A thick blast of smoke burst through the chamber, coiling into the air like a serpent. The hooded men staggered back, eyes darting toward the entrance.
Four figures stood tall in the haze, their eyes glowing like stars in the dark.
Caelen stepped forward with a slow grin, green eyes glinting like emerald fire.
"Seems like we're late for the party."
The men tensed, instinctively drawing back from the blood circle. Caelen tilted his head, smirking.
"We didn't get an invitation card," he said coolly, "so we decided to invite ourselves."
One of the cloaked men stepped forward, pulling down his hood to reveal a face aged by time and twisted with malice. His voice was calm, but filled with contempt.
"I never thought you'd make it here," Eldric said. "It would seem Garrox was more useless than I feared. Couldn't stop a single alchemist and his little pack of strays."
Caelen sighed, rubbing his neck lazily. "Old man… save the speech. Just step away from the creature behind you."
