Kaelen followed Arcaris down the winding halls, their footsteps echoing in sync as they entered a large library. The room was bathed in a soft, warm light, casting a golden glow over the shelves. A faint, almost ethereal melody drifted through the air, its source seemingly nowhere and everywhere at once. It was the kind of sound that made you want to sit back and lose yourself in old tales. Cozy and inviting, yet undeniably vast in its knowledge.

  As they walked further in, Kaelen’s eyes wandered over the endless rows of books, scrolls, and artifacts. “Nice place. Didn't peg you for a librarian type. Though, I remember you almost strangling me back in the forest.”

  Arcaris raised an eyebrow, his lips curling into the faintest smirk. “Aggressive? You were in the company of Arcanists. Consider yourself lucky I didn’t do worse. They always seem to be where they shouldn’t—taking what they want, acting like they own every corner of this world. Meanwhile, we… we’re forced to live in the shadows of their whims.”

  Kaelen let out a low chuckle, leaning against a nearby shelf. “So you’re saying the strangling was out of principle? Good to know I’m not special.”

  Arcaris shot him a sidelong glance, his eyes narrowing. “You? Special? You’ve made interesting choices, Kaelen. You claim to be an independent agent, but one day you’re working with Core, the next you’re in bed with Aether. Tell me, do you even know where your loyalties lie?”

  Kaelen shrugged, the casualness masking something more complicated. “I go where the job takes me. I’ve worked with Aria because we’ve got history. Did a mission together about a year ago. After that, we stayed in touch. I trust her.”

  “Trust,” Arcaris mused, turning away to gaze at the endless volumes of the library. “That’s a dangerous word. And Aria—an Arcanist. She’s one of them. Their kind, Kaelen, they take what they need and discard the rest. You think you’re working with them, but they’ll never see you as one of their own. Have you ever asked yourself why they’re so eager to have you in their ranks?”

  Kaelen frowned, crossing his arms. “I’m not in anyone’s ranks, Arcaris. I’m independent. Always have been.”

  Arcaris let out a short laugh. “Independent? You call this independence? Working for Core, then Aether, surrounded by people with agendas? That’s not freedom. It’s just another leash—one you’ve convinced yourself doesn’t exist.”

  Kaelen stiffened, but before he could reply, Arcaris continued, his voice dropping lower, the sharpness of his words cutting through the room.

  "And what about the boy with the bun and shaved sides?" he asked, his tone dripping with amusement. "I’ve noticed how you’re always beside each other, protecting one another. But he’s tied to Core... and Core, well, they have their own interests, don’t they? Interests that don’t involve letting you run free."

  “Lyrian’s different,” Kaelen shot back. “He’s not like the rest of them. He’s—”

  Arcaris raised a hand, silencing him. “Loyal, I’m sure. But loyalty to an institution, no matter how well-intentioned, always comes at a price. You, of all people, should know that.”

  Kaelen huffed, trying to brush off the weight of Arcaris' words. “You sound like you’ve got it all figured out.”

  “I’ve lived long enough to see the same patterns repeat, Kaelen,” Arcaris replied, his tone measured, almost melancholic. “It’s never about the individual. It’s about what you can be used for, and what people think they can take from you.”

  “Is that why you’re after me?” Kaelen asked, his voice sharp but curious. “Because I’m just another piece to move on the board?”

  Arcaris' smirk returned, this time tinged with something more thoughtful. “You’re a piece, yes, but not just any piece. You’re the one that could change the entire game.”

  Kaelen scoffed lightly, though there was a tension building within him. "And what’s the prize? What do I win if I play your game?”

  “You survive,” Arcaris said simply. “And maybe—just maybe—you change the rules."

  There was a silence as Kaelen absorbed the words. He wasn’t sure if he believed them. But something in Arcaris' tone, in the way he spoke with such calm certainty, made it hard to dismiss.

  As they approached a small alcove in the library, Kaelen couldn't help but feel a strange pull toward the man. The more they talked, the less he felt like he was the one in control of this conversation. Not that he ever was.

  Arcaris paused, his gaze shifting toward one of the many towering bookshelves in the room. Without so much as a twitch, a shadow—thin, serpentine—unfurled from the base of the shelf. It slithered upward like a living thing, coiling its way to the top. Kaelen's eyes widened as he watched it reach for a book, gently tugging it free before drifting back down, delivering the book into Arcaris' open palm.

