Murmurs Beneath The Pale Sun

The swordsman stood in front — tall, lean, pale-skinned with eyes like steel and a blade nearly as tall as he was.

His stance wasn't that of a novice.

He had fought before. Killed before.

But the way his knuckles clenched around the hilt told Ian this was the first time he'd stood before a creature like him.

The support mage — a slender man with short black hair, eyes glowing faintly with blue runes along his neck — narrowed his gaze.

He looked like the cautious type.

Calculating.

A silent thinker with spells ready at his fingertips.

The third — the fire-scorched woman with sharp green eyes — said nothing. Her burn had crusted over in blood and soot, but she stood tall.

The fire hadn't dimmed her gaze. If anything, she looked like the type who would rather die standing than kneel to anything, even death.