The winds of the Ethereal Expanse carried more than dust and mana—they carried whispers of desperation. Kael adjusted the strap of his pack, his sharp eyes scanning the jagged terrain ahead. The ruins stretched endlessly, their broken spires casting long, eerie shadows in the dim light. Rho moved beside him, its silent presence a reminder of the strange partnership he had stumbled into.
It was supposed to be a quiet journey. Kael had learned long ago to keep his head low and avoid entanglements. The Expanse was a place where alliances ended in betrayal, and trust was a fool's luxury. But as he rounded a crumbling pillar, the faint sound of shouting broke through the winds.
Kael froze, motioning for Rho to halt. The shouting grew louder, punctuated by cries of pain. Against his better judgment, Kael crept closer, his movements practiced and silent. He peered over a shattered wall and saw them: a group of ragged figures cornered by Citadel enforcers.
The enforcers were unmistakable, their sleek black armor gleaming with unnatural energy. They stood in stark contrast to the rebels, whose patchwork gear barely held together. One of the rebels was on their knees, writhing in agony as an enforcer held a Void Crystal near their chest. The crystal pulsed with a sickly light, its energy tearing through the rebel's body like a swarm of gnats.
Kael's grip tightened on the hilt of his dagger. He had seen Void Crystals used before, but never this close. The Citadel's cruelty was a known fact, but witnessing it firsthand ignited a rage he hadn't felt in years.
"Intervention is inadvisable," Rho said quietly, its golden eyes fixed on the scene. "Your survival is paramount."
Kael clenched his jaw, his instincts screaming at him to walk away. This wasn't his fight. The Citadel's wrath was not something he wanted to provoke. But as the rebel's screams grew louder, something inside him snapped.
"Stay here," he said to Rho, his voice low but firm. Before the construct could protest, Kael slipped over the wall, moving like a shadow.
The enforcers never saw him coming. The first fell silently, Kael's dagger slicing through a weak point in their armor. The second turned just in time to see the blade flash before it buried itself in their throat. Kael moved with ruthless efficiency, his body a blur of motion.
The remaining enforcers rallied, their weapons humming to life. One of them raised a Void Crystal, its dark energy surging toward Kael. He dove to the side, the blast narrowly missing him and scorching the ground where he had stood. Using his enhanced Resonance, Kael launched a concentrated arc of mana, striking the enforcer square in the chest. The impact sent them crashing into a wall, their armor sparking violently.
The last enforcer hesitated, glancing between Kael and their fallen comrades. Kael didn't give them a chance to regroup. He closed the distance in an instant, his dagger flashing. The enforcer crumpled to the ground, lifeless.
Kael stood amidst the carnage, his chest heaving. Blood dripped from his blade, pooling at his feet. The rebels stared at him, their expressions a mix of awe and fear. Even the one who had been tortured seemed at a loss for words.
"Who… who are you?" one of them managed to ask, their voice trembling.
Kael didn't answer. He wiped his dagger on the nearest enforcer's cloak and turned to leave. But before he could take a step, a hand grabbed his arm. He spun around, his dagger raised, only to see the rebel he had just saved.
"Wait," they said, their voice desperate. "Please. We need your help."
Kael's eyes narrowed. "I've done enough. Get out of here before more of them show up."
The rebel's grip tightened. "You don't understand. The Citadel… they're hunting us. We can't fight them alone."
Kael shook them off, his expression cold. "That's not my problem."
"Kael," Rho's voice cut in, calm but firm. "Their plight aligns with your interests more than you realize."
Kael shot the construct a glare. "Don't start."
Rho stepped forward, addressing the rebels. "What is the nature of the Citadel's pursuit?"
The leader of the group, a wiry woman with a jagged scar across her cheek, stepped forward. "They're after something we found. Something they don't want anyone to know about."
Kael's curiosity piqued despite himself. "What did you find?"
The woman hesitated, glancing at her companions. Finally, she said, "A map. To one of their secret facilities. We think it's where they're experimenting with Void Crystals."
Kael's blood ran cold. The mention of Void Crystals brought back memories he'd rather forget. He looked at the woman, then at the bodies of the enforcers around them.
"You're going to get yourselves killed," he said, his tone harsh. "The Citadel doesn't leave loose ends."
The woman's jaw tightened. "Then help us. You've seen what they're capable of. Are you really going to turn your back on that?"
Kael's gaze dropped to the ground, his mind racing. He had spent years running, avoiding the Citadel's reach. But now, for the first time, he wondered if that had been the right choice. The enforcers' brutality, the rebels' desperation—it was all too familiar.
"You have two minutes to gather your things," he said finally, sheathing his dagger. "After that, I'm gone."
The rebels stared at him in stunned silence before springing into action. Rho stepped beside Kael, its golden eyes gleaming.
"A commendable decision," it said.
Kael didn't respond. He wasn't sure if it was the right decision. All he knew was that something had shifted within him, a crack in the armor he had built around himself. Whether it was weakness or strength, only time would tell.