The Weight of His Name

The van rolled to a halt on the cracked outskirts of Central Capriha—the borderlands where the elves once thrived in quiet dignity. Now, they stood among collapsed homes and splintered trees, the echoes of war still fresh in the soil.

When the door slid open, Riah was the first to step out. Silence greeted them—not the comforting kind, but the kind that gnawed beneath the skin. The rest of the team followed, the earlier heavy conversation with Kazimir still lingering in the air like smoke.

The street was not empty. Elves, some cloaked in soot and others wearing grief on their faces, emerged from their hiding. And when their eyes landed on him—on Kazimir—murmurs began to swirl.

"That's him…"

"The one who destroyed the southern sanctuary."

"He killed Ingress…"

"A Vrasnai… of course he did."

Riah clenched her fists. She could hear it all. The venom in their whispers didn't bother her—not for herself—but because Kazimir was walking in silence, eyes forward, as the crowd stepped back from him like he was disease.

Why did she bring him here?Why didn't she leave that monster behind?

Tyrone walked beside him, Riah on the opposite flank. Even he spoke in a low tone, unsure.

"Looks like they all know," Tyrone murmured, his voice almost swallowed by the wind.

Kazimir didn't even blink. "Can you blame them…?" he muttered. "After everything I've done?"

Riah's heart stung at his tone—no anger, no defensiveness. Only quiet resignation.

"Ignore them," she said softly. "They'll understand soon. They have to."

"They're just confused," Tyrone added, "They don't know the truth yet."

But Kazimir didn't respond. His silence had weight. A silence that said maybe the truth wouldn't matter.

They arrived at a small wooden house nestled in scorched fields. It had survived the damage, just barely. A woman stood outside—flames of red hair, eyes like scarlet glass.

"Mom!" Riah called.

Her mother turned—and joy bloomed in her face as she ran forward, enveloping Riah in a crushing embrace.

"My beautiful girl," she whispered, kissing her cheek. "You've grown stronger. I can feel it—those flames, they're divine."

"I've been chosen as a Satura," Riah replied with a soft smile. "Heaven acknowledged me."

Her mother beamed. "The highest angelic rank... I always knew you were destined for greatness."

Then Riah gestured behind her. "This is Tyrone, one of my teammates."

Tyrone waved, his expression respectful. "A pleasure to meet you. I know things are difficult right now, but I believe Capriha will rise again."

Her mother nodded with appreciation—until her eyes wandered… and found him.

Kazimir stood still, head low, his long coat catching the breeze. When he raised his gaze and met her eyes—

Something snapped.

Riah's mother went still. Cold sweat beaded her skin.

No… not those eyes…

She remembered. The man who had abused her who also was a vrasnai. The name she heard on the tongues of frightened soldiers. Kazimir. The Vrasnai. The fallen hero. The cursed eye.

And in those violet-blue eyes—so breathtakingly beautiful, so endless—she saw not a boy.

She saw the void.

In that moment, Riah's mother was no longer in her field.

She was standing in the endless dark.

And there, in the distance, a veiled woman in all black—faceless, shapeless. Just a shadow standing in the chasm of Kazimir's soul. Riah's mother couldn't move. The fear had paralyzed her. Then—Nebula—she knew. That was the name. The god of grief. The mother of despair.

"GET AWAY FROM ME!" she screamed, stumbling backward, clutching her chest. "YOU—YOU'RE NEBULA'S DISCIPLE!"

Riah's heart dropped. "What?"

Kazimir looked stunned. "I'm not—"

Her mother staggered. "Vrasnai… Eye of Nullity… You brought ruin here!"

The commotion attracted a crowd—elves bearing weapons. Bows. Staffs. Blades. Riah's mother held up a hand, tears of horror in her eyes.

"He's a monster! Why did you bring this thing here?!"

Kazimir stood still, his expression unreadable. But inside—

She sees me the same as the rest. A plague. A mistake.

Maybe I am.

Elves encircled them. Their weapons trained on Kazimir's head. Riah moved instantly, stepping in front of him. Tyrone followed.

"STOP!" she shouted. "He hasn't done anything!"

"He doesn't need to," one shouted back. "His existence is danger enough!"

"HE KILLED OUR PEOPLE!"

"He destroyed Ingress—and our capital with it!"

"HE'S NOT ONE OF US! HE DOESN'T EVEN HAVE A SENSE OF HUMANITY IN HIM!"

Kazimir didn't flinch as their magic ignited. But when the first elemental blast came, his invisible Multi-Dimensional Barrier flickered silently into place, shielding Riah and Tyrone.

Tyrone looked at him—and for the first time—he saw the sadness in Kazimir's face. Not anger. Not threat. Just unbearable sorrow.

Riah's mother muttered, "Why do you even exist…?"

Kazimir felt something inside him crack. He had no answer. No defense.

Riah turned to her mother, her voice trembling. "Mom, how can you say that? He has feelings. He's—he's risked everything for this world. For all of us!"

Her mother's voice rose, cutting through the air. "And in doing so, he destroyed it! He is a danger to everything we hold dear. He's not like us—he never was!"

Riah's fists trembled. Tears spilled. "Then maybe you don't know me at all."

She turned and stormed back toward the van.

Kazimir walked behind her, the invisible barrier still protecting them. He didn't look at the crowd. He couldn't.

They'll never see me as anything more than a mistake.

Not even her mother.

Not even her.