Kale stood in front of the mirror in his room, staring at his reflection. The armor of the Scarlet Veil clung to him, streaked with dried blood, its red and white sheen now tainted by the day's events. The armor felt wrong, almost offensive, a constant reminder of the Lord's favor—and all it had cost him. He could still see the child's face in his mind, the terror, the soft thank you.

Slowly, he began to unbuckle the armor, piece by piece. As the final plate clattered to the floor, the enchantments lifted, and the familiar murmur of Lifedrinker slithered back into his mind—no longer muted, louder, sharper, like nails dragging across his thoughts.

"Look at you," it sneered. "The bladeweaver reduced to crying over a child. I could make you strong, but here you are, clinging to weakness like a drowning man to a stone."

Kale's hands curled into fists, his jaw tightening as the blade's voice scraped through his mind.

"You think you can resist me?" it hissed. "I see through you—self-doubt, fear. You tell yourself you're better, that you can walk this path without blood on your hands, but you hesitate. You waver. You want power, but you're afraid of what it will make you. You claim you won't be like them, but tell me, Kale—who are you without me? A bladeweaver too scared to cut, too burdened to rise."

The voice echoed through his thoughts like a poisoned whisper.

"You hold back, and that's why you'll fall. But not just you.

"How long until your hesitation gets them killed?"

A shiver ran down his spine.

"How long until they scream for you, and you're too slow? How long until your mercy stains your hands in their blood? You hold back, and when the time comes, they'll bleed for it. And then, Kale, then you'll see the truth."

The words coiled tight around him.

"You're not better. You're just too weak to decide who dies first."

The sword's words bit deep, pressing him, needling him with every cruel whisper.

He could feel it—that pull, that hunger, gnawing at the edges of his mind. It would be so easy. To stop caring. To let go. To be free of guilt, of hesitation, of fear.

What if Lifedrinker was right?

What if, when the moment came, he did hesitate?

The image burned in his mind—a battlefield littered with bodies, but this time, they weren't strangers. Rika, Liliana, the others—all of them broken, bleeding, reaching for him. And he was too slow.

Because he held back.

The sword chuckled, a low, crawling thing inside his skull. "You see it now, don't you?"

Kale shuddered, shaking his head, trying to push the thought away, but it was already there, dug in deep, like a wound refusing to close.

"No," he muttered. "I don't need you."

Lifedrinker laughed, the sound slithering through his mind. "Foolish." Its voice was silk and steel, smooth yet sharpened to cut. "You'll break soon enough. You stand there, dripping in the blood of the fallen, pretending at virtue like a naive child. But you are a bladeweaver, Kale. Power is all that matters, and deep down, you know it."

Kale didn't answer immediately. He wanted to argue, to push back, but the words dug deep because part of him knew power did matter. Power kept people alive. Power had let him walk away from every battle he'd been in, while others never would.

So why did it still feel wrong?

He exhaled sharply. No. He wouldn't let it win. He wasn't a slave to the blade. He wasn't a mindless killer.

"Enough!" Kale roared, his voice a raw force cutting through the air, through the whispers filling his head. "You're wrong. I did what had to be done, but I won't become like you. I'm no slave to blood or fear."

For the first time, the whispers hesitated.

Only for a breath, but he felt it.

Then, like a serpent striking after a feint, Lifedrinker lashed out, venomous and sharp.

"You'll crack."

It seethed, curling around him, digging claws into his mind, searching for weakness.

"You're weak, Kale. Clinging to dead ideals and hollow resolve. You think you're free, but you're nothing—a shell, brittle and empty, just waiting to be filled with real power. My power."

Kale felt the weight of it pressing down, coiling around his ribs like a vice. But this time, the fear didn't drown him.

Because he recognized the lie.

It wasn't just power that had saved him.

It was how he chose to wield it.

And no matter how deep the blade cut, it would never make that choice for him.

A fierce, unbreakable resolve surged through Kale, a flame igniting in his chest that burned hotter than the sword's venom. His voice rose, strong and unshaken, each word a hammer blow against the darkness that filled his mind.

"I choose," he bellowed, every syllable laced with defiance.

"I am no pawn, no vessel for your poison. My path is mine—not yours."

