Voidborne:The Soul sea chronicles

The camp was eerily quiet. The occasional crackle of fire and the groans of injured soldiers broke the silence. Eliot sat against a shaded wall, his eyes wandering over the encampment. Harlen, sitting a few feet away, had been restless since they sat.His breathing was uneven, and his hands twitched as if itching to grab something.

"You've been off since we sat here," Eliot said, watching Harlen with growing concern.

Harlen leaned his head back against the cold stone wall. "It's hard to explain. Something feels different."

"What do you mean, different?" Eliot pressed.

Harlen rubbed his temples. "The air,it's heavy. Pressing down on me, but not in a bad way. It's like something's waiting to happen."

Eliot frowned. "Are you feeling sick?"

Harlen shook his head, a weak chuckle escaping his lips. "No, it's not that. It's more… inside. Like something's pulling at me."

Before Eliot could respond, Harlen suddenly tensed. His hands clenched the ground as his entire body went rigid. His wide eyes darted back and forth, as if seeing something Eliot couldn't. Eliot leaned closer, unsure of what to do.

"Harlen?" he asked, his voice low but urgent.

A faint vibration filled the air, almost imperceptible at first. Then it grew stronger. Eliot felt it in his chest, a deep hum that resonated like a distant thunderstorm. Harlen's breathing became labored, his body trembling violently.

The air around them thickened, shimmering faintly as if charged with unseen energy. A soft light began to radiate from Harlen's body, swirling around him in waves. Eliot's eyes widened as he watched the light grow brighter, pulsating with a rhythm that seemed to match Harlen's ragged breaths.

Then, something strange happened. The energy diffused outward, brushing against Eliot and immediately dissipated. The light seemed to vanish as soon as it neared him, leaving an unsettling void around his body. The area felt colder, quieter, as though the energy couldn't exist near him.

"What the hell…" Eliot muttered under his breath, staring at his hands as if expecting an answer.

Harlen groaned, his teeth clenched as his body convulsed. The glowing energy pulsed stronger, wrapping around him like a cocoon. Eliot's instinct was to help, but he hesitated, unsure of what touching the energy might do.

"Harlen! What's happening?" Eliot called out, his voice shaky.

Harlen gasped through gritted teeth. "I don't know… It's like… I'm being torn apart and put back together!"

Eliot stepped back, feeling the strange void around himself intensify. The energy that enveloped Harlen was wild and chaotic, yet it avoided Eliot entirely. He felt like an anchor in the middle of a storm, untouched by the chaos around him.

The tension in the air broke as footsteps approached. Eliot turned sharply, his hand gripping the broken sword at his side. A tall figure emerged from the shadows, his polished armor catching the faint glow of firelight. It was Captain Alric Thorne, his sharp features shadowed but unmistakable.

"So, this is the source of the disturbance," Alric said, his voice calm yet edged with curiosity. His cold eyes swept over Eliot and Harlen, pausing on the shimmering light surrounding Harlen. "Interesting."

Eliot didn't move, his body tense as Alric's gaze shifted to him. There was something unnerving about the man an air of confidence that bordered on arrogance. Alric wasn't here to help; Eliot could see it in his calculating expression. He was here because he smelled opportunity.

Harlen let out a pained groan, drawing Alric's attention. The captain stepped closer, his movements deliberate as he studied the glowing energy around Harlen.

"He's awakening," Alric murmured, almost to himself. "You're lucky to have made it this far."

Eliot tightened his grip on the broken sword. "What do you want?"

Alric's gaze flicked to Eliot, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "What do I want? I want to ensure the Empire'sresources are properly managed. Awakened soldiers are valuable, and it's my duty to see that they're put to good use."

Another pained gasp escaped Harlen as the light around him grew brighter. Alric didn't flinch, his eyes narrowing as he stepped closer. "Relax, soldier. You'll get through this," he said, though his tone lacked sincerity.

Eliot's instincts screamed at him to pull Harlen away, but something about the captain's presence pinned him in place. He couldn't risk exposing himself,whatever "himself" even was.

Then more footsteps echoed from behind. Eliot turned, his stomach sinking as several figures approached. Their movements were sharp and purposeful, their uniforms and polished armor marking them as nobles like Alric.

The first was a woman with sharp features and a cruel smile. Her dark hair was tied back in a severe braid, and her eyes gleamed with predatory hunger. Behind her was a tall, broad-shouldered man with a scar across his cheek, his expression cold and unreadable.

