By the time they had stepped out of the veil crack… the silence had changed.
It wasn't the same silence from before.
This one was heavier.
Kael stood near the exit, his clothes torn in places, faint streaks of dried blood on his sleeve. Not all of it was his.
His breathing was steady.
Controlled.
Around him, the lower district looked worse than before.
More damage.
More broken stone.
More still bodies that no longer moved.
The trial had not ended with a signal.
It had simply… stopped.
One moment, they had been fighting.
The next—
The pressure in the air disappeared.
The Veil pulled back.
And the creatures… were gone.
'maybe more than three hours had passed' Kael thought with a light stretch of his muscles.
The portal opened again, this time to let them out.
One by one, the remaining candidates made their way to the gate.
Slow.
Some limped.
Some leaned on others.
Some walked alone, eyes empty.
Kael stepped out without looking back.
The outside world felt too bright.
Too normal.
The city noise returned all at once, but it sounded distant, like it didn't belong to him anymore.
Dain exited a few steps behind him.
He looked… different.
Not injured badly.
But sharper.
More focused.
His eyes found Kael immediately.
Of course they did.
Neither of them spoke.
They didn't need to.
The participants that crushed their amulets before the time went up had walked back into the waiting crowd, reuniting with their guardians and parents. Some were reprimanded and other were consoled, but none of them regretted their choice.
All successful survivors were gathered in the trial grounds again.
The same place.
But not the same people.
The crowd was smaller now.
Much smaller.
Kael looked around once.
Counted without meaning to.
Twenty.
Out of three hundred.
A low murmur passed through the group.
Some seemed relieved.
Some looked like they hadn't processed it yet.
One boy started laughing.
Too loudly.
No one joined him.
Commander Vaelor stood above them again.
Unchanged.
Like none of this had mattered.
"You have completed the trial," he said.
No praise.
No emotion.
"Out of three hundred candidates…"
A pause.
"Twenty passed."
Silence settled over the group.
Vaelor's gaze moved across them.
Stopping briefly on a few.
Lingering just a second longer on Kael.
Then moving on.
"You are no longer candidates."
Another pause.
"You are recruits of the Ashen Order."
No one reacted loudly. Some sighed with relief but no one cheered.
Just quiet understanding.
Because everyone standing there knew what it had cost.
They were given water first.
Then food. A mixture of rice and sparse amounts of meat and vegetables.
Some ate like they hadn't in days. Maybe it had been days.
Some couldn't.
Kael sat slightly apart from the others. The cold air that surrounded him pushed them a little farther.
He was not isolated, just not close.
He drank slowly and ate his portion. Nothing more.
The thing inside him was quiet now. Satisfied... for now.
"…you did well," it whispered faintly.
Kael ignored it.
The air was a little hot with residual energy as footsteps approached, encroaching on his space.
He didn't need to look up.
Dain dropped down beside him without asking.
Close enough that their shoulders almost touched.
"You count?" Dain asked.
Kael nodded once.
"Twenty."
Dain let out a short breath.
"Expected less."
Kael didn't reply.
For a moment, they just sat there.
Then—
Dain spoke again.
"You held back."
It wasn't a question.
Kael glanced at him.
"No."
Dain's eyes narrowed slightly.
"You're lying."
Kael looked forward again.
"I'm not."
A pause.
Dain studied him.
Then he leaned back slightly, resting his hands behind him.
"…Fine," he said.
But the way he said it…
Wasn't acceptance.
It was a decision.
*******
By evening, they were called again.
The sun was low now, casting long shadows across the stone.
The twenty recruits stood in a single line.
In front of them—
Members of the Ashen Order.
Not just Vaelor.
Others too. Including the three that had accompanied Vaelor to the village before.
They all had their marks.
Kael could feel it.
"From this point forward," Vaelor said, "your lives belong to the Order."
The recruits broke out in murmurs.
"You will be trained."
"You will be deployed."
"You will obey."
No one spoke.
"If you fail," he continued, "you die."
A pause.
"If you lose control…"
His gaze sharpened slightly.
"You will be eliminated."
The words settled heavily.
No one questioned them. They were Verdicts.
One by one, recruits were called forward.
They stood before the platform, a sigil placed in their arms. It was an awakening and also an Initiation.
An old officer of the Order clad in Dark brown robes, stood before the recruits and whispered words. They sounded ancient and malevolent.
The sigils in their hands sparked with red lights as they burned. Thin wisps of red light floated out and seeped into the recruits heads, hands... or anywhere they felt like.
They were awakening their marks.... at least those that didn't have one yet.
After the marks appeared on their skins, Tattoos were burned to their arms. The mark of the Order.
A burning heart pierced through by a sword.
Each received their Mark.
Some flinched.
Some gritted their teeth.
Some stayed silent.
When Kael's turn came, he stepped forward calmly.
The Order member in front of him hesitated.
Just slightly.
Then proceeded.
The sigil was placed on his hand, the incantation was recited but nothing happened.
"... you already have one" The voice whispered in his head.
Kael raised his head to the confused officer.
"I already have one... "
The officer narrowed his eyes as he stared ta Kael.
"Show me...."
Kael raised his hand to this collar and pulled down. A deep black mark pulsed faintly, right above his heart. It looked like a blooming lotus drawn in vibrant ink.
The officer stared at the mark. scrutinizing its every curve, then he nodded.
Kael pulled his collar back up with his expressionless face.
Vaelor was standing right behind the Officer. His cold eyes narrowed slightly.... He couldn't sense the mark on the boy, but it was obviously real.
The mark of the order came next.
The hot stamp pressed against his skin.
Heat followed.
Kael didn't react.
But inside—
Something shifted.
"…. they want to mark me!" it murmured. Amusement laced its voice.
The Mark settled.
The Order member stepped back, eyes narrowing just a fraction.
"…Strange," he muttered.
Kael stepped away without asking.
Dain went next.
He already had an ember mark, so the ritual was easier too.
He only required the Order mark.
When the stamp pressed against his skin...
His reaction was different.
His jaw tightened.
His hand clenched.
But he didn't make a sound.
When it was done, he looked at the Mark on his arm.
Then—
At Kael.
Of course.
Later that night, they were led to their quarters. The headquarters of the Order was cold just like its name.
It was a courtyard, the size of the Imperial courtyard, but it was filled with less buildings. Just the necessary.
The dormitory for the recruits was seated on the far corners of the courtyard.
It was dark just like the rest of the headquarters.
The dorm rooms were simple, two per room... maybe it because they were only twenty.
No explanation.
Just assignments.
Kael stepped inside his. The floorboards creaked as he walked.
He Stopped.
Dain was already there.
Leaning against the wall.
He didn't look surprised.
"…Figures," he said.
Kael walked in.
Closed the door.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then—
Dain pushed off the wall and walked closer.
"You're not getting away from me that easily," he said.
Kael met his gaze. He was a little confused.
Something quiet and complex passed between them.
Dain stared straight at Kael's face. Moments passed.
Then....
He turned away.
But his next words came without looking back.
"Don't die on your first mission."
Kael's answer was just as steady.
"I don't think it should matter to you."
Dain smiled sl