The chamber echoed with the clang of steel as Kass clashed with the king. Their swords met in a deadly dance, sparks flying with each impact. It was a surprisingly even fight, Kass' brute strength a match for the king’s.

  "You dare draw your sword on your king?" the king bellowed, his voice laced with a spittle-flecked fury. "Do you know the penalty for treason?"

  Kass, her eyes narrowed and movements deadly, parried a vicious blow from the king's sword.

  "Death, I presume?" she deadpanned, her voice dripping with a sardonic amusement. "In that case, your Majesty, you’ll have to try harder."

  Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Finn dart towards Isaac and Elyse. With a flick of his wrist, he sent the shackles binding Elyse clattering to the floor.

  "Go!" he yelled.

  Elyse needed no urging. She scrambled to her feet, snatching up a fallen sword.

  The tide was turning, but the fight was far from over. Guards, jolted out of their complacency, surged forward, their armored forms a menacing tide. But they hadn't counted on the desperate teamwork that had ignited within our group.

  With a yell that tore through the din, I launched myself at the nearest guard, my dagger flashing in a deadly arc. He reacted with a surprised bellow, his heavy armor slowing his movements. A quick feint and a well-placed kick sent his leg flying out from under him, sending him sprawling onto the cold stone floor with a pained grunt.

  From the corner of my eye, I saw Finn dart around the fray like a nimble weasel. He was far from the strongest, but his agility in the cramped chamber proved an unexpected advantage.

  He snatched up a fallen sword, the clang echoing like a taunt, and used it to tap the armored backside of another guard. The surprised man whirled around, his heavy armor making him slow and cumbersome. Finn weaved out of reach before the guard could react, leading him on a merry chase around the chamber. The guard lumbered after him, his frustration growing with each missed swing.

  "Stay close," I ordered Kilian, my voice leaving no room for argument. Then, with a roar that echoed Kass' battle cry, I lunged towards another guard.

  The primal scream that tore from my throat jolted Erin from her daze. The metallic tang of blood suddenly filled the air, a harsh contrast to the sterile emptiness that had numbed her senses.

  Through blurry eyes, I saw her whirl around, her movements precise and deadly. A guard lunged at her, but she sidestepped effortlessly, grabbing his arm and twisting until a sickening crack echoed through the room. The sword fell from his limp grasp as he crumpled to the floor, his groans of pain drowned out by the chaos around us.

  Erin’s gaze snapped to another guard—a hulking figure standing near the edge of the chamber. He held Wraithcaller in his grasp, the dark blade shimmering faintly with its signature smoky patterns. The sight of it in his hands sent a flash of fury across Erin’s face. Her lips curled into a snarl, and without hesitation, she charged.

  The guard raised the sword, ready to strike, but Erin was faster. She feinted left, then spun on her heel, driving her dagger into the exposed gap between his helmet and chest plate. He let out a choked gasp, staggering back as blood poured from the wound. His grip on Wraithcaller faltered, and the blade clattered to the floor with a ringing sound that echoed through the chamber.

  Erin didn’t hesitate. She nudged her foot under the fallen blade and, with a sharp kick, sent it flipping into the air. In one fluid motion, she snatched it from its arc, the blade gleaming darkly as it settled into her hand. For a brief moment, she stood still, her chest heaving as she stared down at the sword.

  Then the room shifted.

  A faint ripple spread out from Wraithcaller, like the air itself was bending around her. The smoky patterns along the blade pulsed faintly, as though it recognized its master. Erin’s grip tightened on the hilt, and I felt the change almost instantly—a chilling aura that seemed to seep into the room, swallowing the light and leaving a cold, oppressive darkness in its place.

  Another guard rushed at her, his sword raised high. But before he could strike, Erin dissolved into shadow.

  One moment she was there, the next she wasn’t. The guard stumbled, his swing slicing through empty air, his expression twisting into confusion. A ripple of darkness coiled around him, and then Erin reappeared behind him, Wraithcaller poised and ready. The blade struck true, slicing cleanly through his armor as though it wasn’t even there. He collapsed to the ground with a strangled cry, his blood pooling at her feet.

  Erin had her sword back. And she was going to make sure everyone in the room knew exactly what that meant.

  Even Isaac, pale and trembling moments ago, had found a fallen sword and stood beside Elyse, her determined snarl echoing in the chamber.

  The air crackled with a chaotic energy. We moved with a desperate kind of cohesion, a well-oiled machine fueled by adrenaline and a newfound sense of purpose.

