ã€ŠCity of Wraithsã€‹


 Chapter 1: As We Lay Dying

    The sun shone brightly on the soldiers'' silvered helms as they rode the cobble-studded track about a day''s ride from the city of Arkhen. All around, the hills of the westernmost reaches of the Arkhen territory hid the sight of the legion''s headquarters; if the soldiers held their current speed, they would make it to the legion before dark. The sky was cloudless, but a slight breeze allowed for some comfort from the weight of the heavy dark grey uniforms they wore.

    Marcellus Sulli, Archon of the third legion, rode with his young ward and cousin, Lukas. He held himself tall with a silvered chest plate carved with extremely delicate ornaments that showed his high birth to one of the city''s most powerful families. He wore a light purple silk shirt under the chest plate and fine black pants tucked into well-made leather boots. A black sword hung on his waist, indicating his position as Archon. Only nine of these swords were ever held by the people of Arkhen. The nine Archons of the city, the welders of the echoes, were given the weapon as a visible symbol of their power. Marcellus brushed his fingers over the blade; he still felt excited whenever he saw the weapon or felt the power of his god''s wraith flow through him.

    His young ward wore similar armor, though not nearly as decorative, and his clothes were of lesser quality. That would have to change; no Sulli would be seen as a lesser noble in the legion or in society at his side. Marcellus noticed Lukas brushed his long blond hair out of his eyes and kept focused on the road ahead, ignoring his cousin''s attention.

    I have no idea whyI agreed to this.But Lukas, having finally turned sixteen and made his first wraith pact, the boy''s father convinced Marcellus to take his cousin on as a ward and train the boy to use his wraith in battle. Thank the echoes that he had the legion. He could have the men help withthe lad''s training. Marcellus already had a few ideas about who might be the best trainer for his young cousin.

    Marcellus saw Lukas call up his wraith out of the corner of his eye. The slight crimson glow of a battle-worn man floated next to Lukas. The wraith looked down at him with a fierce glower, a set of cards in one of his hands.

    That Damn Kid."Now, Lukas, what did I say about calling up your wraith?" His voice was stern as he talked to the boy. It still surprised him how lucky his young ward had been with his first pact. There was power within the wraith; anyone with any experience would be able to notice it in moments.

    The wraith disappeared in a puff of crimson smoke as Lukas turned to his cousin before quickly ducking his head down and adverting his eyes. Marcellus tried to keep his face apathetic, but he knew his annoyance showed in his eyes.Ah, he quickly remembers the lesson.

    "They do not appreciate being summoned without a purpose. They are our partners, not servants or toys," Lukas recited each word perfectly.

    Marcellus nodded. This had been the first and only lesson he had given the young boy a week ago when Lukas''s father had dropped him off at the family manor.

    "Better. If I see that again, I will put you on latrine duty with the others. You are a Sulli, not some common Arkenite. Follow the rules I set forth," Marcellus lectured. "I know you are young, but your father asked me to teach you how to control the power you have gained. Follow my rules, or I will send you back."

    Lukas kept his head held low. Marcellus could see the young boy trying not to look at the others in embarrassment. Marcellus glanced back to examine the men; the soldiers all had small smiles that disappeared as soon as they noticed the Archon''s attention. These men were the best of his legion, his elite guard of twenty soldiers, and the ones he completely trusted. Each knew well not to gain his displeasure or wrath. The third legion was considered one of the best, and he would not allow such lax manners to poison the discipline of his soldiers. While it had been reasonably peaceful these last few years for the legion, they could never let their guard drop.

    They continued down the road steadily, with Marcellus and Lukas at the head of the column. Following them were two soldiers who rode with the White wraith banner of the city of Arkhen and his own Sulli blue raven banner held high in the air. Their group was returning to the legion after a quick visit to the city to see his wife and daughter.

    "I apologize. It will not happen again," Lukas said, finally pulling his head up and looking at his cousin.

    "Good. When we finally get to the legion, I will have a trainer assigned to start your training. We will have to see exactly what power that wraith is blessing you with," Marcellus responded. "By the look of it, you made a sound pact."

    Lukas''s hand twitched, and Marcellus could see the struggle in the boy''s eyes. He had almost summoned the wraith again. Marcellus had to control his urge to laugh and cuff the kid on the back of his head.

    "Why do you say that, cousin?" Lukas asked.

    How much to tell him?They still had close to half a day''s ride before they reached the legion, and he would have to explain everything he had guessed from meeting Lukas¡¯s wraith for the first time.

    The wraiths of the city of Arkhen¡­ how long ago had he made his first pack with such a weak wraith? It had been what forty, fifty years? Now, he held command over one of the Echoes of the dead gods. In an era long past, Thirteen gods were killed within the City of Wraiths. No one knows how these gods were trapped in death; it remains a mystery within the city''s history. Only nine echoes still endure today within Arkhen, forevermore working with the city''s humans to keep it from falling. He could still remember the thrill of winning the contest and the power that flowed through him when the pact was made.But these were not the only pacts made within the city; many other wraiths of varying power lay waiting to claim their pact. He, Lukas, and all of his soldiers had such deals.

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    "Your wraith exudes power; you may not feel it, but your father did, and so do I. This shade must have been powerful in life, and as you know, what we did in life echoes into eternity," Marcellus explained. Now, the question was how powerful the wraith would end up being. It would certainly be more potent than a regular Arkenite wraith or the soldier''s battle wraiths. But beyond that, they would find out, and then the proper training would begin.¡°We shall see; I could only guess at the moment. More powerful than my first pact, that is for sure.¡±

    "So, how will we know?" Lukas asked, looking back at the soldiers for only a moment.

    Before Marcellus could respond, the wind picked up, crashing into their group with fierce power behind it. Red sand or dust picked up and flowed around them; Marcellus''s vision was lost as he tried to see where this had come from. The valley they were in could not have sand such as this.

    Marcellus summoned his wraith, Sorana. But just as the power flowed, something smacked into him, forcing the breath out of him. His left arm went numb, and pain spread through his chest. He looked down to see a black arrow with yellow fletching sticking out of his breastplate. He might have died had his echoes'' power not flowed through him.

    He had the power flow even more, and a veiled woman in a shadowed dress came to stand next to him. He began to work his magic.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª

    What in the abyss?Lukas looked wide-eyed at his cousin''s chest, where an arrow stuck out. Horror and fear flooded through Lukas¡¯s body. He could barely understand what had happened before a wraith stood beside Marcellus''s horse, her hand barely touching his cousin''s thigh.

    "Cousin, who are they?" Sounds of horses and men surrounded them beyond the steep hills that formed a valley. They seemed trapped between forces bearing down on them. The dust calmed enough that Lukas could see hundreds of soldiers armored with silver-plated mail, swords, and spears in hand on the road in front. A crescent moon on a black banner was held high.

    "Lukas, stay at the ready." Marcellus held one hand at his wound and sent bolts of shadow at the attacking soldiers with the other. Screams and shouts reverbed as men and horses died. Dust and rocks hid the carnage from Lukas''s view. However, more came, and the lines finally met as the fight came within sight. Marcellus sent more and more power forth as magic began to fly everywhere.

    Lukas sat frozen on his horse, unable to calm himself enough to call forth his wraith, even though he saw dozens around him as the soldiers fought and died to hold the line.

    The fighting droned on. Lukas, plastered to his cousin''s side, watched the bright flash of swords. The odor of blood seeping into his nostrils, he had to fight to hold back vomiting from the smell of it. Somehow, Marcellus remained unflagged, sending bolt after bolt into the enemy. Finally, a red bolt shot forth from the dust and cut through Marcellus¡¯s side. His screams cut through the sound of men fighting, and the pain in his cousin''s voice broke the seal on Lukas¡¯s fear, and he rushed to his cousin''s side.

    "Cousin, are you alright?" He asked, helping Marcellus to sit up.What can I do? What can I do?His cousin''s face was wracked with pain as Lukas steadied him on his horse. Power blossomed around the two of them - the shadows of a void holding a barrier between them and the fighting, shielding them from more red bolts slamming into his shield from beyond the mass of men. Marcellus¡¯s soldiers continued to fight and fall, their wraiths bolting into the sky and disappearing as they died. Lukas tried to find who continued to send the bolts of crackling power, but they remained hidden from view.

    "Be prepared¡­ to ride as soon as I say." Marcellus grabbed Lukas''s shoulder hard and spoke in a strained voice. "I¡¯m going to open a corridor for you to escape. Ride hard and fast to the city and tell them about today''s events. They will know of my death before you reach the city, but you must let them know someone has made their first move." Marcellus held the arrow between his fingers, keeping his other hand on Lukas''s shoulder, speaking as loud as he could. Lukas was forced to lean in close to hear him. "I do not know who, but remember all that you can. The city must be prepared for what comes next."

    "No! What are you saying? How am I going to do this?" Lukas screamed, trying to form all the questions he wanted to ask but unable to get most of them out.

    Marcellus cringed as another bolt rocked the shield. Almost all of the soldiers that had ridden with them were either dead or dying¡ªonly one of the bannermen still fought multiple soldiers with the white wraith banner, his grey wraith at his side. But he, too, was dragged down within seconds, his shade disappearing with his death.

    "You must, for the city and our family, make it to them. The families must know war is coming," He coughed. Lukas could see frothy blood on the back of his cousin''s hand. "Be ready. Ride out of the valley."

    Marcellus coughed more blood. He wiped the blood with his shirt before he spoke again. Enemy soldiers were slashing at the shield, trying to force their weapons through. "Don''t stop for anything. Ride through the night. They will follow you."

    Marcellus took his sword off his hip and handed it over. "Be prepared to fight if you must."

    Please,no, I can''t.Fear held Lukas tight to his horse as he looked sadly at Marcellus. Power again blossomed around him, and his cousin held his hand out back towards the city. The violence unleashed by Marcellius almost forced Lukas from his saddle; he held the reins with all his strength. Black power destroyed all in its path, leaving the enemy soldiers dead or dazed.

    "Ride now!" Marcellus screamed before turning to face the mass of men.

    Lukas''s horse moved, and Lukas held on for all it was worth. He looked back to see waves of darkness sweeping over men before another bolt of red magic shot through, cutting through his cousin. A streak of shadow shot into the sky and rushed east into the sky as his cousin''s body fell from the horse.

    "No," Lukas cried, turning back with tears running down his face. He had no time to mourn, as multiple horsemen had turned and were trying to chase him down. Lukas grabbed hold of his horse''s reins and rode as fast as he could back towards the city.

 Chapter 2: Arkhen, City of Wraiths

    Marius Reza quickly ripped a loaf of cinnamon bread in two. He placed one half back on the kitchen counter while shoving the other half into his mouth as he left the Reza Manor. The cook and her wraith gave him a disapproving glance before grabbing the other half of the bread and slicing it up as Reza quickly unlatched the kitchen''s back door. He took one quick look outside to see if the coast was clear and slipped through before putting his grey uniform jacket on and quickly moving through the garden, finishing his stolen breakfast. Looks like I got out just in time.

    He passed the few servants already up and working to get the gardens ready for the Anceslia. Having helped for the last few days, Reza had had little care to help this morning with the preparations and was attempting to sneak out into the city to train and have a little fun before his sisters he was found.

    Reza had been given leave from the seventh legion for a week to return to the city for his family''s Anceslia, a celebration of the Reza family''s ancestors. This one was particularly significant because it would be the first since their mother''s passing and his first as head of the household. His sisters had been working for weeks on the entire event, and over the last two days he had been back, they had made him do dozens of tasks around the house, mainly the heavy lifting with the other male servants. They knew well enough that if he could escape into Arkhen, he would not return before he was forced out of the city at dark and would most likely be useless the next day.

    Marius passed the gardener, Damon, who was hunched over, cutting the cultivated bushes and vines that lined the main entertaining area of the garden. Damon''s wraith was out, moving along with him, glowing light green as they moved with precision with their blades, working the garden''s flora with their magic to perfect it before the party. They worked slowly, ensuring each bush was perfect before moving on to the next. Knowing Damon, he would be at it the next three days before he would be satisfied with how it looked.

    The man and his wraith were beyond focused on their craft. He could talk about every decision that was made to keep this garden perfect. And Reza¡¯s mother had given him free rein of the small estate to work his craft and the money to keep it that way. Marius continued to provide Damon with the funds, not only to remember his mother but also because of the fantastic work the gardener did. Damon had been very proud of the almost perfection of the estate''s gardens, even in the coldest winter; his care made it known across the surrounding estates. More than a few neighbors had attempted to get Damon on their staff, but he was ever loyal to the Reza family and his garden.

    Reza nodded to the man as he quickly moved through the back gate and onto the road towards the city. If he hustled, he could be there within the hour and might be able to make it through the city before the crowds made it almost impossible to move on the main city roads. Checking to ensure he had everything, his coin pouch held a respectful amount of gold ghouls and silver shades. His dagger and sword hung balanced on his hips.

    Ready, Reza turned to walk down the road, but within seconds of leaving the estate, he was stopped by the familiar voice of his sister, Octavia. "Now, Marius, you didn''t think you''d get away that easily."

    He turned around, trying to keep his face neutral to not show the guilt flowing through him. "Tavia, I need a break. You''ve had me working since I returned from the Legion and made me work harder than the Legion makes its soldiers do on campaign. I''m going to take the morning to go train and have a proper lunch with friends."

    Tavia stood at the gate in her work clothes, sweat already beaded across her forehead. Her black hair was pulled back out of her face.

    She looked him up and down, and it seemed she was not going to relent. Reza prepared to summon his wraith to escape. He would take the break today and deal with her wrath later tonight.

    But she surprised him, waving her hands towards him in defeat and turning to return to the estate. "You¡¯ll owe me, brother. When you return, please stop by the Breanors first and get their response to the invitation. I need to know if Marsi''s betrothed is coming."

    Reza gaped at the closed gate. Tavia had just disappeared behind, surprised. Tavia was not known to back down on what she thought needed to be done. Marius groaned, knowing there would be a list of chores a mile long for him to complete when he returned. This break better be worth it.

    Though he was the head of the household, with him in the Legion and barely able to return home, Tavia was indeed the de facto head of the estate and the family. Only a few years younger than himself at twenty-five, Tavia used this power to push the family''s interest. She had already begun building quite the merchant portfolio for the estate. She was ruthless in her dealings and wouldn''t let anyone push her around; he''d invested a lot of the family resources with her and felt very confident in her abilities to help the family and his own purse grow. Marius often trusted and looked to Tavia for direction on how best to steer the family, especially after their mother had died two years before.

    Reza started to move down the road quickly and kept a wary eye when he looked back towards his estate. He had escaped Tavia but had to ensure his other sister and the youngest Reza, Cassia, wouldn''t track him down and force him back home.

    He moved quickly towards the city, its bright walls gleaming in the morning sun as he crested the hill that hid the massive city from his family''s estate. Though they could not be seen from this distance, each stone that made up the formable walls of Arkhen had dark runes carved into each in an unknown language. For centuries, many different people and groups attempted to find even a hint of what they were. Much research had been done to find answers and translate the runes. But no answers had ever been uncovered¡ªone of many mysteries of this great city he called home.

    The city was located on the banks of the Venerik River, with his family''s small estate just north of the city. The river flowed through the city and into the harbor before finally reaching the narrow Miska Sea.

    "I''ll never get tired of this sight," Reza whispered to himself, walking towards the northern gate. And he hadn''t yet; the mighty city was the greatest of its kind. The city''s rune-covered grey walls gleamed in the day''s early sunlight. No city within the Remnant Kingdom of the old empire held a torch to its brilliance. And even though its population was half of what the city could hold, it was still the most populated city within the former empire. Only Gettan, a city far to the southeast, was rumored to be more populated. Reza had never traveled so far south to confirm such claims; the closest he had come was when he visited Terrik, a city half the size of Arkhen and a week''s ride south. It was the closest Remnant Kingdom to Arkhen, which had formed from the Old Empire when it fell.

    Keeping a steady pace, it took Reza longer than he had hoped to get into the city through the northern gate as he was forced to move around a large caravan that had just arrived from some of the Northern kingdoms. Having finally made his way around the train, Reza did not waste any time, moving up to walk through the small gate used to allow individual people or small groups to enter the city. The larger one was still down, not allowing large crowds nor the caravan to enter.

    The guard stopped Reza as he reached the front of the line, holding his spear in front of the small gate. "What''s your business?"

    Reza looked down and indicated his uniform jacket. I might be in traveling clothes, but how does the man not recognize a legion-issued jacket?

    "I¡¯m going to train at one of the barracks and have a meal with some friends. I''m just coming from the Reza estate an hour north of here," he said, trying to keep his annoyance at a minimum. He knew the man had a job, but it wasn''t like he was a foreigner or, worse, a wraith pilgrim.

    "Fair enough. Carry on; the gate closes at nightfall, so if you plan to leave, give yourself enough time, or you won''t be allowed out." He moved the spear out of the doorway, and Reza went through.

    Reza made his way slowly through the city. Unfortunately, because he had been waylaid on the road, there were thousands, maybe even tens of thousands of people on the streets already with thousands of wraiths floating with them. Each was different; their color, dress, and the items the wraiths carried made each a sight to see in the city. Multiple caught Reza''s eye as he crossed into the city''s center. A glowing red wraith dressed in only his loincloth moved with their pact holder, a young man who carried a stack of scrolls in his arms, rushing through the street. At the same time, another female wraith in a toga glided slowly next to a carriage carrying a young noblewoman through the crowds.

    He held the urge to call forth Elana, his own wraith. However, it took power to summon them, and he had always been trained since he first gained the pact to never wastefully use his power in case something went awry. Too much of his soldier instincts kept him wary, even in the city. In fact, he thought it was probably more dangerous here, where he could become complacent. Arkhen, while reasonably safe, still had its places where you did not want to find yourself alone at night. Waiting, Reza watched the young noblewoman smile at him as she finally passed by in her carriage. Reza gave a quick smile back but kept moving. There''s no time for that right now.

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    He continued to cross one of the main bridges leading to the main island that formed the city center, trying to make his way to the best training grounds, about a twenty-minute walk from the forum. Reza kept moving; he knew the route he needed to take, allowing his mind to wander.

    He thought about the noblewoman again. Did she know who he was? While he was not a noble of the ten families, he still held rank and was an Optio in the seventh legion. He might even be able to rise to Centurion soon if he could convince Tavia to spend some of the family''s money. He would also likely need to use many of the family''s favors they had with several different noble families when a spot opened. However, that could be years before an opening came; none of the ten centurions of the seventh were close to retirement and were unlikely to leave unless one died, but he could maybe transfer to another Legion.

    It''s not likely to have a war anytime soon. The Remnant Kingdoms of the Old Empire were satisfied with the land they controlled. We had bloodied their noses enough in recent years that they were content enough to allow the city to live on with its small territory left under its control. The Northern Kingdoms never bothered the city, while the Gettan Empire had been fighting wars on their Western border for the last three years and hadn''t looked East in that time.

    His mind elsewhere, Reza had to abruptly stop before he crashed into a small crowd blocking his way into the forum. He looked up. Many of the people holding him were older; their clothes traveled worn, and a heavy layer of dust still covered their cloaks.

    Wraith pilgrims. People who traveled to the city of wraiths for the possibility of dying within its walls. A strange quirk of the city, something within its runed walls stopped souls from leaving the world, allowing them to live on as wraiths and touch upon the natural world through a pact. In exchange for creating a deal with a wraith, the living person would gain some ability connected to their shade, be it more strength or something grander in scope.

    Reza personally did not see the appeal of becoming a wraith, but many people, from the lowest farmer to the mightiest king, journeyed hundreds or even thousands of miles to die within these walls. Knowing what their life would be like after death within the city held great comfort for many, even if, in Reza''s eyes, it felt more like a prison. Wraith Pilgrims still chose to die within the walls.

    Reza skirted the crowd, passing through into the forum proper. Large stone buildings stood tall around the forum, much different from other neighborhoods within Arkhen, where wooden buildings and homes dominated the city. The forum was encased with these buildings with only a few streets that ran into the massive open area that took up most of the island. It had large polished marble slabs that formed the floor of the entire place; close to a hundred thousand people could comfortably fit in the area. Though crowds of that sort rarely gathered beyond essential holidays, it was a thing of the past before Reza''s time in which past emperors and empresses would address the public, and such crowds would gather for them. The white palace lay quiet, and the throne within was empty. Only the Archons lived there now; the royal line had died out long ago, and no noble family had been strong enough to take their place. Likely, only the steward and her servants roamed its halls currently, with all of the Archons out in the field with their Legions.

    Reza looked around at the thirteen black stone towers of the echoes; only nine still stood tall, encircling the forum and its buildings with four broken towers, only remnants of the past. Nine white beacons shown brightly at the top of the nine intact towers, though soon with the sun rising the light would dim considerably. Still, early in the morning, Reza was forced to hold his hand to shade his eyes from the light. He moved up closer to the palace, using the shade of the massive building to protect him from the brightness as he looked to skirt around the milling patrons to get through the forum. However, he stopped hearing his name called out behind him.

    ¡°Reza, is that you?¡± Cain, an old family friend and soldier in the Sixth Legion, walked through the crowd toward Reza. He was easy to pick out, for he was almost over a head taller than most people, including Marius.

    "Reza, you bloody fool. How long have you been in the city?" They embraced, grabbing each other¡¯s forearms before Cain brought him in for a massive hug.

    "Not long. I only just got into the city. I came from the legion about two days ago. Unfortunately, Tavia and Cassia kept me working for the Anceslia. You? I thought you were with the sixth." I looked around to see if he was with anyone, but the massive man seemed to be alone. Moving closer to the palace, Reza and Cain sat down on the large marble steps leading up to it, allowing an excellent vantage point to look down into the forum.

    Reza could see the people and their wraiths milling about at different vendors that used the forum as their place of business. People shouted their wares while shoppers made purchases. Guards walked through, making sure people followed the city''s laws, and even a tiny play was happening for children at the bottom of the stairs. The guards at the palace''s entrance did not seem to mind the people using the stairs as seats, though they kept wary eyes on the people below them.

    "I am, just home on leave. How''s Tavia doing? I haven''t seen her in years; the legion has been a grind lately, even without fighting." He laughed, though a bit strained. Cain had a bit of a crush on Tavia for years, but she held no interest in him. He''d taken it pretty well, but Reza knew he hoped she''d change her mind.

    "The boss, as always, you''d think she was the elder sibling. I guess she has to act that way with me gone. You''d think we''d get more leave. It was damn difficult to get this much off. It''s the first time I''ve been back in two years. It gulls me that the legion has been a five-day march from the city for two years, but we could not return," Reza complained. All the thousands of soldiers of the legions felt a profound frustration with the situation in the army, and these small breaks had only recently been installed to keep the men happy. No more than fifty soldiers could be gone at any moment, and only two officers were allowed to leave at a time. It has been a year of him waiting for his time to come.

