The Voice in the Dark

Chapter 46: The Voice in the Dark

Kael-X stood in the cavern, his coat torn, dust settling around him. The battle had ended, but the tension in the air hadn't faded.

Before him, the shadow beast—his third one—sat calmly. Unlike the previous two, which obeyed him without question, this one's golden eyes held something different. Awareness.

And then… it spoke.

"Took you long enough, Speedster."

Kael-X tensed. The voice was deep, layered, as if multiple whispers spoke at once. There was a hint of amusement in its tone—mocking, yet not hostile.

His eyes narrowed. "You can talk?"

The beast tilted its massive head. "Clearly."

Kael-X frowned. His first two shadow beasts had never spoken a word, only followed his commands. This one, however, radiated a presence that made it seem… different. Older.

"Alright, so what are you?" Kael-X crossed his arms. "Some special version of the others?"

The beast let out a dry, almost amused huff. "You ask questions, but do you really want the answers?"

Kael-X exhaled sharply. "Look, I'm not in the mood for riddles. I just fought you, and now you're acting all mysterious. If you're with me, you follow my rules."

"Tch. 'With you.' Cute." The beast's golden eyes gleamed as it stretched lazily, its form shifting slightly, shadows curling unnaturally around its body. "I don't follow. I accompany."

Kael-X raised an eyebrow. "There's a difference?"

"There is." The beast's gaze locked onto his. "Your kind always sees things in terms of control. Command. Power. But I am not something to be tamed."

Kael-X smirked. "Yet here you are."

The beast chuckled—a deep, echoing sound. "Yes. Here I am. And that should concern you."

Kael-X studied it carefully. This was different from the blind loyalty of his other two shadow beasts. This one knew things.

And that meant it had secrets.

He sighed. "Fine. If you're not a follower, then what are you?"

The beast's grin widened. "A witness."

Kael-X blinked. "Witness to what?"

"You'll see, Speedster. You'll see soon enough."

The way it said that made something in Kael-X's chest tighten.

For the first time in a while… he felt like he was the one being watched.

And he didn't like it.

Chapter 46 (Continued): The Witness in the Shadows

Kael-X crossed his arms, eyeing the shadow beast with suspicion. "A witness? To what exactly?"

The beast stretched lazily, its form shifting like smoke caught in the wind. "To everything. To you. To the past. To the future."

Kael-X narrowed his eyes. "You're real vague for something that's supposed to be on my side."

The beast let out a dry chuckle. "On your side? Who said that? I simply find you... interesting."

Kael-X scoffed. "Great. A talking shadow with an attitude problem."

The beast smirked—actually smirked—revealing jagged fangs beneath its dark maw. "And a speedster with an identity crisis. We make a fine pair, don't we?"

Kael-X huffed. "If you're gonna be hanging around, I need a name for you. Calling you 'shadow beast' is annoying."

The beast cocked its head, as if considering his words. Then, with a slow, deliberate grin, it spoke.

"Call me Veyros."

Kael-X raised an eyebrow. "Veyros, huh?"

"It has meaning where I come from," the beast said cryptically.

"Which is where, exactly?"

Veyros' golden eyes gleamed. "Wouldn't you like to know?"

Kael-X rolled his eyes. "Fantastic. A talking beast with secrets."

Veyros chuckled again, his massive body shifting slightly. "You should rest, Speedster. I have a feeling your quiet days are running out."

Kael-X didn't like how that sounded. But deep down, he knew Veyros was right.

And that was the most unsettling part of all.

Chapter 46 (Continued): Secrets in the Dark

Kael-X leaned against a broken pillar, watching Veyros prowl the dimly lit ruins. The beast moved with unsettling grace, its form shifting between solid and smoke-like.

"So, Veyros," Kael-X began, crossing his arms. "Since you apparently know so much, why don't you start explaining?"

Veyros stopped and tilted his head. "Explain what?"

Kael-X rolled his eyes. "Everything. Who you are, what you are, and why you're so damn cryptic."

Veyros let out a low chuckle, his sharp fangs glinting in the faint light. "Some answers are given. Others must be earned."

Kael-X groaned. "Great. A walking riddle machine."

The beast padded closer, golden eyes glowing. "If you must know, I was once bound to a master who walked the line between life and shadow. A ruler. A conqueror. A god to some. But he vanished, and I was left to roam the void until you—" Veyros narrowed his eyes. "Until you pulled me from that nothingness."

Kael-X frowned. "So you were just… waiting? For who?"

Veyros didn't answer immediately. Instead, he gave Kael-X a slow, knowing smirk. "Maybe I was waiting for you."

Kael-X felt an uneasy chill run down his spine. He didn't like that answer.

"Look, I don't do destiny or chosen-one nonsense," Kael-X said. "I'm just trying to stay alive."

"Survival is one thing," Veyros mused. "But what happens when survival isn't enough? What happens when the past catches up to you?"

Kael-X's jaw tightened. He didn't have an answer for that.

Veyros chuckled darkly. "Don't worry, Speedster. You'll find out soon enough."

Kael-X let out a frustrated sigh. "You really suck at making people feel better."

"Good," Veyros said, stretching his claws. "That means I'm doing my job."

Kael-X just shook his head.

Whatever was coming… he had a feeling his days of peace were already numbered.

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