The corridor outside the holding cell was dimly lit, washed in the sterile glow of faint blue luminescent runes that pulsed along the walls. The air hummed faintly, the sound of wards and seals interlocking to ensure nothing escaped or entered without permission.
The three exorcists stood in silence for a brief moment after stepping out. The door sealed behind them with a soft hiss, the intricate sigils flashing once before fading, leaving only the muffled hum of power in the air.
These holding cells didn't have simple locks or metal bars. Each was a contained pocket, accessible through a one-way gate - a smaller, more refined version of the shimmering portals they used to travel between sectors and headquarters. Once entered, there was no way out without clearance from the other side.
Elena folded her arms, her sharp amber eyes reflecting the blue runes along the corridor. "The kid's clever," she began bluntly. "He has a head on his shoulders. Probably inherited that from his other brother." Her gaze flicked toward Bastion briefly before returning forward.
Bastion frowned, clearly taking it as an insult but also unable to refute it.
Elena continued, her voice calm but firm. "Still… he's too calm. Too confident. Most people thrown into the Veil for the first time would be shaking in a corner, but he looked me dead in the eye while being interrogated under a binding vow. That's not normal."
'He's got guts, I'll give him that,' she thought. 'But there's something else. Something I can't quite figure out.'
Kalen leaned against the opposite wall, arms crossed. The silver-haired swordsman's expression remained neutral, but his tone carried curiosity. "You're saying he's suspicious?"
Elena shook her head slightly. "Not suspicious. Just… off. There's something in him. It's faint, buried so deep I can barely sense it. But it's there. And whatever it is, it's not something I've come across before."
"Maybe it's just dormant potential," Bastion suggested, his deep voice echoing softly in the corridor. "He's my little brother after all."
"Maybe," Elena replied, though she didn't sound convinced. "But even so, there's no doubt he told the truth, or at least what he believes to be the truth. The vow would've reacted if he'd lied."
There was a pause as the weight of her words settled. Even Kalen, normally aloof, looked thoughtful.
"So," Bastion finally said, scratching the back of his neck, "what do we do with him now?"
That question hung heavy in the air. Bastion's voice was calm, but his eyes betrayed the turmoil within. He'd spent years keeping Orion far away from this world - this dangerous, cursed existence that demanded everything from those who walked it.
'Damn it,' he thought bitterly. 'I wanted to keep him safe. Away from this madness. Away from demons and blood and sleepless nights.'
But now, fate - or something far worse - had dragged his brother into it.
Kalen broke the silence first, his silver eyes glinting. "He's marked now. That changes everything. Whether he wants it or not, he'll attract spirits, both good and bad. Leaving him as he is would be irresponsible."
Elena nodded in agreement. "The options are limited. We could assign him to a warded district for observation, or… bring him in for training."
Bastion's jaw tensed. "He doesn't even have spirit energy. At least, not that we can see."
Kalen tilted his head slightly. "Then the question becomes - does he have the potential to awaken it? His father certainly did."
Elena's gaze softened for a brief moment. "Yeah. Your old man was one hell of an exorcist. A hero, some would say." She sighed. "Looks like some of his blood passed down. Well, maybe not much."
"Oi, what's that supposed to mean?" Bastion scowled, though his tone lacked bite.
"Exactly what it sounds like, musclehead," she said dryly.
Kalen smirked faintly. "She means you've got some of your father's strength, but it seems like the brains never caught up."
"Keep talking, Silver String Bean. I'll fold you in half."
"Try it."
Elena rolled her eyes, her patience thinning. "Children, please."
Despite the tension, there was something almost comforting about their bickering. It spoke of camaraderie built through years of fighting side by side, of lives shared on the edge of death and duty. Their personalities clashed constantly, but beneath it all lay an unshakable trust.
Finally, Bastion exhaled, crossing his massive arms. "Look, I'll be honest. I don't want to force Orion into this life. He hasn't seen the worst of it, the death, pain and suffering that comes with it. He's still young. Barely an adult. He deserves a choice."
Kalen arched a brow. "A choice? What do you think he'd want?"
Bastion shrugged, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Knowing him… he'll probably surprise us. He always does."
Elena studied him for a long moment before replying. "Then let's hear it from him directly."
They turned and made their way back into the cell, the runes along the door beginning to glow as Elena placed her palm against the seal. It shimmered, recognising her authority, and the portal flared open once more.
Inside, Orion was sitting on the ground, leaning on the wall and absently tapping his fingers against his knee. He didn't look startled when they entered - he had been waiting, eyes sharp and alert, like a caged wolf calculating every move.
Bastion was the first to speak. "Alright, kid. We've been talking."
Orion tilted his head slightly, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "That's obvious."
Elena ignored the remark and folded her arms. "You are marked now, meaning a person who has made contact with the supernatural", she began evenly, "You might also have the potential to be an exorcist. Your brothers are, and it's hereditary after all."
'Or so it runs in the family,' Orion mused. 'And Ravion's an exorcist too, huh? I wonder what kind. Guess it hurts less knowing they were actually busy saving the world instead of just… avoiding me. But hereditary? That's new. I'll have a few questions for them later.'
Elena's tone grew more formal, almost clinical. "As a marked individual, you now fall under the jurisdiction of the Veil Order. You could become a supernatural threat to civilians - whether intentionally or not. The figurative mark attracts demons and can destabilise the veil between realms. You could even cause an outbreak without meaning to. Because of that, all marked individuals are given three options."
The options she went on to give Orion left him between a rock and a hard place.
But who said he had to bend his will to them?