A Name in the Dark

Raiyan's vision swam, but he forced himself to stay upright. His ribs burned from the wound, his muscles screamed for rest, but this wasn't over.

The Hollow Sun warriors had shifted. Their perfect formation wavered, ever so slightly, at the woman's presence.

Who was she?

More importantly—why was she helping him?

> "I said stand."

Her voice was neither harsh nor kind. It was a command.

Raiyan took a shaky breath and planted his feet. His sword felt heavier than before, as if testing whether he was worthy to keep holding it.

The leader of the Hollow Sun warriors pushed himself off the ground, his black blade flickering with restrained power.

His golden-irised eyes locked onto the woman.

> "The Silent Veil does not interfere in matters beyond the Forgotten War."

The Silent Veil?

Raiyan had never heard of them before.

The woman remained still, her silver eyes cold and calculating.

> "You know the rules, Hollow One."

Her fingers twitched. More tendrils of shadow coiled around her, writhing like living things.

> "Yet here you are, trying to break them."

The Hollow Sun leader exhaled sharply.

> "The sword belongs to us."

Raiyan tensed.

The woman tilted her head slightly.

> "You speak of ownership?"

She raised her hand.

A sharp wind howled through the ruined city, and for a brief moment, Raiyan saw something.

Faint, almost like an afterimage—chains.

Invisible chains wrapped around the Hollow Sun warriors.

For a second, they flickered, glowing with ancient runes.

The leader's expression didn't change. But his warriors stepped back—subtly, but Raiyan saw it.

They were bound.

> "You think yourselves wardens," the woman continued, "but you are prisoners all the same."

Her gaze shifted to Raiyan.

> "And you… are a mistake they failed to erase."

The words sent a chill down his spine.

What did that mean?

What the hell had he gotten himself into?

---

The Hollow Sun leader sighed. His black blade dissipated into thin air, as if it had never existed.

> "We will not cross the Veil today."

The warriors behind him didn't lower their guard, but they didn't attack either.

The woman didn't move.

The two sides stood, staring, locked in a silent conflict Raiyan couldn't fully understand.

Then, the Hollow Sun leader turned away.

> "But know this, Raiyan."

His voice was calm. Certain.

> "You are walking a path that has already been written."

The black sun sigil on his chestplate pulsed, and in an instant, the Hollow Sun warriors vanished.

No dust. No sound.

As if they had never been there.

---

The Silent Veil

Silence.

Then, the woman turned to Raiyan.

> "We need to leave."

Raiyan hesitated. His body ached, his mind swirled with a thousand questions, but he forced out the most pressing one:

> "Who are you?"

She studied him for a moment before answering.

> "I am Aelira of the Silent Veil."

The name meant nothing to him.

> "And you?"

His throat felt dry. "…Raiyan."

She nodded, as if she already knew.

> "Come."

Without waiting for a response, she turned and walked into the shadows of the ruined city.

For a moment, Raiyan considered running in the other direction. He didn't trust her. He didn't trust anyone here.

But he had no choice.

Not if he wanted answers.

Taking a deep breath, he gripped his sword and followed.

---

To Be Continued…