The stone above was dotted with thin lines of shimmering lichen, and Kael sat cross-legged beneath the ragged overhang of a cliff. The soft murmur of the empty space echoed inside him, constant as his heartbeat but more disturbing every day. It was a strange solace, a paradoxical warmth in the icy void. His hands were on his knees, trembling a little as he let out a breath, trying to get his mind back in order. He was troubled by the fallout from the confrontation with Ivar. He had won, but the words of his opponent hung over him like an intruder.
"You are a monstrosity. You shall be consumed by your power."
Kael's fists clenched, the faint trembling revealing the composed façade he attempted to keep. He was familiar with the idea of "consumption"; it was a warning he had disregarded, hidden beneath the thrill of survival and the attraction of the void's unmatched strength. The truth was harder to deny now because Ivar's memory was still ringing in his mind.
The tense silence was broken by the steady scratch of steel on stone as Selene sat nearby honing her blade. The tension in her jaw was accentuated by the way the firelight flickered across her features. Although she hadn't said much since the altercation with Ivar, Kael was reminded that he wasn't fighting this battle alone just by her presence.
"You're brooding again," Selene stated in a frustrated tone without raising her gaze.
Kael arched an eyebrow but took a while to answer. He finally responded, "I'm not brooding," in a hushed tone that was not his intention. "Just... thinking."
Finally putting the blade down, Selene snorted. Her piercing eyes met his as she crossed her arms and leaned back against the rugged stone wall. She joked, but her typical bite was gone. "Thinking's dangerous for you these days," she said. "What's going on in that void-addled head of yours?"
Kael ran a hand through his hair and moaned. "What if Ivar was correct about what he said? What if I'm actually—"
"Don't," Selene abruptly interrupted, her tone piercing his uncertainty like a knife. "Avoid thinking about his stupidity. That arrogant idiot was merely attempting to frighten you. And you know what? It's functioning."
Kael retorted, "It's not nonsense, Selene," in a firmer voice. "He was correct about the nature of the gap. What I do when I lose control is something I've witnessed."
Selene paused, her determination wavering briefly. Softer this time, she added, "Then don't lose control. Kael, you're not a senseless animal. You're more powerful than that."
Despite his desire to believe her, Kael found it challenging due to the burden of his past experiences. It felt as though the emptiness had a will of its own. Every time he invoked its strength, it spoke to him in a whisper and pushed him in the direction of forgetting and oblivion.
Selene put a strong touch on his shoulder and reached out. She said, "Listen to me," in a firm voice. "You have an option. In this blasted world, that is more than the majority of people receive. You can either define this power or allow it to define you. In any case, it won't help to sit here and mope over doubt."
For a minute, Kael felt a glimmer of optimism as he gazed at her, the firelight reflected in her resolute eyes. A slight tremor shook the ground under them before he could answer. They both stiffened, their instincts refined by innumerable conflicts.
In a moment, Selene was standing, blade ready and drawn. She murmured, looking around the pitch-black area outside their camp, "What now?"
Kael stood too, his senses alert to the change in the atmosphere. Unbidden but welcome, the emptiness roused inside him, its presence enhancing his awareness.
A woman in midnight black robes with movements as smooth as water stepped out of the shadows. Despite the cowl covering her face, the slight sparkle in her eyes caused Kael to shiver.
The woman said, "Kael Voidbreaker," in a voice that sounded like steel-laced silk. "You attract attention wherever you go."
Kael's fists flexed at his sides as his posture hardened. "Who are you?"
With uncanny grace, the woman took a step closer. "A seeker of truths" was her cryptic response. "And you... are a curiosity."
Selene moved forward, putting herself between the newcomer and Kael. "Whether you are curious or not, you are intruding. Get lost or state your business."
With a slight smile on her lips, the woman cocked her head. "Such animosity. I'm not trying to hurt anyone. Actually, I provide answers to the queries Kael hasn't yet raised."
Kael's gaze grew strained. "What do you know about me?"
"Enough," said the woman. "Enough to understand that your inner emptiness is both a blessing and a curse. Recognize that you're not alone in experiencing it."
The implications of her words hit Kael like a physical blow, causing him to gasp for air. "What do you mean, 'not the first'?"
The woman's eyes stayed frigid, but her smile grew. "Kael, others have already been chosen by the void." Some people welcomed it. Others... were engulfed in it."
Selene's knuckles turned white as she tightened her hold on her blade. "And what do you want with him?"
With an enigmatic expression, the woman's eyes turned to Selene. "I have no desires. He will nevertheless value my knowledge. Kael, the emptiness is ancient. It predates both the heavens and this world. You have to comprehend it if you want to master it."
Kael's mind raced. He had always struggled to fully comprehend the power of the vacuum. However, this woman appeared to have answers. Despite the tempest building within him, he asked in a firm voice, "Why should I trust you?"
The sound of the woman's laugh was deep and eerie. "Trust is not important. You have the option of continuing to be ignorant or making the initial move in the direction of understanding."
Kael, bearing the weight of the decision, hesitated. He looked at Selene, whose face was a mix of worry and mistrust.
Selene muttered, "We don't even know who she is."
Kael looked back at the woman and nodded. "Prove your answers if you have them. Tell me something that no one else has to say about the vacuum."
The woman's smile vanished and was replaced by a serious expression. The air seemed to ripple around her as she raised a hand, making the edges of her body hazy.
She uttered the words, "The void is not merely absence," in a voice that had an unearthly quality. "It is unrealized creation and unmet potential. Using it means balancing the boundaries of life and death. But watch out, Kael—you are feeding its hunger each time you draw from it. It might eventually grow hungry for you."
The air began to tremble, and before Kael could react, the woman vanished into the darkness, leaving only the faint sound of her voice.
Selene lowered her blade and muttered a curse. "Well, that was ominous."
The woman stood there, and Kael stared at her, his mind racing with questions. Her remarks had evoked deep-seated fears in him that he had attempted to repress.
He whispered, "Potential unfulfilled," the words clinging to him like a puzzle.
Selene grounded him by placing a hand on his arm. "We'll figure this out," she stated firmly. "Together."
Kael nodded, but his chest still felt uneasy. There was more emptiness than he had ever thought possible, and the way ahead was getting darker by the moment. One thing was certain, though: he couldn't afford to make a mistake just now.