Part 3 — The Blood Ascendant's Son
The door to Room B-17 closed quietly behind Castiel.
He remained near the entrance for several moments, listening to the familiar hum of the Academy's ventilation system. The dormitory was unusually quiet, with most of the cadets having returned to their rooms after the long journey home from Kharos Vale.
Ordinarily, the silence would have been welcome.
Tonight, it only reminded him of everything that had happened.
Castiel crossed the room, passing the two beds positioned against opposite walls. David's belongings remained scattered across his desk, including several unfinished assignments and a jacket hanging over the back of his chair.
It was strange how ordinary everything looked.
After everything they had endured, Castiel had almost expected the room to feel different.
Instead, it looked exactly as it had before they left.
Only the people returning to it had changed.
He stopped beside the window.
Beyond the Academy, the night sky stretched over the distant city, its scattered lights shining beneath a thin veil of clouds. High above the dormitory buildings, the moon hung almost perfectly round, although something unusual had begun spreading along its eastern edge.
A narrow crescent of crimson had appeared against its pale surface.
Castiel watched it for a moment.
The red coloration was faint, barely noticeable unless someone looked directly at it. Most of the moon remained silver, its familiar light still illuminating the rooftops and courtyards below.
His attention shifted toward the rooftop of Dormitory Building One.
David was still there.
From this distance, Castiel could barely distinguish his friend's silhouette against the night sky. David stood near the railing, his shoulders slightly lowered, his attention fixed somewhere beyond the Academy grounds.
Castiel understood why he hadn't returned.
Nyra's death had left a wound that no amount of reassurance could heal.
He had seen the grief in David's eyes earlier, heard it in his voice, and recognized the terrible emptiness that followed whenever someone mentioned her name.
There was nothing Castiel could say to make that pain disappear.
He wished there were.
For a while, he simply stood there, watching his friend beneath the changing moon.
Then his gaze drifted toward David's empty bed.
"You're more family to me than anyone back home, D," he murmured.
The words felt strange spoken aloud, but he knew they were true.
"You're like a brother to me."
Castiel lowered his head.
That realization made what he was about to do considerably more difficult.
He crossed to his own bed and reached beneath a concealed section of his belongings, withdrawing a small, dark shard.
Its surface was smooth along one edge and uneven along the other, as though it had once belonged to something much larger. Faint markings rested beneath the black material, visible only when the light struck them at a particular angle.
Castiel turned it over in his palm.
He had avoided activating it since returning from Kharos Vale.
There had been too much to explain.
The fighting.
The separation from Gamma Squad.
The destruction that had swept across the battlefield.
And the final moments of the planetary conversion.
He knew questions would be waiting for him.
Questions he would have to answer carefully.
Castiel sat on the edge of his bed and considered what he intended to say.
He rehearsed the explanation several times, changing certain details, discarding others, and searching for a version that would withstand scrutiny.
His father would want to know what had happened.
Why he had taken so long to report.
Why events on Kharos Vale had unfolded so differently from what had been expected.
Most importantly, he would want to know about David.
Castiel glanced toward the window again.
For a moment, he considered putting the shard away.
He could ignore the communication.
Pretend it had been damaged during the fighting.
Perhaps even claim it had been lost.
But none of those explanations would last forever.
Eventually, his father would investigate.
And when that happened, Castiel might lose whatever opportunity he still had to protect his friend.
Maintaining contact was dangerous.
Breaking contact could be worse.
He drew a slow breath and rose from the bed.
Whatever happened next, he needed to remain in a position where he could influence it.
Castiel held the shard before him.
"Establish connection."
The markings beneath its surface began glowing crimson.
A low vibration passed through his fingers as thin strands of red light emerged from the shard, spreading outward into the air. The light gathered into a translucent projection, its edges shifting as the connection searched for its destination.
Castiel waited.
Several seconds passed.
The projection flickered.
He frowned.
The connection was taking longer than usual.
He adjusted his grip, wondering whether the distance between Earth and the receiving location was interfering with the signal.
Then the crimson light steadied.
A figure appeared.
"Report."
The voice was deep, cold, and unmistakably familiar.
Castiel stiffened.
For a moment, he thought the connection had reached the wrong destination.
Then the figure leaned forward, and Castiel recognized the face emerging through the crimson projection.
