66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrukFEz0fHcCHAPTER 16
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmLdKRaDt2a
THE INITIATION
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwnbZLaR6Gp
THE NORTH CITY COUNCIL HALL —
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8I7brQK8DO
Traeven walks alone through the winter frontier, snow hissing beneath his boots. A white fur coat, far too regal for a man of his origins, wrapped around him like a borrowed identity.
Beneath it, he wears all black—silent, sharp, a shadow moving through a world of ice.
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLTGe3ppq7J
He lifts his gaze.
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGfaHBm9QD
The mountains glow with built‑in homes, sky‑piercing highways, cathedrals, and hanging malls—a civilization stacked toward the heavens, each level brighter than the last. The lights shimmer like constellations trapped in stone.
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUrY38nnMLe
He approaches the largest cathedral, its doors towering like judgment itself.
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiXXfZxqLu6
Inside, warmth vanishes, silence swallowing him.
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2nihNSxFSp
Traeven removes the fur coat and hands it to a servant at the door, a black mask and wig, the uniform of someone who should not be recognized.
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtQzGHxfChc
He steps into the cathedral tunnels—a labyrinth of stone arteries pulsing with faint blue light. The air taste metallic. His footsteps echo like distant drums.
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt5zJjBvrXD
His thoughts spiral.
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡicbHJRCgKP
The tunnels twist with shadows, moving where no one walks. Every turn feels darkened, heavy, intentional, as if something's guiding him.
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXUWhtEiabz
A final staircase spirals upward, ending at a massive crystalline door.
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9CLlb8cJPT
Traeven exhales once.
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXitjQcwRh
Then pushes.
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuBYcqghbox
—THE COUNCIL CHAMBER
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJe9Fdal4r
Light explodes.
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmHK7oKBGn7
A single beam from the sky‑window strikes the center of the room like divine spotlight. Traeven steps into it, his silhouette swallowed by radiant light.
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDOlcx4wlmZ
The floor beneath him is transparent crystal, alive with shifting colors—ruby red, citrus yellow, sapphire blue—each reacting to his footsteps like ripples in water. He notices it with awe.
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVX6t1uSR1T
Around him stand the High Council, arranged in a perfect circle: Red robes burning like embers, Yellow robes glowing like dawn, Blue robes shimmering like deep ocean.
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKV1zoCY1fH
Their hoods hide their faces, but their presence presses on him like gravity. A Blue Hood lifts a crystalline gavel and strikes it.
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAU3EtBduJr
WHAM!
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuu69ESZQNX
Blue Hood:
“Traeven. Welcome. You requested this meeting, and we… are delighted to hear what you have to say.”
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJpCbHvkqo6
Traeven blinks, stunned.
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyo2oaDjmCF
He thinks of Paul for some reason—of that humiliating moment, that failed persuasion, that sting of inadequacy. Something here feels familiar, like dejavu.
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtPnaPImVd5
He cracks his neck, steadying himself. His eyes drift to the red‑hooded figures and something inside him stirs.
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO242YapHWv
Instinct.
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9DrAbwm3CQ
Heritage.
Danger.
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3yV3TDQSFy
His pupils tighten. His irises glowed faintly red—matching the man in the red hood.
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB5uKGOOf3j
Red Hood:
“Tell us what troubles you, son…”
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡndGLRE5Gic
Traeven:
“As you know, I am the hand of the king in the village square. I request the right to act in his stead while he recovers from the collapse of the wall at Rabbit’s Village.”
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ84sL9U6sNh
Red Hood:
“We are aware of all activities in the state. What is it you intend to do?”
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5q1vMQojE2
Traeven:
“I want to retain all troops to protect the lives that matter in the village.”
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqL8pDn6W37
Blue Hood:
“That’s it?”
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ZnhhlE0cy
Traeven swallows. The simplicity of the question rattling him, catching him off guard.
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnep0NTMT1z
Traeven:
“Hasan will gather our infantry, leaving us helpless against bandit attacks.”
