Chapter 294 — Rage and Reflection
The forest outside the Hollow was quiet, the only sounds the soft rustle of leaves and the distant chirping of birds. But beneath the serene canopy, Kael's fury simmered like a storm about to break. He had walked here alone, leaving the healing tent behind, leaving the council behind, leaving everyone else behind. All he could see were the images of Azhara collapsing after the battle, blood pouring from her mouth, her body nearly broken because of his failures.
Kael's fists clenched so tightly that the veins in his forearms stood out like cords of iron. His chest heaved with anger—not at anyone else, but at himself. "How could I let her push herself like that?" he muttered under his breath, the words bitter, jagged. "I'm supposed to protect her… all of them… and I let this happen. I should have been stronger… faster… better!"
The anger built, coiling in his stomach and erupting in his chest. Every step he took through the woods was heavy with frustration, every swing of his arm an unconscious release of tension. He could feel the darkness of his chaos magic pressing just beneath the surface, ready to burn through him if he didn't find an outlet.
"Kael…" a calm, measured voice called from the trail ahead. Lyria stepped into view, her eyes wide with concern. "You can't keep doing this to yourself. What are you even—"
Kael whirled, his eyes blazing, his voice rough and ragged. "I can't forgive myself, Lyria! Azhara… she nearly gave her life because I wasn't enough. Do you understand? I failed her, I failed the Hollow, I failed all of them!"
Lyria took a cautious step forward, her hands raised in a gesture of calm. "Kael… listen to me. None of this is your fault. She's strong—stronger than most—and she chose to fight. You can't blame yourself for her courage."
He laughed bitterly, a sound harsh and raw, echoing through the trees. "Courage? Courage doesn't matter if I can't protect them! I'm their leader, Lyria! If I can't stand tall when they need me, what good am I? What kind of leader lets someone bleed out on his battlefield?"
His anger boiled over, and without thinking, he lashed out at a massive boulder nearby. His fist collided with the stone with a deafening crack. The rock split cleanly in two, jagged edges flying outward, but the price was immediate. Pain seared up his arm, his hand throbbing with a sickening crunch. Kael gritted his teeth, staring down at the mangled fingers of his hand.
"Damn it!" he shouted, stumbling back, but the rage didn't leave him. It only intensified. "Even this… even this can't contain it!"
Lyria moved closer, her hand brushing his uninjured arm, steadying him. "Kael, look at me," she said, voice firm but gentle. "You're not weak. You're human, even with all the power you wield. This… this anger—it's burning you from the inside. You can't protect anyone if you destroy yourself first."
Kael's breathing was ragged, the anger thrumming like wildfire through his veins. He looked at her, eyes glowing faintly with the heat of his chaos magic, his voice a low growl. "I can't… I can't just sit there while they suffer. While she suffers. While they all risk their lives because of me!"
Lyria's expression softened, though her eyes remained sharp. "Then stop blaming yourself for what you can't control. You did everything you could to lead them. You fought. You strategized. You kept the Hollow standing when others would have fallen. But you're not invincible, Kael. You never have been."
For a moment, Kael's fury faltered, his chest heaving as the adrenaline began to ebb. But the pain in his hand reminded him of the price of his own recklessness. He gritted his teeth, muttering under his breath, "I can't… I won't… I need to be better."
Lyria stepped closer, her hand now gently resting on his chest, feeling the rhythm of his heartbeat. "Then be better, Kael. Not because of anger or guilt, but because of them… because of her… because of you. Let your fury be a guide, not a chain."
Kael's breathing slowed slightly, the chaos within him simmering down. He looked at her, his eyes wet with unspent emotion. "I… I just… I hate that she had to suffer because of me."
Lyria's grip tightened slightly, her voice a soft but firm reassurance. "She's alive, Kael. That's what matters. And you… you're still standing. You'll protect her. You'll protect everyone. But you can't do it if you let this rage consume you."
He nodded slowly, the weight of his anger and guilt still pressing down, but tempered now by clarity. His hand ached, broken and mangled, but he forced himself to straighten. "I… I'll be better," he whispered. "I swear it."
Lyria gave a small, approving smile, stepping back slightly. "Good. Then let's get you back before the Hollow starts worrying about you."
Kael allowed himself a short, bitter laugh, still feeling the raw edge of his anger, but recognizing the truth in her words. As they walked back toward the Hollow, he felt the simmering storm within him begin to settle—at least for now—replaced by the resolve to grow stronger, to protect, and to never let anyone else push themselves to the brink because of his shortcomings.
And though his hand throbbed with the memory of his recklessness, Kael knew that this fire, this rage, could be harnessed—for the Hollow, for Azhara, and for everyone he had sworn to protect.