Page 41 of Beyond the Treaty

But Withers stood his ground, stepping closer. “You speak of curses, Kaelen, yet look at what you’ve become. You are power incarnate. Unstoppable. Unmatched. The creature within you is the solution to everything this realm needs. And it obeys but one master: the strongest will.”

His words slithered through my mind, and for a moment, I felt the beast stir in agreement. It craved domination and revelled in the promise of unchecked power.

But then, like a distant echo, I heard her voice once more.

You are more than this, Kaelen. I believe in you.

The flicker of light inside me glowed a little brighter, enough to stave off the beast’s hunger.

“You believe you’ve crafted me into a weapon,” I said, my voice low and menacing. “But even weapons can turn against their makers.”

Withers’ smirk faded, and he raised a hand, signalling the council to pull back slightly. “Take care now,” he cautioned. “Your path has been determined, Kaelen. Resisting it will only

result in ruin.”

I stepped forward, the ground cracking beneath my claws.

“You think you hold the leash, Withers? You’re mistaken.” The beast surged within me, and this time, I didn’t resist it. I allowed its power to flow through me, not to obey them but

to demonstrate what they had truly created.

With a roar that shook the skies, I unleashed a wave of energy

that sent the council scattering like leaves in a tempest. Trees splintered, the ground erupted, and the air itself crackled with fury.

For a moment, I stood there, breathing heavily as the dust settled. The council members scrambled to their feet, their expressions no longer smug or self-assured.

“You’ve made your mistake,” I growled, my voice resonating in the silence that ensued. “Now, you shall face the conse- quences.”

Withers’ eyes blazed with fury, yet fear lingered there too. “You cannot escape what you are, Kaelen. The beast will fully consume you, and when it does, you will come crawling back

tous.”

“Perhaps,” I said, a grim smile curling on my lips. “But if that

day arrives, I shan’t come crawling.”

I turned and strode into the woods, the beast’s laughter

reverberating in my mind.

The council would not cease pursuing me. The beast would

not stop murmuring its promises of power.

And Elara... Elara had vanished, a figment of my shattered

mind.

But even now, as I strolled into the night, her voice lingered

like a delicate thread in the darkness.

“You are more than this.”

It was sufficient for the time being.

I dropped to my knees, gazing into the abyss below. “Am I?” I whispered, the question lingering in the air.

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