The journey back to the Verelion estate was long, and Lucien felt the weight of his decision bearing down on him with every passing mile. He could feel the power within him, coiled and pulsing, like an ember ready to ignite. But the uncertainty of what lay ahead gnawed at him, making the air around him seem thicker, more oppressive. Every step he took toward his family's ancestral home brought him closer to a confrontation he wasn't sure he was ready for.
Elira walked beside him, silent but present, her unwavering support a comfort in this turbulent time. They traveled with purpose, but the journey itself felt like a moment suspended in time, as if the world itself was holding its breath, waiting for Lucien to face what was to come.
The Verelion estate loomed in the distance, a sprawling, crumbling monument to a once-great family. The spires and towers of the estate were now half-sunken into the earth, the stones weathered and worn by centuries of neglect. It was a place of both pride and sorrow, where the legacy of Lucien's bloodline had been built—and ultimately torn apart. The estate held secrets, some of which Lucien had yet to uncover. But he knew that the answers he sought lay within those walls.
As they approached the gates, Lucien's mind drifted to his brothers. Aurelian, the steadfast heir who had never wavered in his loyalty to the family's ideals, would not take kindly to the revelation of the ancient threat, nor the burden Lucien now carried. But Ravian... Lucien wasn't sure where Ravian stood. His brother had always been unpredictable, a force of nature that neither followed tradition nor embraced the weight of their family's history.
But the truth couldn't be avoided any longer. Lucien had seen it in the sanctum, felt its presence deep within him. His bloodline was tied to an ancient power, and it was his responsibility to face it head-on, no matter the cost.
"I'm not sure they'll believe me," Lucien said, breaking the silence. His voice was tight, his gaze fixed ahead on the gates. "Aurelian is set in his ways. He'll want to keep things the way they were, the way they should be, in his mind. And Ravian... I don't know what to expect from him. He's never been one to follow the rules, but he doesn't trust easily. I don't think I can do this without their support."
Elira glanced at him, her expression soft yet resolute. "You can't carry this burden alone, Lucien. But you must trust in them, even if it's difficult. They are your brothers, and their blood runs in your veins. No matter how different they seem, you are all connected by this legacy. You have to believe that they'll understand, in time."
Lucien nodded, but the doubt lingered. He couldn't shake the feeling that, no matter how much he tried to prepare them, they would resist. The truth was too heavy, too monstrous for them to comprehend easily. And the consequences of their disbelief could be catastrophic.
As they passed through the gates, the familiar sight of the Verelion estate hit Lucien like a physical blow. The grandeur of the estate, despite its decay, still held an undeniable presence. There was power here, a palpable energy that seemed to seep from the very stones, and Lucien could feel it coursing through him, reverberating in his bones. The legacy of the Verelions was not just one of wealth and power—it was a legacy of magic, of bloodlines entwined with forces beyond the understanding of most.
They made their way through the estate's long hallways, the sound of their footsteps echoing off the cold, stone walls. Lucien's mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, memories of his past life as Elias Dorne mingling with his current self, each moment competing for dominance. He could still hear the voice of the ancient presence, the words that had haunted him in the sanctum: "Power has its price."
He reached the grand hall, its high ceilings and ornate decorations now faded with age. His brothers would be here.
Aurelian was the first to appear, his tall frame cutting a sharp silhouette against the dim light. His piercing green eyes locked onto Lucien, unreadable as ever, but Lucien could feel the tension in the air between them.
"Aurelian," Lucien began, his voice steady despite the storm raging inside him. "There are things I need to tell you. Things about the Verelion legacy. The threat that has plagued our bloodline for centuries—it's not over."
Aurelian's gaze hardened, and he took a step forward, his posture defensive. "What are you saying, Lucien? You come here, speaking of threats and darkness, when we've been working to rebuild the Verelion name. You know the responsibility we have to this family. To Aranthia. This is no time for nonsense."
Lucien clenched his fists at his sides, the weight of his brother's words sinking deep into him. "I'm not speaking nonsense. I've seen it with my own eyes. The ancient power, the creature that was sealed away—it's not gone. It's merely waiting. And it's tied to our bloodline. We cannot ignore this any longer."
Aurelian's expression softened slightly, but his eyes still held the skepticism Lucien had feared. "And you think that, with your… newfound power, you can change this? You've always been driven by ambition, Lucien, but this? This is far beyond anything we've faced. And I will not let you jeopardize our family's name for some wild claim."
Lucien stepped forward, meeting his brother's gaze. "I don't expect you to understand right now. But you will. Soon enough."
Before Aurelian could respond, a quieter voice broke through the tension.
"Lucien…" Ravian's voice was almost a whisper, but it carried with it an undeniable weight. He stepped from the shadows of the hallway, his lean form appearing like a ghost from the past. His amber eyes—so much like Lucien's—bore into him, unreadable but intense. "I've been waiting for you."
Lucien's heart skipped a beat. Ravian was not one for sentiment, nor was he someone who easily showed his hand. And the way he looked at Lucien now… it was almost as if he already knew.
"Tell me, Lucien," Ravian said, his voice barely above a murmur. "What have you found? What is it you've truly discovered?"
Lucien swallowed hard. He had no choice now but to tell them the truth.