Everything stopped in that moment. The silence hit hard, not like the quiet after a storm or anything peaceful. It was total, absolute, like the world had frozen solid. Shadows didn't move. Air felt thick, unmoving. Rhea could barely breathe, her hands shaking with those flickering flames that didn't make sense to her.
She whispered his name. Kael. But nothing came back. The boy in front of them wasn't him anymore. His stance shifted, all straight and still, too controlled for the Kael they knew. Eyes dark, like staring into nothing endless. Then that voice came out, echoing weirdly, layered over itself, not sounding human at all. You should not touch what is mine.
Lucien tensed up right away. That's not him, he said. Yeah no kidding, Rhea snapped back. The shadows in the room started reacting, screaming without any real sound, just this heavy pressure building. Every Watcher [1]there trembled, their shapes flickering like they were tearing apart from the inside.
They all dropped suddenly. Kneeling, just like that. Rhea's flames almost died out completely. Why do they keep doing this. Lucien stayed quiet, eyes fixed on Kael. He's controlling them, he said finally. But Kael's voice overlapped with something else, whispering I'm not controlling anything. Then deeper, you are.
His head tilted a bit. No, he said.
Yes,
the other voice pushed back. The shadows started fading then, not rough or anything, just dissolving one after another, dismissed like they werent needed. Silence filled the space again after they were gone. Kael swayed, then collapsed right there.
When he came to, he was back in the infirmary. Again. I'm starting to hate this place, he muttered under his breath. You should, came a voice. Lucien sat close by, arms crossed tight. Rhea by the window, like before. Seraphine watching him steady.
How long was I out, Kael asked. Three hours, Lucien said. What happened. There was a pause, heavy. You changed, Lucien told him. Kael froze up. What do you mean. Rhea stepped closer. You weren't you know, you anymore.
Did I hurt anyone, he asked, chest feeling tight. No, Lucien replied. But that's not the issue. Then what is. Lucien leaned in. Those things obeyed you. Kael went quiet. I didn't tell them to. You didn't have to, Lucien said. Deep down, Kael knew it was true, even if he looked away.
Later that night, Kael ended up alone on the rooftop at Aethernox Academy. Wind brushed soft around him. Sky dark and endless. What are you, he asked quietly into the nothing. Silence at first. Then, I told you.
No, I want the truth, Kael said, fists clenched. A pause hung there.
I am the end of what begins.
That doesnt mean anything, he shot back.
It will.
Why me, he pressed.
Because of what you are.
And what is that. Silence again. Then, something that should have never existed again.
His heart pounded hard. Explain. But Azrael didn't, not right then. It felt like things were moving too fast, maybe.
Down below in the shadows, Seraphine watched him. Her eyes glowed faint gold. He's progressing faster than expected, she murmured to herself. A voice answered from the darkness inside. Good. Then we proceed, she asked. Push him further, it said. Her smile grew a little. As you wish.
[1] Watchers are those things that keep hunting Kael and his other school friends