Chapter 14 14

Lyra felt the change in Kratos before she saw it. “Kratos” she said carefully, her voice lowering as if volume alone might trigger something “you need to stop.”

He didn’t look at her, his eyes were locked on Karthik. They were focused in a way that didn’t feel fully human.

Zephyr adjusted his stance slightly, noticing the same thing “That’s not him” he muttered under his breath.

Karthik didn’t move but he stopped attacking. Kratos exhaled slowly.

“You shouldn’t have come back” Kratos said, his voice still sounded a bit different. His voice echoed differently in the corridor.

Karthik’s eyes narrowed slightly. “This is getting interesting”.

Lyra stepped forward immediately “Kratos, listen to me, you need to step back”, but he didn’t respond.

Zephyr’s expression tightened “Okay… now that’s scary”.

Karthik tilted his head slightly “You’re not losing control but you’re giving it permission and total surrender”.

Lyra knew Karthik was only trying to manipulate him “Kratos—don’t listen to him”.

Kratos took a slow step forward, Karthik watched carefully now.

“Your threshold” he said finally.

Lyra frowned “Threshold?” She asked, confused.

Karthik didn’t look at her “You’ve reached the point where the vessel stops resisting”.

Kratos blinked slowly.

Zephyr stepped forward slightly “I think we’re done talking here”.

He moved first, a controlled strike aimed at Karthik’s side. Karthik blocked without even turning fully but Kratos moved and  one saw it coming. Zephyr was forced backward violently, skidding across the ground.

Lyra’s eyes widened “Kratos!” but Kratos didn’t even look at Zephyr, his focus didn’t shift.

Karthik did, though, he took a slow step forward “You’re not the one speaking anymore”.

Lyra stepped forward, desperation creeping into her voice now “Kratos, fight it… look at me!”

For a moment, his eyes flickered slightly but then returned forward. Something underneath it was pressing through.

Zephyr wiped blood from his lip, eyes narrowing “We need him to end this”.

Karthik lifted his hand slightly “No, now we let him fully awakened” he said calmly.

Kratos’s breathing slowed further.

Lyra shook her head slightly “Kratos… please…”

Karthik exhaled slowly “But you’re early” he murmured.

Kratos tilted his head slightly “I was always on time… You are the impatient one” That wasn’t fully his voice.

Lyra stepped back instinctively and Zephyr did too because now, they weren't sure if it was Kratos or something else.

Karthik’s expression sharpened “You shouldn’t be awake yet even at that”.

Kratos stepped forward again “You woke me” he said.

Karthik’s eyes narrowed slightly “That wasn’t permission to awake early”.

Kratos stopped “It never needed permission”.

Karthik moved first this time, fast and precise, aimed directly at Kratos’s chest but Kratos caught his wrist mid-strike.

Karthik looked down at the grip, then up at Kratos.

“You're getting stronger too” he said quietly while almost choking. Kratos tightened his grip slightly.

Lyra’s voice broke slightly “Kratos… stop…”

Karthik leaned slightly closer “You still don’t understand what you are”

Kratos’s grip tightened “I am done being told that”.

A low sound rose again from below the base.

Karthik’s eyes flicked downward briefly “You’ve drawn attention”.

Kratos tilted his head slightly “They all bow to me”. Then, there was an outward explosion from beneath, Lyra was thrown backward hard, Zephyr hit the wall, coughing sharply and dust filled the corridor instantly, thick and violent.

Lyra pushed herself up quickly “Kratos!” but there was no answer.

Zephyr staggered up “Where is he?” The dust began to settle slowly, revealing fragments of the corridor but there was No Karthik or Kratos.

Lyra’s chest tightened “No…”

Then, a voice spoke behind her “You shouldn’t have watched that”.

Lyra almost screamed but instead she turned slowly and Kratos stood there but something was wrong. His eyes met hers.

Lyra swallowed in a little bit of nervousness.

He smiled faintly “I think it’s fully awake now”.

“What's fully awake?” Lyra asked, almost afraid.

“The one with the great power” he said.