  Suddenly, the room bathed in an unexpected brilliance. Elyse, her brow furrowed in concentration, had unleashed her ball of pure white light. It zipped around the chamber, disorienting the guards with its blinding luminescence. Their shouts of confusion rose above the din of battle as they stumbled and swatted at the elusive orb.

  Seizing this advantage, Elyse launched into a new assault. With a grunt of exertion, she levitated one of the armored guards, his surprised yelp cut short. He rose helplessly into the air, his heavy form straining her magic visibly. With a grimace, she slammed him down onto another guard with a resounding clang. Both men crumpled to the floor, groaning in pain.

  I watched in concern as Elyse panted, her face pale with the effort. Using telekinesis to such an extent was clearly draining her magic reserves. I needed to find a way to end this fight quickly, before she became too weak to defend herself.

  The smoke was everywhere now, thick and acrid, clawing at my throat and stinging my eyes. The air was a choking, oppressive blanket, and every breath burned. The fire from the remaining tapestries roared louder, its flames hungrily licking at the wooden beams and stone walls.

  "Cover your faces!" I shouted, my voice cracking as the smoke burned my lungs. I grabbed the edge of my cloak, pulling it up over my nose and mouth. Around me the others followed suit, using cloaks, tunics, or scraps of fabric to shield themselves from the worst of it.

  The guards weren’t so lucky. Encased in heavy armor, they had no easy way to protect themselves. Their coughing echoed through the chamber, harsh and guttural. Some had removed their helmets in desperation, clutching at their throats as the smoke overwhelmed them.

  Then, one of the guards lunged at Isaac, who stood frozen, his face pale with terror. He wasn't exactly built for battle, his calloused hands far more accustomed to stitching wounds than wielding weapons. I saw the guard’s sword coming for Isaac, and everything in me screamed to move, to act, to save him before it was too late.

  Isaac dropped his sword. His hands trembled as he backed away, eyes wide with terror, his chest heaving with shallow breaths.

  The guard’s blade gleamed with cold promise as it swung through the air. Isaac didn’t defend himself. Instead, he clutched his hands over his head in an instinctual, futile attempt to shield himself. A scream tore from his throat—a raw, animal sound.

  I couldn’t reach him in time. I could see the blow coming, the sharp arc of the guard’s sword slashing down on Isaac, and for a brief second, I thought it was over.

  But then—

  A burst of light.

  Golden, blinding, radiant. It flooded the room in an instant, so sudden it felt like the very air had changed. The light engulfed Isaac, a shield wrapping around him like something out of a dream.

  Time... slowed.

  The sword’s edge hovered above Isaac’s head, inches from landing. The air crackled with energy, an arcane hum so potent that it made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. I could feel the power pulse through the room, ancient, raw, and fierce. It was like the very fabric of reality had stretched in an effort to protect him.

  My mind spun. Elyse. Had she done this? No, this felt... heavier, more deliberate. Elyse’s magic never felt like this.

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  Elyse’s spells usually were subtle, fleeting, a rush of wind or a whisper in the night. But this—this was powerful, as though the earth itself had cracked open to shield him. It was like time itself had bent around Isaac, slowing, hesitating, as if the universe couldn’t bear to see him harmed.

  I could feel the presence of it—something divine, maybe. Like the gods themselves had intervened to save him.

  I blinked, trying to shake off the haze of confusion. The guard’s sword hung there, suspended in mid-air. I couldn’t waste any more time thinking.

  I lunged.

  My blade cut through the shimmering air, slashing across the guard’s throat before he could react. He fell to the floor, choking, blood pooling beneath him. I barely registered the sound, too focused on Isaac, whose hands were still shaking, still clutching his head as if the world hadn't quite returned to normal.

  I rushed to his side, grabbing his shoulder and forcing him to face me. "Isaac. Look at me," I demanded, my voice urgent, though I could feel my pulse hammering in my ears.

  His eyes were wide, pupils dilated, as if he didn’t know where he was. "W-What happened?" he stammered, his voice thin, fragile.

  I shook him lightly, trying to bring him back to the present. "You’re fine. You’re alive. Stay close to me, Isaac. We need to move."

  He blinked rapidly, trying to process, then nodded, though the fear still hadn’t left his face.

  "You’re not going anywhere alone," I added, gripping his arm tightly. "Stay by my side, or I swear I’ll drag you myself."

  Isaac’s gaze flickered to the fallen guard, then back to me, still lost in the aftermath of what had just occurred. "Did you—did I—"

  "I don’t know," I said, my voice low. "But you’re alive, and that’s what matters. Now, come on. We have to move before more of them come."

