Daelan
The house of Night was unlike Valor and Song. It was not ruled by a single supreme, but by a council of its Saints. All elders of the dream realm, save for the newest rising star, Master Aether.
Sant Daelan sat silently, glancing around the circular table. It sat twelve, but there were only seven men and a woman present.
To his left, was Saint Vaelmar, and to his right was his only elder, Saint Knossos. Across from him were Saints: Bloodwave, Caldreth, Typhaon—Aether's father—and finally, Thalor.
These meetings didn't happen often these days, with at leat one of their powerful champions being needed for sea travel, but a special occasion had arisen.
Kallenir had emerged from the dream realm.
There were several memories all working in tandem to keep the information inside this room a secret.
Daelan glanced down at the document he had put together.
// CLASSIFIED FILE //
CLEARANCE LEVEL: OMEGA.
ACCESS RESTRICTION: VERIFIED PERSONS ONLY.
DO NOT DUPLICATE
FILE NO: BW-KAL-0434
SUBJECT IDENTIFICATION
Name: Kallenir.
True Name: Blessed of the Sea
Codename: Neptune.
Lineage: [NONE/UNKOWN]
Parents: Mundane Father, Mundane Mother.
Notable Family Members: Saint Daelan.
Siblings: Awakened Seren, and Mundane Sister.
Status: ALIVE.
Current Location: Awakened Academy
Monitoring Agent: Saint Daelan.
EDUCATIONAL + PROFESSIONAL PROFILE: Subject demonstrates superior cognitive development. Completed advanced spelltech theory coursework pre-Awakening. Completed an Internship with a top spelltech conglomerate during High-School.
Specialized in applied mathematical, and mechanical engineering systems. Registered intellect level: CLASS V.
Genetic Ancestry (APPROXIMATE):
Greco-Roman (Old Mediterranean): ~High
Slavic: ~High
South American (Composite): ~Medium
Western European: ~Low
East Asian: ~Low
Other/Unclassified Admixture: ~High
PHYSICAL HEALTH PROFILE (As gathered by Saint Daelan's Awakened Ability):
Status: Excellent. Minor skeletal misalignments noted (expected to self-correct post-Awakening). Genetic anomalies present, but within stable range. No chronic afflictions detected.
MENTAL HEALTH PROFILE (As gathered by Saint Daelan's Awakened Ability):
High-functioning with sharp analytical mind. Notable PTSD. Risk of developing several disorders, such as Schizophrenia, due to unknown attributes (as per Saint Bloodeaves assessment). Exhibits strong loyalty-based motivation patterns. Prone to control-seeking behavior and strategic dominance. Displays instability under high-stress.
Psych Evaluation Flag: Monitor emotional volatility.
COMBAT PROFICIENCY REPORT:
Pre-Dream Realm: Minimal combat exposure.
Post Training (Pre Dream Realm): Extensive training under Master Naeve and Saint Bloodwave. Rapid acquisition of martial techniques. Hand-to-hand and aquatic combat proficiency confirmed. Uses subversion, environmental leverage, and enemy-specific counters as opposed to brute-force. Subsequently hardened by field exposure during his time on the Forgotten Shore.
Post Dream Realm (As observed by Saint Daelan's Dormant Ability):
Adaptive Combat intelligence: Exceptional.Reflexes: Supernatural.Swordsmanship: Elite, borders exceptional.Physical Resilience: Above averageHealing: Minor healing factor through blood manipulation.
ASPECT RANK EVALUATION:
Transcendent: 0% (Annotation: Subject's potency disqualifies this tier. Exceeds upper bounds).
Supreme: Low (Annotation: Combat history and feats eclipse this class. Exceeds upper bounds).
Sacred: Medium (Pending testing).
Divine: Unknown (Pending testing).
NOTABLE COMBAT + TACTICAL VICTORIES & ACHIEVEMENTS:
Defeated an Awakened Terror in First Nightmare.Acquired Aspect Legacy as a Sleeper.Eliminated hundreds of Awakened Nightmare Creatures.Eliminated dozens of Fallen Nightmare Creatures.Defeated an Awakened Devil in solo engagement without Aspect.Defeated an Awakened Tyrant in solo engagement.Conquered Iron Spider Nest. (~1,000) Nightmare Creatures. Populated by Beasts, Monsters, Demons, and a Devil (See Forgotten Shore Report).Inducted into the hunters of the Forgotten Shore. Defeated the executioner of the Reigning Bright Lord, Harus.Defeated the Reigning Bright Lord of the Bright Castle, Gunlaug. Defeated an Awakened Titan.Defeated Nephis, Heir of Immortal Flame. (Changing Star).Awakened.