The blade recoiled. Its presence faltered, the taunts that had once burrowed so deep now staggering under the force of his will.

Lifedrinker snarled, its whispers turning jagged, desperate, a beast denied its feast. The malice clawed at him, twisted around his thoughts in one final, frenzied grasp—but Kale stood firm.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

He didn't break.

He felt the shift, the moment Lifedrinker lost its grip. Its voice withered, no longer the unshakable force of venomous certainty, but a shadow retreating before the light.

A breath. Then another.

His chest heaved, every inhale steadier, reclaiming something that had nearly been lost.

Lifedrinker hissed one last time, its fury fading into resentful silence. The blade had not been destroyed, not vanquished, but it had been denied.

And that was enough.

A quiet settled over him, unlike anything he'd felt since the day he'd taken the cursed blade. It wasn't the stillness of an empty battlefield, nor the cold numbness of survival.

It was something deeper.

The peace of having stood against the abyss and won, if only for now.

The shadows in his mind stilled. He was alone with his choice. And this time, it did not feel like a burden.

It felt like strength.

The door burst open, and Liliana stepped in, alarmed. "Kale! Are you alright?"

He turned to her, and she hesitated, studying his face. There was something different in his eyes—an intensity, a hardness she hadn't seen before, as though something deep within him had shifted, transformed. She took a step back, uncertain, the faintest trace of doubt crossing her mind. Is this really Kale?

He gave her a faint smile, a calmness about him that felt unsettling. For a moment, she struggled to recognize him, to reconcile the fierce, unyielding presence before her with the Kale she knew, so different from how he had been after the massacre of House Bloodthorn.

"Yes," he said calmly. "I'm alright now."

Liliana's eyes narrowed, her voice low and cautious. "Who were you talking to?"

He hesitated for a moment, glancing at Lifedrinker, before looking back at her.

"No one worth listening to."

Liliana studied him for a moment longer, her eyes flicking between his face and the cursed blade. Whatever had transpired in that room, it had changed him. She could sense the shift, the depth of whatever battle had taken place, leaving something both unsettling and resolute in its wake.

"Good," she said at last, though the tension lingered in her posture. She nodded, stepping back toward the door. "You'll need that strength."

He gave a short nod in reply, understanding her words in ways he hadn't before. He felt a renewed clarity—not one born of peace but of a sharpened, tested resolve. There would be more battles, more moments where he'd have to hold his ground, not only against the enemies outside but against those that lurked within.

As Liliana turned to leave, she looked back over her shoulder, the faintest trace of concern hidden beneath her hardened expression. "I'll see you at dawn," she said.

"Yeah," he replied. "I'll be ready."

As Liliana's footsteps faded down the hall, Kale turned back to the mirror, studying his own reflection with fresh eyes. Blood still streaked his skin, his knuckles raw, his face shadowed with exhaustion. And yet, beneath the weariness, he felt something he hadn't expected—a calm, an unshakable steadiness that hadn't been there before.

He reached up, touching his shoulder where the weight of Lifedrinker had pressed against him just moments ago. If he could hold Lifedrinker back—if he could resist the blade's venomous whispers and refuse its pull—then he could control the darker impulses that sometimes gnawed at him. The fear, the doubt, the guilt that lingered after every battle… he could master those too. He didn't need to give in to despair or rage. Lifedrinker hadn't broken him, and that meant nothing else could, either.

A faint smile crossed his lips as he felt this realization settle, grounding him. The strength he'd found wasn't just about wielding a blade or enduring battles—it was the quiet, determined strength to face himself and, slowly, to gain control over the turmoil within. He'd faced his fears, and he'd stood firm.

With a deep breath, Kale squared his shoulders, feeling a renewed sense of purpose. Whatever lay ahead—whether it was Xeroth, or the echoes of what they'd done—he would be able to face it.

***

The following morning, Kale awoke to find his armor laid out before him, gleaming as though it had never seen a day of battle. The plates had been polished to a brilliant shine, each piece fitted and restored to perfection. Beside it lay a set of finely made clothes—soft, perfectly tailored, finer than anything he'd worn before. He ran his fingers over the fabric, feeling its high quality and wondering at the generosity—or perhaps the expectations—of their host.

