VoidSpecter

Betrayed. Forgotten. Erased from history.

Kael Draven was once a loyal knight of the Divine Order, an elite warrior who fought in their name. But when he uncovered their darkest secrets, they silenced him—branding him a traitor and executing him without hesitation.

Yet death was not the end. An unknown force grants Kael a second chance, sending him twenty years into the past. Now, in his seventeen-year-old body, he has one goal: to bring down the Divine Order from the shadows.

Armed with knowledge of the future and a system that grants power at a deadly cost, Kael must rebuild his strength, gather allies, and navigate a world where his enemies still hold absolute control. But the deeper he digs, the more he realizes—the Divine Order’s corruption runs far deeper than he ever imagined.

The world believes the Divine Order is untouchable. Kael will prove them wrong.

This time, he won’t fight for them. He will bring them to ruin.

Eclipsed monarch

The contract was written in elegant yet precise handwriting. Whoever had drafted it wasn't just a noble—they were someone used to handling power from the shadows.

"The target must be dealt with before their presence disrupts the balance. Discretion is expected. Compensation will be delivered upon completion."

There was no name. No specifics. Only a signature—House Veltrion.

House Veltrion was a lesser noble family, but they were known for one thing—connections to the Divine Order.

The realization sent a slow burn through his veins. This wasn't just another mercenary band working for coin. Someone with influence had put out a contract on a target.

And if the Divine Order was involved, Kael had no doubt it was tied to their secret operations.

Kael spent the next few hours searching the fort. He found supplies, spare weapons, and a few gold coins, but nothing as valuable as the contract. He burned the rest of the documents—he wouldn't leave anything behind for anyone to trace.

By the time he was finished, the sun had risen.

Kael wrapped his cloak tighter around him and left the ruins behind, blending into the wilderness. He had a destination now.

The nearest city under House Veltrion's influence was Black Hollow.

It was a trading hub, a place where mercenaries, merchants, and nobles all rubbed shoulders. Officially, it was ruled by a city lord. Unofficially, it was a den of corruption.

Kael entered Black Hollow at dusk.

The city's streets were filled with movement—horse-drawn carriages, traders hawking goods, and figures lurking in the alleys. He kept his hood low, avoiding attention as he navigated toward the central district.

His first stop was an information broker.

He found one in a run-down tavern on the outskirts of the noble quarter. The man, a wiry figure with sharp eyes, studied Kael with amusement.

"You don't look like the usual type looking for answers," the broker mused, swirling his drink.

Kael slid a small pouch of gold across the table. "I need information on House Veltrion."

The man's expression didn't change, but Kael saw the subtle shift in his posture—interest mixed with caution.

"You must be new," the broker chuckled. "People don't just ask about House Veltrion."

The broker sighed, leaning forward. "Alright. You paid, so I'll tell you this much—House Veltrion has a lot of enemies, but they're still standing because of one reason."

Kael's eyes narrowed. "And that is?"

The broker smirked. "Because they're protected by something far worse."

Chapter 18 – A Trail of Shadows