The dawn cast a pale light over the city as Tom made his way through the streets, the early morning air cold against his skin. He had finished his shift at the knight's headquarters, his role as a cleaner giving him access to places most would never see. And that's exactly what he needed, anonymity, the power to move unnoticed. He kept his head low, the hood of his cloak drawn over his face as he slipped through the streets, a ghost among the waking citizens.
Every step he took felt lighter, the power inside him like a fire that couldn't be extinguished. His senses were sharp, his mind clearer than ever before. Even his injured body seemed to be healing faster than it should have. He'd felt it last night, the moment the crystal fused with him. The regeneration wasn't just a gift; it was part of him now, knitting his wounds together like they had never existed.
But the power was restless. It pulsed beneath the surface, begging to be used, like a beast clawing at the inside of his skull. He could feel its hunger, a desire to do more than merely exist. It wanted action, violence, vengeance.
He had no doubt that the elder knight was watching, waiting for him to make the next move. after all the emotional speech the elder knight gave in that dream, he still look like a dangerous figure, Tom was already curious about him, it like the elder knight he met in there was the humanity side of the elder knight. The dream from the night before still lingered in his mind, the image of the broken, hollow elder knight haunting him. But Tom wasn't afraid. He had tasted the power, and he wasn't about to let it go.
"Power comes at a cost," the elder knight had said.
'Yeah everything as a price attached to them, but as long as you know your risk management, I don't think it's impossible to avoid that outcome.'
But at the same time Tom gritted his teeth. Even If that was the price he had to pay, so be it.
---
As he turned a corner, a familiar building loomed before him, the Crowley estate. It had been days since he last set foot there, since he had spoken to his siblings or faced his father. The memory of his mother's death was still too fresh, the pain of losing her a wound that had yet to heal. But he had come back for a reason.
Tom hesitated at the gate, his fingers curling around the iron bars. He could see the estate grounds beyond, the manicured lawns, the statues of long-dead ancestors standing like silent sentinels. His family was inside, living their lives, pretending as though nothing had changed. His brothers and sister, the knights who had stood by while their mother died, were probably enjoying their breakfast, laughing together like they always did.
'They would pay for that. Every single one of them, I promise.'
But not yet.
Tom forced himself to turn away, his jaw clenched. He wasn't ready. Not until he knew the full extent of his power. Not until he could be sure that when he struck, it would be devastating.
---
Later that day, he returned to the knight's headquarters for his evening shift. The grand hallways were quiet, most of the knights out on their nightly patrols or missions. The flickering torches cast eerie shadows on the stone walls, their light dancing across the tapestries that told the tales of knights long past.
Tom's footsteps were silent as he made his way down the corridor, his gaze fixed on the statue of the elder knight at the end of the hall. It was the same figure from his dreams, the same man whose power now coursed through his veins.
"You can't trust them," the elder's voice echoed in his mind. "These knights, they're the same as the ones who betrayed me. The same as your siblings. They wear the face of honor, but beneath it, they are cowards. Traitors."
Tom reached out, his hand brushing the cold stone of the statue's arm. The elder's voice seemed to grow stronger, filling his mind with visions, of battles, of betrayal, of the elder knight standing alone against an army of those who had once called him friend.
"I gave them everything," the elder continued. "And they turned on me. But you, you can be different. You can rise above them, destroy them all."
At the same time Tom could not get his head off the humanity side of the elder, remembering back, he could notice that part of him holds no grudge, but only regrets.
* * *
Tom's eyes narrowed. He had no reason to doubt the elder... Because right now all he wants is also what the elder wants (chaos amongst the knights). His siblings had proven how little they cared for loyalty or family. The knights themselves were no better. They had killed innocent people in their brawl, including his mother, and were forgiven simply because of their status. They lived above the law, above consequence.
That would change. He would make sure of it.
As he stood there, lost in thought, a voice interrupted him. "Tom?"
He spun around, his heart skipping a beat. A young woman stood at the end of the hallway, her eyes wide with surprise. It was Sarah, one of the knights who occasionally worked at the headquarters. She was younger than most, barely older than Tom himself, but her rank was higher. She was one of the rising stars in the knight faction, known for her strategic mind and sharp instincts.
"What are you doing here so late?" she asked, stepping closer. "Your shift doesn't start for another hour."
Tom quickly composed himself, pulling his hand away from the statue. "I...uh, I was just… cleaning early."
Sarah raised an eyebrow, but she didn't press further. Instead, she gave him a small smile. "Well, you're dedicated, I'll give you that."
Tom forced a smile in return, though inside, his mind was racing, he didn't know why, but it was not like he was afraid. He couldn't let anyone suspect anything, not yet. He wasn't ready for confrontation, especially with someone as perceptive as sarah.
She nodded toward the statue. "Impressive, isn't it? The elder knight. A lot of people don't know his full story, but he was one of the most powerful knights to ever live. Some say he was betrayed by those closest to him. Others think he went mad with power. Who knows the truth?"
Tom felt a chill run down his spine. "Do you believe in those stories?"
Sarah shrugged. "I'm not sure. But I do know one thing, power corrupts. Even the best of us can fall if we're not careful."
Her words hung in the air like a warning, but Tom barely heard them. His focus was on the elder knight's voice, which whispered softly in the back of his mind.
"She doesn't understand. She never will."
Tom nodded absently, and Sarah gave him one last look before turning and walking away, her footsteps echoing down the hallway.
As she disappeared around the corner, Tom exhaled, his mind buzzing with new thoughts. Power corrupts. It was a phrase he had heard a thousand times, but it never seemed to apply to him. He was different. He would be the one to control it, to wield it without falling into madness.
Wouldn't he?
---
That night, the elder knight came to him again in his dreams. The same wasteland, the same blood-red sky. But this time, the elder knight was different. He stood tall, his body whole and strong, the gaunt, hollow figure from before replaced by a warrior of immense power, Tom was not curious, nah! He knew exactly what as happened.
"You've accepted my gift," the elder said, his voice a rumble in the still air. "But you have yet to understand the full extent of it."
Tom stepped forward, his eyes narrowing. "Then show me."
The elder knight smiled, a cruel glint in his eyes. "Very well."
In an instant, the wasteland around them dissolved, replaced by a scene of chaos. Tom stood in the middle of the city, but it was not the city he knew. This version was burning, its streets filled with the screams of the dying. The knights were there too, fighting a losing battle against an unseen enemy.
And at the center of it all stood Tom, his hands stained with blood, his eyes cold and unfeeling.
"This," the elder said, stepping beside him, "is your future."
Tom felt a shiver run down his spine, but he didn't look away. "I'll control it," he whispered,he kept believing in that phrase, it is like a key prayer to him or rather, a motivation. He kept saying that phrase more to himself than to the elder. "I won't let it consume me."
The elder knight chuckled. "We shall see."