The Sanctum was quieter than Valerie expected for a place so grand. Though the halls shimmered with light and energy, the stillness made her feel like a ghost drifting through an empty castle.
Her mind raced with questions, but no one had offered her answers, and Veader's icy demeanor left no room for hope.
She wandered the small chamber they'd given her, pacing restlessly. The walls glowed faintly, their crystalline surface reflecting her frustrated expression.
She felt trapped—not just in this room but in a situation she couldn't control or understand.
"Why am I even here?" she muttered to herself.
"What could they possibly want with me?"
As if in answer, the door opened, and Veader stepped inside. His presence filled the room instantly, making Valerie's heart skip a beat.
He was as poised and cold as ever, but there was something different about his expression—something softer, though he still radiated a sense of power and authority.
"Are you settling in?" he asked, his tone devoid of the usual sharpness.
Valerie blinked at him, caught off guard by the question.
"Settling in? I'm not exactly here on vacation, you know."
Veader's lips twitched, almost imperceptibly, as if he were suppressing a smile.
"Fair enough," he said.
He crossed the room and stood near the glowing wall, his gaze fixed on the shifting light.
"The Rift's activity has slowed. For now, you are safe. But your presence here continues to disrupt the balance of this realm. I must understand why."
Valerie crossed her arms, leaning against the edge of the small table in the room.
"Maybe I want to understand why too. But you're not exactly making it easy, are you? Every time I ask a question, you shut me down or look at me like I'm some kind of… anomaly."
His eyes flicked to her, their silver depths softer now.
"You're not an anomaly," he said quietly.
"You're… unexpected. And this realm does not deal well with the unexpected."
The admission surprised her, but before she could respond, the ground trembled beneath their feet. The light in the walls pulsed erratically, and a low, resonant hum filled the air.
Veader's expression darkened instantly, the brief moment of warmth vanishing.
"Stay here," he ordered, turning toward the door.
"What's happening?" Valerie asked, alarmed.
"An intruder," Veader said curtly, his voice sharp once more.
"Do not leave this room."
Before Valerie could argue, he was gone, the door shutting firmly behind him.
---
Veader strode through the halls of the Sanctum, his long coat billowing behind him. The energy in the air was sharp, crackling with tension.
Whoever—or whatever—had entered the realm was powerful, and their presence was unmistakably hostile.
He reached the main hall, where several of his guards stood at the ready. In the center of the room, a figure cloaked in black hovered just above the ground, their face obscured by a hood.
Dark energy rippled around them, distorting the air like heat waves.
"Veader," the intruder said, their voice smooth but laced with malice.
"It has been some time."
Veader's expression hardened.
"State your purpose, Orien. You are not welcome here."
The figure laughed, the sound echoing unnervingly in the vast hall.
"Still as cold as ever, I see. I come only to warn you. The Rift is unstable, and its chaos will spread faster than even you can control. The arrival of the human has accelerated its unraveling."
Veader's jaw tightened.
"The Rift is my concern, not yours."
"Ah, but it is mine," Orien said, lowering to the ground.
"You forget, Veader, that chaos is my domain. And where chaos thrives, so do I."
Veader's hands clenched at his sides, silver light sparking faintly around him.
"If you interfere in Aeloria, I will end you."
Orien tilted his head, amusement in his voice. "You always were so dramatic. But tell me, Keeper, what will you do with the human? She is the thread pulling at the fabric of this realm. Do you truly believe you can save her?"
Veader's silence was answer enough, and Orien laughed again.
"Ah, I see. You've already begun to feel sympathy for her, haven't you? How unlike you, Veader. Perhaps she has disrupted more than just the Veil."
"Leave," Veader growled, his voice like thunder.
Orien smirked beneath his hood.
"As you wish. But remember this: the Rift will not wait for you to understand your feelings. And neither will I."
With a wave of his hand, the intruder vanished, the air around him collapsing into a vortex of darkness before settling into stillness.
---
When Veader returned to Valerie's room, his expression was darker than before, but there was an odd softness in his eyes. She stood as he entered, her arms crossed.
"What was that?" she demanded.
"The whole building was shaking!"
"An unwelcome guest," Veader said simply, his tone guarded.
Valerie frowned. "That's all I get? No explanation?"
He hesitated, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly.
"You don't need to concern yourself with it. But…" He paused, meeting her gaze.
"I owe you some answers."
The admission caught her off guard.
"You… owe me?" she echoed, half-skeptical.
"Yes," Veader said.
"You didn't ask to be here. And though your presence is a disruption, it is not your fault. For that, I owe you… at least some clarity."
Valerie blinked, unsure how to respond. She'd expected him to remain as cold and dismissive as he had been since they met, but this shift in his demeanor left her off-balance.
"Okay," she said cautiously. "I'll take what I can get."
Veader nodded, his silver eyes holding hers for a moment longer than necessary.
"Rest for now," he said, turning toward the door.
As the door closed behind him, Valerie sat back down, her thoughts spinning. For the first time since she'd arrived, she felt a glimmer of something she hadn't expected: hope.