The Hollow Within

The capital city of Velmara sat beneath a twilight sky, washed in violet hues. The marble towers of the Sanctum Order shimmered under the last light of day, a deceptive calm blanketing the unrest brewing within. From its high watchtower, Lyra Caelum stood cloaked in silence, her arms crossed as the wind fluttered her dark cloak.

"He's late again," she murmured.

Footsteps approached—measured, deliberate. Eira Solenne joined her, her silvery hair tied back in a careful braid, the Tide-bound sigils on her sleeves softly pulsing. "He's training again."

Lyra sighed. "He's going to burn himself out."

"Or become what he fears most."

That line silenced them both. Beneath their feet, within the training courtyard, Kaien Voss stood alone. His shirt was drenched in sweat, breath ragged. Across from him stood four constructs made of Veyl—shifting forms created by Sanctum artificers for training. His palm lit with raw energy as he lunged forward.

The first construct shattered into dust under his touch.

The second resisted—Kaien's power faltered, flickered, then surged.

The energy blasted out unpredictably, obliterating not just the construct, but gouging a crater into the earth.

"Again," Kaien growled, stumbling forward, right arm twitching.

The third construct lunged before he could prepare. It slammed into him, knocking him to the ground. His power sparked but didn't ignite.

"Again!" he screamed, slamming his fist into the ground. Energy exploded from his hand, tearing the construct apart, yet leaving Kaien gasping, clutching his ribs.

Master Rhain appeared at the edge of the field, arms folded.

"That's enough."

Kaien slowly rose, unsteady. "I can keep going."

Rhain's voice carried the weight of stone. "And what will you be when nothing is left of you?"

Kaien didn't answer. He turned away, fury simmering beneath his skin.

Later that night, within the halls of the library, Eira studied ancient scrolls inscribed with old Veyl script. The flickering lanterns gave the room a quiet warmth, but her focus was sharp. Her fingers traced symbols for 'Balance', 'Blight', and 'Null.'

She whispered, "The Hollow Veyl…"

"Digging into shadows again?"

Zedd leaned against the wall, arms crossed, chewing on a thin stick. He grinned. "Heard you're getting obsessed."

Eira didn't look up. "It's not obsession. It's preparation."

"For Kaien?"

"For all of us."

He walked over, glancing at the text. "That crap about the Veilfracture being some myth… doesn't feel like a myth anymore."

Eira finally met his eyes. "It wasn't a myth. It was a warning."

Meanwhile, deep beneath the Sanctum, in a forgotten cellar sealed by time and fear, Lyra stood before a chained door. Her hand trembled as she reached for the lock—an old mechanism of Shade sigils only she knew how to activate.

She shouldn't be here. But the vision she had seen weeks ago returned again and again—her family in flame, her name dragged through mud, a voice calling her into darkness.

The door creaked open.

Inside, an old mirror stood—tall, ancient, its glass warped.

"Who are you really?" she whispered.

The mirror flickered.

Behind her reflection stood a figure cloaked in shadow. Lyra stepped back, pulse racing. Then—her own face changed in the reflection, eyes blackened with Blight.

"Redemption comes at a cost," the shadowed voice said, echoing through the room.

She stumbled back and fled, slamming the door shut.

Far beyond Velmara, in a ruined sanctuary deep in the forest of Orindel, the Dissonant Choir gathered.

Torches flickered along stone walls inscribed with ancient Veyl symbols. Hooded figures chanted as dark mist curled from their mouths—tainted Veyl.

At the center, Veylor Saine stood with arms spread wide.

"Our time approaches. The Hollow Veyl stirs. Aetherra will return to silence."

He raised a hand—and a captive screamed.

A wretch formed before them, birthed from pure Blight. Its form shifted, unstable. But this one had a fragment of sentience. It knew.

Saine grinned. "Blight… refined. Controlled. Soon, Kaien Voss will understand. And then—he'll open the path."

At the Sanctum, Kaien lay awake. He stared at the ceiling, hand open, watching small sparks of light flicker from his palm.

He whispered, "Why can't I control you?"

A knock at his door. Eira.

"You're up," she said softly.

"Couldn't sleep."

"I found something."

She sat on the edge of his bed and opened a scroll. "Ancient records. There's mention of someone with your power. Called the Nullborn."

He frowned. "Null… like nothing?"

"Not nothing," she said. "The space between. Neither Veyl nor Blight. An anomaly. The last one caused the Veilfracture."

Kaien looked down at his hand. "So I'm a ticking bomb."

"You're not alone in this."

He smiled faintly. "Thanks, Eira."

---

The next day, Master Rhain summoned the four students.

"There's been movement," he said. "Blight clusters forming faster. The Choir is planning something big."

He unfurled a map. "A temple in Orindel. Lost centuries ago. But we believe they've taken it as a base."

"You want us to go?" Zedd asked.

Rhain nodded. "You're not ready. But we have no choice. We need eyes and ears."

Kaien stepped forward. "We'll do it."

Rhain nodded. "But be warned—Orindel devours the unprepared."

---

Three days later, the team stood before the forest. Trees loomed like titans, their branches twisting unnaturally.

Kaien looked at his team—Zedd, Lyra, Eira. "Stay close. Don't let the fog separate us."

Zedd cracked his knuckles. "Finally, something interesting."

They entered.

The deeper they went, the colder it became. Whispers curled through the air—broken phrases, forgotten names.

"Is that Veyl?" Lyra asked.

Eira shook her head. "It's Blight echo. We're near a cluster."

They pressed forward, passing shattered ruins swallowed by vines. Then they found it.

A stone altar. Symbols etched in blood. And at its center—an orb pulsing with dark energy.

Lyra stepped forward. "This is a focusing core. They're building something."

Kaien felt a tug at his chest. The orb called to him.

He reached out.

The orb reacted—flaring with light.

A pulse knocked them all back. From the shadows, a Wretch emerged—twice the size of any they'd seen.

It roared.

Zedd charged, fists blazing with Gale.

Kaien unleashed his light—burning away parts of the Wretch—but it resisted. His power sputtered.

"Too unstable," he growled.

Lyra unleashed Shade, wrapping tendrils around the Wretch.

Eira healed Zedd's injuries, chanting furiously.

Kaien clenched his jaw. "No more holding back."

He stepped forward, light surging.

The Wretch lunged—and Kaien met it head-on. The moment they touched, a flash.

He saw visions—cities falling, a figure like him destroying the world.

He screamed—but held the Wretch, forcing his light inward.

It exploded.

Silence followed.

Kaien lay unconscious, energy flickering around him.

The others rushed to him.

"Kaien!"

His eyes opened—briefly black, then normal.

"I saw it," he whispered. "The end. And me in it."

Back in Orindel, deep within the ruins, Veylor Saine opened his eyes.

"So… he remembers."

He turned to the largest Wretch—a towering creature with a humanoid frame and hollow eyes.

"Soon, my creation. Soon… he'll become the key."