Chapter 7 — The First General
The Labyrinth under the Colosseum wasn't on any map.
It wasn't supposed to exist.
The official story was that the beasts from the final trial were brought in through arcane gates from distant lands. In reality, the arena sat on the upper levels of an abandoned dungeon, one the Five Crowns had long since "cleansed" — or so the city believed.
Kael followed the blood trail of the injured steel wolf he'd crippled in the arena. The Festival officials had ordered all competitors to clear out after the match, but the wolf had fled downward into the hidden corridors. That was reason enough for Kael to follow.
The air grew cooler as he descended the broken stairwell. His boots splashed in ankle-deep water, torchlight flickering against slick black walls.
Side: "Odd. Residual mana here is… old. Ancient, even. Not arena-level summoning."
Kael: "Meaning?"
Side: "Meaning whatever's deeper down isn't here because someone let it be."
They found the wolf's corpse at the base of a collapsed archway — throat ripped out, body gnawed.
The thing that had killed it still stood there.
It was humanoid in shape but entirely shadow, its form rippling like smoke. Eyes burned silver within its faceless head. Around it, the water barely touched the floor, pulled away as though afraid.
Kael didn't draw his sword. He simply spoke.
"You want to serve?"
The creature tilted its head, and the shadows thickened.
System Notification
[Special Condition Met]
You may bind this entity as your First General.
Warning: First Generals are permanent extensions of your will. Their loyalty will mirror your nature.
Kael placed his palm forward, darkness spilling from his shadow to meet the creature's. For a heartbeat, the world vanished into a black so deep it was soundless.
When it receded, the figure was gone — replaced by a man, tall, lean, wearing a dark cloak, eyes still silver.
Name: Veythar
Role: First General
Primary Affinity: Darkness, Shadow Command
Secondary Affinity: Space Traversal
Trait: "Silent Blade" — kills without sound or trace.
Veythar knelt.
"Command me, Sovereign."
Side: "We're hiding him, right?"
Kael: "Obviously. For now… he's just my assistant."
When Kael emerged from the Labyrinth hours later, no one questioned where he'd been. But from that moment forward, a second shadow always followed him — one no one else could see unless Kael allowed it.