Kaelen stumbled as his boots hit solid ground, his stomach lurching from the sudden shift through Nyx’s portal. The familiar dizziness swept over him like a wave, and before he could stop himself, he doubled over, retching into the damp grass at the edge of Shadefall.

  Nyx, ever the picture of grace, stood a few steps away, watching with her usual mix of amusement and mild concern. She leaned casually against the nearest tree, her arms crossed, a teasing smile tugging at her lips. "You know," she started, her voice light, "if I had a coin for every time you've thrown up after one of our little trips, I might actually be able to retire."

  Kaelen wiped the back of his hand across his mouth, straightening up with a grimace. “Yeah, well... if you’d give me a warning before throwing me through space and time, maybe I’d handle it better.” He paused, adding with a dry smirk, “And for the record, this is only the second time. Retirement in the Shadow Celestials sounds so cheap, I might consider moving there myself.”

  Nyx snorted, uncrossing her arms and taking a step closer. “You'd still vomit. Some people just aren’t built for the finer things in life.”

  Kaelen shot her a look, his lips quirking into a half-smile. "So, you're saying teleportation through shadow dimensions is a 'finer thing'?"

  “Absolutely,” Nyx replied without missing a beat. "But don't worry, you’re in one piece. Still the dashing, albeit slightly green, Kaelen."

  He rolled his eyes, taking a deep breath to settle his stomach. “You know, one of these days I’m going to master this shadow-hopping thing, and you’re going to lose the best part of your day: watching me suffer.”

  Nyx laughed, the sound sharp and short but not unkind. “Oh, believe me, I’ll find new ways to enjoy your suffering.”

  Kaelen raised an eyebrow, mock suspicion in his eyes. “Are you sure you’re not secretly a villain?”

  Her smile widened, but there was an edge to it this time. “Nah. I just play one when the mood strikes.”

  He chuckled and shook his head, taking in the quiet surroundings of Shadefall. The mist hung low around them, tendrils of fog snaking through the trees. In the distance, he could see the faint glow of the city lights, reminding him that he was back on familiar ground—sort of. The unsettling, lingering feeling of being between two worlds still clung to him like a shadow.

  “Think you'll make it back to your place without passing out, or should I walk you home?" Nyx asked, her tone a mix of sarcasm and something that might’ve been concern, though it was hard to tell with her.

  Kaelen turned his head, studying her for a moment before answering. “Worried about me, Nyx?”

  She tilted her head, her dark blue hair falling over one shoulder, her eyes glinting with mischief. “Worried? No. I’m just making sure that while you’re on my watch, you don’t manage to get yourself killed. Would be a real hassle, you know.”

  He chuckled, running a hand through his tousled hair. “How thoughtful. Always nice to know I’m just a job.”

  Her gaze softened slightly, though her smirk remained firmly in place. “You’re not just a job, Kaelen. But let’s just say I have a reputation to uphold. And if something happens to you... well, Arcaris might make me regret it.”

  “Ah, so you’re just trying to save your own skin,” he teased. “Noted.”

  Nyx shrugged, stepping closer to the portal she had conjured. “Exactly. And as long as you're in one piece, I get to keep enjoying my life in peace.” She glanced at him with a playful wink. "Try not to get into too much trouble, will you?"

  Kaelen grinned. “No promises. Trouble seems to follow me around.”

  Nyx was halfway through the portal when she paused, her expression turning just a shade more serious. “Just... stay sharp, alright? The next time we meet, it might not be under such pleasant circumstances.”

  Kaelen raised an eyebrow. “You’re really not one for the warm goodbyes, huh?”

  A smirk danced on her lips as she disappeared into the shadows, her voice trailing behind her. “Not my style, handsome.”

  And then she was gone, the portal sealing shut behind her, leaving Kaelen standing alone at the edge of Shadefall. He exhaled, feeling the weight of everything that had happened since the night began. The quietness around him suddenly felt too loud, the silence pressing in.

  As he turned toward the city, his mind raced with everything that had been said, everything he still had to figure out. Nyx’s words echoed in his head, along with Arcaris’s parting advice. The shadows, the veil, his power—it all felt like a tangled knot, pulling him in every direction at once.

