Shroud of the Cursed Blade

The Rogue

at against the coastal night, casting a kaleidoscope

r jacket as he scanned the city's skyline. Veyrholt was a paradox; a sprawling urban jungle of glass

ct place to disappear, to bury the curse that c

his sharp gray eyes catching the glint of a distant skyscraper; Calden Enterpri

of unease in Toren's gut, a remin

ves; his copilot, friends and left him scarred, not just on his s

but restless, tied to a tr

tion, a chance to rebuild, to find s

travelers rushing but Toren's attention snagged on

that read Luna's Den. Her dark hair was pulled into a messy bun,

h a gamer's precision, her lips curved in a determined smirk. Something about

as an angel in a city of shadows, and he hadn't even met her. He crossed th

inside, the air thick with the scent of popcorn and cheap cologne. The woman di

ds shoved into his pockets. "Come on, you little bastard," she

let out a frustrated laugh, smacking the

eed a pilot for that thing?" he

as sizing up a potential threat. "You offering?" she shot back, he

t get you kicked out. Try this." He stepped up, s

flying, moved with practiced ease, gu

pure, unguarded smile that hit him like a punch t

just a prett

ng hers. There was a spark there, a dangerous attracti

"Elyse Calden," she said, tossing the wolf

cursed city?" Redemption, he though

r of something deeper; regret, maybe, or a hidden

e a sleek black car idled outside. "Gotta run.

pped out, leaving Toren with a stran

was Lord Calden's daughter, or that her family's manipulative grip on V

The skyscrapers loomed like sentinels, their glass facades reflecting the chaos below clubs; blasting mus

eaders, and a mysterious luna who'd vanished years ago. The city was a

the rumors. He found a drill bar called M

whiskey. Toren ordered a beer, his eyes scanning the crowd; roug

esence commanding, his smile sharp as a blad

n his bottle. Calden's reputation preceded him; a rich, contr

e him the look of a king, but there was something r

lands in my city. You're a pilot with a past. A

that." Calden leaned closer, his voice low. "Veyrholt re

e everything you want." His gaze flicked

hudded, the mention of Elyse igni

smoothly. " Just tradition. My eldest daughter mus

for redemption, and Elyse's smile; clouded

his shoulder, his grip too tig

an address and strode out, l

amer with an angelic spark, was Calden's daughter. The thought of h

t. Who was she? And why did the air feel heavy with betrayal?

h his mind: a moonlit alley, a woman with a sword

ng from his curse? He didn't know yet that Saria, the shy, scarred luna hiding her powers, would become his subs

tem from an alternate universe, that held the k

Luna's Den arcade, a mysterious figure watches from the shadows, whispering to