The Price of Power A Dangerous Invitation

The glow of rune-lit lanterns flickered against the damp walls, casting eerie shadows that stretched and twisted like specters in the darkness. The tunnel had opened into a chamber—an old storage vault, long abandoned, its walls reinforced with aged stone and rusted metal braces.

But it was far from empty.

Five figures stood waiting.

They were cloaked in dark, travel-worn garments, their hoods low enough to obscure their faces. The only visible details were the sigils embroidered onto their sleeves—arcane, intricate, unmistakably linked to the Architect's legacy.

Liam's pulse quickened. This wasn't a random smuggler's den.

This was a meeting.

A test.

Vance stepped forward, utterly relaxed. "Took you long enough."

The tallest of the five turned to face them. Though their features were hidden in shadow, their voice was smooth, calculated.

"We had to confirm your story first." Their gaze flickered to Liam. "Considering who you brought us, we couldn't be too careful."

Liam squared his shoulders, pushing down the ache in his ribs. "You know who I am, then."

A quiet chuckle. "We know enough."

Iris shifted beside him, eyes sharp. "Then maybe you can tell us who the hell you are."

The tallest figure let the silence linger before responding. "We are the Wayfarers of the Lost Archive." Their voice carried a weight—the kind that only came from those who held secrets others would kill for. "We deal in information. In history. And in the remnants of what was stolen."

Liam's breath caught.

They were Architects.

Or at least, they were connected to them.

His mind raced. Ever since discovering his class, he had been hunted, threatened, and treated as a rogue element in a world that didn't understand what an Architect truly was. But if these people were linked to the legacy of his kind…

Then they might have answers.

Ileana, ever cautious, spoke next. "And what exactly do you want with Liam?"

The figure stepped closer, their voice lowering to something almost… intrigued. "To understand why the world considers you an anomaly."

Liam tensed.

They weren't just interested in his bounty.

They wanted to know what made him different.

A Bargain of Secrets

Vance leaned against the stone wall, arms crossed, looking utterly unbothered. "See? Told you they'd be interested."

The tallest Wayfarer ignored them, instead focusing entirely on Liam. "You have a power that shouldn't exist—not in this world, not in this form."

Liam narrowed his eyes. "And you know why?"

A pause. Then—

"We have theories."

His fists clenched. "I don't need theories. I need answers."

A chuckle. "So do we."

The air in the chamber felt heavier. A silent negotiation had begun, one not of gold or contracts, but of knowledge.

The Wayfarers weren't offering their secrets for free. If he wanted answers, he'd have to give something in return.

Iris was the first to realize it. "You want something from him."

The figure nodded. "Information, in exchange for information. You want to know why the world hunts you? We want to know what you've uncovered—what the Architects left behind in you."

Liam's jaw tightened. He didn't like it.

Trading secrets with people he barely knew?

Dangerous.

But…

He needed to understand what he was becoming.

He exhaled slowly. "What exactly do you want to know?"

A moment of silence. Then, the Wayfarer's voice came, softer this time.

"What have you seen?"

Liam hesitated. But only for a second.

Then, he spoke.

About the visions. The flickering images of towering structures, suspended in void. The feeling of ink flowing through his veins, reshaping the world around him. The whispers of a voice that spoke in a language older than time itself.

And—

The presence of something watching him.

Something vast. Something unfinished.

By the time he finished, the Wayfarers had grown utterly still.

Even Vance, who usually wore their amusement like a mask, looked mildly surprised.

The lead Wayfarer finally spoke, their voice barely above a whisper.

"…The First Architect."

Liam blinked. "What?"

Another Wayfarer, shorter but no less imposing, stepped forward. Their voice was heavier, laced with something close to awe.

"You've touched the remnants of the First Architect's brush."

Liam's breath caught.

Iris frowned. "The what?"

The tallest Wayfarer's eyes gleamed beneath their hood. "The Architects were more than just creators. They wielded power over the fabric of existence itself. The First Architect—the one who shaped the foundations of what we know—left behind a fragment of that power."

Liam's mind reeled. A fragment?

Was that what was inside him?

Had he been carrying a piece of something that even the Wayfarers feared?

Ileana's grip on her bow tightened. "And what does that mean for him?"

The lead Wayfarer studied Liam carefully. Then—

"It means the world won't stop hunting him."

Silence.

Liam clenched his fists. "Then I need to know how to fight back."

The Wayfarer's lips curled into something resembling a smile. "Then we may have an offer for you."

A Choice of Allegiances

The conversation shifted. No longer was it about what Liam was.

It was about what he could become.

The Wayfarers spoke of their purpose. They weren't just relic seekers—they were guardians of forgotten knowledge. They sought to uncover what was lost, to piece together the truths that had been buried.

And now, they were offering Liam a choice.

To walk away, knowing what he did now—forever hunted, forever chased.

Or—

To join them.

To train. To learn. To uncover the full truth of the Architects.

Iris stepped forward, glaring. "And if he says no?"

The lead Wayfarer tilted their head. "Then we part ways."

No threats. No coercion.

Just a choice.

Liam swallowed, his mind racing. This wasn't just about survival anymore.

It was about understanding.

Understanding why he was different.

Why the world feared him.

Why, even now, something inside him was awakening.

The air felt thick with expectation. The Wayfarers watched, waiting.

Liam closed his eyes for a brief moment.

Then he spoke.

"…I'll listen."

The lead Wayfarer's lips curled into a knowing smile.

"Good."

A soft hum filled the chamber. The air around Liam shifted—as if something unseen had just acknowledged his choice.

And deep inside him, the ink within his veins stirred.

For the first time, it felt… awake.

The real journey was only beginning.

To Be Continued…