Days ago…
Rain lashed against the Northern District of Valca.
Thunder rolled across the sky, shaking the stone towers as lightning split the darkness above.
A lone figure moved through the storm.
A heavy cloak concealed his face, its fabric soaked and clinging to his frame. He did not slow. He did not look back. Water streamed from the edges of his hood, but he continued walking along the main road as if the storm were nothing.
"I will arrive in a few minutes," he muttered under the rain. "The Orb is with me."
After several streets, he turned sharply to the right, leaving the wider road behind. The new path was narrower, darker — a forgotten stretch between abandoned storage buildings.
At the end of the path stood a stone wall.
A dead end.
The cloaked man stepped closer until he stood inches from it.
"I have arrived."
Glancing over his shoulder, he saw the storm swallowing the streets behind him. No one would follow."
Then he whispered "Noctyra Veil"
Stone rippled like disturbed water, splitting apart to reveal a descending passage lit by faint blue torches. He stepped inside.
The wall sealed behind him.
The basement chamber was dim and cold.
Four figures stood around a stone table carved with ritual markings. Hooded. Silent. Waiting.
One of them stepped forward. "You are late," the Magister said sharply. "We are already behind schedule."
Another spoke, his voice strained. "If we fail… Master will not forgive us."
The cloaked man removed his hood, revealing a pale face streaked with rain.
Without hesitation, he placed a dark, faintly glowing orb onto the center of the ritual table.
"This is it," he said quietly. "We summon the Knight of Obedience before the High Keep locates us."
His eyes scanned the four gathered Magisters.
"There are already those who suspect our movements," he added. "The Sixth Magister has been captured." Silence fell heavily across the chamber.
The Magister who brought the Orb rested both hands on the table.
"And if the Sixth has spoken," he said quietly, "then we are already finished."
The chamber fell still.
He lifted his gaze toward the others. So I have devised a contingency.
One of the Magisters shifted uneasily. "What are you suggesting?"
"We will use the Ancient Ritual Technique," he replied. "The Dead Clock."
The words seemed to drain the warmth from the room.
One of the others stepped back slightly. "The Dead Clock?" he whispered. "Wait… does that mean we will immediately seal him?"
"Yes," the Orb-bearer answered without hesitation. "We summon him and bind him within the same cycle."
Another Magister frowned. That ritual was forbidden for a reason.
"And so is everything we are doing," he snapped coldly.
Thunder crashed above them, shaking dust from the ceiling.
"I believe we will be discovered soon," he continued, lowering his voice. "The veil will not hold forever. If we are to succeed, the Knight must manifest before the High Keep reaches us."
The Orb pulsed faintly on the stone table, its dark surface swirling with dim internal light.
We ensure the summoning, he said. No delays. No second attempts.
The storm outside had passed, but its consequences lingered as Rowan turned his eyes to Zayden.
Rowan remained still for a moment, watching Zayden.
Then he turned toward the three northern soldiers who had escorted him to the village.
"I'll return to the Nor Palace," Rowan said firmly. The four Magisters will be brought out and prepared for transfer.
He walked toward the temple doors.
At the entrance, he paused and looked directly at Zayden.
Their eyes met, unspoken tension passing between them. Then Rowan stepped outside.
The air felt colder than before.
He mounted his horse in one smooth motion. The soldiers followed, adjusting their reins.
Rowan tightened his grip on the reins and called back toward the village,
"You have twenty to thirty minutes. Recheck every corner."
Then his gaze shifted forward again.
"Move."
The horse surged ahead, hooves striking broken stone as Rowan rode toward the Nor Palace, the three soldiers close behind him.
After Rowan rode off toward the Nor Palace, the village fell into a tense silence.
Zayden turned to the others. "Cedric, Nyra, Kael split up. Patrol the village. Make sure no summons remain."
"Alright" Cedric said firmly, raising his weapon. Nyra and Kael nodded in agreement.
Each of them moved in a different direction, their footsteps echoing against broken stones. Zayden glanced down the street assigned to him, thoughts already racing.
I should have found the fifth Magister earlier, he thought, his jaw tightening. Even if there's a bigger threat looming, I can't ignore the smaller ones. Every detail matters.
He entered a nearby house, careful and silent. Dust drifted through broken windows, and overturned furniture spoke of hasty departures. The place seemed empty.
Then, a subtle shift in the shadows behind him made him tense.
He spun around, drawing his sword with precise speed.
"Chill it's me, you fool," came a familiar voice.
Nyra stepped out, grinning lightly, her chained dual blades clinking softly as she adjusted her stance.
Zayden exhaled sharply, lowering his sword, though his shoulders remained rigid. You shouldn't be following me. Go back to the direction I sent you.
Zayden huffed and said, You should not be dependent on anyone every single time. Why are you so… lazy?
Nyra rolled her eyes, flicking a strand of hair from her face. "Lazy? Me? Ha! You clearly don't know me at all."
They began to sweep through the rest of the house, checking every corner and room carefully.
Nyra finally broke the silence. "You seem… really worried today."
Zayden let out a sarcastic chuckle, rolling his eyes. "Oh, should I be happy? Come on, Nyra… the whole kingdom is under a threat we've never faced before."
Nyra raised her hands in mock surrender. Okay, okay, I get it. Stop being so rude. I'll go now… check on Cedric. I guess this part of the village is clear.
Nyra turned, one end of her double-chained blade spinning effortlessly in her hand. With a sharp flick, she tossed it into the air.
The blade spun like a whirling shadow, creating a gust beneath her feet that lifted her lightly off the ground.
She glanced back at Zayden, a teasing grin on her face. "Don't get scared like last time, haha."
With a swift motion, she propelled herself toward the direction where Cedric was patrolling, the chain of her weapon trailing elegantly behind her as she disappeared into the shadows.
Zayden shook his head, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. Even in a storm, some things never change…