"Brother?"
The man regarded him without expression.
Castiel stared at him.
"Where's Father?"
His older brother did not answer immediately.
Instead, his eyes moved over Castiel, studying him with the same unnerving patience Castiel remembered from childhood.
"You have taken a considerable amount of time to establish contact."
Castiel straightened.
"The situation on Kharos Vale became complicated. There was extensive fighting, followed by the evacuation and our return to Earth. I couldn't establish a secure connection until now."
"You were expected to report when the operation concluded."
"I understand, but the circumstances made that difficult."
His brother's expression remained unchanged.
"Difficult circumstances do not remove your responsibilities."
Castiel tightened his grip on the shard.
"I was following Father's instructions. He ordered me to report directly to him, and no one else."
"Those instructions no longer apply."
Castiel frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"You will answer my questions."
"Brother, I need to speak with Father first. There are things that happened on Kharos Vale that I was specifically instructed to discuss with him."
The figure remained silent.
Castiel felt his uneasiness deepen.
"Where is he?"
"Your previous instructions are no longer relevant."
"Then let me speak to him, and he can tell me that himself."
The man's gaze hardened slightly.
"Castiel."
Something in the way he spoke his name made Castiel fall silent.
"Father is dead."
For several seconds, Castiel could only stare at the projection.
The words seemed impossible.
He had known something terrible might have happened on Kharos Vale. He had considered the possibility during the journey back to Earth, but hearing it confirmed was entirely different.
"What?"
His brother did not repeat himself.
Castiel took a step closer.
"What do you mean, dead? How could Father be dead?"
"The circumstances surrounding his death remain under investigation."
"Then what happened to him?"
The man regarded him steadily.
"Vireth Kael'tharyn, Level Forty-Five Blood Ascendant, died on Kharos Vale during the events surrounding his confrontation with David Wyn."
Castiel felt his chest tighten.
Vireth.
His father.
Dead.
He remembered the last time he had seen him.
The overwhelming pressure surrounding his presence.
The confidence with which he had spoken about David.
The certainty that a Level Ten human could never threaten someone of his strength.
Castiel had believed it himself.
That was why he had tried so desperately to stop David from confronting him.
"How?" Castiel asked.
"We do not yet know."
"Was his body recovered?"
"His death has been confirmed. The precise cause remains unknown."
Castiel lowered his gaze toward the shard.
He had feared David would die.
He had spent much of their separation wondering whether his friend had survived.
Yet David had returned to Earth, and his father had not.
Castiel struggled to understand how both things could be true.
His brother allowed him several moments before speaking again.
"Now that you understand the circumstances, we will proceed."
Castiel looked up.
"Proceed with what?"
"Your report."
Castiel hesitated.
"Brother, Father has just—"
"You will address me by my title."
The interruption was quiet, but its authority was unmistakable.
Castiel stared at him.
His brother leaned back, allowing more of the chamber behind him to become visible.
A high-backed throne rose beneath an enormous archway, its dark surface marked by intricate crimson patterns. Behind it, tall columns disappeared into shadow, while faint red illumination spread across the polished floor.
Castiel's attention moved to the insignia resting against his brother's armor.
He recognized it.
His expression changed.
"You've taken Father's position?"
"Yes."
The man straightened.
"I am Azrion Kael'tharyn, Level Fifty Blood Ascendant. I have inherited our father's authority and his position among the Seven Fallen Council."
Castiel remained silent.
Azrion continued.
"His responsibilities are now mine, including the operation he entrusted to you. From this moment forward, you will report directly to me. You will follow my instructions, and you will not question the authority under which they are given."
The chamber behind him seemed to grow darker as the crimson projection intensified.
"Do you understand?"
Castiel slowly lowered his head.
"Yes, Blood Ascendant."
"Good."
Azrion settled back into his throne.
"Now we can begin."
Castiel remained standing in the center of Room B-17, the shard glowing steadily in his hand.
Azrion regarded him for several seconds.
"Tell me everything you know about David Wyn."
Castiel had expected the question.
He had prepared for it.
But now, knowing his father was dead and that his older brother had inherited his authority, the consequences of giving the wrong answer felt considerably greater.
