Dorian’s eyes fluttered open to a world that was both familiar and utterly changed. At first, all he could feel was a disorienting haze—a dull, throbbing ache behind his eyes and a numbing chill that ran down his spine. He remembered nothing of how he had been rescued, only the sensation of being pulled from a pod as if someone had dragged him from the depths of a nightmare. His head pounded in time with his racing heartbeat. For a moment, he lay still, trying to piece together fragments of memory from his past life as an elite forces captain.

  What happened? How did I get here?… my men, what happened to them… why is memory so hazy, he wondered, the question echoing in the silence of his awakening.

  A firm grip had been placed on his collar, and a low, cold voice had pierced the fog of his awakening. “You’re a soldier, aren’t you?”

  The words struck him like a blow, forcing him to meet the gaze of the one who had rescued him; Dorian had dismissed him, thinking him just a young boy who probably got lucky and survived till now, but at that moment the boy lifted him by his collar and those cold, ruthless eyes. What Dorian saw was not just a young man with unusual powers or a boy, but a soul that bore scars of unimaginable pain, grief, and struggle. The boy’s eyes were raw with determination and sorrow as well.

  Dorian’s breath caught in his throat. He had spent years relying on his own strength and experience, leading elite forces into the heart of chaos. Dorian’s first thoughts were of disbelief. How could someone so young, so unseasoned in the conventional ways of warfare, possess such a force? And yet, as he looked into Boy’s eyes, who introduced himself as Cassian Caine, the answer was written there in the mix of defiance and responsibility.

  “I’ll follow you to the depths of hell. That, I promise,” Dorian had vowed at that moment, and he meant every word.

  Despite his internal struggle, he found himself quietly admiring Cassian’s resolve. Even at such a young age and with the unfortunate incident of memory loss, Cassian still insisted that he take the lead and clear the area first. Dorian was sure the boy would ask him to lead, ask him to fight; yet nothing like that happened.

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  …

  Later, as they moved through the corridors of level B2, Dorian’s hands trembled slightly as he adjusted his grip on his handgun. He prided himself on his calm in battle, yet today even the steeliest nerves were tested. Every time he shut his eyes, he saw his comrades' faces. The guilt of losing them and being the sole survivor ate at him.

  He trusts me to cover him. I can’t let him down, not now.

  The boy, no… Cassian had once again volunteered to take the lead, risking everything to clear their path.

  It wasn’t long before the first threat emerged. Dorian’s eyes narrowed as he recognized the ominous presence. His training took over: every muscle tensed, every nerve primed for action. He shifted from his hiding spot to a position behind a broken wall segment near the upper landing as he watched Cassian move with lethal precision. He adjusted his grip on his handgun, his mind a whirlwind of focus and unspoken admiration.

  From his hidden spot, Dorian watched Cassian's signals. A quick hand gesture and a worried glance caught his attention. Cassian was about to move, and Dorian silently vowed to cover him if fate demanded it. He could almost feel the tension crackling in the air as his partner slipped deeper into the shadows.

  Just trust him and do what you do best—finish the job.

  Then, the moment arrived. Dorian watched with a mixture of awe and grim resolve as Cassian surged forward, every movement fluid and precise. The Kalrach jerked in alarm, its twisted body reacting too late as Cassian struck. Dorian's heart raced as he watched the brutal scene. A swift kick knocked the creature off balance. Then, the roar of a shotgun echoed. The sound reverberated through the stairwell like a death knell, and at the same time, he aimed at the Kalrach above, regulating his breath as he fired his shot.

  The second Kalrach’s skull burst apart. The creature wavered before collapsing forward, its monstrous body tumbling down the stairs with a sickening thud.

  Haa at least my skills are not gone… better collect the soulsparks.

  When Cassian reemerged, stepping confidently over the carnage and moving toward the B1 entrance, Dorian allowed himself a brief, inward exhale. The tension eased, if only for a heartbeat, as he witnessed Cassian seal the doors with the access card.

  “That went well,” Cassian said.

  Dorian offered a small, tight-lipped smile as he responded, “Fortunately, it’s one of the things I’m good at.” His eyes showed the careful thought behind his casual words. He held up two dull, crystalline objects. “Also, I got these,” he added, referring to the harvested soulsparks.

  Cassian’s surprised, almost incredulous look prompted a chuckle from Dorian. “Good thinking, right? We shouldn’t waste what we can salvage.”

  He watched as Cassian took off his slimy, mucus-covered gear. Cassian shrugged at him, saying nothing.

  “Read those when you get the chance,” Cassian had tossed him a paper.

  For now, I should gear up first.

  …

  A/N : Tried something from Dorian POV

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