A Message from Death

Jude and Elara moved relentlessly, neither of them speaking. They ran until their legs screamed, until their lungs burned, until the weight of everything pressed into their skulls like a vice.

By the time they stopped, the sun was already beginning to rise.

Elara bent over, hands on her knees, gasping for air. "...You think he's okay?"

Jude didn't answer immediately. He wanted to believe Kazimir was fine. He wanted to believe he'd come strolling back with that same reckless grin.

But against Kieran Voss?

"We need to find him," Jude said, voice hoarse. "Now."

They didn't rest. Didn't waste time. Every second felt like a countdown.

It took hours. But eventually, they found him.

A crater.

A massive indentation in the earth, as if something—no, someone—had been slammed into the ground with terrifying force.

Jude's heart stopped.

Elara whispered, "No…"

At the center of the crater, Kazimir lay motionless.

Blood soaked his clothes, his body sprawled out in a way that didn't look natural. Bruises, cuts, and raw impact wounds littered his skin.

Jude moved before he could think, sliding down into the crater, Elara right behind him.

"Kazimir!" Jude grabbed his shoulder, shaking him. No response.

Elara's hands hovered over him. "He's alive. But—"

Then they saw it.

A small, folded piece of paper tucked into Kazimir's collar.

Jude snatched it and opened it.

One sentence.

"This is what happens when you resist fate."

Signed: Kieran Voss.

Jude's grip tightened, the paper crumpling in his fist. A new kind of fury settled in his chest, one colder than before.

Then—

Kazimir stirred.

Jude and Elara tensed as his fingers twitched, his breath hitching. Slowly, his body cracked as he sat up, his movements too fluid, too smooth for someone who had just been through that.

Then he looked up at them.

And grinned.

But this wasn't his usual cocky grin. This was something twisted. Something stretched wider than it should be.

His eyes gleamed, wilder than before.

"Oh man," Kazimir said, voice hoarse but excited. "I think I kinda like that guy."

Jude and Elara stared.

Kazimir cracked his neck, stretching his arms, the pain already fading from his body.

Then, still grinning, he held up two fingers.

"Two things. One—" He pointed at the crater. "That dude is terrifying."

Then he gestured to himself, his wild smile never fading.

"Two—so am I."

"That's... not normal, right?" Elara asked hesitantly, her hand still gripping one of her daggers, ready in case this wasn't the Kazimir they knew. He wasn't acting like himself. Not even close.

Kazimir's head tilted slightly, like he was listening to a tune only he could hear. "I'm fine," he said, his voice a low chuckle that didn't sit right with the atmosphere. "And you're both still here... good. I guess I did my job then. Let's move."

Jude exchanged a look with Elara, unsure of what to make of the situation. They had seen Kazimir take down enemies with ease before, but this was different. There was a ferocity in his eyes now, an intensity that didn't seem to belong to the carefree, cocky Wild Card they knew.

"Did you... heal yourself?" Jude asked, his voice edged with disbelief. Kazimir's injuries had been far too extensive for any normal healing, and the rapid recovery seemed impossible.

Kazimir grinned, a toothy, unsettling thing. "Let's just say... I've learned a few tricks."

"Are you sure you're okay?" Elara asked again, this time more urgently. "What did Kieran do to you?"

Kazimir's smile stretched even further, as if amused by her concern. "Kieran? Oh, that guy is... interesting." He sighed dramatically, shaking his head. "But you two don't need to worry about me. We've got bigger fish to fry. I'll be fine."

Elara still seemed uncertain, casting a glance at Kazimir's back. "You're not really... you anymore, are you?"

Kazimir stopped walking, his shoulders tense for a moment. Then he turned to look at her, his eyes wild but strangely focused. "Maybe I'm more myself than I've ever been. But that's a conversation for another time."

Jude scowled. "We can't waste any more time. Let's move."

The wind whistled through the cracks in the nearby ruins as Kazimir, Jude, and Elara made their way through the deserted landscape. But despite the quiet, Jude couldn't shake the feeling that something was watching them again.

Elara seemed to sense it too, her eyes flicking nervously from side to side as if searching for danger. Kazimir, on the other hand, was entirely unfazed, his grin stretched wide as always. But then, something shifted in the air. The atmosphere felt charged, almost as though the ground itself was holding its breath.

"Hold up," Kazimir said suddenly, his voice dropping to a whisper.

Jude tensed, instinctively reaching for his sword, but Kazimir held up a hand. "No need for that. It's not them," he muttered, eyes narrowing. "But someone is here. And I have a feeling they're not with the Fatebound Order."

Before anyone could ask what he meant, a figure appeared from the shadows of the ruins ahead. The figure was tall, cloaked in a ragged black hood that obscured most of their features. But their eyes—those piercing silver eyes—shone through, reflecting the fading light like a predator watching its prey.

Elara tensed, instinctively taking a step back, but Kazimir only chuckled. "Well, well… looks like we have company.."

The figure's voice was low, rich with an enigmatic power. "I wasn't sure if I'd find you here, Kazimir. But it looks like fate was kind for once."

Jude's grip tightened on his sword, his instincts screaming at him to be ready. "Who are you?" he demanded, stepping forward slightly.

The figure tilted their head, the hood shifting just enough to reveal a faint grin beneath the shadow. "A Wild Card. Like you."

Kazimir's grin widened. "I knew I sensed something familiar about you."

The figure stepped forward into the light, revealing more of their appearance. They were dressed in a mix of dark leather armor and flowing fabrics, with a large, twisted staff resting at their side. Their hair was wild, a tangle of silver strands that seemed to move with an energy of their own, and their features were sharp, almost otherworldly.

"My name's Zephyr," the figure said, offering a bow that was at once mocking and respectful. "And I've been following your little chaos for a while now. It's amusing, really seeing the Fatebound Order so rattled by a few loose ends." They glanced at Kazimir, their eyes glinting with mischief. "But I think I'm going to enjoy watching them lose control."

Jude narrowed his eyes, still not trusting the newcomer. "What do you want with us?"

Zephyr's smile was teasing, yet oddly reassuring. "Nothing. Well, nothing yet. I'm just here to see how things play out. The Fatebound Order has made a mistake, and I've got a front-row seat."

Elara eyed Zephyr warily. "Are you here to help? Or just to watch us burn?"

Zephyr chuckled, twirling the staff in their hand with a fluid motion. "Help? Who knows? Maybe I'll jump in when things get interesting. Maybe I'll leave you to your fate. But what's the fun in sticking to one side, right?"

Kazimir's expression was unreadable, but there was a spark of curiosity in his eyes. "You're not like the others," he said, voice laced with amusement. "You're… unpredictable."

"That's the idea," Zephyr said, eyes flashing. "The fatebound heroes love to think they have everything under control, don't they? But it's all just a game. And I'm here to play."

Jude wasn't sure whether to feel comforted or more on edge. One thing was certain: this new Wild Card was nothing like them. Zephyr didn't follow the same rules, and that made them a wildcard in every sense.

Kazimir gave a playful shove to Jude's shoulder. "Let's see where this goes. We need all the chaos we can get. And Zephyr? Well, let's just say… things are about to get a whole lot more interesting."

Zephyr grinned, their eyes alight with madness. "That's the spirit."