  But one thing was clear: he had choices to make, and none of them would be easy.

  He glanced back at the spot where Nyx had disappeared, a faint smirk tugging at his lips as he whispered to the empty air, "Stay sharp, huh? Guess we'll see about that."

  With one last glance at the misty horizon, Kaelen started walking back toward the lights of Shadefall, the weight of the world on his shoulders but his steps steady. For now.

  **

  Kaelen approached the door to his apartment, exhaustion settling into his bones. His hand reached for the handle, but just as his fingers brushed the cool metal, he froze. From inside, he heard the unmistakable sound of movement—low shuffling, something metallic clinking. His instincts flared, and his hand reflexively went to his side, reaching for his pistol and blade, only to grasp at empty air.

  "Great," he muttered under his breath, realizing he was unarmed thanks to Nyx’s teleportation shortcut. He silently cursed, trying to recall just how badly she had disarmed him.

  There was no time to dwell on it. He gritted his teeth and shoved the door open with a burst of adrenaline, quickly ducking to the side as it swung inward. The sounds inside his apartment ceased abruptly, followed by a sharp click. The unmistakable sound of a weapon being loaded echoed through the space.

  "Who the hell's there?!" a familiar, exasperated voice shouted.

  Kaelen blinked, still pressed against the wall. "Lyrian?" he called out, disbelief coloring his tone.

  There was a brief pause. Then, with startling speed, Lyrian bolted into view, eyes wide with recognition. "Kaelen!"

  Before Kaelen could even blink, Lyrian charged forward, arms outstretched, enveloping him in a bear hug that was entirely too enthusiastic for the situation. The impact sent both of them hurtling backward into the door opposite, crashing hard against it. Kaelen slammed into the solid surface, the force reverberating through the narrow hallway as they struggled to regain their balance.

  "Gods—Lyrian, get off!" Kaelen gasped, struggling to catch his breath, but Lyrian was too busy squeezing him like a long-lost brother.

  "Man, you're alive!" Lyrian laughed, completely ignoring Kaelen's groans of discomfort as his friend continued to squeeze the life out of him. "I thought you were done for! Where the hell have you been?"

  From behind the door, a low, gravelly voice barked, “What the hell is going on out there?!”

  Before Kaelen could catch his breath, the door swung open with a crash, revealing an angry, broad-shouldered man holding a pistol pointed directly at them. His eyes narrowed at the sight of Kaelen and Lyrian entangled in a ridiculous, overly dramatic hug. Lyrian whipped out his own pistol, mirroring the man’s stance with an easy grin. “Whoa, whoa! Easy there, neighbor! Just a friendly reunion here.”

  For a split second, the hallway was filled with the bizarre sight of two men pointing guns at each other while Kaelen dangled awkwardly in Lyrian’s grip, somewhere between an embrace and a shield.

  The man’s eyes narrowed as he glanced between the two, completely baffled by the sight of Lyrian still hugging Kaelen while both had guns trained on each other. “A... reunion?” The man’s voice was a mix of confusion and annoyance. “Why does it look like you're mugging Kaelen?”

  Kaelen, pinned awkwardly against Lyrian’s chest, winced and cleared his throat. “It’s... it’s fine. Just... put the gun down. Please, Frank.”

  Frank, clearly not convinced but too tired to deal with the absurdity of the situation, lowered his pistol slowly, shaking his head in disbelief. “You’re both idiots.”

  The neighbor, clearly not convinced but too tired to deal with the absurdity of the situation, lowered his pistol slowly, shaking his head in disbelief. “You’re both idiots.”

  “Love you too, Frank,” Lyrian called after him as Frank grumbled something unintelligible and slammed his door shut. Lyrian finally released Kaelen from his grip, a mischievous grin plastered on his face. “See? Everything’s fine!”

  “Fine? You nearly got us both shot, again,” Kaelen grumbled, glaring at Lyrian.

  Lyrian shrugged, completely unfazed. “Eh, what’s life without a little danger? Keeps the blood pumping.”

