The quiet of the mentor's lair was a stark contrast to the chaos Kael had left behind. Shadows danced across the cold stone walls, illuminated by the faint glow of mysterious runes etched into the floor. The air was thick with power, an unspoken promise of transformation and danger.
Kael sat on the edge of a steel bench, his fists clenched. The weight of his decision still lingered, but so did the memory of his loss. His gaze flitted to the man who had brought him here, the one who called himself Marcus.
Marcus moved with an air of purpose, his sharp eyes taking in every detail of the space as though it was a finely tuned machine he alone could control. "You feel it, don't you?" he asked without turning. "The anger in your chest, the fire demanding release."
Kael nodded but said nothing.
Marcus walked toward a podium at the center of the room, placing his hand on its surface. A faint hum resonated, and the runes on the floor blazed with light. "Good. Rage is a tool. A weapon. But if you don't learn to control it, it will control you."
Kael swallowed hard, his voice hoarse. "And you're going to teach me how to control it?"
A smirk played on Marcus's lips. "Teach you? No. I'm going to reshape you, Kael. Into someone who takes what they want from this world without asking permission."
The words struck a chord in Kael's heart. He didn't want to be a victim anymore. He wanted power—enough to make the world bend to his will.
Marcus beckoned him closer. "The first step is simple. Pain is weakness leaving the body, and power demands sacrifice." He pressed a button on the podium, and a pedestal rose from the floor, holding a small vial of glowing, dark crimson liquid.
"What is that?" Kael asked, wariness creeping into his voice.
"A gift," Marcus said, his tone reverent. "The culmination of years of experimentation. It will grant you power beyond your imagination, but it comes with a price."
Kael hesitated, staring at the vial. "What price?"
Marcus leaned in, his gaze unwavering. "Your limits. The person you are now will die, and in their place will rise someone far stronger. But you must choose—this isn't a gift I'll force upon you."
The room fell silent, the hum of the runes the only sound. Kael reached for the vial, his fingers trembling. As soon as his skin touched the glass, an intense heat coursed through him.
Marcus stepped back, watching intently. "Good. Now drink."
Kael uncorked the vial and tipped it back. The liquid was bitter, burning as it slid down his throat. A sudden wave of agony wracked his body, and he fell to his knees, gasping.
"Let it consume you!" Marcus commanded, his voice rising. "Feel the power coursing through your veins!"
Kael's vision blurred, and his screams echoed through the chamber. The runes glowed brighter, pulsing in rhythm with his heartbeat. Just as he thought the pain would tear him apart, it subsided, replaced by a surge of strength.
When he looked up, his eyes gleamed with a faint red hue, and his body felt... different. Stronger.
Marcus crouched beside him, a satisfied glint in his eye. "You've taken the first step. Now, your journey begins."
Kael slowly rose to his feet, his fists clenched. "What's next?"
Marcus smiled. "Now, we mold you into something unstoppable."