HEIR POTENTIAL:
Status: HIGH.
SUPREME POTENTIAL:
Status: HIGH.
Notes: Mental instability poses known risk, but does not outweigh strategic merit. Strongly recommended for succession consideration of the House of Night.
File Recommendation signed by: [Saint Daelan].
Personal Addendum: Subject should be handled with extreme care. His independence might cause him to respond poorly to stifling management. Recommendation: coronation as heir. Free reign should be given, and only limited under special circumstances. Saint Bloodwave and Master Naeve recommended as initial liaison.
~~~
Kallen
Kallen couldn't stay home for long. Neither could Seren. They'd need to bind themselves to a citadel, which first meant they'd first need to meet with the Nightwalkers in NQSC.
And, despite what Nephis had said, he would not give up on fixing whatever was wrong with his little sister's soul. He would continue to train and get stronger.
But also… he no longer felt like he belonged back home. It was something that had gnawed at him since he'd become the ruler of the Bright Castle.
He was too old to stay here. Too burdened to enroll in higher education. There were certain expectations that came with being an awakened of one of the three Great Houses, and as someone so closely related to a saint, much would be expected of Kallen.
There was another thing as well. Sunny and Nephis… there was a chance they would make it back to the waking world. Kallen should have killed at least one of them—could have, even. After healing him, Nephis was far too immobile to do anything.
He could have smited Sunny with a bolt of lightning.
However, something had stopped him. For worse or better, he had spared them both, giving them a chance to escape and survive.
The Forgotten Shore was a desolate hell, but if someone could make it back into the waking world alive, it was the two of them. Especially if they had each other.
I need to get stronger, Kallen decided. Not just strong.
But first, he had some things to take care of.
"I love you, mom," he said, giving the woman a tight hug. "I should be back before midnight." Kallen threw the door open and looked over his shoulder. "Seren can track me, so don't worry if I don't make it back in time. This might take a while."
"Okay, honey," she called back. "Just be safe, okay?"
Kallen laughed. Safe? If she knew what horrors he was about to face, she would have said a great deal more than just: "be safe."
"I will!" He yelled, closing the door behind him.
Sorry mom, he thought, pulling out his communicator. This is going to take a hell of a lot longer than a few hours.
Kallen's fake smile disappeared, replaced by a heavy scowl. He swiped through his device, seeing an official-looking message from some government worker.
A favor from Saint Cor.
There were two addresses written in the e-letter he'd received. The first was that of Sunny's little sister, Rain.
She actually lived fairly close by.
But the second address was a little farther away…
~~~
Kallen stood outside a modest two-story house, halfway across the city. He'd taken the train to get here, receiving more than a few curious stares given his… interesting new look.
It was easy to tell that he was an Awakened at a glance. With purple eyes and perfect sun-kissed skin, Kallen stood out even when he wore a hoodie and sweatpants.
He supposed he'd just have to get used to it.
Without a second thought, Kallen knocked on the door.
A few moments passed as he waited. Eventually, the door opened and a young girl, maybe seven or eight, peeked her head out the door.
"Hello," she said, staring into Kallen's eyes. She had messy black bangs and familiar brown eyes. The little girl was the spitting image of her older sister.
"Hey there," he said. "Are your parents home?"
The girl tried a distrustful look, but she couldn't quite manage it. His appearance held her attention too completely, or perhaps it mesmerized her.
"You have pretty eyes, mister."
Kallen laughed. "Your sister seemed to think so as well. Can you get your mom for me? I'll wait out here."
She shot him a pouting face and twirled around, her hair fluttering as she stomped off.
That funny sensation behind his eyes came back. Kallen sent a hand to his neck, rubbing the pearl necklace that sat just under the collar of his hoodie.
Just hold it together for a few more minutes.
Shortly after, the door opened again, and a woman stood framed by the crack of light spilling into the dark home.
"We're not taking any visitors at this time," she said, giving Kallen a once over. Her eyes were puffy and pink, distant in a way that made her seem barely present. "There's been a tragic…"
"I know." Kallen held her pained gaze. "I was… I was friends with your daughter, Lyss. In the dream realm, I mean."
The woman's eyes widened. A poorly suppressed pain resurfaced, then shame, guilt, and anger as well. Anger at Kallen, maybe.