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUW8Xa2l3Qi
Blue Hood:
“You got that right!”
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡihxp39tJYY
Blue hits the gavel unnecessarily.
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgxLwIRNb7A
Blue robes laugh.
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx3wbzLHZ2G
Red robes smile.
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2w5J8iaCoM
Traeven’s stomach tightens with fear creeping in like liquid hot magma.
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZkiUHCgEBF
Traeven:
“King Theron is out of commission. The people no longer respond to him. The priests are obsessed with Metro—it’s draining attention from what truly matters.”
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMol0wXOqeO
Yellow Hood:
“And what is that, Traeven?”
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ3zhLrA0yG
Traeven freezes.
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡphxJJ7WJL1
Then clarity strikes him.
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtXi6docDI1
Traeven:(calm, smooth, deliberate)
“To keep supply routes and trade protected at all costs. To safeguard the villagers who pay taxes and keep our government alive. I need independence—like Hasan has. Like Felix has.”
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmPdjWhuEvm
He drops to one knee before the Blue Hood.
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡimocUD3CKK
Red Hood (roaring):
“GET OFF YOUR KNEES!”
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ2oJKxBLjm
Traeven jolts upright.
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVNhW8xwIp
A migraine detonates behind his eyes.
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEZVV87i8v0
The Red Hood’s gaze pulses—ruby red, rhythmic, violent—syncing with the pain rippling through his skull.
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuqeKdrHUUE
Yellow laughs.
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjS9KzcBkZi
Blue shakes his head, smiling.
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpLdT8IfvAT
Yellow Hood:
“He’s not ready.”
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrb8jxSVx9W
Blue Hood:
“Yes he is...”
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlPXAaXFwrw
Traeven meets the Red Hood’s eyes, slowly.
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyd5deq1Bp4
And vomits.
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZiPQ7FM16
Red Hood:
“We know you love your friend. But you must let that go if you want a place in the High Council.”
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZSbNJhgspA
Yellow Hood:
“He’s doing better than you did, Red. Fire it up.”
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpyYqpAmp7f
Blue Hood:
“FIRE IT UP, RED!”
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeI2HhREPWI
The Red Hood steps forward, his eyes igniting—literal flames.
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkVoNAIfsje
Traeven screams as red fire engulfs him, lifting him off the ground, twisting his body in agony. His hands curl. His back arches. His voice shatters.
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTILUZwlpFZ
Thirty seconds.
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP19CSGXmyy
An eternity. He collapses on the floor gasping and moaning.
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWOg3uazUnk
The flames vanish.
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2gVuFBjkXt
Smoke curls from his clothes.
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHriBzcLXju
His shirt is burned away, chest lightly scorched, neck scarred.
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNlYVjIAcKw
A second Red Hood approaches silently and drops a red robe beside his steaming body.
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg7zbCyK94Z
Traeven curls into a fetal position, trembling.
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNQSyOH5SiV
Red Hood:
“STAND UP!”
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfHISYaPCFH
He staggers quickly, wobbling, still smoking.
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6G6dbv9OZS
Red Hood:
“From now on, you will never show your face in this city. When we call you, you will wear your reds—masked. If anyone learns you are here, you will die.”
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVAQd91TyiP
A pause.
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdXEKCQAoGk
A smile beneath the hood.
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqS3ruXy3gF
Red Hood:
“We will protect you, Traeven. We have watched you for some time now. You will be useful to our movement…
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4WhruxFwaa
‘…Congratulations, you will soon have what you desire.”’
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnWZl9iOXVP
Traeven gasp, shaking, trying not to collapse. Fear wraps around him like a second skin.
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnE6hBwHJKb
Red Hood:
“Continue your position as the hand. We will contact you for your first initiation ritual.”
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY3oizfKaZi
He laughs—low, cruel, echoing.
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyvFx910ox5
Traeven’s eyes widen in horror.
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaaBdBqlXXd
The scene fades.
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2jbfNsLK8e
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm8WvxKdDIN
and then Add to home screen.