“No!”


    The figure’s grip tightened around Kaelen’s throat, his vision beginning to blur when, out of nowhere, a blast of shadow exploded between them. The pulse hit with the force of a sledgehammer, severing the hold on Kaelen and sending him hurtling backwards through the air. The impact slammed him into the ground with a bone-jarring thud, knocking the wind from his lungs.


    Before he could process what had happened, something fast moved on his left. A strong hand clamped down on his arm, yanking him up in one brutal motion, keeping him from hitting the ground again.


    The world spun around him as he gasped for air, vision still swimming, but he could feel the presence next to him. Cold. Commanding.


    “Really, Kaelen? Running headfirst into traps now?” Thorian’s voice was smooth, edged with sarcasm, but there was a sharpness beneath it.


    Kaelen jerked his arm away from Thorian’s grip, stumbling back as he caught his balance. “What the hell are you doing here?” His voice was hoarse, still strained from the grip around his throat.


    Thorian tilted his head slightly, the faintest smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. “Saving your life, apparently.”


    Kaelen rubbed his throat, casting a sidelong glance at Thorian. “I could’ve handled it,” he muttered, though there was a slight hitch in his voice that hinted at appreciation. He didn’t look at Thorian directly, keeping his eyes fixed on the dark treeline ahead, still scanning for any sign of the figure.


    Thorian didn’t bother hiding his smirk, but he kept his own gaze forward as well. “Of course. You were doing great, by the way. Right up until you were about to get strangled.”


    Kaelen huffed, flexing his fingers to steady himself. “Thanks for the save,” he grumbled, the words almost too low to catch. “But don’t get too comfortable. You’re not off the hook.”


    “Wouldn’t dream of it,” Thorian replied smoothly, his eyes narrowing at the shifting shadows in the distance. "Though, I must say, you make things far more entertaining than they need to be."


    They both stood there, side by side, bodies tense, ready to face whatever came next. But as the fog from the impact cleared and their vision returned, the space ahead was empty. The figure—the one who had nearly killed Kaelen—was gone.


    Kaelen’s brows furrowed. “Where did—?”


    Before he could finish, a voice broke through the tension.


    “Kaelen!” Aria’s voice was strained, full of alarm, as she rushed through the trees toward them. Her hair was disheveled, and her eyes blazed with a mix of anger and concern.


    Kaelen turned just as she reached him, breathless and clearly shaken. “What were you thinking?” she demanded, her voice tight with emotion. “You could’ve gotten yourself killed.”


    “I—” Kaelen started, but Thorian cut in, his tone sharp, cold.


    “He almost did.” Thorian’s voice was laced with something bitter, his eyes flicking to Aria with a raised brow. “But we’ve been through this song and dance before, haven’t we, Aria? One of us getting reckless while the other cleans up the mess.”


    Aria’s gaze snapped to Thorian, her expression hardening instantly. “You shouldn’t even be here, Thorian. This isn’t your fight.”


    Thorian’s smirk faded into something more calculated. “It’s everyone’s fight now. Or have you forgotten what we’re up against?”


    Aria squared her shoulders, the tension between them palpable. “I didn’t forget. I just don’t trust you. And I never will. Not after—”


    Kaelen stepped in, his voice firm but careful. “Enough. This isn’t the time for old grudges. We need to figure out where that thing went. Now.”


    Aria’s eyes softened just slightly as she looked at Kaelen, her worry still clear on her face. “I thought—” She stopped herself, taking a breath. “Just... don’t do something like that again.”


    Kaelen gave her a small nod, his voice quiet but steady. “I won’t.”


    Thorian, still watching them both, scoffed softly under his breath. “Sentiment’s touching, really. But I suggest we focus on the real threat here.”


    Before Kaelen could respond to Thorian, Lyrian came jogging up from behind, his face a mix of worry and exasperation. His green eyes scanned Kaelen quickly, checking him over. “You look like you just got run over by a transport. You alright?”


    Kaelen nodded, rubbing his throat again. “I’m fine.”


    “Fine, huh?” Lyrian muttered, looking Kaelen over once more before turning to the stranger beside him. Thorian’s presence was impossible to ignore. Lyrian’s gaze hardened as he raised an eyebrow, his tone dipping into sarcasm. “Another friend of yours, Kaelen? Seems like you’re collecting them lately.”


    Kaelen stiffened, catching the underlying tension in Lyrian’s words. It wasn’t just sarcasm—there was something else there. Something that hinted Lyrian knew more than he was letting on. He shot Lyrian a sharp look, but before he could say anything, Thorian spoke up.


    “Friend might be a stretch,” Thorian replied with a faint smirk, clearly enjoying the tension. His voice was smooth, but there was a challenge hidden beneath it. “Let’s just say I’m invested in keeping him alive.”


    Lyrian didn’t look convinced, his eyes narrowing at Thorian. “Right. Well, whoever you are, don’t get too comfortable.”


    Thorian’s smirk widened slightly, but he said nothing more, letting the silence stretch between them.


    Before the tension could thicken further, the rest of the Core and Arcanist teams caught up. Skarath, Leira, and the others were scattered but accounted for, and one Andras approached with a grim look on his face.


