The Price of Power

As Valen sat in his chambers, contemplating his next step.

He flexed his hand, turning it palm up, watching it as though it might reveal something.

The memory of his body disintegrating, of his Primordial Core shattering, was vivid—painful—but the power that now hummed faintly beneath his skin was undeniable.

It was different from the mana he had once wielded. This was something deeper, more primal, beckoning him to discover its power.

The door creaked open, and Alaric entered, his usual calm mask in place.

Still, Valen saw it—the slight tremble in his hand as he bowed, the way his eyes flickered with a trace of fear.

He had witnessed everything. Valen's body, torn apart and rebuilt over two days, was no small thing to watch. Even Alaric, loyal to the end, couldn't hide his unease entirely.

"My lord," Alaric began, his voice steady despite the undercurrent of tension. "You summoned me."

Valen nodded, leaning back in his chair. "I want a full report, Alaric. Spare no detail. What exactly happened during the ritual?"

Alaric hesitated, glancing at Valen as if weighing how much to say. His loyalty was unshakable, but Valen could see the uncertainty that lingered just beneath the surface.

Valen's transformation had clearly shaken him, but he was careful not to let it show too much.

"My abilities are limited please don't mind my mistakes, lord," Alaric said, his tone carefully controlled. "The clearing was… a scene unlike anything I've witnessed. When the ritual ended, your body… it was gone. Broken apart completely. Nothing remained but ash."

Valen raised an eyebrow, intrigued but unsurprised. He remembered the searing pain, the moment his body had shattered. "And then?"

Alaric swallowed. "Over the course of the next two days, your body began to reform. Slowly, piece by piece."

"The process was… unsettling, to say the least. I watched as your bones knitted themselves back together, your muscles reappeared, and your skin restored itself. It was as though you were being remade from nothing."

Valen listened in silence, his gaze sharp as Alaric continued. The details matched what little he remembered from the ritual, but hearing it from another perspective only reinforced the gravity of what had occurred.

His body, his core—it had all been destroyed. But something had intervened. Something had brought him back.

Nyx.

He knew, without a doubt, that the system had played a role. Nyx had protected his soul, kept him anchored to the world while his body was rebuilt.

Not just for Alaric it was shocking for Valen as well, though unlike Alaric his emotions were in complete control.

"I see," Valen finally said, his voice calm despite the weight of the conversation. "You handled it well, Alaric, I will reward you for your loyalty".

Alaric continued "It's my pleasure, Lord"

"Hmm" Valen acknowledged and said "Has anyone else tried to probe anything from you"

Alaric shook his head. "No, my lord. Everything has been taken care of. The ritual site has been cleared. Even if someone were to search the area, they would find nothing of use. The story you instructed me to spread—about Aeliana's unfortunate death—has been accepted without question."

For a brief moment, Valen's thoughts flickered to Aeliana. Her death, though necessary, had been the final price for the power he now sought.

He felt no guilt, no remorse. Aeliana's life had always been a means to an end. But still, her trusting face surfaced in his mind for a fleeting second, only to be ruthlessly pushed aside. This was no time for weakness.

Valen's attention shifted back to Alaric, who stood waiting, his posture tense but respectful.

The man had served him faithfully, even in the face of witnessing something beyond comprehension. Valen had expected nothing less.

"And you, Alaric," Valen asked, his tone almost casual, "you're not shaken by what you saw?"

Alaric hesitated, the faintest flicker of unease passing over his face before he quickly composed himself.

"I… have never seen such a thing, my lord. But my loyalty to you remains unchanged. You have become something greater, something… beyond what any of us could have anticipated."

Valen watched him closely, noting the slight tremor in Alaric's way of speaking. He felt no need to address it.

Fear was a useful tool, and if Alaric's awe bordered on terror, so much the better. It would ensure his continued obedience.

"Good," Valen said, his voice cold but approving. "You may go. We have much to prepare for in the coming days, but for now, continue as you have been. Keep everything under control."

Alaric bowed deeply, his face composed but his body betraying the lingering anxiety beneath the surface. "Of course, my lord. As you wish."

Valen watched him leave, his mind already moving to the next steps. Alaric had done his part, but now it was up to Valen to figure out what his new state meant.

The loss of his Primordial Core should have left him powerless, but instead, he felt something entirely different—stronger, more dangerous.

The system had intervened, and Nyx had saved his life. Now it was time to explore what that power truly was.

"I guess that was the reason why Kael came across the Stone Tablet at that realm," thought Valen.

He stood, stretching his limbs, feeling the strange, subtle pulse of energy running beneath his skin.

It wasn't like mana—not in the way he had once known it. This was something deeper, more primal as if the stone tablet itself had embedded a fragment of its ancient power within him.

He clenched his fist, feeling the surge of strength rise and then subside just as quickly.

The possibilities were endless.

As Valen moved to the window, staring out over the sprawling estate, his thoughts remained focused.

His plans hadn't changed, despite the unexpected loss of his core. If anything, his determination had only sharpened.

His parents' concern was nothing more than a passing obstacle—one he had skillfully sidestepped. Now, the path ahead was clear.

The price of power had been steep, but it had been paid. Now, all that remained was to claim the rewards.

With one final glance at the distant horizon, Valen turned from the window, a cold smile playing on his lips.

When suddenly Nyx's voice rang in his head.