The wind howled through the narrow streets as Kael followed Evans through the labyrinthine alleys of Aethlar. The once-bustling city had grown eerily quiet since the Abyss Rift invasion. The faint glow of lanterns flickered, casting fleeting shadows on the walls, while the distant murmur of voices faded into the background. Beside him, Varin walked in silence, his eyes scanning every corner, ever vigilant. The tension between them was palpable, but neither spoke of it.
Evans, the leader of the group of Veil members they had encountered, moved with a fluid grace, his dark cloak blending seamlessly with the shadows. Hector and Tiara, the other two members of The Veil, followed closely, their faces impassive yet alert. Kael had heard rumors of The Veil before—whispers of an enigmatic group that worked from the shadows, acting as protectors of Erendath's balance. He hadn't realized how close their paths had come until today. In fact, one of them had approached him before, a brief, mysterious encounter that left more questions than answers.
"Where are we headed?" Kael asked, his voice breaking the silence.
Evans glanced back over his shoulder. "To The Veil's base. You'll be safe there, and it's where we can talk freely."
Kael raised an eyebrow. "Talk about what exactly?"
Evans didn't answer immediately. Instead, his gaze flicked toward the towering silhouette of the city walls as if weighing his words carefully. "The Abyss Cult," he finally said, his voice low and grave. "You deserve to know what you're dealing with."
They turned another corner, the streets growing narrower, the air heavier. Kael glanced at Varin, who nodded slightly, a silent reassurance that they were still in control of the situation—for now.
"The cult you encountered," Evans continued, "they aren't just worshipers of the Abyss. They serve something far darker. The Abyssal Lords."
Kael's eyes narrowed. He had heard of the name of Abyssal Lord—beings that supposedly ruled over the Abyss—he had just encountered one today. "Abyssal Lords?" he echoed.
Evans stopped walking and turned to face him, his expression serious. "Yes. And the Darkspawn... they are more than just monsters. They are Erendath's own—people, creatures that once walked this realm, even Awakeners—corrupted, twisted by the Abyssal Lords' will. The members of the cult before they become one of the Darkspawns will be tested. They were promised unimaginable power, immortality even, in exchange for their loyalty."
"They gave up their humanity," Hector added, his voice cold. "They traded it for something vile."
Kael felt a chill crawl down his spine. He had fought Darkspawn before, seen their grotesque forms, but he had never imagined that they had once been like him—like the people of Erendath. He thought back to the battle they had just fought, the dark, monstrous creatures that had poured from the Rift, and now realized that they were once part of this world. The Abyss had consumed them, just as it tried to consume everything.
"And the cult?" Kael asked, his curiosity piqued. "How do they avoid detection? Everyone in the city is screened for Abyss corruption before they can enter."
Evans resumed walking, his footsteps echoing softly against the stone. "Not all of the cult are fully corrupted. Some are still... in transition. It starts with a mark, given by the Abyssal Lord they serve. That mark gives them access to Abyssal power, but it takes time for the corruption to take hold fully. The Veil has reason to believe that the cult members inside Aethlar haven't completed their initiation yet. They could be hiding in plain sight, waiting for the right moment."
Kael's heart raced. The thought of people walking freely within the Eternal Cities, secretly loyal to the Abyss, was unnerving. How could anyone willingly serve such darkness?
"They have to pass certain... trials," Tiara spoke up for the first time, her voice soft but laced with conviction. "Only then do they become fully part of the Abyss. Until then, they're still tethered to their humanity—just enough to escape detection."
Kael glanced at Varin, who had remained silent, his brow furrowed in thought. There was more to this, he could feel it. Something Evans wasn't telling him.
"And what about this mark?" Kael pressed, his voice tense. "How does someone get marked by the Abyss?"
Evans exchanged a look with Tiara and Hector, a silent conversation passing between them. The air seemed to thicken with unspoken tension. Then, Evans spoke again, his tone cautious. "The mark... it's not just a physical brand. It's a claim. The Abyssal Lord places a part of their essence within you, promising power beyond imagination. But it comes at a cost. Those who are marked are bound to the Abyss. The stronger the power, the deeper the corruption."
Kael's mind raced as he absorbed this information. Abyssal Lords, cultists hiding among the citizens, the corruption spreading from within... It was almost too much to take in. But one question lingered in his mind, gnawing at him with an unsettling weight.
"Evans," Kael began slowly, "what exactly do you mean by being 'marked' by the Abyss?"
The question hung in the air like a heavy fog. The members of The Veil stopped in their tracks, each of them exchanging uneasy glances. Hector's hand rested on the hilt of his weapon, while Tiara's expression became unreadable, her fingers subtly tracing the edge of a rune etched into her gauntlet.
Evans turned to face Kael fully, his eyes narrowing as if searching for something in Kael's gaze. "Kael," he said carefully, "are you... marked by the Abyss?"
The words hit like a hammer, the impact reverberating in Kael's chest. His mind spun as the question echoed in his ears. Marked by the Abyss? Could it be possible? Was that why he had been drawn to the Rift? Why the Abyssal Lord had spoken to him directly?
Before he could answer, Varin stepped forward, his stance protective as he moved in front of Kael. His hand hovered near the hilt of his blade, eyes locked on Evans with a mix of suspicion and caution. "We're only asking out of curiosity," Varin said, his voice steady but firm, clearly ready to defend Kael if needed.
The air crackled with tension, each side poised for whatever might come next. Kael's heart raced, torn between the confusion swirling in his mind and the undeniable pull of the Abyss that seemed to whisper in the darkest corners of his thoughts.
For a long moment, no one spoke. The weight of Evans' question hung over them all, unspoken fears and hidden truths lingering just beneath the surface.
Kael finally exhaled, breaking the silence. "I... I don't know."
The Veil members exchanged another look, this one laden with meaning Kael couldn't decipher. Then Evans nodded slowly, as if coming to some kind of decision. "We should keep moving," he said, his voice calm once again. "There's more to discuss, but we can't stay out here."