Kalen's mind was a storm of thoughts as he slipped quietly into the small stone chamber he shared with Sorin. The flicker of torchlight cast long shadows across the walls, but his focus was entirely on the future—on how to escape the old man’s grasp.

He had been ready for harsh training, for facing powerful enemies, but this... being groomed as a vessel for an ancient being’s ambition? He could hardly believe it.

Sorin stirred slightly on the other side of the room, his breathing steady but restless. Kalen knew he had to tell him everything. But not yet. The walls might have ears, and the old man had already demonstrated that he could be watching at any moment. He had to be careful.

Kalen crouched near Sorin, gently shaking his friend awake. "Sorin, wake up," he whispered.

Sorin’s eyes fluttered open, the haze of sleep quickly replaced by awareness. "What is it? Something wrong?" he asked, his voice low but sharp.

Kalen glanced toward the door before leaning in closer. "We need to leave. Soon."

Sorin blinked in confusion but remained quiet, nodding for Kalen to continue.

"The old man... he’s not what he seems," Kalen said, his voice just above a whisper. "He doesn’t want to teach us. He wants to use us. Me, specifically. He’s looking for a successor—a vessel to carry his immortality. He’s been manipulating us this whole time."

Sorin sat up, fully awake now. "What? Are you sure?"

Kalen nodded, his jaw tight. "I confronted him about it. He didn’t even deny it. He sees us as tools, nothing more. If we stay here, we’re playing into his hands. We have to get out before it’s too late."

Sorin’s eyes darkened as the weight of the situation sank in. "I knew something was off about him. He seemed too eager to help us, too willing to give away his knowledge. What’s the plan?"

Kalen hesitated. The Higher Realms were vast, dangerous, and full of enemies they hadn’t even begun to understand. Escaping wasn’t going to be easy, especially from someone as powerful as the old man. But they couldn’t stay and allow themselves to be used.

Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.

"For now, we need to gather information," Kalen said, his mind racing. "There has to be a way out of here that he hasn’t accounted for. He’s powerful, but no one is omnipotent. We just need to find the right moment."

Sorin frowned. "And how do we avoid tipping him off? He’s been watching us closely since we got here."

Kalen nodded, knowing the risk. "We keep playing along for now. Train, learn what we can, and act like nothing has changed. But we stay alert, watch for any weaknesses in his defenses. The moment we find an opportunity, we take it."

Sorin’s lips curled into a determined smirk. "I’m with you. Let’s show this old bastard that we’re not his puppets."

For the next few days, Kalen and Sorin continued their training under the old man’s watchful eye. They pushed themselves harder than ever, determined to gather as much strength and knowledge as they could while carefully keeping their true intentions hidden.

Kalen, meanwhile, observed everything. The old man’s habits, the layout of the mountain stronghold, the routines of the creatures that guarded the outer perimeter. Every detail was critical, every piece of information a potential tool for their escape.

In the dead of night, when the stronghold was at its quietest, Kalen would slip away, exploring the deeper chambers and corridors. The old man’s stronghold was more than just a place of learning; it was a fortress, designed to keep intruders out—and captives in.

One night, while exploring a lower level of the stronghold, Kalen found what he had been looking for: a hidden chamber, guarded by ancient runes and seals. The faint hum of power emanated from it, calling to him. Whatever lay beyond that door was important, perhaps even crucial to the old man’s plans.

Kalen studied the runes carefully, recognizing them as ancient symbols of sealing, designed to keep unwanted eyes away. But there was something else. A flaw. A weakness in the pattern of the runes, as if they had been placed in haste or had weakened over time.

"If I can break this seal, I might find something that can help us," Kalen thought, his mind already working on how to dismantle the protections without alerting the old man.

For the next few nights, Kalen returned to the chamber, working slowly and methodically on the runes, chipping away at the ancient magic bit by bit. He couldn’t afford to rush—any mistake could trigger an alarm or worse, bring the old man directly to him.

Finally, after days of painstaking effort, Kalen succeeded. The seal broke with a soft crackle of energy, and the door to the hidden chamber creaked open.

Kalen stepped inside, his heart pounding. The chamber was dimly lit, the air heavy with the scent of ancient parchment and old magic. At the center of the room was a pedestal, and on it sat a small, intricately carved box.

Kalen approached cautiously, sensing the immense power radiating from the box. Whatever was inside, it was important. Possibly even the key to their escape.

He reached out and opened the box. Inside was a small, shimmering crystal, pulsing with a strange, ethereal light. Kalen’s breath caught in his throat. This wasn’t just any artifact. This was a nexus crystal—an object of immense power capable of teleporting its wielder across realms.

"This is it," Kalen whispered. "Our way out."

But as his fingers closed around the crystal, a voice echoed through the chamber.

"I see you’ve found it."

Kalen whirled around, his heart freezing in his chest. The old man stood in the doorway, his eyes glowing with cold amusement.

"You’re clever, Kalen," the old man said, stepping forward. "Cleverer than most. But did you really think you could hide your intentions from me?"

Kalen’s grip tightened around the crystal, his Voidflame sparking in his other hand. "I won’t be your puppet. Not now, not ever."

The old man smiled, his expression unreadable. "We’ll see about that."

With a flick of his wrist, the room was engulfed in a swirling vortex of energy, and the battle for Kalen’s freedom began.