The newcomer's voice sliced through the quiet hum of the infirmary.
"We need to take him to the Master."
Lucian glanced at Vael, gauging his reaction. The storm outside rumbled again, a distant warning of the forces at play. Vael, still seated in bed, exhaled slowly, feeling the weight of the moment pressing down on him.
"Is that really necessary?" Lucian asked, his tone measured. "He's barely regained consciousness."
The figure in the doorway stepped forward, their presence undeniable. In the dim light, a woman with piercing violet eyes and short silver hair revealed herself. Her expression was unreadable, but her quiet authority demanded attention.
"It's not a request," she said. "The Master has already foreseen this. Vael must be brought before him now."
Lucian rubbed his temple. "And if he refuses?"
The woman's gaze locked onto Vael's. "Then he walks away from the only ones who can help him understand what happened."
Vael's fingers curled into the sheets. He shifted his legs over the edge of the bed, testing his strength. His muscles ached, but he would not falter.
"Who is this Master?" Vael wondered, his thoughts a mix of curiosity and caution.
The silver-haired woman, sensing his uncertainty, glanced back at him.
"The Master is the strongest man among all the Orders combined," she answered, her voice steady and unwavering.
"He holds the most authority within these Orders. His word is law, and his influence stretches far beyond what you could possibly imagine."
"He is the one who decides the fate of those who belong to them. No one stands above him."
Vael processed her words in silence. He knew that whatever this Master was, they held a power greater than any he had encountered thus far. But whether that was a power he could trust, he wasn't yet sure.
"I can walk," he said, his voice hoarse but resolute. "Take me to him."
Lucian gave him a long look, then nodded. "Very well."
The woman turned on her heel. "Then follow me."
Pain lanced through Vael's body as he rose. Every step sent shockwaves through him, but he forced it aside. He had come too far to let weakness dictate his fate. As they exited the infirmary, the halls stretched before him—narrow, dimly lit, adorned with symbols Vael didn't recognize. The air felt thick with history and secrets.
Their footsteps echoed off the stone floors. Vael could feel eyes on him, hidden figures watching from the shadows. He was an outsider here, but there was something else—an unspoken acknowledgment that he was where he needed to be.
The passageway twisted and turned, the shadows growing longer, murmurs drifting through the walls. Each step brought him closer to something greater than himself.
Finally, they reached massive, ornate doors. The woman placed a hand upon them, and they groaned open, revealing the chamber beyond.
The room was grand, lit by flickering torches that cast shifting shadows. At the far end, seated on a raised platform, was the Master of the Orders. His presence filled the room, undeniable and commanding. Though he was not the largest man Vael had seen, his force of will was overwhelming.
Lucian stepped back. "I'll stand guard outside," he said, his voice low. The doors closed behind him, leaving Vael alone with the Master.
Orin's sharp eyes studied him for a moment before speaking.
"Leave us," he instructed, his tone calm but firm. "No one enters until I say otherwise."
The woman nodded curtly and left without hesitation, her silver hair swaying slightly as she exited.
Vael stood in the center of the room, feeling Orin's gaze on him. Orin didn't rise, but his presence filled the space.
"I am Orin Veylan, Master of the Orders."
Vael didn't respond immediately, the air thick with unspoken words.
"You survived the attack of a god," Orin continued, his voice measured. "That story is known only to the higher ranks of the Orders. The others suspect, but they don't know the truth."
A flicker of something passed across Orin's face—uncertainty, or something deeper.
"But I was there."
Vael's body tensed.
"I saw what you did, Vael." Orin leaned forward slightly, his words heavy in the air. "You didn't just survive."
He paused, his voice lowering. "You killed not one, but two gods."
Vael's breath hitched, but he remained silent.
"You fought at a level I couldn't even dream of reaching," Orin admitted, awe in his voice.
"I've spent my life mastering strength, understanding power's limits. Yet, when I saw what you did that day…"
He hesitated, searching for the right words. "I was powerless. But you…" Orin's eyes locked onto Vael's, searching for an answer. "You did the impossible."
Vael remained silent. The tension between them grew, and Orin's gaze softened, but there was an undercurrent of fear—not of Vael, but of what he could become.
He paused. "The others don't know what you truly accomplished. They wouldn't comprehend it."
Vael's voice was steady, but the weight of the truth pressed on him. "Then why tell me this?"
Orin leaned back. "Because I need to understand. What are you, Vael? How did you do it?"
Vael met his gaze. He had no answer—not fully.
"I don't know," he admitted after a long pause.
Orin leaned forward again, his eyes never leaving Vael's. "You wield a force capable of destroying gods, and you claim you don't know what it is?"
Vael clenched his fists, memories of the battle flashing through his mind. His body moving beyond its limits, his strikes tearing through gods like they were nothing. The power answering his call. But he had no name for it.
"I don't know what it is," Vael said softly. "But I know one thing."
Orin's gaze sharpened. "What?"
"This power…" Vael's voice faltered, then steadied. "It was made to defeat gods. To erase them. To end them."
Orin exhaled slowly, his gaze unwavering. "And now that you know this, Vael… What do you plan to do next?"
Vael's gaze dropped. "I haven't thought about it yet."
Orin nodded slowly. "Then stay here. Study your power. There's much we can learn—much you can learn."
The fear lingered in Orin's voice, but it wasn't about Vael himself. It was about the power he controlled. A power that could reshape everything.
Vael sat in silence, his mind spinning. Could he really control such destructive power? Would training help him tame it, or would it consume him?
The storm raged outside, the thunder rumbling like an echo of his inner turmoil. His hands clenched into fists. He had fought to the edge of death, survived the impossible.
A familiar voice in his mind cut through the noise.
"You know what you must do."
The voice was calm, reassuring. Almost pleased.
"This is good."
"You can master this power here. No one will stop you. You can grow beyond any limit."
The voice pressed him, urged him to stay.
"This is your chance to control it, to become more. Don't hesitate. Stay here."
Vael's breath slowed, and for a moment, the turmoil within him quieted. The voice understood him. It knew his desires, his fears. It spoke with certainty.
He looked up at Orin, who was still waiting.
"I'll stay," Vael said, the decision finally clear in his mind.
"I'll train here."