Chrono-God

Shadows of the Past

Diane inhaled deeply, the cool air of Urenhiem carrying the scents of sweat, steel, and damp stone. The weight of their victory in the arena still clung to her shoulders like a heavy cloak, but there was no time to revel in it.

Gar had left.

She had watched him walk away, his hulking form rigid with anger, his eyes burning with a fury that went beyond the bloodlust of combat. The moment that mysterious figure had whispered to Manalin, she knew something had changed. And when Gar stormed off after hearing Wizard Ren's name, Diane had a sinking feeling that whatever came next was going to be far more dangerous than the battle they had just survived.

Now, standing in the quiet streets of the city, she glanced at Nisse, who hovered beside her, wings twitching with unease.

"You feel it too," Diane murmured.

Nisse nodded. "The air is wrong. It's… tense, like something unseen is moving through it."

Diane exhaled, adjusting the sword at her hip. "We have to follow him."

Nisse blinked in surprise. "Are you sure? Gar… he's unpredictable. And if this Ren has the kind of power I think he does…"

Diane's grip tightened on her sword. "That's exactly why we have to go."

---

The Mansion of Secrets

They kept their distance, shadowing Gar through the crowded streets. Urenhiem was a city of towering structures, its layout designed to confound newcomers, but Diane had learned to navigate its labyrinthine alleys quickly.

Gar's destination became clear soon enough—a sprawling, ostentatious high-rise mansion that loomed over the neighboring buildings like a monument to arrogance. The marble facade gleamed under the torchlight, and golden trim lined its edges like veins of wealth.

Diane's stomach twisted. This wasn't just the home of a wizard.

It was a fortress.

Nisse landed lightly on Diane's shoulder, whispering in her ear. "This is bad, Mistress. That place is warded—heavy magic all over it."

Diane narrowed her eyes, watching as Gar approached the guards at the entrance. They stiffened at his presence, but before they could act, a voice drifted from inside.

"It's okay. I've been expecting him."

The guards bowed and stepped aside, letting Gar pass.

Diane's breath caught. The voice… it was calm, composed, but beneath it, there was something wrong.

Nisse pressed closer. "Mistress… we should leave this alone."

Diane shook her head. "No. Not until we know what's going on."

She watched as Gar stepped inside, vanishing into the wizard's domain.

Then she made her choice.

They were going in.

---

The Labyrinth Within

The mansion was even more extravagant on the inside. The floors were polished onyx, reflecting the grand chandeliers above, their flickering flames casting distorted shadows along the vast halls.

Diane kept to the edges, using every bit of stealth she had learned in the arena.

Nisse's magic helped mask them, but the deeper they went, the heavier the air became. It wasn't just the overwhelming presence of magic—it was the design of the place. The halls doubled back on themselves, corridors looped in ways that defied logic.

A maze.

"He's trying to confuse us," Diane muttered.

Nisse frowned. "No… trap us."

Diane stopped short, her pulse quickening. The path behind them—was it narrower than before? The walls seemed closer, shifting ever so slightly.

A spell.

Diane gritted her teeth. Enough.

She pressed her palm to the stone, focusing.

Her bond with Nisse flared. Nature magic seeped from her fingertips, unseen pollen drifting through the air. It clung to the walls, mapping their path with invisible markers that only Diane could sense.

A smirk tugged at her lips. Nice try, Ren.

"Come on," she whispered, pressing forward.

They moved quickly, following the faint imprint of their own steps until—

Voices.

Diane pressed herself against a column, signaling Nisse to stay still.

Beyond the heavy red-oak doors ahead, a conversation was taking place.

Gar's voice—low and dangerous.

And another voice. One that slithered through the air like a silk-draped blade.

Ren.

Diane held her breath, listening.

"…Careful now," Ren's voice was laced with amusement. "You wouldn't want to hurt your precious sister, would you?"

Gar's growl was audible even through the thick doors. "Where is she?"

A pause.

Then, Ren's voice dropped into something almost… teasing. "She's alive. And much closer than you think."

Diane's heart stopped.

Gar had a sister?

And this man—this wizard—had her?

The weight of realization settled over her.

This wasn't just Gar's battle.

This was about something much bigger.

Nisse tugged at her sleeve. "Mistress… what do we do?"

Diane clenched her fists.

There was no running now.

They had come this far.

And she was about to find out exactly what kind of monster Ren truly was.

---