Veil of Ascension: Eternal Legacy of the Immortal Nexus

rns flickered against the gloom, casting faint pools of light that barely pushed back the d

spires barely visible against the clouded sky. Somewhere beyond those walls, kings and

in the maze of alleyways behind the S

st of

usted sword. His noble clothes were torn and dirtied, his fine boots caked in grime. He

s, someth

adows, their gaze unreadable. The hooded man stood ne

d demanded

d recei

rough the alley, low and mocking. "Yo

y, with a grin that held no mirth. His face was covered in old scar

ior. Not a legen

te

hard. He raised his sw

ist

"First time holding a

aid nothing. He

s strike was clums

se. A sharp elbow struck the

red back,

rd sneered. "You'll need m

he

hat he wanted, wasn't it? The

oment, he fel

y felt

head. His golden eyes, unr

he boy

he r

t up to t

not up

s up

Firs

sword mo

fa

gger f

s the noble boy's ch

ipped onto hi

sword tighter. His vision b

was r

pain, the fear, the crushing realizat

inned. "You're n

ed still. His golden

led. His hea

ld not

ye

could s

Raised his blade-not in

ged again-reckles

back. The dagger

ps curled into the

tt

ed. "Hmph. Maybe no

voice finally b

oug

not a r

He looked toward the hooded man, his expr

, he melted back int

knees weak, his face still

nelt, examining the boy with a

t you?" His voice w

llowed. "Fe

man tilte

tru

pride warred with his shame. B

an admission

. His cloak billowed

strong? You wi

head, his jaw tight, hi

es

ded man

er been so ea

irst lesson w

ow's T

man stood alone. The noble boy had returned to his

fec

ce the right pieces. He had

alked toward

ate was an

thing-had been n

A glance there

to turn a foolish n

r into a

into a

a le

as the per

before him. A kingdom of pawns, of moving pieces,

t a quiet

hem b

est deception in

a grand

a might

e drop of blood