Chapter-15 Wherever the Pale Goes, Devastation Follows

Now that Aiden was officially registered as an Exodite, he had far more freedom. He could now hunt Specters in this zone without restriction. But before any of that, he needed to find Mira and Riven.

Walking through the bustling Exo Hall Base, he scanned around. If they were anywhere, it had to be here. After all, they knew he had register. Yet, as he moved between groups of Exodites preparing for their own missions, there was no sign of them.

He had a growing unease settled in his chest. Had he ended up farther from them than he thought? Or worse had something happened to them? A cold chill ran down his spine at the possibility.

'Where could they have gone?' he wondered. Then, a thought struck him he had a way to get answers.

"Helper," he muttered under his breath. "Did the same thing happen to Mira and Riven?"

The crystal glowed. "No. It sometimes happens to beginners if their bodies aren't fully adjusted to the Phantom Dimension's pull."

Aiden frowned, he understood that but. Why hadn't his body adjusted properly? He had been in the Phantom Dimension before. Was it because his energy was unstable?

His thoughts were cut short when the Helper suddenly spoke again.

"Do you want a hint on Mira and Riven?"

Aiden's eyes widened. "What? Yes! Tell me!"

"They're somewhere you don't want to go yet…"

His excitement died immediately. Somewhere I don't want to go? That's not very helpful.

He exhaled sharply, deciding to ignore the Helper for now. If he wanted to find Mira and Riven, he'd have to do it himself. But for now, he had another priority…preparing himself.

With Finn gone and no allies by his side. He needed to strengthen himself someway.

…

Outside the Exo Hall, Finn moved quickly through the streets, his head kept constantly looking over his shoulder, as if searching for someone or making sure no one was following him.

"I have to leave this town quickly… but where should I go?" he muttered under his breath.

He knew that if he didn't leave now, Master Callin would find him sooner rather than later. His subordinates were already patrolling every corner of town, searching, sniffing out any sign of him. Callin had enough influence to pay off the right people or force others into compliance. No one was safe from his reach.

As Finn walked, he had a feeling of being watched. It was subtle at first, but with each step, the feeling intensified.

The sensation vanished the moment he slipped around a building corner.

"Shit!" he hissed aloud before quickly covering his mouth. His heart pounded against his ribs, so loud it covered all sounds nearby.

Carefully, he peeked around the corner.

He saw a group of Callin's subordinates stood ahead alongside Callin himself.

But Finn's eyes weren't on them. His gaze locked onto another figure standing in the center of them.

The Pale Requiem.

"What's happening…?" Finn muttered under his breath. His fingers tightened into a fist. 'How do they have the Pale Requiem surrounded?'

"Took us a while to find you. Thought you'd be smart enough to keep running." Master Callin said.

The Pale Requiem cracked his neck, he smear blood arcoss his lip. "Running?" he scoffed. "You mutts really don't know me, do you? If I ran, it wasn't from fear. Just needed a good spot to bury you all."

A low growl rumbled from Callin's throat. "Everyone says you're unkillable, but even they get scared just mentioning your name. Funny, though. For someone so cocky, you're completely surrounded."

Callin's subordinates tightened their circle, closing in on Pale Requiem.

"You killed my men, butchered them without hesitation. But we're not here for revenge. We're here for something else."

The Pale flipped a bloodied knife between his fingers, his grin still there. "Oh? What, a peace offering? Sorry, but I'm not into puppy treats."

Callin's grin was cruel, fangs glinting under the streetlights.

"Hand over our bait."

Pale Requiem had a emotionless face, almost like he was confused. "You already know. The little runt. I need to train a fresh bait." He paused. "So hand him over!"

For the first time, the Pale Requiem hesitated. His grin faltered just slightly, a flicker of realization crossing his face.

Callin noticed and his grin widened."Bait. A perfect lure for Exodites. A child's terror is... exquisite."

Behind the corner, Finn exhaled quietly, he could leave right now for safety if that about to happen. But he wanted to stay and gather intel. However__

"Hi!"

"Shit!"

Finn nearly jumped out of his skin, his hand flying to the knife at his belt as a small snake specter figure grinned up at him. Wide, curious eyes, messy dark hair, and a mischievous smirk. The kid couldn't have been older than ten.

