The voice came again.Not loud.Not threatening.Almost gentle.“Serah.”Kael froze.The merged blade in his hand stopped glowing.Across the chamber, the red-bladed man lowered his weapon.For the first time since he had emerged from the abyss, he looked uncertain.Darian pushed himself upright.“No.”Kael turned toward him.“You heard it.”Darian said nothing.The voice came a third time.“Serah.”This time, the Sanctum answered.Every remaining stone inscription lit up.Lines of ancient writing spread across the walls.Lira stared at them.“What language is that?”The old keeper stepped closer.His face drained of color.“It isn't a language.”Silas looked at him.“Then what is it?”“A name.”The old keeper touched one of the symbols.“It is the name of the first woman who carried the Will.”Kael looked toward the red-bladed man.“Serah?”He shook his head.“No.”His voice was barely audible.“Her name was never written here.”Darian stared at the wall.“Then why is it calling her?

Kael smiled.But it wasn't his smile.Lira stepped backward.“Kael?”His head tilted.The five blades continued circling him.Silver.Black.White.Red.And the dark, unseen fifth presence.Darian raised his sword.“Don't approach him.”Lira looked at him.“That's your son.”“I know.”“Then help him!”Darian's grip tightened.“I don't know how.”Kael's body moved.One step.Then another.His feet carried him toward the abyss.Lucan stepped into his path.“Kael.”Kael stopped.For a moment, his eyes returned to normal.“Lucan.”Lucan lowered his sword.“It's me.”Kael stared at him.Then his expression changed again.“Move.”Lucan didn't.“No.”The Shadow Blade suddenly flew from Kael's side.Lucan blocked.CLANG!The impact threw him across the chamber.“Lucan!”Elias rushed forward.Kael raised one hand.Elias stopped mid-step.A pressure filled the chamber.No one could move.The Warden struggled against it.Even the ancient construct was being forced to its knees.Kael looked at ev

The Black Registry charged.Their formation was perfect.No shouting.No hesitation.No wasted movement.Twenty-four soldiers entered the Sanctum in four lines, each carrying a different weapon designed for close combat.Behind them came the silver-spear commander.She raised one hand.The soldiers stopped.“Take the carriers alive.”Her eyes settled on Kael.“Kill everything else.”The command had barely left her mouth when the stranger moved.He crossed the distance between them in a blink.The commander blocked his first strike.CLANG!The impact drove her backward.Her boots carved two lines into the stone.Her eyes widened.“You.”The stranger smiled.“You remember.”She stared at him.“The First Failure.”His smile vanished.“I have a name.”The commander thrust her spear.He turned aside.The spear passed his chest by an inch.He caught the shaft.Twisted.The weapon snapped.The commander stepped back.“Impossible.”The stranger looked at the broken spear.“That's what they ca

No one moved.The man standing behind Veyra held a blade against her throat.Blood covered one side of his face.His clothes were torn.His hair had turned almost completely white.But Kael knew him.He had seen that face in memories.On battlefields.At training grounds.At the Night of Broken Swords.The man who had taught him how to hold a sword.The man who had taught Lucan and Elias beside him.The man Kael had watched disappear beneath a collapsing fortress ten years ago.“Master.”The word escaped Kael before he could stop it.The old man looked at him.For several seconds, his expression remained unreadable.Then he smiled.“You finally remembered.”The old keeper stepped backward.“Thorne.”Darian's hand tightened around his weapon.“So you survived.”Thorne glanced at him.“Barely.”Veyra tried to move.The blade pressed harder against her throat.“Don't.”Thorne's voice carried no anger.That made it worse.Veyra froze.Kael took a step forward.“What are you doing with her

No one moved.The seven warriors stood behind the Emperor.They were different from the white-armored soldiers.The soldiers had been made to obey.These seven had been made to kill.Each carried a different weapon.A long sword.A curved blade.A spear.A chain sword.Twin short blades.A heavy black cleaver.And the seventh carried nothing.That one frightened Kael most.Thorne stared at them.“They're older.”The Emperor smiled.“Of course.”Thorne's eyes hardened.“You were supposed to be dead.”The seventh warrior finally spoke.“You were supposed to be better at killing your mistakes.”Thorne went silent.Kael looked at him.“You know him?”Thorne nodded.“All seven.”The Emperor stepped forward.“They were the finest students of the old order.”Thorne corrected him.“They were children.”“And you made them warriors.”“I taught them discipline.”“You taught them how to survive.”The Emperor's smile disappeared.“I taught them how to obey.”The seventh warrior stepped forward.Hi