Chapter 9: Into the Lion’s Den

The air was thick with tension as Nyssa and Caelan rode through the dense forest, the weight of their decision pressing down on them.

They had left before dawn, slipping away from the palace before anyone could question their motives. Only a select few knew of their journey—and even fewer approved of it.

The Order of the Veil was a whisper in the dark, a force that moved unseen yet controlled far more than the kingdom dared to admit. Seeking them out wasn't just dangerous—it was reckless.

And yet, here they were.

Nyssa kept close to Caelan, her fingers gripping the reins tightly. "Where exactly are we going?"

Caelan's gaze remained fixed ahead. "To the ruins of Ashmere."

Nyssa stiffened. "The cursed ruins?"

Caelan smirked, but there was no humor in it. "That's what they want people to believe."

Nyssa swallowed hard. The ruins of Ashmere were ancient, abandoned long before the rise of Omala's current dynasty. Legends spoke of whispers in the wind, shadows that moved on their own, and a presence that watched from the darkness.

If the Order of the Veil truly existed, this was exactly the kind of place they would hide.

The deeper they rode into the forest, the colder the air became. The sunlight struggled to break through the thick canopy, casting eerie shadows on the ground.

And then—a sudden movement.

Nyssa's hand flew to the dagger at her waist. "Did you see that?"

Caelan's grip tightened on his sword. "We're not alone."

The trees seemed to breathe around them, the rustling leaves whispering secrets they weren't meant to hear.

Then, a voice—a cold, amused voice—drifted from the shadows.

"You came looking for us… how bold."

Nyssa's pulse quickened.

From the darkness, figures began to emerge, cloaked in black, their faces hidden beneath silver masks.

The Order had found them first.