Morning did not wash Edrin clean of the darkness from the night before.
The air still stood stagnant with a shallow gloom.
The well stood at the center of the village like a witness that refused to speak.
Villagers gathered in a cautious ring around it, voices low, eyes restless. No one stepped too close.
The demon's body had dissipated into ashes the night before. The only thing left of it was just a long, shallow gouge carved into the stone beside the well… like something had been dragged into nothingness. The ground beside the well was charred in the shape of a malformed body.
"Something died here last night" one man whispered.
"What could have killed it" another whispered
No one laughed.
Kael stood at the edge of the crowd. Unnoticed.
The way he preferred.
"…Kael."
Selene's voice, softer than the morning air.
He didn't turn to her, instead his hand tightened around hers.
"Everyone's talking about it," she said, stepping beside him. "They're saying it's a spirit. Or a curse. Or—"
"A demon," Kael finished.
She hesitated.
"…You believe that?"
Kael's gaze didn't leave the well.
"I don't know what I believe."
A lie.
But not one he could explain.
Because something inside him did know.
It had known the moment the creature had appeared.
The moment it lunged at him.
A faint pressure stirred beneath his ribs. A subtle awareness and hunger.
Kael exhaled slowly, his mind in a web of confusion and self doubt.
He thought hard about it but couldn't figure anything out. So he ignored it.
*********
They came before noon. The hooves of their armor clad horses digging deep into the earth leaving prints even rain couldn't wash.
They came to the remote Village like shadows. There was no fanfare, not even their Horses neighed. They were just… suddenly present.
Four figures rode into the village square, their movements precise, controlled. Their cloaks were a dark purple. The burning heart insignias faint but unmistakable on their armor. That is.... to those who knew what to look for.
Most villagers didn't.
But their instincts still told them the guest weren't soft persimmons.
The crowd parted without being told, their eyes round with awe.
At the forefront of the four man entourage stood a man with eyes like cooled steel. His head hair was tied back by a black string. His face as cold as his eyes. A deep scar lined his face amplifying the grim plaguing his sharp features.
Commander Vaelor Grimm.
His gaze swept over the gathered villagers once. The cold dismissal in his gaze sent shivers down their spines.
Then—
It stopped.
On Kael.
Not for long.
Just a second.
But in that second…
Something in Kael's chest tightened.
"…He sees you," the whisper inside him murmured.
Kael's jaw clenched.
Be quiet.
Vaelor turned away as if nothing had happened.
"Who witnessed it?" he asked.
His voice carried without effort.
Silence.
Selene stepped forward before Kael could stop her.
"I did."
Kael's breath hitched in his throat.
"Selene—"
She didn't look at him.
"I heard it. Saw… part of it."
Vaelor's gaze returned.
This time, sharper.
"Describe it."
Selene hesitated.
Her fingers tightened slightly in her shawl.
"It… looked human. But Its voice…" she swallowed, "there were too many of them."
A murmur rippled through the villagers.
Vaelor nodded once.
"Sinborn, likely early stage."
His eyes flicked—briefly—to Kael again.
Then back to Selene.
"And you survived."
Not a question. The suspicion in his tone drenched Kael's back in cold sweat.
Selene faltered.
"…Yes."
Vaelor dropped down from his horse and stepped closer to the teenage girl in brown linen.
Close enough that most would shrink back.
Selene didn't.
But Kael moved anyway, positioning himself just within reach.
Vaelor noticed.
Of course he did.
"…And you?" Vaelor said, without looking directly at him.
"You saw it too."
Kael met his gaze.
Unflinching.
"Yes."
"What did you do?" Vaelor asked.
The question landed heavier than it should have.
Kael's mind flickered back to the night—
The creature.
Its voice.
The moment his hand closed around its heart—
The way it broke.
"…Nothing," Kael said.
The whisper inside him laughed.
Vaelor watched him for a long second.
Then—
He smirked.
The amusement in his gaze caused heat to rise up to Kael's pale face.
The man could see through his lie and Kael knew that too.
Selene stepped forward again.
"He saved me."
That shifted things.
Vaelor's gaze lingered on Kael a moment longer, the smile on his face still present.
Then he turned.
"Prepare the sigil."
One of the Order members stepped forward, kneeling by the gouged stone. They placed a hand against it, and faint light spread outward—thin lines forming a pattern too complex to follow.
The air changed subtly. The once still air had grown tumultuous.
Kael felt it instantly.
The thing inside stirred again.
Stronger this time.
"…they're knocking," it whispered.
Kael's fingers curled slightly.
Stop.
The sigil flared.
For a brief moment—
The world stood still.
Something vast pressed against it.
Kael staggered a little. Barely noticeable.
But Vaelor saw.
"…Interesting," he murmured.
The sigil faded.
But the feeling of dread remained.
Vaelor straightened.
Decision already made.
"You," he said.
This time, directly to Kael.
"You're coming with us."
Selene's breath caught.
"What?"
Kael didn't react outwardly, but his heart grew wild with complex emotions.
"In three days," Vaelor continued, "we conduct an entrance trial in the capital."
His tone left no room for refusal.
"You will participate."
Selene stepped forward, panic creeping in now. She regretted it. She shouldn't have said anything.
"He's not—he's just—he doesn't know anything about—"
"That's exactly why," Vaelor cut in.
His gaze sharpened.
"If he survives," he said calmly, "he's useful."
A pause.
Then—
"If he doesn't… the problem resolves itself."
Heavy silence fell like a shroud over the village.
Though they had never cared for the siblings, their heart still hurt at the thought of the little boy going to the capital on his own.
Kael exhaled slowly.
Inside him—
Something stirred. Excitement.
"…good," the whisper purred.
Vaelor got on his horse and turned to leave.
The others followed, flanking their most revered commander.
Selene grabbed Kael's arm.
Her voice low, urgent.
"You can't go with them."
Kael looked at her.
Really looked.
"I have to."
"Why?"
He didn't answer immediately.
Because the truth wasn't simple.
Because part of him already knew:
If he stayed…
Something worse would happen.
And part of him—
The part that was waking—
Wanted to see what came next.
"…Because they're already here," he said quietly.
Selene's grip tightened.
"…Then I'm coming too."
Kael shook his head.
"No."
Her expression hardened.
"I'm not letting you leave me."
A flicker of something passed through him.
"…I won't," he said.
But neither of them knew if that was a promise…
Or a lie.