The Undercity was alive with its usual hum of activity—steam hissed from ancient pipes, and the metallic clang of machinery echoed through the cavernous streets. Yet tonight, something felt different. The air carried an oppressive weight, a tension Kaida couldn't shake.
She walked beside Sevryn, keeping to the shadows. The warrior's sharp features were illuminated briefly as they passed the dim, flickering light of a lantern. His hand hovered near the hilt of his sword, ever watchful. Kaida envied his composure; her own nerves were frayed.
Her tattoo had been burning more frequently lately, the sensation intensifying each time she tried to suppress the whispers of the Dragon God within her. It wasn't just a mark anymore—it was a living, breathing presence, one that seemed to grow more restless with each passing day.
"How much further?" Sevryn asked, his voice low.
"Not far," Kaida replied, her own voice tight.
They were heading to one of the few safe havens left in the Undercity, a hidden enclave known only to those who lived beneath the topsiders' iron fist. The journey was treacherous, but Kaida knew the risks were worth it.
As they moved deeper into the labyrinth of tunnels, Kaida's senses prickled. The shadows seemed to stretch and shift unnaturally, as though they had lives of their own.
"We're being followed," she murmured.
Sevryn nodded, his gaze scanning the darkness. "I noticed. Stay close."
Kaida's hand drifted to her dagger, the worn leather grip comforting in her palm. They quickened their pace, ducking into narrow alleyways and slipping through forgotten passageways. But no matter how fast they moved, the feeling of being watched remained.
When they emerged into a larger corridor, Kaida froze. A figure stood in their path, cloaked in shadow.
"Kaida."
The voice sent a jolt through her. It was soft, familiar, and haunting. Her breath caught in her throat as the figure stepped forward, the dim light revealing features she had tried to forget.
"Elara."
The name escaped Kaida's lips like a curse and a prayer all at once.
Sevryn stiffened beside her, his hand gripping the hilt of his sword. "Who is this?"
Kaida didn't answer immediately, her eyes locked on Elara. She looked the same as Kaida remembered—her golden hair falling in perfect waves, her piercing blue eyes like shards of ice. Yet there was a coldness to her now, an edge that hadn't been there before.
"What are you doing here?" Kaida demanded, her voice harsher than she intended.
Elara tilted her head, a faint smile playing on her lips. "I could ask you the same thing. Running around with a topsider? How ironic."
Kaida felt a surge of anger but forced herself to stay calm. "You don't get to question me. Not after what you did."
Elara's smile faltered, but her composure remained. "I didn't have a choice, Kaida. You know that."
"You always have a choice," Kaida shot back. "And you made yours."
Sevryn shifted, his patience wearing thin. "If she's a threat, we deal with her. Now."
Elara's gaze flicked to Sevryn, her smile returning. "Always so quick to draw your blade, aren't you, topsiders? But I'm not here to fight."
"Then why are you here?" Kaida pressed, her heart pounding.
Elara hesitated, and for a moment, Kaida thought she saw a flicker of regret in her eyes. But before she could respond, the sound of boots echoed down the corridor.
Kaida's blood ran cold as armed guards emerged from the shadows, their weapons drawn.
"She led them here," Sevryn hissed, drawing his sword.
"No!" Elara's voice cracked, her composure slipping. "I came to warn you. They've been tracking you for weeks. You have to run—both of you!"
Kaida's mind raced. She wanted to believe her, to see the Elara she had once loved, but the sting of betrayal was still fresh.
"Warn us?" Sevryn snarled, stepping forward. "You brought them right to us!"
Elara raised her hands, her expression desperate. "Please, Kaida. You have to trust me."
Kaida's grip on her dagger tightened. The tattoo on her back burned fiercely, as if responding to the tension in the air.
"Trust you?" she said, her voice shaking. "After everything?"
There was no time for answers. The guards charged, and chaos erupted.
Sevryn moved with deadly precision, his sword slicing through the air. Kaida followed his lead, her dagger flashing as she fought off the advancing soldiers. Her training with Sevryn had sharpened her skills, but the odds were against them.
Elara didn't move, her eyes fixed on Kaida as the battle raged around her.
"Help us, or get out of the way!" Sevryn shouted, parrying a blow.
Elara hesitated for only a moment before drawing a hidden blade. She moved with a grace Kaida hadn't seen before, cutting down a guard who had gotten too close.
Despite herself, Kaida felt a pang of relief.
The fight was brutal and unrelenting. Blood slicked the stone floor, and the air was thick with the metallic scent of death. Kaida's muscles burned, but she refused to falter.
When the last guard fell, the silence that followed was deafening.
Kaida turned to Elara, her chest heaving. "Why are you really here?"
Elara met her gaze, her expression unreadable. "I told you. I came to warn you."
"And I'm supposed to believe that?"
Elara stepped closer, her voice lowering. "You may not trust me, but you need me. There's more at play here than you realize, Kaida. They're not just after you—they're after what's inside you."
Kaida's heart skipped a beat. The tattoo on her back pulsed, as if in response to Elara's words.
"What do you know about it?" Kaida demanded.
"Enough to know that you're in danger," Elara replied. "The tattoo isn't just a mark, Kaida. It's a beacon. And if you don't learn to control it, they'll find you no matter where you go."
Sevryn stepped between them, his sword still drawn. "And how exactly do you know all this?"
Elara hesitated, her eyes darting to Kaida. "Because I've been working against them. From the inside."
Kaida's breath caught. "You expect me to believe that?"
"I don't care if you believe me," Elara said, her voice firm. "But if you want to survive, you'll have to trust me. At least for now."
Kaida glanced at Sevryn, who shook his head.
"This is a mistake," he muttered.
"Maybe," Kaida admitted. "But it's my mistake to make."
Elara's expression softened, and for a moment, Kaida saw a glimpse of the woman she had once loved.
"We need to move," Elara said. "There's a safe place not far from here. But we have to go now."
Sevryn growled in frustration but didn't argue.
Kaida hesitated for only a moment before nodding. "Lead the way."
The three of them moved quickly, slipping through the winding streets of the Undercity. Elara led them with confidence, her familiarity with the terrain evident.
As they ran, Kaida couldn't shake the feeling that she was being drawn into something far bigger than herself. The tattoo on her back burned hotter than ever, and the whispers of the Dragon God grew louder, more insistent.
When they finally reached the safe house, Kaida collapsed onto a worn couch, her body aching from the fight.
Sevryn stood by the door, his hand never straying far from his sword.
Elara paced the room, her movements restless.
"We don't have much time," she said. "They'll be looking for us."
"Then start talking," Kaida said, her voice sharp. "What do you know about the tattoo? About the Dragon God?"
Elara stopped pacing, her gaze meeting Kaida's. "More than you think. And if you want answers, you're going to have to trust me. But first, you need to rest. We'll need all our strength for what's coming."
Kaida wanted to argue, but exhaustion pulled at her. She leaned back, her eyes drifting shut.
As sleep claimed her, the whispers of the Dragon God filled her mind.
You are more than you know, Kaida. But to unlock your true power, you must let go of the past. Only then will you rise.