Thalora

Chapter Ten: Trust

Alyssa sat on the cold stone floor, her mind still reeling from everything Troy had shown her. The peaceful Eldarii, their connection to the Colossal Gods, and the Academy's brutal conquest—all of it weighed heavily on her. The cavern felt like it was closing in around her.

But it wasn't just the enormity of what Troy had revealed that troubled her. There was something else—something that gnawed at the back of her mind, making her hesitate.

Troy stood nearby, watching Alyssa closely. Alyssa could feel his eyes on her, waiting for her to react. But how was she supposed to react to someone who, according to the Academy, was nothing more than a traitor?

She had heard the stories—everyone had. Troy Zaylar, the Academy's most wanted, the rogue mercenary who had betrayed the Academy and disappeared years ago. There were whispers that he had stolen classified technology, that he had sold secrets to the highest bidder. Some even claimed he had orchestrated attacks against the Academy itself. And now, here he was, telling her that he had the truth?

Alyssa shook her head, her thoughts tangled in confusion. Could she really trust him?

"Dude, this is insane," she muttered, her voice thick with doubt. "You expect me to believe that I'm somehow connected to these gods? That the Academy has been hiding this for centuries? And you—" she shot him a pointed look—"you're the one with all the answers?"

Troy's gaze softened, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes, something cautious. "I know it's a lot to take in. But it's the truth, Alyssa. Whether you're ready to accept it or not, the Academy's been manipulating everything. They took the Eldarii's knowledge by force, and now they're trying to tap into something they don't fully understand. Something dangerous."

Alyssa let out a frustrated breath, running her hands through her hair. "But why me? Why would the Colossal Gods care about someone like me? I'm just another recruit—nothing special."

Troy took a step closer, his voice low but firm. "You're not just another recruit. The Eldarii's power, their connection to the gods—it's in you. You've felt it, haven't you? The energy that pulls at you, the sense that there's something bigger out there waiting for you?"

Alyssa hesitated, her throat tightening. She had felt it. That strange, otherworldly energy that seemed to hum beneath her skin, the sense that she was part of something far greater than herself. But admitting it out loud felt like stepping into a world she wasn't ready for—a world that terrified her.

But then again, was Troy telling the truth? Was he just trying to manipulate her? After all, Troy was oozing with a mysterious aura that made him hard to trust fully.

"I've heard the stories. Everyone knows what you did," Alyssa said with a shaky voice. "You betrayed the Academy. You sold them out, went rogue..."

Troy's expression darkened, but he didn't look surprised. If anything, he looked... resigned.

"You think I'm some kind of mercenary," Troy said quietly. "A traitor who abandoned the Academy for personal gain. That's what they've told you, right?"

Alyssa's jaw tightened. "That's what everyone says."

Troy let out a humorless laugh, his gaze drifting to the ground. "Yeah. That's what they want you to believe. They needed a scapegoat, someone to take the fall for the things they've done. And I was the easiest target."

Alyssa's heart pounded in her chest, her doubts swirling around her. She wanted to believe him, wanted to think that there was more to the story than what the Academy had told her. But how could she trust someone who had been branded a traitor?