The world flipped.
Not from magic. Or the king's guards charging. Not even from the nobles screaming.
But from the simple weight of her words.
"Saikuro… will you live for me?"
Everything burned. My vision blurred as a ringing pulse deafened my ears. It was like standing on a battlefield all over again, that second-defining moment of silence before the bloodshed begins.
Except this time… it wasn't war driving me forward.
It was her.
Koralei Velmira. The girl with steadfast silver eyes sharp enough to cut but cunning enough to know where. The one who smiled at a monster and didn't flinch.
Maybe that's why I'm doing this. I still haven't figured out why. It's unlike me to be moved by words.
I shakily exhaled, forcing my shaking limbs to obey.
The guards still hesitated, frozen by her declaration of a royal override.
But the king… he wasn't quite done in the slightest. His jaw clenched as that carefully composed poker face cracked from anger.
"Enough of this spectacle," he barked. "Override or not, that thing is a threat."
"'Thing,'" I echoed bitterly under my breath. It wasn't the first time I'd been called worse. Probably wouldn't be the last.
So, maybe I am easily swayed by words. Maybe I always have been.
I stumbled to my feet, the weight of my summoned weapon holding me upright as it scrapped across the stone. My shoulder throbbed where the halberd caught me, but the bleeding had slowed. Almost completely stopped, adrenaline was a crazy fast healer.
The nobles began retreating behind the columns. Mages muttered under their breath, spinning defensive runes in glowing circles. I could see it all... the angles, timing, even their formation's weak links. Just old battle instincts flaring.
If I wanted I could dismantle this entire room before they finished their first spell.
But I didn't move.
Not yet.
"Father," Koralei's voice rang clearly through the tension, challenging the king's command with commanding authority.
"You will respect the laws of the games."
"The Sin Games are not meant for murderers," he spat.
"Correction," she smiled sweetly, "they were designed because of murderers."
The room flinched at her audacity. Even the guards lowered their weapons, caught between royal blood and ancient law.
I nearly laughed. She had steel beneath that seemingly innocent pale skin.
The king's glare darkened. "Do you understand what you've done? Binding yourself to him? A walking execution order?"
Binding herself? She didn't get a chance to explain...
"I understand perfectly," Koralei replied. Her hand still resting in mine. "The Games will determine his fate. Just like the others."
"The others?" I muttered, finally finding my voice.
My eyes drifted to the banners lining the marble walls. Emblems from rival houses. Empty chairs. Nobles who ran at the sight of me.
The realization hit like a punch to the gut. I pulled my hand from hers.
"How many have you sent to die in these 'games,' princess?"
Her expression weakened, her eyes saddening for a split second, before that mask of nobility returned. "Enough."
Before I could press further, the heavy doors slammed open.
A new wave of soldiers poured in. Heavily armored. Better trained. Their insignias gleamed gold against black. Royal Enforcers.
The real killers.
The king stepped aside, smug. "Override or not, the enforcers answer only to me."
Koralei's hand grabbed my wrist, tightening.
"Stay close," she whispered.
"Princess—"
"I'll handle them."
I wasn't sure whether to laugh or curse at her delusion. There were a dozen of them. Armed. Ready. And me? I was half-conscious, still adjusting to… whatever this new power, new world, new curse even was.
But then…
The tension in the air shifted.
It wasn't magic. Or fear.
It was hunger.
Physical hunger from the eyes of a predator.
The enforcers' leader stepped forward. A towering man, his face hidden beneath a lion-shaped helm. His voice rumbled like gravel grinding steel.
"The sinner will come with us."
Koralei tilted her chin defiantly. "Under whose authority?"
The lion-helm tilted slightly. "The King's… and the Games Council."
Nobles peered from the enormous doorway, hissing. Even the king looked momentarily blindsided.
The Games Council. Older than the throne itself. Uncorrupted by crowns or coin. They enforced one thing; that the blood spilled in the Sin Games… remained controlled.
Koralei smiled faintly. "Good."
She turned to me, eyes glinting like silver ice.
"It's safe to go with them. Your chains are gone. But make no mistake, Saikuro… The real chains? They start now."
Before I could ask what she meant, the lion-helmed enforcer stepped forward; shackles in hand.
Sorry princess... But, you betrayed my trust.
"The sinner comes with us. Now."
Koralei's hand stayed on my wrist, but I yanked free, the warmth of her palm replaced by a cold, confused glare that crawled up my spine.