"Father became interested in David because of his unusual abilities," Castiel began. "He believed there was something about him that required further investigation."
"And you were instructed to bring David Wyn to Father?" Azrion asked.
"Yes, Blood Ascendant."
"Then explain how you accomplished that."
Castiel adjusted his grip on the communication shard, carefully considering his response.
"During our last transmission, Father instructed me to continue observing David Wyn and lead him to Father when the opportunity presented itself. He never told me he would be on Kharos Vale, nor did he inform me that Fallen forces were preparing to invade the planet."
Azrion regarded him without expression.
"Are you suggesting you were unaware of the operation?"
"Yes, Blood Ascendant. I knew nothing about the invasion until it began. My assignment was to remain close to David, monitor his development, and wait for an opportunity to deliver him to Father. That was the extent of my instructions."
"And yet David Wyn eventually confronted him."
"Because an opportunity presented itself that I hadn't anticipated."
Castiel paused, remembering the anger that had consumed David after everything that had happened to Gamma Squad.
He remembered trying to reason with his friend, warning him that confronting someone so far beyond his strength would be suicide.
But that wasn't the account he intended to give Azrion.
"After what Father had done to the squad, David was furious," Castiel continued. "He wanted revenge against the person responsible. He was determined to find him, regardless of the danger."
Azrion leaned forward slightly.
"And what did you do?"
"I recognized an opportunity to fulfill Father's instructions. David was already determined to confront him, so I encouraged him to pursue the matter and pointed him in Father's direction."
The lie came easily enough, although Castiel disliked how it sounded.
In truth, he had done everything he could to discourage David from going.
He had warned him about the difference in their levels, knowing that a direct confrontation would almost certainly end with his friend's death.
But Azrion could never know that.
"So you used his anger to deliver him," Azrion observed.
"Yes, Blood Ascendant. David believed he was pursuing revenge. I simply made certain he knew where to go."
"And what happened after you directed him toward Father?"
"I fell back and took another route through the battlefield. I eventually encountered a group of human soldiers who recognized me as an Academy cadet. I joined them to maintain my cover."
Azrion studied him carefully.
"You made no attempt to contact Father?"
"No, Blood Ascendant. There was no opportunity to do so without risking exposure. The battlefield was in chaos, and I was already operating under the instructions Father had given me during our last transmission."
Castiel straightened slightly.
"I had no further interaction with him on Kharos Vale. I didn't speak to him, and I never witnessed his confrontation with David. I followed the instructions I had been given and used the opportunity when it presented itself."
Azrion remained silent for several moments.
"And you believed that was sufficient?"
"Yes, Blood Ascendant. Father instructed me to lead David to him when the time was right. I had no idea he would personally be on Kharos Vale, but once I realized he was there and David was determined to find him, I saw my opportunity."
Castiel met his brother's gaze.
"I did what I was told during our last transmission."
Azrion's expression remained cold.
"Yet David Wyn survived, and Father did not."
Castiel felt his fingers tighten around the shard.
"How was I supposed to know a Level Ten human could be a match for Father? He was Level Forty-Five. There was no reason to believe David could stand against him."
Azrion remained silent.
Castiel continued.
"Father assured me he would handle the situation. I believed him."
"Did you witness their confrontation?"
"No, Blood Ascendant."
"None of it?"
"I left the area before they fought. I took a different route and never saw what happened between them."
Azrion studied him.
"Then you cannot explain how Father died."
"No."
"Nor can you confirm whether David Wyn was directly responsible."
"That's correct."
Azrion leaned back, his expression unreadable.
"Our father possessed strength far beyond anything a Level Ten human should have been capable of overcoming."
Castiel remained silent.
"Yet Father is dead, and David Wyn survived."
"I don't understand it either, Blood Ascendant."
"That much is apparent."
Azrion rested one arm against his throne.
"Father's final reports indicated that David possessed an anomaly he considered significant. Something that could not be adequately explained by the human classification system."
Castiel looked up.
"What kind of anomaly?"
"That is what I intend to discover."
Azrion's eyes narrowed.
"Tell me about his abilities."
Castiel considered his answer.
"David possesses spatial manipulation. I've seen him sever objects without physical contact, and his movements during combat are difficult to predict. His abilities have also developed considerably since we first entered the Academy."
