Elias finally looked up, eyes darker now, wiser.

Elias: "Nyxoth."

Everyone froze.

Logan: "He's... real?"

Faith (whispering): "The voice from before... that's who it was?"

Dorian (grim): "He's not just real. He's watching. Planning. And Elias... now carries his mark."

They all stared at Elias. Not with fear. But with a deep, dawning realization.

Something had changed.

Elias (soft): "I made it back. But not alone."

He sat down finally—exhausted, body trembling as adrenaline faded.

The team sat with him, closer than ever. A found family, shaken—but unbroken.

Elias (quietly, almost to himself): "...But not alone."

The words hung in the air, heavy.

Logan leaned in slightly.

"What do you mean?"

Elias exhaled, eyes distant.

Elias: "I wasn't... marked. He didn't curse me. We just... talked."

They all exchanged glances. Faith stayed close, watching his face carefully.

Elias (continuing): "Nyxoth didn't chain me to him. He didn't even ask anything. He just offered me... one favor. A way back. And I took it."

A pause.

Dante (frowning): "And that's it? He just gave it to you? No strings?"

Elias shook his head slowly.

Elias: "There are always strings. But for now... he gave me that. Nothing more. No mark, no chain. Just... life."

Faith (softly): "Why you...?"

Elias looked at her, quietly.

Elias: "Because I'm his blood. He said it."

Everyone went still.

Dorian (stepping forward): "That's enough."

His voice cut clean through the air.

Dorian: "If the Arcane Council finds out he made contact with you—even like this—they'll see you as compromised."

Logan: "You're saying we lie to them?"

Dorian (firm): "I'm saying we keep Elias safe."

He looked at Elias, then the others.

Dorian: "From now on, the only people who know what really happened... are standing right here."

Elias hesitated—then gave a small nod.

Elias: "Thank you."

Dante (grinning): "So... we're all officially part of the world's worst secret cult now?"

Faith (smiling faintly): "More like... a very dysfunctional family."

Logan: "But we've got your back."

They sat in the fading light, huddled close in the aftermath of horror.

Elias (softly, staring at his blood-stained hands):  "I know why Varik was at Arkwatch..."



Everyone turned toward him, tense.

Elias:  "Nyxoth told me... he scattered fragments of Forsaken essence across our world. He called them Echoes. They amplify the power of any Forsaken who absorbs them."



Logan's brow furrowed. Dante remained quiet, arms crossed. Faith looked shaken.

Elias:  "Varik was here for one of them. But... he wasn't a Forsaken. Not like me."



Dorian's eyes narrowed.

 Dorian: "No... but the leader of the Eclipse Order is."



The group went still.


---

Scene cut to a dark, lavish chamber bathed in violet lanternlight. Heavy curtains moved with the night breeze. Two unclothed figures lay entangled in silk sheets, soft laughter echoing. A pale hand traced down a scarred, muscular chest.

A servant bursts in, panting, eyes wide with fear.

 Servant (nervous): "M-My lord... apologies. There's news..."



The man on the bed lazily turns his head, pushing the other figure aside without a word. He sits up, cigarette half-lit, expression bored. His eyes are glowing faintly—black sclera with ember-red irises.

Man: "This better be worth ruining my night."



Servant (bowing):  "We... we can no longer trace Varik. He's gone. Vanished. Likely... dead."



A moment of silence.

The man sighs.

 ???: "Tch. So the freak finally got himself butchered..."



He stands, slowly, completely unfazed by his nakedness, and begins dressing in fine dark robes embroidered with eclipse symbols and bone-thread.

> ???: "And here I was... hoping he'd bring me the Arkwatch echo."



He walks to a mirror, placing a hand on it. Shadows twist inside it, forming a warped reflection. His voice grows low, venomous.

???: "Fine. If you want something done... you do it yourself."



He smiles faintly.

???: "Leave ."



Servant:  "Y-yes, Lord Maldrath."



The name echoed like a curse.

 END OF CHAPTER 6