Lightbearer

The torch in Haise's hand sputtered with every step, its flame throwing shadows across the tunnel walls. His grip had gone numb ages ago, not that he had much choice. Avari walked beside him in perfect silence, his full suit of polished silver plate whispering as it shifted with every motion. No scuffs. No dents. Not even dust. It was like the earth itself refused to touch him.

Haise lifted the torch a little higher and sighed.

"How did I end up as the designated light source?"

No answer. Just the soft rhythm of boots striking uneven stone. The tunnel stretched on ahead in a low arc, the stone ceiling marked with old moss and damp streaks. Somewhere deep in the dark, water dripped at uneven intervals, the sound echoing like a slow heartbeat.

Behind them, the rest of the party moved quietly. Karsen's footsteps were a little louder, probably still adjusting to the weight of his sword again. The others talked only in hushed tones.

Here at the front, though, it was just him and Avari.

Great.

"So," Haise began, shifting the torch to his left hand. "You know, I never really asked... who exactly do you work for?"

Avari didn't look over. "The Calvali Empire. I made that clear when I introduced myself."

"Right," Haise said. "I was more focused on the people in the cave nearly shooting me. Sorry."

Another pause.

Haise could feel the knight ignoring him.

He smiled to himself. "So… how high ranked are you in that Empire of yours? Got a fancy title beyond 'Heavenly Knight'? Or is that the highest you can go before they make you into a statue?"

"Stop asking," Avari said, flat and cold. "This is probably the last time we'll meet anyway."

Haise tilted his head. "Really? That's a bit dramatic. I mean, you said,what was it,'I will keep an eye on you.'" He pitched his voice up mockingly, exaggerating the words like a bad stage actor. "Sounded like you were recruiting me."

Avari's gait didn't falter, but something in his shoulders shifted. Tension, subtle and sharp.

Haise caught it. Pushed again. "I thought you were about to scout my talent. You sizing me up for some imperial roster or just bored of your current crew?"

Avari didn't respond.

Behind them, one of the soldiers cleared his throat. The group had slowed slightly, giving the two of them space. Probably didn't want to get caught in the splash zone.

Avari finally spoke, voice tight. "I would have considered scouting you. If you weren't associated with Arno."

Haise raised an eyebrow. "And why is that?"

Avari's tone dropped. "His time is running out."

There was no sarcasm in that voice. No edge of teasing. Just something heavy and flat, like stone settling over a grave.

Haise chuckled, though the sound didn't carry much warmth. "Scary. What, you planning to evict your old master?"

That made Avari stop.

The knight turned to face him. Not all the way, just enough for the curve of his helmet to catch the light and reflect it straight into Haise's face.

"You don't need to know," Avari said, low and deliberate. "The only reason you're here now is so your friend can attract goblins."

"So you're confirming Karsen is a goblin magnet?"

Avari resumed walking. "The goblins had a rhythm to their movements for days. Predictable. Then something changed. They started drifting, searching. They sense mana. If they detect someone powerful, they move toward it. Your friend can't mask himself."

"That's… exactly what I thought," Haise said. "I surprise myself sometimes."

"Next time, I will just let them shoot you."

"So there is a next time after all."

"…"

Haise glanced over his shoulder, where Karsen was just a shadow against the glow behind them.

"He already paid the price of ignorance," Haise said quietly.

Avari didn't answer right away. When he did, his voice was colder than before. "Don't be mistaken. I still think you're the biggest issue here."

That stopped Haise short. "Why would that be? I'm just doing my part here."

"You play dumb, but everything about you feels unfinished. Like a door left ajar."

"Thanks," Haise said, eyebrows raised. "That's poetic."

"I wasn't being poetic."

"No shit"

The air changed.

It was sudden. Subtle. Like a shift in pressure, a weight dropping somewhere just out of reach.

Both of them slowed at the same time.

Haise raised the torch slightly, flame wavering. "You feel that?"

Avari's answer came in a whisper. "They're here."

From the edge of the tunnel, shadows shifted as ten goblins stepped into view. Haise didn't need a second look.

Haise's hand went to his sword, already pulling it from his side.

"Don't," Avari said.

Haise hesitated.

"This is my mission."

Before Haise could protest, Avari stepped forward.

He drew his blade with one hand. The steel gleamed pure white, almost silver, but softer somehow , like moonlight made solid. It didn't catch the firelight. It radiated its own glow.

The goblins didn't hesitate.

They charged.

Haise watched. That was all he could do.

Avari moved.

The first three goblins didn't even finish raising their weapons before they were gone. One swing, clean and horizontal, and all three collapsed in separate pieces, their bodies folding in half like paper split too fast to resist.

Avari spun, ducked a blade, and kicked another goblin across the tunnel. Its body struck the wall with a sound that didn't even resemble a thud. Bones snapped. The creature didn't get back up.

Another tried to flank him. Avari caught it by the throat mid-lunge and lifted it off the ground, its feet kicking uselessly in the air. He didn't squeeze. He just held it there. Then, slowly, drove the sword up through its chest, all the way until the tip burst from its back.

He dropped it.

The remaining goblins hesitated.

Bad move.

Avari moved again, faster than Haise could track. His blade flashed once. Then again. Each motion was efficient. No wasted steps. No extra movement. He wasn't fighting like a soldier. He was erasing.

When the last goblin fell, silence returned to the tunnel.

Blood soaked the floor in thin rivers, dark and already cooling.

Avari didn't clean his blade. He simply returned it to its sheath, the soft click of metal-on-metal the only sound that followed.

The rest of the party arrived seconds later, their footsteps skidding to a halt when they saw the scene.

Karsen's mouth opened. Closed.

Even the grumpier scouts looked stunned.

Haise gave it a second, then clapped slowly.

"Well," he said, his voice echoing faintly through the corridor, "good work, Mr. Knight."

Avari didn't look at him. Just turned and resumed walking down the tunnel.

"Don't like being praised?" Haise called after him.

"Just continue walking," Avari said, not turning back.

Haise smiled before adjusting the torch in his hand and followed.