Chapter 21: Chapter 21
"Four years ago," Kaldala began, his voice low and firm. He took a single step toward Yelena, his eyes unblinking as he searched her face.
His boots scraped softly on the stone floor as he paced, his shadow shifting with each movement. The candlelight danced on his face, highlighting the grim set of his jaw.
"I was tortured because I found some acts and practices to be extremely questionable."
"Before they broke me, they promised me everything. wealth, influence, a seat beside their false god. All I had to do was bow and assist them in what they claim is a plan for the greater good."
Kaldala’s face was a mask of disgust.
"But little did I know, I would be partaking in a grand scheme to put innocent blood on my hands."
He stopped pacing. Slowly, deliberately, Kaldala unclasped his robe. The fabric fell from his shoulders with a soft rustle, pooling at his feet.
Beneath, his skin was a battlefield. Angry, purple welts, twisted scars, and patches of burned flesh covered his chest and arms, multiple markings of pain that refused to fade.
Jimmy gasped, a hand flying to his mouth as he instinctively turned away, his stomach twisting.
Yelena didn’t flinch. Her gaze remained fixed and unblinking, as if she were observing an object, not a man.
Eric stood frozen, his fists clenched at his sides. The silence was heavy, broken only by the crackling of the candles.
"I was ashamed. I was regretful. And so I resisted," Kaldala’s voice cracked with emotion.
"But I knew too much for them to let me go free. What came next? Torture." He gestured to the brutal markings on his body.
Jimmy was shocked that Kaldala would expose his body so completely. He turned away in respect, but the image of the scars was etched in his mind.
Eric and Yelena, however, remained outwardly unbothered. Yelena, most of all, showed no sign of emotion, her blank expression fixed on Kaldala.
"Escape was impossible for me to achieve. So instead of freedom, I was sent here years ago to await your predicted arrival." Kaldala began to close his robe again, covering his abused body.
"But what does he have to do with all this? Why Eric?" Jimmy asked, turning back, his voice disturbed and curious.
"Because he fears no one but you, Eric," Kaldala replied boldly. His body was finally sealed once more behind his closed robe.
His sudden and unexpected response stunned all three of them. A look of confusion flickered across Eric’s face.
"The goal is to welcome you with open arms, make you spend a night, and then kill you and anyone who came with you." Kaldala’s words were sharp and direct, with no hesitation. He looked up, his eyes locking on Eric.
The room fell still. Eric’s brows drew together, his jaw tightening with unease.
"But I couldn’t bring myself to perform such an outrageous act, so I decided to warn you about it instead and, maybe, just maybe, stop this evil."
Kaldala’s tone was pitiful as his hands gripped the edges of his robe tightly.
"On the outside, it might look like I’m still one with the High Monarch’s cult, but this is just a pretense. In my heart, I’ve forsaken this abomination."
He touched his chest as he spoke, his sincerity palpable.
"To make up for my wrong doings, I joined this organization to help the poor and those in need, the right way."
The weight of Kaldala’s personal horror filled the room. The silence was filled with the trio’s thoughts.
"With Eric gone, there will be no one to disarm the Nebulux. That’s the goal," Yelena said audibly, her fist clenching.
"Please tell us, Kaldala, do you have any idea what his next plans are?" Jimmy stepped forward, speaking directly to him.
"We aren’t given much to know about his plots, but what we do know is he plans to rewrite the universe so it can be reborn anew. He claims it is corrupted."
"And by reborn you mean blow it to hell and back?" Eric finally spoke, a frown on his face.
"Perhaps you’re right," Kaldala said, a sigh of relief escaping him as he finally sat down on the couch.
"That’s all I have to give. I know not where the Nebulux Core is kept, but his herald at Solaris might."
A moment of silence fell over the room as everyone processed the information.
"I’ve heard enough bollocks for one day. Let’s go meet this so called herald of his" Eric said with a serious look on his face as he turned to leave.
"But what if he already knows we’re coming? He is believed to see the future, remember?" Jimmy’s voice was filled with worry.
"If we don’t do something right now, there’s not gonna be much of a bloody future left." Eric said as he walked out of the room.
Yelena, who had been standing quietly, also turned and left.
Seeing this, Jimmy instinctively followed but then turned and walked back to Kaldala before leaving for good.
"I’m sorry about the tragic and horrible things you had to go through but thank you very much for helping us out. We’ll try our best to stop whatever’s happening." He extended his hand.
The unexpected appreciation brought a warmth to Kaldala’s eyes that had not been there before.
"Like I said, Master Jimmy, helping people in need is our top priority." He gave Jimmy a warm handshake.
Jimmy nodded in respect and left. A few minutes later, he was outside, running to catch up to Eric and Yelena, who were walking at a brisk pace. Yelena was slightly ahead of Eric.
"So, what now?" Jimmy said, catching up to Eric and almost out of breath.
"First, we find the bloody dickhead herald, get the location of the Nebulux, and then if we’re lucky, deal with that High Monarch tosser." Eric replied, his tone sharp and serious. He walked with his hands in the pockets of the new coat Kaldala had given him.
A silence fell between them as they headed toward the train station.
"What you said back there... you’re probably right," Eric said, breaking the silence. His frown and seriousness faded slowly.
"Sure, there’s no bloody evidence backing it up, but it’s still something to hold on to."
Jimmy was confused by the sudden agreement. He looked at Eric, a suspicious look on his face.
"What?"
Eric asked, slightly disturbed by the attention.
"So, you’re just gonna pretend like you didn’t have a moment with the ice queen right over there?" Jimmy replied, his voice soft but suspicious.
"What the bloody hell are you talking about?" Eric shot back, trying to brush off the topic.
"You were blushing, Eric. I saw it happen, right in front of me," Jimmy said with a teasing smirk.
"Probably just the booze talking, yeah? Give yourself a bit of time to sober up and think straight, kid." Eric dismissed the claim, walking into the train.
"Thought I already told you I don’t take booze!" Jimmy yelled back as he followed him into the train car.
"Yeah, right," Eric said as the train began to move, leaving the station behind.