ASHES BENEATH THE LIGHT

CHAPTER 02

With the mother gone from existence entirely, there was nothing left to stand in his way—for now. It was time to leave immediately, before word of the infant’s birth reached a faction he would rather keep in the dark.

But the moment he stepped past the doorway, a bluish-white beam shot down like lightning from the heavens, striking the very spot where the man in black had stood.

Rocks and dust exploded outward, scattering like debris from a nuclear blast.

By sheer luck—and even with the infant still in his arms—he managed to dodge the deadly strike, escaping with only a few wounds. He barely had time to catch his breath when a voice called from behind, cold and threatening:

“Kavrael!”

He didn’t need to turn around to know who it was. The very light that had struck him was enough to reveal the identity.

“Damn it…”

Kavrael straightened up, irritation and hatred hardening his features as the hood fell back, exposing his face.

“Tamarech,” he muttered.

He paused for a brief second, mind racing for a way out.

“My repulsive brother…”

With a flick of his wrist, Kavrael drew his weapon discreetly. Then, in a desperate attempt to catch Tamarech off guard, he spun around, swinging toward him.

“It’s been a long time…”

The strike was met with a loud metallic screech—it had collided with the arm-shield Tamarech wore, stopping it cold.

Unflinching, Tamarech smiled—an unsettling smile devoid of warmth.

“Did you miss me … brother?”

He lunged forward with force, sending Kavrael staggering back. Even with his own power, Kavrael wasn’t at his full strength—especially while carrying the child. Facing a lower-ranked angel would have been difficult enough, but facing one of the archangels like Tamarech was nearly impossible.

Still, Kavrael resisted with everything he had.

But the child in his arms restrained him. It slowed his movements—particularly in the face of a force like Tamarech’s.

“Just hand over the hybrid, Kavrael…”

“I don’t want to kill you.”

Tamarech’s tone was void of any emotion—completely at odds with the brutal strike he had just unleashed. His actions betrayed his words; the earlier attack was clearly meant to kill both Kavrael and the child.

Kavrael muttered under his breath, “Right… of course.”

He looked Tamarech straight in the eye, a smirk tugging at his lips with bitter irony.

“Is that what you told Malrakar too?”

Tamarech’s expression cracked.

His grip faltered. Emotion surged in waves across his face—anger, pain, grief.

It was like being struck himself.

For a brief moment, the overwhelming image of Malrakar’s final expression flashed in his mind—etched into memory, unforgettable.

Tamarech loosened his hand and stepped back, shaken.

“That’s not… true… Malrakar didn’t…”

His voice faltered, unsteady.

He looked dazed, haunted by something deeper.

And in that instant, Kavrael saw the hesitation—the moment of vulnerability.