    "It''s as it always is. I don''t mind; the city has too many people and wraiths. I like the Legion Fortress; it¡¯s quieter out there. I only returned because my younger brother is making his wraith pact. Mother asked me to come to support him." Both Reza and Cain looked across the forum to a very different building opposite the palace. It was a ruin of a place that contrasted starkly with the gleaming white palace. The black stone walls were cracked, and spider webs covered most of the windows, while the walls barely held a half-collapsed ceiling in place. Everyone kept away from the building, making it easy, even from this distance, to see a ghostly wraith sitting at the entrance to the building. The same wraith was ever-present for the pacts, and anyone wanting to attempt to make a pact had to be first judged by the wraith before they were allowed passage into the ruined structure.

    Reza memories of his time going into the building came back to him. His father had brought him on his sixteenth birthday, with Tavia and Cassia joining to see his first attempt. Reza had cautiously moved slowly to the wraith; every step was grueling as he wanted to turn back and run from the haunting spirit. Yet he forced himself to take another step closer to the white shade, the fear unable to stop him from his desire to make a pact. The wraith was more frightening close-up, with a broken crown lying on its head and clothes tattered beyond any recognition of what they could have been. The shade''s face was extensively scarred, with fierce eyes boring into Reza as the wraith looked cruelly at him from his throne. Reza had frozen when the eyes focused on his, not knowing what he must do next.

    "Move closer, Marius," His father had called out.

    Reza, gritting his teeth, moved towards the wraith standing within a foot of the throne he sat upon. The ghost sat unmoving, examining him until one hand waved him forward, allowing Reza to enter the building. The seconds it took to make his decision felt more like an hour, the wraith''s eyes never leaving his.

    "When does he make his way?" Reza asked, the memories of facing the wraith still played in his head. He could still feel the fear he had when he looked at that scarred face. He shuddered slightly. No one to this day has any idea why the wraith performed his job or why people failed to gain entrance from him. But Damn, that ghost still gives me the chills to this day.

    He''d never tried to make another pact, so he was lucky that he had not made another journey to him.

    "An hour or so. I tried to advise him, but you know the stories people tell of that wraith." Cain laughed as he stared towards the broken king. "I wonder how long it will take him to build enough courage to make his attempt.¡±

    Reza nodded. There were dozens of stories of kids and adults alike being eaten by the wraith, their souls ripped from their bodies¡ªold tales to make sure people were prepared to make their pact and not just do it lightly. Even so, the fear was ever-present when you thought of him. He held such a strong aura around him, leaving quite an impression in your memories.

    "Say nothing more; I know what he must be feeling. I wonder what wraith will offer him a pact?" Reza asked. It was always the first question on anyone''s mind when someone made a new pact. What wraith would come, and what powers would they grant?

    "Nothing better than our own, I hope. I couldn''t live it down if he gained a powerful pact with his first wraith." Cain laughed, putting up a quick prayer to the echoes. He touched a pendant hanging from his neck before making a quick symbol in the air with his fingers.

    Reza laughed. He had been more than lucky when Elana had chosen him. She¡¯d kept me alive in more fights and battles than could be counted. He never thought of releasing his pact for a different one. Many would if they did not get the desired wraith power, but it was risky. It was not guaranteed that a second wraith would offer a pact. There were many stories of people who failed to secure a new pact, with just as many stories where the individual gained a much more powerful pact. No one could ever explain why someone succeeded or failed.

    "Well, hopefully, your brother''s pact goes well, and he doesn''t get an artist or cook. We can always use a few more soldiers with us." Reza said, standing up on the stairs and adjusting his weapons.

    "Of course, we should get a drink or something before we both leave. I have another two days of leave. You?" He asked, holding his hand up. Reza grabbed it and helped him to his feet.

    "Another four. Then I''ll head back. Of course, I''ll stop by your family''s estate tomorrow, and we can have a drink. I can see your brother''s wraith and see if we must be jealous." Reza said before leaving Cain on the stairs and returning to the crowd. He had only a few hours to get a bit of training in and enjoy his time in the city before Tavia expected him home.

    However, Reza didn''t make it very far before the people around him started to panic and yell, many pointing to the sky. Looking up, Reza saw a shadow cross over the forum from the west, cloaking it completely in darkness for a moment before the light returned. Unable to figure out what was happening with the crowd in an uproar around him, Reza was ready to summon his wraith.

    "Look at the tower," Someone yelled just behind him. Everyone turned to the tower many in the crowd were now pointing towards.

    One of the nine black towers of the echoes circling the forum had gone dark. Everyone knew what that meant. One of the Archons was dead.

 Chapter 3: Above the Walls of Arkhen

    Reza stared out into the dark world beyond the city with his thoughts on recent events; concern laced his face as he gripped the edge of the wall tightly, feeling the runes carved deeply into the stones beneath. Though it had been only yesterday that one of the towers of the nine great braziers had gone dark for the first time in over a decade, it felt like it had been days. The cold, moonless night had been the longest night of his life; second by second, Reza waited, waited for the enemy to appear, and waited for the fear to stop building within the city.

    It had not stopped. As soon as the Arkenites realized what they had seen, chaos erupted around the forum. Citizens screamed and tried to escape from the island, seeking to get away and find safety. Reza, knowing he needed to report to the city guard''s main training ground, kept his head. Using his wraith, he had removed himself from the chaos on the island, hoping to find any other military officers or guards to see what plan was to handle the crisis.

    Thankfully, the response was swift, and the ten families called up any and all soldiers within the city to guard the wall until answers had been found. And so Reza was pulled from his quiet leave and joined the other soldiers on the wall.

    Reza, an Optio and thus an officer, was automatically one of the few given a section of wall to guard and a small group of soldiers to command. Not knowing how long the crisis would continue and unsure how long he would be needed, he found someone willing to get a message to his sisters for a king''s ransom. The messenger, several gold ghouls richer, brought Reza word of the events and of his orders to guard the city to Tavia. Reza gave no promises of his return, as there was no certainty when he could.

    For the rest of the day, Reza and the other officers found themselves on top of the wall, with their few soldiers waiting for the worst to happen. Horses and men were dispatched, and as the day turned to night, Reza continued to get a semblance of order among his men and rotate them out for brief periods of rest. However, he could not give himself even a moment of rest; not an officer on the wall did.

    Fortunately, while he mostly had older men well into retirement, they knew their job well, handled the long stretches with little complaint, and kept their composure well.

    Reza nodded to each soldier as he returned to the small fire, hoping to warm his body while they all waited for reinforcements and their time on the wall to end.

    Thinking back on the night, Reza remembered the rumors starting to spread among the soldiers and citizens, with multiple Archons named as having died. Namely, Helton and Wholcraft were the most common whispers. Neither was surprising, as both were well over a hundred years in age and the oldest of the Archons. He had tried to keep everyone calm, but only so much could be done, and he could not stop them talking when he was not around.

    The rumors, however, were proven to be false. In the early hours of the morning, an official message from the Prefect was sent to every officer to announce that Marcellus Sulli, Archon of the thirteenth, had fallen. The priests of the echoes had finally been able to confirm the death after Sorana, the Echo of Marcellus, had recovered enough to make her presence within her tower known. No other information had been given beyond the confirmation of the death.

    Such a good man and soldier. Reza had fought with the Archon when the man led their Legions several years back. The Archonless Seventh Legion had joined the Thirteenth to push back Bastion, a Remnant Kingdom that had threatened Arkhen¡¯s Northwestern province. He''d been a good man, popular with the soldiers, and considered to most in the city the finest fighter and general they had. Marcellus''s death would be a blow to the thirteenth if it still survived. And that was the one thing on Reza¡¯s mind that he had to worry about: Did the legion still stand?

    Deaths of Archons happened, but another would rise in their place. Echo¡¯s had even fallen in history, the four broken towers evidence of their deaths. But the legions endured. They were the backbone of the strength of Arkhen; the destruction of one left the city weakened and possibly defenseless against an attack. The legions were the men that held back the enemies of the city, and if one was in trouble or gone, everyone should be concerned. This unknown held a fog of fear over the city, one which would be dispelled soon with word from the West.

    A shadow cut through the light of his fire, pulling Reza from his thoughts. Turning, he saw the slight outline of a woman standing in the shadows behind him.

    "Sabine, why the hell are you stalking my shadow?" Reza asked, holding out his hand. She took his forearm, and they pulled each other in a tight hug. It had been too long since they had seen one another, Sabine having transferred out of the Seventh years ago.

    She hadn¡¯t changed much in that time and was still a good half-head shorter than Reza, though her body and muscles were honed tightly like a bowstring. Her blonde, almost white hair, which shone silver in the firelight, was pulled back out of her Amber eyes. Strangely, her eyebrows were a stark contrast to her hair, raven black in color.

    She was nearly Reza''s opposite in every way. Sabine was much more outgoing than he was, as her personality could fill any room she was in, and no one could miss the bright smile she always had on her face. Meanwhile, he was more likely to keep to the small number of people whom he trusted.

    "It''s good to see you, too.¡± She smiled. ¡°I was coming to relieve you of your post. But I can come back later if you''d like to stay."

    She turned to go, but Reza grabbed her shoulder, swinging her back to face him. She had a broad smile as she returned to the small fire.

    "No, no, you can stay. I''m looking forward to a bed. I haven''t been on watch in years. It''s weird when you get used to being one of the people issuing the commands." Reza laughed. He''d been an Optio, second in command of a unit of men, in the seventh for a couple of years now, having gained the position despite a lack of powerful allies. Merit, Reza knew, had done it, though merit could only take someone so far. Sabine and her family had been among the few who had helped push for Reza''s appointment, though her father would not have done it had he not believed in his skill. Most of the city government and Legion positions were often reserved for members of the ten families. And while Reza could claim to be distantly related to a few of the ten families, he was not included in such an elite group. The Reza Family was considered minor nobility and well below the great houses.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    "We need everyone we can get. The Prefect forced every person who has ever been a soldier, even for a day, to be on these walls. Half the people on the walls aren''t even active soldiers." Sabine said, grabbing a flask from her jacket and taking a small sip before handing it over. ¡°With all the chaos and uncertainty, any good soldier was kept on the walls. I only got into the city from the family estate an hour ago with some of the houseguards. They just now were able to start pulling some of the officers off the wall to rest.¡±

    Reza nodded and gratefully took a sip and tasted a lovely red wine. It was likely one from her father¡¯s wineries in the south. This probably cost more than my jacket. Reza kept his thoughts to himself, just pleased to have the warm wine warm his body.

    "I saw old man Tiberius an hour back. You know how bad it is if a hundred-and-fifty-year-old soldier is taking his place on the wall." Reza returned the flask, and Sabine took another sip before putting it away. "You''d think the families would keep a legion nearby even if they aren''t allowed to be housed in the city or increase the size of the city guard."

    "I doubt any of them expected the death of one of the Archons. We haven''t been at war with either the empire or the remnants in how many years?" Sabine sat up on the wall, her legs hanging over the edge; she adjusted her bow and quiver to make it more comfortable. "Marcellus was riding for his legion in the west. They have riders looking for what might have happened, and two legions, yours included, are already returning to the city. I think they have done all they can."

    No matter her friendship with Reza or the gross miscalculation of sending their armies away from the city, Sabine was part of the ten families and would defend them. Her father was the head of the powerful Rewan family, and his brother was one of the Archons and general of the first legion. It occurred way too late into the conversation to Reza of the frightful thoughts that must have gone through his friend''s mind for the morning, waiting to hear if her uncle was alive.

    They stayed silent momentarily, Reza looking for a different topic to end the uncomfortable silence.

    "Enough of this unpleasant talk. Who do you think will go for the Echo? What is it, four families without one Archon of their own?" Reza asked, changing the topic. The ten great houses of Arkhen always fought each other for the right to have one of the archons be one of their own. Currently, all the archons are part of ten families, with two having multiple. The Sanderns had a father and son as Archons, while the Crichtons had the twins holding another two echoes. It left four families of the ten great houses, including the Sulli, without one.

    "Yeah, but all the families, about another fifteen lower houses looking for their chance to take a spot within the ten, and just about any desperate fool will vie for the position. I wonder what the Echo will choose to test the contestants this time?" Sabine looked down over the wall, leaning precariously over the top and looking down towards the flat plains on either side of the Verenik River. Reza wanted to grab her before she fell over, but he knew Sabine was playing with him; she had better balance than him by quite a measure.

    The city held little land now; you could ride only a few days from the city and leave its territory. That never changed the Ghost Plains outside of Arkhen. Law and custom would not allow them to be farmed or used to house any of the citizens. Those plains and their ruins were still sacred land, not to be destroyed, and only used for the legions to gather in desperate times. Reza would likely find himself with his returning legion in camp in only a few days.

    "You never know with the Echoes. They never stick to the same one. I still can''t believe the last contest to choose who held the power of a god was a puzzle." Reza could still remember the contest a little over a decade ago, around the same time he made his first wraith pact. One of the Archons had passed in her sleep peacefully within the city. The echo decided that the first person to complete the puzzle they created would gain their pact. Thousands had attempted it, but Zander of the Aren family was the first to finish the puzzle and take control of the Echo. What would this contest be? Depending on what the echo decided, maybe?

    In the back of his mind, the idea of trying for the echo had been forming for the last few hours of silently guarding the walls and likely had been in everyone¡¯s mind. Maybe he would compete in the contest. I could do the impossible and place myself in history. Set my family on a course for generations.

    Reza shook his head. It would be wild to attempt such a thing and unlikely to succeed; the great families almost had complete control over who would gain the hallowed position within the city and would do anything to stop any outsider from winning. Though it had happened in the past, the echo decided the winner, not the families. The echo chose who held their power in their hands. However, that didn''t stop them from ensuring it stayed within the ten.

    Never mind that you have three days before the legion will return to the city, and you''ll have to rejoin them¡ªno time for fanciful thoughts.

    "Anyway, thanks for the drink. I''m going to go find a bed and sleep as long as they allow me," Reza waved, looking at the rising sun and road following the river to the city gates. He froze, seeing movement in the far reaches of his vision. Riders were moving fast, dust in their wake as they burst onto the plain.

    "Sabine, look there; what do you see?" He asked, pointing to the riders.

    Sabine turned her attention to where Reza pointed, and a low purple glow appeared to her right. A young man in an ancient military uniform stood with a Spyglass. Sabine moved an eyepatch over her right eye, and keeping her balance, she kept her eye intently on the riders. Her wraith held the spyglass aloft towards the riders.

    "Eight riders chasing down a lone soldier. It looks like one of ours from the uniform he wears. I don''t recognize the others," she responded, never taking her eye off the horsemen far out in the distance. "The lone rider''s horse is faltering; it¡¯s limping pretty badly.¡±

    Even from this distance, Reza knew the rider had no chance of making it to the city before the others caught him. Without more thought, Reza prepared himself. He pulled his black hair out of his face before grabbing his dagger and sword from their sheaths. Drawing on the power within him, he waited for an alarm to blare. When it did not come, he placed one foot on the capstone next to Sabine. She glanced over at him.

    "Sound the alarm. It seems no one else has seen this," Reza stepped up on the capstone and let himself drop towards the ground. The air rushed up around him, tugging at his uniform as he fell ever closer to the hard stone of the main road into Arkhen. Reza waited a second longer to summon his wraith, and she appeared on the ground below. Glowing ghostly silver, she was dressed in ethereal, close-fitting military clothes with long laced boots and a long jacket coming down to her knees.

    Reza flared his power, and he switched places with the wraith. Just as he felt the stone slabs of the road below him, he started running towards the riders with his wraith gliding ahead. Every time she got well ahead of him, he flared his power, switching places.

    It''s time to see what we can do, Elana.

    Elana glanced at Reza and smiled. They began their dance, switching spots. She flew quickly ahead of Reza every time they switched positions, moving with such speed that he closed in on the riders, coving the miles between them within a minute, ready for the fight.

 Chapter 4: Fight among the Ghost Plains

    Reaching the riders, Reza took the last few seconds to read the enemy. Fortunately it became quickly clear, none of them had a hint of magic. Though not to his surprise, the lone rider held a pact with a wraith confirming that he was from Arkhen. Unfortunately, the young rider''s aura was weak; Reza had almost not noticed it in its state.

    Aura¡¯s were a reflection of the magic and power an individual held. The more powerful the individual was, the stronger and more potent their aura would be. It held many uses, but its basic feature was to show how powerful an individual was, making it either a warning or invitation. Reza¡¯s ability to see the aura was rare, but among the best of the pact holders or mages, it was commonplace and was one of the reasons he had risen as high as he had. Knowing your enemy was imperative to have as an officer, and major combatant.

    Mages or pact wielders could make anyone feel their aura when they wanted, making it bear down on the people around them. A common citizen would not be able to stand their ground and would fall to their feet if an Aura geared down on them. If an Archon were to flare their aura, it could force even powerful magic users to be forced to their knees.

    Aura¡¯s could also be hidden, users could control it enough that they could walk the streets and not bother a soul, nor would another mage know they had magic. This took a great deal of practice, and was one of the first skills pact wielders were taught. But Reza and the others like him could circumvent people when they attempted to hide it. He could still feel the echo of their aura at all times, see the color of their power. He would not how strong the individual was, just know they had some level of magic. Stronger individuals like Archons could still hide it with their overwhelming power gap between them and someone like Reza, but few could do it perfectly.

    Knowing all this, Reza needed to finish the fight quickly. The young rider was dangerously weak, the crimson color of his aura precariously flickering in and out of existence.

    Finishing the last hundred yards in seconds, Reza could see the riders focused solely on their target and had not yet noticed him. The early dawn light was not enough, it seemed, for them to take notice of a single man in the early light.

    Without warning, Reza flared his power and appeared on the back of one of their horses, his dagger snaking into the rider''s neck. The rider fell silently with his vocal cords cut through. Reza looked for his wraith and, finding her, flared his power again. He appeared above the next rider, stabbing down into the head of the second rider to the base of his dagger blade before again switching with her. Within seconds, half of the eight riders were dead, and the rest scattered from what probably felt like a monster within their ranks.

    By this time, the rest had figured out they were not alone and had let go of the chase, keeping a wary eye for him. Reza waited a moment, feeling his power ebbing slightly though he had plenty to continue the fight. Unfortunately, having been awake for over a day and being forced to move at his top speed to catch them before they killed the lone soldier, he had left himself with a smaller pool of power than he would like entering a fight.

    He held both blades to his side and prepared for the rush. Two came at him, but he flared and appeared to the right, throwing his dagger, catching one of his opponents just below the ribs. The man collapsed silently off his horse, a bowstring snapped, and reflexively, Reza flared and saw an arrow shoot through his wraith¡¯s ethereal body, harmlessly disappearing.

    Falling to the ground as another arrow shot towards him, the hard paving stone forced the air out of his lungs and momentarily left him vulnerable. Allowing himself a moment to catch his breath and quickly regain his wits, Reza flared his power, jumping. Horns blared in the distance, confirming that reinforcements were on their way, but it would still take time for them to reach the fight.

    With a lull in the fighting around his vicinity, as there were no soldiers alive close to him, Reza got his bearings and looked for the lone soldier. It did not take long before he saw the last three soldiers surrounding the young man, with his horse nowhere to be seen. The soldier looked worse for wear, with his aura in constant flux. The exhaustion was even more evident as he attempted to defend himself with a black sword held shakily in defense, the time of the blade dropping low, his eyes barely able to stay open. Standing right in front of him was a crimson wraith, protectively guarding him.

    Elana, Reza¡¯s wraith, quickly joined the other wraith, and he flared, taking her place and cutting at the closest soldier, joining the young boy.

    "Keep close, and we might just survive this," Reza said, glancing at the teenager, he realized. The young man nodded and kept his hands tight on the sword. The crimson glow of the wraith caught Reza''s eye. "What powers do you have? And can you help?."

    He shook his head. "I just made my pact. I don''t even know how to use this sword." The exhausted soldier looked like he was about to cry, tears welling in the corners of his eyes. "My cousin was going to teach me."

    "Give me the sword," Reza ordered, and the young man handed it over. The sword was probably the best weapon he had ever held. The black sword felt perfectly balanced in his hand, like an extension of his arm. In his hands, Reza felt as if this could slice through anything it touched. Beyond that, within seconds of holding the blade, Reza felt the power emanating from the blade; something else lay deep within the weapon, something aware of him. There was no time to understand what he felt from the blade nor to try to know how to use such power. "Keep behind me."This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    Reza prepared to finish the fight with the young man hiding right next to a small stone column at the edge of the main road. They didn''t give Reza much time to react, forcing him to flare to escape their attack. One seemed to understand what he was fighting better than the others and smartly stayed close to Elana.

    Damnit. Reza was forced to use his sword to block the man''s blade, and they continued to fight for a few moments, the enemy keeping up with Reza disappearing, countering each time he attacked. Unfortunately for the man, his skills with the sword were not enough in the end, and Reza used the black blade to cut smoothly into the man''s sword arm with ease as if nothing was stopping its path. The enemy soldier roared in pain, holding the stub of his lost limb before a well-placed kick to the chest brought him to the ground.

    Reza flared and attacked the final two soldiers. They had tried to use his distraction with the other soldier first to try and kill the exhausted young man. Knowing the fight was all but over, Reza first used the black blade to easily cut through one of the two soldiers before switching with Elana again.

    Turning his wrist at the last moment, he slammed the flat of his sword into the soldier''s ribs, breaking them. The soldier collapsed to the ground from the strength of the blow and was grasping for air. Reza kicked the blade out of the man''s hands and kept the black sword close to the man''s neck, just in case the man tried anything stupid. By this point, Reza could hear more riders thundering down on them, fortunately, this time from the direction of the city.

    "It would be better if you just lay there, please," Reza kept his attention on the downed soldier, expecting him to do something stupid, and the man did not disappoint.

    "Die, heathen." The soldier spat blood at Reza''s boot, trying to pull a dagger out.

    Stepping close, Reza kicked into the man''s broken ribs and leaned in closely. "Now, why did you follow my directions? Before I end your life, I need you to answer a single question: Who sent you here?"

    "Dernadan will send you to the Abyss." He choked a shuttering breath before he could speak again, but Reza waited with the sword leaning against the man''s throat lightly. With another harsh breath, laced with pain, the man spoke again. ¡°He will have this city burned."

    Dernadan? He did not recognize the name, possibly the general or leader of the enemy force coming to attack the city or some ruler declaring war against them. Each was quite a leap when it came to guessing the identity of Dernadan and his purpose in KIlling Marcellus and his young cousin. Unfortunately for Reza, the name was nothing to him. He would report it to his superiors and the ten families, and maybe one of them would know. If not, they would still have this soldier to get more answers.

    But with an answer having been given, Reza was satisfied for now.

    "Be a dear and just lie there," Reza growled and punched the man, feeling the nose crack under his knuckles before the man went still, unconscious.

