Kaelen blinked, brows furrowing. "Wait, what do you mean it can be taken?"
That was when all three froze—Kelvin, Neana, and Drake exchanging stunned glances. Drake, usually composed and unreadable, actually stepped back a fraction, his golden eyes narrowing.
"Don't tell me… no one has ever told you about the rituals? Or you weren't taught in Pacesetters Academy" Drake asked, his voice carrying a rare trace of sharpness.
Kaelen's confusion deepened. "Rituals?"
Kelvin exhaled harshly, almost a scoff, but there was no mockery in his tone—only disbelief. "Gods, Kaelen… you're walking blind, even me which didn't stay in the academy for long, I know about such things. That latent dragonic power… if someone performed an Ancient Forbidden Ritual, it could be stolen from you. Torn out of your very core."
Kaelen's grip tightened around his sword unconsciously, his heart thundering at the weight of those words. "…Stolen?"
