Crowned by Code - Chapter 2: A Prisoner's Past ~ (7/8) Lessons from the Past

Over the next several days, Elior worked tirelessly to prepare Darius for the challenges ahead. Their sessions ranged from strategic planning to leadership principles, interspersed with glimpses into Elior’s own storied past. He recounted tales of battles fought and comrades lost, of choices that haunted him and victories that brought fleeting solace.

He spoke of the siege of Korrindale, where his platoon was outnumbered three to one, and yet they held their ground for seven grueling days. The lesson, he explained, was not in the triumph but in the resilience of those who fought beside him. “It’s not about never falling,” Elior said, his voice tinged with emotion. “It’s about how you rise again, every single time.”

Another story took them to the jungles of Verathyn, where Elior’s team had been tasked with dismantling an insurgent stronghold. The operation had been a success, but the cost was high. “I learned that day,” Elior murmured, staring into the distance, “that even the right choices can weigh heavily on the soul.”

Through these tales, Darius began to see the man behind the stoic exterior. Elior wasn’t just a soldier; he was a leader who had borne the burden of his decisions and carried the scars—both visible and unseen—as a testament to his journey.

They also delved into Darius’s own experiences. Elior probed into the details of the Crypt, the underground network where Darius had honed his skills as a hacker. At first, Darius was guarded, reluctant to share too much. But Elior’s steady patience and genuine interest broke down his defenses.

“The Crypt wasn’t just a place,” Darius admitted one evening. “It was… a test. A game. Every move you made, every line of code you wrote, was a challenge to prove you were smarter, faster, better. And for a while, I was. Until I wasn’t.”

Elior nodded, his expression thoughtful. “And when you fell, what did you learn?”

Darius hesitated, the weight of his failure pressing down on him. “That arrogance blinds you. That thinking you’re untouchable is the quickest way to lose everything.”

“Good,” Elior said simply. “Remember that. Because the path ahead will demand humility as much as courage.”

One evening, as they reviewed potential allies—individuals who could bolster their cause—Elior paused, his gaze fixed on a particular file. He slid it across the table to Darius.

“Kara Lin,” Elior said. “Tech savant. Hacker. A ghost in the system. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it?”

Darius exhaled sharply, his fingers tightening around the tablet. “You don’t just ‘mention’ Kara Lin. You warn people about her.”

Elior’s smirk deepened. “I figured you’d heard of her.”

“Heard of her?” Darius scoffed. “Back when I was running ops, we used to trade stories about her. Some said she once shut down an entire security grid for a corporate tower—without ever stepping foot inside. Others swore she cracked an encrypted military database just to prove it could be done.” He glanced back at the file. “I always assumed she was more myth than reality.”

Elior nodded. “She’s real. And she’s exactly what we need.”

Darius hesitated. If even half the stories about her were true, she wasn’t just another hacker—she was a force of nature.

Before Darius could respond, the room’s intercom crackled to life. “Mr. Cassian, your presence is requested in the warden’s office.”

Elior rose, his expression unreadable. “Stay here. Review the files. We’ll continue when I return.”

As the door closed behind him, Darius found himself alone with the scattered documents and a growing sense of unease. The weight of what lay ahead pressed down on him, but for the first time, a flicker of determination sparked within. Perhaps, just perhaps, he could be the man Athena believed him to be.