The valley was quiet.
Too quiet for a place that knew so much.
Feroz walked beside the old man through a narrow stone path leading toward the largest structure in the valley. The air felt lighter here… but his mind was heavier than ever.
"You said my father came here," Feroz said.
The old man nodded without looking at him.
"He did."
"And you helped him?"
"We tried."
Feroz stopped walking.
"Tried?" his voice hardened slightly. "What does that mean?"
The old man finally turned.
"It means," he said calmly, "that your father did not come here to stay."
Feroz's jaw tightened.
"He left… or you sent him away?"
The old man studied him for a moment.
"Neither."
Silence stretched between them.
"He chose to leave," the old man said. "But not freely."
Feroz felt the meaning behind those words.
"They forced him."
"Yes."
Feroz looked away, anger slowly building in his chest.
Before he could speak again, they reached the entrance of the main structure.
It was simple.
No decorations.
No guards.
Yet the moment Feroz stepped inside—
He felt it.
The air shifted.
The mark on his arm tingled faintly.
Inside, the room was circular.
The floor was covered in patterns—ancient, but different from the ones in the cave.
These felt… calmer.
Balanced.
The old man stepped into the center.
"Stand here."
Feroz hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward.
The moment his foot touched the center—
The markings on the floor lit up softly.
A warm, golden glow.
Not like the blue energy of the Hunters.
Not like the unstable light of the stone tree.
This was different.
Steady.
Controlled.
Feroz looked down at his arm.
The mark responded.
Not with pain.
But with recognition.
The old man watched carefully.
"So it is true," he murmured.
Feroz looked up.
"What is true?"
The old man's eyes met his.
"You are not just connected to the source."
Feroz frowned.
"Then what am I?"
The old man took a slow breath.
"There is something you must understand before anything else."
He walked closer.
"The Free Masons… what do you think they are?"
Feroz answered immediately.
"A secret group controlling power."
The old man shook his head slightly.
"That is what they do. Not what they believe."
Feroz narrowed his eyes.
"Then what do they believe?"
The old man's voice lowered.
"They believe they are chosen."
"To do what?"
"To maintain order."
The golden light dimmed slightly as the room grew quieter.
"They call themselves the keepers of balance. The ones who guide the world from falling into chaos."
Feroz let out a faint breath.
"And what do they call people like me?"
The old man didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he looked directly at the mark on Feroz's arm.
Then back into his eyes.
"For a long time," he said slowly, "they did not have a name."
Feroz felt something tighten in his chest.
"And now?"
The old man's voice became firmer.
"Now they do."
The golden light flickered once.
"They call you…" he paused,
"…the Devil Among Angels."
Silence filled the room.
The words settled heavily in the air.
Feroz stared at him.
"Devil?" he repeated quietly.
The old man nodded.
"To them, yes."
Feroz's expression hardened.
"And to you?"
The old man gave a faint, almost sad smile.
"To us… you are something else."
"What?"
The old man stepped back slightly.
"Balance."
The word lingered.
Feroz looked down at his arm again.
The mark glowed faintly.
Not violently.
Not out of control.
Just… present.
"So to them I'm a threat," Feroz said.
"Yes."
"And to you?"
"A responsibility."
Feroz let out a slow breath.
"That's a lot for one person."
The old man studied him carefully.
"That is why your father tried to carry it alone."
Feroz looked up sharply.
"And failed."
The old man didn't deny it.
Before Feroz could respond—
A low vibration passed through the ground.
Both of them felt it instantly.
The golden markings flickered.
The old man's expression changed.
"He's here."
Feroz didn't need to ask who.
Outside—
The valley trembled slightly.
The mist began to shift unnaturally.
From the edge of the valley…
A tall figure stepped into view.
The Seeker.
Its glowing eyes scanned the area.
"Key located."
The calm of the valley shattered.
Several members of the Circle of Silence moved into position.
Not in panic.
But in preparation.
Feroz felt his heart race again.
"They found me already?"
The old man's voice remained steady.
"It was only a matter of time."
Feroz clenched his fists.
"I can't keep running forever."
The old man looked at him.
"No."
He stepped slightly aside.
"Which is why this time…"
His eyes hardened.
"…you will not run alone."
Outside, the Seeker took another step into the valley.
The ground beneath it darkened again.
The mist began to fade.
And for the first time—
It was not entering a place unguarded.
It was entering a place that had been waiting.