  I kept him close, my senses heightened, watching every shadow, every creak of the floorboards. The magic still crackled in the air, like an echo of something ancient and powerful. But as much as I wanted to figure out what had just happened, I couldn’t focus on that now. There were still too many guards.

  Isaac was safe for now. That’s all that mattered.

  "Stay with me, Isaac," I repeated, my voice softer now, though the edge of urgency was still there.

  He nodded again, his grip tightening around my arm. For a moment, I could almost feel him pulling strength from me, as though my resolve could somehow steady his shaken soul.

  But even as we moved forward, my mind was racing. The golden light. The power I had felt. The feeling of time itself bending around Isaac...

  Something had changed. And I wasn’t sure if it was a blessing... or a warning.

  Finn darted between the remaining guards, snatching fallen weapons and tossing them towards us.

  Kass pressed the king back with every swing of her sword. A strangled cry ripped from her throat as another guard lunged at her from behind, sword raised high.

  No way in hell.

  I didn't have time to think, only to react. The ceremonial dagger felt ridiculous in my hand, a jeweled toy meant for parades, not brawls. But it was all I had.

  With a desperate heave, I hurled the useless thing across the room. It found its mark with a satisfying thud, penetrating the plate and burying itself deep in the guard’s back. He crumpled to the ground, a surprised gasp escaping his lips. A small victory, a fleeting one.

  This guard was the one who disarmed me. Reaching down blindly, I snatched the familiar hilt of Fang from his belt. A good exchange, I thought with a grim smile – useless bauble for my trusty blade.

  I charged back into the fray, a snarl twisting my lips. Time to even the odds.

  Kilian, eyes wide with a mix of terror and pride, fended off a guard with surprising tenacity, the sword somehow fitting his grip.

  But my gaze kept flickering towards Caleb. He stood frozen, a statue amidst the chaos, his face etched with a mixture of shock and something else – pain? My heart ached for him. He was caught between loyalty to the crown and seeing the brutal reality of the king's reign.

  "Caleb! Snap out of it!" I shouted, my voice hoarse with exertion. "This isn't who you are! Don't you see what he's doing?"

  Caleb remained rooted to the spot, his eyes locked on the king and Kass's deadly dance. His expression was unreadable, a storm of emotions swirling beneath the surface. But there was no time for pleas. I lunged at yet another guard. My hands shot out in a blur of precise, calculated strikes. I targeted the pressure points on his neck and shoulder with swift, pinpoint accuracy. His eyes widened in surprise as his body went limp, collapsing to the floor in an uncontrolled heap.

  I drove my dagger into his side with a swift, decisive motion. The blade found its mark with a wet thud, sinking deep into his ribs. He gasped, a look of shock etched across his face as he slumped to the ground.

  Another guard advanced, but I was faster. I sidestepped his clumsy attack and grabbed his arm, twisting it in a painful angle. The guard yelped out, his face contorting in agony as he fell to his knees before me.

  "You fight like him, you bitch!" he spat out, his voice strained and laced with venom.

  I leaned in close, letting a wicked smile curl on my lips. "I’m flattered. But unlike him, I don’t play by the rules."

  Without another word, I brought my dagger to his throat. The blade cut through his flesh with a single, practiced motion, and in a matter of seconds, his life was extinguished in a final, silent gasp.

  Through the swirling smoke, I saw Kael Voryn’s blackened form being dragged away. For a moment, I stared at the wreckage of him, the cruel instrument of his destruction undone by its own fire. My thoughts turned to Eldoria—my home, reduced to ash by his hand and that cursed blade.

  An eye for an eye.

  My gaze darted towards Kass, who had managed to disarm the king. She had him cornered. She raised her sword, a vicious blow aimed at the king's head.

  Panic surged through me. I couldn't let her hurt him. Such brutality wouldn't just break the king, but one of his one hundred prisoners, or it would maybe even shatter Caleb.

  With a desperate roar, I launched myself towards her, throwing myself between her and the king.

  "Kass, no!" I screamed, my voice hoarse. "We don't become monsters like him!"

  Kass, momentarily stunned by my intervention, lowered her weapon. Her chest heaved with ragged breaths, her eyes blazing with a storm of emotions. The king, sensing an opportunity, lunged forward, a cruel smile twisting his lips. But before he could strike, a new figure slammed into him.

  It was Caleb. He wrestled the king to the ground, his face contorted with a mix of rage and desperation.

  "Enough!" he roared, the word echoing in the sudden silence that had fallen over the chamber. "The fighting ends now!"

  Confusion clouded my mind. Caleb had been working for the king, yet he stopped the fight? What was his game?

  His words, though, snapped me out of my internal debate. "Leave," he rasped, his voice strained. "Elyse, take them away from here!"

