Sylas's face tightened, his fists clenched, but he said nothing. With a furious scowl, he spun on his heel, storming out of the foyer, his men trailing behind him like shadows.
Hitoshi let out a long breath as the tension finally dissipated. He glanced down at the chessboard, a small smile on his face as he moved his piece to take Serina's king.
"Checkmate," he murmured with quiet satisfaction.
"Indeed it is," Aric said, a glint of something dark and triumphant in his eyes.
_______
The following day.
East of the imperial city of Valeria stood the Church of the Holy Flame, a towering monument of stone and bronze that had watched centuries pass under its shadow. Its spires climbed toward the heavens like fingers reaching desperately for something beyond mortal grasp.
Beaten by time, each block seemed stained with secrets, the cracks between them whispering prayers that had long since turned to dust.
