The Blade of the Unknown

The hidden field stretched out beneath Musk’s towering structures, a rare patch of openness in a city buried under rubble and metal. Kael had discovered it years ago, and it had become his personal retreat—a place where he could tinker with new Vexalis designs or practice combat without interruption. Now, for the first time, he was sharing it.

Lira darted around the field, her newly enhanced leg blurring as she zipped between makeshift dummies. With every pass, she grinned wider, laughing as her agility left the targets spinning. "This is amazing!" she shouted.

Jorik, on the other hand, was more deliberate. His new arm gleamed as he activated the Blade Vexalis, slicing through a reinforced dummy with precision. The Shield Vexalis shimmered briefly as he tested its strength, deflecting the remnants of a shattered dummy as if it were a real attack.

Kael leaned against a pile of rubble, arms crossed and a grin plastered on his face. "You two are naturals. Might even make me look bad someday."

"Someday?" Jorik retorted, a rare smirk tugging at his lips.

Kael laughed, stepping forward to adjust one of the dummies. As he turned, a voice rang out from the shadows of the field.

"Impressive. But you’re all still wide open."

The trio spun toward the source of the voice. From the shadows emerged a boy, his appearance starkly different from anyone they’d ever seen. His features were sharp and foreign, his dark eyes carrying an intensity that felt almost otherworldly. Draped in a simple, tattered jacket, he carried a blade at his side—a long, curved sword that gleamed faintly in the dim light.

"A katana?" Lira whispered, her curiosity momentarily outweighing her caution.

The boy stepped closer, his movements fluid, almost predatory. "Name’s Rin," he said, his voice calm but firm. "I’ve been looking for you."

"Us?" Kael raised an eyebrow, stepping forward to meet him. "Why?"

Rin rested a hand on the hilt of his sword, not as a threat, but as if it were a natural extension of himself. "I heard about the chaos you caused in Empyra. The paint bomb on the council statue? That was clever."

Kael’s grin widened, but Jorik’s expression darkened. "What do you want?"

"My parents were part of the Council of Empyra," Rin began, his voice heavy with restrained emotion. "They spoke out against the corruption. Tried to change things. The High Table made sure that didn’t last."

There was a long silence as the weight of his words settled over them.

"So, you want revenge?" Kael asked, his tone lighter than the question demanded.

"Not revenge," Rin replied sharply. "Justice. The Council is rotten, and I intend to expose them. You seem to have the same idea."

Lira tilted her head, studying him. "How do we know we can trust you?"

"You don’t," Rin admitted, his hand dropping from his sword. "But I can prove myself."

Kael exchanged a glance with Jorik and Lira before shrugging. "Alright. Show us what you’ve got."

Rin stepped onto the field without hesitation. Kael gestured to the dummies. "Take your pick."

Instead of answering, Rin drew his katana in a single, fluid motion. The blade sang as it sliced through the air, and in the blink of an eye, three dummies collapsed, their severed pieces scattering across the ground.

Lira let out a low whistle. "Okay, that’s impressive."

Jorik stepped forward, his new arm whirring as he activated the Blade Vexalis. "Let’s see how you handle a real opponent."

The two squared off, Jorik’s massive frame towering over Rin’s lean build. But the size difference didn’t seem to faze Rin. When Jorik lunged, swinging the Blade Vexalis with controlled force, Rin sidestepped with uncanny precision. In a flash, the katana was at Jorik’s throat.

Jorik froze, his eyes narrowing. Rin lowered the blade with a respectful nod. "You’re strong, but you rely too much on your size."

Kael clapped his hands, breaking the tension. "Alright, you’re in."

Rin looked at him, surprised. "That easy?"

"Anyone who can outmaneuver Jorik is someone I want on my team," Kael said, grinning.

They spent the rest of the afternoon training together. Rin’s precision and speed made him a natural leader in combat drills, even earning grudging respect from Jorik. Kael couldn’t help but feel a spark of excitement—this misfit group of his was shaping up to be something extraordinary.

As the sun dipped below the layers of steel above them, casting the field in a soft glow, Kael called it a day. "Let’s head back to the workshop," he said, slinging an arm around Rin. "You’ve earned a seat at the table."

The walk back was filled with easy banter, even Jorik warming up to the new addition. But when they reached the workshop, the atmosphere shifted.

A figure stood in the shadows, waiting for them. The light from the doorway caught the edges of his silhouette—a tall man, cloaked in dark, tattered armor that gleamed faintly with Kran-infused energy.

Kael froze, his grin fading. "Who the hell are you?"

The man stepped forward, his face still hidden in shadow. "We need to talk," he said, his voice low and threatening.

The chapter ended with a tense silence, the weight of his words hanging over them like a storm about to break.