  Kaelen rolled his eyes, heading further into the apartment. “You know, one day that reckless attitude of yours is going to get us into some serious trouble.”

  Lyrian followed him, plopping down on Kaelen’s worn-out couch like it was his own. “And when it does, I’ll get us out of it. Like always.”

  Kaelen shot him a look, half-annoyed, half-amused. “You’re insufferable.”

  Lyrian smirked, propping his feet up on the coffee table. “And yet, you haven’t kicked me out. I must be doing something right.”

  Kaelen crossed his arms, leaning against the doorframe. “More like I’ve just accepted that you’re a permanent inconvenience in my life.”

  Lyrian's grin faded as he leaned back on the couch, crossing his arms over his chest. His playful tone vanished, replaced by something far more serious. "Speaking of inconvenience… where the hell were you, Kaelen?"

  Kaelen tensed, his mind racing. Lyrian's expression was hard to read, but Kaelen could see the exhaustion in his friend’s eyes, the worry etched deep into his features. Lyrian hadn’t slept—had probably spent the entire night searching for him. And now, once again, Kaelen had put his best friend in a position where he had to worry, again.

  For a moment, Kaelen didn’t know what to say. He had so many secrets bottled up—had spent so long trying to keep Lyrian at arm’s length when it came to the darkness surrounding his life. He knew why. He didn’t want to pull his friend into the chaos, into the nightmare that his life had become. But as he stared at Lyrian now, he realized that withholding the truth wasn’t just unfair—it was dangerous.

  Lyrian wasn’t just a friend. He was family. And what was coming... there would be no way to keep him out of it.

  "I..." Kaelen paused, weighing his words carefully. The truth felt too heavy, too tangled to even begin explaining. But what choice did he have?

  Lyrian’s stare was unyielding, filled with frustration and something close to hurt. “Look, Kaelen, I get that you’ve got your secrets. But disappearing like that? Without a word? I thought you were dead, man. What the hell am I supposed to do when you pull this crap? Just wait around and hope you show up?”

  Kaelen sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I know, I know... I messed up. Again. But it’s not like I wanted to vanish. Something... happened.”

  Lyrian raised an eyebrow, his tone a mix of sarcasm and genuine concern. "Yeah, clearly. You don’t just walk off into the night for a cup of coffee and end up gone for hours. So, spill it. Where were you? And don’t give me any of that ‘it’s complicated’ crap.”

  Kaelen shifted uncomfortably but finally locked eyes with his friend. “I was taken,” he said, his voice low but steady. “By someone... someone I never expected to meet. Shadow Celestials.”

  Lyrian blinked, then sat up straighter. “Wait—what? Shadow Celestials? Like the ones from those old stories? Like... actual Celestials?”

  “Yeah, those ones,” Kaelen said, the weight of everything that had happened pressing down on him. He forced himself to continue. “One of them, Nyx, brought me to their domain. Shadowstorm Vale. And... I met their leader, Arcaris.”

  Lyrian’s jaw dropped for a second, his expression a mix of disbelief and caution. “Arcaris? The same Arcaris Aria mentioned once? That Arcaris?”

  Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

  Kaelen nodded. “Yeah, that Arcaris. And Lyrian, there’s more. A lot more. I learned about... what I am. What’s been happening to me. And why.”

  Lyrian stood up now, pacing the room, his hands running through his hair in disbelief. "Kaelen, what are you saying right now? You mean all this time you’ve been holding this back from me? About who you are? About everything? Why didn’t you just tell me? You’re my best friend, for crying out loud."

  Kaelen clenched his fists, guilt washing over him. “I was trying to protect you, Lyrian. I didn’t want you dragged into this mess.”

  "Well, guess what," Lyrian snapped, his voice filled with a rare bite. "I'm already in it, Kaelen. I’m in this—whether you tell me or not. Do you think running off and keeping me in the dark is going to make it better? You’re not just protecting yourself anymore.”

  Kaelen’s shoulders slumped. “I know. You’re right. And it’s not fair to keep hiding this from you.”

  Lyrian stopped pacing, his tone softening. “So... tell me. What’s happening? What do they want from you?”

