The Sanctum of Healing Flames pulsed with soft golden light, runes glowing along the smooth stone walls as spirit healers moved about with quiet urgency. There were no machines here—only ancient methods of mending, woven with chants, spiritual crystals, and sacred incense that kept the air warm and strangely calm.
Inside one of the private chambers, Kayen's mother lay still on a floating stasis slab made of skyglass. Vines imbued with purifying fire curled gently around her, but her skin had grown pale, and her breath was shallow. Three figures sat nearby—Elvira, Nia, and little Leila—all in disbelief, tear-stained and silent. When they saw Kayen enter, their silence shattered.
"Kayen—!" Elvira stood up abruptly. "They told us you weren't allowed here yet."
"I don't care," Kayen said, walking past the flame-etched barrier. A spirit healer stepped in his way, palms raised.
"Please, young one. Your soul is unstable—your presence might disturb the healing rhythm."
Kayen shoved past him. "That's my mother in there!"
The slab's light pulsed as he neared it, and seeing her motionless body sent tremors through his limbs. "She's... she's not even awake."
Nia's voice cracked, "They said it's a spiritual toxin. Something... dark."
Davis Wilter entered just in time to see Kayen gripping the edges of the slab. "Kayen. Step back."
"She's dying," Kayen growled. "And I wasn't even there—again!"
Davis gently but firmly pulled him away. The spirit healer approached and lifted the back of her head. A burned sigil, black and throbbing, was branded at the base of her neck.
"This mark," the healer said grimly, "matches no known curse in our records. But it's spreading. She was injected with something—"
Davis's eyes narrowed. "No... it's Venmorth's Bane. That thing that attacked her... it wasn't human. It was a Mindpiercer."
The girls gasped.
"They're ancient voidspawn," Davis explained. "Torturers. Their poison doesn't just paralyze the body—it slowly unravels the mind."
"Is there a cure?" Kayen asked, trembling.
The healer nodded hesitantly. "Only one. The venom sac of the exact same Mindpiercer. We've managed to slow the corruption... but time is running out."
"There are agents searching," Davis added.
Kayen's fists clenched. "Let me help."
"No," Davis said flatly. "You're not ready."
"I need to be out there! You saw what I can do!"
"You're emotional," Davis snapped. "That's a liability. You'll get yourself killed—or worse, someone else."
Frustrated, Kayen stormed out. Eyes turned as he passed, whispers following his trail. But no one dared stop him.
Behind him, Aahliya smirked. "Trouble seems to stalk him like a lost puppy."
She turned—and met four icy stares. Selasi, Elvira, Nia, and Leila were all watching her.
"Correction," Selasi said coldly. "You brought the trouble."
Elvira frowned. "Wait, who is this?"
Before anyone could speak further, Davis exited the chamber, expression grim. He signaled to Selasi and Aahliya. "We need to talk."
That night, Kayen stood on the balcony of the Skyborn HQ, overlooking the glowing city. The stars above seemed distant, uncaring.
Soft footsteps approached.
Aahliya leaned on the rail beside him, arms crossed.
"You thinking about revenge?" she asked.
Kayen said nothing.
"You think finding this monster and killing it will make things better?"
Silence.
"You know... two wrongs don't make a right."
He turned to her, eyes glowing faintly. "Don't talk like you understand."
"I do." Her voice lowered. "I saw my mother butchered by Skyborn agents when I was a child. Do you know what that does to a person?"
He hesitated.
"My father changed after that. He stopped being a dad and started making me a weapon."
Kayen scoffed. "Then you should know how this feels."
"I do," she snapped. "But it doesn't fix anything. Killing one monster won't heal your soul, Kayen."
He stared at her. "I'm going to destroy every demon that touches my family. Even if it's you."
Her eyes shimmered. "Then maybe I should've died back in that cell."
"Maybe you should have," he said coldly, walking away.
Aahliya whispered, "But you didn't let me."
Elsewhere in the HQ, Davis stood before a massive rune-lit screen, data on Abyssborn activity dancing across it. Maresa and Eliadan stood beside him.
"Kayen wants in," Davis said.
"He's not stable," Maresa warned. "It's all emotion right now."
"He's strong," Eliadan added. "But she's right—it's too soon."
"Train him harder. And watch him closely," Maresa ordered.
Davis nodded. "What about Aahliya?"
"She's... a risk. Soul-lock keeps her in line, but if Andrew finds out—"
"He won't hesitate," Eliadan finished. "She's a walking blueprint of his empire."
"She must stay alive," Eliadan added quietly. "She's our only map."
Maresa arched a brow. "Since when are you so protective of a demon girl?"
He didn't look at her. "She's useful. For now."
At dawn, Kayen trained alone.
Sweat poured from his body. Every punch, kick, dodge and swing was sharper than before. He moved like a shadow, shifting between stances, using everything Davis had taught him—his footwork pivoted smoothly, arms coiled like springs, strikes clean and swift. Each hit echoed with pent-up rage and unspoken grief.
Selasi and Davis watched from a distance.
"He's getting better," Selasi said. "Fast learner."
"It's not just training," Davis murmured. "He's trying to protect the people he loves... That kind of fire can be a double-edged sword."
Selasi looked at him. "What do you mean?"
"Someday... it might consume him."
Deep in the Abyssborn hideout, Zemo dangled in the shadows, blood dripping from his shackled arms. His breath was ragged.
Andrew Shenati stood before him.
"You've lasted longer than I expected," he said softly. "Most break by now."
Zemo chuckled faintly. "Sorry... I'm not most."
Andrew smiled. "You know, your friend is stubborn. But I wonder... how far can a boy go before he breaks?"
Zemo's eyes narrowed. "He'll come. And when he does—you'll regret everything."
Andrew's smile widened.
Just then, the hooded man entered, bowing.
"My lord. The Mindpiercer... was spotted. Two agents engaged it."
"Did it survive?" Andrew asked.
"Yes. It escaped, but it was injured."
Andrew's fingers steepled. "Good... Very good."
Zemo spat blood. "You're scared."
Andrew turned to him. "Scared? No... I'm prepared. There's a difference."
The room dimmed as the glowstone overhead flickered.
"Soon," Andrew murmured. "Very soon... the sky will burn."
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