The Arcane Chronicles: Unveiling the Lost Secrets (On-Going)

Chapter 20: The Path to Understanding

Aiden

Me, Athena, and Louisito lingered outside the Tea House door, our faces filled with tension from our earlier conversation. Athena had angrily refused to return to Abyssia; the lies published by the Arcane Sentinels regarding her mother's death and the apparent demise of the House of Darkmore continued to gnaw at her. Louisito had backed her decision, telling me that the Sentinels might still be hiding in the shadows.

"What will you do, Athena?"  I asked, genuinely unsure.

"I’ll stay with you both, for now. I can’t go back… not yet." Athena’s jaw tightened

Louisito nodded, and I put an encouraging hand on her shoulder. We turned to leave, but something drew our attention—a man lurking in the alley next to the teahouse. I peered, my heart squeezing as I spotted the figure in the shadows.

'Kael Mikairos Voidborn." I mumbled. Kael's crimson eyes shone slightly in the low light, and his deadly scythe hung ominously by his side. He stepped forward, his stare focused on me.

"We need to talk.'' Kael said, his voice was low and laced with urgency.

"Velor’na Tempestus!" I took a step back, lifting my hand and whispering the spell. Athena raised her hands, summoning swirling orbs of water that hovered alongside her like sentinels, waiting to attack.

"If you won’t listen, then you’ll have to be forced.'' Kael sighed, raising his scythe with a flick of his wrist.

The fight erupted. I pushed forward, tendrils of chaotic energy crackling about me, aiming a tremendous blow toward Kael. Kael sidestepped, swinging his scythe to counter my power with a slash, warping the air around them as his anti-magic collided with mine.

Athena moved forward, her water orbs swirling toward Kael in a torrent, but Kael met her attack with brutal efficiency. With a single sweep of his scythe, the water dispersed easily, its energy neutralized in a splash of mist. Louisito remained behind them, his hands glowing as he created protective barriers and increased our strength.

"Come on, Aiden!" Athena screamed her voice wavering yet firm. She summoned another wave of water, combining her power with my chaotic magic. Together, we formed a swirling vortex, a maelstrom of magic and energy that ripped down the alleyway, rattling surrounding windows and nearly destroying a tiny stall.

Kael moved quickly, blocking each attack with calm, deliberate precision. But our united assault began to wear him down, with the sheer force of our blows driving him back. Louisito strengthened our power with healing magic, his spells streaming between us like light threads.

Just as it appeared like we were about to defeat him, a voice cut through the chaos.

"Enough!"

A woman moved between us, her presence imposing. Valeria Dreadspire stood tall, her gaze sharp, as she raised her dark staff, a spark of shadow power emanating from its core.

''Aiden, Kael, stand down.'' Valeria spoke.

I hesitated, my chest heaving as I stared at Kael, but then I lowered my hand. Kael dismissed his scythe, tiredness in his eyes as he took a step back. Athena and Louisito looked between Valeria and Kael, our barriers still up, but their posture softened.

"I understand you're confused. When we last met... we acted as if we were after you, Aiden. But we had no choice. Kael and I, as Path Slayers, must act as if we are pursuing you, it is part of our duty." Valeria took a deep breath and addressed us with an apologetic glance.

"So… you nearly killed me because you had to?'' I scoffed. My shoulders loosened slightly, but my gaze remained tight.

"Yes. And that’s why we’re here, to apologize, and to offer you an alliance. We’re fighting against the Path Slayers themselves now. They have been keeping terrible secrets, ones that could destroy us all if left unchecked.'' Valeria bowed her head slightly.