  Kaelen took a deep breath. "Apparently, I’m not just... some guy who got mixed up with this. I’m a Veilborne, Lyrian. One of the few. And Arcaris thinks I’m the key to something bigger—something involving the Veil, the barrier between dimensions. He’s got plans. But here’s the kicker: I’m the one caught in the middle of all this.”

  Lyrian’s eyes widened. “A Veilborne? You mean, like... the stuff of legends?”

  “Yeah,” Kaelen replied bitterly. “Except the legends forgot to mention the part where it screws with your life.”

  Lyrian ran a hand through his hair again, taking it all in. “Okay, okay... So what do we do now? What’s Arcaris planning? Does this mean you’re working with them now?”

  Kaelen shook his head. "I don’t know yet. But he didn’t try to force me to stay. He said it’s my choice."

  Lyrian looked at him with a mix of skepticism and concern. "And what do you think? You trust him? You're not seriously thinking of joining them, right?"

  Kaelen shrugged. “I don’t trust anyone in this. Not completely. But... there’s more going on than just Shadow Celestials versus Aether. I’m going to have to figure out where I stand in all this. And that means you’re probably coming with me, whether I like it or not.”

  Lyrian cracked a small smile. “Damn right. You’re not getting rid of me that easily, Veilborne or not.”

  Kaelen sighed, a smirk tugging at his lips. “Didn’t think I would. But at least now you know. And Lyrian?”

  “Yeah?”

  “I’m sorry. For keeping you out of it. I should’ve told you sooner.”

  Lyrian gave him a long look, then nodded. “Yeah, you should’ve. But we’ll figure it out. Together.”

  Kaelen hesitated, his gaze dropping to the floor for a moment before he spoke again. "There’s... more. Something else Arcaris told me. Something about my bloodline."

  Lyrian, who had started to relax a little, tensed up again. He sat back, watching Kaelen closely. “What do you mean, bloodline?”

  Kaelen rubbed the back of his neck, trying to find the right words. “My parents... I always thought they were just ordinary people, you know? They worked hard, made sure I had food on the table, and... well, they died when I was young. I thought it was just... bad luck. A freak accident. But now... now I’m starting to think there was more to it.”

  Lyrian’s expression softened, but his voice stayed steady. “Go on.”

  "Arcaris said that my bloodline—my lineage—might be the reason I’m a Veilborne. Something about my family made me more... connected to the Veil. And maybe... just maybe, that’s why my parents were killed." Kaelen’s voice faltered for a moment. "I always thought their deaths were just random, that they got caught up in something they didn’t deserve. But what if it wasn’t random? What if they were killed because of me?"

  The room fell into a heavy silence, the weight of Kaelen's words sinking in. Lyrian leaned forward, his brows furrowed. “You seriously think someone was after them because of you? That they... protected you?”

  Kaelen nodded, his voice thick with guilt. “That’s what it sounds like. I don’t know if it’s true, but... I can’t shake the feeling. What if my whole life, I’ve been living in the dark about who I am? About who they were? And worse... what if they died because of who I am?”

  Lyrian stayed quiet for a moment, his eyes locked on Kaelen’s. Then, in typical Lyrian fashion, he leaned back, arms crossed, a soft sigh escaping his lips. “Man... that’s a lot to dump on someone after vanishing all night.”

  Kaelen let out a weak chuckle, but his expression remained troubled. “Yeah. Tell me about it.”

  Lyrian’s voice softened, though his tone remained steady. “Look, Kaelen, I don’t know what happened with your parents. But I do know one thing. They wouldn’t want you beating yourself up over this. They did what they had to do to protect you, right? So what’s your job now?”

  Kaelen blinked, confused. “My job?”

  “To live,” Lyrian said simply. “To figure out what’s going on, sure, but not to bury yourself in guilt. They gave everything to make sure you’re still here. You owe them to keep pushing forward, not to let this eat you alive. You get what I’m saying?”

  Kaelen looked at him for a long moment, then gave a slow nod. “Yeah. I think I do.”

  Lyrian grinned, that familiar mischievous sparkle returning to his eyes. “Good. Because if you start getting all broody and angsty, I’m going to have to punch you in the face. Can’t have my best friend turning into some tragic, mopey hero type.”

