Velrith Nocturne was not having a good day.
Kidnapped from her own bedroom, dragged to some dank dungeon, and chained to a wall like a common criminal – it was hardly the grand adventure she'd envisioned for her life.
But if these Black Covenant fools thought they could break her, they were sorely mistaken.
She glared at the man who entered her cell, his gray hair slicked back, his eyes cold and calculating.
He reeked of arrogance and self-importance, the type who thrived on power and intimidation.
"You must be Velrith Nocturne," he sneered.
"And you are?" she retorted, her voice dripping with disdain. "Let me guess, another one of those pompous fools who thinks a title makes them superior?"
The man bristled. "I am Viscount Valax, and I'll have you know—"
"Oh, I know," Velrith interrupted, a smirk playing on her lips. "You're the buffoon who got his backside handed to him by Princess Elaria in the tournament."
Valax's face flushed with anger. "That was a fluke! The tournament rules—"
"Oh, please," Velrith scoffed. "You'd lose to her in a real fight too. First-round flunker."
Valax growled, his fists clenching. "Enough of your insolence! You're in no position to—"
He lunged at her, but Velrith was faster. With a burst of strength, she snapped the magic chains binding her wrists, the metal clinking against the stone floor. Before Valax could react, she had him by the throat, her fingers digging into his flesh.
"Who's in no position now?" she hissed, her eyes blazing with defiance.
Valax choked, his face turning purple. He clawed at her hands, but Velrith's grip was like iron.
He was strong, but she was stronger. Kairon, had honed her skills to a razor's edge.
Just as she was about to tighten her grip, a sharp pain shot through her arm. The magic chains, sensing her defiance, constricted, digging into her flesh. Velrith gritted her teeth, refusing to let go.
Valax seizing the opportunity, slammed his fist into her stomach, sending her reeling back against the wall. She gasped for air, the pain radiating through her body.
"You little—" he snarled, wiping the blood from his nose.
Velrith laughed, a defiant, almost manic sound. "Is that all you've got, old man?"
Valax scowled, his eyes narrowing. "You're a feisty one, I'll give you that. But it won't last."
He stepped closer, his voice dropping to a menacing whisper. "Tell me, Velrith Nocturne, have you been experiencing any…difficulties lately? Any pain when using magic? Any…darkening of the skin?"
Velrith raised an eyebrow. "What is this, an interrogation? Trying to play doctor now?"
"Just answer the question," Valax insisted.
Velrith shrugged. "I'm fine. A little chained up, but otherwise, perfectly healthy."
"Don't lie to me," Valax growled. "I know you're compatible."
"Compatible? With what?"
"It doesn't matter," Valax said dismissively.
"You'll break soon enough. And when you do…" He trailed off, his eyes gleaming with a cruel light. "I'll make sure to pay your brother a visit."
That was the wrong thing to say.
Velrith's eyes widened in fury. With a roar of rage, she launched herself at Valax, her broken arm dangling uselessly at her side. He stumbled back, surprised by her sudden attack.
"You stay away from my brother!" she
screamed, her voice raw with emotion.
Valax recovered quickly, his expression hardening. He raised his hand, a dark energy swirling around his fingertips.
"You're a fool, Velrith Nocturne," he sneered. "You've sealed your own fate."
Just as he was about to unleash his attack, the cell door burst open. A breathless soldier stumbled in, his face pale with fear.
"Viscount ! We're under attack!"
Valax's eyes widened in disbelief. "What? Who would dare—"
He didn't get a chance to finish his sentence. A figure clad in black materialized from the shadows, a blade gleaming in their hands
Nine figures, cloaked in darkness, stood amidst the slaughter. Even shrouded in shadows, their lithe forms betrayed their youthful femininity. Valax felt a prickle of unease. These were no ordinary girls. He could sense the raw power emanating from them, a chilling symphony of magic that rivaled his own.
Blood painted the walls and floor, the air thick with the metallic tang of death. Valax stared, aghast, at the carnage. His soldiers, some of the kingdom's finest, lay strewn like discarded rag dolls. Each bore a single, devastating wound, a testament to the intruders' terrifying power.
One girl, her black robe splattered with crimson, stepped forward. Her eyes, burning with predatory intensity, locked onto Valax. He felt a surge of primal fear, a deep-seated instinct screaming at him to flee.
"Who are you?" he demanded, his voice trembling despite his efforts to maintain composure. "What is your purpose here?"
The girl, Ravena, offered only a chilling laugh in response. She moved with an almost unnatural grace, her blood-soaked katana dragging along the floor, leaving a gruesome trail in its wake.
Before Valax could react, another voice cut through the tension. "Back off, Ravena."
The bloodthirsty girl paused, then retreated without a word. A collective sigh of relief escaped Valax's lips. He had been granted a reprieve, but for how long?
Another girl stepped into the light. Her golden hair shimmered like spun gold, her features delicate and ethereal. Her eyes, however, held a chilling resolve that belied her youthful appearance.
"We are the Ceberus," she declared, her voice a melodious counterpoint to the surrounding carnage. "I am Lilith."
Valax felt a strange pull towards her, an almost hypnotic allure. He shook his head, dispelling the enchantment. This girl, this Lilith, was dangerous. He could feel it in his bones.
"Our purpose," she continued, her voice ringing with conviction, "is to eliminate the Black Covenant."
With a flourish, she drew a dagger, its blade flashing in the dim light.
The air crackled with energy as she swung, the force of her movement creating a miniature whirlwind. Valax stumbled back, awed and terrified by the sheer power she wielded.
"How...how do you know about the Black Covenant?" he stammered, his carefully constructed composure crumbling.
Lilith smiled, a predatory glint in her eyes. "We know everything. We know about the curse, the Celestial Line, the possessed... We know your secrets."
Valax felt a cold sweat break out on his skin. This information, this knowledge, it was supposed to be classified, known only to the highest echelons of the Black Covenant. How had these girls, these mere children, gained access to such sensitive intel?
"You're not the only ones who hunt the Black Covenant," Lilith continued, her voice laced with a subtle threat.
Valax knew he had to escape, to warn his superiors. He lunged at Lilith, his dagger flashing, but she was too quick.
She dodged his attack with ease, her movements fluid and precise. He pressed his assault, but each strike was met with effortless parrying, his frustration growing with every missed blow.
Lilith, on the other hand, was a whirlwind of motion. Her dagger danced around him, leaving shallow cuts on his arms, legs, and shoulders. She was toying with him, her intent clear: to extract information before delivering the final blow.
Valax, recognizing her strategy, saw a glimmer of hope. He feigned a desperate attack, then, as Lilith moved to counter, he consumed a hidden vial.
His body convulsed, muscles bulging, eyes glowing crimson. He had unleashed his forbidden power, a desperate gamble for survival.
Lilith, caught off guard by his sudden transformation, was forced to retreat. .
Valax, empowered by his monstrous form, struck with renewed ferocity. Lilith blocked his attack, but the force of the blow sent shockwaves through her arm.
"Interesting trick," she muttered, shaking off the numbness. "But it won't be enough."
Before she could press her advantage, Valax vanished. A gaping hole in the floor revealed a hidden trapdoor. He had escaped
.
"He got away," Lilith said, a hint of annoyance in her voice.
"Should we pursue?" Morgana asked, her hand hovering over the trapdoor
.
Lilith shook her head. "No need. He'll be taken care of."
She glanced towards another tunnel, a knowing smile playing on her lips. "He has a knack for showing up where he's least expected."