Lira sprinted through the damp tunnel, the faint torchlight flickering wildly with her every step. The echoes of battle behind her faded into the distance, swallowed by the ancient walls of the aqueduct.
Her breath came in ragged gasps, the shard clutched tightly against her chest, wrapped in its protective cloth. Every instinct screamed at her to stop, to turn back—but she forced herself forward, trusting Kaden and Ardyn to hold the enemy at bay.
The tunnel sloped downward, growing narrower and darker. Water dripped from the ceiling in slow, steady rhythms, and the air was thick with the scent of mold and earth.
After what felt like an eternity, Lira stumbled into a wider chamber. It was a forgotten cistern, with towering columns holding up the ceiling like ancient sentinels. Pools of stagnant water reflected the dim light, and old stone pathways crisscrossed the space.
Lira paused, catching her breath, unsure which way to go.
A soft splash broke the silence.
She whipped around, heart hammering, but saw nothing at first. Then, emerging from the shadows, a figure approached—a boy, no older than sixteen, with wild, sandy hair and wide, curious eyes.
He raised his hands in a non-threatening gesture. "Hey, don't be scared. I saw you running. Name's Cael."
Lira hesitated, clutching the shard tighter. "Who are you? Why are you down here?"
Cael shrugged. "I live down here, sort of. The city above isn't exactly welcoming for people like me." His eyes flicked to the bundle in Lira's arms. "Looks like you're in trouble."
Lira didn't answer, but her tense posture said enough.
Cael stepped closer, voice lowering. "If you want to stay alive, you're gonna need a guide. These tunnels go on forever, and some of them lead straight into places you don't want to find."
Lira weighed her options quickly. She couldn't afford to waste time—and she had no idea where she was going.
"Alright," she said, voice still wary. "But if you try anything—"
"I won't," Cael interrupted with a grin. "Cross my heart."
He gestured for her to follow, and together they slipped deeper into the labyrinthine passages.
Behind them, somewhere far away, the sounds of the battle raged on, but Lira couldn't afford to look back.
Her path was forward now.
And whatever awaited her, she would face it.