"Veil of Fate"

The aftermath of the battle is quiet, almost too quiet. Kael keeps a steady hand on my back as we sit in the middle of the room, the shadows retreating with the woman's defeat. The mansion, once so alive with dark energy, now feels like a tomb—empty, lifeless.

The stone in my heart still pulses with coldness, but the overwhelming weight of it has lessened, just a little. Still, I can't shake the feeling that the worst is yet to come. I've won a battle, but the war isn't over.

Kael looks at me, his brow furrowed with concern. "Are you okay?"

I want to tell him that I'm fine, that everything's okay now, but the truth sits heavy on my tongue. "I'm… I'm not sure," I admit, my voice shaky. "The stone is still there, Kael. I can feel it, growing stronger."

He doesn't speak for a moment, just watches me, as if he's trying to see through the walls I've built around myself. "We need to get back to the city. There might still be people who can help you."

But I know deep down that no one can help me now. The stone is a part of me, embedded in my heart. And with every power I take, a little more of me dies inside. I've seen the future, just like Kael has. I know how it ends. I know what I'm becoming.

I stand up, taking a deep breath. "Let's go," I say, even though I know it might be too late to turn back.

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