  Elyse, her face pale but her eyes resolute, didn't hesitate. With a curt nod, she held up her sword and winced as she sliced open her palm. Using her own blood, she began to draw an intricate circle on the floor, her movements practiced and sure.

  A portal spell. Elyse was creating a way out.

  But my focus was ripped away as a choked gasp escaped Caleb. The king, a crazed look in his eyes, had his hands wrapped around Caleb's throat, squeezing with a sickening ferocity. Fear, cold and primal, flooded my veins.

  I had to act, and fast.

  Thinking became a blur. I ran to snatch up the fallen crossbow. My fingers fumbled for a bolt, blindly searching my pouch. Finally, I found it – a wolfsbane bolt, gleaming silver in the dim light.

  A single, silent prayer escaped my lips as I aimed. There was no time for a perfect shot, no time for hesitation. The bolt flew true, embedding itself in the king's shoulder with a sickening thud.

  A choked gasp tore from Caleb as the wolfsbane bolt sank into the king's shoulder. The king roared, a sound that echoed with a primal fury, but his grip on Caleb slackened.

  Caleb scrambled back, mirroring the king's movement as he clutched his own shoulder, a look of agonizing pain twisting his features.

  It was true then. Caleb was bound to the king, sharing every wound, every ounce of pain. He slumped to the floor, tears welling in his eyes, the raw agony etched on his face. A copy of the wolfsbane bolt materialized in his shoulder, oozing the same purple poison that now stained the king's wound.

  For a heart-stopping moment, our eyes met across the chamber. In Caleb's gaze, I saw a flicker of relief, a silent plea. My body ached to reach him, to help him to his feet. But the illusion of victory shattered as the king, fueled by rage and venom, ripped the bolt from his shoulder.

  "You insolent whelp!" he bellowed, his voice dripping with a murderous intent. He whipped his gaze towards the guards, their faces twisted in surprise morphing into a cold, predatory hunger. "Seize them! Leave none alive!"

  He lunged towards me, his skeletal hand outstretched. But before he could reach me, the wolfsbane coursed through his veins, its properties taking effect. His movements grew sluggish, his face contorted in a mask of pain and fury.

  The guards surged forward, a wave of steel glinting in the firelight. There was no time for heroics, no chance of fighting our way out of this.

  With a choked gasp, Caleb turned his head, his face contorted in a silent scream. His eyes, filled with a mixture of pain, betrayal, and a desperate plea, locked onto mine for a fleeting moment.

  An agonizing decision ripped through me. There, on the precipice of escape, was Caleb, his hand reaching out towards me. Every fiber of my being screamed to rush to his side, to drag him through the portal even if it meant sacrificing myself. But a cold logic intruded.

  Caleb, paralyzed by the wolfsbane, would be a dead weight. Bringing him would endanger not just him, but all of us. The rebellion, the hope for a better future, all of it hinged on our escape.

  With a wrenching sob that tore from my throat, I turned and bolted.

  The clatter of boots on stone echoed behind me, a relentless pursuit that hammered against my eardrums. Tears streamed down my face, blurring my vision, but I didn't dare look back. Every fiber of my being screamed at me to run, to survive, to carry the rebellion's flame even if it meant leaving Caleb behind. The image of his pained face, his outstretched hand, burned into my memory.

  I reached Kilian, barely aware of the desperate, wild look in his eyes as I grabbed his arm and yanked him toward me.

  There was no time for questions, no room for lingering goodbyes. We scrambled towards the circle Elyse had drawn, its intricate lines glowing faintly with a magical light. Fear propelled our movements as the remaining guards, enraged by the attack on their king, thundered towards us.

  Elyse stood in the center of the circle, her face etched with concentration as she clapped her hands together above her head. Just as the first guard reached us, I felt a tug, a sensation like falling through a dream. A blinding light erupted, engulfing the chamber and washing away the sounds of battle.

  I glanced back one last time. Caleb lay slumped against a pillar, holding his injured shoulder. The wolfsbane coursed through him, rendering him immobile just as the guards converged on him.

  The ferocious glint in their eyes, the way they surrounded him like ravenous wolves closing in on wounded prey - it was a sight hat would forever haunt my dreams. He had reached for me, a plea for help unspoken, but the portal wouldn't allow another soul through. My agonizing choice, the desperate gamble I took to save us, meant leaving him behind.

  The portal flickered, then with a final gasp, winked out of existence. The world dissolved into a swirling vortex of colors before fading to black.

  When I opened my eyes again, the air was warm and stale, the sounds of a rushing river filling my ears.

  We were gone.