Chapter 2 - Chapter 2 - The Forgotten

Darkness thinned into a soft blur of light.Kael Veyrn opened his eyes to a ceiling carved from ancient stone its surface threaded with glowing Aether veins that pulsed like slow-moving starlight. The air was warm and still. Peaceful, almost.Nothing like the forest.Nothing like the Dominion.He pushed himself upright on a makeshift cot. His body trembled with leftover strain, muscles weak from the rupture he still barely understood. His arm the one that had erupted with power showed no cracks now, only a faint warmth beneath the skin.The door hissed open.Footsteps. Light, controlled.Iria Nox entered the room, no longer in full combat gear yet still carrying the same razor-edged presence. Her silver hair, streaked with crimson, was tied back. Red cybernetic eyes scanned him, analyzing, calculating, checking for instability."You're awake. Good."Kael swallowed, his voice rough."…Where am I?""Safe." Iria answered simply. "That's all you need to know for now."She motioned toward the entrance.Two more figures stepped inside.Rai Kuroda.Tall, broad-shouldered, dark-skinned, muscles defined under tactical gear. Electric-blue dreadlocks framed sharp golden eyes that judged Kael like a potential threat. His cybernetic left arm clicked faintly as he folded it across his chest.Calm. Disciplined. Dangerous.Tessa Wyn.Small, quick-moving, a spark of energy in human form. Short, messy pink hair, high-tech goggles resting above bright teal eyes. She wore light-tech gloves for reading Aether frequencies and carried a mechanical gauntlet strapped to her right arm.Warm presence. Brilliant mind.They both stopped several steps from Kael close enough to help, far enough to retreat if things went wrong.Tessa's voice slipped out in a whisper."…His Aether field is still fluctuating."Rai crossed his arms."And that's supposed to make me feel safe?"Kael's stomach tightened.Iria stepped forward, her tone sharp and cold."He's not a threat."Rai raised a brow."He nearly tore a clearing in half."Kael winced."I didn't mean to."Tessa softened, offering a faint smile."It's not your fault. Ruinborn signatures always awaken violently."Rai cut in, golden eyes never leaving Kael."And some Ruinborn lose control again. And again. Until someone dies."Kael went silent, guilt swallowing him whole.Iria's jaw set."Rai Kuroda. Enough."The air shifted tension freezing in place.Rai's voice lowered."You know what happened last time we took in someone unstable."A shadow crossed Iria's face.A past she didn't want to remember.Kael caught it the flicker of pain behind her red eyes.Someone she tried… and failed… to save.And now Kael reminded her of them.Tessa moved closer, scanning Kael's arm. Her touch was careful, almost gentle."My older brother was Ruinborn," she murmured. "The Dominion took him before we could help. I never found out if he survived."Kael looked down."I'm… sorry."Tessa forced a sad smile."That's why we help people like you. But we also have to be careful."Rai leaned against a pillar, the metal of his cybernetic arm tapping lightly."I once fought a Ruinborn who couldn't control his power," he said quietly. "He didn't want to hurt us. But he did."A pause."He nearly tore me in two."Kael swallowed."Did he… survive?""No."Silence settled like dust.They feared him.And he understood why.A pulse of red light flickered across the stone wall The Forgotten's alert system.Tessa's expression tightened."Oh no… Dominion scouts are sweeping the Wildbreak border. And they're being led by General Solis Kane. They're looking for someone."Rai's gaze shifted toward Kael."Someone meaning him."Kael's heartbeat quickened.Iria stepped in front of him, placing herself between Kael and danger without hesitation."Then we move. Now."Kael climbed to his feet unsteadily."I should leave. I'm putting you all at risk."Iria spun toward him, eyes flashing."Don't say that.""But it's true."She stepped closer, lowering her voice."You didn't ask for any of this. And you don't have to face it alone."Her words hit something deep—something Kael thought had died long ago.Tessa whispered from behind them, astonished:"She never talks like that to anyone…"High above them, unseen, Cipher watched from a balcony carved into the stone. His mask's pale lines pulsed faintly as he observed Kael Veyrn."The boy stands at the center of a fracture he does not yet understand…" he whispered.He tilted his head curiosity? Amusement?"…And she has already tied her fate to his."He stepped into the darkness.Gone.Rai pointed down a deeper tunnel."If we stay here, we're finished. Move."Tessa grabbed her medical kit and a handful of scanning devices."Kael Veyrn stay close to Iria. Your signature is still unstable."Kael nodded and followed.Iria walked beside him, her presence steady and grounding.Kael glanced at her."Why… why are you helping me?"For once, her expression softened no calculation, no cold precision.Just honesty."Because someone once helped me when I didn't deserve it."A beat."And because I won't let the Dominion decide your fate."Their footsteps echoed into the dark tunnels of the sanctuary as Dominion forces closed in above.The Forgotten had taken Kael Veyrn under their wings.But the world was only beginning to awaken to whoand whathe truly was.