SPIRITBINDER: The Boy Without A Mark
Chapter 46: In The Eye of the Storm

Chapter 46: In The Eye of the Storm

The grand hall, where the rulers of the kingdoms had gathered, was now a scene of chaos. The echoes of Drace’s parting words still lingered in the air: "All of you will run out of breath." True to his declaration, a suffocating grip had seized the rulers, and in their moment of vulnerability, he had vanished without a trace.

Morvane stood frozen, his mind racing as he tried to process what had just happened. His chest still heaved as he struggled to catch his breath. Around him, the rulers were recovering, though the air remained thick with tension.

"This... this is a disaster," Crimson muttered, his tone laced with both frustration and disbelief. "How could a child do this?"

Morvane turned to the rulers, his eyes sharp with frustration. "Look what you’ve done!" His voice carried a weight that silenced the room. "You pushed him into a corner. What did you think would happen?"

Levan, the ruler of Tervag, stepped forward, his eyes narrowing. "Don’t you dare lecture us, Morvane." His voice was low and dangerous. "Drace’s actions—his powers—are a threat to everyone. He needed to be stopped."

Morvane’s fists clenched at his sides. "He needed understanding, not persecution! He’s just a kid, Levan!"

"A kid who just suffocated the most powerful rulers of this world in one move," Levan shot back. "And you’re defending him?"

Morvane didn’t back down. "I’m defending someone who’s been judged without a chance to explain. Someone who—"

Levan cut him off with a sharp laugh. "You’re blinded by your own arrogance, Morvane. You think you’re the voice of reason, but all I see is a fool who can’t see the danger right in front of him."

Morvane’s temper flared. "And all I see is a coward too afraid to admit his own failings!"

Before anyone could intervene, the tension between the two rulers boiled over. Levan’s hand glowed with energy, and in an instant, he unleashed a surge of power. Morvane countered, his movements swift as he summoned a shield of energy to deflect the attack.

The room erupted into chaos as the two rulers clashed. Levan’s replication ability allowed him to mimic the abilities of the other rulers, and he moved with the precision and ferocity of someone who had studied their powers for years. Morvane, though lacking an offensive ability, used his agility and quick thinking to keep up.

Sparks flew as their powers collided, shaking the very foundations of the hall. The other rulers watched in stunned silence, unsure whether to intervene or let the fight play out.

"Enough!"

The command came not as a shout but as a force. Medas stepped forward, his eyes glowing with an intense light. With a single motion, he extended his hand, and an invisible force wrapped around Morvane and Levan, lifting them off the ground.

The two rulers struggled against the telekinetic grip, but Medas’s power was absolute. "Have you both lost your minds?" he demanded, his voice calm yet filled with authority. "We’re facing a crisis, and you’re squabbling like children."

Medas released them, letting them drop unceremoniously to the floor. Morvane glared at Levan but said nothing, brushing the dust off his clothes.

"This is exactly what Drace wanted," Medas continued, addressing the room. "He’s divided us, made us turn on each other. If we’re going to fix this mess, we need to work together."

Crimson nodded, stepping forward. "Medas is right. We can’t afford to waste time fighting amongst ourselves. Drace is out there, and we don’t know what he’s planning."

Vianna, who had remained quiet until now, spoke up. "If we’re going to find him, we need to understand him first. His powers, his motives... everything."

Morvane’s gaze softened, and he sighed. "I know him better than anyone here. Let me be the one to bring him back."

Levan scoffed. "And why should we trust you to handle this?"

"Because I understand him," Morvane said firmly. "And because he deserves at least one person who believes in him."

The room fell silent, the rulers exchanging uncertain glances. Finally, Medas spoke. "We’ll give you a chance, Morvane. But know this—if he becomes a threat to our kingdoms, we won’t hesitate to stop him. Permanently."

Morvane nodded, his resolve unwavering. "I won’t let it come to that."

As the rulers began to regroup, the weight of the situation settled over Morvane. Drace was out there, alone and afraid, and it was up to him to bring him back before it was too late.

As the tension in the grand hall began to ease, a deafening thud shattered the brief calm, reverberating through the room like a drumbeat of doom.

"What was that?" Vianna gasped, her usual poise cracking.

Another thud, louder this time, rattled the ornate chandeliers above. The rulers instinctively readied themselves, their powers flickering faintly as they prepared for whatever threat was approaching.

Crimson narrowed his eyes, his combat instincts kicking in. "Everyone, stay alert," he commanded, stepping toward the grand mirror that adorned one side of the hall. The mirror was enchanted to reflect the outside world, providing a constant view of Katakwan’s sprawling streets and towering spires.

The reflection showed only calm—a deceptive stillness that belied the unease gripping the room. Crimson’s gaze remained fixed, his sharp eyes scanning every detail. "It’s peaceful out there," he muttered, his voice uncertain.

