Kaelin's mind paced through the dimly lit forest, each step sinking deeper into memories he had tried to bury. The encounter with Leloid had stirred old emotions—loyalty, respect, and an grief that, until now, he had convinced himself was past. And yet, here was Leloid—alive, though distorted by Lyrex's dark magic. As Kaelin moved forward, memories rose, drifting back to a time when they had been more than friends. They had been brothers.
The first time Kaelin met Leloid, he was still new to the Order. Kaelin had been a promising recruit, but untested and unsure of his abilities in real-world missions. Leloid was already legendary within the ranks—known for his stealth and deadly precision. Kaelin was young and ambitious, but something about Leloid's calm nature immediately drew him in.
Their first mission together came sooner than expected. They were assigned to infiltrate a heavily guarded encampment and retrieve stolen artifact, a simple yet deadly, mission retrieving from the Lost Sons, magic bandits . The mission didn't go smoothly; an unexpected patrol had separated Kaelin from the rest of the group. Out of fear he hid, realizing he'd been isolated and his escape was blocked. That's when he felt a hand on his shoulder. Leloid had appeared out of nowhere, his voice calm and steady. "Stay quiet. I'll cover you."
Leloid's presence alone had boosted Kaelin. As they slipped through the camp together, Leloid taught Kaelin his first valuable lesson: composure. When they returned successful, Leloid had barely acknowledged the mission's success; he simply gave Kaelin a nod, a hint of approval in his simple introverted expression.
In not too long after, The two were sent to track down a rogue mage who had turned against the Order, using forbidden magic to wreak havoc across nearby villages. The task was dangerous; this was no ordinary foe, and the Group needed their most skilled operatives. Leloid and Kaelin, their second mission together began.
The confrontation was brutal. The rogue mage was far more powerful than they'd anticipated, wielding magic that cut through their defenses. At a critical moment, Kaelin was struck down by a drainage spell, his vision darkening as he struggled to breathe. Leloid was at his side instantly, throwing himself in harm's way to shield Kaelin. Ignoring his own safety, Leloid fought back against the mage with all his might, taking blow after blow.
Somehow, Kaelin gathered the strength to stand, fueled by the sight of Leloid's resilience. Together, they overpowered the mage, but the experience left them both changed. As they trooped back to the camp, Leloid finally broke his usual silence, his voice low but noticed "Next time, stay close. I'm not risking my life for nothing."
Their teamwork didn't go unnoticed. With each mission, they gained the admiration of their peers and superiors alike, Together, they were an unstoppable force—Kaelin, the brilliant strategist, and Leloid, the silent blade in the shadows. The two climbed the ranks of the Order rapidly, each victory building their reputation and strengthening their trust.
With their success, however, came more dangerous assignments. Order's enemies were growing bolder, and Kaelin and Leloid were often sent on high-risk missions, entrusted with tasks that no others could handle.
On that day, It was meant to be a routine operation—a reconnaissance mission to scout a suspected enemy base of the Mages attempting to find the Orb under the Architect's command. But as they entered the stronghold, they realized they had been lured into a trap. Dozens of heavily armed mercenaries surrounded them, each bearing the insignia of the Ritualists, a notorious group known for their ruthlessness.
They fought back with everything they had, Leloid and Kaelin side by side. But as the fight raged on, Kaelin's magic faltered, his strength diminishing. Leloid covered him, urging him to retreat, but Kaelin refused to leave. In the chaos, Kaelin didn't see the mercenary closing in on Leloid's blindside until it was too late.
Leloid went down, struck by a fatal blow, and Kaelin's world shattered. He tried to reach his friend, but an explosion forced him back, separating them. The last sight Kaelin had of Leloid was of his friend lying motionless amid the smoke and ruin. The mission was a failure, but the greater loss was Leloid Chex, and Kaelin's guilt was profound. He blamed himself, convinced that if he had been stronger, if he had retreated as Leloid had urged, his friend might still be alive.
The days following Leloid's death were a blur of grief and regret. Kaelin found himself haunted by the memories, unable to shake the sense that he had failed his friend. Every corner of the Order's premises reminded him of Leloid—the sparring room where they had trained, the mess hall where they had shared silent meals. Kaelin withdrew from others, pushing himself harder, desperate to live up to the legacy that Leloid had left behind. But no amount of success could fill the void.
He left the Order days later to find the Ritualists, who were in search of the Orb, he believes finding the Orb first will bring them out, other intentions are attached to finding the Orb but he prioritized destroying the Ritualists, However, the discovery of the Orb has mingled him into unavoidable paths, not just the Ritualists, but now, Lyrex and soon, The Architect.