  Kaelen snorted, feeling a bit of the tension ease. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

  Lyrian leaned forward again, his expression soft but serious. “Listen, Kaelen. I’m here for you. Whatever’s coming, we’re going to face it together, alright? You don’t have to carry this alone.”

  Kaelen met his friend’s gaze, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “Thanks, Lyrian. I needed that.”

  Lyrian winked. “That’s what I’m here for, man. Now, let’s figure out what the hell we’re gonna do next.”

  Kaelen took a deep breath, feeling lighter than he had in days. The road ahead was still uncertain, but with Lyrian by his side, it didn’t feel quite as impossible.

  For a moment, they sat there, comfortable in the silence. But then, something shifted in Kaelen’s mind, an uncomfortable weight settling in his chest. He glanced at Lyrian, arms crossed and eyes half-closed in that familiar, relaxed posture.

  "So..." Kaelen began slowly, trying to find the right angle, "how do you feel about Core these days?"

  Lyrian raised an eyebrow, opening one eye to look at him. “What do you mean, how do I feel? Same as I always have, I guess. It’s home. Job’s tough, but I like the challenge. Plus, the tech? Come on. You’ve seen what I work with.”

  Kaelen nodded, offering a faint smile. “Yeah, your gadgets are always impressive. You’re loyal to it, though. I mean... really loyal.”

  Lyrian’s expression shifted slightly, more thoughtful now. “Well, yeah. They gave me purpose when I didn’t really have much. And you know me, I’m a sucker for all that fancy technomancer stuff.” He shrugged lightly, but there was more sincerity behind his casual words. “Why? Why the sudden interest in my patriotism?”

  Kaelen scratched the back of his neck, choosing his next words carefully. “It’s just... you ever think about what you’d do if you weren’t in Core? Like... what if something changed? What if you didn’t have the option to stay?”

  Lyrian's brows furrowed, his voice dropping an octave as he sat up straighter. "You know I’m always up for adventure, but what's this about? You planning to defect or something?" There was a hint of humor in his voice, but Kaelen could feel the undercurrent of seriousness.

  Kaelen sighed. “No, not defect. But what if—hypothetically—I was forced into a situation where... I had to pick a side that wasn’t Core? Would that change things between us?”

  Lyrian’s smirk faded, his posture shifting forward as he rested his elbows on his knees, now fully engaged. “Kaelen, what are you getting at?”

  Kaelen didn’t meet his gaze at first, staring at the floor instead. “I mean... I don’t know where all of this is headed. Everything’s getting more complicated with Arcaris, the whole Veilborne thing... and there’s a real chance that at some point, I might not have a choice. What if I end up in a fight that’s against Core, against Aether? What happens then?”

  There was a long pause, the gravity of the conversation settling between them like a heavy weight. Lyrian’s face remained unreadable for a few beats longer than Kaelen liked, but finally, his friend spoke.

  “Kaelen, Core is my family. After everything fell apart, they took me in. Gave me a place, a purpose. I can’t just turn my back on that. But you… You’re my brother. We’ve been through hell together, and that doesn’t just go away because you’re caught in the middle of something bigger than either of us.”

  Kaelen, who had been avoiding Lyrian’s gaze, finally looked up, searching his friend’s face for any sign of hesitation. There was none.

  “But,” Lyrian added, his tone growing more serious, “you gotta tell me what’s going on, Kaelen. If things are about to go south, if you’re being pulled into something beyond Core… I need to know what side you’re standing on. I need to know how deep this goes.”

  Kaelen swallowed hard, the weight of the question hanging in the air. “I don’t know if I have a side, Lyrian,” he admitted, voice quieter than before. “I’m stuck between everything—Core, Aether, and now… something much darker.”

  Lyrian nodded slowly, his expression grim but steady. “Then we figure it out. Together.”

  Kaelen blinked, taken aback by Lyrian’s resolve. “Even if it means standing against Core?”

  Lyrian’s gaze didn’t waver. “I’m loyal to Core, Kaelen. That’s not going to change. But I’ll be damned if I let you face whatever this is alone. We’ll find a way through this without tearing everything apart. But if it comes to it… I trust you. You just need to trust yourself.”