"Spatial manipulation," Azrion repeated thoughtfully.
"Yes, Blood Ascendant."
"And his current level?"
"Level Ten, as far as I know."
Azrion remained quiet for several moments.
"A Level Ten human whose abilities continue to evolve, who survived an encounter with a Level Forty-Five Blood Ascendant, and whose existence was important enough for Father to pursue personally."
He looked directly at Castiel.
"There is something about this human we do not yet understand."
Castiel lowered his gaze.
"I agree."
"Then you will help me understand it."
Castiel felt an uncomfortable pressure settle in his chest.
Before he could respond, Azrion continued.
"Now tell me what happened after you separated from David Wyn."
Castiel had known this question was coming.
He had rehearsed his explanation repeatedly before activating the shard.
"I took another route through the battlefield," he answered. "Eventually, I encountered a group of human soldiers moving through the area."
Azrion remained silent.
"They recognized me as an Academy cadet and ordered me to accompany them. Refusing would have raised suspicion, so I joined their formation."
"And where were they going?"
"Toward an engagement with a Green-tier creature."
Azrion's expression remained cold.
"Continue."
"The creature was difficult to bring down. The fighting lasted longer than expected, and I kept waiting for Father's soldiers to arrive."
"Why were you expecting them?"
"Because the planet was approaching its final conversion stage. I assumed our forces would intervene before humanity could complete Whitefall."
Azrion regarded him carefully.
"But they never arrived."
"No, Blood Ascendant."
Castiel paused.
"The humans continued attacking. Several were exhausted, and the creature had already suffered considerable damage. Eventually, we managed to force it into a vulnerable position."
Azrion leaned forward.
"I heard you were the one who delivered the killing blow."
Castiel's grip tightened around the shard.
"Yes, Blood Ascendant."
"Then explain why."
For a moment, Castiel said nothing.
He remembered Sector A-08.
The ruined terrain stretched beneath a sky still scarred by the fighting. He remembered making his way through the sector, fighting Fallen forces as he moved toward the final Green-tier creature.
He remembered the creature standing before him.
And he remembered being completely alone.
There had been no human soldiers surrounding him.
No one watching his movements.
No one depending on him to deliver the final strike.
He had been alone.
He had known the planet was approaching Whitefall.
He had understood that killing the creature would complete the conversion and secure Kharos Vale for humanity.
And he had made his choice.
Not because someone ordered him to.
Not because his identity was in danger.
But because he wanted Whitefall to happen.
He had deliberately killed the creature.
Now he stood before his older brother, preparing to tell him something entirely different.
"I had no choice," Castiel answered.
Azrion's eyes narrowed.
"Explain."
"The creature was already weakened, and I was in position to finish it. Every human soldier around me was watching. If I had refused to take the strike, they would have known something was wrong."
"You could have allowed another soldier to finish it."
"There wasn't time. The creature was preparing another attack, and I was the only one close enough to stop it."
Castiel kept his voice controlled.
"I had already delayed as long as possible, waiting for Father's soldiers to arrive. But they never came. By the time the opportunity presented itself, refusing to act would have compromised my cover."
Azrion studied him.
"So you chose to preserve your identity rather than prevent Whitefall."
"I followed Father's standing orders. He made it clear that maintaining my position within the Academy was essential."
Castiel lowered his head.
"I believed exposing myself would compromise the entire operation."
The projection remained silent.
Castiel could feel his brother examining every word.
He forced himself not to look away.
The truth remained buried beneath the explanation he had carefully constructed.
He had not been forced to kill the creature.
He had chosen to.
He had watched the final Green-tier creature fall, knowing its death would begin the last stage of planetary conversion.
He remembered the change in the atmosphere.
The clouds beginning to break.
The first signs of the world healing.
Whitefall.
Kharos Vale had been saved from Greyfall.
And humanity had retained control of the planet.
Azrion finally spoke.
"The death of that creature triggered the completion of Whitefall."
"Yes, Blood Ascendant."
"A Celestial subsequently appeared and formally recognized humanity's sovereignty over Kharos Vale under the Treaty of Aurelion."
Castiel lowered his gaze.
"I understand."
"Do you understand what that means?"
"The planet now belongs to humanity."
