"Father!" Without thinking, I dashed toward my father, who lay on the ground, his fur covered in blood. Before I could reach him, something hard and heavy slammed into me, hurling me back with enough force to shatter the cave walls. I curled my body to lessen the impact and hit the wall heavily, smashing right through it. I bounced back up immediately, shaking the debris from my fur. Then I focused on my attacker—Ray, our beta, standing a few yards away with an apologetic look.
"Stand down, Sidgar, and listen to what the alpha has to say," Ray commanded, his tone filled with authority. I bared my fangs, struggling against the urge to submit to the beta.
"Ray, why are you doing this?" I asked, my voice strained.
"Because of your father's deception," a deep voice echoed through the cavern. It was the alpha's. The urge to submit intensified tenfold. Clenching my teeth, I resisted, but it took immense strength. Just as I was about to stand up, a firm paw pressed down on me, pushing me into the ground. Golden fur—it could only be Barron, our alpha.
Believed to be born of the purest essence of the universe, Barron was feared by all guardian beasts, his only rival being Ragnar Darkwing, the dragon leader. Barron's paw remained on my back, his metallic claws digging into my skin.
"You and your so-called 'father' have sinned against the pack. Because of your ignorance, the world that gave birth to us all will perish. It's all because of you and him." The alpha's tone was filled with great anger. I couldn't see his full appearance due to being held down, but I imagined his golden eyes glowing with fury. Despite the terrifying Echo of Resonance pouring down on me, my thoughts were solely on my father, lying motionless a few yards away. Normally, I would have been able to hear his heartbeat, but now, with the alpha in front of me, everything was a blur.
Deciding to stay down, I stopped resisting and submitted, unable to defy the alpha. Sensing my surrender, Barron lifted his paw and stepped back.
"You've realized that resisting is futile? Good, young pup. Now, explain to me why you bear true Veilstones, when even I do not possess them." The alpha paused, then continued, "Tell me who inscribed them on you and how I can get them." His voice commanded obedience, compelling me to answer.
"I was born with them," I responded, the only answer I could give. Looking up, I finally saw the alpha clearly. Barron stood before me, a towering figure of golden fur that shimmered with an almost otherworldly glow. His coat, unlike any other, seemed to radiate its own light, catching the dim cavern light and reflecting it like polished metal. Each strand of his fur, from the tip of his imposing mane to the tuft at his tail, spoke of his immense strength and ancient lineage.
His eyes, twin orbs of molten gold, blazed with an intensity that pierced through the gloom of the cave. They were fierce and penetrating, capable of instilling fear and commanding respect with just a glance. Those eyes stared directly at me, and I felt my soul trembling. "You mean to tell me that you, a disgrace born without a prophecy, were born with true Veilstones inscribed on you? Why would the source do such a thing?" Alpha Barron questioned, but I could not give him an answer because even I did not know why.
"Show me." The alpha requested, but how could I grant his request when I don't even know how to reveal them myself?
"I can't," I answered truthfully. There was a brief moment of silence.
"So you refuse to show me? You do not care about the one that raised you from a pup? The one who guided you from the day Raan decided to birth you?" He paused, closing his eyes as he spoke. "Very well then. Ray, kill him." The alpha commanded, but Ray seemed a bit shaken, as if he had not heard the alpha.
"But Barron—" before Ray could continue, the alpha growled, "You dare question me?" Alpha Barron turned to look at Ray. Ray shook his head and gave me an apologetic look before moving toward my father. The moment Barron instructed Ray to kill my father, I lost it. I could see them speaking, but I could not react; it was as if all my strength had left my body. But then my father, who had been motionless all along, moved a bit, struggling to stand on all fours until he succeeded. Turning to face me, he gave me one of his assuring looks.
"Why do you look so disheartened, kid? Don't you have faith in this old wolf? I told you I was born to guide and protect you, so let me do the protecting." My father spoke slowly. Turning his attention to Ray, who was approaching him with a look of pity, my father's expression turned somber. "Back away, Ray, and I will forgive you for what you have done. If not, then I have no choice other than to use lethal force against you." Father spoke, releasing his Echo of Resonance.
Father's Echo seemed to grow stronger with each passing breath. His wounds healed on the spot, and his green fur became riddled with inscriptions that were unfamiliar to me, but it seemed like Alpha Barron knew what they were.
"The rumored ancient sealing sigils. It seems like your deception is deeper than I initially thought, Ruzgar." The alpha spoke in a calm voice, not shaken by the scene in front of him.
Father retracted his Echo and closed his eyes. "Seal of Abyssal Tranquility; Open."