Astrid and Takashi sprinted through the damp tunnels, their boots splashing in foul, ankle-deep water. The chant still echoed faintly behind them "doG htaeD liaH liaH", a whisper that seemed to crawl along the walls. Takashi's breath came in ragged bursts, his voice low, edged with fear.
"Where are we running to now?"
Astrid glanced back, her face pale but focused. "I don't know… I just know we need to keep moving. Anywhere but back."
Takashi stumbled slightly, catching himself. "So we're just… running blindly?"
Astrid's tone tightened, but it wasn't harsh. "Not blindly. Away from danger, Takashi. That's good enough for now."
Takashi nodded weakly, falling silent. He trusted her. He always did.
They turned into a narrower tunnel, the stone walls slick and close. Astrid suddenly stopped short, raising an arm to halt Takashi. He nearly crashed into her back, catching himself with a quiet gasp.
Up ahead, two figures stood in their path. Sara, with her moonchine fan half-unfolded, its curved blades gleaming in the flickering torchlight. Beside her, Angelo leaned on his staff, calm, almost amused.
Angelo tilted his head, eyes glinting. "Hi. Do either of you know where I can find a pair of terrified people sprinting through tunnels like their lives depend on it?"
Sara's gaze sharpened, lips curling in a smirk. "It's them."
Angelo squinted. "Are you sure? Last time you said that, we had to clean up a mess."
Sara shrugged, her tone airy. "Harmless mistake."
"You slit his throat."
"Exactly. Harmless."
Astrid stepped in front of Takashi, trying to sound calm. "I think you have the wrong people."
Angelo's expression didn't change, but his eyes narrowed. "Do we?"
He looked over Astrid's shoulder. Takashi instinctively lowered his gaze, retreating half a step behind her. Astrid noticed and moved subtly, shielding him more.
"We're just trying to find our mother," she said gently. "We don't want trouble."
Sara's fan snapped open, steel singing as it unfurled. "Then you're really lost."
Without warning, she lunged.
Astrid ducked under the swipe, the fan's blades cutting a strand of her hair as they passed. She slid across the wet floor, her momentum carrying her behind Sara. As she moved, she kicked out low, catching Angelo's ankle. He staggered with a grunt, his staff slipping from his fingers and clattering against the stone wall.
Takashi reacted on instinct. He leapt forward, landing between the attackers and Astrid, his arms spread slightly. He trembled, but he held his ground.
Astrid scrambled up beside him, panting. Sara was already coming at them again, fan whirling in a deadly arc. Astrid pulled Takashi back just in time, the blades missing his face by inches.
They ran.
The tunnel twisted ahead, darkness swallowing them. Behind, footsteps pounded in pursuit. Sara's laughter echoed coldly, while Angelo's footfalls beat a rhythm against the stone.
Takashi struggled to keep pace. "Why did you try talking to them? You could've died!"
Astrid, keeping pace beside him, managed a breathless smile despite the danger. "They seemed like a nice couple."
Angelo, now sprinting just behind them, his staff tapping the stone in rhythm, let out a short laugh. "Oh, we aren't a couple!"
Takashi flinched at the voice so close, his heart skipping. He spun instinctively, eyes widening. Astrid reacted faster. She pivoted on her heel, launching into a spinning kick aimed for Angelo's ribs. He weaved sideways, twirling his staff between them to intercept.
"Please," Angelo said, almost sing-song, "be gentle with me."
Astrid landed hard, the sewer water splashing up her legs. Her footing slipped slightly, but she adjusted, eyes locked on him. "Sorry," she muttered, but there was no apology in her tone.
A sudden blur of movement, Sara's foot shot forward. Astrid twisted on reflex, crossing her arms to shield her chest. The impact jolted her backward, her boots skidding on the wet stone. She gritted her teeth and steadied herself, narrowing her eyes.
"That was rude," Astrid said, voice cold. "You deserve a little pain for that."
