The room fell eerily silent as Ardin's presence filled the space. The remnants of the Ascendant Guard lay in scattered heaps, their armor dented and shattered, their once-menacing forms reduced to lifeless husks. Kael took a steadying breath, still feeling the heat of the battle in his chest. His pulse slowed, but his thoughts raced. Maris stood beside him, her eyes wide, still processing the chaos that had just unfolded.
"Who are you really?" Kael asked again, his voice steady but edged with suspicion. "And what do you mean by 'preparing us'?"
Ardin's helmet remained fixed, offering no hint of emotion. But Kael could see the faintest flicker of understanding in the stranger's eyes, or perhaps it was pity. Ardin's blade lowered to the floor with a soft hum, the energy flickering briefly before it powered down entirely. His posture softened, though his presence remained commanding, like a stone carved to endure the ages.
"I told you," Ardin began, his voice calm but filled with an undeniable weight, "I have come to prepare you for what's to come."
Kael took a step forward, his hand still hovering near the hilt of his plasma blade, unsure whether to trust this stranger or prepare for another fight. "Prepare us for what? This isn't just about the rift, is it? You're talking about something much bigger."
Ardin turned slightly toward the shattered walls of the room, where a flicker of energy still pulsed from the breach—a faint, dim glow that Kael knew could flare into something far more dangerous at any moment.
"The rift is just a symptom," Ardin continued. "It's the first crack in a much larger event. What's coming cannot be stopped by conventional means. This city, this world, is at the mercy of forces older and more powerful than you can imagine."
Kael's brow furrowed. "I don't have time for cryptic answers. Who's behind this? What are we up against?"
Ardin was silent for a moment, his gaze distant as if considering how much to reveal. Kael could feel the weight of the words hanging in the air—words that would change everything.
"The rift is opening because the boundary between our world and the realm of the Exiled has weakened," Ardin said, his voice low but steady. "The Exiled are beings of immense power, cast out eons ago for their transgressions. They have been biding their time, waiting for the right moment to return. Now that moment is upon us."
Maris took a cautious step forward, her voice barely a whisper. "And we're supposed to stop them?"
Ardin's head tilted slightly, as if considering her question. "Yes. But it won't be easy. The Exiled are not like anything you've faced before. They are masters of dark energy, capable of bending the very fabric of reality to their will."
Kael's mind whirled. He had barely begun to understand the basics of the rift, and now he was being told that an entire realm of malevolent beings was trying to break through?
"So, how do we stop them?" Kael asked, his voice hardening. He wasn't someone who would cower in fear. Not anymore.
Ardin's gaze met his, and for the first time, Kael saw a flicker of something—an emotion, maybe. The stranger's next words came slowly, almost as if he were weighing them carefully.
"You can't stop them alone," Ardin said. "Not yet. But you can be part of the resistance that's gathering. I've seen your potential, Kael. You've already begun to understand the energy flowing through you, the latent power you've barely begun to tap into. But you'll need to train, to grow stronger. If you have any hope of facing what's coming, you'll need to become more than what you are now."
Kael clenched his fists, the weight of Ardin's words settling heavily on his shoulders. "And what about Maris?" he asked, glancing at her. "Is she just supposed to watch?"
Ardin's gaze shifted to Maris, and Kael noticed the briefest pause before Ardin spoke again. "She has her own path to follow, though it may not be clear to her yet. In time, she will understand her role in all this. The Exiled do not only come for those with power. They seek to disrupt everything—down to the very heart of who we are. There is a purpose for everyone in this fight, even if they don't see it at first."
Kael took a deep breath. The truth hung in the air, heavy and undeniable. Whatever this battle was, it was bigger than any war he had imagined. There was no going back.
---
Training Begins
The journey that Ardin spoke of began the following day. After the battle with the Ascendant Guard, Kael and Maris had been escorted to a secluded facility hidden deep within the city's underbelly. The air smelled faintly of dust and metal, and the walls hummed with the low thrum of power. It was a far cry from the polished corridors of the city's main sectors, and yet there was something comforting about the raw, unfiltered energy here.
"We begin immediately," Ardin said, standing in the center of a large, open training area. The walls were lined with glowing panels that seemed to pulse with energy.
Kael took a deep breath, his eyes scanning the room. It was vast, stretching out in all directions. His mind had barely caught up to the revelation that the Exiled were a real threat. Yet here he was, preparing for something far beyond his understanding.
"What do you want us to do?" Kael asked, trying to steady his nerves.
Ardin's eyes softened ever so slightly, but his expression remained mostly unreadable. "First, we will unlock the potential buried deep within you. The power you carry inside is dormant for now, but with training, it can be awakened. Your connection to the energy of this world will be your greatest asset. It is the key to defeating the Exiled."
Kael nodded, determined to meet the challenge. This was the beginning of something monumental, and he wasn't about to let fear or uncertainty hold him back. He had to be ready.
Ardin motioned for them to step forward. "We begin with the basics. Mastery over the energy will come with time. But first, you must learn to control it."
Kael's gaze flickered to Maris. She stood beside him, her expression one of cautious curiosity. He knew she didn't fully understand what was at stake, but she had already proven herself in battle. She was stronger than she realized.
"We'll start with you," Ardin said, his eyes focusing on Kael. "Concentrate on the energy within you. Close your eyes and breathe deeply. Let it guide you."