Streets of Ravetham

After what felt like an eternity, Cygnus finally recovered from the chaos, her mind refocusing on the power she now sensed within Kaelen. The light mana coursing through his chakra points radiated like a beacon, an untapped well of potential waiting to be unlocked. She knew that once it fully manifested, he would ascend to a power she could barely fathom. And that terrified her.

Kaelen was an aberration, a dhampir caught between life and death, an error in the delicate balance of existence. To Cygnus, who viewed herself as a divine being—flawless and untouchable—his very presence felt like an insult to the natural order. Despite this, she couldn’t deny the intrigue he held over her, nor the fact that she was powerless to stop his rise.

Her god complex was deeply ingrained, born from eons of existence. From the dawn of time, she had been there, watching over creation, soaring above mortal life as an eternal symbol of grace and power. For millions of years, humanoid civilizations had fought wars and built temples in her name, worshiping the swan as a goddess. In their eyes, she was divinity incarnate.

But even gods have limits, and Cygnus knew hers well. She wasn’t built for combat—not without an artifact to aid her. That was why she had once wielded a relic of instant death to eliminate the angels, all without consequence. She could heal from the strain of using such magic, further convincing herself of her invincibility. Delphinus, the pink space dolphin, may have relished using humanoids as pets and food, but Cygnus had loftier ambitions.

To Delphinus, Kaelen was nothing more than an appetizing anomaly, a mortal plaything. But to Cygnus, he represented something more—a key to amplifying her own powers. His light mana resonated with her, making her stronger just by being in his presence. That’s how she had escaped Seraphis, Zagoth’s sister, during their confrontation. Kaelen's aura, whether he knew it or not, fueled her strength.

It baffled Cygnus that Kaelen had refused to join her Justice Guild, an elite force far beyond mortal law enforcement. He had dismissed it as though it were beneath him, comparing it to the police. His independent streak, no doubt shaped by his upbringing with Red Dot, left Cygnus frustrated. How could he reject the power and purpose she offered? Regardless, she couldn't allow Delphinus to kill him. Kaelen was too valuable to her, and she needed him for reasons she couldn’t fully comprehend.

As Cygnus recalled their recent battle, she remembered how she had spied on them from the shadows, hidden in her swan form. No one had suspected a swan in Ravetham's streets, even though she was the only one. Humanoids were so easy to fool. And so, from the safety of her disguise, she had watched Kaelen and his allies, observing their fight against Thaige.

Now, she revealed herself, transforming from her swan form as she approached Kaelen. She was confident no one would attack her, her delusion of invulnerability still intact. As she stood before him, she could feel her powers surging from the proximity to his light mana.

“I’ll help you stop Delphinus,” she said with a commanding voice, her eyes locking onto Kaelen’s. “But I have a request—we don’t kill him.”

Delphinus had grown tired of the defiance. What had once been amusing—a game of cat and mouse with his food—had now turned into a tiresome affair. Kaelen, a man-child with a tantalizing mix of drow blood, had put up more of a fight than Delphinus had anticipated. At first, the struggle had been entertaining. Kaelen was deliciously strong yet vulnerable, a perfect blend of prey and challenge.

Delphinus had desired Kaelen’s mother, Syrentha, long ago. The drow princess had been a beauty, but Zagoth had stood in his way. A shame she had died during a failed kidnapping attempt. Delphinus preferred his meals alive, savoring the essence of their fear and despair. But when Syrentha gave birth to Kaelen, Delphinus knew he had found something truly extraordinary—an abomination that could awaken sleeping dragons.

He had never imagined the complications that came with Kaelen’s lineage. Seraphis, Zagoth’s sister, had also taken an interest in the dhampir, and now Delphinus found himself dealing with yet another dragon. If only he could read Kaelen’s mind! But the dhampir’s telekinetic defenses were formidable, keeping Delphinus at bay. Only elder vampires and warptors had such mental shields.

It was only recently that Delphinus realized the full scope of Kaelen’s bloodline. Valerian Drakov, an elder vampire, had somehow managed to sire a child with Syrentha. The improbability of such a union made Delphinus’ desire for Kaelen even stronger. The child of Valerian Drakov, the heir to an elder vampire’s legacy, was too precious a morsel to ignore.

That’s why Delphinus had ventured deep into space to meet his contact—a Kur from the Xi-Orionis system. The Kur were a powerful race, avian in nature and closely related to the Anunnaki. Delphinus had arranged to acquire a forbidden artifact from them, a suit of armor imbued with temporal manipulation. It was the same armor Kaelen possessed, originally crafted for Valerian. Delphinus needed this weapon if he were to claim Kaelen as his own.

But before the deal could be finalized, the angels had intervened. They descended upon him, accusing him of using forbidden relics and tampering with time. The fools didn’t realize it wasn’t him—it was Cygnus who had wielded such power. But the angels didn’t care. Their eyes were set on punishing him for breaking the laws of reality. Now, Delphinus found himself locked in a dimensional prison, interrogated by none other than Archangel Michael.

Time did not exist here. But Delphinus wasn’t worried. He had a hidden artifact, undetectable by even the angels, that allowed him to teleport across galaxies and dimensions. He just needed the right moment. For now, he bided his time, knowing that escape was inevitable. Let the angels believe they had him. They couldn’t hold him forever—or so he thought.