Chapter 37 · Masks Off, Shadows Out

"Do you really think a few flickering lights make you a god, Nora?"

Kaelen’s voice sliced through the air, cold and mocking. He didn't even look at me; he was staring at the shimmering gold barrier I’d thrown up between us. It was my 'Saint's Aegis,' the signature move the whole city worshipped. To the crowd outside the cathedral, I was the divine protector. Inside, I was shaking so hard I could barely keep the spell steady.

"Get out of my way, Kaelen," I snapped, my voice cracking. I stepped forward, the gold light flaring. "The Council gave me authority over this sector. You're trespassing."

Kaelen laughed. It wasn't a loud sound, just a dry, jagged noise that made the hair on my arms stand up. He stepped closer, his boots clicking on the marble floor. "Authority? You’re clinging to a title that’s made of cardboard and lies. Let's see how long that mask holds when the lights go out."

Before I could blink, he slammed his hand against the floor. A shockwave of pure, colorless void ripped through the room. The gold barrier didn't just break; it shattered like glass, sending shards of light screaming into the walls.