Victor stirred in the hospital bed, the muted hum of machines and the soft murmur of voices in the hallway creating a cocoon of sound around him. His limbs felt heavy, his body aching as though he had run a marathon in his sleep. The sharp antiseptic scent of the room mingled with the faint warmth of sunlight filtering through the curtains.

“You’re awake,” said a deep, commanding voice.

Victor turned his head toward the source. Sitting in a chair by the window was a man whose very presence seemed to radiate authority. His short, silvery hair caught the light, framing a face marked by age and power in equal measure. His broad shoulders and the golden pin of the Etherion Enforcers on his lapel left no doubt as to his identity.

Arcadius—the Holy Star.

Victor blinked, disoriented. “What… what happened?”

Arcadius leaned forward, resting his forearms on his knees. His eyes, sharp and discerning, locked onto Victor’s. “You were attacked by a creature—a Shade. A remnant of corrupted Etherion, born from darkness and rage. It drained you of Etherion, almost to the point of death. If I hadn’t been there…”

He didn’t finish the sentence, but the implication hung heavy in the air.

Victor swallowed hard, fragments of the encounter flashing through his mind. The shadowed alley, the tendrils piercing his body, the icy grip of death closing in. “Why… why was it after me?”

Arcadius regarded him carefully, his expression unreadable. “Creatures like that don’t attack randomly. They’re drawn to Etherion—and yours is unusual.”

Victor’s stomach twisted. “Unusual how?”

“You have Etherion,” Arcadius said, “but no affinity. That alone makes you an anomaly. Rare. It’s no wonder the Shade targeted you. It likely saw you as a source of pure energy, unshaped and untethered to any elemental force.”

Victor frowned, his mind racing. He had always felt like an outsider in a world dominated by affinities, but this revelation was something else entirely. “So… I’m just a target? Because I’m different?”

Arcadius’s mouth twitched into a faint smile. “Different doesn’t mean weak, Victor. In fact, your situation gives you an edge most people don’t have.”

Victor stared at him, confused. “An edge? How?”

Arcadius sat back, his gaze growing thoughtful. “Most people are bound by their affinity. Fire, Water, Wind, Stone—these elements shape their Etherion and their abilities, limiting them to what their affinity allows. But you? Your Etherion is free. Untethered. That makes you unpredictable and versatile.”

Victor hesitated, his mind rebelling against the idea. He had spent his life being told he was at a disadvantage, that his lack of affinity made him less. “That sounds nice, but… how am I supposed to do anything with it? I’ve never been able to control Etherion like the others.”

“That’s because no one’s taught you how,” Arcadius said simply. “And because you’ve never truly believed you could.”

Victor’s chest tightened. His whole life, he had been surrounded by people who wielded their affinities with ease. He had always felt like he was standing on the outside, looking in.

“Let me tell you something,” Arcadius said, his tone softening. “I didn’t always have control, either. My affinity—Sun—is one of the most powerful there is. But when I was young, it nearly consumed me. I had to learn to master it, to make it my own, or it would’ve destroyed me.”

Victor’s eyes widened. “Your affinity is… Sun?”

Arcadius nodded, and for a brief moment, his presence seemed to brighten. “It’s more than just fire or light. It’s power, radiance, destruction, and creation all in one. But none of that mattered when I was a scared kid who couldn’t control it. What mattered was that someone believed in me enough to teach me how to use it. And now, I’m offering you the same chance.”

Victor blinked, his heart pounding. “You’re saying… you’ll train me?”

Arcadius reached into his coat and pulled out a sleek, black card. He set it on the table beside Victor’s bed, the golden emblem of the Etherion Enforcers catching the light. “If you’re willing to put in the work. Training someone like you isn’t easy, and it’s not for the faint of heart. But I see potential in you, Victor. The kind of potential that can change the world.”

Victor stared at the card, his mind spinning. A part of him wanted to reach for it immediately, to seize the opportunity before it slipped away. But another part of him—the part that had spent years being told he wasn’t enough—hesitated.

“Why me?” he asked quietly.

Arcadius stood, his towering frame filling the room with an almost tangible presence. “Because you remind me of myself,” he said simply. “And because the world needs people like you—people who refuse to back down, even when the odds are against them.”

Victor swallowed hard, the weight of the moment pressing down on him. Arcadius turned to leave, his steps slow and deliberate.

Before he reached the door, he glanced back, his eyes meeting Victor’s. “When you’re ready, call me. And remember—your Etherion is yours to shape. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”

As Arcadius adjusted the collar of his coat and reached for the door, it swung open abruptly. Standing in the doorway, breathless and slightly disheveled, was Rhea. Her red hair was tousled, as if she’d sprinted all the way there. She froze for a moment, her green eyes flicking from Arcadius to Victor. Then her gaze locked onto the man she immediately recognized.

