I sat in silence, staring into the flickering flames of the campfire. My mind raced with questions, but each one hit a wall. Raphael had given me no answers. Not really. Only hints of a larger truth, dangling just out of reach. The monsters that had taken everything from me hadn’t just appeared—they were sent.

Someone had ordered this.

The thought made my stomach churn, and the anger boiling beneath the surface only grew. I could feel it spreading through my chest, filling the hollow pit where grief had been. Someone was behind this. Someone with power. And I had been powerless.

I wasn’t going to stay powerless forever.

I glanced at Raphael, who stood at the edge of the cave, his back to me as he stared out into the night. He hadn’t said much since our conversation, and I got the feeling he wasn’t going to give me much more, even if I demanded it.

I clenched my fists. It didn’t matter. I’d lost everything. I had nothing left to lose.

“If I stay with you, if I learn from you,” I said, my voice cutting through the silence, “how long before I’m ready to face them?”

Raphael turned his head slightly, just enough for me to see the shadow of his face beneath his hood. His gaze was unreadable, sharp and cold as ever. “That depends on you.”

I frowned. “What does that mean?”

He took a step closer, the firelight catching the edges of his cloak. “It means that power doesn’t come simply because you want it. You can’t force it. And even if you learn to fight, it doesn’t mean you’re ready for the answers you’re seeking.”

The anger flared again, stronger this time. “I don’t care about being ready. I just want to know who did this. I need to know who’s responsible.”

Raphael’s eyes narrowed, his voice steady. “And when you learn the truth, what then? Do you think knowing the name of your enemy will give you the strength to defeat them?”

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I opened my mouth to respond but stopped myself. What would happen when I finally knew who was responsible? Could I really defeat someone powerful enough to send those monsters? What if I wasn’t strong enough?

Raphael stepped forward, his presence almost suffocating. “This isn’t just about revenge, Elian. If you want to survive in this world, you have to understand what’s coming. The monsters you saw are only the beginning. There are worse things lurking in the shadows, and you won’t stand a chance against them as you are now.”

My heart skipped a beat.

I hadn’t told him my name.

“How do you know my name?” I blurted out, my voice sharper than I intended.

Raphael paused for a moment, his eyes flicking toward me. His expression didn’t change, though. “There’s a lot I know about you.”

I frowned, confusion gnawing at me. “How? You saved me, but I don’t remember telling you anything.”

He met my gaze, and for the first time, I sensed something deeper in him—something cold and ancient. “You’re not the first of your kind I’ve watched over.”

“What does that mean?” I demanded, taking a step toward him. “What kind? What are you talking about?”

Raphael didn’t answer. Instead, he turned away, pacing slowly near the mouth of the cave. “You’ll find out soon enough. But first, we need to move.”

I blinked. “Move? Where?”

“We’re not staying here.” His voice was as calm and cryptic as ever. “There’s a place—a hideout, of sorts. It’s safe, and it’s where you’ll begin to understand what’s really at play.”

I hesitated. “A hideout?”

Raphael nodded. “The path to vengeance begins with understanding. If you’re serious about learning, we leave tonight. The journey will be difficult. Consider it your first test.”

I stood slowly, my muscles aching from the movement. “And if I refuse?”

Raphael didn’t turn to face me. “Then you’ll continue to wander, lost, until they find you again.”

His words hung in the air like a threat. They would come for me again. The thought of those monsters finding me a second time sent a chill down my spine. I didn’t want to be helpless again. I couldn’t.

I clenched my fists. “Fine. I’ll go.”

Raphael’s gaze shifted toward me, and for the briefest moment, I thought I saw a flicker of something—approval? But it was gone as quickly as it came. He stepped toward the edge of the cave, his movements swift and deliberate. “We move fast. Keep up.”

Without another word, Raphael disappeared into the night.

I followed, my heart pounding in my chest. I didn’t know where this journey would take me, but I knew one thing: I wouldn’t stay powerless for long.