Chapter 22

The ruins of an abandoned cathedral loomed ahead, its spires shattered and stone walls blackened by time and fire. Edgar led the way, his movements precise and deliberate. Thief trailed behind, her eyes darting to every shadow, every creak of the ancient structure.

"Why here?" she asked, her voice breaking the eerie silence. "This place feels… wrong."

"Good," Edgar replied without turning. "It should. This is where I learned to control my powers. Or at least, where I started to."

He stopped in front of the crumbling altar, brushing his fingers against its cold surface. "The man who taught me wasn’t like me. He was human—a hunter who had every reason to kill me the moment we crossed paths. But instead, he gave me a choice: learn to control the monster or let it consume me."

Thief raised an eyebrow. "And you chose the first option? Just like that?"