Hollow Monarch - Riftborn

A Faint Glow in the Dark.

Kael moved through the ruined city, his steps unsteady. His body still felt foreign—his limbs too light, his senses too sharp. The Rift had changed him, and the whispers at the edges of his mind wouldn't let him forget.

Something was watching him.

Mist curled through the streets like living tendrils, thick with a presence he couldn't see. Then, in the distance, he spotted it—a faint glow, flickering between shattered buildings.

A fire.

Civilization or danger?

Kael's instincts screamed caution, but he pushed forward.

The ruins opened into what had once been a bustling marketplace. Now, only shattered stalls and scattered debris remained. At the center of it all, a fire burned, casting long, shifting shadows.

Someone was here.

A Silent Watcher

Kael crouched behind a fallen pillar, scanning the area.

Two figures sat by the fire, cloaked in ragged gear. Their faces were hidden beneath hoods, their weapons—rusted yet well-maintained—rested within reach. Survivors, but not necessarily friendly ones.

Kael's fingers curled around the hilt of his stolen dagger. He had to decide—approach, observe, or leave before they noticed him.

The choice was made for him.

One of them turned.

Even in the dim firelight, Kael saw the milky-white eyes—empty, hollow, wrong. The figure wasn't human anymore.

The other, still facing the fire, spoke. His voice wasn't just sound; it echoed inside Kael's mind.

"You should not be here."

The First Encounter

Kael froze.

That wasn't speech. That was something else. The same unnatural force that now lurked inside him.

Slowly, the second figure turned. Unlike his companion, his eyes were sharp, intelligent. A grin spread beneath his hood.

"You're one of us," he said. "A Riftborn."

Kael didn't answer. His mind was already calculating. Fight? Flee? Play along?

The man gestured to the fire. "Survived your first awakening, huh? Impressive. Most don't."

They knew what had happened to him. That made them dangerous.

A Dangerous Offer

The man's grin didn't fade. "Sit. You'll need answers, won't you?"

Kael didn't trust him, but he needed information.

Cautiously, he stepped forward.

"Name's Varian," the man said, offering a gloved hand. Then, he gestured to the hollow-eyed figure beside him. "And this… this is what happens when the Rift takes too much."

Kael studied the twitching, broken thing that had once been a man.

Was that his fate?

Varian chuckled. "Don't worry. You're still fresh. But trust me—you'll want to learn the rules before the Rift swallows you whole."

Kael's mind raced.

He was walking into a trap. But for now, he'd listen.

And if they turned on him…

He'd be ready.

1: Learning the Rules

The fire crackled, throwing restless shadows against the ruins.

Kael sat across from Varian, his body tense. He needed information—but he wouldn't reveal anything in return.

Varian leaned back, watching him with amusement. "You don't talk much, do you?"

Kael didn't answer.

The hollow-eyed Riftborn twitched, its head tilting as if listening to something Kael couldn't hear.

Varian smirked. "Don't mind him. He's almost gone. Happens when you let the Rift take too much." He nodded toward Kael. "And you? Still feel human?"

Kael ignored the question. "You called me Riftborn. What does that mean?"

Varian chuckled. "Means the Rift chose you. Means you ain't normal anymore." His grin widened. "And it means others are already looking for you."

Kael's fingers tensed.

Others?

Varian tossed a dagger into the fire, watching flames curl over the metal. "People like us—Riftborn—we don't just survive. We either evolve… or we die." His voice lowered. "And trust me, someone out there already knows what you are."

A cold pulse burned through Kael's chest.

The Rift Sigil.

A warning.

Someone was coming.

2: The Rift Hunters Arrive

A distant sound cut through the ruins—metal scraping against stone.

Footsteps. Heavy. Armored.

Varian cursed under his breath. "Well, that didn't take long."

Kael turned sharply. "Who?"

"Rift Hunters." Varian's grin disappeared. "Mercs who hunt people like us. Sell us to the nobles… or worse."

A deep voice echoed through the ruins.

"Come out."

A figure stepped into the firelight—tall, clad in dark leather armor, a curved blade at his side. His face was hidden beneath a mask, but his posture radiated control.

Behind him, two more hunters emerged, weapons drawn.

Varian muttered, "Shit."

Kael's mind sharpened. Fleeing wasn't an option.

Fighting three trained hunters? Risky.

The leader took a step closer. "We know you're Riftborn. Surrender, and your deaths will be quick."

Kael's heartbeat steadied.

He needed a plan.

Fast.

3: Unleashing the Rift

Varian moved first.

With inhuman speed, he darted sideways, his hand flicking out—black tendrils lashed from his palm, slicing toward the nearest hunter.

The fight erupted.

Kael barely had time to react before instinct took over.

The Rift Sigil pulsed. The world tilted.

The hunters' movements slowed. Whispers filled Kael's mind:

Take. Consume. Adapt.

Something dark awakened.

The lead hunter lunged, blade flashing—Kael twisted at an unnatural angle, moving before he even thought. His hand shot out—grabbing the hunter's wrist—

And something flowed from Kael's palm.

A rush of cold.

The hunter stiffened. His strength drained in an instant.

Kael's eyes widened.

He was absorbing something.

But the hunter wrenched free, staggering back, his arm trembling.

Another one attacked.

Kael dodged, instincts sharper than ever.

His body was adapting.

The Rift wasn't just a curse.

It was power.

But how much of himself would he lose if he kept using it?

Scene 4: Escape & Aftermath

The battle was brutal—but brief.

Kael and Varian managed to kill one hunter. The leader and the last one retreated, their gazes lingering on Kael before they vanished into the ruins.

Varian wiped blood from his mouth. "Well, now they know what you are."

Kael didn't respond. He could still feel the stolen strength in his veins.

Varian studied him. "You felt it, didn't you? The hunger."

Kael met his gaze. "What happens if I keep using it?"

Varian smirked. "You either master it…" His grin faded. "Or it masters you."

Kael clenched his fists.

He would not lose himself.

He would survive.

No matter the cost.