Chapter 25 – The Gathering call

The sun dipped low behind the hills, casting long shadows across the training grounds. Adrian stood in the fading light, sweat beading on his forehead, his sword heavy in his hand. The rhythmic motions of his practice had grown sluggish, each swing of the blade feeling like a laborious effort. It wasn't the physical exhaustion that wore him down—it was something far more elusive.

His mind kept drifting, pulled away from the training as if something was tugging at him, some unseen force gnawing at the edges of his consciousness. The uneasy feeling that had gripped him since returning from the city with Lyra had only grown stronger, and now, in the quiet of the training yard, it was all he could focus on.

His father, Cedric, stood a few paces away, watching him closely, his expression unreadable. There were no harsh instructions today, no testing of his limits. Just a steady silence between them, save for the occasional word of guidance.

Adrian paused mid-swing, lowering his sword as he took a deep breath. The air around him felt charged, as though the world itself was holding its breath. His Abyssal Pulse, a force that had awakened within him not long ago, buzzed at the edge of his senses. It was a blessing, yes, but sometimes it felt like a curse. Today, it was more insistent, as though the very air around him was shifting.

"Distracted," Cedric's voice cut through the air, low but firm. "You're off today. What's on your mind, son?"

Adrian hesitated, looking down at his sword. The words felt stuck in his throat. He couldn't explain it—couldn't even fully grasp it himself. But the pull, the sense of something out there, growing ever closer, was impossible to ignore.

"I'm not sure," Adrian admitted, his voice quieter than usual. "Just... something's wrong."

Cedric studied him for a moment, his brow furrowed slightly, then nodded slowly. "The answers you seek don't always come at once," he said, his voice rich with experience. "But whatever it is, you have to remain focused. Strength doesn't come only from the sword. It comes from within—from your instincts, your mind."

Adrian didn't respond, but his father's words echoed in his mind. He wanted to focus, to throw himself into the rhythm of his training, but it was impossible. The feeling was growing stronger. The disturbances. The gathering. And something more. Something deeper. He couldn't shake the sensation that something was coming—something he wasn't prepared for.

The sound of a distant rustling leaf snapped him back to reality. The faintest shift in the air, just on the edge of his perception. His Abyssal Pulse stirred again, feeling the invisible tug that grew stronger, more pronounced.

He raised his sword once more, but it felt heavier now, as if it too could sense the tension in the air. The nagging pull of the unknown gnawed at him, and he found himself unable to fully concentrate.

"I'll keep going, Father," he said, pushing the unease aside for now, though the distraction in his voice was unmistakable.

Cedric didn't press, though he studied his son intently. After a moment, he spoke again, his voice softer but no less firm.

"You're not alone in this, Adrian," he said, the words carrying weight. "Whatever it is that's bothering you, whatever power you're awakening, you don't have to face it alone. I'm here."

Adrian's chest tightened at his father's reassurance, but the uneasy feeling didn't lift. If anything, it only intensified. The sensation was growing louder, pressing against him from all sides, like an unseen storm on the horizon. Whatever was coming, Adrian could feel it in the very air around him.

The next few hours passed in quiet tension, the training grounds now bathed in the soft glow of dusk. Adrian's body moved through the motions, but his mind was somewhere else entirely. The disturbances. The gathering. The sense of something that was waiting, watching, pulling him toward it.

---

Later that morning, the family gathered for breakfast, the warm scent of freshly baked bread and sizzling eggs filling the air of the large dining hall. Elena, Adrian's mother, sat at the table, her sharp gaze softening as she greeted him with a quiet, almost weary smile.

"How was training today?" she asked, her voice light but tinged with concern, as if sensing something was off.

"It went well," Adrian replied, though his words were automatic, his attention still half elsewhere. He sat down next to his younger sister, Lyra, who was busily poking at her food, her little face scrunched in concentration. Adrian cast a quick glance at his mother. "I've been... thinking about the Varell invitation."

The moment the words left his mouth, Elena's expression shifted. Her eyes darkened slightly, the warmth that had once characterized her gaze now replaced with something more cautious, even wary.

"The Varells," she murmured, her lips barely moving, as though the name itself left a bitter taste in her mouth. "You're thinking of going?"

Adrian nodded slowly. "I have to. It's an opportunity I can't ignore. And... it's part of what's coming next."

Elena's hands, previously resting calmly on the table, clenched into fists. Her expression softened, but the concern in her eyes was unmistakable. "Adrian," she began, her voice barely above a whisper, "I understand that you feel the need to do this, but you're still my child. I don't want you to walk into something that could harm you. The Varells are dangerous, and you don't know the full extent of their intentions. Please, be careful."

Adrian met her gaze, his resolve unwavering, but the weight of her concern pressed down on him. "I know the risks, Mother. But I'm not the same as I was before. I've seen things, felt things. The world is changing. I can't ignore it."

From across the table, Lyra, all of three years old, puffed out her cheeks and crossed her arms stubbornly. Her small face contorted into an expression of fierce determination, and she pouted dramatically.

"I don't like them," she huffed, her little voice high-pitched with annoyance. "They're mean. You shouldn't go, big browther. I'll protect you instead!"

Adrian couldn't help but smile at her adorable insistence. Despite her youth, Lyra had a fiery spirit that could rival any warrior. He leaned over and ruffled her hair gently, his heart warming at the sight. "I'll be fine, Lyra. You don't need to worry about big brother."

"But I do!" she whined, her voice rising in frustration. "They're bad people! I don't want you to go!" She crossed her arms tighter, her face scrunching up in the most adorable pout.

Elena chuckled softly, her voice tender. "You're a strong little one, aren't you?" she said, her fingers ruffling Lyra's hair affectionately. "But big brother needs to make his own decisions. We can't always protect him, even if we want to."

Adrian turned back to his mother, the weight of her concern settling in his chest. "I've been thinking about it a lot," he said quietly. "I know it's dangerous. But if I don't go, they'll see it as weakness. I can't afford that."

Cedric, who had been quietly listening, spoke up then, his voice steady and pragmatic. "You're right," he said. "The Varells are playing a game, and you must play your part if you're to survive it. But remember, there's more to power than just appearing strong. Sometimes, it's about knowing when to strike and when to wait."

Adrian nodded, his father's words grounding him in the moment. He had always respected Cedric's tactical mind, and the advice was sound. "I'll be careful. I promise."

Lyra, still pouting, folded her arms tighter across her chest. "I'm not happy about it!" she declared, her little voice filled with frustration. "But if you have to go, I guess I can't stop you."

Adrian leaned over and kissed her on the cheek, earning a wrinkled nose in response. "Thank you for worrying about me," he said softly. "I'll be back before you know it."

As they continued their breakfast, the weight of Adrian's decision hung in the air. His mother's concern, Lyra's cute protest, his father's quiet approval—it all swirled within him, mixing with the strange feeling that something far darker was on the horizon. The invitation to the gathering was only the beginning. What came next, Adrian couldn't say for sure. But he knew that the world was shifting, and he couldn't afford to sit back and wait.