Yusuf’s Warning

The stone chamber was lit only by the faint glow of old lanterns hanging from rusted chains. The walls were cracked, covered in faded symbols that seemed to pulse gently whenever Feroz walked near them. After the trial, silence had settled around them like a heavy fog.

Feroz sat near the edge of the room, still catching his breath. His body ached, but somewhere deep inside, he felt… different. More aware. More awake.

Yusuf stood at a stone table, sorting through old scrolls and papers. He hadn't said much since Feroz's trial. Occasionally, he'd glance at him with a mix of curiosity and caution—like someone studying a fire that could warm or burn.

Mrs. Aliya paced the room, her eyes darting between the shadows. "We don't have much time," she said. "The Free Masons won't wait. They know he's with you now."

Yusuf nodded slowly. "They always knew he would come. The signs were written long ago. But they also know something we don't."

Feroz looked up. "What do you mean?"

Yusuf turned toward him, face serious. "You think this is just about power, about bloodlines. But it's bigger. Much bigger."

He stepped closer, pulling a cloth off an old wooden chest. Inside were scrolls, strange tools, and a long, broken dagger with glowing veins running through its blade.

"This," Yusuf said, holding the blade up, "was your father's."

Feroz stood, stepping closer. The moment he looked at the blade, a strange feeling rushed over him—like remembering a dream he never lived. "What is it?"

"It's called the Veinblade. Forged centuries ago, passed down through your family. It's not just a weapon—it's a key. To something locked away."

Mrs. Aliya's eyes narrowed. "You think the Free Masons are looking for it?"

"They're looking for what it opens," Yusuf said. "A vault buried beneath the ruins of a forgotten city. Inside it is something that could give them control over not just your powers—but over every Gifted in the world."

Feroz stared at the blade. "And my father was protecting it?"

Yusuf nodded. "He died trying to keep it hidden. And now that you're here, they'll assume you're the one who knows where it is."

"But I don't," Feroz said. "I've never even heard of it before now."

"You will," Yusuf said. "There's a reason your powers are awakening now. The vault is tied to your blood. And only someone from your line can open it."

Mrs. Aliya stepped forward. "We need to leave this place. If the Free Masons get here, they'll take Yusuf too."

But Yusuf shook his head. "I can't leave. This is the only place they haven't reached yet. If I leave, they'll find me."

Feroz looked down at the Veinblade. "Then what do we do?"

Yusuf placed the broken weapon in Feroz's hands. "You learn. You train. You survive. And when the time comes, you'll go find the vault—and decide whether to open it or destroy it."

Feroz's grip tightened on the blade. The weight of it was more than metal. It was legacy. Burden. Destiny.

"I'm ready," he said quietly.

Yusuf nodded. "We'll see."

Outside the ruins, the wind howled through the trees.

And far beyond the forest, in the heart of a city cloaked in darkness… a man stood before a large stone mirror. His eyes glowed red.

Feroz's uncle.

"They've found the boy," he whispered. "It's time to send the first."