The Forbidden Truth

Aaron stood firm, his body still pulsing with raw energy from his battle with the Black Knight. Across from him, Orin Varyx, the robed figure who had emerged from the shadows, studied him with an expression of quiet amusement

"You, my young friend," Orin said, stepping closer, "are an impossibility."

Aaron's eyes narrowed. "And who exactly are you?"

Selene, still gripping her sword, whispered urgently, "Be careful. I've heard of this man before. Orin Varyx… he was once the Royal Court's Grand Magus—until he was exiled for practicing Forbidden Magic."

Aaron tensed. "Forbidden Magic?"

Orin chuckled. "Ah, the Kingdom and their labels. They call it 'forbidden' simply because they fear what they cannot control." His sharp gaze flickered between Aaron and the unconscious Black Knight on the ground. "And you, my boy, are the ultimate uncontrollable force."

Aaron didn't move. This man radiated an aura of mystery and overwhelming knowledge. Unlike the Kingdom's soldiers, who simply followed orders, Orin knew something—something important.

And Aaron wanted answers.

"You're calling me an anomaly," Aaron said. "Selene says the Kingdom kills people like me. But why? What makes me so dangerous?"

Orin smiled. "Ah. Now that… is a story the gods would rather you never hear."

The Truth About Anomalies

Orin turned away and walked toward a nearby rock, sitting down as if they weren't standing in the middle of a battlefield.

"Tell me, Aaron Voss. Have you noticed that your strength grows unnaturally fast?"

Aaron hesitated before nodding. "Yes."

Orin tilted his head. "That's because you lack something every other living being in this world possesses."

Selene's eyes widened. "You mean…?"

Orin pointed a single bony finger at Aaron. "A limit."

The air seemed to go still.

Aaron clenched his fists. He had suspected this—his unnatural speed, his reflexes, his ability to absorb strength from fallen foes. It was as if he were a living glitch, outside the laws of reality.

"The gods," Orin continued, "bestow 'Blessings' upon the people of this world. These Blessings determine their maximum potential—how strong they can become, how much magic they can wield. No one can grow beyond their assigned limit."

He smirked. "Except you."

Aaron inhaled sharply. "So that's why the Kingdom wants me dead."

Orin nodded. "Anomalies like you are errors in the system. You are not bound by the gods' design. You can become infinitely stronger. And that, dear boy, terrifies those in power."

Aaron glanced down at his hands, his mind spinning. No limits? Infinite strength?

No wonder the Kingdom wanted him dead. No wonder the gods saw him as a threat.

A Dangerous Offer

Orin stood up, dusting off his robes. "Which brings me to my proposal."

Aaron's gaze snapped up.

"You are at a crossroads, Aaron Voss. The Kingdom will never stop hunting you. If you stay on this path, you will be forced to fight. Again and again." He leaned in, his voice lowering. "But what if I told you… you don't have to fight alone?"

Aaron felt something dangerous in the old man's words. "What are you saying?"

"I am offering you power. Knowledge beyond what even the gods possess. If you learn from me, I can help you control the force within you." Orin's smile turned sharp. "I can make you unstoppable."

Selene immediately stepped forward. "Aaron, don't trust him. He's a known heretic. The Forbidden Arts are called that for a reason."

Orin sighed. "Ah, Selene. Ever the faithful knight. But tell me—has your Kingdom ever given you a reason to be loyal?"

Selene flinched, but she didn't lower her sword.

Aaron's mind raced. He had spent his whole life weak, powerless, unable to stand on his own. Now, he had strength—but he didn't understand it, couldn't control it fully. If Orin truly had the answers…

He clenched his fists. "And what do you get out of this?"

Orin chuckled. "Ah. Now that is a good question." He turned, looking up at the darkening sky. "Let's just say… I have my own reasons for wanting to see the gods fall."

His eyes gleamed. "And you, Aaron Voss, may be the key to doing just that."

A Choice That Changes Everything

Silence stretched between them.

Selene's voice was urgent. "Aaron, we should leave. Now."

Orin simply watched, waiting.

Aaron's pulse pounded in his ears.

This was it. A defining moment.

If he refused Orin's offer, he would continue running, fighting on his own, slowly figuring things out as he went. But if he accepted…

He would gain knowledge. Power. The strength to stand against the Kingdom—and the gods themselves.

He exhaled, making his choice.

Aaron turned to face Orin.

And he spoke the words that would change everything.