"You planned this?" I snapped, voice low, dangerous. "Hand me to them, like the others?"
It only lasted second. Maybe less, but the flicker of hurt broke her regal expression. For only a heartbeat, but it was there.
"I planned… to keep you alive," she hissed under her breath, so only I could hear.
"Funny way of showing it," I growled, stepping toward the enforcer, blade dragging behind me as I struggled to carry it. "I've been passed from tyrants to generals to kings my whole damn life. I don't do cages. Not anymore."
The lion-helm didn't flinch, but I saw the subtle shift in his stance.
I was setup...
He expected me to comply. Or cower.
I did neither.
"Back down, sinner," one of the enforcers warned, voice stuttering. Nearly trembling under all that polished pride of steel.
I took another step, my body screaming from exhaustion, but my grip steadily managed to hold the blade.
Koralei's voice cut through the rising tension. "Saikuro, don't—"
"Stay out of it, Princess," I barked, sharper than I intended. But I couldn't trust her words anymore, not when her eyes knew too much. I couldn't afford pretty lies. Not now.
The enforcers surged forward, disciplined but predictable. I sidestepped the first, ducking beneath the blade as my sword barely grazed his halberd shaft, sparks gently flew. Pain exploded across my half-bloodied shoulder, but I didn't care. It was a reminder I was still standing.
The second swung wide... sloppy. A panic swing. I effortless closed the distance with a step forward, driving my elbow into his ribs.
A deep breath fled his lungs with a satisfying wheeze.
But, he didn't crumble. Not like I expected, instead he breathed steadily. Recovering his breath then sighed, disappointed. "Stubborn fool."
His gauntlet raised, magic crackling across the metal fingers. Small circles, cackling with light. They didn't need a dozen soldiers to drag me off. Just him.
I braced myself.
But Koralei stepped between us.
And the entire hall froze.
"Enough," she yelled; attempting to control the situation. "By royal override and Games law, he is under my protection. He doesn't leave my side. Not now. Not until the council demands it directly."
The lion-helm's gauntlet lowered, his eyes narrowing beneath his visor like rekindling embers.
"The council has demanded it. Their orders came sealed."
Koralei's mouth hung open, her lips curling; faintly amused, mainly irritated.
"Then where's the seal?" she stuttered. "Where's the parchment? The Games law is written, not whispered through armored steel."
He hesitated. A slight breath like he was going to say something then stopped.
She pressed, her voice rising as she addressed the hall. Demanding.
"I have every noble in this hall as witness. Violate the law here, and the Games Council won't just demand his head. They'll demand yours."
The enforcers exchanged uncertain glances as whispers rippled through the noblemen, then the soldiers. They were loyal. But not suicidal.
Even the king paused, astounded by the princess' order; a declaration that threatened his own head. He bit his lip out of frustration, but said nothing.
After a tense pause, the lion-helm turned away from them. His words lingering in the air.
"For now," he conceded, voice rusted and gravelly.
"But the council will not be kept waiting, Princess."
"They never are," Koralei replied sweetly. "Now leave."
The enforcers retreated, their boots echoing against the marble floor as rapid stomps vibrated down the hall.
For a long moment, neither of us moved.
Then I spoke, quieter this time. "You're good at that."
She tilted her head. "At what?"
"Pretty speeches. Saving monsters."
Her silver eyes softened, and she let them linger.
"You aren't a monster, Saikuro."
I didn't believe her. Not yet.
But I didn't stop her when her hand slipped under my arm. I just... let her.
"Come," she urged. "You can glare at me in private. For now… you need rest."
My muscles tensed beneath the ripped layers of my coat, every step thudding with hundreds of unanswered questions.
The nobles parted as we passed, hiding behind pillars, fleeing down the hall. Some sneered, refusing to move. Most just stared... at me, at my blade, at the red cords knotted around the hilt.
Their whispers lingered in the air.
"Did you see his eyes...?"
"Marked by the sin record..."
"She's crazy, absolutely mad..."
Koralei ignored them, head high, expression unreadable as stone.
I envied that.
The marble underfoot faded to worn carpet as we passed beneath a side archway, the polished fancy impressiveness of the throne room replaced by narrow halls, flickering with faint torchlight.
I could feel it already, the aches in my heels, the intense swelling forming beneath my ribs. The adrenaline crashed once before and I knew the moment I stopped moving… I'd drop.
Still, I kept my pace steady beside her. Because for now, until I figured out what game she was playing… I needed to stay close.
I made a promise after all...