Crossroads of Fate

The following days passed in silence. Valen Oryn had shut himself in his quarters, waging a war against the voices echoing in his mind. He was trapped between loyalty and truth. Were Magnus' words—the man who had shaped him and raised him with discipline—true, or were the documents Aldric had shown him the real truth? Which was more real? Which was more right?

His mind had turned into a battlefield with each passing minute. The desk he sat at felt like a courtroom, waiting for his final verdict. As he twirled the medallion between his fingers, another memory surfaced. He recalled the day he first trained as a soldier, back when he was just a child. It had been a freezing winter morning, and Magnus had put him through a grueling drill in front of the other children. When he had stumbled and fallen, Magnus' voice had rung in his ears:

"Weakness is unacceptable. Get up. If you fall in battle, you won’t get back up again."

Back then, those words had given him strength. But now? Was it truly strength, or just a chain he was too afraid to break?

At the age of twelve, Valen had knelt in Magnus' office, waiting for his command. Even then, there had been no warmth in Magnus' gaze, only a will of steel. He had placed a firm hand on Valen’s shoulder and said:

"It doesn’t matter what power is. What matters is how you use it. Sometimes, sacrifices must be made."

At the time, Valen had not fully grasped the meaning of those words. But now, after all these years, he realized what Magnus truly meant by sacrifice—it was not just about devotion. It also meant being willing to sacrifice others.

But could a single belief, a single phrase, justify following blindly for years?

The documents Aldric had shown him—the experiments, the lives lost… they were real, too.

And more importantly, what did it make him if he chose to ignore them?

Suddenly, footsteps outside his door pulled him back to the harsh reality of the present.

"Valen, you need to attend the meeting."

It was one of the officers he had always trusted. But today, everything was different for him.

"Alright," Valen replied, his voice uncertain. He was no longer sure of the man staring back at him in the mirror.

As he looked at his reflection, Magnus’ voice still echoed in his mind, but Aldric’s words refused to fade away. A question lingered in his mind: Who am I? Am I Magnus’ loyal soldier, or a man deceived into believing a lie?

For years, he had obeyed orders without question. But now, how could he ignore what he had seen? The documents Aldric had shown him proved that innocent people were being used in experiments. Was this just enemy propaganda? Or was it the undeniable truth staring him in the face?

If, as Magnus claimed, sacrifice was inevitable, would this sacrifice truly create a better future?

He rose from his seat and headed to the meeting hall. When he arrived, the room was quieter than usual. Conversations were whispered. Everyone knew something was happening. As he stepped inside, he saw Magnus. His face was expressionless, but his eyes were sharp and calculating. Silence gripped the room.

Magnus spoke:

"I’m pleased to see you all gathered here. I have a new mission for you. The Chronotoxin experiments are nearly complete. We stand on the verge of something extraordinary for humanity."

As Magnus’ words echoed through the room, Valen’s mind remained clouded.

"There is no turning back now. The sacrifices we make will guarantee a better future."

Instinctively, Valen nodded slightly. In the past, those words would have ignited a fire within him. But now, all he felt was emptiness.

What if Aldric was right? What if these sacrifices were just an excuse?

Magnus’ eyes were on him. Valen clenched his jaw to keep his thoughts hidden. From the outside, he still looked like the loyal soldier, didn’t he? But inside, chaos raged.

Magnus continued:

"There is no turning back. The sacrifices we make will guarantee a better future. I will test each of your loyalties. But remember, this is for the greater good, for science, for humanity."

A chill ran through Valen. “Really?” he whispered to himself. How much of Magnus’ words were true?

As the meeting ended, Valen lingered behind. He needed to see Aldric again.

The old soldier was waiting for him in the corner of the hall, his eyes gleaming with a questioning sharpness.

Aldric met Valen’s gaze. “Have you made your decision?”

Valen clenched his teeth. “I don’t know.”

"If you don’t know, then what have you learned?" Aldric’s voice was firm. "If I had known you were this hesitant, I would never have shown you those documents."

Valen frowned. “I’m not a coward.”

"Oh?" Aldric let out a dry chuckle. "Then why are you still following Magnus' orders? Or are you going to bow to him even after seeing the truth?"

Anger flared in Valen’s chest. “The truth isn’t that simple!” he snapped. “I’ve fought for him for years. He trained me. He believed in me!”

"And you keep telling yourself that lie." Aldric’s voice was cold. "Make your choice, Valen. Either open your eyes completely, or remain a pawn forever."

Valen exhaled sharply. “But what if you’re wrong? What if Magnus is truly right?”

Aldric gave a chilling laugh. “Then why are you still here, Valen?”

The door opened, and Luca stepped inside.

"I heard you," he said quietly. "Valen... No matter what you decide, remember—we are all walking this path together."

Luca approached him, his eyes calm but carrying a sharp intensity.

"We need you," he said, voice steady.

Valen took a deep breath. “I know. But what if I make the wrong choice?”

Luca shook his head. “If you're afraid of making mistakes, then you’re not truly searching for the truth. We’ve chosen our path, Valen. You’re either with us or you’re not.”

In Luca’s eyes, Valen saw something he wasn’t used to—certainty. There was not even a trace of doubt in him.

Valen took a deep breath. Luca’s voice was calm, yet it carried weight. The life he once knew—one built on certainty—had now become an unsolvable puzzle.

"I will stand with you. But if I have even the slightest doubt, I will hand you over to Magnus myself."

Those words were both a vow and a final warning.

And from that moment on, another key member of The Harbingers was ready for war.