The forest was no longer just a place. It was the heart of something older than time itself. Towering trees, heavy mist, and shifting shadows made every step feel like the ground itself was breathing.
Draven touched the violet veins under his skin. Every heartbeat reminded him of the price of his power. "Every life I save… every monster I kill… I come closer… to becoming the very thing I hunt." He paused, the green whispers of the forest flowing like rivers through his mind.
Lucian stood before his reflection again, but this time it wasn't just a hallucination. A weapon without a soul. Every strike, every step, tested whether he would remain human—or become the killing machine the Minister had always wanted him to be.
Merlik stood a few steps away, his single gleaming eye watching them. This time, his smile wasn't entirely predatory. There was a hint of sadness, of regret for what they might become, yet he knew necessity did not allow mercy. "Wherever you go… the Veil tests you. And what you have endured… was only the beginning."
Melken, silent all the way, suddenly pulled something from his bag—a small crystalline sphere, glowing with a faint blue light. "Perhaps it's time… to see what Liora left us."
They arrived at an ancient shrine, carved into the heart of the forest, etched with family symbols only Draven recognized. The silent wind carried whispers of old voices, echoing their mother's name: Liora Veyran.
Inside the shrine, they didn't find a cold grave as expected. Instead, there was an ancient laboratory filled with arcane books and experiments, and one living figure, sitting among the scrolls. His eyes shone with wisdom, longing, and sorrow.
"Welcome… I knew one day you would arrive." His voice was weak but carried authority. "Liora didn't run… she was trying to purify this blood… but there were those who sought to use it."
Draven shivered. Everything—from their mother's blood, to the Blood Heresy, to the throne… it all converged in this place.
Merlik stepped closer, observing their reactions, and his smile now was a mix of worry and lethal satisfaction. "This is what I mean by the test. Everyone we love… every power we hold… comes at a price. And now… you know that your price will be high."
Melken pressed the blue sphere in his hand, a small smile fading quickly. "The path back won't be easy… but there's a chance to learn everything… including the secrets of the Blood Heresy… your mother… and all the Minister left behind."