"You're quick, Alric," the woman said, her voice laced with mockery. "But not quick enough."

Alric's jaw tightened as he turned to face them. "Lady Corvella. Captain Ren. What a surprise."

Corvella's smile widened as her gaze swept over Harlen. "We felt the ripple just like you did. Did you really think you'd have him all to yourself?"

Eliot's chest tightened. The air around them was growing heavier, the tension between the captains palpable. Harlen's groans grew louder, the energy around him fluctuating wildly as though reacting to the presence of so many awakened.

"What happens here is under my command," Alric said firmly, his tone cold and authoritative. "This soldier is awakening in my jurisdiction. Stand down."

Corvella laughed, the sound sharp and biting. "Your jurisdiction? You're barely holding onto this camp as it is. Why don't you let someone more capable handle this?"

The scarred man, Ren, said nothing, though his gaze lingered on Eliot for a moment before shifting back to Harlen. Eliot's pulse quickened. The captains weren't just here for Harlen ,they were assessing him too, even if they didn't understand what they were looking at.

Harlen's groans suddenly turned into a sharp gasp. The light around him burst outward in a final, blinding pulse. Eliot shielded his eyes as the energy flared, and when it finally dimmed, Harlen slumped forward, breathing heavily.

"It's done," Alric said, stepping forward before anyone else could move. He crouched beside Harlen, his expression unreadable as he studied the newly awakened soldier. "Congratulations. You've just taken your first step toward greatness."

Harlen looked up weakly, his eyes glazed but aware. "What… happened?"

"You've awakened," Alric said simply, straightening. He turned to the other captains, his expression hard. "This soldier is mine. Any interference will be reported to the Empire."

Corvella sneered but didn't argue, her gaze flicking back to Eliot briefly before she turned and strode away. Ren followed silently, his expression cold and distant.

Eliot let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding as the other captains disappeared into the shadows. Alric lingered, his eyes sharp as he looked between Harlen and Eliot.

"You'll both report to me tomorrow," Alric said finally. His tone left no room for argument. "Rest while you can."

With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Eliot and Harlen alone once more.

Harlen groaned softly, his head resting against the wall. "That… was intense."

Eliot didn't respond. His mind was racing, replaying everything that had just happened. The captains, the awakening, the way the energy around Harlen had dissipated near him. And, most of all, the faint memory of the three forms he had glimpsed earlier the rippling water, the jagged blade, and the warping distortion.

Something was happening to him. Something he didn't understand.

But one thing was clear: he couldn't let anyone else find out.

Eliot sat quietly, leaning against the cool wall of the camp. Harlen, though visibly exhausted, seemed calmer now, his breathing steadier after the tumultuous awakening process. The faint traces of universal energy still lingered around him, almost like an afterimage of what had transpired.

Eliot broke the silence, his curiosity finally spilling over. "Why were they fighting over you?"

Harlen turned to him, his expression a mix of fatigue and disbelief. "You really don't know, do you?" He let out a soft chuckle, shaking his head. "An awakened is fundamentally different from mortals. In a battle, they're like walking weapons. A single awakened can easily kill five hundred mortals without breaking a sweat, and at their peak, they can take down athousand."

Eliot raised an eyebrow. "That sounds… excessive."

Harlen smiled faintly. "It is. But it's not just about raw strength. An awakened can grow even stronger, reaching higher realms that transcend this world. I've heard whispers of it, but since I'm just a peasant from a small village, I don't know much about thoserealms or how one even progresses to them."

Eliot frowned, trying to process this. "So, being awakened makes you… above the rest of us?"

Harlen nodded slowly. "Above mortals, yes. Even if an awakened was a peasant like me, they'd gain special rights in the Empire. But it comes with responsibility. The Empire won't let you just walk away. You become a tool for them a valuable one, sure, but still a tool."

Eliot's brow furrowed. "Then why are those captains fighting over you?"

Harlen shrugged, though his expression turned grim. "I don't know for sure, but I can guess. It benefits them. Every awakened counts on the battlefield. And nobles like those captains? They'd never even look at a mortal peasant if they didn't have something to gain. My awakening gives me worth, but only as a means to their ends."

Eliot stayed quiet for a moment, mulling overHarlen's words. The power dynamic in this world was starting to become clearer, and he didn't like it. "So they'll just use you? And you're okay with that?"

Harlen's smile turned bitter. "What choice do I have? At least here, I'm worth something. Back home, I'd just be another farmer trying to keep my family fed. Maybe this way, I can actually protect them."

