The forest was darker than Revan had expected. The moonlight barely pierced the canopy above, casting faint silver lines on the ground. The air smelled of damp earth and decay, mingled with the faint, metallic scent of his own blood. Kael moved ahead, his steps deliberate and silent, as though the uneven forest floor bent to his will.
Revan, by contrast, stumbled frequently, his legs heavy and his mind distracted. The mark on his chest pulsed faintly, an ever-present reminder of its existence. The memory of the Shadeborn's crimson eyes haunted him, and the weight of Kael's cryptic words added to the growing pressure.
"Where are we going?" Revan finally asked, breaking the silence.
Kael turned his head slightly, not stopping. "Somewhere safe. A place where the Eclipse Covenant won't find us—at least, not right away."
"The Eclipse Covenant," Revan muttered, tasting the unfamiliar name. "You mentioned them before. Who are they?"
Kael slowed his pace and glanced back, his expression unreadable. "The Covenant are… zealots, in the purest sense of the word. They worship the Abyss and seek to control its power. People like you, with an Abyss Seal, are considered dangerous—either a threat to their plans or a tool to be exploited."
Revan frowned. "If they worship the Abyss, why would they hunt me?"
Kael's smile was humorless. "Because the kind of power you have isn't meant to be wielded freely. The Covenant believes only their chosen few are worthy of it. The rest? They either destroy or enslave. And let's not forget—they're terrified of what you might become."
"What do you mean?"
Kael stopped, turning fully to face Revan. His gaze was sharp, piercing, and for a moment, the usual smugness in his demeanor vanished. "An Abyss Seal isn't just a mark of power. It's a connection to something far greater—something ancient and terrible. The Covenant fears that if you master it, you'll upset the balance of this world. And they'll do anything to stop that from happening."
Revan swallowed hard, his throat dry. The enormity of Kael's words settled over him like a heavy cloak. He didn't ask for this power. He didn't even understand it. But the thought of being hunted for something he couldn't control ignited a spark of defiance in him.
"I didn't choose this," he said, his voice low. "I didn't ask to be marked or hunted."
Kael's expression softened slightly. "No one chooses the Abyss, kid. It chooses you. The question is, what are you going to do about it?"
Revan didn't answer. He didn't have an answer. Not yet.
---
They continued in silence, the forest growing denser and darker with each step. The air grew colder, and Revan felt the weight of unseen eyes watching them. Every rustle of leaves, every distant howl of an animal, set his nerves on edge.
After what felt like hours, they emerged into a small clearing. At its center stood the crumbling remains of a stone structure, overgrown with moss and vines. It looked ancient, as though it had been abandoned for centuries.
"This is it?" Revan asked, skepticism evident in his voice.
Kael chuckled. "Not much to look at, I know. But it's a safe haven—warded against Abyssal creatures and the Covenant alike. For now, at least."
He approached the structure, running his fingers along the moss-covered stones. A faint glow emanated from his hand, and the air around them shimmered briefly. Revan felt a strange pressure, like the air itself was holding its breath, before it subsided.
"There," Kael said, turning back to him. "We're safe for the night."
Revan followed him inside, his eyes adjusting to the dim interior. The structure was little more than a hollowed-out shell, but it provided shelter from the elements. A few scattered relics lay on the ground—broken pottery, rusted tools, and what looked like the remains of a mural etched into the walls.
Kael dropped his pack in one corner and began rummaging through it. "You should rest," he said without looking up. "You'll need your strength for what's ahead."
Revan sat down on the cold stone floor, leaning against the wall. His body ached, his mind raced, and the mark on his chest continued its faint pulsing. Despite the weariness that tugged at him, sleep felt impossible.
"Kael," he said after a long silence. "What is the Abyss?"
Kael paused, his hand hovering over a small pouch. He turned to Revan, his expression thoughtful. "That's a loaded question," he said, sitting down across from him. "The Abyss is… well, it's a lot of things. Some call it a place, others a force. The truth is, no one really knows. What we do know is that it's ancient—older than this world, older than the Veil that separates us from whatever lies beyond."
"The Veil?"
Kael nodded. "The Veil is what keeps the Abyss—and the things that dwell within it—at bay. It's like a barrier, thin but strong enough to hold back the chaos. But sometimes, the Veil weakens, and the Abyss seeps through. That's where creatures like the Shadeborn come from."
Revan shivered, remembering the creature's crimson eyes. "And my mark… it's connected to the Abyss?"
"More than connected," Kael said, his voice grim. "The Abyss chose you, marked you as its own. That makes you both a vessel and a conduit. You can wield its power, but it can also wield you."
Revan's stomach churned. "So, what? I'm just a pawn in some cosmic game?"
Kael shrugged. "That's one way to look at it. Or, you can see it as an opportunity—a chance to rewrite the rules. The Abyss is dangerous, yes, but it's also powerful. If you learn to control it, you could become something… extraordinary."
The weight of Kael's words settled over Revan like a stone. The thought of wielding such power was intoxicating, but the risks were equally terrifying. He thought of the Shadeborn, the villagers' fear, and the cryptic warnings of the Elder Beyond the Veil. Could he really control something so vast, so unknowable?
Kael stood, breaking the silence. "Get some rest," he said, his tone softer now. "Tomorrow, we start figuring out what to do with you."
Revan didn't argue. He lay down on the cold stone floor, the faint glow of Kael's wards casting flickering shadows on the walls. His mind churned with questions, but exhaustion finally claimed him.
---
Revan's dreams were chaotic and fragmented. He stood on the edge of an endless abyss, the darkness below swirling like a living thing. Whispers filled the air, voices overlapping and intertwining, speaking in a language he couldn't understand.
A figure emerged from the darkness, its form shifting and indistinct. Its eyes glowed with a light that was both blinding and cold, and its voice resonated in his mind.
"Shadowborne," it said, the word echoing like a tolling bell. "The Veil is thinning. The Abyss hungers. What will you offer it?"
Revan tried to speak, but his voice was swallowed by the void. The figure stepped closer, its presence overwhelming. "The mark is not a gift. It is a burden. You will either master it, or it will consume you."
The darkness surged, swallowing everything. Revan woke with a start, his heart pounding. The mark on his chest burned faintly, and the whispers from his dream lingered in his mind.
Kael was already awake, standing near the entrance with his back to Revan. "You're awake," he said without turning around. "Good. We have a lot of work to do."
Revan sat up, his body aching but his resolve hardened. The path ahead was uncertain, but one thing was clear: the Abyss would not wait for him to decide his fate. He would have to face it—one way or another.