Chapter 9: The Weight of Chains

The world outside the ruins felt different.

The air was crisp, the sky a deep shade of midnight blue, but Kael couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted.

He knew too much now.

His bloodline wasn't cursed—it was a seal. And whatever was trapped inside him was watching, waiting.

Verrian's words echoed in his skull.

"The world ends if the seal breaks."

Kael exhaled slowly, staring at his open palm. His fingers twitched. He could still feel the faint pulse of something stirring deep within him.

And the worst part?

It didn't feel like a stranger.

A Fire in the Dark

Seraphina dropped onto a fallen log, stretching out her legs with a yawn. "Well, that was a lot."

Darian sighed, poking the small campfire between them. "Understatement of the year."

Verrian remained silent, standing a few feet away with his arms crossed. His silver eyes reflected the firelight, unreadable.

Kael sat down, resting his elbows on his knees.

His mind was still racing, trying to piece everything together.

The Unchained One. The war. His bloodline.

And then there was the most dangerous question of all.

Why now?

Why was the seal reacting after all this time?

Kael rubbed his face. "So… what exactly happens if the seal weakens?"

Verrian's voice was calm, but the weight behind it was heavy.

"The Unchained One wakes up."

Darian let out a low whistle. "Yeah, that sounds bad."

Seraphina flicked a small ember into the fire. "You're really good at downplaying disaster."

Kael frowned. "And if it fully wakes up?"

Verrian's expression didn't change. "Then you die."

The fire crackled.

Kael's breath hitched for just a second. "...Right."

No pressure.

A Choice Without Options

Darian leaned back, resting his hands behind his head. "Okay, so assuming we don't want Kael dead, what's the plan?"

Verrian exhaled. "We need to reinforce the seal before it fractures."

Kael looked up. "And how do we do that?"

Verrian's silver eyes met his. "Find the lost fragments."

Silence.

Kael blinked. "The… what?"

Verrian gestured toward the ruins behind them. "The seal that binds the Unchained One wasn't made from just your bloodline. It was forged with four ancient artifacts—each one a part of the original binding."

Kael's stomach twisted.

Four artifacts.

And let him guess—they were missing.

Seraphina groaned, rubbing her temples. "Okay, let me get this straight. The Unchained One is basically the apocalypse in a box, Kael is the lock, and someone lost the damn key?"

Darian snorted. "Sounds about right."

Kael wasn't laughing. "Where are the fragments?"

Verrian's gaze darkened. "Scattered. Hidden. And worse…"

Kael tensed. "Worse?"

Verrian sighed. "We're not the only ones looking for them."

Of course.

Because things weren't complicated enough.

A Shadow in the Night

A low howl echoed in the distance.

Kael felt it before he saw it.

That sharp, crawling sensation at the base of his skull. Like something unseen had just locked onto him.

Verrian's head snapped up. "We need to move."

Darian was already on his feet. "What is it?"

Verrian's silver eyes scanned the darkened woods. "Hunters."

Kael frowned. "Hunters?"

Seraphina stood, brushing off her coat. "Not the fun kind."

Another howl.

Closer this time.

The wind shifted, carrying the scent of something rotting.

Kael's grip tightened.

Then—movement.

A figure stepped from the trees, cloaked in black mist.

Kael's breath hitched.

Its face was hidden, but its eyes…

They were empty. Hollow.

Like something that had long forgotten how to be human.

Verrian's voice was sharp. "Don't let them touch you."

Darian's dagger was already in his hand. "Noted."

The figure tilted its head.

Then, it vanished.

The First Battle

Kael barely had time to react.

The moment the figure disappeared, a sharp wind cut through the air.

Instinct kicked in. He ducked—just as a blackened claw sliced where his neck had been.

Darian spun, his dagger flashing. Steel met shadow, but instead of cutting through—

The blade sank in.

Darian's eyes widened. "What the—"

The creature lunged.

Kael moved. His body acted before his mind did, his instincts screaming.

Dodge. Counter. Strike.

His blade clashed against the creature's arm, but the impact sent a sharp tremor up his arm.

It wasn't solid. It was like cutting through smoke and steel at the same time.

Not normal. Not human.

Seraphina cursed, flinging a small orb from her pocket. The moment it hit the ground—

BOOM.

A burst of light exploded outward. The creature reeled, its form flickering like a distorted mirage.

Verrian was already moving.

His blade sliced cleanly—and this time, the creature staggered.

A deep, inhuman shriek tore through the air.

Then—silence.

The creature collapsed, its body dissolving into black mist.

Kael's heart hammered.

What… was that?

A New Enemy

The group stayed silent, watching the last of the mist fade.

Then, Verrian spoke.

"The Hollowborn."

Kael's skin prickled.

He had never heard that name before—but something about it felt wrong.

Seraphina dusted off her coat. "Great. New nightmare unlocked."

Darian sighed. "That thing was fast."

Kael exhaled. "And strong."

Verrian sheathed his blade. "They'll keep coming."

Kael frowned. "Why?"

Verrian's silver eyes locked onto his.

"Because they're drawn to the seal."

The fire crackled behind them.

Kael didn't need to ask what that meant.

As long as he was alive, they wouldn't stop coming.

Darian groaned, stretching his shoulders. "Well, that's fantastic news. What's next?"

Kael already knew the answer.

He looked toward the darkened path ahead.

"We find the fragments."