Weaving the First Thread

The underground pit reeked of sweat and iron, the metallic tang of blood thick in the air. The fights had continued late into the night, each battle more brutal than the last. But I wasn't here for the entertainment.

I had made my first connection. Orion.

Now, it was time to see if he was worth keeping.

The man sat beside me, arms crossed as he observed the brawl below with an air of detached interest. A former fighter, judging by his posture and the way his eyes never lingered on just the spectacle but also the movements of the combatants—their footwork, their breathing, the way their muscles tensed before a strike.

He had experience. That much was clear.

"You're still here." Orion's voice broke the silence. "Didn't take you for the type to enjoy senseless bloodshed."

I smirked, resting my elbow against the wooden railing. "I don't. But I do enjoy learning."

He raised an eyebrow. "Learning?"

I gestured toward the fighters below. "Every move, every mistake—they all tell a story. Some fight with skill, others with instinct. A few are smart, calculating. Most are just brutes swinging wildly, hoping to land a lucky hit."

Orion chuckled. "And which are you?"

I didn't answer immediately. Instead, I turned to meet his gaze, my smirk still in place. "What do you think?"

He studied me for a moment before exhaling a quiet laugh. "A snake in a den of wolves."

I chuckled. "That a compliment?"

"An observation."

Good. He was sharp.

But that wasn't enough. I needed to know more about him, his past, and—more importantly—his usefulness.

The fights continued, but my attention had shifted fully to Orion. He wasn't just another spectator. His demeanor, his quiet confidence, the way he analyzed each fight—it all pointed to a man who had lived through real battles.

He could be useful.

The question was: how could I make use of him?

"Tell me," I said, keeping my tone casual, "how does one get stronger in this world?"

Orion gave me a sideways glance. "That depends. Strength comes in many forms. Some train their bodies, others sharpen their minds. A few rely on magic, and some just have good instincts."

"And you?"

He exhaled through his nose. "A mix of all. You can't survive long if you focus on only one thing."

I nodded thoughtfully. "You talk like a man who's seen war."

A flicker of something passed through his eyes. It was gone in an instant, but I caught it.

Memories. Pain.

I didn't press. Not yet.

Instead, I changed tactics. "Say someone like me wanted to get strong. Fast. Where would I start?"

Orion was silent for a moment before speaking. "That depends on what kind of strength you're after."

I leaned in slightly. "The kind that makes sure no one can control me."

That got his attention. His gaze sharpened, studying me as if reassessing everything he thought he knew about me.

"You're an interesting one," he muttered. Then, after a moment, he added, "If you're serious about getting stronger, there's a place. Dangerous, but effective."

I waited, letting the silence stretch between us until he finally continued.

"The Shadow Sanctum."

The name wasn't familiar, which meant it wasn't something I had written in the original novel. That made it dangerous.

Unpredictable.

But also, intriguing.

"What is it?" I asked, keeping my tone neutral.

"A place where warriors, assassins, and mages train in secrecy. They don't care about kingdoms or politics. Only strength."

I tapped my fingers against the railing. "And how does one get in?"

Orion smirked. "That's the tricky part."

Of course, it was.

"They don't accept just anyone," he continued. "You have to prove yourself. Some do it through combat, others through connections. Most don't make it past the first trial."

I let his words sink in.

A hidden organization focused on training the strongest warriors? That was an opportunity I couldn't ignore.

The question was: was it worth the risk?

My mind worked through the possibilities. If I could gain access to the Shadow Sanctum, it could accelerate my growth. But if I failed, I could end up dead or worse.

Still, I needed to get stronger. And fast.

"I'm interested," I finally said. "How do I start?"

Orion chuckled. "You don't waste time, do you?"

"Time is a luxury I don't have."

He nodded approvingly. "Alright. I'll pull some strings. But if you're serious about this, you better be ready. They don't tolerate weakness."

I smirked. "Good. Neither do I."

The night stretched on, and while the fights continued, my mind was already elsewhere.

This was the first step. A test of my adaptability, my ability to navigate this world.

I wasn't the hero of this story.

But I was going to shape it.

One move at a time.

And the pieces were finally starting to fall into place.