    “Varyk and his soldiers... they’re gone. Vanished without a trace. And so is the artifact.” Nyra said with a cold voice.


    Aria cursed under her breath, her fists clenching at her sides. “Damn it.”


    Andras looked furious, his sword still drawn, but his tone remained cold and controlled. “Of course they are. This was a setup from the start.”


    “Then why were we fighting each other?” Leira shot back, her voice dripping with frustration as she glanced between the two teams. “We could have worked together from the beginning.”


    “Trust only goes so far,” Andras retorted, his eyes flicking toward Aria. “Especially when dealing with people who think they can claim what’s not theirs.”


    Aria’s eyes flashed with anger, but before she could respond, Thorian’s smooth voice cut through the tension. “Trust is a rare commodity. Especially when it’s constantly being tested.”This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    All eyes turned to Thorian, and it was clear that no one trusted him. Aria’s gaze, in particular, burned with suspicion as she stared at her former friend. “And what are you doing here, Thorian? Last I checked, you weren’t on anyone’s roster.”


    Thorian shrugged, his smirk never fading. “Let’s just say I have my own interests in keeping things balanced. Whether you like it or not, I’m here.”


    The exchange left an uncomfortable silence, the air thick with suspicion and unease. Finally, Andras broke the silence, his tone clipped. “We need to move. We’ve wasted enough time. The artifact’s gone, and we’re not standing here to argue. Let’s get back.”


    As the teams began to organize, preparing to leave the cursed battlefield behind, Thorian leaned closer to Kaelen, his voice barely above a whisper. “I saw what you did to that mercenary,” he murmured, his tone carrying a sharp edge. “You’ve got more control than you’re letting on.”


    Kaelen’s jaw tightened. The memory of that moment—how the shadow had moved without him thinking, how it had lashed out, knocking the mercenary down—flooded his mind. He had hoped no one noticed, but of course Thorian did.


    Kaelen’s eyes narrowed, anger bubbling to the surface. “Were you just standing around this whole time? Watching? And you didn’t even bother to intervene?” His voice was a harsh whisper, barely concealing his frustration.


    Thorian tilted his head slightly, unfazed. “I’m not your babysitter, Kaelen. Besides, you seemed to be handling yourself just fine… until you weren’t.” He flashed a sly grin. “But I stepped in when it counted, didn’t I?”


    Kaelen’s voice dropped, filled with frustration. "Aria and her team were in danger. They’re Arcanists, like you. You could have done something."


    Thorian’s smirk faltered slightly, but his tone remained smooth. “Arcanists, like me?” He let out a small, humorless laugh. “You still think we’re the same, Kaelen? I’m not them, and I’m certainly not like you.”


    Kaelen clenched his fists, eyes flicking briefly to where Aria stood, organizing her team. “They could have died. You stood there and watched.”


    Thorian raised an eyebrow, his expression hardening. “Don’t pretend like you care so much about them. Or are you just upset because it was her?” His voice held a mocking edge. “You’re caught in between, Kaelen. You can''t play both sides forever.”


    Kaelen stepped closer, his voice dangerously low. "This isn’t about sides. Aria and her team are trying to do what’s right. And you''re just—”


    Thorian cut him off, leaning in. “And you think you’re any different? You''re knee-deep in all of this, Kaelen, just like the rest of us. You just haven''t realized it yet."


    Kaelen shot a sharp glance at Thorian, his voice low. “I’m not interested in playing your games, Thorian.”


    “This isn’t a game,” Thorian countered, his voice just as low, just as deadly serious. “The Codex—you can’t use it alone. Not without help.”


    Kaelen’s eyes flickered with surprise, but before he could respond, Andras barked an order, cutting through the tension. “Move out! We’re done here.”


    As the group started moving, Lyrian fell into step beside Kaelen, his usual grin absent, replaced by a serious expression that set Kaelen on edge.


    “We need to talk,” Lyrian said, his voice low but firm.


    Kaelen shot him a sideways glance, trying to mask the tension rising in his chest. “I’d love to chat, but you know... just survived an ambush, got strangled by a shadowy figure, no big deal. Maybe we can pencil it in for later?”


    Lyrian didn’t laugh. He didn’t even smile. His green eyes remained locked on Kaelen, unblinking, like he was trying to see right through him.


    “Cut the crap, Kaelen. You know exactly what I’m talking about.”


    Kaelen swallowed hard, his usual sarcasm faltering under the weight of Lyrian’s tone. He tried to deflect, forcing a chuckle. “You’re gonna have to be a little more specific. Lots of crazy stuff just happened.”


    But Lyrian wasn’t buying it this time. His hand shot out, grabbing Kaelen by the arm, stopping him in his tracks. “You almost got yourself killed. And don’t think I didn’t notice what happened back there. With the shadows.”


    Kaelen’s stomach twisted, but he kept his expression neutral. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”


    “Don’t.” Lyrian’s voice was cold, cutting through Kaelen’s denial. “I saw you. I saw what you did to that mercenary. You’re not telling me everything.”