  Kaelen let out a small chuckle, trying to lighten the mood. “Well, considering our luck, it’s not like I’ve got many choices. We’ve been dodging death together for what… six years now? But the night we got kidnapped? That one really took the cake.”

  Lyrian rolled his eyes, smirking. “Ah yes, the highlight of my career. Nothing like getting dragged out of bed by mercenaries to really kickstart your day.”

  Kaelen grinned, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Yeah, you handled that with your usual grace—after you stopped screaming, of course.”

  Lyrian threw up his hands in mock offense. “I don’t scream, Kaelen. I was just… communicating my displeasure very loudly.”

  “Right,” Kaelen shot back, “whatever helps you sleep at night.” But his tone shifted slightly, a bit more serious now. “Speaking of that night… there’s something that’s been bugging me.”

  Lyrian’s expression faltered, sensing the change in the conversation. “What?”

  Kaelen hesitated, choosing his words carefully. “Varyk. He wasn’t just after me that night. He wanted something from you too. Something tied to your parents.”

  For a moment, Lyrian froze, the easy humor draining from his face. His body tensed, and for a second, Kaelen thought he’d hit a wall he wasn’t supposed to. Lyrian’s reaction was instant—guarded.

  “That’s not—Kaelen, don’t,” Lyrian said, his voice sharp. It wasn’t a tone he used often, but when he did, it carried weight.

  Kaelen didn’t back down, though. He knew how to read his best friend—knew when to push and when to ease off. And this… this wasn’t something he could let slide. He softened his voice, hoping Lyrian would meet him halfway. “Lyrian… come on. Doesn’t it seem strange? Varyk wasn’t after just anyone. He was looking for something, something tied to your parents. You’ve mentioned before that they died in that accident, but—”

  Lyrian's jaw clenched. “They did die in an accident, Kaelen. End of story.”

  “But—”

  “They were on their way to Core, delivering something. That’s all there is to it. It was an accident. Just a... freak accident.”

  Kaelen could hear the frustration in Lyrian’s voice, but there was something else too—something deeper. He stepped carefully, knowing the subject was a landmine but feeling like he was too close to stop now.

  “And you never thought it was weird? Something important enough for Core to involve your parents—people who, as far as you’ve told me, weren’t exactly low-level traders?”

  Lyrian stood abruptly, his posture stiff. “What’s your point, Kaelen?”

  Kaelen frowned but kept his tone gentle. “The point is… maybe there’s more to their deaths than just an accident. Maybe what they were working on was bigger than either of us knew. Varyk seemed to think so.”

  Lyrian turned away, running a hand through his hair, clearly agitated. His voice was low, almost a growl. “They were just doing their job. That’s all it was.”

  Kaelen pressed on, knowing it wasn’t easy for Lyrian to talk about. “Was it, though? Think about it. Whatever they were delivering to Core, it was big enough for Varyk to care. You said they were coming from Quantaris, right? Your hometown. On their way to Core. What if—”

  “What if what, Kaelen?” Lyrian snapped, turning back to face him, eyes blazing. “What if my whole life’s a lie? What if everything I thought I knew was wrong? You think I haven’t asked myself those questions?”

  Kaelen held up his hands in a placating gesture. “I’m just saying… maybe it wasn’t just an accident. What if they were working on something bigger, something related to... The Singularity?”

  Lyrian froze again, this time completely. His eyes searched Kaelen’s face, a mix of shock and disbelief clouding his features. “The Singularity?” he echoed, the words heavy in his mouth, as if they carried more weight than Kaelen could possibly understand.

  Kaelen nodded slowly. “Yeah. What if your parents were working on that project? It would explain why Varyk was so interested in you. It would explain why their deaths... felt off.”

  For a long moment, Lyrian said nothing. The silence stretched between them, thick with tension and unspoken thoughts. Finally, Lyrian shook his head, almost as if he was trying to clear it.

  “They never talked about their work,” he said quietly, almost to himself. “Not once. Not a word.”

