WHOOOOOM—
The storm still raged beyond the shattered stone walls, but inside the crumbling shelter, an uneasy calm endured.
Kai sat with his back against the cold rock, Thieving Haven resting across his lap. His eyes were half-closed, breath slow, but every sense was stretched taut. Sleep was a luxury he had abandoned years ago—one the dead could afford.
Across from him, Aurelia lay against a bed of pine needles, the spare cloak wrapped tightly around her slender frame. Her breathing was deep and even.
Yet magic lingered.
Faint strands of black mist drifted from her fingertips like lazy smoke, weaving subtle distortions through the air—illusions layered upon illusions, masking the shelter's presence.
The howls had faded hours ago.
Whatever the awakening had drawn was either lost to the blizzard—
—or fooled by her wings.
For now.
Kai's gaze drifted to her face.
In the dim, gray light she looked almost fragile. Human. The kind of person who might vanish if the wind blew too hard.
Then—
—fwish—
A shimmer rippled across her back. Translucent butterfly wings flickered into existence for a heartbeat before dissolving again.
Kai frowned.
The warmth in his chest pulsed.
Not pain.
Something deeper.
Awareness.
Concern.
He scowled and forced it down.
Focus.
Dawn crept in slowly, pale gray light seeping through the broken roof. The wind had died, leaving a suffocating silence over the snow-buried ruins.
Aurelia's eyes opened.
Silver.
Clear.
They found Kai instantly.
"You didn't sleep," she said.
Not a question.
"Old habit." Kai rose, stretching stiff muscles.
His side no longer burned. Where the void tendril had torn him open, only a faint scar remained—smooth, almost glowing.
He flexed experimentally.
"…How do you feel?" he asked.
Aurelia pushed herself upright. "Weaker than I should be. The rebirth took more than I expected."
She stood—unsteady, but standing.
"But I can walk."
"Good." Kai slung his pack over his shoulder. "We're leaving."
He stepped outside first, scanning the white expanse.
The battlefield lay silent. Snow untouched. No tracks.
Too clean.
Aurelia joined him, cloak swirling in the cold air. "The veil will hold until we clear the ruins."
"And after that?"
She met his gaze. "After that, we fight."
Kai's lips twitched. "Fair enough."
They moved north.
Kai took point, Thieving Haven loose in his hand. The snow was deep, yet his steps barely sank—dragon blood surging through muscle and bone.
Aurelia moved lighter still.
Almost floating.
Only the faintest impressions marked where she passed.
An hour slipped by in silence. The ruins thinned into open tundra, skeletal trees clawing at the sky.
Then—
Aurelia stopped.
Kai halted instantly, blade half-drawn. "What is it?"
She tilted her head, listening to something beyond mortal hearing.
"They've reached the chamber," she said quietly. "They know the seal broke."
Kai's jaw tightened. "How many?"
"Too many." A pause. "…And something worse leads them."
—GRRRRRMMMM—
A low rumble rolled across the tundra. The ground trembled, snow shivering as if afraid.
Kai drew Thieving Haven.
"Run or fight?"
Aurelia's silver eyes hardened. "Fight. Running only feeds the hunt."
Kai almost smiled.
"Good answer."
The rumble swelled.
From the distant ruins, a black tide surged—hundreds of void beasts pouring over the snow like spilled ink.
At their head—
A giant.
A void amalgam nearly thirty feet tall, stitched from corrupted dragon remains and shadow. Tattered wings had become writhing tentacles. Its maw split open in a soundless scream that warped the air.
Kai's blood ignited.
Azure flame crawled along his arms, coiling around Thieving Haven until the black blade burned blue.
—FWOOOOOM—
"Stay behind me," he said.
Aurelia stepped to his side instead.
"No."
Black mist exploded from her hands.
—SHHHHH—
Dozens of obsidian butterflies burst forth, slicing through the front ranks. Where they passed, illusions bloomed—phantom Kais and Aurelias scattering across the field, drawing attacks in every direction.
The horde faltered.
Confused.
Kai charged.
The world narrowed to motion and fire.
Thieving Haven carved a blazing arc. The first beast didn't fall—it incinerated, azure flame leaping to the next, and the next.
Kai laughed once, sharp and breathless.
The power felt good.
Too good.
A tentacle whipped toward him.
He ducked, rolled, came up slashing—
—SCHRAAAAK—
The limb fell, ichor hissing against the snow.
More surged in.
Cut. Absorb. Redirect. Burn.
Sword qi erupted in waves of azure fire, clearing space around him.
But the amalgam was closing.
Aurelia's illusions held the smaller beasts at bay, but Kai felt it through the bond—
Her strength was draining.
Each butterfly left faint red streaks in the air.
Blood mist.
The amalgam struck.
A claw slammed down where Kai stood. He leaped aside as the impact cratered the ground.
Tentacles lashed.
One caught his leg and hurled him into the snow.
Pain flared.
Void corruption clawed inward.
Kai roared.
Azure flame detonated outward, burning the tentacle to ash. He rose, blade raised.
The amalgam loomed, maw opening wide enough to swallow a house.
Kai planted his feet.
—THUUUUM—
Dragon aura erupted.
Sapphire scales flickered across his forearms. His eyes slit fully gold.
Behind him, a spectral dragon head manifested, jaws spread in challenge.
Kai thrust Thieving Haven forward.
—ROOOOOOSH—
A beam of pure azure flame tore through the amalgam's chest, punching out its back in a pillar of fire.
The monster staggered—
Then void surged, regenerating the wound.
Kai staggered too, breath ragged.
Aurelia appeared beside him, one hand gripping his arm.
Warmth flooded through the bond.
Together.
She raised her free hand.
Hundreds of black butterflies converged, forming a towering illusion—
A Butterfly Sovereign, wings spanning the battlefield, silver eyes blazing.
The phantom drove a spear of light through the amalgam's head.
Not real.
But the void didn't know that.
The horde panicked.
The amalgam recoiled.
Kai leaped.
Scales fully covered his arms now. Claws tore from his fingers.
He landed on the monster's shoulder and drove Thieving Haven into its neck.
Azure flame poured in.
The amalgam screamed—
Then exploded in black ash and blue fire.
Silence.
Kai dropped to his knees.
The remaining beasts fled.
Aurelia collapsed.
Kai caught her.
Her face was pale. Red streaks traced from her eyes.
"Aurelia," he said sharply.
No response.
Panic rippled through the bond.
Kai pulled her close and focused—pushed his strength into her.
Blue light flowed.
Slowly, color returned.
Her eyes fluttered open.
"…Reckless," she whispered.
"Says the one who nearly burned herself out."
A faint smile. "It worked."
They sat in silence.
"The bond saved us," Aurelia said softly. "Your flame burned the void. My rebirth kept it from claiming you."
Kai exhaled.
"Guess we're stuck together."
"For now."
The sun broke through the clouds.
Kai stood and offered his hand.
She took it.
They walked north.
Behind them, the snow fell red where blood mist lingered.
The Cycle turned.
And the world began to notice.