Chapter Six: The Unchosen Among the Chosen
Warmth.
That was the first thing Vael noticed.
Not pain. Not the sharp, tearing agony that had become so familiar to him. Just… warmth. It wrapped around his body like a quiet reassurance, sinking into his bones, easing the tension that had once consumed every inch of him. For a moment, he simply lay there, eyes closed, breathing slowly, almost afraid that if he moved, it would all disappear and reality would snap back into something cruel.
Then his eyes opened.
Soft light greeted him.
Sunlight filtered through a wide window, spilling gently across the room in golden streaks. Dust particles drifted lazily in the air, glowing faintly as they passed through the light. The ceiling above him was smooth and uncracked, the walls clean and untouched by soot or blood. Everything felt… ordered. Calm.
Vael blinked.
"…Where…?"
His voice came out low, rough, but steady.
He pushed himself up slightly, expecting resistance—expecting pain—but instead, his body moved. There was soreness, yes, a dull ache beneath the surface, but nothing like before. Nothing like broken ribs grinding against each other with every breath.
His eyes widened slightly.
"…I'm… fine?"
Not completely. He could still feel the remnants of the battle in his muscles, the stiffness in his joints, but compared to what he had gone through…
This was nothing.
Slowly, he pulled back the thin covering over him and looked down at his body. His skin, once torn and soaked in blood, was now mostly healed. Faint marks remained, barely visible lines where wounds had once been, but they were already fading.
Vael raised a hand, turning it slightly.
"…That's not normal."
His voice was quieter now, thoughtful.
He swung his legs off the bed and sat upright, taking in the room properly this time. The floor was polished wood, clean enough to reflect the sunlight faintly. A small table stood beside the bed, untouched. Everything was simple, but well-kept. Not luxurious, but not poor either.
He turned his head toward the window.
Curiosity pulled him forward.
Standing, he took a few slow steps and looked outside.
His breath paused for a second.
"…The city."
Stone roads stretched below, clean and structured. People moved about their day, unaware of anything beyond their routines. Buildings stood tall and intact, nothing like the broken outskirts he had been fighting through.
"I'm back…"
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Whose place is this?"
The question lingered as he stepped back from the window. Then, like a delayed echo, memory returned.
The forest.
The Mid Demon.
The impact.
The moment he thought it was over.
And then—
"…That man…"
Vael exhaled slowly as he walked back to the bed and sat down again.
"The Church operative…"
He leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on his knees.
"…So he brought me here."
A quiet pause followed.
Then—
A faint flicker.
Light formed in front of him, lines assembling into something familiar.
[UNBOUND SYSTEM — STATUS]
Name: Vael ThorneRank: F
[CORE STATS]
Strength: F (20%)Speed: F (22%)Endurance: F (25%)Perception: F (28%)Cognition: F (21%)Recovery: F (20%)
Vael stared at it, eyes scanning each number carefully.
"…I think there's progress."
His voice was calm, almost analytical.
"Slow… but it's there."
His gaze lingered on Endurance and Perception.
"…That fight did more than I thought."
He leaned back slightly, exhaling.
"Still not enough."
The system faded quietly as his thoughts shifted.
"…Church operatives…"
His expression changed—more focused now.
Unlike the Holy Knights, who relied on structured combat and formations, the Church operated differently. They weren't bound to patrols or defensive lines. They moved independently, handling threats that were considered too unstable, too dangerous, or too… strange.
Demons that didn't behave normally.
Forbidden contracts.
Corrupted zones.
Things that didn't fit neatly into the world's expectations.
And their power—
Vael's eyes darkened slightly.
"Divine energy… but controlled."
Not explosive like the knights.
Not overwhelming.
Precise.
Clean.
Absolute.
He remembered it clearly—the way that man erased the Mid Demon without effort, without struggle.
"That wasn't strength…"
Vael muttered.
"That was… authority."
Silence settled again.
Then his eyes shifted.
Near the edge of the room, folded neatly, was a piece of cloth.
A rope-like garment.
Simpler than what the man had worn. No markings. No symbols. Just plain, clean fabric.
Vael looked down at himself.
His clothes were gone.
What remained of them, at least.
Torn. Bloodstained. Useless.
