OBSCURA

ter the great fire that consumed its stage and swallowed six actors whole duri

The ash still lingered in the air, clinging to the brick like soot-blood memory. Her

ever straying far from the dagger at his hip. "

t's beneath the stage. W

tered through fractured glass. The interior was overgrown with vines and rot,

d, "What are w

Virelith s

scorch mark in the shape of a circle - the remnant of a summoning.

the Weaver's silk map: a cre

ll line across her palm. Her bloo

groaned. T

to shadow. They lit thei

warped. Reflections twisted. In one, Virelith saw herself laughing, unmasked,

ons," she murmured.

d. "It's showing me... him. The man I

gret him?"

"Only what he did

lackened door. Virelith's hand hesit

eat. A room of flame - and at it

moved like liquid wind. Every step

elith," it said in

orward. "You

the Dancer. "The mask

nd bared her left hand. The skin was laced w

she said. "I am the hei

. "Then let us see h

fou

intercepting blows of fire with his mirrored blade. The air crack

through the Dancer's v

d. Sm

fr

from yourself?" t

th growled. "I am

heart of the Dancer. The flames consumed the fig

le

icked it up. Inside: a miniature painting of a

e a small po

h looke

..." Kal

me," she said quietly.

s one o

f the

lies dotted the ruined seats of the theatre like scatt

her. "What

he said. "And

"I know what it means now. Why w

ed to hi

lith. The girl behind th

at him for

said, "Don't let

won

ingers

ed. And in the distance, a

r step

he t

l

the