Silas's Hidden Cave – Deep Forest
Silas lowered Emma and Maria onto moss-covered stone. The cave glowed faintly blue – ancient wards hummed in the walls, hiding them.
Safe. For now.
Maria clung to Emma, eyes wide. "Where's Big Brother Kael?"
Silas hesitated. How to explain the boy they knew was now half-demon? Before he could speak—
POOF!
Kael materialized at the cave entrance, blue-black smoke curling off him. His eyes glowed crimson.
"SORCERER!" Kael snarled, fists blazing with unstable dark fire. "You stole them!"
Emma's Choice
Emma stepped between Kael and Silas, hands shaking but voice firm. "Kael! Stop! This man saved us!"
Kael's burning eyes flickered – a flash of blue. "Emma…? He's using you! He tried to kill me!"
Silas spoke calmly, magic gathering subtly at his fingertips: "Look at your hands, Kael. You are losing control. Not me."
Kael glanced down. Black veins pulsed under his skin. The dark fire sputtered. Anis?
The Entity's Whisper
Inside Kael's mind, the faceless boy laughed.
"Liar. He cut off your head. He wants them DEAD. Burn him. BURN THEM ALL."
Kael roared, darkness surging—
Silas's Gambit
Silas lunged – not at Kael, but at the cave wall. He slammed his palm onto a rune.
WHOOSH!
A dome of pure silver light encased Emma and Maria.
"Sanctuary Ward!" Silas shouted. "They're safe from both of us now!"
Kael's dark flames hit the ward – and fizzled. He stared at Maria's tear-streaked face pressed against the light.
"Save the girl…" The entity's command echoed… but so did Maria's voice: "Big Brother, stop!"
Kael stumbled back, clutching his head.
"Get… OUT OF MY MIND!"
Meanwhile: King's War Room
King Aldric slammed his fist on the map table. William, Varric, and Erec stood bandaged and grim.
"Enough failures!" the King spat. "The Sorcerer turned traitor. Kael is a demon. We use Option Black."
Erec paled. "Sire, the World-Engine is forbidden! It could destroy the city!"
Aldric's smile was manic. "It targets magic. We'll vaporize Kael and Silas… and every unstable mage within ten miles. Clean slate."
William exchanged a horrified glance with Varric.
Had they created a bigger monster than Kael?
Back at the Cave
Kael collapsed to his knees, panting. The dark flames receded, leaving his eyes human – but exhausted.
Silas approached slowly, hands open.
"The entity feeds on your pain. Your anger. You must fight it, or it will use you to kill everyone you care about." He nodded toward the ward. "Including them."
Suddenly, the cave shook violently. Dust rained from the ceiling.
Silas's wards flared crimson – WARNING.
Kael frowned. "Earthquake?"
Silas's face went bone-white. "Worse. That's the World-Engine powering up. The King would rather burn the kingdom than lose control." He looked at Kael, urgency replacing fury. "You want vengeance? Help me stop that. Or Emma and Maria die with everyone else."
Kael stared at the Sanctuary Ward. Maria waved timidly.
Vengeance… or redemption?
The entity hissed: "Trust no one…"
But Kael met Silas's eyes. "How do we stop it?"
Above the Forest
A colossal crystal lens rotated into position high above Velmora, humming with apocalyptic energy. It glowed blood-red, targeting the forest where Silas's wards pulsed like a beacon.
(Chapter 26 Fin)