The Man Who Made Monsters Kneel

The alley had never felt so small.

Kael Veyron stood between a silver-haired girl who looked ready to stab someone and a hooded man who had apparently forgotten how to breathe.

In front of them stood Azael.

No armour.

No weapon.

No visible ability.

Just an ordinary-looking man with dark hair, calm eyes, and a smile that made Kael feel as though he had arrived late to an appointment scheduled thousands of years ago.

“Run.”

The voice inside Kael’s head repeated itself.

For the first time since their strange partnership began, the ancient entity didn’t sound amused.

It sounded afraid.

Kael swallowed.

You said you were the reason my world exists.

I am.

You said you’ve watched gods perish.

I have.

And now you’re telling me to run from a man who looks like he sells insurance?

Kael.

What?

Run.

Azael tilted his head.

“You’re having a conversation with it, aren’t you?”

Kael froze.

Seraphina’s eyes widened.

Varek immediately dropped to one knee.

“My lord.”

Azael glanced at him.

“Stand up, Varek.”

The man in the grey coat obeyed, although every movement suggested he would rather be anywhere else.

Azael looked back at Kael.

“You’ve grown.”

Kael stared at him.

“Have we met?”

“Not like this.”

“That sounds like something people say when they want to avoid explaining themselves.”

Azael chuckled.

The sound was warm.

Almost friendly.

That somehow made it worse.

“I see you inherited your mouth.”

“From who?”

“Your father.”

The alley fell silent.

Kael’s expression changed.

His father had disappeared when Kael was a child. Elena rarely spoke about him, and the few times Kael had asked questions, she had always given him the same answer.

Some things are better left in the past.

Kael hated that answer.

Especially now.

“What do you know about my father?”

Azael’s smile faded slightly.

“Enough to know that he would be disappointed if you died here.”

The black mark on Kael’s palm began to burn.

Inside his head, the entity spoke.

Do not let him touch you.

Finally, useful advice.

I am serious.

You’ve been serious before. It usually ends with me getting punched.

If he touches you, I may not be able to bring you back.

Kael’s stomach tightened.

Bring me back from where?

The entity didn’t answer.

Azael extended his hand.

“Come with me, Kael.”

Kael looked at the hand.

Then at Azael’s face.

“No.”

Varek’s head snapped up.

Seraphina stared at Kael as if he’d just challenged the sun to a fistfight.

Azael simply lowered his hand.

“No?”

“No.”

Kael took a breath.

“You appear out of nowhere, know my missing father, make this terrifying man kneel, and expect me to follow you because you asked nicely?”

He pointed at Varek.

“That one tried to kill me earlier. I’m beginning to think your social circle needs serious improvement.”

Varek looked offended.

“I was fulfilling my duty.”

“You destroyed a bakery fulfilling your duty.”

“The baker will be compensated.”

“I already compensated him with your money.”

Varek slowly turned towards Kael.

“You what?”

Kael shrugged.

“Your money was in my possession. Your bakery-related crimes were still outstanding.”

For the first time, Seraphina almost smiled.

Almost.

Azael watched the exchange with quiet amusement.

Then he sighed.

“Unfortunately, I cannot allow you to remain here.”

Kael’s mark pulsed.

“Unfortunately for who?”

Azael’s eyes changed.

For a single instant, their dark colour disappeared.

Behind them was something vast and empty.

Something that made the alley, the buildings, and the sky feel like decorations painted onto a wall.

Then the world moved.

Azael was suddenly standing in front of Kael.

Kael didn’t see him move.

He didn’t even see him approach.

One moment, Azael was several steps away.

The next, two fingers rested against Kael’s forehead.

The black mark erupted with light.

And the world shattered.

Not physically.

Something worse.

Every sound vanished.

Raindrops suspended in the air.

A loose stone stopped halfway through its fall.

Seraphina stood motionless, her silver hair frozen in mid-swing.

Even the distant city seemed to have forgotten how to breathe.

Kael couldn’t move.

Azael studied him.

“There you are.”

His voice echoed through the frozen world.

“I wondered how much of you had survived.”

Kael tried to speak.

Nothing came out.

Azael pressed one finger against the black mark on Kael’s palm.

Pain flashed through Kael’s mind.

Images followed.

Seven enormous thrones.

A crown split down the middle.

A city beneath a black sun.

A little boy standing alone in a room filled with broken mirrors.

And a figure sitting on a throne that had never existed.

The figure’s face was hidden.

But Kael heard its voice.

“You promised you would come back.”

The vision disappeared.

Azael removed his hand.

For the first time, the smile had vanished from his face.

“Oh,” he whispered.

Then he looked at Kael with something dangerously close to pity.

“They really did erase you.”

The mark on Kael’s palm burned brighter.

Inside his head, the entity screamed.

GET AWAY FROM HIM!

Azael turned his eyes towards the empty air.

“So you’re still there.”

The entity fell silent.

Azael smiled again.

“How disappointing.”

He snapped his fingers.

Time returned.

Kael was thrown backwards.

He crashed into a stack of wooden crates, which collapsed beneath him.

Pain shot through his back.

For several seconds, he couldn’t breathe properly.

