Xiu crept through the hollowed halls of the Black Veil fortress, her steps light, her senses on high alert. The fortress, though deserted, hummed with an ominous energy that seeped through the walls. The emptiness was unnerving, like the calm before a storm, but she had no time to dwell on it. Her focus was singular: find the heart of this place.
Earlier, Lian had scrawled instructions on a wooden table, invisible to anyone else until the faint light caught the residue he'd left with a clear liquid. It had been just a whisper of a message, but it led her to this remote corridor. She halted, scanning her surroundings, finally catching sight of a darkened doorway at the end of the hall.
Inside was a room lined with metal instruments and shelves stacked high with alchemical supplies. An intense heat radiated from the center, where thick, molten liquid bubbled and flowed like lava in narrow channels that snaked along the room's edges. It looked like a blacksmith's forge—twisted into something more sinister.
Xiu worked quickly, unwrapping the bundle Lian had entrusted to her. She mixed the contents of several vials into a small bowl, her hands moving deftly as she combined each component with precision. She had only one left, the final piece to set it all off.
Drawing in a steadying breath, she raised a small silver whistle Lian had pressed into her hand just before they'd entered the fortress. She blew, the sharp, high-pitched sound cutting through the still air. Then, she counted under her breath. "One... two... three... four..."
On five, she poured the last vial into the bubbling, lava-like substance. Instantly, the liquid reacted, its once steady simmer rising into violent bubbles. A deep rumble echoed from the walls, and she felt the floor beneath her start to tremble. Without hesitation, Xiu bolted from the room, her heart pounding as she sprinted back toward the upper levels. She didn't look back, trusting Lian to follow through on his end of the plan.
⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅
Deep within the heart of the Black Veil's inner sanctum, Lian heard the faint whistle's call. The echo brought a smirk to his bruised face as he looked up at the leader, who stood opposite him, cloaked in satisfaction. The relic's ominous glow pulsed between them, dark blue and black light reflecting in the leader's silver mask.
The leader caught Lian's expression, his amusement wavering. "What's with the look, Venom? Have you finally accepted your place here?"
Lian's smirk grew, a dangerous glint in his eyes. "Oh, I've accepted something alright," he murmured, his gaze fixed intently on the leader. And before the leader could react, Lian lunged forward, forcing himself between the relic and the leader's outstretched hands.
The sudden disruption jarred the energy flow. The relic's light flickered, its dark glow pulsating erratically. The leader stumbled back, disoriented, his mask slipping as he struggled to regain control of the relic's energy. But Lian stayed firm, pressing against the dark power with all his might.
The leader's eyes, now wide with alarm, met Lian's. "What have you done?!" he roared, reaching out for the relic.
Lian gritted his teeth, his voice low and unyielding. "Ending this nightmare."
With that, he braced himself, knowing that Xiu's plan was already set in motion.
YOU ARE READING
Azure Echoes.
FantasyIn a kingdom full of secrets, two unlikely allies find their paths crossing. Lian is a clever loner with a sharp mind. Zeng is a proud warrior, bound by duty. As they face outside threats and uncover the mysteries that tie them together, their diffe...
