Astral Epoch

The atmosphere in the Hall of the White Tiger Ruins was tense. The Four Guardians had gathered again, but this time, the air felt different—charged with unease. Vital sat in the corner, his gaze flickering around the room as if lost in thought. After a long silence, he spoke, his voice low but heavy with doubt.

"Are we truly the only hope?"

The words cut through the room like a sharp wind, instantly freezing the air.

Adrian's eyes narrowed, but Cassius remained impassive, his cold gaze never leaving Vital. Their exchange was silent, but the weight of the question hung heavily between them. Vital's eyes met Adrian's, as if the answer was expected from him. The pressure in the room built, waiting for Adrian to speak.

"Can the mission of the Starborn Guardians really save this world? Or are we just pawns in another power struggle?" Vital's voice held a weight that made his question seem more like an accusation.

Adrian's brow furrowed as a sense of unease spread through him. He knew the question wasn't just about the mission—it was about the very foundation of their cause. Vital was challenging the belief that had bound them together: that the Four Guardians were meant to protect the world. Doubt had entered the heart of the alliance, and it was no longer easy to ignore.

Cassius's gaze was sharp and unyielding, like the edge of a blade. When he spoke, his expression remained cold, his silence only amplifying the tension in the room. The air seemed to freeze, each breath heavier than the last. After a long pause, he finally broke the silence, his voice low, carrying a weight that seemed to push back against any doubts that might rise.

"Your question is valid, but the mission of the Starborn is far too critical to be shaken by such doubts," he said, his words deliberately chosen, each one dripping with authority. "We cannot afford to waver."

With a slight motion of his hand, he turned his gaze to Adrian, a faint, mocking smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "But if you're suggesting something about Adrian, you may be overestimating him," Cassius continued, his voice calm but dripping with subtle aggression.

"He's just a boy who hasn't even mastered his own power. What right does he have to bear such a heavy responsibility?" His words were directed at the group, yet Adrian felt them like a direct assault. The pressure in the room was palpable, even if Cassius didn't speak to him directly.

Adrian's heart rate quickened, and the furrow in his brow deepened. Cassius's words not only questioned his abilities but also deepened the rift between them. The weight of the moment hung heavy in the air, the tension almost unbearable as the room seemed to close in around them.

Vital's brow furrowed, clearly displeased with Cassius's words. His eyes narrowed, an unmistakable challenge in his gaze. "The so-called 'great responsibility' you speak of is nothing but an idealized fantasy," he retorted, stepping forward. His voice grew heavier, each word carrying more weight. "If the power of the Four Symbols is truly so great, why are we still relying on these so-called 'Guardians'?" The skepticism in his voice cut through the room. "You all live in your own illusions, while I care about the real meaning of this war."

Cassius's expression darkened, irritation flashing across his face. He let out a cold, mocking laugh, his eyes glinting with a threat. "Do you dare question the power of the Starborn, Vital?" he sneered, his voice laced with ice. "Do you think you can control the fate of this world? You?" As Cassius spoke, his presence seemed to grow, turning ominous and predatory. His gaze locked onto Vital's with an intensity that could have sliced through steel.

Adrian stood frozen, caught between the escalating exchange. His own emotions churned violently. Vital's doubts struck deep, echoing his own fears, while Cassius's sharp mockery ignited a flame of anger within him. He was no longer a passive observer. The room seemed to close in around him as the tension between the two men increased.

More troubling still was Cassius's growing mistrust of Adrian. What had been subtle insinuations had now turned into open challenges. The weight of this was like a knot tightening in his chest, making it hard to breathe. In that moment, Adrian understood that he was no longer simply facing external enemies or decisions. He was caught in an internal conflict—torn between two opposing forces, both of which demanded something of him that he wasn't sure he was ready to give.

Anger bubbled up within him, but he couldn't decide whether it was directed at Cassius, at Vital, or at himself. The doubts that had quietly lingered inside him now roared to life, drowning out his ability to think clearly. And yet, there was still a burning need to find an answer, something to stabilize the storm of emotions rising inside him.

Adrian's heart hammered in his chest, each beat echoing the mounting pressure in the room. The confrontation between Cassius and Vital hung in the air like an impending storm, and now, Cassius's gaze turned toward him. It was sharp and cold, like the edge of a blade, and it seemed to freeze the very air around them.

"Do you even know what your responsibilities are?" Cassius's voice cut through the silence, each word deliberate and heavy with challenge. It wasn't just a question—it was an accusation, aimed squarely at Adrian's core. "Can you truly bear all of this?"

