Shadows and Intrigue

The air in Kur'thaal was heavy tonight, thick with the scent of burning embers and something else—something deeper. It wasn't often that Vael found himself wary in his own territory, but tonight, as he led Lioren through the ruins of Kur'thaal's ancient stronghold, he felt the weight of expectation pressing against him.

This meeting was necessary, but it was also dangerous.

Not because of Tix or Vehla.

Because of what came after.

As they walked, Vael kept his voice low. "Listen, before we get there, I need you to know who you're about to meet. They're not enemies—not yet, anyway—but they're powerful, and they don't take well to surprises."

Lioren didn't answer right away. He was still adjusting to walking without his wings, but he nodded once.

Vael continued. "First, there's Orithyx. He's—"

"Call me Tix," a smooth voice interrupted from the ruins ahead.

Vael sighed.

Lioren looked up. Two figures waited in the broken remains of the stronghold—one sprawled lazily across a shattered throne, and the other standing like a sentinel beside him.

Orithyx, Tix, was draped across the throne, one leg slung over the side, golden eyes gleaming with amusement. His sharp features were framed by black horns that curved elegantly back, his lips curled in a slow, knowing smile.

Beside him, a figure much larger—Vehla.

Tall, powerful, radiating silent menace. Her battle-worn armor clung to her muscular form, runic markings glowing faintly along her arms and collarbone. Her crimson eyes locked onto Lioren like a predator assessing prey.

Vael exhaled sharply, glaring at Tix. "Could you at least let me introduce you first?"

Tix grinned. "What's the fun in that?" He flicked a hand dismissively. "Besides, I figured we'd save your pretty new pet from a full history lesson."

Lioren raised a brow but said nothing.

Tix turned to Lioren, smirking. "Call me Tix. It'll suffice." Then he gestured lazily to his companion. "And the big, muscled, feminine-like thing standing there is Vehl'Arath, but we just call her Vehla."

Vehla rolled her eyes. "You call me that. I tolerate it."

Tix shrugged, unapologetic. "It's endearing."

Vehla snorted, then returned her glare to Lioren.

The air between them remained charged, heavy with unspoken tension.

Tix's golden gaze flicked between Lioren and Vael, curiosity evident. "Well, well, Vael, you certainly have a knack for collecting interesting things."

Vael smirked. "And you have a knack for being insufferable."

Tix's grin widened. "It's a gift."

Vehla, however, wasn't as entertained. "Who is he?"

Her voice was low, edged with a quiet warning.

Tix leaned forward slightly, intrigued. "Yes, Vael, do tell. Why bring an angel here? Unless, of course, he's not an angel anymore." His golden eyes gleamed. "But even then—why?"

Vael spoke evenly, "His name is Lioren. And he's with me."

The words carried weight.

Vehla's crimson eyes narrowed. "That's not an answer."

She stepped forward, her boots cracking against the stone. Lioren did not move.

"If you're standing here," she continued, "that means Vael has some foolish reason for keeping you alive."

Her red eyes gleamed.

"But tell me—if I decided to kill you right now, would you fight back?"

Tix hummed. "Oh, I like this game."

The tension spiked.

Vael tensed.

Lioren, however, remained calm.

Then, in a voice too soft, too certain—

"I wouldn't have to."

Silence.

Even Vehla hesitated.

For a long, breathless moment, no one spoke.

Then—

Tix laughed.

The sound was rich with amusement, breaking the heavy stillness. "Oh, he's fun."

Vael let out a slow breath. He knew what had just happened. Lioren had won.

Vehla exhaled sharply, crossing her arms. "For now, we watch," she muttered. "If you prove to be a mistake, Vael, don't expect us to clean up after you."

Vael smirked. "Noted."

Tix, still grinning, tilted his head. "And what about you, Lioren?" His tone was almost teasing. "Do you think you belong here?"

Lioren met his gaze steadily.

"No," he said simply.

Tix's amusement flickered into something sharper. Something thoughtful.

Then, softly—"Good."

The heavy silence that followed Lioren's simple, unwavering "No." still lingered between them, crackling with the same tension that filled the Abyss before a storm.

But Tix, ever the disruptor, shattered it with a lazy sigh. "Well, now that we've established that our dear ex-angel here doesn't think he belongs, why don't we talk about real problems?"

Vehla grunted, her arms crossed over her chest. "You mean your problems?"

Tix smirked. "Our problems, darling. Lilith's been acting strange."

