The moon hung low over the city, its pale light casting silver patterns across the rooftops. The cheers of the arena had faded into the night, replaced by the distant hum of wind and the soft rustle of banners.
Rondan moved like a shadow along the narrow streets, his hood drawn low. Every step toward the eastern wall felt heavier than the last. Leina's words from earlier still echoed in his mind: "If you want to live past the finals, meet me at the east catacombs."
He reached the edge of the old district—a place the city seemed to have forgotten. Crumbling stone, boarded windows, and streets that smelled faintly of dust and ash. Waiting at a corner, half-hidden in the mist, was Leina.
"You came," she said, voice low but steady.
"You didn't leave me much of a choice," Rondan replied, glancing around. "Where is this place?"
She gestured toward a half-buried archway between two collapsed buildings. "The East Catacombs. They predate the arena… and maybe even the city itself. Whatever's happening in this tournament—it starts here."
They descended into darkness, the only light coming from Leina's small oil lantern. The air was colder here, thick with the scent of damp earth and something older—like the memory of blood.
The tunnel opened into a wide chamber. Ancient murals covered the walls, their colors faded but still haunting: warriors kneeling before a massive, flame-wreathed figure; cities burning; a rune carved into the sky.
Rondan froze. "That mark…"
Leina nodded grimly. "The same one you saw in the fight. The same one on your arm."
Before he could speak, a faint scraping echoed through the chamber. Leina raised a hand, motioning for silence.
From the darkness beyond the mural, shapes began to emerge—figures cloaked in black, masks concealing their faces. Each one bore the rune on their right hand, glowing faintly.
"The Order of the Crimson Veil," Leina whispered. "And if they've found us here… they already know who you are."
The nearest figure stepped forward, the glow of his rune intensifying.
"Chosen," the masked voice said, almost reverent. "You should not be here… yet."