The city vanished beneath them as Kaelen led Elowen through a narrow service door hidden between two abandoned skyscrapers.
One moment, neon lights and traffic hum.
The next—silence.
The corridor sloped downward, carved from old stone and reinforced metal, its walls etched with sigils Elowen didn't recognize. The air grew colder with every step, heavier, as if the world itself was pressing in.
Elowen broke the silence. "Where are we going?"
Kaelen didn't slow.
"Our forward operations base," he said. "Temporary. Mobile."
"That's not an answer."
He glanced back at her, silver eyes unreadable. "It's all you need."
She bit back a retort. This was already going badly. She shouldn't be here. She knew that. Every instinct screamed it. But walking away hadn't been an option—not after the rooftop, not after seeing what he could do.
They descended into a vast underground chamber lit by floating red glyphs. Screens flickered to life as they entered, projecting rotating schematics, patrol routes, and shipment manifests.
Villains.
Not hiding.
Not scrambling.
Organized.
Waiting.
Several figures stood around a circular table. Conversations stopped the moment Kaelen stepped in.
Every eye turned to Elowen.
She resisted the urge to shrink.
Kaelen moved to the head of the table. "This is Elowen."
No title. No explanation.
A test.
He flicked his wrist, and a hologram burst into the air—a convoy route highlighted in crimson.
"A containment unit is being transferred tonight," he said. "Hero escort. Maximum clearance."
One of the figures leaned forward. "The Obsidian Relic?"
Elowen stiffened.
Relic.
Kaelen nodded. "A corrupted gem. Sentient-adjacent. Amplifies intent. Warps matter."He turned slightly, just enough for Elowen to feel his gaze.
"They're moving it to a secure vault.Elowen frowned. "Then why steal it? If it's dangerous—"
Kaelen cut her off.
"Danger is subjective."
He tapped the projection. The image zoomed in on the gem—black crystal veined with crimson light, pulsing slowly like a heartbeat.
"Heroes hoard power and call it responsibility," Kaelen said coldly. "Villains use it and get results."
The room murmured in approval.
Elowen swallowed. "And the people guarding it?"
Kaelen's answer was immediate.
"They were never going to survive this war anyway."
Silence fell.
Elowen stared at him. "You're talking about lives.
He looked at her fully now.
"Anyone standing that close to power without the strength to wield it is already dead," he said. "All we're doing is accelerating the inevitable."
Her stomach twisted.
This wasn't pragmatism.
This was belief.
"And if civilians are nearby?" she pressed.
Kaelen shrugged. "Then they were liabilities."
The word hit harder than any threat.
Liabilities.
He continued as if discussing faulty equipment. "War doesn't pause for innocence. It devours it."
Elowen clenched her fists. "So what—this is about control? About strengthening your—what—your ranks?"
"Yes."
No hesitation."This stone could reshape our organization," Kaelen said. "Eliminate weak links. Strengthen the rest."He leaned closer to the projection.
"Waste like this is offensive."
Elowen looked around the room. No one objected. No one looked away.
She realized then: this wasn't a negotiation.
It was doctrine.
"Why tell me all this?" she asked quietly.
Kaelen finally turned to her."Because loyalty isn't declared," he said. "It's demonstrated."
Her breath caught.
"This mission," he continued, "is your demonstration."
A chill crept up her spine. "And if I refuse?"
He tilted his head, almost curious.
"Then you were never worth the risk."The words were casual. Final.
A figure activated another projection—security layouts, magical wards, patrol shifts.
Kaelen gestured. "You'll help us breach the inner containment field."
Elowen stiffened. "I don't work for villains."
"You already are," he replied.The meeting dissolved into action.
As they prepared to move, the projection of the gem flickered.
Once.
Twice.
Then violently.
Red light fractured across the chamber.Elowen staggered back as pressure slammed into her chest. The gem pulsed harder, light surging, the air screaming.
"I didn't—" she gasped. Kaelen raised a hand.
Not to protect her.
To stop everyone else.
The room froze.
The gem's glow intensified, the projection warping, distorting—responding. Kaelen's gaze sharpened.
"…So it does notice you."
Fear crawled up Elowen's spine. "What is it doing?"
Kaelen watched the projection with interest.
"Testing," he said. Then, softer—almost pleased—
"Good. That makes this meaningful."
The light abruptly vanished.
Silence returned.
Kaelen turned to her. "Get ready."
"For what?"
He smiled faintly.
"To prove you're not a liability."