The training grounds of the Council's citadel existed in a pocket dimension where time flowed differently.
Kaelen spent what felt like months there, though only days passed in the outside world.
His instructors were the Archons themselves, each teaching him secrets that had taken them centuries to
master.
"V oid magic isn't destruction,
" Archon V eyra explained, her form shifting between humanoid shapes as she
demonstrated.
"It's potential. The void is what exists before creation. Learn to shape that potential, and you can
create anything.
"
Kaelen practiced until his hands bled void energy, until the concept of "creation from nothing
" became as
natural as breathing. His level climbed steadily: 45, 48, 52.
But the true breakthrough came during meditation.
He was floating in the void between thoughts when he heard it—a voice that wasn't a voice, speaking in
concepts rather than words.
"Sovereign. Child of the System. W e see you.
"
Kaelen's eyes snapped open, but he wasn't in the training grounds anymore. He floated in absolute
darkness, surrounded by presences too vast to comprehend.
The Ancient Ones.
[CRITICAL WARNING: Extra-Dimensional Contact Established]
[Source: Ancient Ones (Multiple)]
[Mental Defense: Active]
[Regression Available: Yes]
"You're in my head,
" Kaelen said, his mental voice steady despite the terror clawing at his consciousness.
"W e are everywhere and nowhere. W e are the silence between heartbeats, the darkness between stars.
" The voice
seemed to come from all directions at once.
"You interest us, little Sovereign. You carry our mark.
"
"I carry nothing of yours.
Laughter—if the grinding of cosmic gears could be called laughter.
"The Void Archon class. Created from our
essence, our prison, our dreams. Every time you use your power, you feed us. Every time you die and return, you weaken
the seals.
"
Kaelen's blood ran cold. Was it true? Was his very existence strengthening his enemies?
"W e offer you a choice, Sovereign. Join us. Become our herald in the material realm. In exchange, we will grant you
power beyond your wildest dreams. Power to reshape reality itself.
"
Visions flooded Kaelen's mind—worlds bending to his will, enemies kneeling before him, Seraphina
looking at him with love and devotion. It was everything he had ever wanted.
It was a lie.
"No,
" Kaelen said.
The visions shattered.
"What?" For the first time, the Ancient Ones sounded surprised.
"I said no.
" Kaelen gathered his will, his determination, his absolute refusal to be controlled.
"You want to
know why? Because everything you just showed me—it's hollow. Empty. Power without purpose is just noise.
"
He pushed back against the cosmic presences, his void energy flaring in defiance.
"I'm going to stop you.
Not because the Council asked me to. Not because of some prophecy. But because someone has to, and I've never
been good at staying down when I'm knocked down.
"
The Ancient Ones roared, their fury threatening to tear his mind apart.
Kaelen smiled.
"See you soon.
"
He triggered [Infinite Regression], snapping back to his last save point—the beginning of the meditation
session. The contact was broken, the memory fresh in his mind.
But he had learned something crucial.
The Ancient Ones were scared of him too.