The corridors smelled of smoke, iron, and old fear. I leaned against the cold wall, observing Krain pacing like a predator unsure of its prey, Carrow whispering to shadows that weren't there, Lyric smirking, all teeth and subtle menace.
Soft hum… distant clatter…
The fractures were already showing. A twitch here, a hissed word there tiny cracks that would widen if nudged right. I smiled under the mask of calm. Chaos is a delicate art… and I'm Picasso.
Click… scrape…
I moved between them, casual, invisible, letting words drop where they would be misunderstood, hints of betrayal slipping into ears eager for confirmation. Krain's temper flared faster than he knew; Carrow's eyes darted toward perceived threats that weren't there. Lyric's smirk faltered for the briefest second.
Soft rumble… metallic scrape…
I let the pieces move themselves, pushing Krain toward Carrow's men, nudging Carrow to suspect Lyric, and letting Lyric chase shadows that didn't exist. It was beautiful the kind of controlled destruction that left the instigators none the wiser.
Rattle… distant drip…
A laugh escaped me, dry and low. "Nothing like a little friendly fire to spice up the evening," I muttered. My hands were clean, but the air around me hummed with the chaos I had set loose.
Click… soft metal hum…
Krain lunged at a perceived slight, Carrow's men responded with equal venom, Lyric's forces fell into miscalculation. The corridors filled with the sound of struggle shouts, clashing metal, and the faint scuff of boots across tile. I watched from shadows, eyes calculating every move, every heartbeat.
Faint clank… scrape…
They thought they were playing me, but they were dancing exactly where I wanted them. The thrill of control licked at the edges of my mind, shadowed only by the faint, omnipresent whisper of the Architect. Still, I allowed myself a smirk. They think they're playing me… they're just following the script.
Soft hum… distant thud…
I stepped back into a darker corner, letting the violence breathe, letting the smoke curl around the bodies and the chaos. "Let them fight," I whispered to the shadows. "Let the smoke rise. I'll be where the pieces fall."