Bound by Necissity

Kael's breath was still uneven, the weight of the previous battle pressing against his chest. The cold air in the tunnel was thick with dust and dampness, but neither he nor

Ronan moved just yet.

The figure before them—cloaked in tattered robes, his presence a stark contrast to the chaos that had just unfolded—stood with an eerie stillness. His face was partially obscured by the dim light, but the way his piercing gaze lingered on Kael sent a deep sense of unease through him.

"You still carry that name," the figure murmured, his voice low but carrying an undeniable weight. "Aetheris… then you truly have no idea what you are."

Kael stiffened. The name—his name—had been spoken before in fear, in whispers, but never like this.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" he demanded, stepping forward despite the fatigue clawing at his limbs.

The figure simply tilted his head slightly, as if considering whether Kael was even worth answering. "You will understand, in time."

Ronan scoffed, breaking the moment of tension. "Yeah, sure. Great. I love vague, ominous warnings. Maybe next time, try actually explaining something."

Kael shot him an irritated glance, but he couldn't deny the frustration gnawing at him as well. Every encounter, every battle, only seemed to pile on more questions rather than provide any real answers.

Before either of them could press further, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed down the tunnel from the direction they had just escaped. Reinforcements.

The figure sighed, seemingly unbothered by the approaching danger. "Your time here is over. If you wish to live, I suggest you run."

Kael opened his mouth to demand more, but the figure was already fading into the darkness, his form dissipating like mist.

Ronan let out an exasperated breath.

"Great. Creepy guy disappears, and we're back to running for our lives. Again."

Kael clenched his fists. There was no time to dwell on the figure's words—not when the organization's enforcers were closing in.

The tunnel trembled slightly, the faint torchlight flickering as shadows stretched unnaturally along the walls. A moment later, armored figures emerged from the darkness. Unlike the previous grunts they had faced, these ones were clad in reinforced gear, their movements precise and disciplined.

And they weren't alone.

A figure leading them, his presence far more imposing, stepped forward. Unlike the others, he didn't wear a helmet, revealing sharp, calculating eyes and a thin scar tracing down his cheek. The moment he laid eyes on Kael, a slow smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.

"There you are," he said smoothly. "I was beginning to think you'd slip away before we had the chance to properly introduce ourselves."

Kael felt an immediate sense of unease. This man wasn't just another enforcer.

"Can't say I was eager to make acquaintances," Kael muttered, shifting his stance.

Ronan groaned. "Oh, fantastic. He's one of those guys. Loves to hear himself talk before trying to kill us."

The enforcer chuckled, seemingly amused.

"You misunderstand. Killing you isn't my goal." His eyes gleamed. "Capturing you, however? That's a different story."

Without warning, he flicked his wrist, and the air around them shifted. A twisting, warping effect spread outward, distorting reality itself. The walls of the tunnel seemed to stretch, elongating unnaturally. Kael's stomach churned at the unnatural sensation.

Ronan hissed under his breath, "Shit. This guy's got a Dominion—a spatial one. We need to move, now."

Kael barely had time to react before the enforcer struck. The space around them collapsed inward like an invisible force was trying to crush them. Kael threw himself to the side, narrowly avoiding the crushing weight that pressed down where he had stood moments ago.

Ronan retaliated immediately, drawing out a short dagger and twisting his fingers in a precise motion. A moment later, his body flickered—a second Ronan appearing behind the enforcer.

The duplicate lunged, but the enforcer smirked and snapped his fingers. The space around Ronan's double distorted before folding inward, crushing it into nothingness.

Kael gritted his teeth. This wasn't a fight they could win head-on. Not in their current state.

They needed to escape.

Kael focused, forcing himself to call upon the Veil once more, despite the exhaustion threatening to pull him under. His vision darkened slightly as he reached for its power.

The enforcer noticed. "Ah… still unrefined, but you're learning." He raised a hand, preparing another attack.

Kael didn't give him the chance.

Shadows writhed at his feet, surging forward in a chaotic burst. They didn't attack directly but instead swallowed the light in the tunnel, plunging everything into near-total darkness.

"Move!" Kael barked, grabbing Ronan's arm and bolting toward a narrow passage off to the side.

The darkness wouldn't hold them for long, but it was enough.

Ronan didn't argue, keeping pace with Kael as they sprinted through the tunnel. Behind them, the enforcer's voice echoed through the darkness.

"You can't run forever, Aetheris."

The way he spoke the name sent a cold shiver down Kael's spine.

By the time they emerged from the tunnels into the outskirts of the city, Kael was barely keeping himself upright.

Ronan let out a long exhale, glancing back. "Well, that was sufficiently terrifying." He turned to Kael with a grin that didn't quite reach his eyes. "So, we're partners now, yeah?"

Kael gave him a wary look. "…I wouldn't go that far."

Ronan smirked. "Eh, details. You saved my ass, I saved yours. I'd say that makes us at least temporary allies."

Kael hesitated. He had never intended to trust anyone, but right now, he needed information. And Ronan… he clearly knew more than he let on.

Finally, he sighed. "Fine. But don't make me regret it."

Ronan's grin widened. "No promises."

For the first time since this all began, Kael wasn't completely alone.

But deep down, he knew that this was only the beginning.

And the name Aetheris… it wasn't going to stay buried for much longer