Chapter 8: Secrets of the System
The vision from the obelisk lingered in Leon's mind like a shadow he couldn't shake. The images of war, destruction, and the enigmatic figure cloaked in darkness replayed over and over.
As they moved away from the obelisk, Kaelina led him toward a quieter part of the Crossroads, away from prying eyes.
"You've seen it now," she said, her voice low. "The paths that stretch out before you. What did you see?"
Leon hesitated, unsure how to put it into words. "War… destruction… me standing in the middle of it all."
Kaelina nodded grimly. "That's the weight of power, Leon. The System has taken notice of you."
Leon frowned. "The System?"
Kaelina glanced around, making sure no one was listening. "It's the force that connects all things. It's not alive, not exactly, but it has a will of its own. It sees potential, and it offers... guidance, if you can call it that. But it always comes at a cost."
Leon's brow furrowed. "Guidance? What kind of guidance?"
Kaelina stopped and faced him, her eyes sharp. "The System is ancient, older than any of us can comprehend. It chooses individuals—champions, saviors, or destroyers—and gives them access to knowledge and abilities beyond anything they could achieve on their own. But once it chooses you, you're marked. You can't escape it."
A shiver ran down Leon's spine. "And it's chosen me?"
Kaelina nodded. "The moment you touched the obelisk, it became clear. The System has plans for you, Leon. The question is, will you use it, or will it use you?"
Before Leon could respond, a sudden pulse of energy rippled through the air. Kaelina stiffened, her hand flying to her blade.
"What now?" Leon asked, his voice tight.
Kaelina's eyes darted around. "Something's wrong. Stay close."
The bustling noise of the Crossroads quieted as a figure emerged from the crowd. It was Axel. But he wasn't alone.
Two others flanked him—a towering brute with skin like stone and a lithe woman cloaked in shadow, her eyes gleaming like molten silver. The air around them crackled with menace.
"Kaelina," Axel said, his grin as sharp as a knife. "We need to talk."
Kaelina's stance shifted, her blade half-drawn. "If you're looking for trouble, you've found it."
Axel chuckled. "Relax. We're not here to fight. At least, not yet. We're here for him." He pointed at Leon.
Leon's heart raced. "Me?"
"The System doesn't choose lightly," the woman said, her voice like silk. "You've been marked, boy. And that makes you valuable."
Kaelina stepped in front of Leon, her blade fully drawn now. "He's not for sale, and he's not going anywhere with you."
The brute cracked his knuckles, the sound echoing like thunder. "You sure about that?"
Leon felt the warmth in his chest again, the same spark he had felt during the trial and the fight with the Corruptlings. But this time, it was stronger, more insistent.
"You're outnumbered," Axel said, his grin widening. "Hand him over, and we'll let you walk away. Refuse, and… well, you know how this ends."
Kaelina's blade glowed faintly as she stepped forward. "You've made a mistake, Axel. I don't walk away from fights."
The tension in the air was palpable, the promise of violence hanging over the plaza like a storm cloud.
Leon clenched his fists, the spark inside him threatening to ignite. He didn't know what he was capable of, but he wasn't about to let Kaelina fight alone.
Axel's grin faltered as he noticed the glow in Leon's hands. "Well, well. Looks like the boy has some fire in him after all."
"More than you can handle," Leon said, surprising even himself with the confidence in his voice.
Kaelina glanced back at him, a flicker of pride in her eyes. "Ready to prove it?"
Leon nodded, the fire in his chest blazing to life. "Let's do this.