  Kaelen blinked, his mouth slightly open in disbelief. He shifted his gaze from the book to the place where the shadow had emerged, trying to comprehend what he had just seen. The ease with which Arcaris had controlled the shadow was unnerving. He had been trying to do that for weeks now—barely able to hold his focus long enough to make a shadow shift, let alone move deliberately.

  Arcaris noticed Kaelen’s stunned expression and gave a small, knowing smile. “This,” he said, holding up the book, “is what it looks like when you understand your power.” His voice was calm but carried a weight to it. “Shadow Manipulation isn’t just about control. It’s about listening, feeling. The shadows are part of you, just as much as your heartbeat, just as much as your breath. But most importantly—they’re patient. They’re waiting for you to command them.”

  Kaelen, still absorbing what he had seen, finally spoke. “That was… you just—how did you do that so effortlessly?” His voice came out more frustrated than he intended, a sign of his internal struggle. He had been trying for so long and felt like he was fighting a losing battle.

  Arcaris raised an eyebrow, amused by Kaelen’s frustration. “Effortlessly?” He echoed, chuckling softly. “It wasn’t always like this. It took years to master. The shadows are ancient, Kaelen. They don’t care about time or patience. You need to learn to speak their language.”

  He stepped forward, his gaze locked onto Kaelen's. “Try again. Call them.”

  Kaelen looked hesitant but slowly extended his hand toward the dim corner of the room. He focused on the shadows that lingered there, like dark pools waiting to be shaped. He inhaled deeply, trying to remember everything he had practiced—the stillness, the control. He felt the familiar tug of energy in his chest, reaching outward.

  The shadows shifted slightly, but then wobbled, clumsy and unsteady, before retreating as if they’d never moved at all. Kaelen cursed under his breath, withdrawing his hand.

  Arcaris watched him, his expression unreadable. “You’re forcing it. You’re trying to bend them to your will, and that’s why you’re failing.”

  Kaelen scowled. “So what do I do, then? Just ask nicely?”

  Arcaris chuckled again, this time with a touch of warmth. “In a way, yes. But it’s not about asking. It’s about inviting. The shadows don’t follow orders; they respond to connection. To trust.”

  Kaelen glanced at him, a skeptical look crossing his face. “Trust? With shadows?”

  Arcaris stepped closer, extending his hand. This time, multiple shadows from different corners of the room rose up, weaving together in a smooth, elegant dance. They spiraled around his body before dissipating into the air like smoke. “They are not tools. They are an extension of your own being. The moment you stop fighting them is the moment they’ll move with you.”

  Kaelen watched in silence, his frustration momentarily replaced by fascination. Arcaris made it look so simple, so natural. The shadows responded to him as if they were alive, like they recognized him as part of them. Kaelen had been treating them like an obstacle, something to overcome. But Arcaris… he was working with them.

  “Try again,” Arcaris urged, his voice calm but firm.

  Kaelen swallowed, feeling the pressure mounting. He extended his hand once more, but this time, he tried to let go of the tension in his body. He stopped trying to force the shadows and instead let his mind relax, trying to feel for that connection Arcaris had spoken of.

  At first, nothing happened. The shadows remained still, indifferent. But then, as Kaelen steadied his breathing and focused less on commanding and more on understanding, one of the shadows quivered. Slowly, it rose from the floor, swaying slightly, but this time with more intention. It wobbled toward Kaelen, moving toward his hand.

  Kaelen felt a flicker of excitement but forced himself to stay calm. The shadow reached him and wrapped itself gently around his fingers.

  He blinked, his heart racing. “I did it,” he whispered, almost in disbelief.

  Arcaris smiled, but there was no patronizing in it—only a sense of approval. “Good. Now you’re beginning to understand.”

  Kaelen exhaled, letting the shadow retreat back into the dimness. His hands were shaking, but not from exhaustion this time. It was the realization of what he had just done. “This is… harder than I thought.”

  Arcaris nodded, his tone shifting back to something more serious. “It always is. But the shadows are your allies, Kaelen. They’re a part of you. Learn to trust them, and they’ll take you further than you’ve ever imagined.”

  Kaelen looked at him, still processing everything. He had never thought of his powers this way. For so long, he had been trying to control them, to tame them. But now… it felt like the beginning of something much larger than that.

  “So,” Kaelen said, half-joking, trying to break the intensity of the moment, “what’s next? Are we going to keep playing with shadows, or is there something else I should know?”

