Kael sat with his legs crossed on the uneven stones at the edge of the nothingness, his eyes focused on the invisible horizon. The void surrounding him appeared to throb, its rhythmic stillness synchronized with the gradual cadence of his heartbeat. His hands were positioned on his knees, fingers twitching faintly as if still clutching the vestiges of the conflict he had engaged in hours earlier. The consequences remained in his thoughts—every disturbance of the void he had created, every strand of reality he had unraveled.
The recollection of Ivar's derisive expression remained vivid. "Your power will devour you, Voidbreaker." The words had penetrated more profoundly than Kael had revealed. They undermined his determination, even now, while the world around him had descended into an eerie silence.
Selene advanced from behind, her movements intentional yet subtle, the gentle crunch of pebbles beneath her boots the sole sound in the desolation. She refrained from speaking immediately and instead descended to the ground beside him. Her gaze followed his, yet there was little to see beyond the shaky remnants of distorted space.
"You are more subdued than usual," she remarked, finally disrupting the silence.
Kael exhaled slowly, his fingers flexing as if assessing the gravity of his thoughts. "The void appears more burdensome today." The void seems to be asking for something that I am not yet equipped to provide.
Selene scrutinized him, her gaze narrowing marginally. She had learned to acknowledge these instances—when Kael's thoughts made. ged in conflicts more savage than any external confrontation. "You have been exerting yourself excessively," she remarked. "This ability of yours..." It is not an endeavor that can be accomplished via sheer force.
Kael faced her, his gaze keen yet obscured. "Do you presume I am unaware of that?" Each time I utilize it, I sense it extracting more—more of myself, more from the world, more of... an ineffable essence. His voice sank to a near whisper. "What is the most unfavorable aspect?" I am unsure if I should continue to be concerned.
Selene's heart tightened at his words, although she maintained a composed demeanor. "You are concerned," she asserted decisively. "That's why you're here, brooding like a looming storm." If you were indifferent, you would have fully accepted that void by now. You would have let it engulf you.
Kael faced the horizon again, a sardonic smile flickering across his lips. "Perhaps I am merely postponing the unavoidable."
Selene began to speak, but an abrupt change in the atmosphere rendered her speechless. A subtle murmur reverberated across the emptiness, increasing in volume. It was neither the discordant resonance of an adversary's assault nor the tumultuous distortion of distorted space; it was something more profound and elemental.
Kael sprang to his feet, his senses intensifying as the emptiness within him awakened. Selene mirrored the action, her hand immediately reaching for her blade.
A figure appeared from the periphery of the warped space, shrouded in shadows that undulated like water. Their movements were intentional, their demeanor authoritative yet disconcertingly serene. The figure halted several steps away, their visage concealed by a mask adorned with elaborate markings that emitted a faint glow in the subdued illumination.
"Kael Voidbreaker," the figure proclaimed, their voice a profound, resonant tone that seems to transcend auditory perception and communicate directly with the essence of the soul. The abyss stirs uneasy within you. It beckons, and you respond—but you fail to comprehend its genuine essence.
Kael strained, his fingers twitching toward the void energy accumulating in his core. "What is your identity?"
"I am a Keeper," the person responded, their tone deliberate. They protect the balance of life. "You, Kael, pose a danger to that equilibrium."
Selene advanced, her blade shimmering as she poised it for action. "Is another purported guardian here to admonish us?" It is imperative for you to discover a new pastime.
The Keeper disregarded her; their disguised visage focused on Kael. Your power is not an aberration, Voidbreaker. It is unavoidable. However, inevitabilities carry consequences.
Kael grimaced; his curiosity piqued despite his discomfort. What is your meaning? Articulate clearly.
The keeper inclined their head, seemingly deliberating on the extent of information to disclose. The vacuum you command is not simply an instrument of destruction. Indeed, it not only maintains equilibrium but also undergoes transformation. It does not annihilate without intent. It requires effort to yield results. However, you have only grasped a fraction of its true nature.
Kael's thoughts surged as he endeavored to comprehend the Keeper's statements. He reflected on the numerous conflicts, the lives obliterated by his might, and the peculiar void that ensued. Did the emptiness encompass more than mere annihilation?
"What am I to do with that knowledge?" he inquired, his tone laced with frustration.
The keeper's reply was enigmatic. "It is imperative that you cultivate the skill of listening." You must understand the needs of the void and its mutual contributions.
Before Kael could inquire further, the Keeper gestured with a hand. The atmosphere surrounding them glimmered, and in a second, they vanished, leaving but a subtle remnant of their existence.
Selene inhaled sharply, lowering her blade as she turned to Kael. "That was ambiguous." Do you have any insight into their discussion?
Kael shook his head, his demeanor reflecting contemplation. No. However, I believe—I believe they may be correct.
Selene's forehead creased. "Correct regarding what?"
Kael paused, his eyes wandering to the subtle distortions in the atmosphere. The gap encompasses more than just annihilation. I have personally experienced it—those moments after a conflict, when the void falls. It is not merely a lack. It possesses potential. A clean canvas.
Selene scowled, her doubt unmistakable. "Are you suggesting that the void possesses the ability to create?" That does not precisely align with our previous observations.
"I do not claim to comprehend it," Kael conceded. "However, if there exists even a possibility that this is accurate... I must ascertain the truth." I must comprehend the true potential of this power.
Selene exhaled, her shoulders easing a little. If that is the road you have chosen, then I support you. Do not overlook the stakes involved, Kael. The world is already apprehensive of you. "Should you relinquish control?"
"I will not," Kael asserted resolutely, yet the glimmer of uncertainty in his eyes revealed his internal conflict. "I lack the financial means to do so."
The two remained silent for a minute, the gravity of their discussion enveloping them like a dense shroud.
Ultimately, Kael pivoted, his determination solidifying as he gazed at the remote horizon. "We depart at dawn." If the abyss possesses answers, I shall seek them out.
Selene nodded, her gaze fixed on him, reflecting a blend of concern and resolve. Despite uncertainty about the future, one fact remained unquestionable: Kael's journey was not yet over, and the risks had significantly increased.
As the initial light of morning illuminated the horizon, Kael experienced an unusual sensation of clarity. The future was ambiguous, laden with peril and uncertainty, yet for the first time in an extended period, he had a glimmer of optimism.
*The void does not merely consume,* he contemplated. "Perhaps it is time for me to understand its potential benefits."