The cave they camped in was shallow, barely a hollow beneath a crumbling cliff.
Enough to rest. Enough to breathe.
Zar kept watch at the mouth of the shelter, boneblade across his knees. The wind outside carried the faint sound of howling — or maybe screams.
Kael sat opposite the fire, silent.
Lira huddled in the corner, arms wrapped around her knees, bandages around her ribs. She hadn't spoken since they saved her.
She stared at Kael like he might devour her at any moment.
[Lira – Status: Wounded | Fear: 78% | Trust: 16%]
"She's watching you."
SAGE's voice echoed coldly inside his mind.
"She fears you, Kael. As most above will. Shall I recommend memory purge?"
"No," he whispered.
"Trust is rarer than blood. If I erase hers, I lose something greater."
He stood and walked toward her. Slowly.
She flinched.
"I won't hurt you," Kael said. "You saw what they did to your people. I stopped them."
Her lips trembled. "You killed him like he was... nothing."
Kael's eyes gleamed.
"He was."
Silence.
Then: "What… are you?"
He didn't answer.
He turned and sat, watching the flames.
"I'm just a shadow," he finally muttered. "But sometimes shadows are needed to kill monsters that wear crowns."
[Kael – Affection Path with Lira: Opened][Lira: New Trait Discovered – Empathic Awareness Lv.1][Follower Bond: Weak / Growing]
Zar poked the fire. "She's not strong yet. But if she learns magic…"
"She will," Kael said. "I'll make sure of it."
Outside, the wind shifted.
And far beyond the hills, inside the golden tower of Valeria, knights gathered.
"Name?" asked the Commander, examining the broken body of the Crimson Hunter returned by retrieval squad.
"Abyssborn," said the scout. "And... something worse."
They unveiled the symbol scorched into the Tyrant's hide.A new crest.
A black crown over a sea of claws.
[Kael: Listed as Class-S Threat][Bounty Posted: 100,000 Gold | Dead or Sealed][Region Alert: Shadow Incursion Suspected]
Back in the cave, Kael stared at the night sky.
It was the first time he'd seen stars.
They didn't comfort him.
They felt like eyes.
Watching.
Waiting.
Soon, they'll come for me. Let them. I'll rise above them all.
[Kael – Rank: E][Followers: Zar (E), Lira (G+)][New Status: Notorious][Passive Skill Unlocked: Abyssal Pressure – Weak-minded enemies will hesitate before attacking.]