"…Yeah, that's not happening."
He stood up, walked over, and picked up the rope garment. It was light, comfortable, easy to wear. Within moments, he had it on, adjusting it slightly until it fit properly.
"…Better."
He glanced at himself briefly, then turned toward the door.
No hesitation this time.
He stepped out.
The hallway beyond was quiet, lined with similar doors. The same clean design continued, simple but refined. There was a sense of order here—something structured, controlled.
Vael walked forward.
Then he saw him.
The man stood ahead, near an open area, as if he had been waiting.
Late twenties, just as Vael remembered. Calm posture. No visible tension. Just… presence.
"I was about to check on you," the man said, turning slightly. "But you're already awake."
Vael stopped a few steps away.
"…Yeah."
The man gestured lightly.
"Come."
No explanation.
No delay.
Vael followed.
They walked in silence, moving through the building until they reached a larger room—a dining area. A table sat at the center, already prepared.
Food.
Vael's stomach reacted instantly.
He hadn't eaten properly in over a day.
"…Sit."
Vael hesitated for a moment.
Then sat.
"Dig in," the man said simply.
Vael stared at the food.
For a second, he considered refusing.
Then his body made the decision for him.
He reached forward.
And ate.
At first, controlled.
Then faster.
Then—
He didn't care anymore.
He ate like someone who had nearly died. Because he had.
The man watched him quietly, not interrupting.
After a moment, he spoke.
"Lucien Draegor."
Vael paused mid-bite, glancing up.
"My name."
Vael swallowed quickly.
"…Vael."
There was still food in his mouth as he said it.
Lucien didn't react.
Instead, he leaned back slightly.
"Let's not waste time."
Vael slowed down his eating now, listening.
"What is your goal in this world?"
The question came directly.
No buildup.
No hesitation.
Vael looked at him, chewing slowly now, thinking.
For a moment, he said nothing.
Then—
"I want to be strong."
His voice was steady.
Simple.
But firm.
Lucien didn't interrupt.
Vael continued.
"I've lost everything."
His gaze lowered slightly, but his voice didn't weaken.
"Family. Home. Everything."
A pause.
"Demons. Beasts."
His grip tightened slightly.
"I don't want that to happen to anyone else."
He looked back up.
"I want to be strong enough to stop it."
Silence followed.
Then—
Lucien smiled.
Not widely.
But enough.
"I like that."
Vael didn't respond.
Lucien continued.
"And I like the fact that you fought like that… without any affinity."
Vael's eyes flickered slightly.
"…Yeah."
"Let's see how far your body can go," Kael said.
Then—
"Join the Church."
Vael froze.
"…What?"
The words came out before he could stop them.
Lucien didn't look away.
"I want to train you."
Vael blinked.
Joining the Church?
That wasn't something people just… did.
"…Aren't I too weak?"
His voice was more cautious now.
"The lowest rank in the Church is C."
Lucien nodded slightly.
"You're not joining fully."
Vael frowned.
"I'm not interested in your rank."
A pause.
"I'm interested in you."
Vael stayed silent.
"You have no affinity," Lucien continued. "No blessing. No contract."
His gaze sharpened slightly.
"And yet… you survived."
Vael's mind moved quickly.
Careful.
Always careful.
"…I've trained."
It was the same answer as before.
Simple.
Grounded.
Kael studied him for a moment longer.
Then nodded.
"That's enough."
Vael exhaled quietly.
"…So?"
"So," Kael said, standing, "I train you."
No ceremony.
No conditions.
Just a decision.
Vael looked down briefly.
Thoughts moving.
Fast.
Church meant:
Power.
Structure.
Opportunity.
But also—
Risk.
Observation.
If they found out…
He clenched his fist slightly.
Then relaxed.
"…Fine."
Kael's smile returned.
"Good."
Vael looked up.
"…That's it?"
"That's it."
A pause.
Then Kael turned.
"Let's go."
Vael blinked.
"…Now?"
Kael glanced back.
"Yes."
No hesitation.
No delay.
Vael stood up slowly.
"…You're serious."
Kael didn't answer.
He didn't need to.
Vael exhaled.
Then followed.
His first mission…
Had already begun.