The air grew heavier the deeper they traveled.
Kael followed Leryn and the assassins through the winding corridors of the Veil's ruins, his sharp eyes scanning every shadow. The walls here were smoother, untouched by the twisted symbols of the Choir, and the faint echo of dripping water filled the silence. His shadow tendrils rippled faintly around him, brushing against the cold stone as though restless.
The assassins ahead moved with quiet efficiency, their dark robes blending into the gloom. But Kael could feel the tension in the air, the unspoken distrust that radiated from them like the weight of a blade held just out of sight.
Leryn led the group, their posture steady but guarded. They glanced back at Kael occasionally, their dark eyes sharp and calculating, as if assessing whether bringing him here had been a mistake.
"This place," Kael said softly, breaking the silence. "It's different."
Leryn slowed their pace, glancing over their shoulder. "This sanctuary was hidden from the Choir. A place for the guild to retreat to when the Veil was compromised. It's one of the few places they never touched."
Kael's gaze flicked to the smooth walls, the faint outlines of carved sigils that had faded with time. They were unlike the corrupted symbols he'd seen elsewhere—calmer, more deliberate, their lines flowing in harmonious patterns.
"And you think it's safe here?" Kael asked, his voice calm but edged with skepticism.
"For now," Leryn replied. "But safe doesn't mean permanent."
Kael's lips curled into a faint smile. "Nothing ever is."
The group reached a set of heavy stone doors, their surface etched with intricate designs that spiraled inward like the threads of a web. Leryn stepped forward, pressing their hand against the center of the carving. The sigils flared faintly, a soft, pale light spreading across the stone as the doors groaned and began to open.
Beyond was a vast chamber, its high ceiling disappearing into the darkness above. The room was lined with stone shelves, their surfaces cluttered with old books, scrolls, and artifacts. At the center was a circular table surrounded by low benches, its surface scarred with the marks of countless blades.
The assassins filed in, their movements deliberate as they spread out through the room. Some moved to the shelves, their hands brushing over the ancient tomes with reverence, while others lingered by the walls, their wary gazes flicking toward Kael.
"This is what's left of the guild's hidden knowledge," Leryn said, their voice low as they moved to the center of the room. "Records of their history. Their rituals. Their enemies."
Kael stepped closer, his shadow tendrils curling faintly as his gaze swept over the room.
"And the Choir?" he asked.
Leryn nodded, their expression hardening. "There are fragments here. Pieces of what we've been able to gather over the years. The Choir's reach goes back further than you might think. They've been pulling strings in the shadows for centuries, shaping the world to fit their design."
Kael's sharp eyes narrowed. "What do they want?"
Leryn's lips pressed into a thin line. "Perfection. Or at least, their version of it. They believe the world is flawed, fractured, and that it can only be made whole by merging it with the shadow realm. They call it 'The Great Convergence.'"
Kael exhaled slowly, the weight of the words settling over him like a shroud.
"And I'm their key," he said softly.
Leryn's gaze sharpened. "You're more than that. You're their bridge. The binding that holds their design together. Without you, their plan falls apart."
Kael's lips curled into a faint smile, his voice calm. "Then it's a shame for them I have no intention of playing along."
One of the assassins—a broad-shouldered man with a jagged scar running down the side of his face—stepped forward, his expression hard.
"And why should we believe you?" he said, his voice sharp. "You destroyed the guild. You turned on us. What's stopping you from doing the same here?"
Kael turned his gaze to the man, his shadow tendrils rippling faintly in response.
"I'm not here for your trust," Kael said softly. "And I don't need your approval. If you think I'm a threat, you're welcome to try and stop me."
The man's hand moved to the hilt of his blade, his posture tense.
"Enough," Leryn said sharply, stepping between them. Their gaze flicked to the man, their tone cold. "We don't have time for infighting. The Choir is out there, and every moment we waste here is another moment they tighten their grip."
The man hesitated, his hand lingering on his blade before he stepped back, his expression dark.
Leryn turned back to Kael, their gaze steady. "You might not care about trust, but if we're going to fight them, we need to work together. The Choir's reach is growing, and they won't stop until they've consumed everything."
Kael didn't respond immediately. His sharp eyes scanned the room, lingering on the faces of the assassins who watched him with a mix of fear and suspicion.
"I'll do what needs to be done," he said finally, his voice calm. "But don't mistake me for one of you."
Leryn nodded, their expression unreadable. "Fair enough."
Before Kael could say more, the room shifted.
The air grew colder, the faint hum of the sanctuary's sigils flickering unevenly. The shadows along the walls rippled violently, their edges fraying as though caught in a storm.
Kael's chest tightened, his sharp eyes narrowing as he turned toward the entrance.
"They're here," he said softly.
The words were barely out of his mouth before the doors burst open, a surge of corrupted assassins flooding into the room. Their forms were twisted and grotesque, their limbs jagged and unnatural, their eyes burning with the same sickly green light that marked the Choir's influence.
The room erupted into chaos.
Kael moved instinctively, his shadow tendrils lashing out to meet the attackers. The first assassin lunged at him, their jagged blade slicing through the air, but Kael sidestepped the strike, his dagger flashing in a sharp arc that tore through their corrupted flesh.
The other assassins joined the fray, their movements sharp and coordinated as they fought off the intruders. Blades clashed against claws, the sound of steel echoing through the chamber as blood sprayed across the stone.
Kael moved through the chaos like a dancer, his movements fluid and deliberate. His shadow tendrils coiled and struck with precision, tearing through the corrupted assassins with an artistry that left streaks of blood and shadow flowing across the floor like brushstrokes.
But the toll of his magic was heavier now, the ache in his chest flaring with every strike. His breaths came sharp and uneven, his vision blurring at the edges as the battle raged on.
One of the corrupted assassins lunged at Leryn, their jagged claws slashing through the air. Leryn deflected the strike, their blade catching the claws in a shower of sparks, but the force of the blow sent them staggering back.
Kael's shadow tendrils lashed out, striking the corrupted assassin with a force that sent them crashing into the wall. Leryn's gaze flicked to Kael, their expression unreadable as they nodded faintly in acknowledgment.
When the last of the corrupted assassins fell, the room fell silent once more.
Kael straightened slowly, his breathing sharp and uneven as he scanned the room. The corpses of the intruders lay scattered across the stone, their twisted forms still and lifeless.
Leryn stepped forward, their gaze steady. "This is just the beginning," they said softly. "The Choir won't stop until they've taken everything."
Kael's lips curled into a faint smile, his voice calm but sharp.
"Then we'd better make sure they don't get the chance."