Sara snorted. "And who are you to give it?"
The narrow tunnel exploded into violence.
Sara's fan snapped open with a metallic hiss, silver blades catching what little light filtered through the damp corridor. She lunged, slashing high. Astrid ducked, her moonbind cord slipping free from her hip, snapping upward to deflect the strike. Sparks danced between metal.
Behind her, Takashi saw a flicker of intent before it came. He felt Angelo's emotion shift, satisfaction, followed by pressure. A blow. He raised his katana just in time, blocking a heavy swing from Angelo's staff. The force rattled through his arms. Angelo stepped in, low kick flashing toward Takashi's gut. Takashi sidestepped instead of retreating, letting the strike graze past, blade ready. He didn't swing. He waited.
Angelo's grin faltered. He adjusted his grip, spinning the staff up, but Takashi's eyes tracked his tension. Something was coming from the left.
Sara pivoted sharply, fanning low at Takashi's exposed side. He felt the sharp sting of her killing intent, a pulse like a thorn in the back of his mind. Before he turned, Astrid's cord was already in motion. It lashed around Sara's neck, jerking her back with brutal force. She fell hard, coughing, her blades scattering water as she scrambled up, fury twisting her face.
Astrid released the cord and flipped backward as Sara slashed wildly at the air. Their boots scuffed and skidded in shallow water. The tunnel walls were slick, the air thick with sweat, rot, and the clang of metal.
Takashi's katana moved with silent grace. Every strike he made was light, clean, and efficient. Angelo's staff was faster, wider in arc, but less precise. The two danced through the tunnel, steel hissing against polished wood. Angelo laughed, but there was strain behind it.
"You read me," he said, breath hitching. "That's not fair."
Takashi didn't answer. His blade flicked upward, grazing Angelo's shoulder. The older one stumbled, staff slamming into the stone wall as he caught his balance. Stone cracked from the force. Splinters of torch brackets shattered and hit the floor.
Takashi didn't press.
He waited. Angelo was fast, but not calm. His emotions swirled wildly, and Takashi could read the tempo behind every swing like a song he already knew.
Across the tunnel, Sara shrieked and lunged at Astrid again. Her fan blurred in a flurry of arcs, deadly and fast. Astrid twisted and ducked, her cord snapping outward like a living thread. Metal clashed, again and again. Sara's blade grazed Astrid's arm, opening a shallow cut. Astrid winced but didn't stop. Her cord lashed again, this time curling around Sara's wrist. With a tug, she bent it backward. Sara cried out and kicked, aiming for Astrid's knee.
Astrid stepped to the side. Too slow.
Her boot slid on the slick floor, throwing her weight toward the wall. She slammed her hand against the stone to keep upright, gritting her teeth as the cold water lapped over her feet.
"Why are they still fighting like this?" Sara hissed, backing away for a second. Her chest heaved. "How are they not tired?"
Takashi stepped in just as she slashed at him, his katana redirecting her fan upward. It scraped against the wall, gouging a line through the mossy stone.
"They're good, Sara," Angelo called out, panting, but smiling. "Really good."
He spun again, his staff low, aiming to sweep Takashi's legs. But Takashi leapt cleanly, landing with a soft splash. His katana came down in a clean diagonal arc, forcing Angelo to block with both hands. The staff cracked, one end splintering.
Astrid ducked another of Sara's slashes. She turned her head sharply.
Ahead, the tunnel opened into a wide chamber. A massive sewerfall spilled into a deep black basin below. The roar of water echoed like a drumbeat through the stone.
Her eyes flicked to Takashi.
He looked up, met her gaze. He saw it, something shifting behind her eyes. Resignation. Timing.
Her voice rang out.
"Sorry, Takashi."
Takashi, locked in motion mid-parry, his katana held against Angelo's staff, blinked. Confused.
"For wh…"
Astrid's moonbind cord snapped out like a serpent, coiling around Takashi's waist. He barely had time to gasp.