  Arcaris smirked, setting the book down on the table, crossed his arms and leaned back, his gaze steady. "No need to rush anywhere. We’ve barely scratched the surface. You’re going to learn control—right here."

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  Kaelen raised an eyebrow. "Control? You make it sound so simple."

  Arcaris let out a low chuckle, the kind that came from someone who had seen too many battles and trained too many stubborn pupils. "Simple? Hardly. You’ll fail more than you succeed. But that’s the point, Kaelen. Every failure will teach you something. Now... again."

  Kaelen grimaced, but there was no denying the pull of Arcaris’ authority. He extended his hand, focusing once more on the corner of the room where the shadows lay still. He tried to recall the feeling from earlier, the connection he had barely tapped into.

  The shadows flickered, wavering like they were unsure of whether to obey. Kaelen gritted his teeth, frustrated. The shadows jerked, but nothing like the smooth control Arcaris had shown.

  "Stop," Arcaris commanded, his voice sharp but not unkind. "You're forcing it again. You can't fight against the shadows. They’ll fight back harder."

  Kaelen let out a breath, lowering his hand. "How am I supposed to control something if I can’t push it?"

  Arcaris paced slowly, his steps deliberate. "You're thinking about control the wrong way. Shadows are not some wild beast to be tamed. They are part of the natural order. They want to obey—if you understand them." He gestured around the room. "Feel the space around you. Shadows flow, they move where light is weakest. It's not about command... it's about guidance. They already know what they are. You just need to know what you are."

  Kaelen shot him a look. "What I am? That’s a little vague, don’t you think?"

  "Vague?" Arcaris’ smirk deepened. "Maybe. Or maybe you’re avoiding what’s right in front of you. Stop trying to manipulate them like tools. They're not weapons at your disposal. They’re a part of you. Act like it."

  The words stung, but Kaelen couldn’t argue. He was treating his powers like something foreign, something to conquer. But if what Arcaris was saying was true, then his approach was all wrong.

  Kaelen squared his shoulders, exhaling slowly. He extended his hand once more, but this time, he didn’t try to bend the shadows to his will. He just... felt them. The way they curled in the corners, moving softly in the dim light, responding to the faintest flicker of his energy.

  For a moment, nothing happened. And then, gradually, the shadows began to stir. They stretched out like tendrils, not jerking violently as before, but flowing. The black wisps coiled toward Kaelen's hand, moving in a slow, graceful arc.

  "Better," Arcaris said, watching with an approving nod. "Now, hold them. Keep them steady."

  Kaelen’s focus deepened, his heart pounding as the shadows swayed with the slightest tremble of his thoughts. He could feel the tension in his own mind, the instinct to control, but he forced himself to relax. To let the shadows move freely.

  For a moment, it worked. The shadows twisted in the air around him like a calm, flowing stream. Kaelen almost smiled, the briefest sense of triumph filling him—

  And then, the connection snapped. The shadows scattered, retreating back to the corners of the room. Kaelen cursed under his breath.

  Arcaris shook his head, his expression stern. "You're trying to rush. It's not about a single moment of success. It's about consistency. Control doesn't come from a burst of energy or a sudden force of will—it comes from discipline. Patience. Again."

  Kaelen groaned but nodded, wiping sweat from his brow. He extended his hand once more. This time, he allowed the process to take its time, listening to the subtle movements of the shadows, feeling their pulse. And again, they stirred, creeping toward his fingers.

  He held them for longer this time, feeling the weight of their presence. But just as before, they slipped away, elusive and unyielding.

  "Stop," Arcaris said, stepping closer. He placed a hand on Kaelen’s shoulder, his grip firm. "Don’t be frustrated. You're learning. You’re already closer than you think. But you’re too focused on the result. You can't rush power like this—it’s earned slowly."

  Kaelen's jaw tightened, but he nodded. "It’s hard to not want to... I don’t know, just get it right."

  "That's the problem." Arcaris let go of his shoulder and took a step back. "Perfection isn’t your goal. Control is. And control doesn’t mean getting it perfect every time—it means knowing when to let go."

  Kaelen’s gaze shifted toward Arcaris, the older man’s calm, steady presence grounding him. "It’s easy for you to say that. You’ve had years to figure it out."

  Arcaris chuckled, shaking his head. "Years, decades, lifetimes. It doesn't matter. Everyone starts somewhere. Even me."

