Caelum stood abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor, his towering presence commanding the room. His expression was unyielding, and his tone was as sharp as the edge of a blade. "Listen, Jolthar," he said, voice firm, "I can't undo what's been done. And frankly, I believe a man should deal with his own traumas. Sitting here and whining will do nothing to fix the past or calm your anger."
Jolthar's brows furrowed in response, his tone icy as he shot back, "Who said I was whining? I'm not. I'm asking you—what right do you have to talk about me, to ask of me?"
Caelum's eyes narrowed, his posture growing more rigid. "Jolthar, just because we're listening to your tantrums doesn't mean you can speak so rudely. Don't think for a second that I'll let you off easy. The clan comes first, and family comes second."
Jolthar's voice dripped with venom as he replied, "Which I'm apparently not a part of."
The tension in the room thickened like a storm about to break. Johamma, who had been silent up to this point, finally intervened, her voice raised in frustration. "Jolthar, don't act like a fool! The clan and family are one and the same. You're part of this family whether you like it or not, and I care about you, even if you refuse to see it. Didn't I tell you about the book? About the legacy?"
Jolthar's expression remained stoic, his tone flat and cutting. "I'm sure you didn't actually believe I'd find the sword. Admit it, Johamma. You didn't think I was capable."
Johamma's voice quivered with a mix of exasperation and hurt. "You're being unreasonable now! Everything I've done has been for this family, including you."
Before Johamma could continue, Caelum's voice cut through the air like a crack of thunder. "Enough of this!" he snapped, stepping closer to Jolthar. "The clan is important to me, and it comes before anything else. Now, I need you to stand for the clan too. It is your duty as someone who bears the blood of the Kaezhlar clan."
Jolthar let out a long, slow sigh, his face unreadable as he stared at Caelum. Then, almost mockingly, he said, "The clan is what's important to you? Fine, then.
I'll destroy your so-called clan."
The words hung in the air like a curse. Caelum's eyes flashed with fury, his aura thickening as he stepped forward. His voice was low and unwavering. "Not while I stand. And what makes you think I won't kill you today?"
Jolthar raised an eyebrow, his expression calm yet defiant. "Why don't you try, then?"
Caelum's aura erupted in a fiery burst, crackling with raw power. The oppressive energy surged through the room, but Jolthar didn't flinch. Instead, his own power—his Voidwrath—flared in response, forming an impenetrable shield around him. The two forces collided, the room vibrating with the clash of their opposing energies.
Jolthar's Voidwrath wasn't as powerful as Caelum's aura, but it was precise, controlled, and unyielding. The dark energy coiled around him like an indomitable armour, blocking the full weight of Caelum's oppressive might.
For a few tense moments, neither of them backed down, their powers pulsating in a deadly stalemate. They locked eyes, their wills clashing as fiercely as their auras. The room shook, the wooden racks shaking under their force.
Then, with a sudden and forceful stamp of her foot, Johamma's voice rang out like a command from the heavens.
"Enough!" she bellowed. Her presence filled the room, and with a flick of her hand, both auras dissipated into nothingness. Her voice cracked with emotion as she continued, "I can't lose my grandson again. I've made mistakes, and this... this fighting isn't going to fix them.
Caelum exhaled sharply, his aura fading as he stepped back. He crossed his arms, clearly frustrated, but he obeyed Johamma's command.
After a pause, he spoke, his voice calmer but tinged with regret. "When I fought Segarus, and that black mist surrounded me, I felt myself slipping—dying. At that moment, I saw all of you: my family, my clan, and even you, Jolthar. And I realized... if I can't protect the people I care about, then what's the point of all this power?"
He took a deep breath, his expression softening. "That thought drove me to keep fighting. I pushed myself because I didn't want to give up. I know you've been suffering, Jolthar. I can see it in your eyes. But holding onto resentment won't lead you anywhere.
Revenge, once fulfilled, leaves nothing behind but emptiness. If you have no one to share your love with, then all of this—power, vengeance, ambition—means nothing."
Jolthar's expression darkened, his voice cold. "You speak of love and family, but I don't even know what that feels like. I don't remember my mother's face or even know what happened to her. I don't know who raised me as a child. All I remember is wandering these corridors, eating whatever scraps were given to me, and sleeping wherever I could.
"And when I learned more about this clan, I realized the truth: no one here loved me. Not a single soul. So don't preach to me about love and family, because it doesn't matter to me. Not anymore."
Caelum's face stiffened a flicker of guilt and regret passing through his eyes. His voice was measured as he asked, "Then what is it that you want, Jolthar? What will it take to satisfy you?" Nᴇw ɴovel chaptᴇrs are published on novel·fire·net
Jolthar met his gaze with a cold intensity. "For now? I want this clan to fall. I want to strip it of its glory. And after that, I'll find Orimus and Elara... and I'll kill them."
Caelum's eyes narrowed, his jaw tightening. He stared at Jolthar for a long moment before nodding, his voice resolute.
"Fine. I'll wait for you, then. When the time comes, come at me, kill me, and end this clan's reign."
Jolthar blinked, momentarily caught off guard by Caelum's response. His surprise quickly gave way to grim acceptance. Without another word, he turned on his heel and walked toward the door.