"I only knew her for a few months, but I was one of her closest friends, I believe. Would you mind if I came in? I won't be too long, I just have a few things for you guys."
She stared at him for a while before sighing and nodding her head. "Oh, uhm. Yeah, okay. Come on in."
Kallen walked in, seeing the young girl from before watching him from the kitchen as he was led into their living room.
"Lyra, can you go to your room, please?"
The girl nodded slowly, then waltzed off, closing the door behind her.
Lyss's mom turned to Kallen, offering a faint smile. "What should I call you, dear?"
"Kallen is fine," he said. "And you?"
"Melissa."
"It's nice to meet you, Melissa." Kallen offered his hand.
She shook it.
"I have a few things for you. Lyss gave them to me before she… before she died." Kallen pulled several items from his Soul Sea, including her bow, her favorite armor, a few charms, as well as something Saint Cor had left with him.
It was a small little tool that separated Memories from a person's Soul Sea, leaving them as mundane, but stripping their enchantments. Kallen placed each item on the table that separated him from the woman. Then, using the small tool, activated its sole enchantment.
Kallen held onto the bow for a little longer than everything else, staring at it, remembering how Lyss had kept it strung around her shoulder instead of in her Soul Sea. "She was an excellent archer, you know."
Melissa looked at him, a single tear falling from her eyes.
"I had the pleasure of fighting alongside her many times, and I just want you to know how lucky I feel to have known her."
Lyss's mom sat down slowly, hands folded into her lap. Her gaze fell to the items on the table and lingered on the bow as well.
"She never let it go," Kallen said quietly. "Kept it strung across her shoulder even when we were resting. Said it made her feel safer."
Melissa nodded faintly. Her shoulders shook, but she didn't make a sound. Kallen didn't know if what he was doing helped at all, but he figured the woman should know the kind of person Lyss had been even in the darkest of moments.
"Did she…" Lyss's mom stopped talking. Tears flowed down her face. "How did she go? Gods, I shouldn't be asking, but please tell me she had someone there with her… at the end."
Kallen waited for her to wipe her eyes. He cleared his throat, voice steadier than he expected. "It was painless," he lied, remembering her tortured shouts and the way her face twisted in fear. The way she knew that death was near. "She died in my arms. It was quick…"
The words tasted bitter, but he held strong and didn't avert his gaze. Melissa looked like she believed it, so he let her.
"I know it probably doesn't mean much now," he continued after a pause, "but her killer… the person who got her killed, I should say, isn't alive anymore. It isn't something I could confess to anyone, really… and it's probably not something I should say to you either. But I made sure that woman never made it out either. For what it's worth."
Melissa didn't respond. She only looked on, eyes downcast.
Silence stretched. The house felt so still and quiet. The kind of quiet that only settled in places where grief had taken root.
Kallen stood. He glanced down at the stripped remnants of Lyss's gear, now nothing more than ordinary tools and trinkets. No power left in them. Just memory.
"I'm sorry," he said. "For everything."
Kallen turned to go. "She was one of the bravest people I've ever known." He nodded to himself, screwing his face to hold back the tears. "And I think you did a wonderful job raising her."
With that, he began to walk. He heard a muffled thank you in between choked sobs.
He didn't trust his voice anymore, so he only nodded once.
Behind, he heard a muffled prayer addressed to the dead gods.
"Why would you do this to my baby girl?"
Kallen didn't cry. He kept walking out the door and into the quiet street. The charm around his neck was suddenly heavier than it had ever been.
He didn't cry.
~~~
A few days later
Kallen dismissed the battered Gilded Warden as he stumbled forward, tripping and falling into the sand. Ahead lay the endless waves of the ocean. It had taken days to reach here, but finally, he had made it.
The beach.
The promise that he and Lyss had made back on the shores of the black sea.
There were places where the earth ended and something else began. Places where the solid world admitted its defeat and the formless claimed dominion. Kallen had reached such a place. The beach stretched before him like a threshold, the perpetual argument between land and water, that thin membrane where creation had not quite decided what it wished to be.
He walked forward and knelt in the surf.
Kallen didn't look back. There was nothing left to face. No Nephis crumpled on the ground, bleeding into the stone. No Sunny staring at him with betrayal in his eyes.
Above, the moon hung as a sickle blade, pale and waiting. It had hung thus over countless drownings, would hang thus over countless more.
