Chapter 15: Beneath the Surface Part 2
"We fight our way out. And then… we find the ritual site. The longer we wait, the more the veil weakens." Kian's voice was low but resolute, a quiet intensity simmering beneath his calm exterior. He was already standing, his hand on the hilt of his sword, ready for whatever lay beyond the door.
Azra swallowed hard, the weight of his words settling heavily in her chest. The moment of warmth between them had been fleeting, but its impact lingered, leaving her pulse racing. She wanted to hold onto that feeling, to let it carry her through the chaos, but reality pressed in around them. The scratching at the door grew louder, more insistent, and the creatures outside were growing impatient.
She met Kian's gaze, and for a moment, the intensity of his eyes reminded her of how dangerous this all was. But she saw something else in them too—determination, and trust. He was with her, no matter how dark the path ahead would be.
Azra stood, gripping her sword tightly as she nodded. "We need to get out of here before they break through."
Kian moved toward the door, his movements fluid and calculated. "There's a narrow passage on the other side of the tower," he said. "It leads to the outskirts of the city. If we can get through there, we'll have a chance to escape the horde."
Azra nodded. "Let's do it."
With a swift movement, Kian shoved a nearby piece of debris against the door to buy them more time. The creatures' growls echoed through the stone walls, and the door shuddered with every strike, but the barrier held—at least for the moment.
"Ready?" Kian asked, glancing over his shoulder at her.
Azra took a deep breath, her heart pounding in her chest. "Ready."
In one fluid motion, Kian threw open the back entrance of the tower, revealing a narrow, crumbling passage barely wide enough for them to squeeze through. Without a second thought, they darted into the passage, the sound of the creatures breaking through the front door echoing behind them.
The passage twisted and turned through the ruins, its walls close enough that Azra could feel the rough stone scrape against her shoulders as she ran. The air grew colder the deeper they went, and the oppressive darkness pressed in on them from all sides. But they couldn't stop. Not yet.
Kian led the way, his movements sure and swift despite the narrow space. His presence ahead of her was steadying, and for a brief moment, Azra let herself focus on the rhythm of their footsteps, the sound of their breathing. It was strange—amid the chaos, she found comfort in the fact that Kian was there, guiding her through the darkness.
Suddenly, Kian stopped short, raising his hand to signal for her to halt. Azra slowed her steps, coming to a quiet stop behind him. She peered past him, her eyes adjusting to the dim light of the passage.
Up ahead, the path opened into a wider corridor—one that led deeper into the heart of the ruins. But there, standing in the middle of the corridor, were three shadowy figures, their forms twisted and unnatural. Their glowing eyes fixed on Kian and Azra, and a low, guttural growl escaped their throats.
"They're blocking the way," Kian muttered under his breath, his grip tightening on his sword. "We're going to have to fight our way through."
Azra felt her pulse quicken. "I'm with you."
Kian shot her a quick, appreciative glance before stepping forward, his sword drawn. "Stay close."
The creatures hissed as they moved toward them, their bodies contorting with every step. Azra's muscles tensed, her instincts sharpening as she prepared for the attack. She could feel the supernatural energy radiating off of them, dark and malevolent, as if they were feeding off the weakening veil.
Kian lunged first, his sword cutting through the air with deadly precision. He moved with a fluid grace that left Azra in awe, his blade finding its mark with each strike. Azra followed suit, her blade slicing through the creatures as they lunged toward her. The air was thick with the stench of decay, and the sound of steel meeting flesh echoed through the narrow corridor.
One of the creatures lunged at her from the side, its claws extended. Azra pivoted, her blade coming up just in time to meet its attack. With a sharp twist of her wrist, she severed the creature's arm, sending it sprawling to the ground with a shriek.
Beside her, Kian finished off the last of the creatures, his breath heavy as he wiped the blood from his blade. He glanced at her, his expression serious but with a glimmer of admiration in his eyes. "You okay?"
Azra nodded, her chest heaving as she caught her breath. "Yeah. Let's keep moving."
They continued down the passage, the tension between them palpable. Every step they took brought them deeper into the heart of Al'Khari, and every shadow seemed to pulse with dark energy. The city itself felt alive, as if it were watching them, waiting for them to make a mistake.
Finally, after what felt like hours of navigating the twisting corridors, they emerged into a vast underground chamber. The ceiling was so high it disappeared into the darkness above, and the walls were lined with ancient carvings and symbols—some of which Azra recognized from her father's journal. This was it. The ritual site.
Kian slowed to a stop, his gaze sweeping over the chamber. "We're here."
Azra's heart pounded in her chest as she took in the sight before her. The chamber was massive, the air thick with the weight of centuries-old magic. At the center of the room was a raised stone platform, and atop it stood a towering obelisk, its surface etched with symbols that pulsed faintly with blue light.
"The obelisk," Kian said, his voice barely a whisper. "That's the source of the veil's power. It's been binding the gate for centuries."
Azra stared at the obelisk, her mind reeling. This was what her father had been searching for. This was the heart of the veil—the key to either saving Al'Khari or destroying it.
But as she stepped closer, she felt a strange, cold energy wash over her, and her stomach twisted with unease.
Kian walked up beside her, his expression grim. "This is where the ritual will take place. The sacrifice will bind the veil permanently—or destroy it, depending on how it's performed."
Azra's mouth went dry. She could feel the weight of the decision pressing down on her, heavier than anything she had ever faced. A life for the veil. Was this truly the only way?
"I don't know if I can do this," she whispered, her voice trembling.
Kian turned to her, his eyes softening as he placed a hand on her shoulder. "You don't have to do it alone," he said gently. "I'm here. We'll figure this out—together."
Azra looked up at him, her heart aching at the sincerity in his voice. For so long, she had felt like she was walking this path alone, carrying the burden of her father's legacy on her shoulders. But now, standing beside Kian in this cursed city, she realized that she didn't have to carry it alone anymore.
Kian's hand lingered on her shoulder, and for a moment, the air between them shifted. The tension that had been building since they met seemed to crystallize, and Azra felt her pulse quicken as his eyes locked onto hers.
The intensity in his gaze sent a shiver down her spine, and without thinking, she closed the distance between them, her lips brushing against his in a tentative, electrifying kiss. For a heartbeat, time seemed to stop, the world around them fading into the background.
Kian hesitated for only a second before he responded, his hand moving to the back of her neck as he pulled her closer, deepening the kiss. The warmth of his touch, the way he held her like she was the only thing that mattered—it was overwhelming. Azra felt a rush of emotion she hadn't allowed herself to feel in so long, and for a brief moment, the weight of the veil, the creatures, and the curse all melted away.
But just as quickly as the kiss began, the moment shattered. A deafening crack echoed through the chamber, and the ground beneath their feet trembled violently.
Azra pulled back, her eyes wide with alarm. The obelisk pulsed with an ominous light, and the symbols along its surface began to glow brighter, pulsing in time with the trembling earth.
"What's happening?" Azra asked, her voice filled with panic.
Kian's expression hardened as he stepped in front of her, his gaze locked on the obelisk. "The veil is weakening faster than I thought. We're out of time."
Azra's heart raced as the ground shook beneath them, the walls of the chamber creaking ominously. The air was thick with magic, dark and unstable, and she knew that whatever was about to happen, they weren't ready for it.
"We need to perform the ritual—now," Kian said urgently, his voice cutting through the chaos. "It's the only way to stop this."
Weekly Power Status
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Ranking 
-- Power
stone