The Unseen Path

Nathan's heart beat and the air hung heavy with the presence of Korrin. All of his muscles locked, his reflexes screaming at him to either attack or get away. Korrin's energy was inescapable, a crushing power that felt to reshape the world itself from the ground up. However, Nathan would not be led into a frontal attack, not yEst. There had to be another way.

He backed up slowly, never looking away from Korrin, watching, always watching for any change, any shift in the configuration of the old man's position. Korrin had just issued a challenge, and Nathan could feel the pressure mounting, but this wasn't the time to unleash whatever power lay within the Fragments. Not yet. Not until he understood them fully.

I'm not on your side, Korrin, Nathan said, his voice calm yet deep. "I didn't choose this path. I'm not here to claim anything—only to survive, to understand.

Korrin's eyes narrowed, amusement flickering in his gaze. "Survival? That's what you tell yourself? He took a step forward, his presence intensifying. In fact, you ask quite clearly what can you understand the depth of this coming here, Nathan? You're nothing more than a cog in the machine. The Fragments were never meant for you to wield. You're too weak."

With the hand squeezing tighter and tighter, the fingers pulled on the edges of the Fragments within. He could feel the humming of their vibrational hum, initially weak, but steadily building up as Korrin excised himself. As though they were responding, bearing the weight to respond to the problem, but Nathan was not able to do so. The power was still a mystery.

I've been trying to figure out, Nathan said, his voice firm. I've been grabbing bits, but I'm not with you, Korrin. The Fragments... they're not just yours. They relate to a scale much bigger, to which I am hardly able to make even the smallest attempt at understanding. But I'm not letting you take them."

Korrin's the lips turned to smile, yet it didn't extend to his gaze. "You think I need your permission? He laughed, the sound cold and mocking. "I don't care about your reasons, Nathan. The Fragments belong to me. You'll learn the hard way if you keep resisting.

The space around them constricted, the air thick with the presence of Korrin. Nathan's mind raced. There had to be a means of "do not fight" i.e. However, if Korrin was right, the Fragments contained him in forms that Nathan was ill equipped to understand. But Nathan was no fool—he knew that submitting to Korrin would only lead to a life of manipulation, of being used like a pawn in a game far bigger than himself.

Nathan's eyes darted away from the side and stopped near the shimmering of an exit doorway off to a side out of the room. His heart quickened, the instinct to escape sharpening. He didn't have the strength to face Korrin directly. Not yet. Not without more control over the power within him. But perhaps... he could escape for now. He wasn't ready to face this enemy head-on.

I'm wrong about me", whispered Nathan, and his voice emerged stronger. [I]t would have been my fault to come try to get a piece of that which you imagine is yours but I'm not going to hand it over to you,'" He turned back and then walked away from Korrin and strutted toward the door.

For a moment, there was silence. Nathan could perceive Korrin' gaze piercing him, the pressure as intense as usual. He wouldn't turn to look back—he couldn't risk appearing to be weak. The door just feet in front of him but the air seemed thick, as if Korrin could kill him in a second. But Nathan pushed forward, his steps steady.

Then, to his shock, Korrin did not react to try and stop him.

Instead, Korrin's voice rang out, chilling and detached. "Run, then. Run while you still can, Nathan. But know this—no matter where you go, I'll always find you. The Fragments are mine, and so are you."

Nathan didn't stop, though the words gnawed at him. He couldn't fight Korrin now, but he could buy himself time. That was the key—time. It is time to learn more about the Fragments, it is time to become stronger, it is time to understand who was pulling the strings of everything behind.

He crossed the doorway and into the hallway, and did not even glance back. Nevertheless, the feeling of Korrin's speech continued in his mind, tinkling in the emptiness. He had left for the time being, but Korrin's warning was more than a threat, it was a vow. The hunt had only just begun.

Nathan moved quickly through the corridors, his mind whirling. He wanted to escape, to get away to a place where he could think to normal. Fragments, structure, Korrin all of it was linked, and it was all going haywire.

The first step was simple: survival. The second step? Finding allies.