    Checking over the unconscious man, Reza was pleased to see that the enemy soldier would likely survive the wounds he had inflicted on him, unlike the others who had ridden with him. Examining the scene around him, it was clear that the seven other soldiers had died of their wounds. Unfortunately, Reza had not been focused on getting more prisoners during the brief fight. His safety and the safety of the young soldier had been first and foremost in his mind. Reza was still pleased with his work this morning; saving the young man and one prisoner was better than none.

    Having tied the prisoner¡¯s hands up with a bit of rope, Reza turned his attention to the rapidly nearing horses and the young man, though they were still a few minutes away. The soldier was spent and could barely keep himself conscious with his head held low, leaning against a small stone column at the edge of the main road to the city.

    Reza asked the first question that came to mind. ¡°Who are you? And why were these men chasing you?"

    The boy looked up at Reza, the exhaustion more evident, his eyes barely able to stay open. "Lukas Sulli.¡±

    Reza''s eyes were wide, but Lukas didn¡¯t notice, continuing to answer Reza¡¯s question.

    ¡°My cousin Marcellus is-was, an Archon and General of the Third." Lukas stopped for a moment before starting to speak again. "He saved me and told me to ride for the city."

    Reza wanted to whistle, but he knew better than disrespecting the dead. If true, this was indeed a feat by the young man. It had been more than a day since the boy had to have left his cousin''s side. This boy must have been riding in the dark with those men following for that entire time.

    Damn, impressive. Reza had more than a few more questions about what happened to the young man''s cousin, but there would be time for that later. He honestly was surprised he got that much out of him. Lukas had to be running on pure remnants of adrenaline; his aura was barely identifiable, though it felt stronger than it was when Reza first set his sight on it.

    He''d have to get him to the city as soon as possible. The Sulli family was probably at their wit''s end with the events of the last day and would likely be very happy for some good news in these dark times.

    It took only a few moments to gather a couple of horses, knowing he didn''t want to walk back to the city. Lukas¡¯s horse was unable to walk properly, and no one would be able to ride it before it was healed and cared for. It deserved every bit of care it could possibly get for what it had done to bring the lad back to the city.

    Taking two of the enemy''s horses, Reza took one for himself before helping Lukas into the saddle of the other. He waited until twenty soldiers approached them before jumping into the saddle.

    "This one¡¯s still alive," He called to the officer of the city guard, who came close, pointing to the man still unconscious next to the road. "I''m taking him to the city."

    Without another word and leaving the guards behind, Reza turned his horse and moved to the Lukas''s side. His head was held low, and it looked almost like he was asleep before he moved to look at Reza.

    "Let''s get going. I''m sure there are a great many people who will be mighty pleased to see you alive." Reza grabbed the reins and, with a light squeeze of his legs, had the horses start towards the city.

 Chapter 5: Returning the Young Master

    Marius Reza continued going through the city towards the forum and Palace Complex. The sun had fully risen as they entered the city, and there was still a noticeable chill in the air as the horses continued to the destination. Lukas lasted only to the city gates before he fell unconscious into a bone-weary sleep. Luckily, Reza reacted quickly to the young man''s situation when the reigns of Lukas¡¯s horses dropped from his hands. Reza could stop Lukas from falling off his horse and now guided both horses as they made their way deeper into the silent city. Where to go now?

    He had two options that came to mind as they rode. Reza¡¯s first option was to report to Praetor Tiberius, the man who ran the city for the noble families, not as a king by any measure, just the bureaucrat who made the small daily decisions. He also was the one everyone had looked to set up the city''s defense with Marcellus''s death. Yes, the families had stepped in also, but Tiberius held the command. The Praetor could return Lukas to his family, finally allowing Reza to find a bed.

    The other option was bypassing Tiberius and returning Lukas to his family. The Sulli Estate was in the noble district, and Reza knew generally where to go. The district was a smaller secondary island surrounded by the Arkhen city harbor at the mouth of the river. The island was only connected to the city by a single bridge leading from the Forum. Even if the Lukas¡¯s parents did not live within the estate, they would know how to get word to them. Making his decision, Reza continued.

    There is no need to go to the Praetor. Reza reasoned to himself; Tiberius had more important matters on his mind than getting Lukas to his parents. They continued through the Forum, passing by the Praetor headquarters.

    The streets had been noticeably empty, strange for this time of day; it should have thousands of people already awake. And yet, Reza had seen no one as he passed by houses, shops, and even a few tenement buildings before crossing the bridge into the island forum. The Arkhenites had hidden within their homes, likely afraid of the rumors that had spread within the night. He hoped this would soon change, and the citizens would feel comfortable returning to their everyday lives; for now, time would only tell.

    Just as the city changed with Reza riding into the Forum with the stone buildings surrounded by the Echoes towers replacing the wooden structures of the rest of the city, so too were the now people in the streets with soldiers running to and from the Praetors headquarters. Reza nodded to several soldiers that ran past, but none stopped him or asked about his business, and they quickly made it through the island and into the noble district. Again, the city was transformed, with buildings turning into gated manors and estates.

    Now where was the Sulli estate again? Reza found the street he needed to go down but kept his eyes moving as he rode deeper into the noble district, ensuring he did not ride past their destination. The noble district seemed the least affected by recent events; the streets were busy as servants moved everywhere, and they had already begun their work for the day. Several were turning off the many lanterns that lined streets in the district, providing light for the people at night. As he passed by, each group of servants or the lone worker had some job they were doing with messages being delivered or buying items for whatever chore they were doing. It felt like a typical day within the district, and the only strange part was that almost every gate had guards posted outside of them. Every estate had guards, but on an average day, maybe one guard would be posted at the gate, or there would be an indication of how someone might announce they were there. Most guards stayed within the estate grounds. But not today, and the guards seemed more on edge than normal, many muttering and eyeing Reza and the unconscious Lukas suspiciously. Thankfully, they gave little trouble as he rode past; likely, the soldier''s uniform made them think twice about asking questions.

    Finding the Sulli Estate took a few more minutes, but thankfully, Reza did not need to ask for directions. Though he had never been there, Reza had frequented the district with Sabine many times and thus knew the location of most of the estates of the several power families that held claim to part of the island; her own family''s estate stood very close to the Sulli¡¯s.

    The manor was more subdued in its grandeur than the others around it. The main estate was hidden behind a tall, unadorned stone wall with a single plain metal gate, subtle compared to many of its neighbors.

    Where are the guards? Reza realized it was one of the few with no guards posted outside, not even one that could announce his presence. Reza tried to spot if one was hiding, but alas, no one was near enough to be considered part of this estate.

    Dropping down from the horse, Reza guided them near the gate, trying to figure out what to do. How did others announce themselves?

    Reza quickly realized they may not want visitors and purposely had no one out there. The heir to the Sulli family and their Archon had died not a day ago, and they were likely grieving for the loss of not just Marcellus but also Lukas. Yet, while Reza would usually turn back now, he felt confident they would want him to disturb them this morning.

    Not knowing what else to do, Reza knocked heavily on the gate, loud enough that if someone were on the other side, they would hear it.

    It took little time before Reza heard movement on the other side of the gate, and a well-hidden window opened on the right side of the gate.

    "Who are you? And what''s your business?" A gruff and tired-sounding voice called out.

    Reza shuffled to stand before the window and saw a much older-looking guard. He wore a polished metal helmet that hid most of his features. It looked like it was an older model of the ones worn by the legionaries. The man''s eyes went wide at the sight of Reza.

    ¡°Sorry to disturb you and the Sulli Family,¡± Reza said firmly, bowing his head. I have a young man here who was just rescued outside the city. He said his name was Lukas Sulli."

    The older man looked past Reza to Lukas asleep on the horse, and recognition was evident as he saw the boy. No other words were exchanged before he quickly closed the window. Shouts and noice came from behind the gate, and he could hear more voices heading towards him. Unfortunately, Reza was unable to catch any of the conversation from outside.

    The gate opened, and three guards appeared from within. Two took the horses from Reza, though not before he made sure to grab the sword that had been strapped to his. The older guard came to his side and motioned to the gate. "Come in. I''m sure Lord Sulli will want to meet with you. We will make sure to get Lukas safely into the house."

    Reza followed as the guard turned and walked up the paved walkway to the massive manor. It was a beautiful red brick building with only three stories, with the entire front porch covered by an overhanging roof. The estate was subtle but beautiful, with distinct features that showed the family''s wealth without blaring it for everyone who stepped through the gate. The stone that formed the garden''s paths was likely more expensive than Reza¡¯s entire estate. The garden was quiet, though he noticed several guards walking the various paths that split off from the primary¡ªquite amazing the number of guards still within the noble district. I would have expected more to be on the walls.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

    Reza let the thought drop. The noble families likely had sent many of their men to the walls, as Sabine had mentioned her family having done so.

    Pulling him from his thoughts, the guard placed a hand on his shoulder. Stepping to the side, he pulled a rag from his pocket and poured some water from his water skin. "You might want to clean yourself up, " he said, handing the wet cloth over to Reza.

    How bad must I look? Reza wondered. At this point, he likely looked terrible, having been awake for more than twenty-four hours, unable to rest the entire time, and fighting multiple enemies on the Ghost Plains.

    "My thanks," Reza responded with genuine feeling.

    He feared what a mirror would show and started to do his best with the cloth. Scrubbing hard at his face to get everything possible off, Reza took several moments. The fabric came away with light red blotches. Knowing more was likely there, he took another minute to wash his face and hands as well as he could.

    Looking to the Guard, Reza turned his head back and forth. "Did I miss anything?"

    "It''s better.¡± The guard answered, but his facial expression showed that Reza was still not presentable. ¡°I would still get to a bath as soon as you can. But it''s better than before."

    Continuing, the guard walked upright to the front door and opened it without knocking.

    While the outside was subtle, the manor itself indies was much more grand. Just as Reza walked in, his eyes were brought to the center of the entry where a tall statue stood of a man made of grey marble, the features were as if the individual had been transformed into the cold stone. It held a beautiful sword stabbing tip down into the ground in its hands with another individual standing just behind the first made of some black stone. The second''s body was formed like smoke, barely indicating a human form. Reza stood there in the atrium examining the statue, it was obviously an artists expression of a man and their wraith.

    It was quite the visual. Entering the Sulli household showed a measure of power and wealth. The rest of the entry was perfect. The floors were white marble, silver spidered through them, and various paintings lined the grey walls of different men and women. All were likely famous or important ancestors of the household.

    "Wait here, " the guard said, pointing to the door. I''ll be back in a moment."

    The guard disappeared as Lukas was brought in on a stretcher by the two other guards. They started to move towards the stairs, but they were intercepted by a woman walking through the door the guard had entered.

    "Lukas," a younger blonde-haired woman in a black dress said softly almost in disbelief. She composed herself almost instantly, exchanging soft words between herself and the guards.

    She turned suddenly, and rushed back through to the room she had entered from. Gone only a moment, she returned with two men in black uniforms, likely more servants joined her, and they took Lukas from the Guards and rushed him up their stairs while the young woman stayed behind. With Lukas gone, her attention turned to Reza and made her way over to him.

    "Who are you?" She held an air of importance that marked her as higher in the household than a common soldier or servant. If he had to guess, Reza marked her as likely part of the family.

    Reza bowed slightly to the woman. He could feel the muscles in his back tightening. The battle had taken much more out of him than he''d realized. "Lord Marius Reza. I was on the wall this morning, and saw Lukas riding for the city. We rescued him and brought him here."

    Reza kept the story light on details, firstly because he was not sure who the woman was for certain. Second, Lukas could fill in the blanks when he awoke, and Reza did not feel it was his place to tell the young man''s story; he did not flout his own. With his words, the woman seemed to soften her guard slightly.

    "I''m sure there is more to that story. Helton went to inform Lord Sulli. I''m sure he will want to meet you. Would you like something to drink or eat while you wait?" She asked politely.

    "Something hot to drink if possible, there¡¯s a chill in the city right now," Reza answered, keeping his eyes on her. He was distinctly aware that he had dried blood on his clothes, and he was standing in a high noble''s home in front of one of his family, it seemed. Echoes, I wish I''d thought this through a bit more.

    Reza thanked the echoes. The guard had enough of a mind to hand him the washcloth, unlike himself. He could have at least taken some time to make himself presentable before he walked into such an important household.

    "We have some warm cider in the kitchen. The lady likes a glass at night on these colder days. I¡¯ll have a glass of that brought," She queried as she waited for an answer.

    "That would be lovely. Miss... I''m sorry, I fear I did not catch your name," Reza said politely in an attempt to hint that she had not introduced herself.

    "I apologize. My name is Marie Sulli, Lukas is my cousin,¡± Marie poked her head through a door beside them. ¡°Eleanor¡­¡±

    Reza stood almost to attention as she walked away and through a door to another room. A Sulli, I was wise to keep my words neutral.

    With his thoughts running, Reza missed Marie''s conversation, but there seemed to be another woman by the sound of the second voice within the room. Marie finally returned and guided him to a small table at the side of the atrium with two comfortable chairs. ¡°It will be out momentarily."

    Taking one seat, Marie motioned for Reza to sit.

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure I should, I wouldn¡¯t want to destroy the lovely furniture with all the dirt and grim on me,¡± Reza said, motioning to the obviously dirty clothes.

    ¡°Nonsense, have a seat. We have someone on staff who can easily clean that away in moments. I could even have her come and have those clothes cleaned; she wouldn¡¯t even need to have you take them off.¡± Marie answered, again motioning for Reza to sit. ¡°Actually, no, if Lord Sulli wants to talk with you, I think it''s highly recommended you have Amelia do her work.¡±

    Following her direction and not wanting to argue further Reza leaned the sword in his hand against the chairs and sat. The chair may have been the most comfortable item of furniture he had ever been in, likely most of that was from the fact he had just fought several men, and stood for almost an entire day on top of the wall. But it could have easily been that the chair was just that comfortable. He could fall asleep here and now if he allowed himself to close his eyes, but alas he made sure to sit up straight and focus on Marie instead.

    A servant, who had to be Eleanor, set two steaming glasses between us moments later.

    "Thank you," Reza said. He took a sip of the cider, which had a lovely cinnamon flavor. The lady was proper. This did hit the spot on a cold day.

    Marie nodded, smiling. ¡°Eleanor, fetch Amelia for me; we need her magic before this man meets with Lord Sulli.¡±

    Eleanor bowed before rushing away without a second look. With her gone, Marie¡¯s attention was back entirely on him.

    ¡°Thank you again for the drink,¡± Reza said, taking another sip of the cider.

    "I think it''s more likely that we have more to thank from you. We all thought Lukas lost to us...just like Marcellus." Marie stopped, just holding her cup in two hands.

    Reza was not sure exactly what he should say. He had no idea of her relation to Marcellus, but she was part of his family somehow. "I''m sorry for your loss. I knew him during our time in the Legions, when he led the seventh for a time. He was a good general."

    The man, indeed, had been an excellent general and loved by his soldiers. Whoever replaced him would have difficulty taking his place in their minds.

    She stayed silent, her eyes focused on the cup of hot cider in her hand. She finally and looked at Reza. "Thank you."

    Before Reza could change the conversation, the guard returned to the atrium. He looked between the two of us before first giving Marie a low bow.

    "Lady Marie," He said before returning his gaze to Reza. "Come with me. Lord Sulli would like to speak with you."

    Reza stood, leaving behind his half-empty cup of cider. He was about to say his goodbyes, but Marie stopped him.

    "Is he in his study?" She asked.

    "Yes, my lady. He is waiting now for him," He answered curtly.

    "I will take him. Return to your station, Mr. Helton."

    He opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but he quickly closed it before bowing, and making a quick exit through the front door. He glanced briefly over his shoulder with a neutral expression at Reza, before disappearing.

    Reza stood as she began to move down the hallway. "Come along. You don''t want to make him wait." She said wryly.

    Reza stood there, concerned for the upcoming meeting. Meeting with head of the Sulli family was a daunting prospect for anyone let alone a mere soldier, but he had no other choice.

 Chapter 6: Meeting with Lord Sulli

    Reza drained the last of his cider and left his glass, knowing that he could not escape the situation without hurting his own honor and that of the Sulli Family.

    Following Marie, they were just about to leave the entry when Eleanor and another young servant intercepted them.

    ¡°Perfect timing, Amelia. Please do your thing with Lord Reza here,¡± Marie ordered.

    Amelia nodded, and an orange wraith appeared by her side. The man was dressed in a long, flowing robe, though there were no sleeves, leaving his arms bare. Amelia''s hands glowed a soft orange as she came closer to Reza.

    Reza looked at Marie, and she smiled slightly. ¡°Let her touch you on the shoulder; it won¡¯t hurt.¡±

    Nodding, Reza stood still and allowed the servant to touch him. A warm feeling spread from his shoulders over the entirety of his clothes. Looking down, they were as clean as the day he was given them.

    ¡°I¡¯ll need to touch your face to clean that properly,¡± Amelia said, her hand held up to his head, waiting.

    ¡°Go on,¡± Reza said, allowing her to touch his cheek, the warm feeling spreading through his whole body this time. Again, looking down at his hands, there wasn¡¯t a hint of dirt or blood on them. ¡°Amazing, quite the power you have there.¡±

    Amelia smiled briefly, allowing her Wraith to disappear. ¡°Thank you, Lord Reza.¡±

    She and Eleanor bowed again before retreating.

    Marie did not speak but started towards what he expected was Lord Sulli¡¯s study. They walked in silence down a well-lit hallway with paintings covering each wall. All had similar featured faces; the many Sulli ancestors looked out from those frames.

    She knocked at the last door at the end of the hallway.

    "Come in," a gruff voice from inside the room called.

    "Good luck," She said, opening the door.

    Reza walked through and gave her one last smile.

    The room was sparsely decorated, its red stone walls bare of ornaments except for a blue banner with a black raven in flight hung behind a white marble desk. An older man sat in a leather chair as he stared at Reza in the doorway.

    "Thank you, Marie. You may go," He ordered.

    Reza looked back one last time to her, but the door had already quietly closed, hiding her from view.

    He turned back to Lord Sulli. He was a stout man with minimal lines on his face. He knew that Marcellus had been well into his fifth decade of life, so likely, this man had to be past his seventh. But it was difficult for Reza to tell. The man''s hair and well-groomed beard were the color of iron. His blue eyes showed no signs of mourning or even tiredness. He never let his eyes drop from Reza before indicating one of the two empty seats on Reza''s side of the desk.

    "You may sit," he said in his gruff voice.

    Reza hesitated for a moment before taking the seat. He set the sword against the chair, focusing directly on Lord Sulli.

    "Marius Reza, is it?" He asked.

    Reza nodded. "Yes, sir."

    "Optio of the seventh cohort of the third legion? I believe, if my memory serves me right," He asked, removing a few papers from his desk and placing them in a drawer.

    The man''s knowledge took Reza aback and left him unsure how to proceed. How did the man know his position in the army? Did the man have a dossier on every officer?

    "Yes, sir. How do you know that?" Reza asked before hastily adding. "If you wouldn''t mind telling me."

    Sulli placed his hands in front of his mouth, again not dropping his eyes and barely blinking. In two sentences, this man had Reza on the back foot and had little idea how this conversation would go now.

    "I make it my business to know every officer in the legions, including anyone that may be promoted. Especially ones with your skill." He answered. There was a hint of appreciation in his voice.

    What was he trying to say? Reza was unsure if he meant Elana or his ability to sense auras, but either way, one of the heads of the ten families knew a lot about him.

    Quickly thinking through the situation, while it was still scary for such a powerful man to know even this much, it was not a leap that many of the ten families could have a similar understanding of the officer core. Just about every officer in the legion was from some noble family. Most came from the ten or one of their cadet families, with the few outsiders usually well-connected to one of the families.

    Echoes, this was not the time for this meeting. Reza''s mind was not working well enough due to his lack of sleep and the amount of power he had used to fight the men on the Ghost Plains. Reza chose not to speak but instead nodded in response. This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

    "And what are you doing in the city, Marius? Your Legion is at least three or four days march from the city," He said. There didn''t seem to be any malicious intent, but it still worried him now in front of the man to answer his questions.

    "I was given leave to attend my family''s Anceslia this week. I was meant to return in a couple of days," Reza answered. "Though ''ll have to ask the Praetor now. He will probably want to keep me here until the legions return to help guard the wall."

    Sulli nodded, seemingly satisfied with my answer.

    "Of course, you are correct about the Praetor''s likely course of action. We need every good soldier in the city for the time being, though from reports, there is no enemy lurking near the city. However, let''s get to the real conversation. I was told you brought back my nephew Lukas," he said, his tone sounding as if it wasn''t an important detail. I''d like to hear how this happened."

    Reza nodded, relieved by the little bit of knowledge Lord Sulli had given. Some of the stress built up over the past day was released, and his body and mind felt better. Calmer, Reza retold the events to him, keeping some details vague, such as his powers. Reza wasn''t secretive about Elana per se. But he never flat-out told people how she worked or what they really did. It was better to keep his powers unclear so no one could find his weaknesses should they ever become enemies.

    "One should still live. I wasn''t thinking very clearly when I began the attack. I should have tried to keep more alive for questioning." Reza said. He shrugged, realizing he was babbling a bit.

    Sulli grunted. "One is enough to question. I will also talk with my nephew when he awakens. But my thanks for saving him, many feared he held the same fate as... Marcellus."

    The brief pause was the first sign the man had shown grief for his son. Throughout the story, he made no comments or indications about the events, only a brief pause regarding his sons'' names.

    "We can only hope the man gives more than just the name Durnadan. That doesn¡¯t give Praetor Tiberius and the families much to work with,¡± Reza answered. ¡°Lukas may know more, but by the time the fighting was over, I couldn¡¯t really get more than his name. I think the escape took everything out of him. I was impressed with Lukas; he was ready to go down fighting, even in his condition. He had this sword and his wraith out, ready to fight back. Like a proper soldier."

    He''d seen older soldiers with less nerve when it came to being outnumbered. Leaning down, Reza grabbed the black sword against his chair, placing it between himself and Sulli on the desk. The feeling of the sword was strange. Reza did not like allowing it to leave his possession, nor did he think the weapon did either, as odd as it sounded. It was one of the best weapons he had ever laid his eyes on, and he wanted to learn more about the mysteries he knew the weapon had.

    Sulli stared down at the sword, one hand grabbing the hilt of it. "This was the sword my son carried. I gave it to him when he became Archon, an ancient weapon the family acquired a long time ago.¡°

    Sulli held the sword for a time, almost clutching it, while Reza sat uncomfortably quietly. Sulli finally placed it back down softly onto the desk, pushing it back towards Reza.

    "Please keep the weapon. I think it might do you well," Sulli ordered. ¡°Though the priests will likely request the gem back, I will contact you if they ask, or they may come directly.¡¯

    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Reza asked in disbelief. This sword had to be a precious artifact of the family. It was beyond any reward Reza felt comfortable accepting.

