They searched for the Hollow for twelve days.
They found nothing.
Marcus led the expedition himself.
The northern mountains were enormous, their peaks disappearing into clouds and their valleys filled with ancient forests that had never been fully mapped. The region was littered with ruins, abandoned mines, collapsed temples, and caves that went deeper than anyone could safely explore.
They searched all of them.
Nothing.
No ancient door.
No symbols.
No trace of Silas Veyr.
No evidence that Lawrence and Corrine had ever been anywhere near the place Catherine had seen.
By the twelfth day, even Catherine had begun doubting herself.
They stood on a rocky overlook as snow fell around them.
Marcus stared at the valley below.
“We’ve covered everything.”
Leo shook his head.
“Not everything.”
“Leo.”
“There has to be something.”
Marcus turned toward him.
“We’ve searched every location Catherine identified.”
“Then maybe the vision was wrong.”
Catherine looked down.
“I don’t think it was.”
Leo looked at her.
“Neither do I.”
Marcus sighed.
“Then what are we supposed to do?”
Nobody answered.
The search had exhausted them.
Celine’s spatial affinity had been invaluable. She could open short-distance rifts and examine places that would otherwise have taken hours to reach.
Catherine had used her temporal affinity to search for traces of the past.
But nothing.
It was as if the Hollow simply didn’t exist.
Eventually, Marcus made the decision.
“We go home.”
Leo stared at him.
“We can’t.”
“We have no choice.”
“What about Silas?”
“If he’s been hiding from us for four years, another twelve days won’t make him appear.”
Leo looked toward the mountains.
His father’s face returned to his mind.
His mother’s.
The vision.
The chains.
Silas.
He clenched his fists.
“Then I’ll keep looking.”
Marcus stepped toward him.
“Leo.”
“I’ll look for the rest of my life if I have to.”
Celine placed a hand on his shoulder.
“You don’t have to do it alone.”
Leo looked at her.
“I know.”
Catherine smiled faintly.
“That’s why we’re coming home too.”
Leo smiled.
“Together.”
None of them noticed the figure watching them from a distant ridge.
Silas Veyr stood beneath a black cloak.
He watched the three young people prepare to leave.
His expression was almost amused.
“The Hollow cannot be found yet.”
A shadowy figure stood beside him.
“Why?”
Silas looked toward Leo.
“Because the bloodline isn’t mature.”
He watched Leo’s hands.
The faint sparks of lightning.
The latent fire.
The dormant plasma.
“He’s powerful.”
The shadow said nothing.
“But not enough.”
Silas turned away.
“The bloodline needs time.”
“How much?”
Silas smiled.
“Years.”
His gaze shifted toward Celine and Catherine.
“But we don’t have to wait.”
The shadow understood.
“The twins.”
“Yes.”
Silas’s expression became cold.
“Leo’s greatest weakness isn’t his power.”
He looked back toward the departing group.
“It’s the people he loves.”
The journey home was quiet.
Leo barely spoke.
Celine tried several times to start conversations.
He answered politely.
But his mind remained elsewhere.
The Hollow had disappeared.
Silas had disappeared.
And the truth about his parents remained just beyond his reach.
Catherine was quieter than usual.
Her visions had stopped.
That frightened her more than the visions themselves.
She had grown accustomed to seeing fragments of the future.
Now there was nothing.
No warning.
No glimpse.
No indication of what was coming.
Only darkness.
When they returned to the clan, normal life resumed.
Training.
Lessons.
Meals.
Politics.
For everyone except Leo.
The search had changed him.
He trained harder.
Longer.
He spent hours combining fire and lightning.
His plasma became more stable.
He could now maintain it for nearly a minute.
Marcus began training him personally.
Leo improved rapidly.
Celine and Catherine trained alongside him.
Their teamwork became nearly flawless.
But beneath that progress was another problem.
Lance.
He had been watching the three of them closely.
And he was becoming increasingly concerned.
The clan had always assumed that Celine and Catherine would eventually marry into powerful families.
But there was already a contract concerning Celine.
A contract established years earlier.
Celine was promised to Leo.
It had been arranged when they were children.
Neither had taken it particularly seriously.
They had simply grown up together.
But Lance had begun seeing the contract differently.
Leo was becoming powerful again.
If Celine married him, Leo would gain access to the Vale family.
The Vale family controlled significant resources.
Their alliance would make Leo difficult to control.