  Kaelen blinked at him, a little thrown off by the admission. He had always assumed Arcaris was the type to be born with natural mastery. But there was something deeper in the way he said it—a hint of struggle, of a long, hard journey. Something Kaelen wasn’t used to thinking about when it came to people like him.

  "Again," Arcaris said quietly, stepping aside to give Kaelen space. "And this time, don’t worry about failure. Just focus on connection."

  Kaelen nodded, more determined now. He closed his eyes for a moment, centering himself. The shadows responded to his energy, slow but more fluid. He felt them coiling up from the corners of the room once more, spiraling toward him. This time, they stayed a little longer, flowing around his hand before pulling away.

  Not perfect. Not permanent. But progress.

  Arcaris watched with a keen eye, offering a slight nod of approval. "Good. You're learning."

  Kaelen exhaled, a flicker of pride in his chest. It wasn’t easy, but something had shifted inside him. He wasn’t just fighting his powers anymore—he was working with them.

  For the first time in a long while, Kaelen felt like he was on the verge of understanding something much larger than himself.

  Taking a breath, Kaelen asked, almost casually, “So... what else can a Veilborne do? Aside from, you know, failing spectacularly at shadow manipulation.”

  Arcaris raised an eyebrow, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “You’re assuming I know the limits of a Veilborne’s power.”

  Kaelen frowned, sensing the weight behind Arcaris' words. "You’re saying... no one knows?"

  "No one knows because no one’s lived long enough to truly understand it," Arcaris replied, his voice soft but filled with meaning. “The history of the Veilborne is... short. Tragic. The ones before you never reached their full potential. Their powers are vast, endless even. But tapping into that... it requires more than just understanding. It requires survival. And that, Kaelen, is the hardest part.”

  Kaelen felt a chill run down his spine. "So... you’re saying my powers have no limits?"

  “Not in the traditional sense,” Arcaris said, folding his arms. “A Veilborne’s connection to the Veil allows them to draw from both the light and the shadow—both sides of the universe’s magic. You are a bridge between dimensions. What that truly means... well, only time will tell. I have no doubt, though, that you will find out just how far your power can go.”

  Kaelen’s eyes darkened with the thought. Endless potential? It sounded grand, but there was a weight to those words that unsettled him. Power like that always came with a cost. He opened his mouth to respond, but then something clicked in his mind—something that had been lingering since the training started.

  “How do you have the power to manipulate shadows like that?” Kaelen asked suddenly, his voice cutting through the momentary silence. “That’s not something I’ve seen anyone else do. Only a Veilborne, right?”

  Arcaris’ smirk widened as if he had been waiting for Kaelen to ask. “Ah, you’re sharp. It’s true, my abilities with shadow manipulation aren’t as... comprehensive as yours. Not even close. But Shadow Celestials, as our name suggests, are born with a certain affinity to the darkness, to shadows. Some of us, a rare few, are able to harness that connection in a limited form.”

  Kaelen furrowed his brow. “Limited?”

  Arcaris nodded, his expression thoughtful. “We can influence shadows, yes—bend them, guide them across surfaces, shape them. But the true mastery isn’t about force, Kaelen. Shadows aren’t meant to be controlled in the way most think. They are living, breathing extensions of the world. You don’t bend them to your will; you connect with them, understand them, let them become a part of you. A Veilborne doesn’t command shadows. They become them. That’s something only you can achieve. Shadow Celestials, for all our power, still have limits. You... do not.”

  Kaelen processed the information, feeling a strange mix of awe and apprehension. "So, what I’m learning to do now... it’s just scratching the surface?"

  "Exactly," Arcaris replied, his tone deepening. “Shadow Celestials tap into the edges of what’s possible, but a Veilborne... you have access to the entire spectrum. Shadows, the Veil, dimensions beyond this one—they’re all connected through you.”

  The enormity of what Arcaris was saying hit Kaelen like a tidal wave. He stared at the ground for a moment, trying to wrap his mind around it.

  "And you believe I’ll just... figure it out?" Kaelen asked, skepticism creeping into his voice.

  Arcaris regarded him for a moment, his eyes unreadable. "No. I know you will. Because you don’t have a choice. The Veil is already calling to you. You’ve felt it, haven’t you? The voices, the pull... it won’t stop."

  Kaelen’s heart skipped a beat. He had felt it—the way the Veil whispered to him, tugging at the edges of his consciousness. The entity had shown itself to him twice, its presence growing stronger each time. He had tried to ignore it, to push it away, but deep down he knew that was impossible.