Then he rolled onto his side.

“Okay,” he wheezed. “New rule.”

He coughed.

“If someone offers to take me home, I’m asking for identification first.”

Seraphina was already moving.

“Kael, get back!”

Azael turned towards her.

She raised her right hand.

Silver light spread across her fingers.

Seven translucent blades appeared around her, each one rotating at a different angle.

Her expression was cold.

“You don’t get to touch him again.”

Azael regarded the blades with mild curiosity.

“Seraphina Vale.”

Her eyes narrowed.

“You know me?”

“I know your mother.”

For the first time, Seraphina hesitated.

Only for a heartbeat.

But Azael noticed.

He always seemed to notice everything.

“Does she still dream about the white room?” he asked.

Seraphina’s face lost its colour.

“Shut up.”

“Does she still hear the bells?”

“I said shut up!”

The seven blades shot forward.

They moved faster than arrows, leaving thin silver trails in the air.

Azael didn’t dodge.

He lifted one hand.

The blades stopped inches from his face.

Then they turned around.

Seraphina’s eyes widened.

“Move!” she shouted.

Kael barely had time to roll.

The blades tore through the space where he had been lying and smashed into the wall behind him.

Stone exploded outward.

Kael stared at the damage.

“Those were aimed at him!”

Seraphina gritted her teeth.

“I noticed!”

“Just checking! Your aim is starting to concern me!”

Azael flicked his wrist.

The blades vanished.

Seraphina staggered.

A thin line of blood appeared beneath her nose, and she quickly wiped it away.

Her ability wasn’t simply creating weapons.

She was manipulating possible outcomes, guiding attacks along paths she had already seen.

But Azael had just forced those outcomes to reverse.

Kael pushed himself upright.

“Seraphina!”

“I’m fine.”

“You look like you’ve just argued with a wall and lost!”

“I will personally throw you into the next century if you don’t shut up!”

“Good! Your personality is still intact!”

Azael watched them.

“How touching.”

He took one step forward.

The ground beneath his foot cracked.

Not because he was heavy.

Because the world itself seemed reluctant to support him.

Varek suddenly moved.

He appeared between Azael and Kael, tearing back his sleeve.

Black symbols covered his forearm.

They began to glow.

“Azael-sama,” he said carefully. “The Covenant has not authorised—”

Azael glanced at him.

Varek stopped speaking.

“I wasn’t asking the Covenant for permission.”

The symbols on Varek’s arm flared.

He clenched his fist.

“Then forgive me.”

The air exploded.

Varek shot forward.

Black chains erupted from his shadow, wrapping around Azael’s arms and legs. Each chain carried glowing symbols that burned brighter as they tightened.

Varek slammed his palm against the ground.

“ASHEN ART: GRAVELOCK!”

The alley trembled.

The chains dragged Azael down to one knee.

For a brief moment, nobody moved.

Then Varek shouted, “NOW!”

Kael looked around.

“Now what?”

Seraphina grabbed his collar and pulled him aside as a massive black spear shot out of Varek’s shadow.

It struck Azael squarely in the chest.

The impact shattered the pavement.

Dust surged through the alley.

Kael covered his face.

When the dust cleared, Azael remained on one knee.

The spear had pierced his coat.

It hadn’t pierced his skin.

Varek stared.

Azael looked down at the spear.

Then he looked at Varek.

“You’ve improved.”

Varek’s expression hardened.

“Thank you.”

“That wasn’t a compliment.”

Azael stood.

The chains broke.

Every single one.

Varek was hurled across the alley and crashed into the opposite wall.

Seraphina raised her blades again, but Azael lifted his hand.

She froze.

Not her body.

Her ability.

The silver light around her fingers flickered and disappeared.

“What—”

“You keep trying to choose a future in which you defeat me,” Azael said. “But you haven’t understood the problem.”

He approached her.

“You cannot choose an outcome that does not exist.”

Seraphina clenched her fists.

Kael watched her carefully.

She was frightened.

But she didn’t retreat.

Instead, she closed her eyes.

A thin silver line appeared across her forehead.

“Then I’ll make one.”

Her eyes opened.

For the first time, Kael saw something different in them.

Not a vision.

A decision.

Seraphina lunged.

She carried no visible weapon, but silver light gathered along her arm, forming the outline of a sword.

Azael’s expression changed.

Only slightly.

But it was enough.

He stepped backwards.

Seraphina swung.

The silver blade cut through the air.

And for the first time that night—

Azael moved to avoid an attack.

The blade sliced through his sleeve.

A small piece of grey fabric drifted to the ground.

Silence followed.

Seraphina landed several steps away, breathing hard.

Azael looked at the cut.

Then at her.

“Interesting.”

Seraphina swayed.

Kael caught her before she fell.

“Easy there.”

She shoved weakly against his chest.

“Don’t touch me.”

“You’re welcome.”

“I didn’t ask you to catch me.”

“Next time I’ll let gravity handle your customer service.”

She glared at him.

Then her knees buckled again.

Kael tightened his grip.

“Yeah, that’s what I thought.”

Across the alley, Azael examined the torn sleeve.