    ¡°Yes, I am,¡± Lord Sulli said with no hesitation.

    Reza nodded and took the sword back, placing it on his lap across the arms of the chair. He hadn¡¯t taken the time to examine the sword or sheath, but he now saw the black gem embedded in the sheath about an inch under where the hilt sat snuggly against the black leather. The diamond gem looked like a raindrop and was unnaturally black. It was uncomfortable to look at the gem for long, and Marius knew part of the mystery he had felt with the sword lay within the gem.

    ¡°Now, that cannot be the only reword I will allow you to accept for saving my nephew,¡± Sulli said as he stood and walked to a shelf at the side of the room. He pulled out a large bag of coins, the clinking metal inside identifying the contents.

    "No need. I was only doing my duty as a soldier, and the sword alone is too much." Reza held a single hand up, waving away the offer of coin. He had never thought about a reward when he had saved Lukas. The sword alone and the possibility of learning more about it was enough of a reward in his mind.

    "Nonsense, I must. Lukas is my nephew; you saved his life; I will not take no for an answer." He said sternly, his softness from a moment before gone.

    "Again, I must decline. No further reward is required," Reza said, trying to sound as sincere as possible. He knew that if the man tried to reward him again, he would have no choice but to accept. This was one of the city''s most powerful and influential people, and Reza would be a fool to dishonor such a man by denying further compensation.

    "If money is not an option, I must find another way to repay you." He sat down again, leaving the bag on the desk. His eyes lit up as an idea came to the man. "You mentioned your family was having their Anceslia?"

    "Yes, my sisters are probably still getting ready for it right now, even in these times." He said. He had only received a curt response from Tavia when his messenger returned. I expect you back by the Anceslia, even if you have to desert your post.

    "I suggest a compromise, more of a showing of goodwill between our families for the service you did," Lord Sulli said. "If Lukas recovers in time, I will send him with a few of my family members as guests of your Anceslia. It will give your family a point of pride and recognition from my family."

    Reza was taken aback, and it was good he was sitting at that moment. His legs felt very weak. One of the ten families of Arkhen, who had no connection to his family, was openly offering to attend his Anceslia. If such a thing happened, it would be the talk of the countryside. It could also open doors that had not been there an hour ago.

    "I thank you. While I believe I do not require a reward, I will accept such a generous offer," Reza said. He would not deny his family this opportunity because of his opinions on the matter, and this was an acceptable compromise he could accept as a reward.

    Sulli stood holding his hand out. "Good, then it''s settled. Have someone send party details, and I will have Lukas or someone else be there."

    Reza briefly held the man''s hand. "Thank you. My sisters will look forward to it."

    Sulli sat again. "You may go. I suspect Marie or someone will be waiting for you to show you out."

    He was already pulling the papers out again and reading from them as Reza opened the door.

    A guard stood across the hall and guided him to the gate. Having gathered his new horse, Reza left and rode towards the Forum and the barracks where he could sleep. He would have to send word to Tavia and Cassia to be prepared for a few Sulli representatives. The Anceslia had become a much more critical party than ever before.

 Chapter 7: Changes within the House of Sulli

    Lukas awoke, quickly attempting to ascertain where he was in the first few seconds of his renewed awareness. He tried to move, but his body was unwilling to answer, nor could he even open his eyes. It was as if he was suspended within the darkness of the void, his body held by layers of shadow, the chill never reaching him. Something protected his body and mind, if only for a moment. The fantasy lasted only a few more moments before the weight and pain of the last few days slowly returned, Lukas savoring the last few remnants of peace and comfort.

    Unfortunately, reality returned, and the fear of what he would return to began to spread through him; he knew he would have to open his eyes soon. Taking a deep breath, Lukas felt his body ache with the attempt, his ribs burning with every breath he took, feeling his revenged body.

    Knowing he was in no shape to do much, Lukas allowed himself more rest; he instead listened to his surroundings for a time. It was eerily quiet. Lukas heard no voices, not even the movement of people in the building where he had awoken. There should have been servants or soldiers busily working into the late night hours, but nothing. His surroundings were too silent; none of the fighting or screams that had plagued him since his cousin''s death, none of the fear of being ridden down by the men chasing him for so many hours.

    Pushing back at the fear building up and feeling he had enough control, Lukas opened one eye and saw the blurry grey ceiling above, and his vision became clearer as the seconds passed. It took some time, but as he moved his eyes slowly, unable to move his body, Lukas recognized the sizable room as the one he had stayed in before leaving with Marcellus. Relief and confusion swirled in Lukas¡¯s mind. Had everything just been a dream? But alas, Lukas knew in his heart and mind that no matter how much he hoped that sentiment to be true, there was only one cold, hard truth bearing down on him now: Marcellus was dead.

    Questions marred Lukas as he lay in the Sulli Estate, his brain trying to understand everything that had happened to him in the last few days. Lukas had expected to be with his cousin at the Legions fortress, learning to control his Wraith and training day and night until his fingers bled and he dropped from exhaustion.

    But now everything had changed; the exhaustion was there, but nothing else of the plans that had been paved before him by his father and uncle. Lukas took control of what he could and focused on the few questions that mattered. How had he gotten here? Who was the man that saved him? And finally, and most importantly, how long had he been gone to the world?

    The first was answered reasonably obviously with the memories of a man appearing and disappearing as a shadow through his pursuers playing through his mind, cutting each down with such ease. These were not some fanciful dreams but the reality. The power he displayed was something Lukas had expected only the Archons could display. But some stranger had been able to cut down so many within mere heartbeats, set his mind ablaze with the need to know more. He would have to learn the man''s name from his Uncle or someone. He was sure they would know or would be able to find out.

    Having heard no one come near his room, Lukas attempted to make his body sit up to get someone¡¯s attention. But no matter how much he wanted to move, His every limb, muscle, and bone protested in their very core. Lukas tried several times before, but finally, he was forced to give up the attempts. He lay there staring up at the ceiling, barely able to make a whisper. His entire body felt like he''d been pulled from all his limbs by galloping horses.

    How long would he be like this? Lukas did not know and tried not to dwell on the nightmares that began to creep into the back of his mind; even the thought of never being able to move again had no place within the confines of his mind. He would not allow such thoughts to plague himself any longer.

    Minutes passed, and the only thing changing in the room was the movement of the small light elemental slowly within its glass prison. Lukas continued to watch as it kept the room light with its body of pure light, one of many that lit the entire estate¡¯s many rooms and buildings. Time continued to pass until Lukas felt a little energy flicker to life within his body, just enough that he could start moving a single finger, then move his head back and forth with slight discomfort from his many sore muscles. But as time passed and he regained movement, thirst finally made its way to the front of the line of the many pains and annoyances that plagued him. Wine or water, Lukas did not know how long he had either, but he needed something to quench his thirst.

    The door opened before he could look for a cup or pitcher in the room or try to raise his voice to have someone hear him. Slowly turning his head, Lukas saw a young woman dressed in the grey dresses of his uncle''s household servants. She was no older than himself, her lengthy hair tied into a braid almost touching her waist.

    "Water, please." His rasping was barely louder than a whisper; he wouldn¡¯t have been surprised if she had not heard him.

    She looked up from the folded blankets in her hands before dropping them as her hands covered her mouth. Without a word, she ran from the room, and Lukas could hear her yelling loudly, "He''s awake, Lukas is awake."

    I just wanted water, Bloody Echoes, and the Fae be damned. Lukas sensed a change with another spark of power forming within his core. It was just a little spark, but enough, he thought, to attempt to raise himself up. Moving his arms slowly, Lukas used every muscle, each burned from the effort, to raise himself to a sitting position when someone familiar opened the door again minutes later.

    Marie rushed through the door and sat on the edge of the bed, hugging Lukas hard.The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    "You''re finally awake." Marie cried. Lukas could hear the tears in her words as she spoke into his shoulder.

    He flinched from the fire running through his ribs as she held him.

    Marie let go of him before she backed away to the far edge of the bed, her hands up to her mouth, her eyes full of concern.

    "I''m so sorry. I should have realized you would be in pain. How are you feeling?" She asked, eyes examining every inch of him that wasn''t covered.

    Lukas felt his skin burn as he realized he was very much underdressed and shirtless. He pulled the covers up with difficulty, covering himself so she couldn''t see anything.

    "It''s alright," He croaked out, and again, barely a whisper came from between his lips.

    "Oh, you need water. Hold on." She jumped up and rushed to the dresser on the opposite wall, pouring a glass of water from a stone pitcher. When she returned, she handed the cool cup over.

    "Drink slowly. You''ve been out too long and need to take your time." She ordered, reclaiming her seat at the end of the bed.

    Lukas slowly sipped the ice-cold water, the coolness going bone-deep. It felt refreshing, and even his muscles felt better for it. "Thank you."

    The words came out stronger with less of the rasp he had since his awakening, but still only a whisper. As he took further sips, he felt a little more strength return, his muscles drinking in the refreshing water with all their might.

    The door opened, and Lord Sulli strode into the room with purpose and stood at the end of the bed. "You may go, Marie."

    She stood, turning to face the man in an almost protective posture. "He''s just awakened. You shouldn''t push it too far." She argued weakly.

    He didn''t acknowledge her words. "Close the door behind you."

    Marie nodded in defeat, giving Lukas one last hug before she retreated from the room and closed the door behind her. Lord Sulli gave her no more attention, his eyes only on Lukas.

    Lukas kept himself sitting straight, trying to hold a measure of composure in front of his Uncle and head of the family. He lasted only a moment before he slipped back down into a more comfortable position on the bed. He waited for Lord Sulli to speak but only continued to watch. Lukas finally broke eye contact and looked down into his mostly empty water cup. He wanted more, but it would have to wait.

    A visit from Lord Sulli was never just a conversation. The man would analyze every minuscule detail of the conversation down to the emphasis of each syllable. Based on your reactions, the man held every detail and decided his next move. Lukas was not prepared for such a meeting.

    "How are you feeling?" He asked, hands clasped behind his back, standing firmly at the end of the bed. His voice was also harder than Lukas would have expected such a question to sound.

    "Weak, but feeling slightly better already. The water helped," Lukas said. His stomach also growled. When was the last time he had eaten? Two or three days ago, maybe. He had not yet figured out how long he had slept. It could have been weeks for all he knew. "I would love something to eat."

    Lord Sulli''s face did not change. "I''ll have one of the servants bring something to you. You need to rest and recover quickly. You¡¯ve been asleep a full day, and there is no time to lose."

    Time? What was he talking about? "Can you explain? I don¡¯t understand. What do you mean by no time to lose?" Lukas said. Time to lose? He had woken up barely a half hour ago. Cryptic half-answers were not what he needed in the shape he was in.

    "Lukas, things have changed with the death of Marcellus. Our family was not prepared for such a situation." Lord Sulli gave no hint that he was talking about his own son¡¯s death. There wasn¡¯t a hint of emotion in his words, just cold, hard facts. How did he stay so composed?

    Lukas looked down into his cup, remembering the final sight of Marcellus falling from the house. Damnit, keep it together. He saved you by doing that.

    "I have no other sons, Lukas. My granddaughter is only six months old; she is too young to succeed me as the head of this house. So I must name a new heir." Turning away, Lord Sulli walked away, his eyes painting hanging on the wall across from the bed of a family sat on a richly decorated couch, two young children and their parents.

    Why was he saying this to him? Lukas was not important enough for such conversations. His father was Lord Sulli¡¯s younger brother. They were a secondary family, and his father never tried to influence or be part of the family politics. He kept to the family estates outside the city, away from everything. It took more time than it should have in his weakened state, but the realization of what those words meant came to Lukas.

    "I see you understand, so I''ll not tarry any longer. You will be my heir," he retook his spot, his hands gripping the wooden bed frame, looking down at Lukas. Your father has already agreed to this plan. You will live, study, and train here, and in time, you¡¯ll succeed me as head of this family."

    What could he say? There were no words to speak. How was this even a thought that went through his uncle''s head at a time like this? It would have been one of the last things so soon after Marcellus''s death. Lord Sulli waited, and the silence began to grow between them until Lukas finally broke.

    "I''m honored. I don''t know what else to say," Lukas responded.

    "Nothing at this point. You have two days until I expect you to be up and about. The healers will arrive in the next hour to help with your recovery. Until then, rest. You have much to do after that,¡± He turned to go.

    "What''s in two days?" Lukas asked. He didn''t feel like, even with a hundred healers, he would be up for much so soon. Just moving a single arm felt as if he was pushing it through water, the weight forcing it down.

    "You''ll be my representative and someone else in the family to the Lord Reza¡¯s Anceslia. A reward for the soldier that saved your life outside the city." Ending the conversation, Lord Sulli turned and walked from the room.

    Lukas¡¯s mind went back to the memories of the fight. Reza had been a blur, jumping around the fight and killing the soldiers with such skill. He and his wraith, a partnership that brought forth so much deadly skill.

    Reaching out, Lukas summoned his own Wraith with his little power. The crimson figure of his Wraith appeared, standing next to the bed. He looked down on Lukas with a wicked smile, the cards dancing through his hands. The rush of power through his limbs felt wonderful, giving him a rush of energy that allowed him to freely move if only for a few precious moments.

    "We need to figure out what you can do," Lukas told his wraith. "I won''t be that useless the next time I''m in a fight."

    But these were plans for the future; for now all he had to do was rest and recover. Lukas would have to use every moment in the next two days to be prepared. He would do his duty as heir, and then he would get to work. Lukas closed his eyes and placed the water cup on the side table. He lay down under the warm covers. "I won''t be useless again."

    He let the power of the wraith go and fell back to sleep.

 Chapter 8: Anceslia

    Reza emptied the glass of wine he had been drinking before searching for one of the servants moving through the crowds with more refreshments. The Anceslia, in his opinion, was going quite well. Tavia had used the rumor of one of the great houses attending the party to great advantage in convincing even more people to come and see the family.

    A servant passed by Reza''s group, and he quickly traded his own glass for one from the man''s tray. The servant gave a slight nod and continued his route without comment.

    "Reza, are you there?" A voice brought him back to his senses. Cassius, a friend and officer of the third Legion like himself, was standing with several officers from different legions. The third and fourth legions had returned to the city, combining their forces into three camps guarding its gates.

    "Yes, yes, what were you saying?" Reza asked. The last few days had been exhausting with the additional prep Tavia had required for the party. Fortunately, his leave had been extended, allowing him several days of rest before returning to the Legion, but this placed him in a bind after the party. Reza had plenty of time on his hands but was not allowed back with the Legion. This did not help him as he tried to work up the ladder to becoming a centurion; time off would not help in the endeavor. And having his leave extended for what he had done on the Ghost Plains would not sit well in the camp. Likely, many soldiers were grumbling about it already.

    "We were talking about Sorana and what she would choose for the contest. It''s been days since High Lord Marcellus died. She''s bound to make her choice soon." He said, looking at the other officers. All nodded in agreement.

    "Kelmonas had the priest make the announcement two days after the death of their Archon,¡± said one of the officers. Reza thought his name was Darren. Unfortunately, Reza couldn''t quite remember their names after Cassius introduced them.

    While he had known Cassius since they had joined the Legion, Reza had not met the officers, as Cassius had brought them with him to the party. Reza had not complained with the additional guests as all of them were nobles. Each added to the prestige he and his sisters would gain from the party. It also gave him pleasure that so many were willing to join them in honoring the Reza ancestors, specifically their mother, who had passed last year.

    "Different circumstances," Reza responded. "That Archon died in her sleep; we all knew she wasn''t long for this world, and the Echo had time to decide after the two days of mourning. Sorana and her priests will make the decision in time."

    Everyone nodded in agreement, sipping their cups of wine.

    "What do you think the contest will be?" asked Cassius. He grabbed a piece of bread with what looked like patte atop it and swallowed in one bite.

    Reza thought for a moment, though the question had been on his mind for days.

    "I think many people hope for a contest of will or might. The last one had many hopefuls¡¯ dreams be dashed because of Kelmonas''s tricky ploy in their champions trial." Reza took a small sip of wine and continued to talk. "But I truly don''t know what it will be. Every idea that comes to mind seems as likely as the next. Abyss take us if some Echo makes it a pie-eating contest. We''d all be screwed with Cassius here."

    Reza laughed, and the rest joined in. Cassius froze with a piece of bread halfway to his mouth. He was by no means fat; his colossal bulk was more muscle than anything, but the man was well known for his ferocious appetite. "Hilarious, Marius, you might all laugh, but I surely would win such a contest." He scarfed down the bread and smiled mischievously.

    Everyone laughed again, and Reza loosened his tie, pulling it from his neck and relieving himself from the uncomfortable clothing Tavia had required him to wear. It had been years since he put a suit and tie on. Though the suit was well tailored and fit him well, he thought it would not be something he wanted to wear consistently. The suit was such a dark purple that it was black under the night sky, with bone white threaded throughout the clothes. Likely had cost his coffers a large amount of golden ghouls.

    "Marius," a voice from behind him called out. He turned to see Tavia standing on the deck just below the canopy. She was dressed in a beautiful midnight blue dress with earrings and a necklace with rubies studded in each. She talked with one of the servants hired for the night. Finishing her orders, Tavia caught Reza¡¯s eye, motioning for him to join her.

    "Excuse me, gentleman, but it seems I am needed," he said, and he shook Cassius''s hand before he left, nodding to the rest.

    They all turned back, returning to their conversation. "We won''t stand in your way if that is the contest. We wouldn''t want to be eaten."

    Laughter came from the group again, and Reza had to smile at that jab. They all seemed amiable and looked to be enjoying themselves. Unfortunately, Reza had to be a bit careful around such a group. All, including Cassius, were from more prestigious families than his own. Reza had to tread a fine line between being the head of his house, and it being his party while also showing a measure of respect to them.

    Thankfully, they had taken everything in stride, and none pushed any major formalities within his home. They weren¡¯t the only ones that had shown up unexpectedly. With the rumors Tavia had spread, many people were here already that he had not anticipated to come or assumed they would only send a representative to the party. And yet several heads of houses and whole families had come. Tavia had taken it all in stride, and no one looked to be lacking in food, drink, or entertainment department. The band played in the garden, and multiple people danced on the cobblestones that formed the party''s center.

    Reza glided past several groups, and the suit jacket strained as he tried to move his arms. I could never fight in this. It keeps stopping my arm movement. Why anyone felt the need to wear such a restraining garment was beside him, the military made a better overcoat. While they could not be considered fashionable, the uniforms were well made and could withstand a lot of wear and tear, unlike this suit.

    "Get the extra case from the basement, and tell Crista she needs to double the output. Our guests are hungry," Tavia ordered the servant. The man rushed away with as much dignity as he could.

    "What do you need, Tavia?" Reza asked, taking a spot next to her, leaning against the railing.

    "It''s already a mess. We didn''t order enough drinks, and the food is subpar. And where are the Sulli''s its been two hours and no sign." She glanced towards the manor at the open doors where guests entered the garden. No one seemed to be arriving, but a servant stood ready to help if someone did.

    "As you said, only two hours. Did you expect a member of one of the ten families to come at the start of the party? We have hours to go. I wouldn''t worry. I don''t think Lord Sulli will go back on his word," Reza said. However, the same thoughts had gone through his head the last two days. He wouldn''t believe this would happen until he saw a Sulli walk through the open doors. Had he not been so exhausted during the conversation, he would have offered to have a driver, or himself escort the guests to the party. But alas, he had been too slow in thinking through the honor he was getting.

    "Also, the party is going great, the best you and Cassia, wherever she went off to, have done yet. Nothing is going wrong, and the guests are enjoying themselves. I wouldn''t worry about the Sulli''s, they will come," Reza chuckled and took a sip of his wine glass. "We spent plenty to gain much tonight. I¡¯m sure you already have half a dozen deals settled, even though you should be enjoying yourself.¡±

    Tavia gave a mischievous smile, the stress gone for the moment. "Of course, but that''s beyond the point. I could have more if I didn''t have to put out every fire. Cassia is flirting with every boy at the party and doing nothing to help the family." She looked across and glared at our sister. Reza could see Cassia talking with a young boy, maybe sixteen or seventeen.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

    "My darling sister, you seem to be off tonight. Cassia is playing a game all her own, for her and us. That boy she''s talking to is the heir to the Gredicar family." Reza explained though he felt annoyed by his youngest sister. It was quickly coming upon Cassia at the time when she could marry if the family found the right match. Reza, of course, would have to facilitate such a union, and usually, these were done to create an alliance or pact with another family. He cringed at such an idea as he would not want such a life for anyone he married and thus allowed Cassia to find someone she felt something for over anything. He could worry about everything else after.

    "That boy is acceptable, I guess. Quite boring, to be honest. He tried talking to me at a party last year. He kept rattling on about fighting and the Archons." Tavia said. "Cassia needs someone much more interesting."

    "Hmmm, we can worry about that later. We have company," Reza straightened noticing a few new arrivals to the party. Reza quickly tightened his tie and straightened his clothes, checking how he looked.

    Two figures came out between the doors, and Reza walked up to meet them with Tavia at his side. Lukas Sulli was dressed in a very finely cut black suit, and Marie was dressed in a flowing black dress. Both were in black mourning colors for their cousin, but still fit for a party.

    Reza met them as soon as they reached the deck of the back of the manor, bowing to both. While this was his house, the Sulli¡¯s were at the peak of society, and he would not let down his family by acting in an ungrateful manner.

    "Marie, Lukas. It¡¯s a pleasure to see you again. Welcome to my estate," Reza said respectfully, leaning down to take Marie''s hand and kissing it quickly.

    He stood and held out a hand and shook Lukas''s hand.

    "Of course, I''m sorry we''re late, but time got away from us," Marie said, with a slight nod of her head to herself and Tavia.

    "No problem at all," Reza asked, looking at Lukas. "How are you feeling?"

    "Good, but still a bit tired," Lukas replied with a strong voice. His cheeks were still sunken, and he still had light purple circles under his eyes, the only indication of his troubles from days ago. Pushing the obvious signs away, there was power in his eyes, and the grip he gave Reza¡¯s hand told him the young man was well on his way to recovery. Better than Reza would have expected after riding for an entire day and night with soldiers hunting you down.

    "Good; I''m sure you will make a full recovery in no time. Lukas, Marie, this is my sister Tavia," Reza indicated to his sister, who stood with a calm expression on her face. Reza noticed her eyes grow slightly wide before she schooled her expression again, and neither Sulli noticed her nervousness.

    "It''s good to finally meet you," Tavia bowed slightly to both. "Marius told me about everything, and mentioned both of you several times over the last couple days. We weren''t sure who was planning to come."

    Lukas shared a glance with his cousin before Marie set her eyes on Reza. Were they surprised I had mentioned them? That couldn''t be. They had to know I would tell my siblings something.