Lance didn’t want that.
He had already tried to dissolve the contract.
Marcus refused.
Then Lance proposed something else.
“My sons.”
Marcus stared at him.
“What about them?”
“They’re both eligible.”
“For what?”
“For marriage.”
Elara immediately understood.
“No.”
Lance looked at her.
“I haven’t even explained the proposal.”
“You don’t need to.”
Marcus leaned back.
“You want my daughters married to your sons.”
“I want our families united.”
“We already are.”
“Not permanently.”
Marcus shook his head.
“My daughters aren’t bargaining pieces.”
Lance’s expression hardened.
“You would rather bind Celine to Leo?”
“Yes.”
The answer came immediately.
Lance’s jaw tightened.
“Why?”
“Because they love each other.”
Elara added quietly:
“And because Celine chooses him.”
Lance stood.
“This is a mistake.”
Marcus looked at him.
“Perhaps.”
He smiled faintly.
“But it’s ours to make.”
Lance left.
He didn’t argue again.
He didn’t threaten them.
He simply smiled.
And that smile frightened Elara.
The training dungeon was considered one of the safest facilities in the region.
It had been constructed specifically for young warriors.
The monsters were controlled.
The pathways were monitored.
Emergency exits were available throughout.
For the twins and Leo, it was supposed to be routine.
A simple training exercise.
They entered together.
Marcus watched from the observation chamber.
Elara stood beside him.
Leo, Celine, and Catherine moved through the dungeon.
The first level was easy.
The second was harder.
By the third, they were fighting creatures strong enough to challenge them.
Celine opened a spatial rift.
Leo attacked through it.
Catherine slowed the creature.
The monster fell.
Celine laughed.
“That was too easy.”
Leo smiled.
“Don’t say that.”
“Why?”
“Because every time someone says that—”
The floor collapsed.
Celine disappeared.
“Celine!”
Leo lunged.
Catherine grabbed him.
The three fell through a hidden passage.
They landed hard.
Leo immediately stood.
“Celine!”
“I’m here.”
Her voice came from nearby.
Leo turned.
She was lying against a stone wall.
Her legs were twisted beneath her.
“Celine!”
He rushed to her.
She tried to move.
Nothing happened.
Her face went white.
“Leo…”
“What?”
“I can’t feel my legs.”
His heart stopped.
“Celine?”
She tried again.
Nothing.
“Don’t move.”
“I’m not.”
Leo looked at Catherine.
“Get help.”
Catherine turned.
Then stopped.
A terrible sound echoed through the dungeon.
A massive explosion.
The walls shook.
Catherine fell.
Leo reached for her.
“Catherine!”
She didn’t answer.
Smoke filled the corridor.
Leo grabbed her.
“Catherine!”
She opened her eyes.
Nothing.
She couldn’t see him.
“Leo?”
“I’m here.”
“Where?”
“Right here.”
She reached toward his voice.
Her fingers touched his face.
“I can’t see.”
Leo froze.
“What?”
“I can’t see.”
She blinked repeatedly.
“Everything is dark.”
Leo’s heart shattered.
“Catherine…”
Then she tilted her head.
“Why can’t I hear you?”
Leo’s face went pale.
“I’m talking.”
“I know.”
Her voice trembled.
“But I can barely hear you.”
Leo looked around desperately.
“Celine!”
“I’m here.”
Her voice was weak.
Leo looked toward her.
Celine tried to sit up.
She couldn’t.
“I can’t move.”
Leo’s hands shook.
“We’ll get you out.”
Celine looked at him.
“Leo…”
“We’ll get you out.”
He repeated it.
“We’ll get you out.”
Again.
“We’ll get you out.”
He picked Catherine up.
Then he tried to lift Celine.
She cried out.
“I’m sorry!”
Leo immediately stopped.
“I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
“It’s okay.”
“No.”
His voice broke.
“It’s not.”
He looked at both sisters.
His family.
The people who had stayed beside him when everyone else had walked away.
And now they were hurt.
Because of him.
Because he couldn’t protect them.
He looked toward the ceiling.
“HELP!”
His voice echoed through the dungeon.
“HELP!”
The rescue team arrived six minutes later.
To Leo, it felt like six years.
Marcus was the first through the passage.
“Celine!”
He dropped beside his daughter.
She reached toward him.
“Father.”
Marcus took her hand.
“I’m here.”
