Kael's heart hammered in his chest, his breath coming in short bursts. The mark on his hand still glowed faintly, its energy humming beneath his skin. Elder Vasra's presence felt like a weight on his shoulders, pressing down on him with the unspoken knowledge of just how dangerous the situation was.
"Do you feel it?" Vasra's voice broke through his thoughts.
Kael nodded slowly, the pulse of power in his hand almost overwhelming. "It's like… like it's alive."
Elder Vasra's eyes narrowed, a look of both concern and determination crossing her face. "That's the mark's power awakening. You've been chosen, Kael. Whether you understand it or not, that mark now binds you to something much bigger than yourself."
"I don't want this," Kael muttered, looking down at his hand, as if wishing he could somehow tear the mark off. "I don't even know what this means."
Vasra stepped closer, her voice lowering to a whisper. "You don't have a choice now. No one does when the mark chooses them. It's the beginning of something far more dangerous. Something that could change the fate of both realms."
Kael clenched his fist, trying to steady his breathing. "What do I do now? How do I stop it?"
"You don't stop it," Vasra replied, her tone hard. "You learn to control it. But first, you must understand what the mark truly represents."
Before Kael could respond, a sudden rustling noise broke the silence of the forest. Kael whipped around, his senses heightened. The air was thick with tension.
"Stay close," Vasra whispered, drawing a thin, ornate dagger from her belt. The blade shimmered with an ethereal glow, hinting at its magical properties.
From the trees emerged two figures—shadowy figures, dressed in dark, tattered robes. Their faces were obscured, but their presence was unmistakable. The moment they stepped into the clearing, Kael could feel the weight of their gaze, as if they were sizing him up, judging him.
"Elder Vasra," one of the figures spoke, his voice cold and unyielding. "We've been waiting for this moment. The boy with the Mark of the Fallen."
Vasra's grip tightened on her dagger. "I should've known they'd come for him. You're too late. Kael is under my protection."
The figure chuckled darkly, his laughter sending a chill down Kael's spine. "Protection? There's no protection from what's coming. The mark calls to us. It belongs to us."
Kael felt the mark on his hand flare, and with it, an overwhelming surge of energy. His vision blurred, his senses scrambled as if the very fabric of reality was warping around him. He gasped, falling to his knees as the power within him began to spiral out of control.
"No! Not yet!" Vasra shouted, rushing toward him. But it was too late.
The power exploded from Kael's hand, a burst of dark energy that sent both figures stumbling back. Trees cracked, the ground shook, and the air itself seemed to crackle with an intense pressure. Kael's body trembled as the force inside him threatened to consume him entirely.
"Control it!" Vasra screamed, her voice barely audible over the roar of the energy. "Kael! Focus!"
Kael's mind raced. He couldn't think. The power felt like it was drowning him, filling him with an insatiable hunger. He wanted to scream, to let the energy take over, but something inside him resisted. The mark—the power—had to be controlled, or it would destroy everything in its path.
With all the strength he could muster, Kael clenched his teeth and willed the energy back. Slowly, reluctantly, the power began to subside, returning to his hand and fading into a quiet hum.
Panting, Kael collapsed onto the ground, his head spinning.
Vasra rushed to his side, her expression a mixture of fear and admiration. "You did it. But that was far too dangerous. The mark is stronger than I anticipated."
Kael shook his head, still reeling from the surge of energy. "What... what just happened?"
The dark figures, now visibly shaken, backed away. One of them—taller, more imposing—glared at Kael with an intensity that made Kael's blood run cold.
"This is far from over, boy," the figure snarled, his voice dripping with malice. "You may have survived this time, but the mark will be your undoing. Soon, you'll understand why we need it—and why you're destined to fall."
Before Kael could react, the figures disappeared into the shadows, leaving only the echo of their words hanging in the air.
Vasra sighed, her hand resting on Kael's shoulder. "They are part of the Order of the Abyss. They've been hunting for the Mark of the Fallen for centuries. Now that they know you bear it… the real fight begins."
Kael stood shakily, his gaze lingering on where the figures had vanished. "What now? What am I supposed to do?"
Vasra's expression softened. "Now, you learn the truth. You'll need to train, to master the power within you. And most importantly, you'll need to find the others—those who share your burden."
Kael clenched his fist, the mark glowing faintly beneath his skin. "And then?"
"Then," Vasra said, "you'll have to decide what kind of person you want to be. The mark is both a curse and a blessing. It can destroy you… or make you the savior of the realms."
Kael looked up at her, determination settling in his chest. "I'll find the others. I'll learn to control it. And I'll stop the Order of the Abyss."
Vasra smiled, a small flicker of hope in her eyes. "Then, let's begin."