    "I see. We weren''t sure who would come either. Lukas was still recovering and only felt strong enough this afternoon. And I asked to come to thank Marius for saving my cousin again. We were already mourning both him and Marcellus. But he brought one of them back to us." She gave Reza a small curtsy. Reza could feel the back of his neck getting red. He had to find a way to turn the conversation away.

    "Of course, let''s find both of you seats, and we can continue this more comfortably," Reza guided them to a table and pulled out a seat for Marie and then Tavia before taking his own.

    Reza motioned for a servant and leaned in when the man came close, keeping his voice low so none of the others could hear his orders. "Find my sister Cassia and have her join us. Also, bring our best wine and five cups."

    "Right away, sir." The servant moved through the crowd, sliding through the guests with minimal issue.

    Reza turned back to Marie and Tavia, who were already in conversation with each other.

    "I must say I''m very impressed with this party. Everyone seems to be having a lovely time," Marie said, her eyes taking in the elemental lanterns, music, and people laughing, talking, and dancing throughout the garden.

    Though Reza noticed many of the people at the party eyeing the group, whispering conversations all around them, he ignored them, keeping his attention on his new guests.

    "Thank you, my sister, and I have been working hard to make sure this party went well with little help from Marius," Tavia laughed, and Marie joined in, looking towards Reza.

    "What''s this fiction? I gave up my leave to help and you spread such lies," Reza argued with a smile, defending himself. Tavia just had to poke at me in front of guests and important ones.

    "Yes, yes, he helped a little. I guess," Tavia laughed again.

    "I''m sure he did plenty," Marie said as she placed a hand on his shoulder for a moment, defending him.

    He looked at it, but she returned her hand to the table before he could do anything. She had already returned her focus to Tavia.

    "Beyond Parties, what do you do?" Marie asked.

    "Oh, I have several business interests that I handle for the family in and around Arkhen," She answered earnestly. They began to discuss all the different businesses and trading Tavia handled, but the topic was quite dull to him.

    Reza turned back to Lukas. The young man had been quiet so far tonight. Maybe he should not be here. His energy already looked to be fading a bit.

    "Do you need anything, Lukas?" Reza asked.

    "No, I''m good, just I haven''t been to many parties, and I don''t really know what to do," He said.

    Reza chuckled. He had to remind himself Lukas was pretty young, though it was surprising. He was a Sulli and knew the ten families held many parties beyond her tonight.

    "Most of it is talk. Tavia will use this time to make deals with potential partners and clients while they will help us celebrate tonight for our ancestors. Everyone wins."

    He looked up at me. "You don''t seem interested in what they are discussing," he said, nodding toward Marie and Tavia.

    "An accurate statement, I fear my skills never right for buisness and numbers, not like Tavia. I was always good with my hands, and the soldier''s life suited me, and it''s an honorable profession." Reza said, shrugging. For many in the lower nobility, it was one of the likeliest careers, that or joining the city''s bureaucracy.

    The servant returned, placed five cups on the table, and brought two bottles.

    "Would you like me to cut the wine?" he asked, placing the red bottle on the table while keeping the clear one in hand.

    "Yes, make it half water. There''s no need to get drunk off the wine. I want to enjoy it," Reza said. "Is everyone good with that?"

    He looked around, and each one, in turn, nodded their agreement. The waiter opened both bottles, hastily poured the two liquids, and handed a cup to each of us. He took a small sip and tasted the lovely wine. The spice was just enough that it didn''t overpower the taste.

    Marie also had a small taste. "Lovely wine, where is it from?"

    Tavia answered quickly, "It''s out of Terrick. I partnered with a wine merchant who imports it to the city last year. I always try to keep as many bottles of it in the house as possible. It''s popular among the family."

    Tavia had kept some big guns ready for their guests; he had not realized they had any of this wine left within the house. Each bottle of this wine could cost close to fifty ghouls. For most wines, a bottle was closer to three.

    Marie glanced over, and Reza took a quick sip of the wine. "Tavia gets good rates if the family ever needs wine." He smiled and gave a wink. Hopefully, Marie understood his joke. It wasn''t the worst thing to get the notion that the Sulli''s could make deals with the family.

    "Lord Sulli is never against having contacts, and I would love to talk more with Tavia about her dealings." Marie gave Reza a knowing smile before turning her attention back to Tavia.

    Reza let them go. Their conversation was animated, and he knew Tavia had everything in hand. Returning his gaze to Lukas, Reza tried to gauge the young man. He had held the sword and didn''t flinch when looking death in the eyes, but he didn''t have the skill to defend himself. How was a noble so inept at fighting at his age?

    "Do you know much about fighting?" He asked.

    Lukas looked up, his eyes on Reza a light shown in them for a moment. "Um, no not beyond the basics everyone is taught. My father was never the martial type, more focused on the family''s estates south of the city. That''s why I was sent to my Cousin''s Legion. To learn how to fight and use my wraith. I''m unsure what will happen now with my training, but Lord Sulli probably already has plans, and we have not had time to discuss them since my recovery."

    Very interesting, there¡¯s something here. Lukas had something, the instinct that so many soldiers did not have. His words showed Reza a little more about the man within, and he was impressed. "I''m sure Lord Sulli does. From the little time I was with him, I was very impressed with him. And your family has done well over the last few decades of staying in power." Reza said, finishing his wine.

    "Brother, why are you questioning the young man with such boring topics," a voice behind him said. He turned to see his youngest sister, Cassia, joining the conversation

    Reza quickly stood and gave her his seat. Cassia was flushed as if she had rushed to the table when the servant finally found her. Taking the seat, Cassia placed herself next to Lukah. She turned to give him her full attention, already smiling at him. The young man looked up, and his neck reddened.

    "I''m sorry you feel that way, Sister. Some people would argue against such a notion.¡± Reza responded, smirking, taking the seat next to Tavia. ¡°Lukas, this is my sister, Cassia. Cassia, this is Lukas Sulli, heir to the Sulli Family," Reza said.

    Cassia gave a bemused looked at Reza before she held her hand out to Lukas. "A pleasure to meet you."

    Lukas took the hand and gave it a quick kiss.

    Already making your mark, sister. Careful. Reza felt his stress building as he tried to catch his sister''s eye, but she refused to drop her gaze from Lukas.

    "No, the pleasure is mine." He said, glancing at him before his attention returned totally to Cassia.

 Chapter 9: Anceslia pt. 2

    She is beautiful. Lukas couldn''t take his eyes off Cassia. Something about her made the garden seem a little brighter, more welcoming. The stress and fear of the last few days were a great deal more manageable than they had been a moment before she arrived. She was much smaller than her brother and dressed in a tight-fitting emerald dress that flowed down her body with a slit running up the dress, ending just above her knee.

    "I''m sorry my brother was boring you," She said, grabbing the last cup of wine and tasting a small sample. "He always talks about fighting, the Legion, and the lot. He really has nothing else to talk about."

    "Honestly, I wasn¡¯t bored. I was joining my cousin''s Legion before his death. At least I would have been part of the life for a while." Lukas responded. Reza hadn¡¯t been bothering him, and honestly, he was someone who might be able to answer some questions that had begun to bother him. "But of course, there are many other subjects that we could talk about."

    "Of course, I''ve just been discussing the new play at the Amphitheater in the city that started last week.¡± Cassia smiled, easily changing the subject. She seemed so at ease, and Lukas leaned in closer to listen. There was an ease and calmness to her. ¡°Kalia said it was amazing, Tavia; we must see if we can get seats next week."

    ¡°I also heard it was quite the impressive play,¡± Marie cut in before Tavia could respond. "Our family has a private box at the theatre, so we can go to most performances if we please.¡±

    Now, there''s a thought. Lukas latched onto what his cousin had said, watching Cassia¡¯s eyes gleam with interest at Marie''s words. In the days since he¡¯d awoken, Lukas felt a need to protect his honor with Reza. The sword, along with himself and Marie participating in this party, was a paltry reward for his life, and Lukas could not resist recognizing him further. And maybe he could impress Reza¡¯s sisters, especially Cassia, with another reward, which would double the benefit his family would get. Taking his thoughts in stride, he made an offer. "We''d love it if you come and join us one night. It would be another lovely way I could repay your brother for saving my life.¡±

    He kept his eyes on Cassia, knowing Reza would likely want to reject the offer as he had done with Lukas¡¯s uncle. But if he could get the sisters on his side, it would be more difficult for him to deny such an innocent request from the heir of the Sulli house.

    Lukas smiled at his thoughts as Cassia beamed with pleasure at the notion. Turning, she wordlessly looked to her siblings for their thoughts before answering. Within seconds, it seemed the three siblings had an entire conversation before him.

    "That would be lovely. I hope that isn''t a hassle on your end. We wouldn''t want to put anyone out." She said.

    Lukas looked at Marie, and she gave him a brief nod, barely noticeable. She had already lectured him on the way to the party and in the past day to take more of a lead. He was the heir to their house, and she truly wanted him to succeed. Marie had been very supportive over the last few days, helping him recover and guiding him with everything piled on him by his new duties.

    "Not at all. It''s the family box. I believe Lord Sulli uses it at times. But he won''t have an issue with my request for the box," Lukas said with more conviction than he had. He had no idea if his uncle would have a problem or not. Marie would have stopped him if she thought he would deny the request.

    "Let''s say Friday night," Lukas again glanced at Marie, and she nodded. "I''m sure that will be the best night for a wonderful showing."

    And maybe it would be fun, or at least an experience he could share with people interested in such an activity. He''d never been to a play nor had any notion if the story was good or not. For now, he would have to take Cassia¡¯s friend¡¯s assessment and make his own opinion Friday.

    "Oh, you¡¯re amazing. Thank you," Cassia beamed. She leaned over and hugged him, giving him a brief kiss on the cheek. ¡°I cannot wait now. Tavia, we will have much to do this week to prepare.¡±

    Lukas wrapped his arms around her briefly but let them drop quickly when he saw Reza''s eyes. While the man''s face was expressionless, his eyes held a cold displeasure pointed right at him. It told him everything, and Lukas did not want to push his luck.

    "Lukas, let''s take a walk," Reza asked.

    Lukas nodded, slightly worried about Reza¡¯s reaction to such a minor situation. Maybe he had done something wrong, Reza. Lukas hoped he had not. Though he knew little of him, He respected Reza for his actions and did not want to ruin that. Lukas bowed low to the women as he stood to go with Reza. "Yes, of course. I think a walk to stretch my legs might do me well right now. I''ve been in bed for far too long. Ladies, we shall be back."

    Marie gave him a meaningful glance between himself and Reza before returning to her conversation with Tavia. While Cassia gave a slight frown to her brother but reluctantly joined Marie and Tavia¡¯s conversation.

    Reza guided him through the party until they had left people behind and moved to a more private part of the garden. Lights still glittered behind the trees, and the moon glowed full, giving enough light that he could still see Reza.

    He didn''t think Reza was about to hit him. But there was always the slight chance Reza might do something foolish. Doubtful, but always a possibility.

    "What do you want to talk about?" Lukas asked, though it was more than obvious it had to do with the play and his sister.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

    Reza didn''t speak. He just had his arms looped into his belt, two knives showing from under his armpits. Seconds continued to pass as Lukas''s dread built from their uncomfortable silence. It ended when a silver ethereal wraith appeared on Lukas''s side.

    He jumped away from the shade as it disappeared, and Reza took its place. Lukas cried out, moving a step back away from the man.

    Reza spoke in a low voice for only Lukas to hear. "Be careful with my sister, for the both of you."

    "It wasn''t anything, I swear," Lukas took another step away from him.

    Reza ignored Lukas¡¯s panic and sat on the bench near the path''s edge, leaving Lukas standing. "Oh, shut it; no one there was blind to either of you. But you must understand that I will not have my family dishonored because some high noble breaks my sister''s heart. You are now an heir to one of the most powerful houses in the city, and Lord Sulli won''t take it kindly if you attempt to pursue a lowly, mundane noble."

    Lukas wanted to say something. He had not had such thoughts beyond recognizing that he found Reza¡¯s sister attractive. But he also wanted to refute the notion that Reza¡¯s family was mundane. In the short time he had been with them, it was apparent this was a family on the rise or soon would be. There was something to each of them. But Lukas held his tongue, knowing he¡¯d be a fool, too, until Reza had said his fill.

    "Be friends with her. Take her to the play for all I care. But do not give her any inkling of anything more," Reza lectured, no anger in his words, just some advice mixed with a bit of intimidation.

    "I would never, I promise. It wasn''t like that; she has an energy about her. It was nice after everything that happened. She was just so joyful when I made the offer," he rambled, trying to explain.

    Reza nodded in agreement. His demeanor changed, and his words became lighter. "I get it. She does that to everyone. They feel improved and calmer after they are with her. She lights up the room around her. There''s nothing to it; she''s just one of the happiest people around, and I would like to keep it that way."

    The last words struck Lukas harder, and he took note.

    "I promise, I will keep it as friends. I do hope that all can be friends," Lukas said. No matter their difference in standing within the city, Lukas had a feeling that a friendship with Reza would be a good choice. He suspected it was likely why his uncle had made him go tonight. Plans with plans, Lord Sulli forever weaving a web of power and influence.

    "Of course, I have no reason not to extend the notion. I want to make sure you understand that while we can be friends, my family and I are far below you, and there is certain etiquette we must adhere to." Reza said, smiling. He held his hand out. "To friendship."

    Lukas took it. Reza had done a complete turn, but it was good to understand his feelings. "As a friend, would you mind if I ask you a question?" Lukas asked. If anyone could answer some questions before he received martial and magical training, it could be Reza. Maybe he would be willing and have the answers to the questions. Better yet, get him off the subject of his sister. Reza¡¯s demeanor when he threatened him was not something Lukas wanted to be directed at him again.

    "You may," Reza said, leaning back on the bench.

    ¡°How do you know how to use the power you received from your pact?¡± Lukas asked; he wanted to call his wraith to him but resisted the urge. ¡°I can¡¯t figure it out, and I worry that I will hurt someone if I continue without guidance.¡±

    "Astute thinking. Many people are not as weary of their power and get hurt rushing too quickly without thinking through the consequences. A good start already for you.¡± Reza said, scratching at his chin. It took a few moments before he answered Lukas¡¯s question.

    ¡°It''s different for everyone. Some passively use their power. I, on the other hand, have to actively work with Elana, take hold of it, and flare my power to change positions with her," Reza answered. Lukas took a step back, watching as Elana appeared through the darkness, her silver eyes first appearing before. She leaned against the bench next to Reza, her eyes never leaving his own.

    "How do you know her name?" Lukas asked. A few people he knew called their wraiths by a name. My wraith has no name that I know of."

    "And many don''t. We had to work on finding her name. I called her different names until she settled on the one she wanted. Is it her actual name? I have no idea and do not care to find out one way or the other." He looked up at her, and she placed a hand on his shoulder, a small smile crossing her face.

    "So should I do that with mine," Lukas called forth, taking hold of his power, and his crimson uniformed wraith appeared by him, glaring at Reza and Elana.

    They examined the wraith, and the man never moved as Elana glided to stand right before him. She was almost a head shorter than him, but she never even flinched at seeing his scarred arms and face.

    "Fascinating, he looks very fierce. I always enjoy meeting new wraiths whenever I can. Do you know what powers he may have granted you?" Reza asked, straying from the original topic.

    "No, Marcellus was going to help me find out. Lord Sulli will hire someone now, but I thought I''d get a head start by trying to figure it out myself," Lukas said. If he was ahead of the game, he could impress the family with his skills and cement his standing as Heir. While Marie had backed him, there were going to be several in the family unhappy with the choice and wanting to remove him from the position if they could.

    "Well, the first thing is to go to the city¡¯s library. This wraith is unique looking. I haven''t seen many like him in my time. The censors have tens of thousands of books on the various wraiths that have made pacts with people in the history of Arkhen." Reza finally answered Lukas¡¯s original question.

    "Really, why hasn''t anyone told me?" Lukas asked with anger in his voice. His father or Marcellus should have done this with him. He calmed himself, trying not to think badly of his cousin; may his soul forever rest.

    "Most likely because it takes time, and it''s likely your wraith isn''t in one of the books," Reza said. He nodded over to Elana. "She wasn''t. I spent several weeks reading those books and never found her. Either I''m her first pact or her other pact wielders never placed her name in the books."

    So much to think about. When could he get to the library, and would his wraith even be there? If he was, would the information help? Plans began to form in his head, but he needed more information.

    "Well, I have work to do," Lukas turned to walk back but stopped. "If she wasn''t in the books, how did you figure it out."

    He smiled. "I kept grabbing at the connection between us until we changed positions. From then on, it was practicing how to use it. I still have much to learn about the power, and I find new ways to use it constantly. It¡¯s a process, but I don''t recommend doing such a thing in your house." He laughed. "I don''t think Lord Sulli would take kindly if you destroyed the manor. But I would first look in the books. If he''s in there, then you will know what to expect."

    "Knowledge in what''s to come is probably a safe bet. I agree that it would be unwise not to research the matter. Thank you." Lukas said. ¡°Let¡¯s return to the party; I could use another cup of that wine.¡±

    Reza laughed, and they walked quickly back, allowing the wraiths to disappear as they stared at each other, Elana with interest and the crimson wraith with an unreadable expression.

    Returning to the ladies, Lukas joined in the conversation, ready to enjoy the rest of the party.

 Chapter 10: Under the Black Tower

    Reza found himself in the forum, having crossed onto the island from the Merchant Bridge, having completed the errands his sisters had asked for him to do within the city. The chilly morning still found the crowds were as thick as ever, maybe even more with the expected contest news. It had been two days since the Anceslia, and he had finally recovered from the late-night it had turned into and maybe excessive drinking he had done.

    Lukas and Marie stayed for a few more hours, but they mainly talked with other individuals at the party, while Tavia had Reza do the same. Fortunately, he was able to speak with Marie and Lukas one last time as they left, and Reza completed his duty by handing a small gift to each person who had come to the party.

    It would not be long before he saw them again and what had brought him into the city today. Reza and his sisters would be entertained by the Sulli¡¯s in five days at the Arkhen Theatre to see the new play unless he could think of a good enough excess to get out of it. Plays were never his thing, though he¡¯d seen several when he was younger, and they never caught his attention. They were often too romantic and had no exciting plots; he couldn''t understand people''s obsession with them. But Cassia and Tavia were excited to go, and he wouldn''t stop it, nor would he look down on the political opportunities this afforded his family. So, for one night, Reza would swallow his pride and try to enjoy himself.

    Moving through the crowd and trying to weave his way through was difficult for Reza. Thousands of people were milling around, the crowds as thick as he had ever seen. It made his journey to Sorana¡¯s Tower to see if the rumors he heard this morning in the merchant quester were true. Sorana would announce the contest to become her new Archon around midday.

    ¡°Excuse me,¡± Reza barked at a particularly large group of Wraith Pilgrims. They halted, looking towards the Broken King and his derelict building, and some fell to their knees in reverence, almost praying.

    Multiple pilgrims looked towards him and noticed Reza''s military uniform. The knives and sword at his waist made room and allowed his passage.

    By the time he got to the base of the black unlit tower of Sorana, it was almost midday, the time the rumors indicated the priest would make the announcement. Thankfully, there was no indication that it had happened, as a large crowd gathered around the tower, with Reza noticing the gates were barred.

    Strange. Checking the tower on either side of Sorana¡¯s, Reza effortlessly saw several people entering or exiting the towers. Reza took this as confirmation that the rumors were true, as the towers were open almost every hour, day and night.

    Besides the four destroyed towers, Each of the nine remaining towers was opened to worshipers of the Echos. Priests of the nine would hold worship in a manner personal to the Echo; Iylana focused more on personal worship and allowed her priest to talk individually with people in need. At the same time, other Echoes enjoyed a sermon made by one of the priests or a sacrifice to the Echos when the sun was at its peak or in the dead of night under the moon. Marius knew Sorana enjoyed worship more in the dead of night, where her priests held communion. The rites did not matter; anyone was allowed to participate in or watch the worship. Reza had been in each Echo tower during his life and participated in a few rites.

    Reza was ripped from his thoughts by a hand grabbing his backside and a feminine voice whispering in his ear. "You''d think an officer wouldn''t let someone sneak up on them.¡±

    Reza turned to see a uniformed Sabine laughing as she retreated to lean against one of the pillars surrounding the tower grounds. She smiled mischievously, and Reza joined her, keeping his eyes on the black gates.

    "Well, I would expect my allies to have my back and not try to show how sneaky they are," he said, smiling. "What are you doing here? I thought you''d be back with your Legion."

    She shrugged. "Waiting for exactly what you are. The family worked it out with the Legion. If they have enough pull, you''ll see more than a few people getting leave."

    Stupid question by me. It was an obvious answer when it was spelled out to him. The families were all probably calling in debts left and right to get their best members into the city for the contest with one of the prime positions of power in the world up for grabs. Luck had been on Reza¡¯s side, and the Sulli situation had fallen into his lap that morning, so he extended his leave by several weeks. Had he not, it would not have been an option for himself; he had no such strings to call upon to get released like Sabine. He was not jealous or angry towards Sabine for her family doing it; that was how Arkhen worked.

    "Of course, I wonder how long we will have to wait?" Reza mused. He didn''t have anything significant to do with the weeks of leave he had left. But there were several reasons to have this done sooner rather than later. First, with the likelihood of war in the near future, having another Archon would do wonders and boost the city''s morale. Secondly, Reza selfishly hated the wait. Just counting the seconds, minutes, and hours until something happened felt like torture, and he would instead be droning something than waiting.

    Sabine chuckled, and Reza glanced over to her. "Don''t worry; I expect us to wait less than a quarter-hour for the Priests to exit the tower.¡± She elaborated.

    "And how do you know this?" Reza asked, not surprised that her family had such information. Likely, someone in her family or an ally was a priest for Sorana and let the information leak out to them.

    "My family has at least one member in every one of the churches of the Echoes. My uncle serves Sorana. He sent word this morning that it would be just after midday that they would make the announcement."

    Reza''s thoughts confirmed that it was slightly surprising that the Rewans had members in every church, mostly families held to a single Echo when it came to joining a church. And while most priests came from noble families, it wasn¡¯t always the case. Anyone could attempt to join, but those who did leave their family name behind, though that was only in practice. Everyone knew the priests still held close relations with their families and provided information when they could. Reza even had a few cousins in the church of Iylana, though none were close enough for him to ask them to leak information.

    If Reza needed information, he was more likely to pay for the information; putting a family member in the right places was intriguing. You would know the information collected would be accurate and there was a level of locality. The moral question of having a family join one of the churches for such practices was a unique topic. Reza almost wanted to know what the echoes thought about this. Another question arose: was the Rewans the only family that did this? Reza thought not.

    "What are you thinking about so hard, Marius?" Sabine asked with evident interest.

    Pulled from his thoughts by her using his first name, Reza took several moments before he answered. He was not stupid enough to explain what he had been musing about.

    "Nothing. Did your uncle tell you what the contest would be?" He asked curiously. "I suppose not, or you wouldn''t need to be here."

