The skyship cut through the heavens like a silver fang—its hull humming with arcane energy, engines pulsing like a living beast.
Kael stood on the deck of the Valebound, clutching the rail tightly. His green left eye scanned the horizon while the blue in his right flicked toward the endless clouds below. He wasn't sure if it was the altitude, the wind, or the realization that he was finally leaving the only world he had known—but something inside him buzzed.
"So this is what freedom feels like?"
No, not freedom. Something heavier. Destiny, perhaps?
Veyna Mor'Kash approached with her usual grace—poised yet radiating authority. Her presence always struck him as both regal and terrifying.
"You're quiet," she observed, glancing at him sideways.
Kael hesitated. "I'm thinking."
"That's dangerous for people like us."
"Then I must be cursed," he muttered.
Veyna laughed softly. "You sound like Senn already."
He looked down, away from her. "He says I'm not ready."
"Did he now?" she asked, curious.
Kael nodded. "Said I needed the fire... not the peace."
Her eyes turned serious. "He's right."
There was a moment of silence before Veyna added, "You speak to your sword, don't you?"
Kael stiffened. "It's not—Kurozan doesn't talk back. It's more like... it listens."
"Mm." She didn't seem surprised. "Soulblades are rare enough. But a Crestless with a Soulblade? You'll draw more eyes than you can handle."
Kael's hand instinctively hovered near his chest—where the mark of the Void Crest lay hidden beneath layers of cloth and secrecy.
No one else can know.
That was Senn's warning.
Not the instructors.
Not Veyna.
Not even allies.
A tremor jolted the ship. Then came a shriek—high-pitched and chilling. Kael spun just in time to see the sky darken.
"Wraithborn!" someone yelled.
Figures emerged from the mist below—shadowy beasts with jagged wings and hunger burning in their hollow eyes.
Kael summoned Kurozan, the obsidian blade materializing in a flash of black light. He moved forward—only to have Veyna block his path with a glance.
"Stand down, recruit. This isn't your fight. Observe."
The next minute was a blur of brilliance and horror. Cannons blazed, lining the sky with heat and steel. Wraithborn screamed and fell like shattered comets. Veyna stood tall, directing the battle without drawing her own blade.
It was over in moments.
Kael's heart pounded. Not from fear, but awe.
"This… this is Empire power?" he whispered.
Veyna turned. "That was just the greeting. You haven't seen what waits down below."
Kael looked to the clouds ahead—and for the first time, understood what Senn had meant.
The fire is coming.
And he was already burning.