Kael's heart pounded in his chest as the emissary's gaze bore into him. The air was thick with the tension, and every breath felt heavy. He wanted to run. He wanted to escape this twisted fate that had been thrust upon him, but his body felt like it was frozen in place, the weight of the mark on his hand making him feel trapped.
"You can't escape the truth, Kael," the emissary said, its voice unwavering. "No matter how hard you try, you are bound to the mark, and the consequences of it will soon unfold."
Vasra's voice broke through Kael's panic. "Enough." She stepped forward, her posture rigid with authority, a silent protector. "We're leaving now. Kael, don't listen to it."
The emissary didn't react to Vasra's words but instead shifted its focus back to Kael. "There is no leaving this path. You are being pulled into a conflict older than time itself. The realms need you, whether you realize it or not."
Kael clenched his fist, the mark burning hot against his skin. "I don't want this power. I don't want to be part of whatever conflict you're talking about."
The emissary tilted its head, the glowing eyes narrowing slightly. "The power is not something you can choose to reject. You may try to ignore it, to deny it, but it will always be with you. The Mark of the Fallen is ancient, its purpose written in the stars. It's your destiny."
Vasra stepped between Kael and the emissary, her face hard. "Enough of this," she said firmly. "Kael has already made his choice. He's not going with you. If you dare threaten him again, you'll regret it."
The emissary regarded Vasra for a long moment, its expression unreadable. Finally, it spoke, its tone oddly calm. "Very well. But remember this, Kael." The figure's voice lowered, and it seemed to grow darker, the shadows around it deepening. "The mark will not remain dormant forever. The day will come when you will have to make a choice. A choice between the realms. A choice that will shape the fate of everything."
With those final words, the emissary turned and melted into the darkness, leaving only a faint trace of its presence in the air.
Kael stood frozen, unable to move or speak for a few moments. His mind was spinning. The emissary's words echoed in his head—the mark will not remain dormant forever. He wasn't sure what it meant, but he knew one thing for certain: the world around him was changing, and he was no longer just an ordinary boy.
Vasra turned to Kael, her expression softening. "Are you alright?"
Kael nodded slowly, though his thoughts were far from steady. "I'm fine. I just... I need time to think."
Vasra placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "I know this is a lot to take in. But we don't have much time. The Order of the Abyss won't give up so easily, and the longer we stay here, the more danger we're in. We need to move quickly."
Kael's gaze lingered on the dark forest around them. His whole life, he had lived in a small village, isolated from the world's larger conflicts. Now, it seemed that everything had changed in a single moment. He was tied to something ancient, something far beyond his understanding.
"I don't even know where to start," Kael admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.
Vasra's eyes softened, and she gave him a small, encouraging smile. "You'll start by trusting yourself. The mark is part of you now, but you don't have to face this alone. We'll find the others. The ones who bear the mark too. And together, we'll uncover the truth."
Kael looked at her, his expression uncertain but filled with a newfound resolve. "Alright. Let's go."
Without another word, Vasra led the way, and Kael followed, the weight of the mark on his hand heavier than ever before. He knew that his journey had only just begun. Whatever awaited him at the end of this path, he would face it head-on.
The road ahead was uncertain, filled with dangers he couldn't yet understand, but Kael's resolve hardened with every step. The world was changing, and he was no longer an observer. He was part of it now, whether he liked it or not.
The journey to uncover the secrets of the Mark of the Fallen had begun.