"It means our opportunity to secure Kharos Vale has been lost. Its resources, strategic positions, and future advantages are now beyond our reach."
Azrion's voice remained measured, but the coldness beneath it was unmistakable.
"And you were responsible for the final act that made it possible."
Castiel kept his head lowered.
"I did what I believed was necessary to maintain my cover."
For several uncomfortable seconds, Azrion said nothing.
Then he leaned back.
"Very well."
Castiel raised his eyes.
"The Council has reviewed the circumstances surrounding Whitefall. Given the importance of maintaining your identity within the Academy, they are willing to overlook your involvement."
Castiel felt relief move through him, although he allowed none of it to reach his face.
"Thank you, Blood Ascendant."
"Do not mistake their decision for approval."
"I won't."
"Your assignment has required considerable resources and patience. We will not tolerate another failure of this magnitude."
"I understand."
Azrion's crimson eyes narrowed.
"See that it does not happen again."
"Yes, Blood Ascendant."
Castiel lowered his head.
He had succeeded.
Azrion believed his explanation.
His brother believed Whitefall had been an unfortunate consequence of maintaining his cover among the humans.
He had no idea that Castiel had deliberately killed the final creature.
No idea that his younger brother had chosen to secure Kharos Vale for humanity.
And no idea that Castiel's loyalty was no longer as certain as it had once been.
Azrion allowed the silence to settle before speaking again.
"There is another matter concerning David Wyn."
Castiel straightened.
"Yes, Blood Ascendant?"
"You have spent considerable time with this human."
"Yes."
"You train together. You accompany him on assignments. You share living quarters."
"That was necessary to maintain my cover."
Azrion watched him closely.
"Was it?"
Castiel kept his expression steady.
"Yes, Blood Ascendant."
Azrion leaned forward.
"Have you grown attached to this human?"
For a moment, Castiel could hear nothing except the faint vibration of the shard in his hand.
David's face came to mind.
Not the anomaly Azrion was investigating.
Not the Level Ten cadet whose abilities had attracted the attention of powers far beyond the Academy.
Just David.
His roommate.
His closest friend.
He remembered their first conversations in Room B-17, the long training sessions, and the nights they had spent laughing over June's ridiculous remarks.
He remembered David calling him Cass.
And he remembered the words he had spoken before activating the shard.
You're more family to me than anyone back home, D.
You're like a brother to me.
Castiel forced himself to meet Azrion's gaze.
"No."
Azrion regarded him silently.
"Then why is he still alive?"
Castiel tightened his jaw.
"I delivered him to Father as planned between us. How was I supposed to know Father was too weak? He was Level Forty-Five, and the anomaly only Level Ten."
Azrion's expression darkened.
The crimson light surrounding his projection seemed to deepen, and his eyes narrowed with unmistakable displeasure.
"Choose your next words carefully, Castiel."
Castiel immediately lowered his head.
"I meant no disrespect, Blood Ascendant."
"You called our father weak."
"I was explaining that no one could have predicted what happened. I fulfilled my responsibility. Father assured me he would handle David himself."
Azrion remained silent.
Castiel continued carefully.
"I had no reason to believe a Level Ten human could threaten him. If I had known otherwise, I would have reported it immediately."
Another lie.
Castiel had tried to stop David from confronting his father precisely because he believed the difference in their strength was too great.
He had warned him that the confrontation could only end in death.
He had watched David continue anyway.
But Azrion could never know that.
"Father underestimated something," Azrion finally said. "That much is evident."
Castiel kept his head lowered.
"Yes, Blood Ascendant."
"But do not confuse the circumstances of his death with weakness. Whatever happened to him involved something we do not yet understand."
"I understand."
Azrion leaned back.
"The Council is divided over what should be done about David Wyn. Some believe the anomaly should be eliminated before his abilities develop further. Others believe he possesses something far too valuable to destroy."
Castiel felt his pulse quicken.
"And what do you intend to do?"
Azrion's expression remained unreadable.
"I intend to finish what Father started."
Castiel remained silent.
"For now, you will continue observing the anomaly. I want regular reports on his development, particularly any changes in his abilities, his combat strength, and his progression through the human leveling system."
"Understood, Blood Ascendant."