“Holy Star?” she blurted, her voice a mix of shock and awe. “You’re Arcadius?”

Arcadius turned toward her, his imposing frame towering in the doorway, though his expression remained calm. “And you must be a friend of Victor’s,” he said, his deep voice as steady as his reputation.

Rhea took a hesitant step inside, her gaze darting between Arcadius and Victor. “What—what are you doing here? You’re, like, the most famous Etherion Enforcer on the planet. Why are you with Victor?”

“Because he needed help,” Arcadius said simply, his sharp eyes lingering on Victor for a moment. “And because I see potential in him.”

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

Rhea blinked, clearly caught off guard. “Potential?” She looked at Victor, her brow furrowing with concern. “What happened?”

Victor, sitting up straighter in the hospital bed, rubbed the back of his neck. “It’s a long story.”

Rhea stepped closer, her hands on her hips. “Well, you better start telling it.”

“I’ll leave you two to talk,” Arcadius said, cutting into the tense moment with a calm authority. He turned back to Victor, reaching into his coat pocket and pulling out a small, elegant card. “Remember what I said, Campbell. If you’re serious about making a change, you’ll know how to find me.”

Victor took the card, staring at the name and contact information printed on it. “Thank you,” he said, his voice quiet but filled with genuine gratitude.

“Don’t thank me yet,” Arcadius replied, a faint but knowing smile crossing his face. “The road ahead isn’t easy.”

As he moved toward the door, Rhea stepped aside, still looking a little stunned. “It was an honor to meet you,” she said, her voice slightly quieter now.

Arcadius inclined his head. “Take care of your friend. He’s going to need it.”

And then he was gone, the door clicking shut behind him. For a moment, the room was silent, as if the weight of Arcadius’s presence still lingered.

Rhea turned back to Victor, her expression a mixture of worry and curiosity. “What the hell happened, Victor? And why is Arcadius handing you his contact info like you’re some kind of future Enforcer?”

Victor sighed, leaning back against the pillows. “It’s complicated.”

“I’ve got time,” Rhea said, dragging a chair closer and sitting down. “You don’t just brush off something like this.”

He hesitated, the events of the past few days swirling in his mind. “I was walking home a few nights ago,” he began. “Something… attacked me. It wasn’t human, Rhea. It was like this creature, dark and twisted. It drained my Etherion—what little I had.”

Rhea’s eyes widened. “Drained? What do you mean?”

“I mean it felt like it was pulling the energy out of me, like it was feeding on it,” Victor said, his voice shaking slightly. “If Arcadius hadn’t shown up when he did… I don’t think I’d be here.”

Rhea leaned back, her arms crossing tightly over her chest. “That’s insane. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine now,” Victor said, though the memory of the creature still sent a shiver down his spine. “But Rhea, that thing—it wasn’t random. It was like it knew I was different.”

Rhea frowned, her expression softening as she processed his words. “You mean because you don’t have an affinity?”

Victor nodded. “Yeah. And I think Arcadius knows more about it than he let on.”

Rhea was quiet for a moment, then leaned forward, her elbows resting on her knees. “Okay, first of all, you’re an idiot for not telling me sooner. Second of all, we need to figure out what that thing was. If it’s out there and it’s targeting people like you…”

“I know,” Victor said, his voice heavy with determination. “I’m not going to let it happen again.”

Rhea’s eyes softened, her usual sharpness giving way to something warmer. “You’re not alone, you know. I’ll help. And Nate too, once he stops freaking out about gym class.”

Victor managed a small smile. “Thanks, Rhea. I mean it.”

“Of course,” she said, her voice lightening. “But seriously, Victor. Arcadius? That’s huge. He sees something in you.”

Victor glanced at the card on the bedside table, the weight of Arcadius’s words still lingering. “Yeah,” he said softly. “He does. I just hope I can live up to it.”

Rhea stood, brushing her hands against her jeans. “You will. You’ve already survived more in two weeks than most people do in their whole lives. But right now, you need to rest. I’m not letting you show up to school tomorrow looking like a zombie.”

Victor chuckled. “Pretty sure that ship’s already sailed.”

“Then I’ll bring some duct tape,” she teased, her grin returning. “Fix you right up.”

As Rhea gathered her things to leave, the door to Victor’s hospital room creaked open. No one was there at first glance, but then a shadow stretched across the floor and Nate materialized, stepping out with a cocky grin.

“Shadow monsters, huh? That’s a new one for me,” Nate said, shoving his hands into his hoodie pockets.