As Kale stepped into the hall, the polished white armor with its scarlet accents caught the morning light. Rika was already there, leaning casually against the wall, looking amused.

"Check out the new threads," Rika said, spinning in place to show off her polished armor and high-quality outfit beneath. "The Scarlet Veil definitely knows how to treat its guests right. Didn't think I'd be getting an upgrade in fashion while I was here."

Kale chuckled, nodding. "Looks good on you. They do seem eager to make an impression."

Liliana joined them, smiling as she took them in. "It's not every day the Scarlet Veil hosts such esteemed guests. Consider it a gesture of respect."

"Well, if this is what respect looks like, I can get used to it." Rika grinned.

"It seems my father won't be able to see us today," Liliana said. "He's in counsel with the Red Hand, discussing a possible remedy for the wound Lifedrinker left him."

Kale frowned. "The Red Hand? Who's that?"

"The council of blood mages. They oversee the most complex rituals and offer guidance on matters of blood magic that even my father won't take lightly."

"Let me guess," Rika said. "There are five of them?"

"Exactly."

Kale nodded. "So… what's the plan?"

"Since we're free for the day, I thought I might show you both around the city. I think we all deserve some rest and relaxation after everything that's happened. A good excuse to show you Nyridia in all its glory—without all the death and killing… hopefully."

Rika grinned, clearly on board. "Now that sounds like a good time. Show us the sights, Lady Liliana."

Kale smiled, raising an eyebrow. "Are you sure you can handle a day without smashing someone with your hammer?"

"Ohh, the day is still young, Kaley," Rika replied with a wicked grin. "Who knows who might need flattening before it's over? Don't worry—I'll try to resist bashing too many heads in."

"So, you'll only smash some of them?" Kale asked.

She gave a mischievous shrug. "You never know, Kaley. When the hammer calls, I must answer."

Liliana rolled her eyes, but a faint smile tugged at her lips. "Maybe you could keep the smashing to a minimum."

Rika gave her a serious look. "I'm sorry, Lady Liliana, but I simply cannot promise that. Sometimes people just need a little smashing."

Liliana shook her head, laughing softly. "Fine, but let's at least wait until we're out of view of the Bastion."

Rika sighed dramatically. "Very well. No public smashing. For now."

As they turned to leave, a soft, measured voice echoed through the hall. "And where are my daughter and her esteemed guests headed so early in the day?"

They looked back to see Liliana's mother standing by the entrance, her presence commanding, though her expression was gentle. Draped in deep red robes adorned with subtle silver embroidery, she moved with a grace that spoke of both nobility and strength. Her eyes lingered on Liliana with a mixture of fondness and scrutiny.

"Mother," Liliana said, inclining her head in a respectful greeting. "We were just heading out to show our friends a less… formal side of Nyridia."

Her mother raised an eyebrow. "The city has much to offer, indeed. Though, perhaps they should know what to expect before wandering into its charms."

Rika gave a low whistle. "A warning, huh? Now I'm curious."

Lady Elaria's gaze shifted to Rika, a glint of amusement in her eyes. "Let's just say Nyridia can surprise even the most seasoned guests. But something tells me you're all ready for it."

She turned her attention to Kale, studying him in silence for a moment before speaking. "You wear the Veil's armor well. It is not an easy mantle to carry, yet you seem... willing."

Kale nodded. "It's... an honor," he replied, though the words felt almost too formal. He could sense there was more she wasn't saying.

Lady Elaria gave a slow nod, her expression softening. "Then enjoy the day, all of you. Strength can't always be drawn from duty; sometimes, it comes from allowing yourself a moment of respite. Remember that."

"Thank you, Mother," Liliana said.

With a graceful incline of her head, Lady Elaria turned and disappeared back down the hall.

"Alright then," Rika said, cracking her knuckles. "We have her blessing! Let's see what trouble we can find."

Liliana let out a small laugh, leading them toward the exit. "Remember, Rika—no smashing!"

Rika grinned, pure mischief lighting up her face. "Did someone say smashing? Because I'm pretty sure I heard smashing."

Kale chuckled, shaking his head as he followed them.

And with that, they stepped into the sunlight, ready for a day that would definitely go exactly as planned… probably.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.