“I can’t feel my legs.”
Marcus’s face collapsed.
He tried to hide it.
He couldn’t.
Elara arrived moments later.
“Catherine.”
Her daughter reached toward her.
“Mother?”
“I’m here.”
“I can’t see.”
Elara froze.
“And I can’t hear very well.”
Elara pulled her into her arms.
“It’s okay.”
Catherine began crying.
“I don’t know what’s happening.”
“I know.”
Elara held her tighter.
“We’ll fix this.”
Marcus looked at Celine.
“We’ll fix this.”
The words sounded almost identical.
But neither parent knew whether they were true.
The physicians worked for hours.
Celine had suffered catastrophic damage to her spine.
She survived.
But the damage had left her unable to move her legs.
Catherine had suffered severe trauma to her eyes and ears.
She survived as well.
But she had lost her sight.
And much of her hearing.
The physicians couldn’t promise that either condition would improve.
Leo sat outside the infirmary.
He hadn’t moved in hours.
His hands were covered in dried blood.
Some of it was his.
Most of it wasn’t.
Lance approached.
“Leo.”
Leo didn’t look up.
“Go away.”
“How are they?”
“Ask the doctors.”
“I did.”
“Then you know.”
Lance sat beside him.
Leo finally looked over.
His eyes were red.
“You know what the worst part is?”
Lance said nothing.
“I promised them I’d protect them.”
His voice broke.
“I promised.”
Lance looked at him.
“Leo—”
“I couldn’t even protect my own parents.”
He stared at his hands.
“And now this.”
Lance placed a hand on his shoulder.
Leo shrugged it off.
“Don’t.”
Lance looked hurt.
“I’m trying to help.”
“Where were you when they got hurt?”
Lance froze.
“What?”
“You were supposed to be supervising the dungeon.”
“I was in the observation chamber.”
“No.”
Leo stared at him.
“You left.”
Lance’s expression changed.
“What?”
“You left before we entered.”
“I had business.”
“Why?”
Lance didn’t answer.
Leo stood.
“Why?”
“Leo.”
“Why?”
Lance looked away.
Leo’s eyes narrowed.
“You’re lying.”
Lance stood.
“Enough.”
“No.”
Leo stepped closer.
“My parents died.”
He pointed toward the infirmary.
“Now they’re hurt.”
His voice trembled.
“And somehow, every time something happens, you’re nearby.”
Lance’s expression hardened.
“Be careful.”
Leo laughed bitterly.
“That’s what everyone tells me.”
He walked away.
Lance watched him go.
His expression remained cold.
But underneath it was something else.
Guilt.
Or perhaps fear.
Late that night, Celine woke.
She couldn’t feel her legs.
She couldn’t see Leo sitting beside her in the darkness.
But she knew he was there.
“Leo?”
He immediately took her hand.
“I’m here.”
She smiled faintly.
“How long?”
“Since they brought you in.”
“You should sleep.”
“I don’t want to.”
“Why?”
Leo swallowed.
“I’m scared.”
Celine squeezed his hand.
“I am too.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t.”
“This happened because of me.”
“No.”
“I should have—”
“No.”
Her voice became firm.
“Leo, listen to me.”
He went silent.
“This wasn’t your fault.”
“But—”
“No.”
She squeezed his hand again.
“You were there.”
“Yes.”
“You fought.”
“Yes.”
“You tried to save me.”
“Yes.”
“Then that’s enough.”
Leo looked down.
Tears fell onto their joined hands.
Celine smiled.
“You’re still terrible at listening.”
He laughed through his tears.
“So are you.”
“I know.”
She turned her head toward him.
“Are you still there?”
“I’m not going anywhere.”
“Good.”
She closed her eyes.
For the first time since the accident, she felt safe.
In another room, Catherine lay awake.
Elara sat beside her.
“Mother?”
“Yes?”
“Is Leo okay?”
Elara’s heart broke.
“He’s here.”
“Is he blaming himself?”
“Yes.”
Catherine smiled sadly.
“He always does.”
“Don’t worry about him tonight.”
“I can’t see.”
“I know.”
“I can’t hear properly.”
“I know.”
Catherine’s voice trembled.
“But I can still feel him.”
Elara looked at her.
“How?”
“Time.”
Catherine placed a hand against her chest.
“I can’t see the future anymore.”
Elara’s eyes filled with tears.