“Nate?” Victor blinked, surprised. “What are you—”

“How did you even get in here?” Rhea interrupted, glaring at him.

“C’mon, Rhea,” Nate said, his smirk widening. “You think a little hospital security’s gonna keep me out? I’ve got shadow tricks, remember? They didn’t let me in because I’m not family.” He paused, tilting his head as if inspecting her. “But you… apparently convinced them otherwise.”

Rhea’s expression froze, her face going bright red. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Really?” Nate teased, leaning against the wall. “Because I overheard one of the nurses saying, and I quote, ‘The girlfriend was so insistent we just had to let her in.’”

Victor raised an eyebrow, glancing between the two. “Girlfriend?”

“I didn’t say that!” Rhea protested, her voice pitching higher. “I just— I might have said something so they’d let me in, okay? They wouldn’t have otherwise!”

“Sure, sure,” Nate said, clearly enjoying himself. “Totally innocent. Not like you’ve been all over the guy since he showed up.”

Rhea glared at him. “You’re impossible.”

Victor, still recovering from the conversation, finally spoke up. “So... you’re my girlfriend now?”

“Don’t push it, Campbell,” Rhea snapped, though the pink in her cheeks deepened.

Nate laughed, clapping Victor on the shoulder as he moved closer to the bed. “Man, you’re really racking up the drama points, huh? First the shadow monster, now this. Quite the day.”

Victor frowned. “How do you even know about the… shadow thing?”

Nate’s grin faltered slightly, and his expression turned more serious. “I heard one of the nurses talking about it. Something about how your Etherion levels dropped suddenly, like something had drained you. They called it a shadow monster or something like that.” He leaned in, his sharp gaze locking on Victor. “What the hell happened?”

Victor hesitated, his hands tightening around the blanket. The memory was still vivid—the claws, the suffocating darkness, the way it felt like his very essence was being torn from him. “I don’t even know how to explain it,” he said quietly. “It came out of nowhere, and it felt like it was feeding on me. I couldn’t fight back.”

“But Arcadius could,” Rhea added, her voice soft as she glanced at Victor. “He’s the only reason you’re still here.”

“Yeah, Holy Star,” Nate said, shaking his head. “Talk about a big save. That guy’s a legend.”

Victor nodded, the weight of the moment settling over him. “If he hadn’t shown up…”

“You’d be toast,” Nate finished bluntly. Then, seeing Victor’s grim expression, he softened. “But he did. You’re alive, man. That’s what matters.”

Victor managed a weak smile, but the tension in his chest didn’t ease. “It’s not just that. Whatever that thing was, it’s still out there. And it’s not just after me. It’s hunting people.”

Nate raised an eyebrow. “Hunting people?”

Rhea nodded, her expression turning serious. “There’ve been disappearances around town. I didn’t want to say anything earlier, but… I think this might be connected.”

“Great,” Nate muttered, running a hand through his hair. “As if we didn’t have enough going on. Now we’ve got shadow monsters stalking people.”

Victor stared down at his hands, his thoughts racing. The pieces were starting to fit together, but the picture they formed was one he didn’t like. “I can’t just sit here and wait for it to happen again,” he said quietly.

“Whoa, slow down,” Nate said, holding up his hands. “You just got out of the monster’s claws, man. Maybe don’t go running straight back into danger.”

“I’m not running into anything,” Victor said, his tone steady but firm. “But I need to figure out what’s going on. If I don’t, more people are going to get hurt.”

Nate studied him for a moment, then sighed. “Alright, hero. Just don’t forget you’ve got us. You’re not in this alone.”

Victor looked up, meeting Nate’s gaze. “Thanks.”

Nate grinned, his usual playfulness returning. “Don’t mention it. But seriously, you owe me big. All this sneaking around and shadow stuff isn’t free, you know.”

Victor chuckled softly, some of the tension easing. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

Rhea, still standing by the door, glanced between the two of them. “You need to rest, Victor. We’ll figure this out, but not if you burn yourself out.”

Victor nodded, though his mind was still churning. “Yeah. Rest.”

Rhea hesitated, then stepped forward and rested a hand on his arm. “Get better, okay? We’ll handle the rest.”

As she turned to leave, Nate lingered for a moment longer. “Oh, and Campbell?”

“Yeah?”

Nate smirked. “Next time you’re planning on fighting a monster, give me a heads-up. I want to at least look cool when I save your butt.”

Victor laughed despite himself, shaking his head. “Deal.”

As the door clicked shut behind Nate, Victor let out a slow breath, his thoughts returning to the shadow that had attacked him. Whatever was coming, he knew one thing for certain: he couldn’t face it alone.