Truth

Kael wasn't with the rebels when the confrontation happened.

No — he was somewhere else, seeking out two specific individuals.

Two weapons in human form.

Vael and Kiera.

He found them seated quietly behind a ridge of frozen rock, sharpening weapons in silence.

He approached with calculated steps.

"Vael. Kiera," he said. "Mind if I sit?"

They didn't answer right away.

But they didn't stop him either.

He sat.

And smiled.

"I think it's time we talked about what comes next."

They exchanged a glance but didn't say anything.

"I think you both can see that this whole operation is a sinking ship. I'm offering you a chance to save yourselves from this haunting dance. What do you say? Ditch these losers and come with us."

Vael didn't even have to think. His answer came instantly.

"Fuck no. Our goal is the capital. And we will get there."

Kiera nodded. "Even if we had only come as bodyguards, we wouldn't back away. Not after we've done so much."

Kael considered their answers for a moment, then replied:

"That may be. But the truth remains. You're both strong — but not strong enough. The monsters we're about to face are beyond what a bunch of kids can handle. Don't get cocky. There's always next time."

Show him, requested Kiera through their mind-link, not bothering to speak aloud.

In response, Vael activated the aura he had been restraining.

Pinnacle of the second stage.

But it felt denser than its rank suggested.

The gravity around Vael — who was still sitting — instantly quadrupled.

The log beneath him?

Splintered into thousands of pieces, unable to support the pressure.

Bathed in the purple light of his spatial magic, he silently blinked.

A fraction of a second later, he stood behind Kael.

The scout didn't even see him move.

The only reason he knew Vael was there was because of the crushing presence he now emitted.

That's when Kael finally understood.

He wasn't dealing with children with flashy abilities.

No — both of them were hardened fighters.

Warriors.

But then, it came.

A chilling cold bit at Kael's back, even though he was still facing away from Vael.

And after spending so much time in the mountains, Kael had learned to differentiate the types of chills he felt.

This wasn't from the weather.

It was the same kind of feeling he'd had when he fought the mountain tiger.

Killing intent.

Only this wasn't fiery and uncontrolled, like the beast's.

No — this was something else entirely.

Subtle. Sharp. Like a blade licking naked skin.

It didn't have to scare you.

Just the fact that it was so focused, so precise, was enough.

Kael broke into a cold sweat.

His knees buckled.

And for the first time in a long, long time…

He felt genuine fear for his life.

Kael, now on the floor, was reevaluating everything he thought he knew about the two mercenaries.

He had watched their fight with the tiger—well, his millipede had.

They were strong, sure. But the way they fought seemed… naïve.

They took too long to adapt, made avoidable mistakes. Injuries born from inexperience.

But this?

This spoke of daily near-death encounters.

Of hundreds of battles where survival was never guaranteed.

'But how? They aren't a day over eighteen!' Kael thought, panic creeping in.

'What kind of life does one live to wield killing intent like that?'

A cold sweat broke over his skin.

"So you see, coward," Vael said, his voice firm. "We're not amateurs. Begone."

Kael understood now—he had made a grave mistake.

This wasn't a battle he could win.

As he struggled to get up, the gravity around him surged, slamming him down with crushing force.

His bones creaked, threatening to snap under the pressure.

He released his mana in desperation, trying to resist—

—but it did nothing.

Screaming in agony, Kael managed to rasp, "What—?!"

Vael stood above him like an executioner, his voice low and deadly.

"By the way," he said, "I know it was you. The one who killed that rebel woman at the start."

Kael's eyes widened in shock.

He had been certain no one would ever know.

But he hadn't accounted for Vael's Spatial Awareness—a perception so precise it could trace movements others missed entirely.

That night, while everyone slept, Vael had gotten up to relieve himself—still passively attuned to his new ability.

That's when he saw it.

Kael dragging a sleeping rebel woman into the woods.

Snuffing out her life without hesitation.

And returning to camp like nothing happened.

Now, cornered and exposed, Kael thrashed uselessly beneath the weight pressing down on him.

"You killed her," Vael said, eyes cold. "Just so you'd have leverage over Lucia and Drako. So you could rally the unawakened."

Kael tried to scream for help.

But no sound escaped—only choked breath and pain.

Kiera stepped into view, her expression unreadable.

When she spoke, her voice was soft.

"We're going to have fun with you."

There was no warmth in it.

Only venom