    "He couldn''t. He can only stretch his oath so far," She said. "He did say that normally Sorana does a physical contest. The last one was a great race around the border of Arkhen. It took Marcellus four days to fight and travel through the field before he crossed the line to win."

    Physical Reza could do it, and a race would be the best possible contest for his skills; very few people within the city and Legions could outpace him with Elana. Unfortunately, the Echo, bless her, would unlikely choose the same contest again. Reza was reasonably sure the Echoes rarely chose the same contest twice or several cycles before the same contest would be used to find their new Archon.

    Reza pondered the options. It was some psychical contest that wasn¡¯t a race that pointed to fighting or possibly a measure of strength. Either way, it was better than a puzzle, which was far from being a strength.

    "Are you going to join the contest?" he asked. He knew the answer already; Sabine knew his path, too, but it was best to ask.

    "Of course, I think multiple family members will make the attempt. I know my brother is out there in the crowd, ready to make his pledge." She said, her face growing dark when she mentioned her bother.

    "Lucius, I did not realize he was back in the city,¡± Reza scowled, his anger rising from the mention of her brother¡¯s name. ¡°I hope he jumps off a cliff.¡±Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

    The man was a couple of years younger than both but had already been promoted to centurion through his father¡¯s patronage. Even so, Lucius wasn''t shy about rubbing it in their faces. Reza could do nothing because of the vastly different ranks in society and the Legion, and it galled Reza to hold his tongue against the man. Lucius had always been angry that he was not heir and tried to find ways to undermine Sabine.

    "Father always doted on him. He continued it this morning when we met with Father, but at least I can have the last laugh in this contest." She said her voice almost sounded like a growl.

    "Hopefully, the contest will allow such an opportunity for one of us to smash his damn face in," Reza said.

    Thankfully, Reza¡¯s thoughts were interrupted, and he allowed himself to forget about Lucius as the black gate opened, the crowd anticipation building as everyone waited. Reza held his breath as two people appeared behind the gate, dressed in robes of the deepest black he had ever seen. One was an older woman with stark white hair who held herself in an air of power and superiority that spoke volumes about her high-ranking position within the church of Sorana. The man by her side was young, around the same age as Reza and Sabine. His brown hair was pulled back into a ponytail, and a tiny yellow wraith, hunched over using a walking stick, floated behind him.

    "It seems the time is at an end," Reza said, standing up straight to see over the crowd that began to push closer to the priest. They didn¡¯t get far when sliver armored guards came from inside the tower and created a line holding back the crowd around a small dais that the young man stepped onto with the women following behind. Glancing back at the white-haired priestess, she gave her consent. Turning back, The young priest held his hands aloft; it took only moments for the forum to be silenced; they waited on bated breath for what he had to say.

    "Arkhenites, our lady Sorana has finished mourning Marcellus Sulli, though she will never forget her Archons. I ask that we have a moment of silence for our fallen leader." The man''s voice felt like he was talking right in front of Reza, not hundreds of feet away. Power laced every word. Interesting power, a born orator. Sorana found the perfect power to have within her church.

    Everyone bowed their heads, with Reza following. Taking a moment again, Reza said a quiet prayer. Marcellus, you¡¯ll be remembered as a man who fought to the end, as a person to embody. You saved Lukas in exchange for your life and brought great honor to yourself, your family, and the city.

    Reza raised his head, watching the crowd. Many still had their heads lowered, with several wraith pilgrims kneeling in deep prayer. For a quiet minute, most people had finished and waited for the man to continue. He allowed the seconds to pass, the silence lengthening until the crowd was almost leaning towards him, waiting for his words.

    "Thank you. Our Lady Sorana has taken the time to decide how she shall choose her next pact wielder." He stopped again, and the crowd around the gate began whispering to their neighbors. He gave them a moment to speculate before he continued.

    "Sorana, in her great wisdom, has called for a grand contest of arms. Any Arkenite that would like their chance to be her pact wielder can place their name on the rolls to fight for the privilege. In two days, the first bouts shall begin." He stepped down from the dais, leaving the crowd to burst into discussion.

    Reza felt excited by the words; they were exactly what he wanted to hear. If there was a contest he could perform well in, it was dueling. Reza smiled, thinking about the possibility of meeting many skilled warriors blade against blade, wraith against wraith. There would be several dominant individuals he would be able to fight. It would be tough, but a challenge he would gladly take. It seemed many agreed with several different stone tables, with several priests sitting behind each had appeared. Men and women were already adding their names to the rolls, and lines formed before the tables.

    "Well then, let¡¯s go add our names." Sabine started to make her way through the crowd, and Reza followed in her wake, trying not to lose sight of her. But she could get through groups with such ease that he was beginning to lag.

    "Sabine, wait," he yelled. Thankfully, she heard Reza and stopped allowing him to catch up. "Thanks. We don''t have to rush. Our names will get on the rolls."

    "I''m sorry. I want to make sure I''m in." She replied that she had a weird energy that Reza knew was about her brother, but he chose not to comment, and they again started to weave their way through the crowd.

    While Reza knew hundreds, if not thousands, of people, would join the competition, the vast majority would not, and he and Sabine had to push their way through them. These people were chatting excitedly about the upcoming entertainment that had been announced or leaving to get on with their lives after they heard the news.

    Finally, Reza broke through the crowd and joined one of several lines, with men and women all talking and laughing as they waited their turn to sign up for the rolls. Many were soldiers or dressed in well-tailored clothes that indicated their noble birth. Yet Reza also noticed several people dressed in rags or dusty work clothes as they had just left the fields on their farm. It would be an interesting group of people fighting for the honor.

    Thankfully, they did not have to wait long as the lines moved fast, and before long, they were both at different tables. The older Priestess Reza had seen standing with the orator was sitting behind the table, her eyes focused on him. Up closer, the block robes were almost unnatural in how dark the fabric was, and they were nearly uncomfortable to look at for any length of time. It felt like anyone touching the fabric would fall into the deep darkness of the void and never return.

    "Name child," The priestess asked in a husky voice. The dark circles under her grey eyes and the weariness in them made Reza believe she''d been up for days. But her voice showed no sign of any tiredness.

    "Marius Reza," he said, bowing.

    "Show me your wraith," She said bluntly.

    "Beg your pardon," He asked.

    "Our lady Sorana has ordered that every person who joins the contest must have a wraith," she said dryly. So be a dear and show me your wraith."

    I don''t like this. He hated bringing Elana out unless he had to. It always felt wrong for him to force her to come without a need. She had always seemed to hate it. He had no doubt she would give him a well-deserved glare when she realized why she had been summoned.

    He grabbed at the power within, and she appeared by his side. And it took only moments before he got the look he expected. I''ll be getting this for days now. Maybe the good fights we will have during this will make up for it, and she¡¯ll forgive me.

    He mouthed, "I¡¯m sorry," and nodded to the woman. Elana stared at him for a few more moments before she turned her attention to the lady and gave her the same.

    She laughed, nodding to Elana. "A feisty one; maybe you do well in the contest then. My honored Wraith, please place your hand on this stone."

    The priestess motioned to a large cylindrical black stone on the table before her.

    ¡°What does that do?¡± Reza asked warily. He did not like having Elana do anything and would leave if he believed it dangerous.

    ¡°Nothing harmful. We need to check to see if she and you are powerful enough to be part of the contest.¡± The priestess explained. ¡°We expect many people will be interested in joining the fighting, but we must make sure to weed out the ones unsuited to the level of competition. There will be limits and protections within the contest, and we hope for no deaths, but that can¡¯t negated totally, so we will only allow the strongest to enter. Now, would you both please place your hands on the stone?¡±

    Reza looked to Elana, who still held her glare but nodded and placed her hand, with him following. He felt a slow pulse of power shoot through his body before it was gone, and an ethereal black glow emitted from the stone.

    ¡°Excellent,¡± She wrote his name into the roll. "You will be placed in the second bout on the first day. Be at the stadium by the ninth hour. You will be placed with fifty other opponents, and the last five standing without three marks will advance to the next round."

    "Marks?" Reza asked as he released his power, allowing Elana to disappear. The first round was tricky, with fifty fighters to keep the fight under his control. Any knowledge gleaned or given to him would be a factor in making it through.

    ¡°Sorana will mark everyone with an item that will serve...¡± The priestess went silent and unnaturally still, her eyes glowing softly.

    Bloody Echoes. Reza, unsure what was happening, took a step forward around the table, concerned for the priestess¡¯s safety. Looking for help from another, Reza noticed multiple people eyeing the priestess, but none of the other priests seemed concerned and continued their duties. There was some murmuring behind him from the line, but no one came up to help him, and he waited helplessly, unsure hope he could help.

    Several seconds passed with the priestess frozen, not even taking a breath while her eyes glowed, before finally, the Priestess took a deep breath. With her back, she began to eye him with genuine interest. ¡°Sorana has informed me you already have an item in your possession that will work. The shadow gem you hold will be your mark and serve as your entrance into the contest and a way of preventing your death; be sure to keep it close.¡±

    Reza nodded, stepping back; he wasn¡¯t sure how he felt about what happened. Sorana had communed with the priestess about him. Brushing his fingers across the black gem in the stealth of his new sword, Reza realized he had not had the time to delve deeper into his questions about the gem and the sword''s power. Thankfully, the research would be easier with its name now known to him. Unfortunately, asking the priestess about the shadow gem was not an option now, as hundreds of people were waiting in line. Another time. ¡°What do the marks do?¡±

    "The mark will indicate when you have been hit three times during the contest. Do not worry; it will be obvious when you or your opponents have been hit. When that happens, do not continue to fight, or you may be disqualified during the entrance round or face other consequences," she said, coughing into a cloth and motioning the next person to step forward, dismissing Reza in the same instance.

    "As you say, I will be there," Reza said, retreating and joining Sabine as she left her table. "What bout are you in?"

    "Fourth, I''m not a massive fan of the fifty fighters. That puts a lot of chance that many good fighters will fall out early if people focus on them," She said. "What about you? What bout are you in?"

    "Second, but there''s nothing to be done. We''ll have to be careful. But I''m sure you''ll do just fine," Reza said, putting his arm around her shoulder. "Let''s go get a drink; I need one after today; for the rest, we will just let the coins fall where they may."

    Sabine laughed as they left the forum and the many hopefuls behind.

 Chapter 11: Breakfast within the House of Sulli

    Lukas straightened himself in his chair as the servant placed a plate in front of him at the dining table. It was heaped with eggs, bacon, and spiced potatoes that could feed three people with several slices of fresh bread on a side plate. This had become common over the last few days, with the servants bringing massive meals whenever Lukas ate to help him recover. Lukas had only complained about the first meal after he was politely told that it was ordered from his Uncle. And it had honestly helped him recover, with him feeling almost back to normal.

    Digging into the wonderful food, Lukas noticed Marie enter, taking the seat on his left, while Lord Sulli took his normal seat and sat at the head of the table.

    "Good morning, Lukas," Marie said. She turned to the servant, who rushed over to get her order. "The usual, please, and a cup of coffee."

    "Good morning, Marie, Uncle," Lukas responded.

    Marie looked fully recovered from the party and smiled while turning a page of the book she had brought with her, reading while she waited. While Lukas had enjoyed the party, it had taken a great deal out of him. He stayed in bed the entire next day, and the healer had come back for another round of healing.

    Lord Sulli nodded but focused on the papers he had brought with him. His cup of coffee was in one hand and the other occupied, and he went through each paper diligently, writing down notes as he worked. Lukas could honestly say that he did not envy the work his uncle had to do at all times; there had not been a meal, and he was not doing a bit of work in these few days. Lukas almost dreaded when it would become his life, but maybe he could find a way to lessen the load.

    Lukas continued eating and was full when Marie received her coffee.

    "How are you feeling? Are you going to feel ready for the play in a few days?" She asked, sipping on the coffee. There was genuine concern in her voice; Lukas frowned; maybe he didn¡¯t look as good as he was.

    He hadn¡¯t looked in the mirror this morning, nor had his manservant, William, said anything. And beyond Marie, Lord Sulli, and William, he hadn¡¯t seen many people. Marie had told him Lord Sulli ordered everyone to stay away until he had recovered more.

    Sulli placed the paper he was reading onto the table. "What''s this, Marie?" He asked in a gruff voice, his eyes on both of them.

    "We were planning to go to the play next Friday," Marie answered nervously.

    "Sorry, uncle, I meant to tell you. I invited Marius Reza and his sisters to the play. They were talking of going, and with everything he did for me, I offered to take them." Lukas added, trying to alleviate Marie''s concerns and keep his breakfast from coming back up. His stomach felt uncomfortable all of a sudden. But glancing over to Marie, she gave him an encouraging smile. Lukas knew this would become common for him, and he needed to overcome his nervousness when discussing with his uncle. Trying to calm himself, he waited for his uncle to respond.

    "Well, this makes quite a quandary. I also told Lady Sulli we would attend the play that night. How many seats did you promise?" His tone was neutral.

    Lukas felt a bead of sweat form between his shoulder blades, as he may have created an issue for himself if he had over-promised what he had committed to. Unfortunately, he was not sure. Lukas had no idea how many seats Lord Sulli had in his private box. Echoes be with me and give us enough seats.

    "Three, so it would be five of us with Marie also," Lukas answered with as much confidence as he could muster, his nerves trying to overtake him. Marie nodded. A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    "We only promised seats for them, and they are all unmarried. Tavia and Cassia were wonderful and very bright. You''ll like them," she glanced at Lukas when she mentioned both names and smiled knowingly.

    Lukas had known with Reza¡¯s warning that everyone knew, but Marie hadn¡¯t commented on the topic except as they returned from the party that she had enjoyed talking with the Rezas. Echoes be damned, she would probably give him no end of ridicule.

    "And Uncle, you have eight seats. Unless you told Aunt Sulli to invite someone, we have the seats," Marie tried to convince Lord Sulli.

    Lukas felt lighter after her words, knowing he had likely not overpromised. Withdrawing the offer would have been in bad taste, and he did not want to. He had been looking forward to seeing them all again.

    They waited, servants, coming to refill their drinks as Lord Sulli pondered silently.

    "I shall make the arrangements. The man wasn''t so bad when he came here," Sulli agreed. "I respected his honor in how he handled the situation."

    Lukas audibly let out a breath he had not realized he was holding. Marie squeezed his hand, giving Lukas a small smile before walking over to Lord Sulli to hug and kiss him on the cheek.

    "Thank you. I''ll have to talk with Lady Sulli about what she is wearing," Marie said, leaving without another word.

    Lord Sulli nodded, placing his papers in a neat pile before his attention turned to Lukas.

    ¡°We need to discuss something before I leave for my meeting today,¡± Lord Sulli said.

    Lukas pushed his food away, his attention focused on his uncle. ¡°Do you need me for something?¡±

    In his short time as heir, he had only been required to recover and attend the Reza party. Did his Uncle want him to join the meetings, or was there something else he would be required to do? Lukas waited to find out.

    "I believe you know that the contest to replace Marcellus starts tomorrow. Her church has invited us to be in the main box," Lord Sulli explained emotionlessly.

    "Oh," Lukas didn''t know what else to say. It had been a week, but it felt wrong how he already started to move on. He had to make sure Marcellus'' memory lived on. He had saved his life; he could not be forgotten. "I suppose we must, for his memory."

    "Well said. But yes, I have already accepted.¡± Lord Sulli explained, continuing to keep his expressionless, and Lukas could not figure out what his Uncle was thinking. ¡°But the main reason I brought it up was I thought it might be a good way to identify a teacher for you."

    A teacher? It took longer than it should have for Lukas to realize what his uncle meant¡ªa teacher for him to learn how to control and use his wraith. Lukas had suspected he would get a teacher with Marcellus dead, but this was not how he expected such a person would be found.

    "Wouldn''t you or someone in the family do that?" Lukas asked.

    Lord Sulli laughed, surprising Lukas. "Oh, no. I am far too busy for such a thing, and no, there aren''t many accomplished users from the family in the city. Tiberius and Acis would have been good candidates, but alas, they are with the Naval Legion and will be gone for another two months at least. No, we will have to look outside the family to start your education," Lord Sulli responded.

    Lukas felt a measure of excitement at the thought of getting a teacher. He needed to understand his wraith so that he would not be afraid or unable to defend himself again. But before he started the training, Lukas would take advice from Reza and try to figure out his wraith''s name.

    "I was wondering if I might go to the library. When I talked with Reza at the party, he suggested I might find something on my wraith in the logs," Lukas asked.

    "The Library? Not now.¡± Lord Sulli said harshly before relenting. "Maybe in a few days. I want you rested for the games tomorrow, and how that party took your energy, you''ll need the rest today."

    "Ok, I guess you might be right. I would like the chance, though, before the play." Lukas was determined to get some information before his uncle selected a candidate for him.

    "See how tomorrow goes, and then maybe the next day William can bring you, but I must go, or I will be late,¡± He stood, gathering up his papers. Servants were already moving to clean off the table from their breakfast. "Go get some rest. Your manservant will be in later with new clothes to try."

    Lukas ambled up to his room before climbing back into bed.

    Tomorrow would be a sad day. Lukas knew that when he sat in that box, it would not be with excitement or eagerness but with mourning and sadness. Tomorrow would be the funeral Marcellus never got. It was likely that a service or something would be done for the fallen Archon, and it would be something. It was Sorana, his echo, that was being fought over.

    Lukas grabbed the book Marie had lent him and began to read, only half-focused on it. His mind wandered off, thinking about tomorrow and his wraith.

 Chapter 12: Oaths under the Amphitheater

    I''m a brainless corpse, Reza thought, rushing through the streets to make it to the amphitheater before the games began.

    He had not expected the gates to be packed with travelers at such an early time in the day, with the sun having only risen less than an hour ago. But hundreds of people clogged the entry into the city. It didn''t help that the Legions now had a camp holding each of the three gates into the city; they added a second layer of protection and time answering questions. It made his journey double the time he had hoped for.

    Reza rushed through the streets, weaving through people and carts to get to the amphitheater. He finally turned the corner onto one of the main streets in the Northern District. The theater appeared, and the grand building was formed from massive rune-covered blocks of white marble streaked with black through each one.

    Around it the street was packed, forcing Reza to push his way through people and apologize the entire way.

    Echoes Abyss, this is annoying. "Excuse me, I need to get through." Reza pushed through another tight squeeze before finally finding room to move down the street. The theater came ever closer before he eventually turned off the main road, the packed street. Reza made his way down the darkened street; the crowds were much easier to navigate as this did not lead to the entrance to the contest.

    "How that many people thought they would get into the contest is beyond me," Reza said. The theater could hold maybe thirty-five thousand people. Reza felt almost double to triple were trying to make their way to the contest, many with their wraiths following along. He turned again and finally turned next to the amphitheater. He walked to a closed side gate, hoping to use it to reach where the contestants needed to be.

    Reza walked up to the gate and knocked. He waited a few moments before trying again. "Anyone there?"

    There was silence behind the gate, and the only noise he could hear was the distant shouts of the people trying to get in.

    No time to waste. Reza pulled on his power and summoned Elana to the top of the wall. He flared his power and switched positions with her, releasing his power and jumping off the wall into the grounds of the amphitheater.

    Reza turned round as a grey uniformed man rushed towards him.

    "What is this nonsense? Everyone must go through the main entrance, no exceptions." He pulled out a two-foot-long cudgel. As he moved closer, a glowing blueish wraith in their uniform appeared beside him with a similar weapon.

    Reza raised his hands. He felt a small drop of sweat on the back of his neck. He did need to deal with this right now. "I''m not here for any trouble. I''m lost and trying to find out where to go before I am late."

    The guard stopped a short distance away. "Lost is about right. I''ll escort you out now and ensure you''re banned from seeing the contest."

    Reza moved to stop the guard from moving. "I''m not here to see the contest. I''m fighting in it."

    The guard looked unconvinced, his club still ready to smack Reza.

    "If you don''t believe me, bring me to one of the priests of Sorana. They should be able to clear all this up." He didn''t want to continue with this. He just wanted to get to the contest. But he didn''t have any hard feeling that the guard was doing his duty.

    The guard''s stance relaxed. "Come with me. We will figure out if you''re telling the truth." The man motioned with the cudgel for Reza to walk forward, and he joined a few feet behind him.

    Reza continued to walk away from the shouts of what was probably the main entrance he was talking about. The grounds were empty; unsurprisingly, there were no doors or open areas to move into the theater properly.

    "What am I looking for, and how far is it?" Reza asked over his shoulder. The man and his wraith had their eyes on him.

    "Around this corner, there will be a doorway. Go through that, and it will lead us to where the contestants gather, " he responded curtly.

    The door was indeed there, and Reza moved through it. It led down below the theater. They walked in silence for a time before he could hear voices. The stairs finally opened into a massive room where hundreds of people stood. It was evident that these were the other contestants, as just about everyone held some weapon. Reza examined a few of the closer people. Interestingly, on further examination, the weapons were not real but made of a dark grey, almost black, wood. It became evident that everyone had the same similar grey wooden weapons.

    Surprising, I expected blunted weapons for the contest, not wooden ones. He needed to get his hands on some of them quickly before he went to fight. It was never good to try a new weapon without practice. Each weapon always had a different feel, and the weight of wooden weapons would vastly change how he handled them.

    "Where do we go?" Reza asked. He hadn''t noticed any of Sorana''s priests and priestesses. And unfortunately, none of the contestants near him were people he knew. Would there be anyone in his first fight he would recognize? The rumors from the last few days were that hundreds of people had signed up, but many people he knew had not signed up, except for Sabine and her brother.

    "This way," the guard continued through the crowd, and Reza followed. They met no resistance; most of the combatants just moved out of the way. Reza tried nodding to a few, but they kept to themselves, with few talking to anyone.

    It didn''t take long for Reza to see a priest of Sorana sitting at a large desk near another set of stairs. Reza did not recognize her. She was much younger than the priestess he signed up with. Her black hair was cut very short, barely an inch long.

    The guard walked up to her. "Found this one jumping the wall into the grounds. Says he''s part of the contest."

    Reza moved up to the desk. ¡°I am Lord Marius Reza. I am to participate in the second bout.¡± He bowed to the priestess before stepping back again.

    "Let me check the records," she went through a pile of papers before grabbing one and reading down the line.

    Reza wasn''t nervous. The list had his name on it, he was sure. But there was the little nugget of doubt that it would turn out not to be there that ate at his stomach at the moment.

    The priestess took her time but finally placed the list down and looked back at them. "Ah, there it is. His name is on the list. You may return to your post." She said.

    The guard bowed to her and marched away without another word.

    "Now, let''s not make any more mistakes." She turned to him, placing her cold blue eyes on him. She told him and motioned for him to follow. "We need to get your weapons changed out before the oath."Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    Reza followed. "What oath? I never heard anything about that."

