Kael was led back to his cell, but the atmosphere was different this time. The guards no longer sneered; their hands were tense on their weapons. He could see the wariness in their eyes, a mixture of fear and unease.
Good. Fear was a tool, and Kael intended to wield it.
He slumped against the cold wall, feigning exhaustion while his mind churned. Adrian's silence in the court was troubling. His brother wasn't one to miss an opportunity to humiliate him, especially in front of the nobles. That meant Adrian was planning something—a trap Kael would have to navigate carefully.
The shard pulsed faintly in his pocket, a subtle reminder of its presence. He didn't trust it, but he couldn't ignore its power. Control the tool, don't let it control you, Serena's words echoed in his mind.
For now, the shard would remain a last resort.
Night fell, and with it came silence. Kael lay awake, the faint sound of dripping water the only accompaniment to his thoughts. Then, just as his eyes began to close, he felt it—a presence, cold and suffocating.
"Who's there?" he whispered, his hand instinctively going to the shard.
The shadows in the corner of his cell stirred, and a figure stepped forward. It was cloaked in darkness, its face obscured by a hood.
"Relax," the figure said, its voice low and smooth. "I'm not here to harm you."
Kael didn't move. "That's what they all say before they do."
The figure chuckled. "Fair enough. Let's skip the pleasantries, then. I've come to offer you a choice."
Kael's eyes narrowed. "Who are you?"
"Call me Zeth," the figure said. "An... associate of Lady Veylan."
At the mention of Serena, Kael's suspicion deepened. "What do you want?"
Zeth stepped closer, and Kael could see faint lines of glowing blue etched into the figure's skin—runes of some kind.
"I want to see if you're worthy of the Void's power," Zeth said. "Lady Veylan believes you have potential. I believe you're a gamble. Prove me wrong."
Kael's hand tightened around the shard. "And if I don't?"
"Then the Void will consume you, and your story ends here," Zeth said bluntly. "But if you survive, I'll teach you how to wield the chains properly. How to make the nobles kneel, Adrian beg, and the world remember your name."
Kael hesitated. The offer was tempting, but it reeked of manipulation. Still, he had no allies, no resources. If he wanted to survive, he needed every advantage he could get.
"What's the catch?" Kael asked.
Zeth smirked. "The Void demands sacrifice. The more power you take, the more it will take from you. Your soul, your sanity—maybe both. But isn't that a price you're willing to pay for revenge?"
Kael's heart pounded. He hated how much sense it made.
"Fine," he said finally. "But I'm not selling my soul to the Void. I'll learn to control it, not the other way around."
Zeth's grin widened. "We'll see."
Zeth gestured, and the shadows in the cell twisted unnaturally, swallowing the walls and floor. Kael blinked, and suddenly he was standing in a vast, empty void.
"What is this?" Kael demanded.
"A trial," Zeth said, his voice echoing from everywhere and nowhere. "The Void doesn't care about your strength—it cares about your will. If you can't outthink it, you'll die here."
The ground beneath Kael's feet shifted, and shapes began to form. He found himself standing in a dark forest, the air thick with tension. Shadows moved among the trees, their forms indistinct but menacing.
A voice boomed in his mind, cold and unforgiving. "Prove your worth, mortal. Or be consumed."
Suddenly, one of the shadows lunged at him, its form coalescing into a snarling beast. Kael dodged instinctively, rolling to the side. He reached for his shard, but his pocket was empty.
"Where is it?" he shouted.
Zeth's voice rang out, mocking. "No crutches, Kael. This is about your mind. Adapt, or perish."
Kael cursed under his breath. The beast lunged again, and Kael barely avoided its claws. He needed a weapon, but the forest was bare.
Think. The Void isn't real—it's a construct. If it can create, so can I.
Kael focused, willing the shadows around him to change. At first, nothing happened, but then a faint flicker of light appeared in his hand. Slowly, it solidified into a crude blade made of black energy.
The beast attacked again, and this time, Kael met it head-on. The shadow blade slashed through the creature's neck, dissipating it into a swirl of smoke.
The forest shifted again, the trees dissolving into towering pillars of stone. More beasts appeared, their growls echoing ominously.
Kael's instincts screamed at him to fight, but he hesitated. This wasn't just a test of strength—it was a test of strategy.
Instead of attacking, Kael focused on his surroundings. The pillars cast long shadows, and he realized the beasts couldn't step into the light.
A plan formed in his mind. He ran, weaving between the pillars and drawing the beasts after him. As they lunged, he maneuvered into the light, forcing them to falter.
One by one, he led them into the traps he created, using the Void's own rules against it.
When the last beast fell, the forest dissolved, and Kael found himself back in his cell. Zeth stood before him, his expression unreadable.
"Well?" Kael asked, his voice hoarse.
Zeth nodded slowly. "Not bad. You've got potential, Drayce. But don't let this victory inflate your ego—the Void is far from mastered."
Kael leaned against the wall, his body trembling from exhaustion. "I'll do whatever it takes. Teach me."
Zeth smirked. "We start tomorrow. Rest while you can—you'll need it."
As Zeth disappeared into the shadows, Kael closed his eyes, his mind buzzing with possibilities.
For the first time in his life, he felt something he hadn't dared to feel in years: hope.
But beneath that hope lay a grim determination. The Void was dangerous, but it was also his greatest weapon. If he could harness it, he wouldn't just survive—he would conquer.