  “Yeah,” Kaelen muttered. “I’ve felt it.”

  Arcaris leaned forward, his gaze intense. “Good. That means you're already connected. But understand this, Kaelen—the connection is a two-way street. The Veil watches you, just as you’re starting to notice it. And one day, it will demand something from you. You need to be ready.”

  Kaelen’s throat tightened. "And what if I'm not?"

  “Then it will consume you,” Arcaris said simply. "You either master it, or it masters you. There’s no middle ground."

  Kaelen stared at him, the weight of his fate pressing down harder than ever. He had spent so long feeling like he was on the edge of something he didn’t understand, but now... now it felt like he was staring into an abyss.

  Kaelen’s jaw tightened as Arcaris’s words sank in. His mind raced, conflicted between everything he had just learned and the life he had lived up until now. The idea of having some sort of lifeline from his parents both comforted and unsettled him, but the uncertainty of what came next gnawed at him.

  He finally looked up, his voice carefully measured. “So, what’s your plan, Arcaris? Keep me here until I do your bidding? Until I become... whatever it is you think I should be?”

  Arcaris raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed by the suggestion. “Keep you here?” He almost laughed, but the hint of offense was unmistakable. “Kaelen, your life isn’t mine to hold. I’m no captor. The choice has always been yours.”

  Kaelen blinked, caught off guard by the answer. “So... I can leave? Just like that?”

  “You can leave anytime you wish. I’ve already said, you’re not a prisoner here. But leaving doesn’t free you from who you are. You’ve always been tied to the Veil, long before you knew it. Running won’t change that.”

  Kaelen processed that for a moment before his thoughts shifted to something else. “I still work with Aether. I have friends there. Lyrian, Aria... what does that mean for you? For them?”

  “Your friends... your loyalties are your own to navigate. I don’t expect you to sever every bond you’ve built, but know this: Aether’s interests and ours rarely align. There will be conflict, Kaelen. It’s inevitable. But I won’t force your hand, nor will I ask you to betray those you care about... unless they become the obstacle in restoring balance.”

  Kaelen’s brows furrowed. “So what happens when the lines cross? When Aether and your plans collide?”

  Arcaris’s smile was small, almost sad. “That’s a question only you can answer when the time comes. But I trust you’ll know which side you truly belong to. And when you do, you’ll be ready.”

  Kaelen remained silent, his mind whirling with everything. Arcaris’s words were clear, but the path ahead? That was still shrouded in the shadows, just like everything else in his life.

  Kaelen straightened, the weight of his decision hanging between them like a thick fog. “I’m leaving,” he said, his voice steady despite the storm of uncertainty swirling in his chest.

  Arcaris studied him for a long moment, then nodded slowly. “I expected as much. The world outside calls you back.”

  Before either of them could say more, Nyx appeared in the doorway of the library, her dark blue hair catching the dim light. She leaned casually against the doorframe, a smirk playing at the edges of her lips. "Timing’s everything, isn’t it?" she said, her eyes twinkling mischievously.

  Kaelen raised an eyebrow, half-amused, half-wary. "Do you two always communicate like this? Or was this just a lucky guess?"

  Nyx grinned, shrugging one shoulder. “Let’s just say, I have a knack for showing up when needed. Ready for the ride back?”

  Kaelen sighed, already knowing what that meant. The last trip through Nyx's portal had left him reeling, and he wasn’t eager to repeat the experience. “Let’s just get it over with.”

  As he turned to leave, a thought tugged at the back of his mind. He hesitated for a moment before glancing back at Arcaris. "If I need to speak with you again... how do I find you?"

  Arcaris’s expression softened, a shadow of a smile on his lips. “You won’t have to find me. When the time comes, you’ll know. The Veil has a way of guiding those who are tied to it.”

  Kaelen frowned but didn’t press further. There was a cryptic wisdom to Arcaris’s words, one he’d have to untangle on his own. He nodded and turned toward Nyx.

  As they stepped into the corridor, just before the door closed behind them, Arcaris’s voice cut through the silence, soft but carrying the weight of ages. “Kaelen... remember this. The shadows are not your enemy. They are a part of you, just as light is. Embrace both, or you’ll never truly understand the power you possess.”

  Kaelen paused at the door, letting those words sink in before stepping fully into the hallway. His chest tightened slightly, but he gave no outward sign. He simply nodded, and with that, he followed Nyx into the mist, the library and its mysteries fading behind him.