Vael immediately stiffened. His expression darkened.

"Strange how?"

Tix swung a leg over the edge of the broken throne, stretching his arms behind his head. "She's been… requesting things." His voice dipped lower, thoughtful. "Things that don't add up. Rare materials, ancient relics, components for creation, not destruction."

Lioren frowned. "Creation?"

Vehla nodded, her crimson eyes serious. "That's what's concerning. Lilith never creates. She manipulates, she strengthens, she alters—but she doesn't build."

Vael's jaw clenched. "Not unless she's planning something bigger."

Tix pointed a finger at him, grinning. "And that, my hornless friend, is why we're here."

Lioren narrowed his eyes at the phrasing, but Tix ignored it.

"We don't know what it is," Vehla admitted, "but not even Nethros is fully aware of what she's crafting. Whatever it is, it's been in the works for a long time."

Vael exhaled sharply. "That's not like her."

"Exactly."

Lioren tilted his head slightly. "And why are you telling us this?"

Tix grinned, eyes glinting with amusement. "Because, golden boy, if Lilith is planning something of this scale, every single one of us should be worried."

A chill settled between them.

Lilith did nothing without purpose.

If she was building something, it was meant to change everything.

Tix, ever the one to cut through tension, shifted the conversation. His golden eyes flicked to Lioren, lazy amusement returning to his features.

"You know, it's funny." He tapped his chin, smirking. "You're not the first angel to fall."

Lioren stared at him, unamused. "Clearly."

Tix's grin widened. "Oh, I like this one." He turned to Vael. "You really went and picked a sharp one this time, huh?"

Vael rolled his eyes. "Tix."

But Vehla, ever the serious one, kept her gaze locked on Lioren.

"No, he has a point," she said, her voice measured. "Fallen angels are usually useless."

Lioren's expression didn't change, but something in the air did.

Vehla wasn't trying to insult him. She was stating fact.

"When an angel is cast out, they lose their wings. It's the first thing that happens. Their powers, their divinity—it's severed at the gate. They wither in the wastelands. That's why you never see fallen angels in Kur'thaal."

Tix nodded, stretching. "Yeah, they're either pathetic husks wandering the wastes or they get snapped up by demons who like collecting pretty, broken things."

He gave Lioren a slow, assessing glance. "Which makes you an anomaly, doesn't it?"

Vael smirked, his voice smooth. "That's because Lioren isn't a normal fallen."

Vehla raised a brow.

Tix looked positively entertained. "Oh? Do tell."

Vael stepped forward slightly, placing a hand on Lioren's shoulder—a casual motion, but a possessive one. "He still has his wings."

Silence.

Vehla's crimson eyes narrowed.

Tix's smirk froze.

"…What?" Vehla's voice was low, sharp.

Vael's own grin was slow, dark, full of pride. "His wings are sealed. Safe. Untouched."

Tix let out a low whistle. "Well, shit."

Vehla didn't look impressed. "How?"

Vael crossed his arms. "Runes."

Tix blinked, then looked between them, expression flickering between impressed and highly entertained. "Wait—you did that? You sealed them?"

Vael's smirk widened. "Took hours."

Lioren resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "And a lot of pain."

Vehla looked skeptical. "That doesn't make sense. Even if you sealed them, he still shouldn't have any power."

That was the moment Vael's grin turned predatory.

"Oh, he has power."

Vehla frowned. "How do you know?"

Vael's red eyes gleamed. "Because I watched him force an entire angelic legion away when he wanted to."

Tix laughed, throwing his head back. "Oh, I like this. I like this a lot."

Vehla, however, was not amused. "That shouldn't be possible."

Vael chuckled, stepping closer to Lioren. "And yet, here he is."

Vehla didn't argue. But her sharp gaze lingered.

She was no fool.

Lioren was dangerous.

And dangerous things always attracted attention.

Tix, still grinning, leaned forward on the ruined throne. "Well, this just got a lot more interesting."

Vael gave him a sharp look. "Keep this quiet."

Tix gave a mock salute. "Wouldn't dream of spilling your precious little secret."

Vehla, however, wasn't convinced. "Secrets don't last long in Kur'thaal, Vael."

Vael's smirk didn't waver. "Then let's hope this one does."

Lioren remained silent, his expression unreadable.

But deep down—he knew.

This was only the beginning.

And somewhere, far away in the depths of Kur'thaal, Lilith was waiting.