Kael walked quietly to Orion's side. Orion was still by the window, his head turned toward Kael's arrival, but his eyes held a moment of hesitation, as if unsure what to say. When Kael reached him and stopped, Orion frowned slightly and spoke.
Orion: "Uh… are you okay? I mean… that was kind of weird. So much happened, but… you didn't use your power at all."
Kael looked into his eyes with a calm expression. He paused, then gave a small shake of his head.
Kael: "If I had used my power and still failed to win in time… things would've gotten complicated. For me… and for us."
Orion stepped back slightly, trying to grasp the meaning.
Orion: "Complicated? But you're strong. Everyone knows that."
Kael shrugged lightly. His voice was steady, but faintly tired.
Kael: "It was a test. There was no point in overdoing it."
Orion tilted his head, raising an eyebrow.
Orion: "What you call 'overdoing it' was a moment that could've killed most hunters. If it were me… I'd have pulled ice from the sky."
Kael chuckled softly, though his tone was weary. Then he placed a hand on Orion's shoulder.
Kael: "That's exactly why we work together. You overdo it—I keep the balance."
Orion smiled and bowed his head. The distance between them was beginning to thaw. Morning light spilled in from the window, casting a glow on both of them. A brief silence enveloped the room.
Kael: "Get ready. We need to speak with the advisor. The next mission might be more serious."
Orion: "Okay. But don't hold back this time. I want to see… what you can really do."
Kael replied without breaking eye contact, calmly.
Kael: "I hope you won't have to."
A soft knock came at the door. Both Orion and Kael turned toward it. A moment later, a man stepped in—elegant but modest in his attire. It was Arthur Lancer. The seriousness on his face made it clear this was no casual visit.
Arthur: "I won't keep you long. The next stage has been canceled. The Federation is summoning you both directly."
Orion raised his brows in surprise.
Orion: "Already? That usually takes days."
Arthur nodded.
Arthur: "This time is different. What Kael encountered in the dungeon… wasn't ordinary. The Federation wants to hear it directly. You need to go now."
Kael narrowed his eyes slightly, then stood silently. Orion followed, and together they began walking behind Arthur toward the hall.
Kael and Orion moved through the Federation corridors under Arthur's guidance. As they walked in silence, the flags and carvings on the walls caught their eyes—ancient battles, great heroes, fallen kings…
When the giant doors of the chamber opened, a chill filled the air. The grand, high-ceilinged room was surrounded by stone columns, with five representatives seated in a semicircle. The heart of the Federation… where all decisions were made, and fates decided.
At the center sat the elder—The Federation President—his hands clasped as he turned to Kael.
Federation President: "Kael Virelion. We summoned you here as the sole survivor. Tell us. What happened in the dungeon?"
Kael stepped forward. His voice was firm, but his eyes carried a subtle weight.
Kael: "The dungeon… it was different from what I expected. Too quiet. The monsters were weak, as if they were only there to exist. But deep down… something was there. A presence."
The representatives leaned in. The knowledge representative, seated on the left, lifted his pen.
Knowledge Rep: "What kind of presence? Can you describe it?"
Kael shook his head slightly.
Kael: "No. I couldn't see it clearly. It was within the shadows, not even a silhouette was distinct. But… it was noticeable. Powerful. Very powerful. It just stood there, yet its presence changed everything around it. It was as if the dungeon breathed with it."
A short silence followed. The war representative, a woman marked by scars, spoke.
War Rep: "Did you fight it?"
Kael: "No. It appeared but didn't attack. It just… spoke. It knew my name. It knew who I was. And then… it disappeared."
Federation President: "Do you have a witness?"
Kael: "No. I was alone at the time."
A soft murmuring began among the representatives. But then the eastern representative spoke sharply:
East Rep: "How powerful was it? Can you estimate the threat level?"
Kael paused, gathering his thoughts. He then spoke slowly and clearly.
Kael: "I couldn't have returned if I'd fought it. We didn't fight, but… if we had, I wouldn't be standing here. I don't know its full power, but I know one thing: it didn't belong in a dungeon. It was something else. It was observing a balance—or came to disrupt it."
His words thickened the tension in the room. The representatives exchanged looks. After a long silence, the president stood.
Federation President: "Your testimony proves this was no ordinary event. We still don't know why the dungeons are changing, but we can't ignore it any longer. Research teams will be assigned. We will stay in contact, Kael Virelion."
