After debriefing on the mission and handing over the encrypted documents to Dr. Lewis, Val made his way to the Bellator Manor.
The weight of recent events lingered heavily on his mind, each revelation another stone added to the burden of his heritage. He trusted his team implicitly, but the knowledge of Ember and Exeo's location—where their bodies were kept in a state of healing—was something he had yet to share with them.
Only Dr. Lewis, General Luis, and he knew the exact whereabouts. The fewer people involved, the safer it would be for everyone.
With the recent surge in interest from Hades' Wrath and Black Lotus, Val couldn't afford any risks. These organizations' renewed interest in him after the incident a year ago meant keeping a low profile was no longer a choice, but a necessity.
When he arrived at the manor, he was greeted by the Head Butler, Nox, a presence as steady as stone and every bit as vigilant.
"Nox, if anyone dares to enter the Bellator manor or territory, you know what to do," Val instructed, his voice cool but tinged with a glint of iron resolve.
"Consider it done, Young Master." Nox bowed, a silent promise in his gaze.
Satisfied, Val nodded and ascended the stairs to his quarters. As he reached his room and laid down, he felt a stirring in his mind, an old habit beckoning him to seek answers in places beyond the physical realm. He needed clarity, and for that, he would have to speak with Deleo directly.
He closed his eyes, willing himself into the familiar expanse of his inner consciousness.
Soon enough, the boundless, white void stretched out around him, an endless realm of thought and memory.
At the center, the faintly glowing, purple flame surrounded the spectral forms of Ember and Exeo, their souls resting, protected by the fire's ancient power.
A swirl of black smoke formed beside him, coalescing into a shadowed, human figure—Deleo.
"Anything troubling you, Val?" Deleo's voice was a low, soft murmur, a mocking edge almost hidden in its depths.
Val frowned, a hint of irritation breaking through. "What do you mean? You weren't watching during the mission?"
Deleo's form flickered slightly, as if in contemplation. He cast his gaze toward Ember and Exeo's spectral forms, then met Val's eyes sidelong. "You are being consumed again by the Void, Val."
Val's irritation softened into a pensive look. He glanced away, trying to sort through the confusion clouding his thoughts. "Then… who was it that was talking to me?"
Deleo drifted closer, his presence both comforting and unsettling. "Val. Remember what I told you before. The Void lets you see what you fear—and what you desire."
Val's eyes widened slightly as the realization hit him. "You mean to say… I wanted that power?"
Deleo merely shrugged, his shadowy shoulders shifting with a nonchalance that belied the weight of his words. "I don't know… that depends on how you interpret my power."
Silence fell over them, the white space swallowing any sound but their thoughts. Val's mind raced as he struggled with the implications, the lines between want and need blurring in his understanding.
Then, as if a new piece of the puzzle had fallen into place, Val's gaze lowered thoughtfully. "Reinhart's will... The visions I saw… Does that mean he, too, had to fight his inner self? Did you tell our ancestor about all this?"
Deleo turned his gaze outward, a solemn glint in his shadowed eyes as he spoke.
"Yes. He was well aware of the battle he faced. The Void is as tempting as a sumptuous feast to mortals. The truth, Val, is that the Void is omnipresent—it exists everywhere and nowhere at once. Your desires, your fears—it feeds on those. Even a small portion of its essence is overwhelming for any human."
He paused, a hint of regret coloring his usually steady tone. "The Primordials never intended this power to reside within humans. The only thing keeping the Void in check, from spreading its corruption unchecked, is the Purple Fire.
Even that, though, has not been enough. You see, despite the fire's ancient strength, it could not save every ancestor."
Val listened, the weight of Deleo's words settling heavily within him. A darkness he'd known all his life now felt starker, the power within him tinged with a kind of inevitability he hadn't wanted to acknowledge.
Deleo continued, his voice softer, almost a murmur.
"When the Primordials forged the ancient Oath, it wasn't just a safeguard—it was a sacrificial offering. They knew that each vessel would have to bear this power, to let their souls burn if the Void ever took full hold. It is our last, desperate measure to prevent the Void's complete control."
Val's fists clenched as frustration flared within him, a tangled mess of anger and sorrow rising unbidden. The legacy of his bloodline was one of sacrifice and struggle, a path laid out long before he'd ever drawn breath.
Deleo, sensing his turmoil, took a step closer, his voice smoothing into a calming tone. "Val, you're letting your emotions sweep you away. You wanted the truth, and I have given it to you. Face it."
Val steadied his breathing, grounding himself. "If the Purple Fire alone isn't enough, then how do I control the Void?"
Deleo's hollowed eyes narrowed slightly. "Find the ruin stones. That is your answer. Lift the magic seals upon them, but know that each stone demands a sacrifice—one of your senses."
Val nodded, determination hardening his resolve. The ruin stones, the ancient path to tempering the Void within him. He knew the cost, but he had made up his mind. Whatever it took, he would find them.
Deleo watched him, a shadow of pride flickering in his gaze. Despite all the darkness, Val's resolve shone like a beacon, a testament to the strength of his spirit.
After a long, silent moment, Deleo gave a slight sigh, almost amused. "Now, you've lingered here long enough. Time to return."
Before Val could respond, Deleo flicked his wrist, sending a surge of power through the space.
In an instant, Val's eyes snapped open, the familiar world of his bedroom coming back into view. He exhaled, the sense of purpose he'd found still burning in his chest.
"That was a rude wake-up call, Deleo." He grumbled inwardly, only to hear a faint chuckle echoing from the shadows of his mind.