The weight of the words hit him like a physical blow. Adrian's hand tightened around his Thunder Spear, his knuckles going pale as he tried to suppress the tumultuous surge of emotions within him. The doubts Cassius's words sparked sent ripples through his resolve, like cracks appearing in a fragile dam. Could he? The question lingered in his mind, gnawing at him. Could he truly carry the burden of not only protecting this world, but also the heavy responsibility of leading others? The certainty he had once held was now clouded with uncertainty, and beneath the mask of confidence, he felt exposed, vulnerable.

Cassius's eyes, cold and unyielding, never left him. The challenge in them was unmistakable, like a predator waiting for the slightest sign of weakness. "The Azure Dragon's Might grants you immense power, but if you can't even earn trust, how can you expect to control your own fate?" The words cut deeper than any physical strike could, and Adrian felt as though they were sinking into his very soul, tearing away at the foundation of his self-assurance.

The room seemed to constrict around him. Every word from Cassius, every shadow of doubt cast by Vital, echoed in his mind, intensifying the turmoil swirling inside him. He felt like he was caught in a storm, the wind howling around him, tossing him in all directions. He wanted to answer. He wanted to shout that he could handle it, that he was more than just a weapon, that he was ready. But the weight of their judgment, of the uncertainty about himself, was almost suffocating.

Adrian forced himself to take a deep breath, willing his emotions into check. He had faced countless battles, countless enemies, but this—this inner struggle was unlike anything he had ever experienced. He couldn't afford to show weakness, not in front of Cassius, not in front of anyone. But the truth was, the doubt had rooted itself deep inside, and no matter how hard he tried to shake it, it refused to leave.

With a heavy heart, he raised his gaze to meet Cassius's, his mind a whirlwind of confusion and uncertainty. He wasn't sure what would come next, or if he even had the strength to rise above the doubts eating away at him. Can I do this? The question echoed through his thoughts, louder than anything else in the room.

The silence stretched on, thick and suffocating, and for the first time, Adrian wasn't sure of the answer.

The air in the room was thick, every word hanging heavily in the silence between them. Cassius's challenge reverberated like a distant thunderclap, and Adrian felt the weight of it press down on his chest. Vital's icy gaze never left him, but his silence spoke volumes, as though he, too, was waiting for Adrian to break the tension, to rise to the occasion.

Adrian's thoughts swirled in a vortex of confusion and self-doubt. He could feel the eyes of the room on him—expectant, judgmental. His heart hammered, but he forced himself to steady his breath, to look beyond the questions that threatened to consume him.

At last, he spoke, his voice calm yet carrying the weight of his own inner turmoil. "Do you really think there's an answer?" His words weren't laced with anger or defiance, but with resignation—an acknowledgment of the complexity of the situation. He wasn't just addressing Cassius; he was speaking to the room, to himself, to the uncertainty that had taken root in his soul. The game of power and trust he had found himself in wasn't as simple as it once seemed. No longer could he meet hostility with the same arrogance or fiery defiance. The stakes had grown too high.

"Our fates are all intertwined," Adrian continued, his voice steady despite the churn inside him. "Can your doubts change anything? In the end, our goals and responsibilities remain the same. The power of the Starborn Guardians might be our only hope when the world reaches its breaking point." He let his words sink in, his eyes scanning the room. "And I… I don't want to abandon anyone."

With that, he raised his Thunder Spear, his grip firm around the weapon. The motion, though subtle, seemed to center him, as though reconnecting with the strength he had always relied on. For a brief moment, the weight of the world seemed to lighten, and Adrian felt the first flicker of something he hadn't realized he'd lost: resolve.

But Cassius wasn't finished. His mocking laugh rang through the room, sharp and cutting. "Ideals are beautiful, but reality is harsh," he said, his voice as cold as the winter winds. "Whether you can face the final trial is what will truly determine everything."

Cassius's words hung in the air like a challenge, and Adrian felt them pierce deeper than any blade could. His eyes sharpened, his grip tightening on the Thunder Spear, the fire within him rekindling. He realized that this wasn't just about him—it was about everything he stood for, everything he had yet to understand.

Cassius's doubts had not broken him; instead, they had fueled a new sense of purpose. These questions weren't just personal—they were the very questions that would decide the future of the Four Symbols Alliance. The trials ahead, the challenges, the choices he would make—these would determine not just his fate, but the fate of everyone he had sworn to protect.

And as the silence stretched, Adrian knew one thing for sure: he was ready to face whatever came next.