    She looked back with a confused expression on her face. "The oath of the contest. Every fighter must make the sacred oath that they will become the Archon should they win the contest. It''s binding to make sure we find the proper champion. Sorana insisted that the oath be added; thus, everyone is required."

    She laughed and brought him over to a couple of hulking figures behind a large counter in the corner of the room. A doorway stood behind them, but Reza could not ascertain what might be behind it.

    "Another contestant," she turned to me. You may choose any weapons you require for your fight. No real weapons are allowed. You will exchange your weapons for replacements, which will be returned after the bout."

    Reza pulled the two daggers out of their sheaths and handed them over, but he hesitated with his sword before hanging it over, too. One of the men took them and walked through the doorway, and the other moved over.

    "Want two daggers and a sword similar to those? Or something else?" He asked as he motioned over to stacks of grey weapons on multiple tables.

    Reza thought for a moment. Fifty fighters, having something else with some length might be preferable, but he was always better with the daggers. Better keep it simple.

    "As many daggers as you¡¯ll allow and the same style sword, please. Never know when I might need to throw a couple." Reza said. He would keep two in the sheaths and start the fight with two daggers in hand.

    ¡°I can give you five,¡± the man said. He moved over to a table, grabbed several grey wooden daggers, and set them on the counter between them.

    Reza picked up two. They were much heavier than he expected, not far from his daggers. "What kind of wood is this?"

    "Just Oak, it''s soaked in an alchemical solution that hardens the wood to an iron-like property. We can sharpen them to use in a real fight, but the whole process to make them is expensive." He looked over at the priestess, and Reza followed his gave. She was in conversation with another priest and didn''t seem to be listening to our conversation. "I don''t get why the priests wanted this weapon; it''s probably three times the gold to arm all of you for the fighting, while blunted weapons would have sufficed. Though these weapons have some advantages, they are stronger and will barely break under pressure."

    Reza gave a low whistle while he weaved the long dagger through his fingers. The weight felt balanced. He might even say that it was better than his. Something about them made him feel lighter, more energized. It might just be how strange they were, but he was curious nonetheless. "Are these your creations? Marius Reza, by the way.¡±

    Reza held his hand out, and the man shook it. "Kelburn and my partner over there is Hellion. We created it or, better yet, stumbled upon the process. We were trying to make iron stronger for our forge, and a length of wood fell into the solution. Came out like iron after I noticed it in there a few hours later."

    He laughed, spinning one of the daggers on the counter.

    "Never thought anything would come out of something that costs much more than iron." Kelburn shrugged. "I started making them as a side project, and then the churches came. They ordered hundreds for their guards. That pesky rule they have about metal and sharp weapons. These give them much better weapons, bends the rule enough that they can wield these weapons."

    Reza spun the dagger. The seamless beauty of the wood spoke to him, and while they were not sharp, the blade felt superior in his hand to the daggers the Legion had provided. These were weapons he would enjoy using.

    However, as he examined the sword, he was not as pleased. The weapon Lord Sulli had given him was superior to this wooden version by a considerable amount. It was not an inferior blade as he continued to examine the wooden blade; it would be considered better than the legion''s iron blades. It spoke more about how impressive the black sword was, and that was before Reza figured out the mysterious power that lay dormant within the blade. He placed the sword into his sheath and returned his attention to the blacksmith. "Where''s your forge?"

    Kelburn raised an eyebrow. "Burners corner. We''re the first forge on the street with all the other forges. If you ask for Kelburn, anyone can point out my shop."

    Reza held his hand out again and shook Kelburn''s hand again. "I may have to order some daggers from you, sharpened, of course. These may be some of the best weapons I''ve held."

    "Very nice of you to say. We will easily be able to fill any order you may have. But you can order them here if you like. We will be here for the entire contest. Just let me know, and I can get the process started."

    "I will do that. The fight today will be a lovely test, and I will be able to make a decision afterward and tell you my thoughts." Reza moved off, taking the daggers with him. It was time to finish this oath and see what he could do with forty-nine other fighters.

    A loud whistle shot through the room. Reza''s eyes scanned the room, looking for where the noise came from. Across the room, on a large stage, five black-robed priests stood above the crowd. He recognized the young orator from the announcement and his wraith standing stonily beside him.

    "Combatants, it is time for the sacred oath," he said, his voice easily heard across the room as if he were standing next to Reza.

    The other priest''s wraiths joined them on the stage, glowing an eerie yellow. Their color made the hairs on his arms stand up.

    "The priests of Sorana and their wraiths will stand witness to the swearing of the oath. Understand this: if you do not say the words, you will not be allowed to participate and do not think we will not know who swore an oath. Sorana eyes are on the contest, and nothing will be beyond her sight." The young priest explained.

    Reza looked around and saw that many did the same thing. Everyone in the room probably had thoughts similar to his, as shown by the expressions on their faces. Sorana watched them as they stood there and would for the length of the contest. But more than that, the contest had become very real. Someone in this room would be the next Archon for her.

    "Please follow the oath and say it exactly as I do." The young man began the oath. "We who are about to battle shall lay down our life for the good of Sorana. We shall take up the cause of Sorana forevermore. I will endure to be burned, to be bound, to be beaten, and to be killed by the sword. But I will not break, I will not desert my service to Sorana, I will die in defense of her and our city."

    Reza hesitated for only a moment, as many did, before proudly making the oath. It was just another step towards this impossible journey he had set himself on. The pledge itself was not as strange as it might have been. It was very similar to his oath with the legions in many ways.

    "Now, the first bout will begin." He paused again before continuing. "As there were so many people that signed up for the contest. We have decided to combine many bouts; the first two will now be one hundred people in the first fight."

    Murmuring began throughout the crowd. It was a shocking announcement. Fifty fighters would have been almost impossible to make it to the last five, cutting everyone''s chances in half.

    He held a hand up, and silence swept through the crowd. "Also, only one fighter will move on to the next round. We will have only ten contestants to fight duels."

    This got the crowd into an uproar. Reza understood their anger, as he had a similar feeling. These changes should have been made public before the room swore to Sorana. Everyone was stuck in a contest where the rules had been changed after they had sworn themselves to the contest. Many people''s odds had just been significantly slashed in a single moment. Hell, even my own aren''t looking great. I am a better one on one fighter, not a melee fighter.

    The legions never even expected him to fight in the proper lines. They sent him with his small group of soldiers to do their own thing, closing into the enemy lines and killing when Reza felt they could. He just shrugged. Life in the legion taught you that things could always get worse; better to just get the job done.

    Sabine appeared through the crowd, and he joined her, pulling her into a hug. She held a bow with two quivers full of arrows on both hips. Her equipment was finished with a bandolier of throwing knives crossing her chest.

    "So isn''t this a joyful trek through the abyss?" Sabine asked. ¡°The only silver lining is that if you can get through this mess, you¡¯re that much closer to the Archon."

    Reza laughed, feeling a little better by her words. "I need your optimism. Always looking at any situation and finding the good in it."

    "Well, in this situation, you have to. We made the oath. I don''t want to think what could happen if we break it." She gave an exaggerated shiver.

    "Of course, and I get to be in the first bout. Lovely," Reza said. He looked at the people around them, but it wasn''t like they had numbers on their clothes to tell who would be fighting.

    "And you''ll take them all out; just watch you back." She grabbed his shoulder for a moment before letting her hand fall. "We both need to be smart so we both get through to the next round. I better see you there."

    "I will. Be smart yourself," Reza wanted to say more, but what else could be said that hadn''t already been?

    "Fighters of the first and second bout, please make your way to the exit. "The young orator said from his perch.

    Reza looked around and saw a few people around his making their way forward and to the right of the stage.

    "I will see you after your fight," Reza said, and he followed a couple of others to the large opening.

 Chapter 13: Within an Arena of Wraiths

    Reza climbed up the ramp with the others until they reached a simple closed gate at the top of the stairs.

    Someone next to him said. "I expected we would go straight into the arena."

    Reza looked at an older man, who could easily have been over a hundred. His hair was completely grey, pulled back into a long ponytail. The brown robe he wore could practically be considered rags. He held a grey wooden single-bladed sword that curved slightly in his hands. Prolly, some poor fool hoping for some luck.

    "They will probably open it after they announce the first bout. While this is a contest to be the next Archon, it''s still entertainment for the people."

    They could hear the crowd down here now that only a single gate stood between them and the arena. The crowd was a deep murmur with bouts of cheering every so often. Reza looked around, noticing that the man had disappeared from sight.

    Unfortunately, Reza had no time to see where the man had gone as the gate suddenly opened, and the entire hundred fighters around him crowded into the arena. Reza stepped onto the arena floor and felt the hard-packed dirt under his boots. It felt freshly packed, almost like rock. Examining the fighting ground, Reza felt while it was not overly large, all one hundred fighters could spread out, and the fighting would have plenty of room. Reza took a bit more time, walking farther away from the gate to get his bearings on what would help him in the fight. Unluckily, there were no pillars or barriers that Reza could use in a pinch. The fight would be all in the open, and we would need to use his powers liberally and follow his instincts today. Challenging, but this will work.

    Purposely moving away, Reza crossed the entire arena until his back was against the wall on the opposite side. Strangely, only a few people followed his lead, with the majority still standing in a large group around the open gate.

    Observing the individuals that moved away, Reza was more worried about these individuals than the group by the gate; each walked with a calm and deadly gait. It spoke volumes about their talent in magic or fighting. Reza continued examining the many challengers to find any clues that could help him in the fight, but one of the fighters caught his attention before the others. She had joined him at the opposite side of the arena, standing only a short distance from where he leaned against the wall. Strangely, she wore a flowing brown dress, not a uniform or fighting attire. It was cut down the sides to allow her to move freely with dark green pants underneath. And she comfortably held a single short sword with her other hand free, with only a ring on each finger.

    He recognized her immediately: Mycelia, the enchantress. Her wraith, a young woman in a large ball gown, stood beside her.

    Her voice and song were well known to have the power of suggestions; Many individuals could come under her spell, following her will to fight for or protect her. She was a deadly Centurion of the Fifth Legion and one of the members of the Bagora family. Many stories were whispered about her ability to turn enemy soldiers on their comrades easily, and many within the Legions knew what a terror she would be as an enemy. She''s the first to go.

    Keeping his eyes away from Mycelia so as not to give an idea of his thoughts, Reza continued to use the time before the fight began to examine every person in the arena. Each person had a spark of power within them; the dozens of colors of their auras swirling around showed that everyone was at the peak of power within Arkhen. The priests of Sorana had not failed in allowing only the most powerful of the city to join the fight. That did not mean there were no levels of power within the arena.

    Reza recognized only a handful of individuals in the area who were true peak powerhouses in this fight, including Mycelia. But there were two or three more than gave Reza pause, with the old man he had spoken to briefly before one such individual. He stood slightly away from the large group, his hand on the single sword at his side, and an aura of calm surrounded him. He starkly contrasted the many well-dressed fighters, whose clothes were almost too nice for a fight, and spoke to their noble birth. Each held themselves straight and strong, waiting for the melee to begin. Reza was surprised that he only recognized Mycelia; though a few looked similar, he could not identify them.

    "Ladies and Gentlemen, the first bout is about to begin." The young orator''s voice spread over the crowd; as always, his voice felt like he spoke only a few feet away. "When it begins, these powerful contestants will fight until one is left. Each person is out when they are hit three times."

    The orator paused, allowing the crowd a moment to talk. "Each individual had been magically spelled by a mark they were given when they signed up. When hit for the third time, the individual will glow from their mark when they have been eliminated."

    Three hits for each person Reza fought; he needed to make sure he stuck them three times. Reza pulled on his power, and Elana appeared just behind Mycelia. He placed her to make her look like another''s wraith.

    "Before the fight begins, please take a moment to remember Marcellus Sulli, the last Archon who died to protect this great city." The orator hung his head in prayer.

    Everyone went silent, and Reza bowed his head. It was another gentle reminder that even with the great power all of them were going for, their lives would be forever in danger because of it.

    Reza lifted his head, ready for the bout to begin.

    "Thank you. Marcellus will forever be in our minds." The orator held a single arm high before he let it fall and loudly proclaimed. "Fighters, you may begin."

    Reza flared his power and switched positions with Elana. He struck out before Mycelia could even utter a word of power, slashing her back three times. She began to glow a soft yellow, and he flared his power again back to his original position. One down.

    He watched Mycelia, her shock apparent on her face. She looked around to see who had attacked her before walking between fighters towards the open gate. He pulled his focus from her retreating form, allowing his eyes to flit around the fight. No one came near, with everyone currently occupied with other fighters; Reza even spied two groups of five fighting against each other in a small battle.

    Reza held his position, leaning against the wall, waiting for someone to come to fight him. His plan was not to actively search for a fight but rather to wait and allow the other fighters to drain their resources as they eliminated his opponents.

    It took several minutes of fighting before a hulking brute finished his opponent about fifteen feet from Reza. Turning, the monster saw Reza leaning against the wall and advanced on him. Coming close, he swung a massive axe the haft longer than anything Reza had ever seen towards his head.

    Flaring his power, Reza escaped the beastly swing, appearing on the top of the wall, twenty feet away from the man and several feet above him. The crowd around him screamed as he appeared in front of them. He looked back, smiling at them, though the people leaned back away from him apprehensively.

    "Are you enjoying the contest?" Reza asked as he watched the man lumber towards him. Elana moved through the fighters and appeared on the opposite side of the fight.

    "Come down here and fight, coward," the man growled. He swung his massive ax towards Reza''s legs with such power that he¡¯d likely break both his legs if it hit.If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

    Reza flared and appeared across the arena; again, people shrieked as he appeared. He flared again, appearing behind the giant, cutting three times across his back before he could even react with his massive weapon. The man still tried to slash at him, but Reza flared again, returning to his perch on the wall.

    Reza sat on the wall, watching the fighting. Having been eliminated, dozens of people left the arena, their bodies glowing the soft yellow of defeat. Few people attempted to approach him on his perch.

    However, as he sat, an arrow shot across his body, and he flared away, the arrow bouncing off an invisible barrier that protected the crowd behind him.

    Looking for the archer, it took a moment, but he found them directly across from them, in the shadows of the arena wall, another arrow already pulled back. Reza flashed and started running through the fight. He slashed at people as he moved past them, never gaining three hits but leaving several people with one less life in the contest. He flared and moved just in front of the archer, the man''s wraith standing just behind him with a similar bow. They had another arrow pulled back; Reza took his dagger and slashed across the bowstring, slicing with a dull blade with enough force that the string snapped half.

    The archer''s reflexes were quick as he rolled away, pulling out a dagger. He held himself on one knee, waiting for Reza''s move.

    Reza flared his power and jumped behind the man, slashing down; the archer rolled forward, and his strike missed. The archer came back to one knee and turned to face him. Well done.

    Reza flared again, appearing behind the archer, but didn''t attempt a strike. The archer rolled, and Reza flared with his dagger, already moving just above the archer''s shoulder. Two quick cuts and the man glowed a soft yellow.

    "Well done. I never expected you to dodge my first attack." Reza flared and returned to his position, leaning against the wall.

    Using the brief lull in his fighting, Reza examined the remaining fighters. It had only been close to ten minutes, and half the fighters had already been removed. He flared his power and took his spot back on the wall. The crowd behind him didn''t react as much as they had. He watched the others, allowing another twenty fighters to get knocked out, while he continued to see how the remaining fighters fought and how their powers worked. Many did not seem to have much in terms of great power from their wraiths, nothing flashy. There were only two remaining that had impressed him, and the only competition Reza expected could rival himself.

    Reza identified his next target and flared in front of a wide-eyed man who controlled a large pile of sand formed under each outstretched hand. Going low, Reza cut across the man''s legs, scoring two hits.

    Slashing back to end the man¡¯s day, Reza was forced to his back as a pillar of sand exploded under him. Trying to regain his footing and awareness, Reza felt a sword slash down on his leg and pain shooting up his leg. Gritting his teeth, Reza flared, retreating away from the sandman. Stupid, got cocky with that one.

    Regaining his footing, Reza stood before the man, a broad smile on his face that did not reach the man''s eyes; those were wide with fear. The man knew he had only one more hit left before being eliminated. The smile fell away, and more sand appeared around him, encircling himself, hiding from view his entire body, creating a protective shield. Well, that¡¯s bloody annoying. Damn, coward.

    Reza knew he had no time to break the man''s shield right now, as many people would probably try to use the distraction to take him out. Retreating, Reza flared his power and returned to the wall. Watching the sand shield, his thoughts were confirmed when several fighters attempted to break through the shield to no avail and were eliminated by other fighters. There is no point in risking that right now; I''ll wait for him to make a move.

    Reza changed targets and went for the other challenger he¡¯d identified, who had turned out to be the old man with his frayed robe. Whenever Reza spotted the man, he¡¯d been impressed with his fighting ability. At the same time, the man didn''t seem to show any flashy powers like Reza. The man''s skill with his sword was beyond impressive, never using more movement than was required. He efficiently handled multiple opponents simultaneously, never allowing a single weapon to touch his robe. Within minutes, each opponent he faced was removed from the contest with minimal effort.

    Reza flared his power and attempted a slash across the man''s back. The man''s sword came from nowhere and blocked his attack. Taken aback, Reza was forced onto the defensive almost immediately, with the old man countering with his sword, flowing down Reza¡¯s dagger and trying to stab into his shoulder. Flaring, Reza retreated out of the man''s reach.

    "Oh, very nice," the man said, his eyes looking over his sword at Reza. "You''ll be a fun opponent. Yes, I think you will be."

    "Let¡¯s see," Reza flared, but the man''s sword was already there. He moved again, but again, the sword was already in place, blocking his way. Reza flared again, about five feet away, throwing one of his daggers, then flaring again behind the man. Reza pulled another dagger out and slashed thrice, hitting twice before the man''s sword stopped the third.

    The man lashed out with his sword, but Reza was gone. Flaring multiple times, he moved around the man, slashing but staying only long enough to get blocked, retreating before the man countered. Reza felt some weariness building as the fighting continued, but nothing compared to the exhilaration from the fight he was having with the old man. Jump after jump, Reza continued to fail to break the man''s defense. He thought he might have to switch to using the sword with a dagger, but he worried that his sword skill was far below the old man''s. They fought across the entire arena, each unable to break the other¡¯s defense.

    "Damn, I¡¯m not sure if I¡¯ll ever get a hit on you," Reza said, taking a small moment to rest, having fought against the man for longer than the rest of the fight the rest.

    "Thank you," He responded, bowing. ¡°I must say you are taking me back to different days.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re welcome,¡± Reza was grateful. This fight brought him to the edge of his marshal skill, which no one had done for a long time. He would have to find some way to get past this man¡¯s defense as Elana and his skill were pressed to the limit. ¡°Let¡¯s see what we can do.¡±

    The old man nodded, and with their quick conversation finished, Reza and the man continued the fight with such ferocity that few interrupted them. The few who did each were quickly eliminated by either himself or the old man. A quarter-hour passed as they flowed around the battlefield. Reza was still looking for that opening, but the old man failed to score any hits. They finally passed the fighter hidden behind his sand shield.

    "Oh, the scared man." The old man pulled a dagger out from his robe and threw it up in the air; it disappeared behind the sand wall. The sand fell around the hidden fighter, and he appeared to glow a soft yellow.

    "Now that he''s handled," The man said before returning to his fight with Reza.

    Reza retreated away from the man and held his position. Glancing around, Reza noticed only a few fighters remained from the hundred that had started. Flaring his power, Reza began to remove the few remaining fighters, with the old man following his lead until only Reza and his challenger were left.

    Standing in the center of the arena, Reza held two daggers before him. ¡°Let¡¯s begin again.¡±

    ¡°We shall at that,¡± The old man nodded and struck with blurring speed, forcing Reza to flare away. Their duel continued, closing in on thirty minutes of their standstill before the man twisted his blade, causing Reza to slip on a patch of sand. The old man, with ease, sliced with his blade and caught Reza in the shoulder for his second hit.

    Damn this man. I can¡¯t continue this, or I''ll lose this. Reza retreated to grab his dagger. He gathered the energy he had to finish this fight. Nodding to Elana, she knew exactly what they had to do to finish this fight.

    Elana reacted first, moving with more speed than ever before as Reza flared, throwing a dagger as he moved, and then another; he jumped, flaring fifteen feet into the air and throwing a dagger down at the man, and finally jumped a final time.

    Reza dropped to the ground and, using his last dagger, slashed at the man''s ankle, connecting with his blade. Reza looked up, and when no hit came, he saw the man glowing a soft yellow, his sword inches away from Reza''s chest.

    "Well damn, just wasn''t fast enough." He laughed and dropped the sword, holding his hand out to Rez.

    Reza took it, and the man helped him up. "Congratulations, young man, that was the best fight I''ve had in decades."

    They shook hands. Reza looked around, confirming that no one was hiding in the shadows to come in at the last moment to win the fight. I''ve done it, bloody Echoes, I did it.

    Reza was forced to wait to speak as the noise from the crowd was so deafening that he could barely think over it. When it finally quieted down, Reza bowed to the man.

    "Marius Reza," Reza said to the man. He had been one of the most skilled men he''d ever fought; there were many things he could learn from him. ¡°I could do with another fight like that someday.¡±

    "Desmond Vorcan and I think that can be arranged," Desmond replied, broadly smiling.

    Reza could not even take a moment to appreciate that the man before him was part of the Vorcan family, one of the ten families that ruled Arkhen before the young orator spoke, cutting off any chance of him talking to Desmond.

    "With the end of the astounding first bout, Marius Reza is the first fighter through to the next round." The Orator roared, arms raised towards himself and Desmond.

    Reza had thought it impossible for the crowd to get louder, but it rose to such a level that he could not hear Desmond speak next to him. Reza acknowledged the crowd with a raised fist before joining Desmond and leaving the arena.

 Chapter 14: Time to find a Teacher

    Lukas cheered with the rest of the crowd as Reza walked from the arena with his opponent in tow. It had been an exhilarating first bout, and Lukas wondered if any other fights could match it.

    "Absolutely amazing. If all the fights are as exciting as that one, we will have a wonderful day of entertainment." Lord Rewan yelled loudly over the crowd as they cheered for Reza. "Wish I had known Marius was going to do so well. I should have bet on him. Why Baldric thought hiding behind his sand was such a good idea, I cannot fathom. I lost some good money on that one."

    Lukas glanced over at Lord Rewan. He didn''t look or sound like he was mad about the loss. The man took another cup of red wine from a servant and drank deeply with a smile the entire time. The other members of the main box, along with Lukas, had all been surprised by Reza''s win. Though Lukas knew he should have expected such a showing.

    He shivered, the memories of the soldiers outside the walls returning to the forefront. He pushed the memory back, looking around the box for a distraction. Most of the group were the unnaturally black-robed priests of Sorana who had invited them to the contest as their guests. But there were others like Lord Rewan who were guests of the church. Lukas thought he heard Rewan talking to a cousin or brother earlier, though he could not be sure as he hadn''t been listening closely. Lord Rewan was joined by his wife and a couple of servants who had kept him and all the guests with ample wine and delicious food.

