Hex and the group arrived at the entrance of the ruins, where Kate and Conner stood. Neither side said a word, but Kate's sharp green eyes locked on them, her glare hard and steady, like she was daring them to make a wrong move.
The group walked past without a sound. Even the air between them felt tense, heavy with unspoken challenges. Once they were out of earshot, Hex smirked. "So, you can actually behave?"
Dahlia glanced at him, her face calm, almost indifferent. "She didn't say or do anything to me, so there's no reason to retaliate. I'm not unreasonable."
Both Hex and Perus answered at the same time, their tones dripping with sarcasm. "Uh-huh."
The awkward silence that followed was broken only by their footsteps echoing down the stone path.
---
Outside, near the edge of the forest, Tal'oul crouched behind a twisted tree, blending perfectly into his surroundings. From where he was hiding near the large stone statues, he watched the group disappear into the ruins. The dim light filtering through the canopy made his camouflage even more convincing, a shimmer in the air that no one would notice unless they were looking for it.
Damn it! They went inside. How am I supposed to keep an eye on them now? He clenched his fists, his claws digging into the dirt, frustration boiling in his chest.
"Ur'ak said we shouldn't go in," he muttered to himself, trying to remember his leader's warning. "We'll probably get caught if we do."
He knew it was true. The lizardmen were good at hiding in the open, but they weren't completely invisible. Up close, people could notice the way their bodies reflected light, like a shimmer in the air or an out-of-place ripple. Tight spaces, like the ruins, made it even harder to stay hidden.
But something still bothered him. What if they find something in there and keep it for themselves? he thought. They don't get along with the other soldiers, so I wouldn't put it past them to hide something important. I can't let that happen.
After a moment of hesitation, Tal'oul grunted and made up his mind. He had to follow them, rules or no rules.
He crept forward, his body low to the ground, moving slowly and carefully. The faint shimmer around him blended with the shadows, but he still took no chances. He kept to the cover of the towering statues, pausing whenever he felt exposed, his every movement calculated and deliberate.
When he reached the entrance, Tal'oul froze and scanned the area. Kate and Conner were still standing nearby, their backs turned. He noted how rigid their stances were, how their weapons rested within easy reach. Moving with precision, Tal'oul climbed the outer wall of the ruins. He slipped through a crumbling section of the roof, avoiding them completely.
---
Inside the ruins, the group moved cautiously through dark, narrow hallways. Their footsteps echoed softly against the stone, the sound muffled yet ominous. The air was damp and stale, carrying the faint smell of moss, mildew, and something faintly metallic.
The flickering light of their torches lit up carvings on the walls—images of strange creatures, long forgotten. Each carving seemed to tell a story, though the meaning was long lost to time. The place felt ancient and heavy, as though it were holding its breath, waiting for something to happen.
They were heading toward the hidden chamber they'd found before, during the incident.
Hex hung back, letting the others walk ahead. His footsteps slowed as unease crept up his spine. With every step, the memories came flooding back. The hallway felt too close, too dark, the walls pressing in on him like a cage.
The images hit him without warning. He remembered running down this very hallway, his heart pounding, fear and adrenaline pushing him forward as he fled from the mage. His pulse quickened as though his body still remembered the chase.
And then there was the transformation.
The pain had been unbearable—his bones snapping and shifting, his muscles tearing and rebuilding themselves. It felt like his body was being destroyed and pieced back together, one fragment at a time. No matter how much he screamed, the pain never stopped.
Sweat dripped down his face. His breath came in short, shallow gasps as he stumbled to a halt, leaning against the cold stone wall for support. His legs felt shaky, like they might give out at any moment.
Perus noticed and turned around, concern written all over his face. "Are you okay? You look… off."
Hex pushed himself off the wall, forcing a shaky grin. "What? I'm fine."
But he wasn't fine. His skin was pale, and sweat was dripping from his chin, his shoulders rising and falling too quickly. His grin was more of a grimace.
Dahlia walked over, a smug look on her face. "What's wrong?" she asked with a menacing grin. "Does it have something to do with how close we're getting to the chamber? Do you think it's affecting you?"
Hex froze. He hadn't even thought about that. He figured it was just his nerves, his memories getting the best of him. But what if she was right?
Dahlia tilted her head, her voice teasing but sharp. "What do you think will happen when you step inside? Will you transform again? Or will all that power leave you?" She smiled wider, her tone almost cheerful. "I can't wait to find out."
Hex's breathing grew shaky, his chest tightening as her words sunk in. The word rang in his head like a warning: Transformation... again... No!
The memories crashed down all at once. He wasn't sorry for what had happened that day, but he couldn't stand the thought of going through that pain again.
It was the worst thing he'd ever felt, worse than any beating or torture he'd endured before. It was like every part of him—every muscle, bone, and nerve—was being ripped apart and stitched back together at the same time.
"...No…" he whispered, barely able to speak.
Panic took over. He backed away a step, then another, before turning and bolting down the hallway. His heart pounded in his ears, his mind screaming at him to run.
Dahlia didn't chase him. Instead, she smiled and shook her head. "I'd expect nothing less from you," she said quietly.
She lifted her hand, the tattooed ring on her skin glowing faintly. The air around her seemed to hum as the magic activated.
Hex froze mid-run, his legs giving out. He fell to the ground with a thud, his arms trembling as he tried to crawl forward. But the ring's magic kept him locked in place, no matter how hard he struggled.
Dahlia walked up to him slowly, her steps echoing in the quiet hallway. She stopped just above him, her face calm but smug.
"I can adjust how far the ring's magic reaches," she said, crouching down beside him.
Leaning in close, she whispered in his ear, "One way or another, you're going into that chamber."
Her smile widened as she added, "You don't get a say in it."