### **Elysian Rebirth: Arc 1, Chapter 13 – The Veil's Whisper**
**Arion Valen's POV**
The night was still. Too still.
The Arcane Ward had always hummed with the faint echoes of life—crickets, the wind rustling through the trees outside, or the distant clanging of late-night training. But tonight, it was unnaturally quiet, as if the world was holding its breath. I stood on one of the balconies, staring out at the faint outlines of the distant mountains, trying to make sense of the gnawing feeling inside me. Nara had insisted I get some rest after the intense training session earlier, but sleep was the last thing on my mind.
The fire within me had simmered down since the day's events, but it was still there, coiled like a predator waiting to strike. I could feel it burning at the edges of my consciousness, a constant reminder of the power I carried—power that could either save or destroy everything. And that responsibility weighed heavier with each passing moment.
A soft rustle behind me caught my attention. I didn't have to turn to know who it was.
"Couldn't sleep either?" Nara's voice was soft, but it carried a weight that mirrored my own. She came to stand beside me, her silver hair catching the pale moonlight, her expression thoughtful as she gazed into the distance.
I shook my head. "No. Too much on my mind."
She didn't say anything for a moment, just stood there beside me, letting the silence stretch out between us. Nara always knew when to speak and when to simply be there, something I had come to appreciate more than I could put into words.
After a while, she finally broke the silence. "I've been thinking… about what Kael said. About the prophecy."
I stiffened at the mention of it. The prophecy had haunted me ever since Kael revealed it, the idea that my existence was entwined with the fate of Elysia—a fate that could bring about either salvation or ruin. It was a burden I never asked for, one I wasn't sure I could carry.
"Yeah," I muttered, my gaze still fixed on the horizon. "I can't stop thinking about it either."
Nara turned to face me, her eyes searching mine. "Arion, you can't let it consume you. We don't know everything yet. Kael said the prophecy could go either way. It's not set in stone."
"I know," I said quietly, though the doubt lingered in my chest. "But what if I can't control it? What if I end up becoming exactly what the Veilborn want?"
"You won't," she replied firmly, stepping closer to me. "You're not alone in this. We're in this together. You'll learn to control your power. We'll stop the Veilborn before they can do any more damage."
I wanted to believe her, but the fear was still there, gnawing at me. The fire inside me was unpredictable, dangerous. Every time I pushed it, I risked losing control. And now, with the prophecy hanging over me, that risk felt even greater.
Before I could respond, a sudden chill ran down my spine—a sensation I hadn't felt since the first time I encountered a Veilborn. My breath hitched, and my eyes snapped to the shadows at the far edge of the balcony. Something was wrong.
"Do you feel that?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
Nara's expression shifted, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the area. She nodded slowly, her hand moving instinctively to the hilt of her dagger. "Yeah. Something's here."
The stillness of the night seemed to deepen, the air growing colder as a faint mist began to creep across the ground. It moved unnaturally, slithering along the stone floors of the Arcane Ward like a living thing. My heart pounded in my chest as I recognized the dark, oppressive energy that accompanied it—the unmistakable presence of a Veilborn.
Without a word, I summoned the fire within me, letting it flare up just enough to form a barrier of heat around us. Nara did the same, her aura flaring with a soft, silvery light as she prepared for whatever was lurking in the shadows.
Then, out of the mist, a figure emerged.
It was cloaked in darkness, its form shifting and writhing like smoke. Its eyes glowed with an eerie blue light, and its presence sent a shiver of dread down my spine. The Veilborn stood before us, silent and still, its gaze locked onto mine.
"You…" its voice was a rasping whisper, barely audible but filled with malice. "You are the one… the child of fire…"
I swallowed hard, my fists clenched as the flames within me surged in response to the Veilborn's words. "What do you want?"
The creature didn't move, but I could feel its gaze piercing through me, as though it could see into the very core of my being. "The time is near… the prophecy will be fulfilled… whether you will it or not…"
My heart skipped a beat at its words. The prophecy again. It seemed that no matter where I turned, I couldn't escape it.
Nara stepped forward, her dagger gleaming in the dim light. "We're not afraid of you. If you think you can manipulate Arion, you're mistaken."
The Veilborn chuckled softly, its voice like the rustling of dead leaves. "Fear… is not necessary… I am merely here to observe… to remind the child of fire… of what is to come…"
"Shut up," I growled, feeling the flames within me surge higher. "I'm not your pawn."
The Veilborn's form shifted, its eyes glowing brighter. "We shall see… soon enough…"
And then, as quickly as it had appeared, the creature vanished, dissolving into the mist that surrounded us. The oppressive weight in the air lifted, but the lingering sense of dread remained.
Nara turned to me, her expression grim. "They're getting bolder. We need to be ready."
I nodded, though my mind was still reeling from the encounter. The Veilborn had spoken of the prophecy as if it was inevitable—as if my fate was already sealed. But I refused to believe that.
I wasn't going to let some ancient prophecy dictate my life. I wasn't going to let the Veilborn control me.
Whatever it took, I would fight back.
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**End of Chapter 13**