"If he develops a new ability, I want to know about it. If an existing ability evolves, I expect a detailed explanation of what changed and how it functions. Any unusual behavior, unexplained increase in strength, or development that falls outside the established classifications is to be reported directly to me."
Azrion leaned forward slightly.
"I do not want speculation, Castiel. I want information. Accurate information that will allow me to understand exactly what this human is becoming."
Castiel nodded.
"I'll continue monitoring his progress and report anything significant."
"Good. You will also maintain your position beside him. Continue training with him, accompanying him on assignments, and ensuring that he has no reason to question your loyalty."
Azrion's gaze sharpened.
"His trust in you is an advantage that must not be wasted."
Castiel felt an uncomfortable pressure settle in his chest.
"And what happens once you've gathered enough information?"
Azrion regarded him for a moment before answering.
"When the anomaly reaches a level I deem appropriate, you will lead him to me."
Castiel's fingers tightened around the communication shard.
"Lead him to you?"
"Precisely. I have no intention of making Father's mistake by confronting something we do not yet understand. I will determine when David Wyn has developed sufficiently for my purposes, and when that time comes, you will arrange for him to leave the Academy and accompany you."
Azrion's voice grew colder.
"He must believe the decision is his own. I will not tolerate an unnecessary confrontation that could expose our involvement or alert the Celestials."
Castiel lowered his gaze.
"That may take time, Blood Ascendant. David isn't someone who follows instructions without questioning them."
"Then you will give him a reason to trust your judgment. You have already spent months building that relationship. I expect you to know how to use it."
Azrion settled back into his throne.
"Until I give the order, you are not to attempt to capture him, interfere with his development, or reveal our interest in his abilities. Your responsibility is to observe, report, and remain close enough to act when I decide the time has come."
Castiel nodded slowly.
"Understood."
Azrion's crimson eyes narrowed.
"When he reaches a level I deem appropriate, you will lead him directly to me."
His voice carried an unmistakable warning.
"Am I clear, Castiel?"
Castiel held his brother's gaze for a moment before lowering his head.
"Perfectly clear, Blood Ascendant."
"Good. Then I expect your next report to contain something useful."
The crimson light surrounding the projection began to dim.
"And Castiel?"
"Yes, Blood Ascendant?"
"Do not disappoint me as you disappointed Father."
Castiel lowered his gaze.
"I won't, Blood Ascendant."
Azrion studied him for another moment.
"Do not fail me again, little brother."
"Yes, Blood Ascendant."
The connection ended.
The crimson projection dissolved into scattered fragments of light, leaving Castiel standing alone in the silence of Room B-17.
The communication shard grew dark in his hand.
For several moments, he remained motionless.
His brother wasn't demanding David immediately.
He wanted information. Reports on David's abilities, his increasing strength, and every unusual development that might explain why their father had taken such an interest in him.
And when David reached a level Azrion considered appropriate, Castiel would be expected to lead him directly into his brother's hands.
At least it gave him time.
How much, he couldn't know.
Castiel crossed the room and stopped beside the window.
Outside, the moon had changed.
The thin crescent of crimson he had noticed earlier had spread steadily across its surface during the conversation. What had begun as a narrow red edge now covered the entire moon, bathing the Academy in a deep, unnatural glow.
The Blood Moon had fully emerged.
Its crimson light washed across the dormitory buildings, turning their pale walls dark red and stretching long shadows across the deserted courtyards.
Castiel's gaze shifted toward the rooftop.
David was still there.
His solitary figure stood beneath the blood-red light, unmoving, as though the world around him had ceased to exist.
Castiel remembered their conversation earlier that evening.
He remembered the grief in David's voice when he spoke of Nyra, and the helplessness he had felt knowing there was nothing he could say to bring her back.
Now his brother wanted him to betray that same friend.
Castiel looked down at the dark communication shard.
Azrion believed he had gained a loyal observer inside the Academy.
Someone who would report David's every development and eventually lead him into Fallen hands.
But Castiel had already made his choice on Kharos Vale.
He had deliberately brought about Whitefall, knowing what it would cost the Fallen.
And he wasn't about to surrender his closest friend simply because his brother demanded it.
"For now, I'll give you your reports," Castiel murmured.
He raised his eyes toward the rooftop, where David stood alone beneath the crimson glow of the Blood Moon.
"But I'm not handing him over."