“But when Leo is near…”
She smiled.
“I know.”
Three days later, Silas Veyr stood in a dark room far from the clan.
A mirror of black glass stood before him.
Through it, he could see the infirmary.
Celine.
Catherine.
Leo.
Silas watched Leo sitting between the twins.
His smile was faint.
“The bloodline?”
A shadow behind him spoke.
“Still immature.”
Silas nodded.
“Exactly.”
“But you injured the twins.”
“Not injured.”
Silas corrected.
“Isolated.”
The shadow understood.
“Leo will blame himself.”
“Yes.”
“And the twins?”
“Will depend upon him.”
Silas smiled.
“Which is exactly what we need.”
He turned away from the mirror.
“The boy’s power grows when he experiences loss.”
The shadow was silent.
Silas continued.
“His parents’ deaths awakened his potential.”
“The twins’ injuries will do the same.”
“And eventually?”
Silas looked toward the darkness.
“Eventually, the bloodline will mature.”
Silas wasn’t the only person who knew.
Lance stood in a hidden chamber beneath the clan estate.
The same black symbol from the Hollow was carved into the floor.
Silas stood across from him.
“You went too far.”
Lance’s voice was quiet.
Silas smiled.
“You wanted the contract broken.”
“I wanted Celine and Catherine married to my sons.”
“And Marcus refused.”
“Yes.”
“You tried to dissolve the contract.”
“Yes.”
“You failed.”
Lance looked away.
Silas stepped closer.
“So you agreed to something else.”
Lance’s jaw tightened.
“The dungeon.”
“The trap was carefully designed.”
“You promised they wouldn’t be permanently harmed.”
Silas laughed.
“I promised nothing.”
Lance’s expression darkened.
“Silas.”
“Do you regret it?”
Lance said nothing.
Silas smiled.
“You shouldn’t.”
“They’re children.”
“They are obstacles.”
“Celine is like a daughter to me.”
“Then perhaps you shouldn’t have tried to take her away from Leo.”
Lance looked at him.
“You don’t understand.”
“I understand perfectly.”
Silas walked around him.
“You wanted Leo isolated.”
Lance’s silence was confirmation.
“You believed that if Celine married one of your sons, Leo would lose his strongest ally.”
“Yes.”
“And if Catherine married the other, the twins would be separated from him.”
Lance nodded.
“You engineered the dungeon accident.”
“I provided the access.”
Silas stopped.
“And I provided the trap.”
Lance closed his eyes.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Silas said quietly:
“Now Leo is exactly where we need him.”
Lance looked toward the floor.
“What happens next?”
Silas smiled.
“We wait.”
“For how long?”
“Until the bloodline matures.”
“And if it doesn’t?”
Silas looked at him.
“It will.”
He turned toward the door.
“Because now Leo has something else to lose.”
Lance looked up.
“What?”
Silas smiled.
“Hope.”
Then he disappeared into the darkness.
Lance remained alone.
For the first time, the weight of what he had done became impossible to ignore.
He had spent four years telling himself that everything he did was for the clan.
For his family.
For his sons.
For control.
But as he stood beneath the black symbol, he finally understood the truth.
He had betrayed Lawrence.
He had betrayed Leo.
And now he had helped destroy the lives of two young women who had trusted him.
Outside, Leo sat beside Celine and Catherine.
He held one hand from each.
Catherine could barely hear and couldn’t see anything.
Celine could not feel her legs.
But all three were together.
Leo lowered his head.
“I promise.”
Celine squeezed his hand.
Catherine smiled faintly.
“What?”
Leo looked between them.
“I’ll find whoever did this.”
Celine’s expression softened.
“Leo…”
“I mean it.”
His voice was quiet.
“I’ll find them.”
Catherine listened carefully.
Then she whispered:
“Don’t let revenge become the thing that destroys you.”
Leo stared at her.
She couldn’t see his face.
But somehow, she knew exactly what he was feeling.
“I won’t.”
He wasn’t sure if it was true.
But he wanted it to be.
Outside the infirmary, Marcus stood with Elara.
Both were exhausted.
Both were afraid.
Neither knew that the accident had never been an accident.
And neither knew that the man responsible was standing much closer to them than they could possibly imagine.
The Hollow remained undiscovered.
Silas remained hidden.
The bloodline remained immature.
And Lance, once considered part of Leo’s family, had crossed a line from which there might be no return.
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