Whispers spread like wildfire across the expedition force as Rin Solas stood beside the Guildmaster himself, Valen Solas. Soldiers, nobles, and elites from various factions exchanged stunned glances. Many couldn't hide their shock,Rin, the once-dismissed bastard, now walking in stride with the most powerful man in the Eastern Empire?
None could hide their disbelief.
Rin, of course, heard the murmurs, but he kept his face composed. His body was tense beneath his armor, his mind spinning with possibilities. Why is Valen paying attention to me? he thought. Is it because of my recent rise? Did someone report something? Or… does he suspect something about who I really am?
Valen didn't even look at him. He merely said, "Stay close," as the gate began to pulse.
Moments later, as reality cracked apart and the sky twisted open, the gate activated.
Just like before, the world fragmented into chaos,everyone pulled in, scattered across a fractured realm.
When Rin landed, he was alone again. The ground beneath him was jagged glass and metal. The sky bled with soft crimson clouds, flickering like a dream melting into a nightmare. The same incident that happened in his first gate happened now.
He exhaled slowly. Good. Maybe I'll avoid Valen a little longer.
Then… the air distorted ahead.
Rin's head snapped up. A glitch. A ripple.
And then he was there.
Valen Solas stepped through the distortion without a sound, as if reality bent around him willingly. No guards. No entourage. Just his presence,a weight that bent the world.
He walked toward Rin with the stride of a man who feared nothing.
"Rin," he said. "You don't look pleased to see your uncle."
Rin bowed deeply. "It's… not that, Your Highness. I'm simply overwhelmed."
Valen stopped inches from him. His gaze was unreadable. "Is that so?"
A silence stretched between them.
Then Valen said, "Walk with me."
Rin nodded and obeyed. The ground cracked beneath each of Valen's steps, the very dimension shuddering beneath his presence.
They walked for some time,through twisting canyons, broken skies, and glowing rivers.
Valen was the one who finally broke the silence.
"What do you know about your father?"
Rin blinked. "My… father?"
"Yes. What do you remember?"
Rin chose his words carefully. "Not much. He… left before I was old enough to understand. The only things I know are from whispers. Stories. My mother never spoke of him."
Valen didn't respond.
They kept walking.
"What did you used to play as a child?" Valen asked suddenly.
Rin frowned. "I… played alone. I liked puzzles. I pretended to be a warrior sometimes, I think."
Valen made a soft hum. "Pretending. A child's way of preparing for the mask they'll wear."
Rin glanced at him. "Why do you ask?"
"No reason," Valen said. "Humor me."
Then: "What is your dream, Rin?"
Rin hesitated. "To become strong. Free. To live without fear."
Valen looked at him then. Not unkindly,but not kindly, either.
"And who am I in your eyes?"
Rin felt ice settle in his chest.
He had been asked many questions in his life. This one wasn't like the others.
"You are the Guildmaster," Rin said slowly. "My uncle. A man of terrifying strength and… vision."
Valen laughed, but it was not warm. "Safe answers. You've grown clever."
They came to a stop on a floating rock island, suspended in the sky. Around them, the world moaned under pressure. The laws of physics bent.
Valen turned, fully facing Rin now.
The smile was gone.
"Let's stop pretending," he said. "I've seen what you're doing. The way you've changed."
Rin's throat went dry.
Valen's eyes burned crimson.
"I'll ask you only once: Who are you really, Rin Solas?"
Rin didn't answer.
Not because he refused,but because he didn't know what Valen knew.
Then, without warning, killing intent exploded from Valen like a tidal wave.
The sky cracked above them. The floating island trembled. Rin dropped to one knee, his lungs frozen in his chest. It was like staring into the eyes of a dragon that had long since stopped caring who it devoured.
Valen stared down at him, expression unreadable.
"Choose your answers wisely next time, 'nephew'," he said coldly.