The water surged, then stilled for a heartbeat. In its glass dark surface Kallen saw his own reflection. What stared back bore violet eyes, lovely and strange; skin untouched by blemish or pain; thick, lustrous black hair, and a face chiseled into the likeness of some long-dead Greek hero. Beautiful in the way a perfectly forged sword was: lethal and precise and utterly without mercy.
The transformation from Sleeper to Awakened had stripped away more imperfection into something sharper. Cleaner. Purer. But purity, he had learned, was not goodness. Poison is pure. The void between stars is the purest thing in all creation, and it kills everything it touches. Eventually.
The Awakening had polished him into perfection, yes, but in doing so it had hidden the ugly truth of who Kallen of the House of Night was.
And as he stared into those beautiful, hollow eyes of his, the Daemon of Dread finally whispered his own fear into his mind.
"You are afraid of what you cannot control."
The voice slithered through him. It was mocking. It was intimate. It wasn't loud, and yet, it carved him bare and left nothing behind.
Kallen had avoided mirrors and reflective surfaces. He hadn't dared a glance at the glint of his own sword. Anything that may show him his own face and open the door to his deepest dread. Lest he find his true self on the other side.
But here, with the sea as his witness, it cut him open, and just maybe, he deserved everything he had coming.
For what he'd done to Nephis and Sunny.
For what he'd failed to do for Lyss.
For what he'd become in the doing and the failing.
Sand sifted through his fingers as the tide pulled back, ruining the image of his face. He clutched at the grains harder, nails biting into his palms, but they escaped anyway.
Like his brother's life when he was a kid, running out in scarlet streams while Kallen screamed and pressed and begged and learned the first great lesson: that desperation changed nothing.
What had that lesson done in the end?
He'd been nothing but desperate as he held that burned girl until her final breath.
He'd been nothing but desperate when he'd become that venom-scoured thing back in the nest. When the poison had rewritten him from the inside and he'd watched himself become something else, a passenger in his own skull.
A horrible laugh tore from his throat, jagged and bitter. It dragged, tearing a curse, wild. It was the sound of a man realizing the heavens must have been laughing at him the whole time. Writing a farce and he'd mistaken it for an epic.
[Sea King].
What a joke of an aspect for one bereft of any honor. It was a mockery, if anything. It demanded dominion over water, yet his flaw shackled him to its whims. A throne made of undertow.
But it was his True Name, Blessed of the Sea, that whispered the cruelest truth of them all.
On the surface, it was a name of privilege or glory; a title that sounded of divine favor, destiny, and power. The kind of name that made children dream. Blessed. As though the sea's favor was something to be desired. As though blessing was always gift and never curse.
But blessing didn't always bring mercy. The sea gives, and it takes; it raises you high, and it drowns you if you can't keep up.
That was Kallen's everything laid bare. Favor, but never obedience. He was crowned by the very element that refused to kneel.
He was a control freak. That was his true flaw. The original sin from which all of his other sins descended. That was the truth that Ariel had spoken—the one the universe had echoed again and again, in every failure, every loss, every moment his fingers closed on empty air.
What a vicious lesson. What a patient teacher, this universe that broke him slowly, methodically, with the deliberate care of a master craftsman at work.
Like the king from his First Nightmare, he had controlled nothing.
Not the chains that bound him, which he'd pulled against until his wrists bled and the iron laughed.
Not his hunters who'd dropped one-by-one.
Not the betrayal he'd fought through hell to escape, only for it to be embedded as shrapnel in his chest.
Control was the lie he'd told himself every day. The pretty fiction. The prayer to a god who did not answer because that god did not exist.
Kallen stood. The waves hissed, wiping away the footprints behind him. Sunny's face flickered into his mind, not the hardened warrior he'd been at his end, but the smirking boy in the shadowed halls of the Bright Castle.
He walked. The sea swallowed his feet, then his knees, then his waist. The water was icy as he dismissed the rest of his echo, cold against his bare chest, but he didn't stop.
Seren was safe for now. His family was safe, and that was all that mattered; it was all that ever mattered.
Everything else: honor, redemption, the hope that he might die as something other than what he'd become now was negotiable. Their safety was one fixed point, the single north star by which he'd navigated when all other stars had burned him or burned out.
A wave crashed over Kallen, salt filling his mouth, his nose, then his lungs.The sea tasted of tears and old blood and the dissolution of all things. It tasted, he thought, like truth.
For the first time in a long, long while, he finally let go.
The world narrowed to the roar of the sea.
Then silence.
End of Volume 1 - The Weight of Betrayal