CHAPTER FOUR: Her Name is Nyra

Caelia was the first to ask.

"Do you have a name?"

The girl blinked. Then whispered, "Nyra."

It wasn't her real name. It was the name she gave herself.

It meant "broken blade" in old demon tongue.

She earned it the day she broke a Tier-4 blade with her bare hands.

Caelia watched her fight once. Silent. Sharp. Beautiful.

She didn't use glyphs. Didn't scream.

She moved like shadow drowning light.

And when it was over, she bled from both hands and smiled like pain was a promise she intended to keep.

Caelia felt her chest ache. She didn't understand why.