"Come on, let's get out of here," Dorian urged, his hand outstretched, already starting to take off. Lingering in this area, especially after what had just transpired, felt like inviting disaster.
But Kael was rooted to the spot, a sudden, paralyzing realization washing over him. He was traveling with someone who possessed a terrifying, raw strength—a strength that could effortlessly slice him in two any day from now. The thought alone was chilling.
"I'm not moving until you tell me who you are," Kael demanded, his voice thin and shaky, far from its usual composed tone.
"What? I am Dorian," Dorian snapped, frustration coloring his reply. "We don't have time for this! We have to get out of here now."
"No," Kael insisted, his gaze hardening with suspicion. "You're not telling me the whole truth. With strength like that, I refuse to believe your family guards were killed 'just like that.' It simply doesn't add up."
"Alright, look, I understand your concern, but this is genuinely not the moment," Dorian pleaded, frantic now. "Can we please get out of here first before they come back with reinforcements?"
Kael stood still for a long moment, visibly weighing his options. The fear was real, but so was the necessity of survival. He glanced back at the path they'd taken. Finally, with a sharp nod of resolve, both Kael and Dorian dashed off, running at breakneck speed until the sounds of their recent encounter faded into the background.
After a grueling couple of minutes, they came to a stop near a massive cliff that overlooked a vast, sweeping grassland. It was still early morning, and the sun was climbing steadily, yet hadn't reached its zenith.
An awkward silence settled between them, broken only by their ragged breathing. Kael eventually looked at Dorian, his eyes still shining with an unnerving glint of fear.
"What do you want to know then?" Dorian asked, turning to gaze out into the wild, endless expanse, his voice resigned.
"First, and most importantly: who are you, really?" Kael asked, still cautious, his body tense.
"I am Dorian Vexhall, as I told you before," Dorian answered, his tone measured and calm, his eyes scanning the horizon.
"Okay, Dorian Vexhall. Then tell me one thing, one thing I can't seem to understand ," Kael pressed, a hint of skepticism starting to creep into his voice. "If your so powerful why didn't you save your family guards back then? You could have killed the attackers easily."
Kael narrowed his eyes and took a small, deliberate step back. "Or... is it possible that you were the one who killed them?"
Dorian stared at kael, hurt flashing in his eyes. "Come on. We've traveled together long enough. You know me better than that."
"Do I really?"kael asked his voice still laced with suspicion,but the expression on Dorian's face told him otherwise.
"Then please, tell me. What... what affinity is that?" Kael asked, his voice barely a tremor. The question was a demand, yet delivered with a clear and potent fear of the answer.
Dorian paused, the breeze ruffling his hair. He contemplated the risks of trust. Sharing such a secret was akin to shooting yourself in the foot if the wrong person heard it, a painful lesson would be learned the hard way. But Kael had also saved his life, and he deserved an explanation.
"It's the Energy Affinity," Dorian finally admitted, carefully studying Kael's face for any flicker of malicious intent or greed.
Kael was surprisingly calm, yet utterly bewildered. "What? Wait... I thought that only Fire, Water, Wind, Earth, and Ice were the elements in existence," Kael said, his eyebrows furrowed in deep confusion. It was understandable; not being a wizard, he couldn't grasp the concept of higher grades of affinity.
Dorian spent the next few minutes explaining. He spoke of the different grades of affinities—the common first-grade elements, the far rarer second-grade powers, and the legendary, near-mythical higher tiers. He explained the concept of rarity translating directly to power. After the explanation, Kael's face was a study in astonishment, his mouth slightly agape.
"Then... what grade is your affinity?" Kael asked, his voice a hushed whisper, as if scared to even articulate the question.
Dorian hesitated for the briefest moment. "I have a Second Grade Affinity," he lied smoothly, spinning a tale he hoped would suffice. He couldn't predict the future; maybe Kael would one day betray him, willingly or unwittingly. He couldn't possibly spill all of his secrets, not the real extent of his power, not yet.
"Gasp!" Kael visibly recoiled, a sharp intake of breath signaling his shock. He now understood the terrifying significance of the 'gem' walking beside him. A second-grade affinity was a rare treasure, a power that could shake kingdoms.
"Okay. What about the story of your family guards?" Kael asked, recovering from the initial shock. "Was it true?"
"No," Dorian admitted, his voice dropping, the memory of his humiliation sharp and painful.
"The truth is..." Dorian began, looking away, recounting his fall from grace. He told Kael of the betrayal, the ruthless attack, and his escape. He detailed the treachery that had stripped him of everything, but he conspicuously omitted any mention of the Astral Nexus or the Guardian. Those were still supersensitive pieces of information he wasn't ready to share with anyone in the world.
After recounting everything, Dorian went silent, bracing himself. He fully expected Kael to ask to split ways now that he knew Dorian's true status.
"I will completely understand if you say we should split up," Dorian added, looking Kael in the eye, ready for the rejection.
But to his profound surprise, Kael's next words left him stunned.
"No," Kael said, his voice taking on a new, resolute tone. "Let me... let me follow you. I'll even help you. In exchange, I want you to help me with something."
"Okay. What is it?" Dorian asked, skepticism momentarily forgotten in his shock.
"I'll tell you when the time comes," Kael answered, his gaze steady and unwavering. "Promise me you'll help." And for the first time, Dorian felt that Kael wasn't acting cold or detached; there was a genuine, desperate need behind the request.
"Okay," Dorian agreed, a wave of relief and a surprising warmth washing over him. "As long as it's something within my power, I promise I'll help you."
And with that, they shook hands, their grip firm. A new relationship had been forged, one built not just on shared necessity, but on the raw, difficult foundation of utter trust.