The air outside the chamber felt lighter, though the oppressive weight of the Abyss still clung to Kael's mind. The faint whispers from deep within the labyrinth echoed in his thoughts, each word more insistent than the last. But as he and Selene stepped out into the open, the cold breeze of the surface brought him some relief, if only momentarily.
Selene glanced back at the entrance of the cavern, her face a mixture of concern and determination. "We can't let anyone else find this place, Kael. Not until we understand what we're dealing with."
Kael nodded, though his mind was still trapped in the visions he'd seen in the depths. His body felt heavy, like the weight of the entire hidden realm was pressing on his shoulders. He was connected to the Abyss now, far more deeply than he had been before. The power was intoxicating, yet terrifying. A force that could reshape the world, or destroy it entirely.
"We'll seal the entrance," Kael said, more to convince himself than Selene. "For now, no one else will stumble upon it."
Selene hesitated, her eyes fixed on him, searching for something—reassurance, perhaps, or a sign that the man she had once trusted was still in control. But she found nothing but the darkness that clung to him like a shadow. Finally, she turned away, nodding in silent agreement.
As Kael extended his hand toward the entrance, he channeled a thread of the Abyss into the stone. The ground trembled, and with a low rumble, the cave entrance collapsed in on itself, sealing the ancient chamber within.
"It's done," Kael said, his voice hollow. He had expected to feel a sense of closure, but instead, the weight of what lay beneath only grew heavier.
Selene watched him carefully, her expression unreadable. "We should head back to the council. They need to know what we've found."
Kael shook his head. "No. Not yet."
Selene frowned. "What do you mean? They have the right to know, Kael. If there's a threat—"
"There is a threat," Kael interrupted, his voice sharp. "But we don't understand it yet. If we go to the council now, they'll react out of fear. They'll want to destroy everything tied to the Abyss, and that could lead to more chaos than we can control."
Selene's eyes narrowed. "And what makes you think you can control it?"
Kael turned to face her fully, his eyes dark and intense. "Because I'm already connected to it. The Abyss chose me for a reason, Selene. If anyone can control it, it's me."
Selene's jaw clenched, her frustration evident. "That's exactly what I'm afraid of. This power… it's changing you, Kael. I don't know if I can trust that you'll remain the same person by the end of this."
Kael didn't respond immediately. He knew she was right. The Abyss was changing him, pulling him deeper into its grip with every moment. But he also knew that without understanding it, they stood no chance of controlling it. And control was the only way forward.
"I can't turn back now," Kael said quietly. "The Abyss is part of me. If I don't figure out how to control it, no one will."
Selene sighed, the tension between them thickening. She wanted to argue, to tell him that they should turn back, that there was still time to walk away from the abyssal path he was on. But deep down, she knew he wouldn't listen. Kael had always been stubborn, driven by a need to understand things that others feared. And now, that drive was leading him down a path she couldn't follow.
"Fine," she said at last, her voice tight. "But if you lose yourself to this, I won't hesitate to stop you. Do you understand?"
Kael met her gaze, his expression grim. "I understand."
They walked in silence after that, the tension between them growing with every step. The path ahead was uncertain, and the choices Kael had made weighed heavily on both of them. But there was no turning back now. Not for Kael, and not for the realm they were sworn to protect.
By the time they reached the outskirts of the city, the sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows across the streets. Kael's senses were still heightened, the Abyss pulsing within him like a second heartbeat. He could feel the energy of the city, the lives of the people going about their business, oblivious to the darkness lurking beneath the surface.
"We need to be careful," Kael said as they approached the gates. "The council has spies everywhere. If they find out what we've been up to before we're ready…"
Selene nodded, though her expression remained distant. "I'll take care of it. Just… don't do anything reckless."
Kael smirked, though there was no humor in his eyes. "No promises."
They passed through the gates without incident, though Kael could feel the eyes of the guards on them as they entered. The city was always on edge these days, with rumors of dark magic and strange creatures spreading through the streets like wildfire. People were scared, and fear made them dangerous.
As they made their way toward the inner city, Kael noticed a small group of men gathered near an alley, their voices hushed but urgent. One of them caught his eye and quickly looked away, pulling his hood up to conceal his face. Kael's instincts flared, and he subtly gestured for Selene to follow as he veered toward the alley.
"What is it?" Selene whispered as they approached the group.
"Trouble," Kael muttered under his breath.
Before they could reach the alley, one of the men broke off from the group and disappeared into the shadows. The others scattered, moving quickly down the narrow street, but Kael was faster. He caught up to the last of them, grabbing him by the arm and spinning him around.
"Who are you working for?" Kael demanded, his grip tightening.
The man's eyes widened in fear, and he struggled to free himself. "I don't know what you're talking about!"
Kael could feel the Abyss stirring within him, urging him to dig deeper, to extract the truth by force. But he pushed the dark energy back, maintaining control. Barely.
"Don't lie to me," Kael growled. "You've been watching us. Who sent you?"
The man swallowed hard, his gaze darting to Selene, who stood just behind Kael, her sword drawn and ready. "I— I was just told to watch, that's all! I don't know who gave the orders, I swear!"
Kael's eyes narrowed, but before he could press further, Selene stepped forward. "We don't have time for this," she said, her voice cold. "Let him go."
Kael hesitated, the urge to press for more information still strong. But Selene was right. This wasn't the time for a confrontation.
He released the man, shoving him back toward the alley. "Get out of here. And don't follow us again."
The man didn't need to be told twice. He scrambled to his feet and ran, disappearing into the maze of streets.
Selene sheathed her sword, her eyes still scanning the shadows for any other threats. "We're being watched. We need to be more careful."
Kael nodded, though his mind was already racing with the implications of what had just happened. Whoever had sent those men knew more than they were letting on. And if they were being watched, it meant that the council—or someone else—was already aware of their actions.
"We'll figure it out," Kael said quietly. But even as he spoke the words, he knew that the path ahead was growing darker with every step.