The Man Who Feared a Nobody

The bakery was silent.

Well, almost silent.

Somewhere beneath the counter, the shopkeeper was whispering what sounded suspiciously like a prayer.

Kael couldn’t blame him.

Half the front door was missing.

Several tables had been destroyed.

A large crack ran through the floor.

And a strange man was kneeling in the middle of the shop, trembling as though he’d just encountered the end of the world.

Kael looked at the damage.

Then at the man.

Then back at the damage.

He sighed.

“Mate.”

The stranger didn’t move.

“Excuse me.”

Nothing.

Kael crouched slightly.

“Hey, I’m talking to you.”

The stranger raised his head.

Kael pointed at the broken floor.

“Are you paying for that?”

The man stared at him.

For several seconds, neither spoke.

Then the stranger slowly looked around the ruined bakery.

“…What?”

“The floor.”

Kael pointed again.

“The tables. The door. That thing over there that used to be a chair.”

He paused.

“And I’m pretty sure you destroyed someone’s lunch.”

The shopkeeper’s head appeared above the counter.

“MY LUNCH!”

Kael nodded solemnly.

“See? He’s emotionally devastated.”

The stranger looked as though he was struggling to understand the language.

“You… want compensation?”

Kael stared at him.

“No, I want you to write me a poem about financial responsibility.”

The man blinked.

Kael sighed.

“YES! COMPENSATION!”

The stranger slowly reached into his coat.

Kael immediately stepped backward.

“Careful. If you pull out another death beam, I’m going to be extremely disappointed.”

The stranger produced a small silver pouch.

He placed it on the floor.

Kael looked inside.

Gold coins.

Actual gold coins.

Enough gold coins to buy the bakery, repair the door, replace the tables, and probably purchase the street outside.

Kael stared.

Then he looked at the stranger.

Then back at the gold.

“…You know what?”

He picked up the pouch.

“I forgive you.”

The shopkeeper emerged from behind the counter.

“I DON’T!”

Kael pointed at him.

“That’s between you and your personal journey.”

“YOU WERE THE ONE HE WAS TRYING TO KILL!”

“And I showed remarkable restraint.”

“You THREW A TABLE AT HIM!”

“It was a tactical decision!”

The stranger slowly stood.

Kael immediately stopped arguing.

The man was tall enough to make the room feel smaller. His grey coat was torn at the shoulder, and faint black symbols crawled beneath the skin of his neck.

But his eyes were what bothered Kael.

They weren’t the eyes of someone who had lost a fight.

They were the eyes of someone who had discovered that the person standing in front of him was something he had been taught to fear since childhood.

The stranger lowered his head.

“My lord.”

Kael closed his eyes.

“No.”

“My lord, I—”

“Absolutely not.”

“Please allow me to explain—”

“STOP CALLING ME THAT!”

The stranger flinched.

Kael rubbed his face.

“Look, I don’t know who you think I am, but I promise you, you’ve got the wrong person.”

The stranger said nothing.

Kael gestured toward himself.

“Look at me! Do I look like a lord to you?”

The man hesitated.

Kael spread his arms.

“I’m wearing a jacket I bought three years ago! I eat porridge that could be used to repair roads! My greatest achievement yesterday was disappointing a magical rock!”

He pointed at the stranger.

“DO I LOOK LIKE SOMEONE WHO OWNS A CASTLE?”

The stranger stared at him.

Then, quietly, he said:

“Yes.”

Kael’s mouth fell open.

“WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE?”

Inside his head, the ancient entity began laughing.

Not a small laugh.

Not a polite chuckle.

It was the sort of laughter that suggested something had just happened that it intended to remember for the next ten thousand years.

Kael’s expression darkened.

“Don’t.”

I said nothing.

“You’re laughing.”

I am an ancient being. I do not laugh.

“You sound like a broken kettle!”

You are arguing with a man who tried to kill you.

“And you’re arguing with me about laughter! We’re both making terrible decisions!”

The entity went quiet.

Then—

You are going to get us killed.

Kael looked at the kneeling stranger.

“Apparently, that makes two of us.”

The Name Nobody Should Know

Once the shopkeeper had been promised enough gold to repair the bakery, replace his furniture, and cover his emotional suffering, Kael dragged the stranger into a narrow alley.

He needed answers.

Preferably before another stranger attempted to murder him.

“Start talking.”

The man remained silent.

Kael folded his arms.

“Look, I understand the whole mysterious assassin thing. The hood. The glowing eyes. The dramatic kneeling. Very impressive.”

He leaned forward.

“But I’m having a difficult day, and my patience is currently the same size as my bank account.”

The stranger stared at him.

“Your bank account?”

“Empty. Move on.”

The man lowered his gaze.

“My name is Varek.”