A strange expression crossed his face.

Something almost nostalgic.

“That sword,” he murmured. “Where did you get it?”

Seraphina didn’t answer.

Azael’s gaze shifted towards Kael.

“Your sister is going to be very worried.”

Kael’s blood turned cold.

“What did you say?”

“Elena, isn’t it?”

The black mark pulsed violently.

Azael smiled.

“She has your father’s eyes.”

Kael released Seraphina carefully.

“Don’t talk about her.”

“Why?”

Azael tilted his head.

“Because you are afraid I’ll hurt her?”

Kael said nothing.

The ancient entity whispered inside his mind.

Kael. Listen to me.

Not now.

You must leave. Immediately.

He mentioned Elena.

I know.

If he knows where she lives—

He already knows.

Kael’s hands curled into fists.

The black mark spread across his palm.

One dark line extended towards his wrist.

Then another.

The air around him began to tremble.

Azael watched with sudden interest.

“There it is.”

Kael’s vision blurred.

For a fraction of a second, he saw the alley from above.

He saw every raindrop.

Every crack in the pavement.

Every heartbeat.

He could feel the space between objects as if it were a physical thing he could reach out and grasp.

Then he heard a whisper.

Not the entity.

Not Azael.

Something deeper.

Something buried beneath his own thoughts.

“Which one will you sacrifice this time?”

Kael gasped.

The sensation vanished.

He stumbled backwards, clutching his hand.

Azael’s smile disappeared.

For the first time, the man looked genuinely unsettled.

“No,” he whispered.

He stared at Kael’s palm.

“That shouldn’t be possible.”

Varek struggled to his feet.

“My lord?”

Azael ignored him.

His eyes remained fixed on Kael.

“What did you just awaken?”

Kael stared back.

“I don’t know.”

It was the truth.

And somehow, that answer frightened Azael more than a threat would have.

A distant bell rang.

Once.

Twice.

Seven times.

Varek went rigid.

Seraphina’s face turned pale.

Azael slowly looked towards the Royal Academy.

Beyond the rooftops, a column of pale light rose into the night sky.

The seventh throne had cracked.

Azael closed his eyes.

When he opened them again, his expression had changed.

The amusement was gone.

So was the patience.

“Listen carefully, Kael Veyron.”

His voice carried no anger.

That made it worse.

“There are people in this world who would burn entire kingdoms to find you. There are others who would gladly destroy the world to keep you hidden.”

He stepped closer.

“And there are things beneath this world that should never learn your name.”

Kael forced himself to stand straight.

“Then tell me who I am.”

Azael looked at him for a long moment.

“I would.”

He glanced at the mark on Kael’s palm.

“But you are not ready to remember.”

Kael’s jaw tightened.

“I’m getting really tired of people deciding what I’m ready for.”

For a moment, Azael almost smiled.

Then he reached into his coat and withdrew a small black object.

A ring.

Its surface was covered in symbols that made Kael’s eyes ache when he looked at them.

Azael tossed it towards him.

Kael caught it instinctively.

The moment the ring touched his skin, the mark on his palm went completely dark.

The pain vanished.

So did the strange pressure in the air.

Azael turned away.

“Keep that with you. It should hide your presence for a little while.”

Kael stared at the ring.

“Why are you helping me?”

Azael paused.

“Because, whether you believe it or not, I am trying to protect you.”

“From what?”

Azael looked over his shoulder.

“From the person you become when you finally remember everything.”

Then the shadows beneath his feet opened like a doorway.

He stepped into them.

And disappeared.

For several seconds, nobody spoke.

Then Varek slowly sank to one knee.

Seraphina stared at the empty space where Azael had stood.

Kael looked down at the ring.

Inside his head, the ancient entity remained silent.

That silence frightened him more than anything else.

Finally, Kael spoke.

“So…”

He looked at Varek.

“Are we going to pretend that was normal?”

Varek shook his head.

“No.”

“Good. Because I was about to request a refund on this entire evening.”

Seraphina let out a tired breath that might have been a laugh.

Then she noticed the ring.

Her expression changed instantly.

“Kael.”

“What?”

“Where did he get that?”

“Azael gave it to me.”

She grabbed his wrist.

“Take it off.”

Kael blinked.

“You just told me not to touch you. Now you’re grabbing me. Your boundaries are more confusing than this entire night.”

“Kael, I’m serious!”

Her fingers trembled.

“That ring belonged to the first king.”

Varek slowly lifted his head.

“The first king is a myth.”

Seraphina shook her head.

“No. The myth is that he died.”

Kael stared at the ring.

A tiny symbol had appeared on its surface.

Eight lines.

Seven surrounding one.

And beneath them, a name was slowly revealing itself.

KAEL VEYRON.

The ancient entity finally spoke.

Its voice was barely audible.

Oh, no.

Kael swallowed.

What now?

The entity answered with three words.

He found you.

Kael’s stomach dropped.

Who found me?

A pause.

Then—

The first king.

Far beneath the Royal Academy, in a chamber sealed for thousands of years, an empty throne began to move.

And somewhere in the darkness, something that had been sleeping since the beginning of the world opened its eyes.