The cold, biting air of the Sky Palace gnawed at Riven Kael's skin. His body ached, bound in chains that glowed with an eerie light, each link humming with power. Twelve chains stretched from the walls, spiraling down toward him, embedding themselves into the ground around his wrists, ankles, and neck.
Each one represented a different force—binding him, constraining him. Riven knew all too well who had forged them: the Twelve Guardians, the strongest beings in existence, the protectors of the Astral Arbor.Above him, the crystalline ceiling reflected his broken state.
The palace itself was a marvel, constructed from celestial stone and resting at the highest peak in the world. It had once been a place of beauty, where the most honored heroes and warriors gathered. Now it served as a prison for the most dangerous beings in the multiverse—beings like him.
Riven slowly lifted his gaze, feeling the weight of his captors' presence looming over him. They stood in a circle around the chamber, their forms shrouded in an ethereal glow. Though he could not see their faces clearly, he knew each one by their essence. They were the Guardians who had hunted him down, who had been relentless in their pursuit of him across realms, and who had sealed him away in this cold, forgotten corner of existence.
His breaths were shallow. The chains pulsed in time with the beating of his heart, a constant reminder of his imprisonment. With each pulse, he felt his strength being drained, his connection to the world slipping further and further away.Yet, even in this weakened state, Riven's mind was clear. Memories flooded him, vivid and sharp. He closed his eyes and let them consume him. It had not always been like this.
There was a time—long ago—when he had been free. Free of the chains, free of this fate.The memory came unbidden, pulling him back to a time when the skies were still blue, and the world had not yet feared him.Riven was just a boy then, perhaps no older than nine. He remembered the feel of the soft earth beneath his feet, the laughter of the villagers as they bustled about, and the warmth of his mother's hand guiding him through the market square. It was a simple life, peaceful and unassuming. But even then, there had been whispers.
The mark on his skin was the first sign. A strange symbol that had appeared overnight, glowing faintly on the back of his hand. His mother had tried to hide it, wrapping his hand in cloth and telling him not to show it to anyone. But the villagers had noticed.
They had always noticed."Stay away from that boy," they would murmur as they passed, casting wary glances in his direction. "He's marked. Cursed."Riven hadn't understood what it meant back then. He was too young, too naïve. All he knew was that the mark made him different, and different was dangerous.The chains rattled as he stirred, the memory slipping from his grasp.
He opened his eyes, glaring at the Guardians who stood in silent judgment. His voice was hoarse, barely more than a whisper, but the words carried the weight of his defiance."How long will you keep me here?" he asked, his voice dripping with venom. "How long until you realize you cannot contain me forever?"There was no response, only the cold, unfeeling gaze of his captors.
They didn't speak—they never did. Not since the day they had bound him here. Their silence was as much a part of his prison as the chains themselves.Riven chuckled darkly, though the sound was more of a rasp than a laugh. "I suppose it's fitting," he mused. "After all, what else could you do with a monster?"His words hung in the air, unanswered, and Riven let his head fall back against the cold stone wall.
He had been here for... how long now? Days? Weeks? Months? Time had lost all meaning in this place.But one thing remained clear: his resolve.The past tugged at him once more, and this time he let himself drift deeper into it. He remembered the day when his life had truly begun to change—the day the mark had burned bright, revealing the truth of what he was.
He had been training in the forest, away from the prying eyes of the villagers. His mother had taught him the basics of combat—how to defend himself, how to use his small size to his advantage. But on that day, something had gone wrong. He had felt a surge of power unlike anything before. The mark on his hand had flared to life, burning hot and fierce.And then… chaos.The trees had trembled. The earth had split. And Riven had felt something deep within him awaken—a power that had always been there, lurking beneath the surface, waiting for its moment.
His mother had found him later, unconscious and surrounded by the destruction he had wrought. She hadn't scolded him, hadn't spoken a word about the damage. She had simply wrapped him in her arms and whispered, "You must never show them this side of you. Promise me, Riven. Promise me you will stay hidden."He had promised. But promises were fragile things
.Back in the Sky Palace, Riven's eyes snapped open once more. The chains glowed brighter now, as if reacting to the memories that stirred within him. He clenched his fists, his resolve hardening. He may have been bound, but he was far from broken. And if the Guardians thought they could keep him chained here forever, they were gravely mistaken.For Riven Kael was no ordinary man.
He was one of the Seven Beings of Destruction. And his story was far from over.