“Congratulations.”

“I serve the Ashen Covenant.”

Kael waited.

Varek appeared to expect a reaction.

When none came, he frowned.

“You have never heard of the Ashen Covenant?”

“Should I have?”

“It is an ancient organisation tasked with eliminating forbidden supernatural existences.”

Kael slowly nodded.

“That sounds unpleasant.”

“It is necessary.”

“Of course. Every organisation that wears suspicious clothing says that.”

Varek ignored him.

“For centuries, the Covenant has monitored the seven known classes of abilities. When an anomaly appears, we investigate. When a threat to the world emerges, we eliminate it.”

Kael looked at his palm.

“The black mark.”

Varek nodded.

“The mark of the Eighth.”

A cold silence settled between them.

For once, Kael didn’t have a joke ready.

“The Eighth,” he repeated.

“An existence erased from the records of history. A power that predates the seven classes. A being whose awakening could destroy the foundations of our world.”

Kael swallowed.

“And you think that’s me?”

“I know it is.”

“Based on what?”

Varek pointed at his hand.

“The mark. The disturbance. The reaction of the ancient seals.”

Kael stared at him.

“So let me get this straight. I spend eighteen years being completely ordinary, fail to awaken a power, and suddenly I’m the potential end of civilisation?”

“Yes.”

Kael looked up at the sky.

“Brilliant.”

He took a deep breath.

“Absolutely brilliant.”

Then he looked at Varek again.

“Do I at least get a certificate?”

Varek blinked.

“What?”

“A certificate. Maybe a medal. Something that says, ‘Congratulations, Kael. You’ve ruined the world before getting your first proper job.’”

Varek stared at him.

Kael sighed.

“Never mind.”

But something about Varek’s explanation bothered him.

If the Eighth was so dangerous, why had the Covenant waited until now to act?

And why had Varek bowed to him?

Kael narrowed his eyes.

“One question.”

“Ask.”

“Why did you kneel?”

Varek went completely still.

The symbols beneath his skin flickered.

“I…”

He stopped.

Kael stepped closer.

“You recognised something.”

Varek’s jaw tightened.

“Your presence.”

“What about it?”

“It felt…”

He struggled to find the words.

“Like standing before something that existed before the concept of fear.”

Kael stared at him.

Then he pointed at himself.

“THIS?”

Varek nodded.

Kael looked offended.

“I get nervous ordering food!”

That is true, the entity observed.

“Nobody asked you!”

Varek’s eyes widened.

He looked around the alley.

“Who are you speaking to?”

Kael froze.

Slowly, he turned back toward Varek.

“…My conscience.”

Pathetic.

“MY CONSCIENCE IS RUDE!”

Varek stared at him for a long moment.

Then he took a cautious step backward.

Kael pointed at him.

“Don’t you dare.”

“Your lordship—”

“FINISH THAT SENTENCE AND I’LL THROW YOU INTO A DRAIN!”

Varek immediately shut his mouth.

Somewhere deep inside Kael’s mind, the ancient entity laughed again.

An Unwelcome Visitor

A bell rang in the distance.

Varek’s expression changed instantly.

He looked toward the end of the alley.

“We have to leave.”

Kael frowned.

“Why?”

“The Covenant has detected the awakening. Others will come.”

“Others?”

“Stronger ones.”

Kael stared at him.

“How much stronger?”

Varek hesitated.

Kael closed his eyes.

“Oh, wonderful. That hesitation was extremely comforting.”

“You cannot remain here.”

“Where am I supposed to go?”

“Somewhere they cannot find you.”

Kael looked at the crowded street beyond the alley.

“You’re going to have to be more specific.”

Before Varek could answer, a voice interrupted them.

“Well, this is interesting.”

Both men turned.

A young woman stood at the entrance to the alley.

She wore a dark academy uniform beneath a long white coat. Silver hair framed her face, and a small metallic ornament rested above her left ear.

Her blue eyes moved from Varek to Kael.

Then to the ruined bakery visible across the street.

She raised an eyebrow.

“Kael Veyron.”

Kael blinked.

“Have we met?”

“No.”

“Then how do you know my name?”

“Your face has been displayed across half the city’s public information screens since yesterday.”

Kael grimaced.

“Oh. Right. My five seconds of fame.”

The woman ignored him.

Her gaze settled on Varek.

“Varek of the Ashen Covenant.”

Varek stiffened.

“Seraphina Vale.”

Kael looked between them.

“Excellent. You know each other.”

Neither answered.

He nodded.

“Wonderful. This saves us the awkward introductions.”

Seraphina stepped into the alley.

“I’ve been looking for you.”

Kael glanced behind himself.

“Me?”

“Yes.”

He looked at Varek.

“Did you tell her about the gold?”

