. "That would mean everything. Thank you."
"Think nothing of it. Any friend of my daughter's is family as far as I'm concerned." Varrick poured more tea, his manner easy and comfortable. "In the meantime, you're welcome to stay here. The spare room is yours for as long as you need it."
"I couldn't possibly—"
"Nonsense. This house is far too large for just Selene and myself anyway. And frankly—" Varrick's expression grew more serious. "If you're carrying the kind of power my daughter described, you need stability. A safe place to train, to learn control.
The streets of Eldoria are no place for an untrained mage with your capabilities."
He wasn't wrong. And the offer was incredibly generous.
"Thank you," Nolan said again. "I promise I won't be a burden."
"I'm sure you won't." Varrick stood, gathering his things—papers, books, what looked like official documents. "I have meetings today, but when I return this evening, we'll talk more about your grandfather. And perhaps—" He glanced at Selene. "Perhaps you could bring your new teammate by my study. I have some books on power control that might be helpful. Old texts, but quite comprehensive."
"We're taking him to the Mage's Guild today to register," Selene said.
"Good, good. But afterward, stop by. I insist." With a final warm smile, Varrick headed for the stairs. "It was wonderful to meet you, Nolan. I have a feeling you're going to do great things."
After he left, Nolan turned to Selene. "Your father seems... really kind."
"He is," Selene said, and there was genuine love in her voice. "He's basically raised me alone since my mother died when I was ten. Supported my decision to become an adventurer even though it meant I couldn't follow him into politics. He's..." She smiled. "He's the best person I know."
How touching, Diablo commented dryly. The happy family. It won't last.
"Shut up," Nolan muttered without thinking.
"What?" Selene frowned.
"Nothing. Just... thinking out loud." He stood quickly, desperate to change the subject. "Should we head to the Guild? Get this registration over with?"
The Mage's Guild turned out to be exactly as Borin had described—a massive building in the Crystal Quarter, with a tower that seemed to reach toward the clouds. Inside was organized chaos: mages of all three races, all levels, all specialties, coming and going. Request boards covered the walls.
Magical items hummed with power in display cases.
Registration itself was tedious but straightforward. They took his name, his age, tested his mana levels (the examiner's eyes widened at the readings), and assigned him a provisional license.
"You're classified as Advanced Core minimum," the examiner said, handing him a small crystal badge. "Possibly higher—your readings are... unusual. You'll need to complete basic control certification within six months, or your license will be revoked."
"Control certification?"
"Classes. Training exercises. Proof that you can use your magic without endangering others." The examiner gave him a pointed look. "Given your power levels and apparent lack of formal training, I'd recommend starting immediately."
They scheduled his first class for two days from now, then left the Guild with Nolan's new badge clipped to his torn shirt.
"Official now," Darion said with satisfaction. "Welcome to the legitimate world of legal magic use."
"Feels weird," Nolan admitted.
"Give it time. You'll get used to it." Selene checked the sun's position. "We've got a few hours before my father gets home. Want to see the rest of the city? Get you properly outfitted?"
"Outfitted?"
"You're wearing rags, brother," Darion pointed out. "No offense, but you look like you've been living in the woods."
"I kind of have been."
They spent the afternoon showing Nolan around Eldoria. The markets where you could buy anything from enchanted weapons to exotic foods. The training grounds where warriors and mages practiced. The grand plaza where the Council building stood, its mixed architecture representing all three races.
They bought Nolan proper clothes with team funds—sturdy traveling gear, boots that actually fit, a cloak for cold nights. Darion insisted on getting him a decent knife as well.
"Every adventurer needs a backup weapon," the dwarf explained. "Magic's great until you're drained or someone hits you with a silence spell. Then you'll want steel."
By the time they returned to the townhouse, Nolan felt more human than he had in days. Clean clothes, full stomach, people who seemed genuinely happy to have him around.
It was dangerous, letting himself feel this comfortable. But he couldn't help it.
Varrick was already in his study when they arrived—the entire third floor, lined floor to ceiling with books and scrolls. He looked up from his work with that warm smile.
"Ah, excellent timing. Come in, come in." He gestured around the room. "Welcome to my personal library. Thirty years of collecting, researching, hoarding knowledge." He pulled several books from a shelf. "These should help you, Nolan.
Basic theory of mana control, exercises for stabilizing power flow, meditation techniques for maintaining focus."
Nolan took the books reverently. "Thank you. This is..."
"Just books," Varrick said with a wave of his hand. "Knowledge is meant to be shared." He settled back behind his desk, fingers steepled. "I did some digging today. About your grandfather."
Nolan's breath caught. "You found something?"
"Possibly. The records are... sparse. But there's a mention of Kaelen working on a special project for the Council twenty years ago. Something classified, highly secret. After he completed it, he simply vanished. No forwarding address, no contact information, nothing."
"What was the project?"
"That I couldn't determine. The records are sealed—Council eyes only." Varrick's expression was apologetic. "But I'm not giving up. I have colleagues, friends in high places. I'll keep looking. If your grandfather is still in the capital, or if there's any trail to follow, I'll find it."
"I can't thank you enough," Nolan said, and meant it.
"Family is important," Varrick said simply. "Even when we're searching for them." He glanced at Selene with obvious affection, then back to Nolan. "You've been through a lot, young man. Lost your family, awakened strange power, came to a city that must seem impossibly huge and confusing. But you're not alone. Not anymore."
Later that night, lying in his small room, Nolan stared at the ceiling and tried to process everything.
He had a place to stay. Food. Clothes. People who seemed to genuinely want to help him. Varrick was searching for his grandfather. The Guild would teach him control. Things were... good. Better than they'd been since his family died.
Don't trust it, Diablo whispered. This peace is an illusion. The cult still hunts you. I still live inside you. And everyone you've met today will suffer because of it.
"Maybe," Nolan thought back. "Or maybe I can actually make this work. Maybe I can learn to control you, find my grandfather, and actually have something like a normal life."
There is nothing normal about you. About us. The sooner you accept that, the better.
But as Nolan drifted off to sleep, surrounded by the sounds of his new teammates settling in for the night, he allowed himself to hope.
Just a little.