Chapter 33: The Nameless Rite

The Nameless Rite

The air around Aria crackled with dark energy, stifling her every breath. Her heart pounded in her chest, a violent rhythm against the cold chains that bound her to the stone floor. She glanced at Seraphina, whose wide, tear-filled eyes locked with hers. The young girl trembled, her body shaking with fear, but Aria could feel a flicker of hope, a thread that connected them—despite the overwhelming darkness.

Kael's cold laughter echoed through the cavernous chamber, an ominous reminder of the twisted ritual about to begin. The walls around them were adorned with symbols Aria didn't recognize, ancient and cursed, each one pulsing with power. The dim light from the flickering torches along the walls cast long shadows, making the room feel alive—like something that could reach out and consume them at any moment.