As the doors reopened, Kael and Orion exited quietly. The outside air felt colder.
Orion: "It… really called your name?"
Kael didn't answer. He simply stared into the distance.
Something was coming.
And this time, it wasn't just hiding in dungeons.
As they descended the Federation's stone steps, silence surrounded them. Kael's steps were steady, as if he had already mapped out his next move in his mind. Orion, meanwhile, was still digesting everything that had been said in the Federation hall.
In the front courtyard, Arthur was waiting for them. The blue cloak draped over his shoulder shimmered in the morning sun. As soon as he saw them, he quickened his pace.
Arthur: "Right on time. I assume your meeting with the advisory board is over."
Kael stopped, replying without looking away.
Kael: "It's over. I need to return to my town now."
Arthur nodded respectfully.
Arthur: "Thank you for your help, Mr. Virelion. For now, your duty is complete. If there are any new developments, we'll contact you directly."
As Kael turned to leave, he paused. His gaze met Arthur's, his voice serious and heavy.
Kael: "May I ask you something?"
Arthur studied him carefully.
Arthur: "Of course. Anything."
Later, in the back courtyard of the Federation, two guards were waiting. Beside them were two wind steeds with shimmering feathers and long, powerful legs. Silver-maned, elegant, and strong—creatures whose eyes seemed intelligent.
As Orion approached, he shook his head in disbelief.
Orion: "I still can't believe they actually gave us wind steeds..."
Kael approached his steed, gently stroking its mane.
Kael: "Let's go."
Orion: "Where are we going?"
Kael gripped the reins, his eyes fixed on the sky, shadowed by longing and resolve.
Kael: "To my hometown."
After a short pause, Orion scratched his head.
Orion: "I'm coming too?"
Kael smiled—not like a warrior, but like a companion.
Kael: "Of course. We're comrades, aren't we?"
He tilted his head slightly.
Kael: "If you don't come with me, you'll end up back in that forest. Cold, lonely, and silent."
Orion let out a short laugh and looked to the sky before mounting his steed.
Orion: "Alright then, Kael Virelion. I hope your village has warm meals and a few days without fighting."
Kael urged his steed forward, and as the wind steeds galloped across the dusty path, a new journey began. The sky was clear—but unknown storms lingered on the horizon.
As the sunset painted the sky in shades of orange and crimson, they entered the village. Their silhouettes first appeared as shadows in the eyes of the gathering crowd.
"Kael has returned!"
"Who's with him?"
"He's riding a wind steed… aren't those only given to Federation agents?"
Two children admired the steeds' manes as an old man tapped his cane.
"Look at those steeds! What did Kael do to earn them?"
When Kael stopped, familiar faces approached. Their expressions were filled with both longing and curiosity. A lean young man stepped forward, his smile warm.
Ethan: "Kael! You're back? I couldn't believe it when I heard."
Kael dismounted and touched Ethan's shoulder in a friendly way.
Kael: "I'm back, Ethan. And I'm not alone."
He turned and gestured to Orion.
Kael: "This is Orion. He's my companion now. He'll be staying in this village."
Orion bowed his head slightly, a bit shy. Some villagers were still staring at the steeds, but now their eyes shifted to Orion—a new face, a new beginning.
From within the crowd, a figure emerged. Worn by years but with unwavering resolve in his gaze, Ronan stepped forward and stood before Kael.
Ronan: "How was the capital?"
A faint smile appeared on Kael's face.
Kael: "Noisy, crowded… but we got results."
Ronan turned to Orion, scanning him from head to toe—not with judgment, but as if searching for something deeper.
Ronan: "And you... welcome."
Orion paused in surprise. He hadn't expected to be accepted so quickly. He nodded briefly with a smile.
Orion: "Thank you… I'm glad to be here."
As the villagers gradually dispersed, Kael and Orion walked with Ronan. As the sun dipped below the horizon, the village felt quiet but safe. Yet Kael's eyes were distant. Returning home didn't always bring comfort—sometimes, it was merely a pause before the next storm.
Edit: Hello readers, I apologize for the delay in the chapters due to a few problems I had.
I opened an instagram account for the novel I wrote @chainsofdestiny_ , from this account you can find information about the novel, character information, information about the world and announcements.