Seraphina frowned.

“What gold?”

“Nothing. Private business.”

She studied him for a moment.

Then her gaze dropped to his palm.

Her expression changed.

Only slightly.

But Kael noticed.

“You can see it?” he asked.

Seraphina didn’t answer immediately.

Instead, she closed her eyes.

For a brief moment, the air around her seemed to shimmer.

Kael watched, fascinated.

Then she opened her eyes again.

Her face had gone pale.

“What did you see?” Varek asked.

Seraphina looked at him.

“Seven thrones.”

Varek went rigid.

“And?”

“A broken crown.”

Her gaze returned to Kael.

“And a boy standing in a sea of blood.”

Kael raised a hand.

“Before this conversation continues, I’d like to clarify something.”

Seraphina stared at him.

“What?”

“Am I the boy?”

“Yes.”

“Right.”

He nodded slowly.

“Could we perhaps change the prophecy? I’m not particularly fond of swimming.”

Seraphina stared at him.

Then she sighed.

“I understand why the future keeps showing you alone.”

Kael blinked.

“What does that mean?”

“It means I can see why people abandon you.”

Varek made a small choking sound.

Kael placed a hand over his chest.

“That was unnecessary.”

“Was it inaccurate?”

He opened his mouth.

Closed it.

Then pointed at her.

“I’ve decided I dislike you.”

“Good.”

“Excellent.”

“Wonderful.”

They stared at each other.

Varek looked between them.

For the first time since meeting Kael, he appeared genuinely confused.

“Are you two finished?”

“No,” Kael and Seraphina answered simultaneously.

They looked at each other.

Kael frowned.

“Don’t copy me.”

Seraphina raised an eyebrow.

“Then stop speaking.”

Varek slowly turned toward the sky.

He had faced monsters.

He had fought forbidden creatures.

He had survived battles that had destroyed entire villages.

And somehow, standing between these two teenagers was the most exhausting experience of his life.

The Voice Behind the Curtain

As Seraphina argued with Kael about whether he was capable of following basic instructions, something stirred inside his mind.

The ancient entity had gone silent.

Not its usual irritated silence.

Not the silence that followed one of Kael’s terrible jokes.

This was different.

It was listening.

What is it? Kael thought.

No answer.

Hey.

Nothing.

Ancient darkness?

Silence.

Kael frowned.

If you’ve died, please let me know. I’d like to be informed before my brain starts charging me rent.

Then the entity spoke.

Its voice was quiet.

“Do not trust the girl.”

Kael’s expression barely changed.

He looked at Seraphina.

She was watching Varek now, her face thoughtful.

Why?

“Because she has already seen your death.”

Kael’s stomach tightened.

You said she sees possible futures.

“She sees what the future allows her to see.”

That isn’t an answer.

“It is the only one you are getting.”

Kael clenched his jaw.

What aren’t you telling me?

The entity didn’t respond.

For the first time, Kael realised something that frightened him more than the stranger in the bakery.

The voice wasn’t simply keeping secrets.

It was afraid of something.

And whatever frightened a being that claimed to have existed before the world itself was probably not something Kael wanted to meet.

Unfortunately, he had a feeling he wouldn’t get a choice.

Seraphina suddenly turned toward him.

“Kael.”

He looked up.

“What?”

“Someone is coming.”

Varek’s hand moved toward the weapon concealed beneath his coat.

“Who?”

Seraphina stared at the end of the alley.

Her pupils contracted.

For the first time since arriving, she looked genuinely terrified.

“I don’t know.”

A shadow stretched across the cobblestones.

Then another.

The temperature dropped.

Kael’s palm began to burn.

The black mark appeared again.

But this time, the seven lines surrounding it were glowing.

And the eighth line had almost completed its circle.

The voice inside his head whispered a name.

“Azael.”

Kael stopped breathing.

At the end of the alley, a figure stepped into view.

He wore no armour.

Carried no weapon.

And showed no sign of supernatural power.

He looked like an ordinary man.

That was what made him terrifying.

Varek immediately dropped to one knee.

Seraphina took a step backward.

Kael stared at them.

“Oh, come on.”

The man smiled.

“Kael Veyron.”

Kael swallowed.

“Yes?”

“I have been waiting a very long time to meet you.”

Kael glanced at Varek.

Then Seraphina.

Then the stranger.

“Let me guess.”

He sighed.

“You’re here to kill me.”

The man’s smile widened.

“No.”

He stepped closer.

“I’m here to take you home.”

The black mark on Kael’s palm suddenly vanished.

Inside his mind, the ancient entity spoke for the first time in what felt like an eternity.

Its voice was barely a whisper.

“Run.”

Kael had never heard it sound so afraid.

And for the first time since the mark appeared, he obeyed without asking a single question.