    Lord Rewan leaned over to Lukas. "What did you think of Reza, my boy? My daughter is close friends with him. I regret not following her suggestion."

    Lukas shrugged. "I didn''t realize people were betting on the outcome. But I would have had to choose him. He was the man that saved my life outside the walls."

    "Of course, of course, I did not put two and two together. Sulli, did you bet on the boy?" He raised his voice so Lord Sulli could hear him.

    Lord Sulli glanced over at Rewan. "I don''t gamble when I¡¯m not certain of the outcome. A hundred fighters were too many for pure skill to win out. Maybe when it''s the duels, I will make a bet."

    He spoke calmly and kept his eyes on the arena, specifically the disappearing Reza and his opponent, Desmond.

    Rewan laughed. "My good man, what''s the fun in that? I''ll bet on my children for the next two fights, but there''s no entertainment or fun without a bit of money on the line."

    He clapped Lukas on the back. "I''m sure the boy might have some fun with a bit of coin."

    Lord Sulli looked at Lukas with a questioning look.

    What should I do? Lukas looked back at his Uncle, but nothing gave him any indication of what might happen if he did try to gamble. He did have some coins that his uncle had provided him with. And it would be fun to make even a small bet, maybe ten ghouls or something, to have something to root for in the rest of the fights. No one from the Sulli family was fighting in the contest, and Reza was probably the only person he had perhaps met. He knew the name Baldric, but only because of his reputation among the noble families. But no, it was better to play it safe like his uncle seemed to be doing.

    "No, thank you. I agree with my uncle. I don''t really know any of the fighters besides your children, as you say, and I could not form a coherent decision to put money on the line. I concur with my uncle; knowledge is needed prior to any decision." Lukas took another sip from his wine glass. The cool liquid helped with the rising heat of the day.

    "The Sulli''s are not being any fun," Lord Rewan waved over the bookmaker that had recently entered the main box.

    "Yes, my lord. What will it be for the next bout?" The man bowed and pulled out a small tablet with names and numbers written across it.

    "The same, ten thousand ghouls on Sabine Rewan." Lord Rewan pulled a square of wood and handed it over to the bookkeeper. The man, his face neutral, took the piece, and it disappeared under his robes.

    The bookie made some quick strokes on his tablet and bowed again. "Very well, sir. I will be back after the bout if you have any winnings or you would like another bet."

    The bookkeeper glided away and left the box.

    Ten thousand ghouls on a single fighter? Such a sum would not have crossed his mind. His paltry bet he had thought to make seemed like pocket money compared to such a sum. It was a ridiculous amount of money for such a fight when just numbers might take the best fighter out. He glanced over at Lord Sulli to see if he had any reaction but couldn''t catch his eye, who was talking with a priest of Sorana in hushed murmuring.

    He glanced at the others in the box. It did not seem such a considerable amount of money shocked anyone in the box. As he looked around, not a single person seemed to react at all to the amount of money. One priest even gave him a knowing smile, but Lukas quickly dropped his face. He settled back into his seat.

    Lukas knew all the noble houses were rich, but throwing such a sum on multiple fights showed the wealth that Rewan had and used for fun. Lukas thought he had known the nobles'' wealth as his Uncle processed, but it seemed he had been vastly wrong. His time away from the city with his family on the estates had been detrimental to his understanding of the vast wealth and power people like Lord Sulli and Lord Rewan possess. Another item to add to his already growing list of information he needed to learn, or he would be at a considerable disadvantage to his peers. There are so many things to do, and I¡¯m sitting here enjoying a few fights.

    Lukas kept quiet, focused only on his thoughts until a hand on his shoulder brought him back. Turning to Lord Sulli, he leaned in to hear what his uncle wanted to say over the noise of the boisterous crowd.

    "I was very impressed with both of the fighters at the end. Reza used his wraith very impressively. I think both are good candidates as your teachers, and I may approach both fighters to be your teachers unless someone else catches my attention."

    Lukas sat back, amazed. He hadn''t thought that Reza might be an option to be his teacher. How he moved with his wraith and treated her reminded him of the only rule he had learned from Marcellus. After watching the duel between the two monsters, Desmond would be quite the catch. His fighting ability eclipsed anything Lukas had ever witnessed; every swing or block of the sword was an extension of Desmond¡¯s arm. If he could learn half of what Desmond showed, Lukas would be one of the finest swords in the city. Both had shown skill beyond measure, and Lukas could learn much from each.A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

    "Why, of course, I would love any help. Reza was the one who recommended that I visit the library." Lukas could feel the excitement of the possibility to start training with his wraith. He had been connected to him for weeks without ever trying to understand the power he provided. If they accept, the two may be the key to understanding it. And Hopefully soon, as Lukas wanted the process to begin in earnest with no delays. "When will you ask them?"

    "I''ll send Baru to Desmond tonight. His family is close to ours. I think I can convince him to make an agreement. We are going to the play tomorrow with the Rezas. I can talk with him then. But I doubt there will be a problem with either; Reza would be a fool not to accept.¡±

    ¡°Why would that be?¡± Lukas asked, though he quickly understood why before his uncle could answer. ¡°Never mind, any opportunity to connect with the Sulli Family would be an opportunity to not squander. He will use to like the party I went to to make inroads into furthering his family reputation and power.¡±

    Lukas explained, trying to ensure his uncle understood that he knew how things worked in the city.

    ¡°Very good, Lukas,¡± Lord Sullli complimented Lukas before his attention turned to the arena.

    The crowd had begun to roar excitedly, and Lukas quickly realized that the next bout would start shortly. The gate had opened again, and more combatants began to appear.

    "Do we know anyone in this bout?" Lukas asked no one explicitly as he looked through the fighters'' names on the program handed out to the box. He recognized Sabine Rewan right away, and a few had last names of families very familiar to him but no one he outright knew.

    "My daughter is fighting in this bout, my son in the one after that." Lord Rewan responded.

    Lord Sulli examined the group of soldiers with a keen eye for a few moments before he responded. "Derek Simmi or Petri Healia will be her biggest competition; they are both highly regarded in the legions."

    Lord Sulli scanned the list again. "These first bouts have fewer impressive names than the rest. What the organizers were doing when they packed the rest with some of the best fighters, I won''t understand."

    More than one of the priests glanced over to Lord Sulli. They had a mix of reactions from guarded anger to outright shock. He ignored all of their reactions, focusing on the fighters below.

    Lukas wasn''t sure how to take the comment. He wasn''t sure if his uncle was arrogant and had no care who heard his words or if it had been an intentional action towards the priests his son had recently been a leader of. Either way, they all had heard him. What are you thinking, Uncle?

    It felt like a misstep; the church was powerful, and it was never good to make influential people displeased with you.

    Lukas was ripped from his thoughts as the priest Victor rose from his seat and began to speak, his voice enhanced by his wraith for all to hear.

    "Ladies and Gentlemen, after such a stunning first fight, we are just about to begin the second."

    Lukas sat back, waiting for the fighting to begin again, tuning out Victor¡¯s voice. The man did not take long, but all Lukas was interested in seeing was the fighters below and how they used their Wraiths. Reza had made a few suggestions, and Lukas wanted to use this time to enjoy himself and learn more about how people worked with their wraiths. Reza and Elana were a partnership, with Reza always trusting his wraith to be in the correct position for his powers to work. While Lukas had noticed several in the first bout used their wraiths more like tools, there was cohesion like Reza. Desmond was a bit more mysterious, as Lukas never noticed his wraith out. He had one, for sure, as every contestant was required to have one, but Lukas had never spotted it for the entire fight.

    Lukas was pulled back into the action as Victor¡¯s hand fell once again. The fight started in earnest again, and it was just as fierce and impressive. It was not as flashy as the first, with Desmond and Reza quickly cutting through the crowd before ending the fight in a spectacular duel that felt more like an end-of-contest fight thrash the first of many rounds. No matter, this round ended with another individual duel that enthralled everyone.

    Sabine used her mass of arrows to shoot at anyone who came near her position near the wall. As Lukas learned almost instantly in the fight, Petri was a hulking individual who many of the fighters had to join together in the battle''s early stages to take out. Petri didn''t go down easily nor without casualties. Before glowing a soft yellow, Perti took about ten people out of the competition before he was overwhelmed by the numbers.

    "Now that''s unfortunate; I wanted to see more of him." One of the other guests behind Lukas shouted. Lukas agreed; the man had been extraordinarily frightening and might have won had the rest not joined against him. Unfortunately, the man was a well-known powerhouse of the city, like Mycelia in the previous match, and had been the number one target. The fighters all moved away from him after he started to glow; his roars of frustration were enough to put fear into anyone in his path. Surprisingly, the rampaging man did not try to attack anyone and even set the man he had gripped by the shoulder down behind him, allowing the warrior to retreat before he was overwhelmed. Lukas was impressed the man had such control over himself amid the fighting.

    With Petri eliminated, the bout continued until Sabine and Derek were the last left, and everyone else was removed from the fight.

    Lord Rewan shouted like a madman, and even his much more reserved wife was up watching the fight with an intense focus. She also winced several times as Derek¡¯s sword came close to Sabine on different occasions.

    Late into the fighting, Lukas saw that Sabine only had a couple of arrows left, though dozens were strewn across the area from multiple combatants. Her skill with a bow was almost impossible. Shot after shot had hit its target. Derek had kept his conjured shield up, protecting much of his body as he moved forward, his wraith following behind. Each arrow sent cracks through the shield, though Derek reinforced and repaired the damage as quickly as Sabine could make it.

    Multiple arrows bounced off his guard as Sabine edged away, keeping their distance. However, her arrows quickly ran out, and she pulled multiple daggers out, moving close to engage him.

    Sabine took a slash across her leg before getting past Derek and cut twice across his back. She retreated away and grabbed up a couple of arrows, shooting them as she continued retreated, sending them behind her with ease that made a shot Lukas thought would be nearly impossible for anyone else. Each one bounced off the shield, and the cracks were relieved in seconds. The fight went on like this, shot after shot or dagger bouncing off the shield as Derek tried to move into range, and Sabine kept him at a distance. The fight ended as Derek tried to catch Sabine off guard; the man rushed her, lowering his shield enough that an arrow caught him in the collarbone. He glowed softly, and Lord Rewan and his wife yelled in delight.

    "My beautiful daughter just won me a lot of money. Oh, wonderful." Lord Rewan was beyond himself. Hollering and laughing like a madman, he pointed down at his daughter, who embraced Derek before raising her hands.

    The statement soured the moment slightly as Lukas saw the slight change in Lady Rewan''s composure. "Husband, be happy for your daughter and not just the money," she scolded him.

    Lukas tried to keep a straight face, but Lady Rewan noticed.

    Lord Rewan calmed down instantly, looking guiltily at his wife. "I''m sorry, dear; I am very proud and maybe doubly proud if Lucien can do it." His eyes were beaming.

    I''m almost certain he''s thinking about his next bet. It was written over his face: He would be betting on his son''s win and hoping for another payment.

    And Lukas had been right. Lord Rewan doubled his bet on his son and again made a very healthy win. Lucien won in spectacular fashion, using his sword with such brutal ferocity as his wraith moved with elegance around it, dancing. Each fight was entertaining as the hours passed, and the sun started to set in the west as the last and final bout ended with a man named Durris becoming the victor.

    Lukas had sat there enthralled by the contests and enjoyed the entertainment with everyone in the arena. He learned much while watching the wraiths and their pact wielders fighting before the crowd. The remarkable powers and wraiths shown made him even more excited and nervous about starting his training. Lukas shivered, the cold starting to set in as the night reigned over the city. The crowd was leaving, and the city around the arena had come alive. The fear of the last few days was a distant memory to the city.

 Chapter 15: Choosing a Stone

    Reza¡¯s eyes opened wide as the slight sound of the door of his room opening disturbed his rest. Jumping up into a defensive position against the far wall of his tiny room, Reza had his hand pulling the sword from its sheath at his waist, ready for whoever walked through the door without notice. Though the blade was blunted, it would do in a pinch should this be an attack.

    Yet the fears of an assassination attempt were soon gone by the appearance of unconcerned black-robed priestesses standing without a care in the doorway, the dim light of the room illuminating her. Calming himself, Reza looked at the unknown priestess, waiting for them to talk first. Was there an end to this church? He felt like every time he met a priest of Sorana, it was never the same one.

    "Come with us." She said emotionlessly and spun in place, leaving before Reza could respond.

    Marius stood a bit dumb-stuck by the situation. He had been in the room for hours, waiting for whatever the church had planned next. As soon as he walked back into the underground area, he had been ushered away from the rest and pulled into the room. They had told him to wait here until he was called upon; the only person Reza had seen was a servant who had refused to answer his questions. They had stayed mute, only set down some food and drink on the small table.

    Reza had eaten and drank his fill and then lay on the floor waiting. He must have dozed off because the priestess''s entrance made him jump awake.

    "Done already? I wanted at least another hour of sitting in a cell," Reza said sarcastically, lengthening his stride until he finally caught up with the priestess. It had not been a comfortable rest, nor had they left him anything to entertain himself; a book would have been nice.

    "You had to wait until all the victors were determined. You were just unlucky to be the first one. You will be free to go after the duels have been chosen." She continued down the hallway, bringing Reza into the larger room where a group talked in low whispers. Instantly, Reza recognized Sabine and went directly over to her, ignoring the priestess. Sabine pulled him aside, away from the others.

    "I guess congratulations are in order?" Reza asked. Maybe the worst part of the wait had been wondering how Sabine had done in her fight, knowing he had no idea how he could find out until now.

    "It was a close one. I ran out of arrows and had to run around the arena picking up spare ones to keep Derek away from me." She smiled. "I got lucky that he got impatient and let his guard down for a split second. Last one to the collarbone."

    "Well, that''s all that matters. Hell, Desmond was basically the same. He countered almost every move I had." Reza looked around the room and noticed some fighters looking towards them. Another unsurprising individual in the small group was Sabine¡¯s brother, Lucien, who glared at the other at the pair. Reza gave a broad smile back to the man. I almost hope I get to face him.

    The feeling went cold almost instantly. While Reza had plenty to hate for the man and would love to beat his face in, it was Sabine''s fight more than his. Reza was unsure how the next round of duels would be chosen, so he did not know if either would have the chance, but he could hope for the opportunity or at least allow Sabine the chance.

    Sabine guided him back to the small group of men, separated from the larger group.

    "Well, gentlemen, this is Lord Marius Reza if you did not already know him," She introduced him, placing one hand on his shoulder. "Reza, these fine gentlemen are some of our opponents. Serk, Illian, and Yerran. All I assume barely made it through their bouts or were very lucky.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll have you know I was fortunate in winning,¡± Serk said with a smile, holding his hand out to Reza. ¡°But in essence, we all were. Damn melees like that are annoying at best. These individual duels are much more my style.¡±

    Reza nodded to each, shaking each hand. They all had the look of highborn. Each was dressed in finely decorated jackets and pants. "Gentleman, I can agree with that assertion. I quite enjoyed it, though."

    They laughed. "Well, you were in the first bout, weren¡¯t you? Mine just ended, and I''m not sure my body knows we''ve finished." Illian looked at the others, and they all nodded. Taking a closer look, he was the most dirty of the entire group and had a look in his eyes.

    Reza nodded, understanding what the man was indicating. "It took me a bit before my mind would settle, but I got a good nap since you took so long to win your fights. Maybe go a bit quicker next time."

    Everyone laughed, and Reza looked around to see if he recognized anyone else. Lucien had kept his distance talking with an unblinking man whose smile never left his face. Reza shivered. The man gave off a very unnatural feeling, his smile not quite touching his eyes.

    Reza wanted to ask Sabine and the others if they knew the man''s name, but a voice called from the door, ending all chance for more conversation.

    "Every come forward. I want to get this done quickly." Reza noticed that the older priestess he had signed up for the contest with was the one ordering them. The young orator was at her side, but the wraith was absent this time, with another ten priests in their unnatural black robes standing quietly behind the two.

    It took only a moment for everyone to follow her direction and formed a half-circle before the priests.

    "Congratulations, Lady Sorana is proud of every one of you. She looks forward to the future bouts." The priestess bowed, and the other followed.

    Reza glanced at Sabine, questioning her. The first question that came to his mind was: Did Sorana speak? Reza had always assumed the echos were like Elana. She could not talk, but the priestess sounded like she spoke directly with and heard the Echo.This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    What would it be like if Elana could speak to him? Reza knew he might regret it if she could talk. Even without the ability, Elana could communicate with her body language and facial expressions well enough that Reza had little trouble understanding what she was thinking about his actions or what he said.

    But to have the ability to speak with his wraith would be quite the change. For the good, Reza mused, imagining Elana speaking to him. Never be alone, someone he would be able to talk to at any point, learn from, and have the ability to talk through problems or trouble he was in. And if Sorana, the Echo of a god, could speak? What knowledge and wisdom did she process? It had to be a wealth of knowledge and guidance for whoever was to be made her Archon.

    But this begged the question of whether this was true or if all of his ideas and thoughts that flashed through his mind were pure fantasy. Reza would have to ask questions later or inquire with people who might know more than him. Maybe his cousins within the church of Ilyana might answer a question or two.

    With a quick motion of her hand, the priestess had another of their order come forward, carrying a small black velvet bag in their hands. Reza¡¯s eyes flashed to the bag before returning his attention to the priestess, not knowing what it might have within.

    "You are the ten that succeeded in getting through the army of challengers, and now you choose your next opponent.¡± The elder priestess explained her hand, motioning to the priest, who opened the bag. ¡°We will begin the second round in three days. All will be done on that day, with two in the morning and the rest in the afternoon.¡±

    Everyone nodded; Reza liked that they had several days to recover; it would also give him time to learn more about his opponent. His duel with Desmond likely would have gone very differently if he had even a sliver of knowledge about the man¡¯s abilities. Even if the cost was high to get such information, Reza thought it was a good gamble to give him the best chance to win. Depending on my opponent, I¡¯ll have to get Tavia to release some funds and use her contacts.

    Obviously, if he was forced to fight either Sabine or Lucien, Reza did not need much information as he had sparred with both and had a general idea of each of their abilities and fighting styles. But the rest were mysteries and would require research. Though the thought of him having to fight Sabine made his heart feel heavy, he prayed to Sorana, Iyana, and the rest of the echoes not to allow such a thing to happen.

    The priestess brought Reza out of his musing with her following words. ¡°We will not keep you much longer, and you will be allowed to leave after the duels have been set. If you do not have accommodations already in the city, we have some accommodations close to the amphitheater that you may use."

    What kind of statement was that? Reza raised his hand, concerned, and the priestess nodded. "Are we expected to stay in the city? I live north of the city on my estate."

    She nodded, confirming his fears. "Yes, that is the requirement. Lady Sorana has ordered each of them to stay within the city walls. As I said, we will provide accommodations for you should you need them. But you must stay in the city until you are no longer in the competition."

    Bloody abyss, this is annoying. Reza would have preferred to stay in his own house, but unfortunately, it was not an option, and he had not yet purchased any housing within the city, even if he and his sisters had discussed it. He might have to take them up on the accommodations.

    Sabine nudged him in the ribs. "You can stay with me, Reza. I doubt you¡¯d get anything better than a small room and an uncomfortable bed. Father will not have a problem if you stay with us. Hell, he probably will happily talk your ear off after your win."

    Pausing for a moment. Reza eyed Lucien before nodding, taking her up on the offer. "Thank you. I''ll make it up to you."

    "No need," she whispered with a wide smile.

    The priestess shot them a glance, and Reza closed his mouth.

    "Any other questions before we set the duels." She asked, her tone neutral.

    No one else spoke, and she continued. "There will be five fights in this round, each person fighting another challenger. The second round will have two fights, with one having three individuals should everyone be fit to continue fighting." She glanced at each fighter, and Reza nodded as her eyes fell upon him.

    "There are ten stones. Each of you will pick a stone from the bag, and the person with the corresponding color to yours will be your opponent."

    The priest held the bag up for each fighter, allowing each to choose a stone. Reza was the first, grabbing a stone from the bag. He pulled a flat black stone around the size of his palm. It had a single white rune carved into the center, and Reza could feel faint traces of magic. Now, who would be his opponent?

    Sabine was next. Reza held his breath, waiting to see the color of the stone. Sabine pulled a similar-sized blue stone from the bag with a single rune carved into it. Reza let out the breath he had been holding and felt his body let go of the tension that had been building. He wouldn''t have to fight her this round, thankfully. With all the Echoes¡¯ powers, Reza hoped they would not have to fight Sabine until the final.

    The matching continued; the unblinking man pulled a yellow stone, and Serk pulled a green stone. The first match-up came next when Lucien pulled the second blue stone out of the bag.

    The echoes be damned. Sabine had gotten her one wish. Lucien held his stone up and walked over to his sister.

    "Well, sister, we finally see who is superior. Don¡¯t disappoint me," He gave a cocky smile and winked at both her and Reza.

    Reza felt the urge to punch him and make his pretty face look rougher. But Sabine shot a warning at him, and Reza held back, gripping the stone in his hand until it hurt.

    I genuinely hope Sabine gives you the proper beating we should have given you years ago.

    The priest continued, and the stones continued until Illian finally pulled the black stone. Reza smiled and walked over to him, holding his hand out. Illian shook it.

    "Well then, I look forward to fighting you. Do not be mad when I make your surrender." Illian smiled and laughed.

    Reza joined in, chuckling. "Oh, I think you have it all wrong; you''ll be the one running in fear."

    "Oh, this will be fun." Illian held his hand out again, and Reza shook it.

    Reza returned to his spot as the last few matches were set. He would fight Illian in the first bout as he had been the first challenger to pull a stone¡ªplenty of time to find out all he could about Illian''s powers. Sabine likely knew, and hopefully, she would be willing to give him the answers. Otherwise, he would find someone else who knew.

    "Well, then, the bouts have been chosen. If you need accommodations, please stay behind, and one of the priests will help you." She glanced over to Reza. "Otherwise, you are free to go."

    Reza turned to Sabine. "Want to go get a drink? I could use one."

    He''d like to see if he could also find Desmond to invite him.

    Sabine nodded. She seemed a little distracted, focused on her thoughts. Sabine had gotten the one fight she wanted in this competition, maybe almost as much as winning it all. Reza knew she would be thinking about it until it began. It would do her no good to put all her attention on it¡ªtime to distract her for a while.

    "Oh, before we go, I need to order some daggers. My lady?" Reza held an arm out to her.

    Sabine laughed and shoved him away but followed by his side as he walked away from the others. "Fine, let''s get this drink, and then we can get you settled at the house."

    They left, but not before he ordered half a dozen wooden daggers from Kelburn and had two of his blades sharpened.