Chapter 3 – The Encounter

The next morning came like a heavy weight.

I hadn't slept. How could I? Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the bloodstained mark on the corpse, the stranger's chilling words echoing in my mind, and the power inside me, surging with a hunger I couldn't control.

I stumbled through the city's narrow streets, unsure of what to do. The world around me was just as grim as before—the same grimy buildings, the same rotting food stalls, the same forgotten souls. But everything felt different.

I felt out of place. Like I was walking on the edge of something, and any moment, I would slip and fall into a void I couldn't understand.

I needed answers.

I didn't know where to go, so I made my way to the one place I felt safe: the Old Market. It was a forgotten part of Vaelthar, where the desperate and the disillusioned gathered. Here, I knew the faces, even if they didn't know me. I could hide in plain sight and figure out my next move.

But as I approached the market, something caught my eye.

A figure, standing just outside the market's entrance. A young lady. Her pale skin and long black hair contrasted sharply with the dirt and grime of the streets. She looked out of place here—too clean, too composed.

And she was looking directly at me.

I froze. There was no way she could have known I was coming. I hadn't seen her before, and yet… she seemed to be waiting for me.

I hesitated, then turned to walk past her. But as I moved, she stepped forward, blocking my path.

"You're Kalen, aren't you?" Her voice was quiet but carried an undeniable weight.

I stopped in my tracks, startled. How did she know my name?

"Who are you?" I demanded, trying to mask the unease that bubbled up inside me.

She didn't flinch. "I've been looking for you. I know what you are."

My heart skipped a beat. "What do you mean?"

Her eyes glowed faintly, a silver light shimmering beneath her pupils. For a moment, I thought I saw a flash of something—otherworldly, something powerful. "You're the son of Zeroth, The one that carried bloodline of the greatest warlocks."

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. I stumbled back, almost tripping over a nearby crate. My hands trembled as the mark on my palm throbbed once again, its familiar heat coursing through me.

"How do you know about that?" I forced out, my voice tight with panic.

She smiled, though there was no warmth in it. "Because I've been following your trail for some time. And I'm here to help you."

I couldn't speak. My mind raced, but the words wouldn't come. There was so much I didn't understand—so much I hadn't asked.

"You don't have to be afraid," she continued, stepping closer, her gaze never leaving mine. "I'm not your enemy. My name is Seraphine. I belong to a group of warlocks who've been watching you. We know about your power. And it's time you learned to control it."

"Why should I trust you?" I finally managed to say, though my voice cracked with doubt.

Seraphine didn't answer immediately. Instead, she extended her hand, palm up, toward me. "Because you don't have a choice."

I flinched instinctively, but the words stuck in my throat. She was right. I didn't have a choice. Not anymore.

The truth I had been running from was crashing into me like a tidal wave. I was tied to this power. It was a part of me—the warlock bloodline, a legacy that had been hidden from me for too long.

I had to face it.

Seraphine seemed to read my thoughts, her eyes softening for a moment. "Listen, Kalen. I know this is a lot to take in. But you have to understand that the warlocks will start hunting you… they won't stop. They know what you are, and they'll do anything to control you."

I nodded slowly, processing her words. It was the same message I'd been getting from that mysterious figure last night.

"But you're not alone," she added, her voice low and urgent. "I can help you. But first, you need to come with me. There's someone you need to meet."

My heart raced. I knew I was standing at a crossroads. I could turn my back on her, run, and try to bury the truth deep inside me. But I knew, deep down, that I couldn't escape this.

I couldn't escape what I was.

"Fine," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "I'll go with you."

Seraphine smiled, though there was a trace of sadness in her eyes. "It's a good choice, Kalen. The path ahead is dangerous. But if you want to survive, you'll need to learn the ways of the warlocks. And that means meeting him."

She turned on her heel and walked toward the market's exit, glancing back only once to make sure I was following.

I hesitated for a moment, my mind still reeling, but then I took a step forward. Another.

And then I was walking alongside her, into a world I barely understood, but one that was starting to feel like my own.

The city of Vaelthar faded behind us as we walked deeper into the winding streets, and I couldn't help but feel the weight of what was to come.

I was about to meet the one person who could teach me how to control the power inside me. The one who could unlock the truth of my bloodline.

I just hoped I wasn't too late.