They didn't walk far.
At least—that's what it felt like.
Riven followed beside Ivaan, rolling his shoulder slightly.
"…I'm still counting that kick."
"You're still walking, so it wasn't that bad."
"…I hit a wall."
"You survived."
"…barely."
—
They stopped in front of a gate.
Tall. Black. Simple.
But something about it felt… off.
Riven couldn't explain it.
He just stared at it for a second longer than needed.
—
"We're here."
—
"…This?"
—
Ivaan didn't reply.
He stepped forward.
The gate opened without a sound.
—
Riven stepped in.
—
And paused.
—
Something felt different.
Not heavy.
Not suffocating.
Just…
Off.
—
He frowned slightly.
"…your place feels weird."
—
"You'll get used to it."
—
"I don't think I want to."
—
They walked forward.
The house stood ahead—large, clean, nothing excessive.
But the deeper they moved—
The more Riven felt like something wasn't quite right.
—
He couldn't point at it.
Couldn't explain it.
—
Just—
Wrong.
—
They stepped inside.
—
This time—
There were people.
—
A woman passed by casually, glancing at Riven.
She paused.
—
"…Ivaan."
—
"Not now."
—
She raised an eyebrow, then smirked faintly and walked away.
—
Riven blinked.
"…friendly."
—
"That was her being polite."
—
"…I'm already regretting this."
—
They moved deeper.
—
Riven glanced around.
Everything looked normal.
But nothing felt normal.
—
"…so this energy thing—"
—
Ivaan stopped walking.
Looked at him.
—
"Stop calling it that."
—
Riven frowned.
"…what?"
—
A short pause.
—
"…It's Aether."
—
Silence.
—
Riven repeated it slowly.
"…Aether."
—
"Energy is what people call it when they don't understand it," Ivaan said.
"What you're dealing with… is Aether."
—
Riven exhaled quietly.
"…I don't get any of this."
—
"You will."
—
They stopped again.
—
A man stood at the end of the hall.
Still.
Hands behind his back.
—
His gaze landed on Riven.
—
"You brought him."
—
"Yeah."
—
The man's eyes didn't move.
—
"…unstable."
—
Riven sighed.
"…okay seriously, do you all start conversations like that?"
—
No reaction.
—
Before the moment stretched—
—
"That's enough."
—
A new voice.
—
Both turned.
—
An older man approached.
Slow.
Calm.
—
The moment he appeared—
Riven straightened slightly.
—
Not out of fear.
—
Just instinct.
—
"Grandfather."
—
Ivaan's tone shifted.
Respect.
—
The old man's gaze settled on Riven.
—
Quiet.
—
Observing.
—
Then—
A faint smile.
—
"…so you're the one."
—
Riven frowned.
"…I feel like everyone knows something except me."
—
A soft chuckle.
—
"That will change."
—
A pause.
—
"Tell me."
—
His eyes sharpened slightly.
—
"Can you feel something inside you?"
—
Riven hesitated.
—
Then nodded.
—
"…yeah."
—
"Good."
—
The old man stepped closer.
—
"And what do you call it?"
—
Riven paused.
—
"…energy."
—
Ivaan sighed lightly.
—
"Aether."
—
The word landed again.
Heavier this time.
—
"That is what it is," the old man said.
"And right now…"
A pause.
—
"…yours is scattered."
—
Riven crossed his arms.
"…that explains the 'unstable' comments."
—
A faint smile appeared.
—
"You don't control it."
—
"It moves on its own."
—
Riven frowned slightly.
"…so what am I supposed to do?"
—
"Guide it."
—
Silence.
—
"…that's it?"
—
"That is enough."
—
Riven exhaled.
—
"…I don't even know what I'm trying to control."
—
"Then learn."
—
Ivaan added from the side:
"Try."
—
Riven hesitated.
Then closed his eyes.
—
He focused.
—
That strange feeling inside him—
It was there.
But unclear.
—
He tried to follow it.
—
Nothing.
—
Then—
—
Crack.
—
Riven flinched slightly.
Opening his eyes.
—
"…yeah, that didn't work."
—
A quiet voice from the side:
"At least he tried."
—
Riven turned.
The same woman leaned against the wall.
Watching.
—
"…you've been here this whole time?"
—
"Obviously."
—
"…that's not weird at all."
—
"You'll get used to it."
—
"…everyone keeps saying that."
—
A small pause.
—
Then—
Ivaan looked at him.
"…so?"
—
Riven shrugged slightly.
—
"Your family's strong."
—
A pause.
—
"But…"
—
Ivaan raised an eyebrow.
"But?"
—
Riven spoke calmly.
—
"…this feeling here?"
—
A beat.
—
"It's nothing like that guy."
—
Silence.
—
"…Aarion."
—
The air shifted.
—
Instantly.
—
Someone stood there.
—
No footsteps.
No sound.
—
Just—
Presence.
—
An elder.
—
Still.
Calm.
—
"Of course it isn't."
—
A pause.
—
"Aarion…"
—
For the first time—
A slight edge entered his voice.
—
"…is a monster."
—
Silence deepened.
—
Then—
Almost casually—
—
"And if you speak his name so freely…"
—
A faint pause.
—
"…there is a chance he can hear you."
—
Riven's eyes widened slightly.
—
Ivaan didn't move.
But his posture stiffened just a little.
—
Silence.
—
The elder turned.
—
"Be careful what names you speak."
—
And walked away.
—
No one spoke for a moment.
—
Riven exhaled slowly.
—
"…yeah."
—
A small pause.
—
"…I'm definitely being careful now."
—
Ivaan glanced at him.
—
> "Good."
—
Riven stretched slightly.
Winced.
—
"…you still owe me for that kick."
—
"You're still alive."
—
"…barely."
—
"Skill issue."
—
Riven stared at him.
Then laughed.
—
"…unbelievable."
—
They stood there.
—
Everything felt different.
—
Nothing made sense yet.
—
But one thing was clear.
—
He had stepped into something bigger.
—
And there was no going back.
END