Absolute Sovereignty-Chapter 34: Soul Bound

Chapter 32: The Rite of Blood

The air in the ruins felt off, the silence interrupt only by soft whispers of the wind and the unsettling rustle of unseen things.

Kaelen led the Silent Guard deeper into the heart of the ancient leftovers, his footsteps echoing on the moss-covered stones.

The setting sun made shadows that danced and writhed like restless spirits, adding to what was already a terrifying atmosphere.

The guards, faces pale and drawn, followed behind the prince, their hands gripping their weapons, their senses on high alert, the uncanny feeling of dread in their bones.

They reached a small, circular clearing, where a fountain, carved from a single block of white marble, stood in the center.

Water, clear and cold, flowed from the fountain's mouth, spilling into a small, shallow pond. The surface of the water was still, reflecting the darkening sky and the crumbling walls of the surrounding ruins.

Kaelen stopped before the fountain, his gaze fixed on the still water, his expression unreadable.

"This," he announced, his voice echoing in the clearing, "is where the rite begins."

He turned towards one of the guards, a young man named Theron, whose face betrayed his apprehension. "Step forward, Theron," he commanded, his voice low and steady.

Theron hesitated for a moment, his eyes darting nervously towards the fountain, as if the water itself held some hidden danger.

He glanced at his fellow guards, seeking reassurance, support, but found only fear and uncertainty in their gazes.

With a deep breath, Theron stepped forward and approached the fountain, his movements slow and hesitant, his heart heavy in his chest.

"Kneel," Kaelen instructed.

Theron obeyed, lowering himself to his knees before the fountain, his gaze fixed on the flowing water.

"Close your eyes," Kaelen said, his voice now a soft whisper, the warmth gone from it, replaced by a certain type of cold indifference that chilled the bones.

Theron closed his eyes, and a hush fell over the clearing.

The only sound was the gentle murmur of the fountain. Then, a low, guttural chant began to emanate from Kaelen's lips, the words ancient and strange, their meaning lost to time, but their power undeniable.

The air sparked energy as the whispers of his powers grew louder, fueled by whatever it was that he was attempting to channel at that point.

Theron's body began to tremble.

He could feel the energy swirling around him, penetrating his skin, seeping into his bones.

He opened his eyes, his gaze wide with terror. He could see visions, flashes of light and shadow, grotesque shapes and twisted forms that danced at the edge of his perception.

Horrors he couldn't comprehend, terrors that clawed at his sanity, ripping at his essence. His breaths became frantic and pained.

He tried to stand, to escape the madness that threatened to consume him, but his limbs felt heavy, his body unresponsive, frozen as he felt his entire body burn from the inside out.

He began to scream, his voice a raw sound that echoed through the ruins, a desperate plea that went unanswered.

Kaelen appeared behind Theron just then, his movements silent and swift. He drew his dagger, the blade glinting, a predator's smile playing on his lips.

With a single, swift stroke, he slit Theron's throat, the artery bursting open in a spray of crimson.

Theron's screams died in his throat, his eyes wide with shock and terror, his body twitching and convulsing before falling still, his lifeblood staining the cold marble of the fountain.

The other guards watched in horror, their eyes wide with disbelief, their bodies frozen in place.

The prince had just murdered one of their own, a fellow Silent Guard, a man who had sworn loyalty to Caldris. Their minds struggled to comprehend the brutality, the cold, calculated efficiency of the act.

Kaelen let Theron's lifeless body fall into the pond, the water rippling around him, staining crimson as it slowly began to spread across the surface, tainting the purity that had once resided there. He stood in silence for a moment, his gaze fixed on the spreading blood, his expression unreadable.

Then, he reached into the water, his hand closing around Theron's throat, lifting his lifeless body from the pond.

A dark mist, swirling and writhing like a living thing, emanated from Kaelen's hand, enveloping Theron's body. The mist pulsed and throbbed, its tendrils reaching out, probing, searching.

Then, with a sudden flash of light, a mark, identical to the crimson hand tattoo, appeared on Theron's neck, glowing with low light.

The System lit in Kaelen's vision, its cold, emotionless chime echoing in his mind:

[Soul Bound: Silent Guard (Level 1) Complete.]

[New Ability Granted to Soulbound: Enhanced Strength (Level 1).]

[New Ability Granted to Soulbound: Spirit Sight (Level 1).]

The source of this c𝐨ntent is freeweɓnovēl.coɱ.

[Corruption Increased: 1.5%]

[Soul Bound Memory Fragment Lost: Theron's Childhood Dream]

Kaelen felt a surge, the Voidwell's energy coursing in his veins, mingling with the essence of Theron's soul.

The darkness whispered within him, its voice stronger, more insistent. But his resolve was greater, for he had seen and felt it all before.

He dropped Theron's body back into the pond, the water rippling once more, a final sound.

He turned towards the remaining guards, a cold, deadly smile playing on his lips. "Well," he said, his voice echoing in the clearing.

"Who's next?"