Eliot sighed but said nothing. There was too much he didn't understand about this world, and pushing Harlen for answers felt unfair. For now, he just needed to observe and stay out of trouble.

Meanwhile, in another part of the camp, Lady Corvella and Captain Ren sat in a dimly lit tent. The tension between them was palpable, though Corvella seemed far more composed than her companion.

Ren finally broke the silence. "Why did you leave without even arguing with him? That's not like you."

Corvella shot him a withering look, as if he were a child who had just asked a foolish question. "Do you think I'd waste my energy bickering over a newly awakened soldier?" she said, her tone cutting. "That's not what caught my attention."

Ren's brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"

Corvella leaned back, crossing her arms as she studied Ren's face. "If you weren't so weak or if your resonance with the universal energy wasn't so pathetic you might have seen it too."

Ren's jaw tightened at the insult, but he forced himself to remain calm. "Seen what?"

Corvella's gaze grew sharper. "The man standing next to the awakened. The energy around him was… unnatural."

Ren frowned. "Unnatural how? Maybe he's carrying some kind of treasure or has a rare bloodline. It happens."

Corvella shook her head, her eyes narrowing as she spoke. "I thought of that too. But the way the energy dissipated around him,it wasn't like it was being absorbed or redirected. It was like it ceased to exist. Erased completely. There was no trace of where it went."

Ren leaned forward, his skepticism plain on his face. "You're saying the energy just… disappeared? That doesn't make sense."

"I know it doesn't," Corvella replied, her voice growing colder. "If it were a treasure, it wouldn't behave like that. And if it were a bloodline, there's no way something that powerful would remain hidden from the watchful eyes of… them."

Ren's expression darkened at the mention of "them," but he didn't comment. Instead, he tilted his head, curiosity now evident in his voice. "So what do you think it is?"

Corvella didn't answer immediately. She sat back, her fingers tapping lightly against her arm as she considered her words. "I don't know. But whatever it is, it's beyond anything I've seen before. We need to watch him closely. Evaluate him again when the time comes."

Ren nodded, though a flicker of unease crossed his face. "If you're right, and he really is something… unique, then others will notice too."

"Let them," Corvella said with a smirk. "It's not about who notices first. It's about who acts wisely."

At the same time, in his room, Captain Alric Thorne paced back and forth. His mind was racing, trying to make sense of what had happened. Corvella's sudden departure had caught him off guard. She wasn't the type to back down easily, especially when something as valuable as an awakened soldier was at stake.

"Why did she leave like that?" he muttered to himself, his fists clenched behind his back. "What did she see that I didn't?"

He paused, his eyes narrowing as he thought. Corvella was cunning, far more perceptive than most of the other nobles. If she had seen something worth leaving for, it wasn't just coincidence. There was something else at play.

"Let's see what her next actions are," Alric said quietly, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "She's no threat to me. Not here."

He dismissed the thought of Captain Ren entirely, not even bothering to consider him a serious rival. The man was strong, but strength without strategy was nothing more than brute force. Alric knew how to play the long game, and he was determined to win.

Still, something about Corvella's reaction gnawed at him. The tension in the air, the way her eyes had lingered on Eliot before she left it wasn't just about Harlen's awakening. Alric couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to the strange, quiet man than met the eye.

But for now, Alric pushed those thoughts aside. He had his own plans to set in motion. Whatever secrets Eliot held, they would reveal themselves in time. And when they did, Alric intended to be the one to uncover them.

Back in the corner of the camp, Eliot and Harlen sat in silence. The camp had settled into an uneasy stillness, though Eliot could feel the tension lingering in the air. He glanced at Harlen, who seemed deep in thought, his hands idly tracing the cracks in his armor.

"You think they're going to leave us alone?" Eliot asked, his voice low.

Harlen shook his head. "No. They don't let awakened soldiers slip through their fingers. Especially not in a place like this."

Eliot frowned, leaning back against the wall. "And what about me?"

Harlen turned to him, his gaze searching. "You're different. I don't know what it is, but I saw it too when the energy avoided you. Whatever's going on with you, they're going to notice sooner or later."

Eliot felt a chill run down his spine. He didn't have an answer for what was happening to him, but he knew one thing: he couldn't afford to draw any more attention.

"Let's just get through tomorrow," Harlen said, his voice heavy with resignation. "If we're lucky, maybe we'll survive long enough to figure this out."

Eliot nodded, though he didn't share Harlen's optimism. The game they were caught in was bigger than either of them, and they were to weak to change anything.