A bucket of icy water hit Kai's face, shocking him back into a world of dull, throbbing agony against the cold stone. The world came back in pieces: the reek of stagnant water and old straw, the rough texture of grit against his skin. The phantom echo of a black sun was seared onto the back of his eyelids. A voice, dry and familiar, cut through the haze.
"Back with the living, are we?" It was the same knight who had tightened the cuffs—his voice a grating sneer Kai was starting to recognize.
"HHAAH!" His shackled cellmate let out a sigh of relief as Kai coughed up the water.
"If you try pulling off that stunt again, forget about a bucket, I will drown you in a well." He turned to the cell guards. "Let's go."
The door was slammed and locked the moment they stepped out. Darkness engulfed the cell, the echo of the slam lingering before fading into silence.
"Almost thought you were going to die for a second there, partner. By the way, the name's Roric."
"Nice to—KOFF! KOFF! KOFF!—Nice to meet you, Roric."
"I told you my name, it's your turn." Roric relaxed on the wall under the tiny window that reflected a tiny ray of light.
"I... I don't know."
"Huh? What do you mean you don't know? Don't you have one?"
"I—"
Their conversation was cut short by the screech of the cell door unlocking. Light from the corridor framed a young man in polished armor, a serpent-shaped monogram gleaming on his chestplate.
"Roric, we have a mission for you."
"Captain Valerius?" Roric looked up wearing a big smile on his face. "It's so good to—"
"Save the pleasantries, Roric." Valerius turned to one of the guards. "Release him and get him some clothes. We don't have much time."
"Yes, sir." The guard followed the command immediately without hesitation or questioning.
Valerius's eyes then fell on Kai. "And who is this? I said Roric is not to have a cellmate."
"He was placed here on Commander Jaggaurnut's order. He was caught at the Fallow Graves by Sir Oliver and his men," another guard answered.
Valerius frowned. "Jaggaurnut's sentimentality is a weakness. This cell is for assets, not stray dogs. Move him to the general population."
"Wait, Captain," Roric interjected, his voice losing its playful tone and becoming shrewd. "If you're taking me out of storage, you must need me to find something specific. Something small and well-hidden."He gestured to Kai with his now-free hands. "Before you dismiss him, you should know what he is. He's not a grave robber. He's a Resonator."
Valerius paused, a flicker of interest breaking his calm facade. "Explain."
"As you know, my senses are precise," Roric said. "But they have a limited range. I can tell you what kind of magic is there and how strong it is. But a Resonator..." He nodded at Kai. "They don't sense magic; they amplify its echo. His presence will double my effective range. You'll be able to find not just the nest you're looking for, but any other little tumors growing in the area. Think of it as a strategic upgrade. Sending me out with him is efficiency, not sentiment."
Valerius faced Kai sternly, scanning him as he nodded in affirmation to everything Roric said.
"What is your name?"
"I don't remember."
"Hmm! Are you truly a Resonator?"
"Y-Yes, I am a Resonator." His voice was firm but he knew it was untrue.
"Where are you from?"
"EHEM! Captain, would you rather play 20 questions or get going?" Roric interrupted as he squeezed into the cloth handed to him.
Valerius's eyes, cold and calculating, remained locked on Kai for a long, silent moment. The air grew thick with tension. Finally, a thin, humorless smile touched his lips.
"Very well," he said, his voice dangerously soft. "We will test this theory. Roric, your range had better be doubled. And you," he turned his gaze back to Kai, "will stay by his side. If either of you attempts to flee, or if I discover this 'Resonator' ability is a fiction..." He let the threat hang in the air, more potent for being unspoken. He gestured to the guards. "Fit him with manacles. The same grade as Roric's. They are to be treated as a single asset."
As the guards moved forward to clamp the cold, magic-suppressing iron around Kai's wrists, Valerius delivered the final blow. "Your performance on this mission will determine if you see the inside of this cell again, or the bottom of a grave. Do not mistake this for freedom. It is a longer leash. Nothing more."
"Inform the Duke that I'm taking the grave robber along as my Resonator." Valerius said turning to a guard by the dungeon door.
The guards led them out of the dungeons, up a narrow, winding staircase hewn from the same cold stone. The manacles around Kai's wrists were heavy, their cold bite a constant reminder of his status. As they emerged from the subterranean gloom, a vast courtyard opened before them, and Kai stopped dead.
The sky was a brilliant, unforgiving blue. The air, sharp with the smell of horses, forge-smoke, and baking bread, was a shock to senses accustomed to decay. Sunlight glinted off the white stone of a towering citadel that sprawled across the summit of a mountain. Banners bearing a golden eagle snapped in the wind. It was majestic, powerful... and utterly alien.
Yet, a pang of nostalgia, sharp as a physical wound, hit him in the chest. The feel of the place—the crispness of the high-altitude air, the way the light fell—stirred a hazy memory of training grounds, of standing at a parapet looking out over a different kingdom. This was not that place, but some deep, buried part of him recognized the type of place it was: a seat of power.
"Keep moving," a guard grunted, shoving him forward.
Their path across the courtyard was interrupted by a hulking figure blocking the way. Commander Jaggaurnut stood with his arms crossed, his face a thundercloud of disapproval. His eyes swept over Roric with pure contempt before settling on Kai with even greater disgust.
"Captain," Jaggaurnut's voice boomed, drawing the attention of nearby soldiers. "Parading your pet witch and his new stray for all to see? This is an insult to this citadel's dignity."
Valerius did not break stride. "It is necessary for my mission, Jaggaurnut. The intelligence we gain will protect this citadel's dignity far more than ignoring a useful tool."
"Tool?" Jaggaurnut spat on the cobblestones near Roric's feet. "He's a criminal. And this one," he jabbed a thick finger toward Kai, "was caught in cursed grave, doing God knows what. You're risking bringing a plague into our walls because you enjoy playing with dark things."
"The only plague threatening these walls is the Shadow Legion," Valerius replied, his voice calm but icy. "And I will use every means at my disposal to cut it out. Even if it offends your delicate sensibilities. And Commander..." His gaze locked with Jaggaurnut's. "...speak to me with that tone again, and you will be guarding the latrines for a month. The subject is closed."
The tension between the two men was palpable. Jaggaurnut's jaw tightened, his hand twitching toward the hilt of his sword. For a moment, it seemed he would physically challenge his superior. But Valerius held his gaze, unblinking. With a final, furious grunt, Jaggaurnut turned on his heel and stormed off, muttering about "clean steel" and "honorable methods" to his men.
Roric let out a low whistle. "Charming as ever."
"Silence," Valerius commanded, leading them to a waiting carriage—a heavy, enclosed wooden box more suited for transporting supplies than people. "Get in."
The door was shut, plunging them into a dim, dusty interior. The carriage lurched into motion, the rhythmic clatter of hooves on cobblestone filling the silence. Kai stared out the small barred window as the grand gates of the citadel passed by, his mind reeling. The unfamiliar sights, the conflict between the commanders, the heavy manacles, and the lingering, painful echo of a home that no longer existed—it was all too much.
In the semi-darkness, Roric's voice was quiet. "Well, partner. Welcome to the team. Now, about this 'Resonator' business... we're going to need a plan."