Kael stood in the memory-forged chamber, the bronze chain heavy in his hand. Sweat cooled on his brow, but his Core burned with a restless fire—impatience, doubt, fear.
This time, he thought. I won't let the past hold me back.
He clenched his fists and focused. He needed a new chain, one that would bind his will to protect those around him—no more hesitation, no more weakness.
The chamber shifted. The orphanage faded into a new scene—a bustling market in Emberfall, bright and loud, full of faces he barely recognized.
He reached out to shape the chain, but the forge pulsed, cold and unyielding.
No, Kael whispered. I don't need to feel pain again. I'm stronger now.
He forced his intent, pushing aside doubts.
Light flared.
The chain appeared—but flickered, unstable, and cracked at the edges.
A sharp pain stabbed his chest, and the chain shattered, splintering into shards of fractured light.
The chamber darkened.
A voice echoed—low and cruel.
"Lies bind no chain."
The world twisted into a fracturing void.
Kael's Core felt like it was tearing.
Shadows reached out—wrapping around him with cold fingers.
Visions slammed into his mind: faces of those he tried to protect… but failed. Memories he'd pushed away. Lies he told himself to survive.
"You cannot hide from truth," the voice intoned.
Kael screamed, struggling against the shadows as they tightened.
Pain flared in his chest—a burning that seared to his bones.
Then, silence.
He collapsed to the cold glass floor, breath ragged, Core trembling.
Slowly, a figure appeared beside him—Sarai.
Her eyes were grave.
"You tried to forge a chain with false intent," she said softly. "The Chains don't just reject lies. They punish them."
Kael's voice was barely a whisper. "I thought I was ready. I thought I could…"
Sarai shook her head. "Power like this doesn't come from wishing or defiance. It comes from acceptance."
She reached out, steadying him.
"The Chains have marked you now. Your Core carries the fracture."
Kael looked down at his hands—the bronze chain flickered faintly, but it was broken.
"I have to fix this," he said.
"And you will," Sarai replied. "But first, you need to face the parts of yourself you've hidden away. Otherwise, the Chains will shatter you for good."