Reflections of the Spark

Kesh stood at the entrance of the ancient forge chamber, cloak brushing the dusty floor, eyes glowing with faint, unnatural light.

The second Starkey hovered above his open palm.

"Project Veylan," he said. "You weren't the only one they made, Kael."

Kael's hand closed around his own Starkey instinctively. The relic flared with a deep, golden pulse, as if recognizing its twin—and warning him.

Nyra stepped between them, daggers already drawn. "You've been lying to us."

Kesh smiled. "Not lying. Just... waiting."

BITS floated to Kael's shoulder and whispered, "Okay, so that's officially creepy. Shall I fire now or wait for the dramatic monologue?"

Kael didn't respond. His eyes were locked on Kesh. "What are you saying? You're a Conduit too?"

"No," Kesh replied. "I'm what came after."

---

The room dimmed.

Not from power loss—but from relic interference. The relics surrounding the central pillar slowed their orbit, glowing dimmer. As if reacting to Kesh's presence.

He stepped forward, past the relic field, and the forge didn't reject him.

Instead, it welcomed him.

Kael felt a chill roll through his spine.

"How?" he asked.

Kesh didn't stop walking. "They didn't abandon Project Veylan after you vanished. The scientists—those who survived—moved the work underground. They refined it. Enhanced it. Removed the flaws."

Nyra's jaw tightened. "Flaws?"

Kesh smiled at her. "Emotion. Hesitation. Attachment. The very things Kael clings to."

Kael took a step forward. "So what—you're better than me?"

"No," Kesh said softly. "I'm finished. You're still... struggling."

---

Kael's sword was in his hand now. He hadn't even noticed drawing it.

The hum of energy filled the chamber, and for a moment, the relics stopped moving completely. Suspended.

Nyra whispered, "He's not here to talk."

Kael nodded. "I know."

Kesh stopped five feet away. His Starkey floated higher, pulsing with violet-white light.

"I don't want to kill you, Kael. But if you stand in the way of Solara's next evolution... I will."

Kael's voice was steady. "You said they removed emotions, right?"

"Yes."

Kael smirked. "Then I feel really sorry for you."

---

Kesh struck first.

A bolt of relic energy slammed into Kael's shoulder, sending him skidding back across the floor. His blade clattered to the side, buzzing angrily.

Nyra moved immediately—spinning through the air, her daggers flashing in an arc toward Kesh's neck.

He caught one blade mid-air.

The other sank deep into his arm.

He didn't flinch.

"Pain is noise," he said. "I've learned to tune it out."

Nyra kicked off his chest, flipped, landed beside Kael, and pulled him upright.

"He's fast," she muttered. "But not invincible."

Kael grabbed his sword and rose, face grim. "Then let's show him what emotion can do."

---

The chamber became a storm of light and steel.

Kael charged, blade cloaked in golden-white energy. Kesh met him with a blade of his own—shaped like Kael's, but smoother, sleeker, etched with lines that pulsed with memory.

Steel collided.

The force cracked the ground beneath their feet.

Nyra darted between them, using the chaos to strike where Kesh didn't expect—ankles, ribs, neck.

He blocked most of it.

But not all.

Each cut left a mark.

Each moment of hesitation gave Kael the edge.

And Kael was no longer afraid to feel.

---

They fought through the forge.

Around them, the relics stirred, as if watching.

Some glowed brighter when Kael moved. Others dimmed when Kesh did. The room itself seemed to be choosing sides.

"I was born in this chamber," Kesh growled, slamming Kael against a pillar. "But I was reborn in the Deepwell."

Kael elbowed him hard in the jaw and broke free. "Then go back to it."

Kesh launched a second Starkey pulse—but Kael met it with his own.

The two relic energies collided midair.

And then—

Everything stopped.

---

The room fell silent.

Time slowed.

Kael blinked—and he was alone.

Or... not quite.

He stood in an empty white space. No relics. No forge. No Nyra. No Kesh.

Just a vast plane of light.

And a figure.

Feminine. Glowing. Eyes like broken stars.

She stepped forward and spoke, her voice like fractured glass and thunder:

> "Child of light and ruin. The spark divides. One will cleanse. One will burn."

Kael swallowed. "Who are you?"

> "I am memory. I am Solara."

He shook his head. "That's not an answer."

She didn't reply. Instead, she held out her hand.

Two orbs floated between them.

One burned gold.

The other shimmered violet.

> "You are the last Veylan. The Alpha. The First Spark."

> "But there is a choice to make. And only one path leads to freedom."

Kael looked at both orbs.

He didn't understand.

Not yet.

But deep inside, something clicked.

He reached for the gold.

---

Time returned like a crashing wave.

Kael gasped as light exploded from his chest, knocking Kesh backward.

The relics above flared.

Nyra's voice cut through the noise: "Kael!"

He turned.

And for the first time in days, he felt...

Complete.

---

Kesh rose slowly, arm smoking.

"You're syncing faster than expected," he said, breathing hard. "Impressive."

Kael didn't speak.

His eyes burned with golden light.

Nyra watched in awe. "He's... different."

BITS finally floated in from behind a ruined pillar, blinking frantically. "Did we all collectively pass out or was I just hacked by a relic spirit?!"

Kael raised his sword. "You said you're the finished version."

He took a step forward.

"I think they stopped with me because they realized they got it right the first time."

---

Kesh didn't answer.

He simply vanished—disappearing into a burst of violet smoke, Starkey in hand.

A retreat.

Not a surrender.

Kael collapsed to one knee, clutching his side. The energy faded from his eyes—but the glow inside didn't.

Nyra helped him up.

"You okay?" she asked.

He nodded slowly. "I saw... her."

"Who?"

"Solara. Or what's left of her. She called me 'The First Spark.'"

Nyra's face went still.

Then she whispered: "So what does that make Kesh?"

Kael looked toward the ceiling, where the relics still spun.

His voice was low.

"Something worse."