Embers in the Dark
Author: Lukas Hagen
last update2025-07-19 19:35:58

Jin’s hand dropped instinctively to the hilt of his sword as the Covenant Shades emerged from the shadowed wings of the temple hall. Their presence was wrong—too smooth, too deliberate, like actors in a play whose purpose was blood.

The silver-masked one—clearly their leader—gave a slight bow. “My name is Veyr of the Sixth Circle. By order of the Eternal Mandate, you are to surrender the girl, the Soulfire fragment, and abandon this place.”

Aya stepped forward, eyes glowing faintly. “You came too late, Veyr. The Temple has already accepted me.”

Veyr's expression didn’t change. He glanced at the still-lit braziers, the awakened glyphs, the partially opened sanctum door beyond the altar. “Yes. A mistake we intend to rectify.”

With a flick of his fingers, the two Shades behind him raised their black jade spears.

Lanri cursed under her breath. “Void-jade. They’re here to kill.”

Jiāng Ren moved faster than thought. He flung a talisman forward, bursting into radiant flame mid-air. The glyph
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