Chapter 51: Glimmer of Truth
The Shrouded One sat in the quiet of his chamber, staring blankly at the flickering candlelight. The dream from nights ago still clung to his mind like cobwebs — vivid, haunting, impossible to ignore. A child, once loved, once protected. A family. Torn apart.
The Master's voice echoed in his memory. "You were abandoned…no one wanted you… I saved you."
But those words no longer held the same weight. They felt scripted, manufactured. He could feel it in his bones — that something was missing. Something buried.
He closed his eyes, breathing in slowly. If they didn't want me, why does it hurt like this? Why does it feel like I lost something precious? His hands curled into fists in his lap. His heart thudded a little too hard against his ribs.
Still, he kept the mask on. Around the Master, around Little 5, around everyone. He feigned obedience. Nodded when spoken to. Carried out orders without question. All while deep inside, he was planning, waiting.
I know I'm not crazy. I know there's truth hidden beneath the lies.
A knock rattled the silence. The Shrouded One's body stilled.
Little 5 barged in without waiting for permission, his face lined with irritation. "You've been real quiet lately. Got people asking questions."
The Shrouded One didn't look at him.
Little 5 stepped closer. "You're not losing your edge, are you? 'Cause I don't know if you've noticed, but things are shifting."
The Shrouded One finally turned to him. "What do you mean?"
Little 5 threw a thumb over his shoulder. "Come see for yourself."
The Shrouded One stood, pulling his dark cloak tighter around himself, and followed Little 5 through the corridor. They climbed the spiral staircase to one of the fortress towers. The night was still and heavy, but something pulsed in the air — like the hush before a storm.
Then he saw it.
From the distant horizon, a faint glow shimmered — not the soft yellow of torchlight, but something stronger. Elara's blue. Ariella's white. The light wasn't just visible — it was radiant. Alive. The color streamed across the sky, touching the edges of the village and beyond. Magic. Undeniable.
It wasn't the stones this time.
The Shrouded One's chest tightened. They've awakened.
He didn't move. Didn't speak.
Little 5 scoffed. "Great. Just great. You had every chance to stop them when they were down, and now look. The whole village is glowing like it's festival night. And you're just standing here like a statue."
The Shrouded One said nothing, his face unreadable.
Little 5 turned toward him, irritation sharpening his tone. "You always said you were waiting for the right moment. You missed it. Now what? You gonna wait again until they're gods or something?"
Still, silence.
The Shrouded One's gaze remained locked on the lights. They pulsed slowly, like a heartbeat. His own heart responded, aching in rhythm.
There were no words he could say. No explanation he could give that would make sense to Little 5 — or to anyone else. The truth weighed heavily on him, just beneath the surface of his thoughts, pressing harder with each passing day.
The glow reminded him of something he couldn't name, a feeling he'd almost forgotten. Safety. Love. Power born from connection — not control.
Little 5 gave a frustrated laugh. "Whatever, man. Just don't say I didn't warn you." He turned and stormed off.
The Shrouded One remained.
Long after the lights faded, after the skies returned to their natural shade, he stood there. Staring. Thinking.
They're growing stronger, he thought. And so am I — not in power, but in clarity.
The Master thought he had him under control. But control was an illusion. Slowly, the threads were unraveling, and the truth was inching closer.
The Shrouded One didn't know exactly who he had been before the lies. But he was determined to find out.
And when I do… nothing will ever be the same again.