"Astrid…wait!"
Her grip tightened, her heels digging into the stone as she yanked him toward her. Their bodies collided mid-sprint, momentum hurling them forward. The tunnel gave way beneath them. The roar of the sewerfall swelled.
"HEEEELLLLPPPPPP!"Takashi's cry rang out as they plunged over the edge.
"I'm sorry!" Astrid's voice cracked through the air.
A splash shattered the silence. Water exploded upward, swallowing them whole.
Sara and Angelo skidded to the ledge, boots screeching against wet stone. They stared into the darkness below. The pool churned violently beneath the falling current, froth masking whatever lay beneath.
Angelo exhaled a short laugh, resting against his staff, his chest heaving. "That girl is absolutely insane."
Sara didn't smile. Her fan was clenched tight in her fist, trembling.
"She's not crazy," she muttered. "She's dangerous. If I could just kill her…"
Angelo tilted his head, his grin returning faintly. "If only. They're strong. Ridiculously strong. So… this is the strength of a Paladin Knight?"
Sara spat into the water below, her jaw clenched. "You weren't even trying."
"I didn't need to." Angelo leaned on his staff, unconcerned. "She's better than I expected."
"You're hopeless." Sara slid her moonchine fan into the sheath at her side. She turned sharply, boots splashing in retreat.
Angelo raised an eyebrow, following leisurely. "Where are you going?"
"Anywhere that doesn't stink like this," she called without looking back.
Angelo's laugh echoed softly as the two disappeared into the gloom.
Silence returned to the cavern, until a loud gasp tore through the water's surface.
Takashi broke free first, his face twisted in pain and panic. He struggled to tread the cold, filth-thick current. The stench was overwhelming. He coughed violently, kicking toward the rocky edge. His fingers found moss-covered stone, and he dragged himself out with shaking arms, collapsing onto his side.
His breaths came in sharp bursts. His stomach clenched.
He vomited.
Sewer water poured from his lips, bitter and foul.
Moments later, Astrid surfaced, spitting water from her mouth. Her arms were sluggish, each stroke toward the edge a battle. She reached the ledge, coughing, eyes bleary, hair plastered to her face.
Takashi retched again.
Astrid climbed up beside him, knees trembling beneath her. Her moonbind cord dripped beside her, frayed and tangled.
The sound of Takashi gagging made her turn.
"Let it out," she whispered, voice thin and strained.
Takashi knelt on all fours, trembling. His face was pale, his hands smeared with grime. "Why…" he gasped, not looking at her. "Why did you do that?"
Astrid placed a hand on his back, soft and steady.
"Because it was the only way," she said gently.
He didn't respond.
He sniffed his cloth and gagged again, turning to vomit once more. His whole frame shook with the effort.
Astrid didn't flinch. She stayed beside him, fingers lightly pressing between his shoulder.
Takashi's voice was hoarse, barely audible. "I will never… follow you again."
Astrid smiled faintly, though her eyes looked tired. "I know."
Her voice was warm, apologetic, but unshaken.
Takashi finally slumped down, his forehead resting on his arm, the exhaustion catching up with him. The tremor in his shoulders eased.
Astrid looked toward the shadowed ends of the tunnel, her expression turning grim.
"We didn't find the slaves," she murmured.
The words felt like a loss.
Takashi didn't answer. He stared at the floor, water pooling under him, his clothes clinging like a second skin. Every breath he took was ragged. The trauma of the fall still lingered behind his eyes.
Astrid looked at him again, brushing wet strands of hair from her cheek.
"I'm sorry, Takashi," she said softly, and this time her voice cracked.
Takashi didn't lift his head.
"I heard," he muttered.
Astrid let out a small breath. Her hand lingered on his back as the cold silence pressed in. Somewhere, far above, water roared down into the abyss.
And still, the Bloodbound Covenant moved through the city like a shadow.
Their escape was only temporary.
A single heartbeat in a dying kingdom.