Finn exhaled sharply, his grip slowly relax on his knife. As his heart went back into a normal rhythm.

"Are you insane, kid? You don't sneak up on people like that unless you've got a death wish!" He whispered.

The boy had a unfazed grin. "You looked too serious. Thought I'd fix that."

Finn rubbed his face, muttering curses under his breath before glancing back toward the alley. That when he came to a realization.

"You're the one they talking about, aren't you?"

The boy shrugged, he kicked a loose rock. "Guess so. Not like I asked to be, though."

Finn eyes narrowed. He hadn't been sure what to expect, but this wasn't it. The kid wasn't scared, wasn't trembling or begging for protection. He was just… here. Calm. Observing. Like he was used to being in the middle of things he shouldn't be.

Finn crosed his arms. "And why exactly does Callin father want The Pale Requiem so badly? What's the real play here?"

"I heard, Callin's father got a bounty out for him. Other zones want him captured. It's a big reward, but it's not just about the money." his voice dropped, becoming serious. "His father doesn't want Pale Requiem wrecking this zone. He's torn through plenty already, right? If he starts something big here, it's all over for us."

Finn's blood ran cold. "Callin's father wants the Pale Requiem captured?" he thought, barely believing the absurdity of it. 'That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard. He surely has a death wish.'

Callin father, due to Mayor alan clearing of the zone still there were some remaining like calljn father. At some point, Specters invaded the town, forcing the newcomers Exodites to flee to a refugee camp outside Kaven Town.

Only alan remained out of loyalty to the zone and because of it motivated Exodites passed through the zone and helped the mayor taking some control if it.

Callin's father, however, was part of the old system. He never showed his son real love, only demanding results. He wanted Callin to control this zone one day. In return, Callin did everything he could to earn his father's approval.

Finn frowned, his gaze shifted back toward the alleyway. He saw that Pale was still, Silence, his grip on his knife tightened. His crimson eyes flicker, something unreadable swimming beneath them. Then laughter. Low, quiet, dangerous.

"You came all this way… to tell me that?"

Callin took a step forward. His subordinates mirrored him. "We came to take you, Pale. Father wants you too. You're valuable."

Pale Requiem eyebrow perkeded up"Me? Oh, I'm flattered."He gripped his sword hand on his back." But here's the thing…"

In a blur, The Pale Requiem moved. His sword glints, slashing through misty fur. Multiple wolf howls souded abruptly, there bodies collapsing.

The Pale Requiem moved like a wraith, his grin twisted, eyes glowing in the sunlight. He stepped back, panting, his body burly. Blood dripping from his side where The Pale's Requiem blade. As he disappeared.

"If your father wants me, tell him to come himself. And as for the boy?" He continued. "Youll have to find me to have him."

Master Callin was anger but he knew to calm right now if he was find him. So he just ordered a couple subordinates to search the city.

At the corner, Finn had came to a realization, The kid wasn't wrong. Wherever The Pale went, devastation followed. And if Callin father was desperate enough he will attack openly.

Finn shook his head as he muttered. "This is a mess."

He knew the thing about Master callin clan was that it'd now huge that it can properly overrun this town one day if there less exodite. From it being a excited before the forming of the town

The boy Johnny grin again, tilting his head

"Yeah. Welcome to my life. Kaven Town."

Finn sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. He had a feeling this town was only going to get worse.

Especially, The townsfolk are already jumpy at the mention of pale Requiem or Callin's father.

Finn tured back to Johnny. "Now let get you back to your parents little boy."

"I don't need you help."

Finn grabbed Johnny by his ear, dragging him along.

"Ow!"

"No, no. It's your mischievous fault you almost got yourself killed. I'm not letting that happen to a kid."

Perched onto a nearby building,crouched down was the Pale Requiem looking deeply down at Finn, dragging away the little boy. He had previously saw that Callin subordinates was chasing the boy.

He wasn't planning to save him, because it didn't mean much to him about Specter as he already kills them on the daily. Though he knew how, Master Callin exploit fellow Specters for his own arrogance due to his father. Like taking there mouth, gearing most not the time not buying and destroying property.

"I didn't hear to this degree where he sacrificed others for his gain…" Pale Requiem muttered under his breath. "Now, where is that mask?"

Seeing that Finn and the boy were safe, the Pale Requiem disappeared vanishing into mist once more.