The sanctuary was tense, its shadows heavier than before.
Kael sat alone near the circular table at the center of the chamber, his dagger resting on the scarred wood. His sharp eyes studied the weapon absently as his shadow tendrils coiled around his arm, their movement slower, more deliberate than before. The crystal's energy had left a mark—not on the weapon, but on him.
The shadows felt sharper now, more alive, pulsing with a rhythm that matched the medallion's faint hum. But with that power came a toll. The ache in his chest had deepened, a constant, gnawing presence that clawed at his lungs with every breath. His mind, too, felt stretched thin, as though the shadows pressing against him weren't entirely his own.
Kael ran a hand over the blade's edge, his voice low. "A weapon, but still a tool. It's only dangerous when the wielder forgets who's in control."
From across the room, voices rose.
"I told you this would happen!" the scarred assassin snapped, his voice sharp enough to cut through the heavy air. He stood near one of the stone shelves, his hand gripping the hilt of his blade as he glared at Leryn. "He's no different from them. The Choir gets their hooks in people like him, and we're the ones who pay for it."
Leryn's posture was stiff, their arms crossed as they stared down the angry assassin. "Kael made a choice. If he hadn't, we wouldn't have a chance against what's coming. You saw what those things were capable of. Do you really think we can fight them without someone like him?"
The man's face twisted with frustration. "And what happens when he turns on us? When he decides his 'art' is more important than survival?"
Kael's shadow tendrils pulsed faintly, their edges sharp as they rippled around him. He stood slowly, the sound of his boots on the stone floor drawing the attention of the room.
"If you're so worried about me," Kael said, his voice calm, "you're welcome to try and stop me."
The scarred assassin turned sharply, his hand tightening on his blade. "Don't test me."
Kael stepped closer, his shadow tendrils coiling protectively around him like living smoke. The crystal's energy surged faintly, its presence sharp and cold as it threaded through his veins.
"I don't have to test you," Kael said softly, his voice low but steady. "I already know how this ends."
"Enough!" Leryn's voice cut through the rising tension like a whip. They stepped between the two men, their dark eyes burning with frustration. "This is exactly what the Choir wants—us fighting each other while they spread their poison further into the Veil."
They turned to the scarred assassin, their tone sharp. "If you have a problem with Kael, take it up with me. Otherwise, keep your blade sheathed. We don't have the luxury of infighting."
The scarred man's jaw clenched, but he stepped back, his expression dark as he turned away.
Leryn turned to Kael, their gaze steady. "And you. If you're going to stay here, you need to prove that you're more than a liability. You might have power, but power without control is just chaos."
Kael tilted his head slightly, his lips curling into a faint smile. "Control is an illusion. Art is about embracing the chaos."
Leryn's expression hardened. "If you can't prove otherwise, you won't last long here."
Before Kael could respond, a faint sound echoed through the sanctuary—a low, guttural hum that sent a chill racing down his spine. The shadows along the walls pulsed faintly, their edges fraying as though caught in a storm.
"They're here," Kael said softly.
The assassins moved instantly, their hands going to their weapons as they formed a loose perimeter around the room. The air grew colder, the hum deepening into a sharp, grating sound that resonated through the stone walls.
Kael's shadow tendrils rippled violently, their cold presence coiling tightly around him as the first corrupted assassins emerged from the darkness.
Their forms were grotesque, their limbs jagged and unnatural, their eyes burning with the same sickly green light that marked the Choir's influence. They moved with an animalistic ferocity, their weapons gleaming faintly in the dim light as they charged into the room.
The sanctuary erupted into chaos.
Kael moved instinctively, his shadow tendrils lashing out to meet the attackers. The first corrupted assassin lunged at him, their jagged blade slicing through the air, but Kael sidestepped the strike, his dagger flashing in a deliberate arc that tore through their corrupted flesh.
The assassins fought with brutal efficiency, their movements sharp and coordinated as they clashed with the intruders. Blades clashed against claws, the sound of steel echoing through the chamber as blood sprayed across the stone.
Kael moved through the chaos like a painter shaping his masterpiece, his movements fluid and deliberate. His shadow tendrils struck with precision, tearing through the corrupted assassins with a cold artistry that left streaks of blood and shadow flowing across the floor like brushstrokes.
But the crystal's power was raw, untamed. Each surge of magic sent a sharp, stabbing pain through Kael's chest, his breathing growing sharper and more uneven as the battle raged on.
Leryn fought nearby, their blade flashing as they deflected a strike from one of the attackers. The corrupted assassin lunged again, their claws slashing through the air, but Leryn ducked low, their blade slicing upward in a sharp arc that sent the intruder sprawling to the ground.
Across the room, the scarred assassin struggled against two attackers, their jagged limbs driving him back toward the wall. Kael's shadow tendrils lashed out, coiling around one of the corrupted assassins and dragging them to the ground.
The scarred assassin glanced at Kael, his expression unreadable as he nodded faintly in acknowledgment.
When the last of the corrupted assassins fell, the room fell silent once more.
Kael straightened slowly, his breathing sharp and uneven as he scanned the room. The corpses of the intruders lay scattered across the stone, their twisted forms still and lifeless.
Leryn stepped forward, their gaze steady. "That's twice now you've helped us," they said softly. "But that doesn't mean you're off the hook."
Kael's lips curled into a faint smile. "I'm not looking for gratitude."
Leryn's expression hardened. "Then what are you looking for?"
Kael didn't respond immediately. His sharp eyes lingered on the corpses of the corrupted assassins, the blood pooling around their twisted forms like ink spilled across a canvas.
"Perfection," he said finally, his voice calm but sharp. "And I won't find it by standing still."
Leryn studied him for a moment before nodding. "Then prove it. The Choir won't stop until they've consumed everything. If you want to lead us, show us that you can."
Kael tilted his head slightly, his shadow tendrils rippling faintly. "Lead?"
Leryn's gaze sharpened. "You have the power. Now show us you have the vision."
The room fell silent as the weight of the words settled over Kael. He exhaled slowly, his sharp eyes narrowing as he turned to face the remaining assassins.
"If you follow me," he said softly, his voice steady, "you follow my rules. And if you can't keep up, I won't slow down for you."
The scarred assassin's jaw clenched, but he didn't speak. The others exchanged wary glances before nodding faintly, their expressions guarded.
Kael's lips curled into a faint smile, his shadow tendrils coiling tightly around him.
"Good," he said softly. "Now let's see what we can create."