And then it hit.

The ground beneath them trembled violently, throwing everyone off balance. The ornate columns of the hall groaned as the earthquake intensified. The thuds transformed into a cacophony of cracking stone and distant cries.

"An earthquake? Here?" Medas exclaimed, gripping the edge of a table to steady himself.

Crimson’s blood ran cold as he turned back to the mirror. The peaceful scene had shattered into chaos. Outside, Katakwan was in turmoil. The Baltalahans—his people—were fleeing through the streets, their cries of terror echoing even within the insulated hall. Some clung to each other, while others used their magic to shield themselves from falling debris.

Buildings swayed dangerously, their golden facades crumbling as the earth convulsed. A large fissure ripped through the main thoroughfare, swallowing anything in its path. Fires erupted in scattered pockets, adding to the growing chaos.

"Katakwan is under attack!" Crimson bellowed, his voice cutting through the noise.

Vianna clutched her chest, her composure shattered. "But... by what? What’s causing this?"

The hall trembled as another violent quake shook the ground beneath the rulers’ feet. Without wasting another moment, Crimson barked, "We need to see what’s happening out there—now!"

The rulers rushed out of the grand hall and into the sprawling balcony overlooking Katakwan. What they saw froze them in their tracks.

The golden streets of Katakwan were in disarray. People—Baltalahans, the proud citizens of the kingdom—ran in panic. Some cried out for help, others scrambled to protect their loved ones, while a few used their abilities to shield themselves from collapsing structures. The chosen, an elite guard of Katakwan, were scattered throughout the city, desperately trying to restore order.

"What... what is this?" Vianna whispered, her voice trembling as she clutched the railing.

Crimson’s fists clenched as he scanned the devastation. His people, his kingdom—everything he had worked to protect—was unraveling before his eyes. "This isn’t natural," he growled, his voice low and filled with rage. "Someone is doing this."

Then Morvane’s eyes shifted upward. He froze, his heart skipping a beat. "Look!" he shouted, pointing toward the sky.

The others followed his gaze, and there, suspended in the air, was a lone figure.

It was Drace.

He hovered above the chaos like a phantom, his dark cloak billowing in the wind. His once hesitant demeanor was gone, replaced by an unsettling aura of confidence. His eyes burned with a cold, sharp intensity—a killing intent that sent a chill down Morvane’s spine.

The air around Drace seemed to distort, faint ripples spreading outward as if reality itself was bending to his will. He raised a hand slowly, and with a flick of his wrist, another tremor tore through the city, causing more buildings to crumble and sending people screaming into the streets.

Crimson’s face twisted in fury. "Drace!" he bellowed, his voice echoing through the chaos. "What are you doing? Have you lost your mind?"

Drace didn’t respond. His gaze remained locked on the city below, his expression unreadable yet brimming with contempt.

Morvane stepped forward, his voice cutting through the tension. "Drace! Stop this!" He shouted with as much force as he could muster. "This isn’t who you are!"

Drace’s head tilted slightly, as if acknowledging Morvane’s words. Then, without warning, he descended slowly, landing on a fractured section of the main thoroughfare below the balcony.

The rulers followed, rushing down to confront him. The air grew heavier as they approached, an oppressive force emanating from Drace that made every step feel like a struggle.

When they were mere feet away, Drace finally spoke. His voice was calm, but it carried a weight that silenced the world around him.

"You wanted to punish me," he said, his eyes sweeping across the group. "You wanted to make me pay for protecting you from yourselves."

"No one here wanted this," Morvane said firmly, stepping forward. "But this isn’t the way, Drace. Whatever you’re doing, it’s only making things worse."

Drace’s lips curled into a bitter smile. "Worse? No, Morvane. I’m only giving them what they deserve."

"Enough of this!" Crimson growled, stepping forward with his fists clenched. "If you won’t stop, then I’ll stop you myself!"

Drace’s smile faded, and his gaze sharpened. "You think you can stop me, Crimson?" His voice was cold, almost mocking. "Go ahead. Try."

Before Crimson could respond, the ground beneath them shook violently once more, sending cracks rippling through the street. Drace’s power was unlike anything they had ever seen, and as the tremors subsided, he turned his piercing gaze back to the rulers.

"You think I’m your enemy," he said softly, almost as if to himself. "But the truth is, I’m the only one willing to do what needs to be done."

With that, Drace raised his hand again, and the sky above Katakwan darkened. The rulers stood frozen, unsure of what would come next.

"Drace, stop!" Morvane shouted, desperation creeping into his voice. "This isn’t the way! Let us help you!"

For a brief moment, Drace hesitated. His eyes flickered with something—doubt, perhaps—but it was gone as quickly as it came.

"You can’t help me," he said quietly. Then, with a surge of power, he vanished into the shadows, leaving behind a city in ruins and rulers grappling with the aftermath of his wrath.