  Kaelen stepped closer, his voice gentle but insistent. “But that doesn’t mean they weren’t involved in something huge. We have to consider the possibility, Lyrian. Especially now.”

  Lyrian’s eyes flickered with something Kaelen couldn’t quite place—fear, maybe. Or anger. But he nodded, finally, albeit reluctantly.

  “Maybe,” Lyrian said, his voice barely above a whisper. “Maybe there’s more to it than I thought.”

  Kaelen’s gaze softened as he watched the weight of Lyrian’s words settle between them. For a moment, there was silence, thick and heavy in the air. Kaelen stepped closer, his voice steady but gentle, “Whatever it is, Lyrian, we’ll figure it out. You’ve had my back more times than I can count… I’m not going anywhere.”

  Lyrian glanced up, his usual humor dimmed, replaced by a rare vulnerability. “What if… what if digging into this brings more trouble? Varyk… my parents…” His voice trailed off, lost in the confusion and fear swirling beneath his usual carefree demeanor.

  Kaelen placed a hand on his friend’s shoulder, firm but reassuring. “Then we face it. Together. If you want to dig into this, I’ll be right beside you. You’re not doing this alone, not after everything.”

  Lyrian took a deep breath, his expression softening as he met Kaelen’s gaze. “Thanks,” he said, his voice rougher than usual. “I just… I never expected any of this.”

  Kaelen nodded. “I know. But whatever they were involved in, whatever Varyk wanted, we’ll get to the bottom of it. We’ll find the answers.”

  Lyrian straightened slightly, the weight on his shoulders still there, but perhaps a little lighter. “I think I owe it to them to figure it out, don’t I?”

  Kaelen offered a small smile. “Yeah, you do. And we’ll do it on our terms.”

  Lyrian’s smirk returned, if only faintly. “Of course. If we’re doing this, we’re doing it our way. No more getting blindsided.”

  Kaelen chuckled. “Exactly. And if we have to face Varyk again… well, he’ll have more than just you and your nerves to worry about this time.”

  Lyrian nodded, the determination returning to his features. “You’re right. We’ll figure this out.”

  Kaelen let out a sigh, running a hand through his hair. “What about the mission? What happened with the others?” His voice carried a hint of urgency, reality hitting him all at once.

  Lyrian, now a bit more relaxed, gave a small nod. “Mission was a success, more or less. Right after you disappeared, the rest of the mercenaries scattered. Guess they weren’t ready for a full-on brawl with us.” He shrugged, a faint grin tugging at his lips. “Jax blasted his way into that room with his pulse cannon. The one you disappeared from, where that Shadow Celestial grabbed you. Apparently, the door was sealed with magic or something. We grabbed two of the mercs, though. Andras is... well, he’s handling the interrogation himself.”

  Kaelen raised an eyebrow, half-amused. “Andras? Personally? That can’t be good.”

  Lyrian chuckled. “Oh, yeah. He’s practically frothing at the mouth. Varyk wasn’t there, and you know Andras... he’s like a hound with a scent. I almost feel bad for the mercenaries. Almost.”

  Kaelen smirked. “Yeah, if Andras is on it, those guys are probably wishing they’d never gotten involved. That man’s relentless.”

  Lyrian shook his head, laughing lightly. “Relentless doesn’t even begin to cover it. I wouldn’t want to be in their shoes right now. Pretty sure Andras can scare someone into confessing things they didn’t even do.”

  Kaelen grinned, leaning back against the door. “Yeah, I can see it now. I’d be surprised if those mercenaries don’t break down crying by the end of it.”

  Lyrian’s smile turned mischievous. “Honestly, they might have cried the moment he walked into the room. Can’t say I blame them. Andras on a bad day? That’s nightmare fuel.”

  Kaelen huffed out a laugh, shaking his head. “Yeah, can’t imagine they’re having a good time right now.”

  As the laughter faded, a more serious air settled between them. Kaelen glanced at Lyrian, the weight of everything they’d been through resting heavily on his mind. They had dodged death together more times than he could count, and whatever chaos came next, they’d be facing it side by side.

  No matter how complicated things were about to get, one thing was certain. They were in it together.