    Sigur! Hai s? reformul?m pasajul pentru a se potrivi cu dinamica prieteniei dintre Kaelen ?i Lyrian ?i s? introducem interven?ia lui Andras:


    <hr>


    “Don’t,” Lyrian’s voice cut through the air, sharper than Kaelen had expected. His usual playful tone was gone, replaced with something far more serious. “You can’t just brush this off, not this time.”


    Kaelen glanced over, seeing the concern etched across his friend’s face. “What are you talking about?”


    “I’m talking about you, Kaelen.” Lyrian stepped closer, his voice tense. “Running into danger like a lunatic. You could have been killed. And for what? To chase after a shadow?”


    Kaelen opened his mouth to argue, but Lyrian wasn’t done.


    “I’ve always had your back,” he continued, his eyes narrowing slightly. “But lately... it feels like you’re pulling away. You keep things from me. You act like you’re alone in all this, but you’re not. You never were.”


    Kaelen felt the weight of those words, heavier than he’d expected. He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Lyrian, it’s not that simple—”


    “Make it simple, then.” Lyrian’s frustration bled through his words, but there was a deeper layer of worry underneath. “I don’t care about the shadows or how you’re using your powers. Hell, I’m glad you’re learning to control them. But why keep shutting me out? I’m trying to help you, not fight you. And running headlong into danger? What was that? I thought you were smarter than that.”


    Kaelen looked away, feeling the sting of guilt settle in. “I didn’t mean to... I just...”


    “You what? Thought you could handle it on your own? News flash, you don’t have to.” Lyrian’s tone softened, but the intensity didn’t leave his eyes. “I get it—you’re going through something I can’t fully understand. But you don’t need to keep me at arm’s length. Let me help you. Let me keep you safe, at least.”


    Kaelen swallowed hard, the words not coming easily. “I... I didn’t mean to worry you. I thought—”


    But before Kaelen could finish, a familiar voice interrupted them, deep and authoritative.


    “Well, well, what’s this? The brothers of idiocy having a heart-to-heart in the middle of a war zone?” Commander Andras strode over, his eyes sharp, his usual patience clearly running thin. “I want to know what’s going on right now. And if you’re done with your bonding moment, perhaps one of you can explain.”


    Lyrian shot Kaelen a sideways look, clearly still upset, but with a trace of his usual humor creeping back in. “Great. Just what we need.”


    Andras folded his arms, not amused. “Out with it. Both of you. What’s all this about?”


    Lyrian let out an exaggerated sigh, his lips twitching with the beginnings of a smirk as he threw a sidelong glance at Kaelen. “Well, Commander, sometimes babies need a good scolding. This one”—he motioned toward Kaelen with a dramatic wave—“apparently thought it’d be fun to throw himself straight into the jaws of danger. So, here I am, doing my duty as the responsible one.”


    Kaelen raised an eyebrow. “Responsible?”


    Lyrian shrugged, unfazed. “Hey, someone’s got to keep an eye on you. Can’t have you running off, making poor life choices.”


    Andras stared at the two, arms crossed, but the corner of his mouth twitched, betraying the slightest hint of amusement. “You do realize you’re both my responsibility, yes? I don’t recall signing off on any ‘independent missions’ involving idiocy and shadow-chasing.”


    “See?” Lyrian grinned, turning to Kaelen. “Even Commander Andras agrees with me. You’ve been officially called out by the man himself.”


    Kaelen rolled his eyes. “Right. As if you don’t have enough ‘idiocy’ to answer for on your own.”


    Andras cleared his throat, cutting through their banter. “Enough. If you two are quite finished, I’d like to know what happened out there. And I’m not interested in vague explanations or half-truths. We’re a team. I expect both of you to act like it.”


    Lyrian shifted slightly, glancing back toward the treeline, then back at Andras. “It’s nothing, really. Just... a moment of frustration. Kaelen here needed reminding that we don’t handle everything on our own. Sometimes, a slap of reality is needed, you know? Keeps us grounded.”


    Kaelen shook his head, still feeling the tension from earlier. “Yeah, because you’re the picture of calm and rationality.”


    Lyrian grinned again. “Exactly.”


    Andras sighed, his stern expression softening just a fraction. “You two are going to be the end of me, you know that?”


    Kaelen glanced at Lyrian, who had somehow managed to look both innocent and smug at the same time.


    “We’ll make sure to keep that in mind, Commander,” Lyrian replied, a playful edge still in his voice.


    Andras shook his head, the faintest glimmer of something—concern, maybe—flickering in his eyes. “I want a full report when we get back to Core. No dodging, no skipping details. Got it?”


    Kaelen and Lyrian both nodded, the air between them settling, though Kaelen could still feel the weight of Lyrian’s earlier words pressing down on him.


    Andras turned, but before leaving, he paused, glancing back at them. “And try to stay out of trouble until then.”


    Lyrian saluted with mock seriousness. “Wouldn’t dream of it, Commander.”


    With one last shake of his head, Andras walked away, leaving Kaelen and Lyrian standing there, still glaring at each other, locked in a silent battle of who could out-stare the other. After a beat, one of them rolled his eyes, muttering something about being the "mature one," and walked off.


    Lyrian practically burned holes into the back of Kaelen’s head.