Cade was on a cloud.
At least, that’s what his delirious senses told him.
His eyes fluttered open to a ceiling adorned with intricate carvings of ancient lore, each line glowing faintly in hues of green and gold. The light filtering through enchanted windows cast gentle patterns on the walls, creating an almost otherworldly ambiance.
“Where... Where am I?” Cade asked.
Cade attempted to move but found his limbs restrained by silken straps. Panic surged briefly, but he forced it down, taking a deep breath of the floral-scented air mixed with a hint of antiseptic.
“Not again,” Cade muttered when he took in his horrible situation.
His dread arose at the acute realization that he had no idea how he got into this bed. He had a brief flash of horror that his psychopathic ex had caught up with him, and that he was about to pay with his body for fleeing from her in the night all those years ago.
“Ah, you’re awake,” a melodic voice noted.
Cade turned his head, expecting to see a young woman with bright blue hair, but instead spotted a wood elf in the undeniable garments of a physician. Her deep green eyes were a mix of relief and curiosity. She moved towards him with the grace of a deer, her silvery hair flowing like a river of moonlight.
“You gave us a scare out there, you know,” she chastised him in a tone somewhere between playful and accusing. “You really should have better control over your core.”
Cade resorted to his default response and gave her a wide smirk. “Control would imply I had any to begin with, lady.”
There was a long pause between them, and Cade got the impression he read the room wrong. With a gentle pull, the elf closed a long curtain around his bed, obscuring them from other beds and cots spread around the room they were in.
She raised an eyebrow and leaned in conspiratorially. “You’re not joking, are you? Have you even established your core?”
Cade’s tense chuckle was answer enough.
“You’ve got to be joking. I was going to go on vacation after the first trial, but nooo, I had to be an idiot and take this shift. Stay here,” she ordered Cade.
“Don’t worry. That won’t be a problem,” he replied smoothly, though a cold pit formed in the bottom of his stomach.
She disappeared behind the curtain, and he could hear her continue to mutter and curse as she rummaged about. “What in the hells is going on?” He tried to remember where he was before this, and slowly—oh so slowly—the shards of his memory returned.
The arena.
The Baron.
Blood.
The goddess.
Pokey magic? Screams?
Before he could clear his murky thoughts of the daze he was in, the elf returned and tucked a thin strand of her silvery hair behind a long ear. She sighed deeply and retrieved an intricate, enchanted tool from beneath her flowing robes. It shimmered with runes and embedded gems.
“This is designed to resonate with and quantify a person’s core,” the elf explained quickly. “Let’s see what we’re working with here.”
She placed it over his chest and the device hummed softly. Her dainty eyebrows furrowed together.
The hum increased.
“Is that normal?” Cade asked, his voice a few notes higher than it was a moment ago.
Before she could respond, the device vibrated violently, the gems cracking under the strain. The elf’s eyes widened in shock, her professional demeanor giving way to urgency.
“We need to get you out of here, now,” she said, hurriedly unstrapping him.
Cade, still groggy, sat up with her assistance. “Mind telling me what’s going on?”
Her face was pale, her voice barely above a whisper. “Your core... it... I’ve never seen anything like it. The Lifekeepers—if they find out—they’ll demand your execution. We must leave quietly.”
His mind raced. “What?! Why would they care what’s in my core? Hells, what is in my core? What did you find, lady?”
“You—” She started, then huffed in annoyance. “Look, all I know is that it’s not filled with anything good. I’ve never seen readings like this. It’s like your core... “ She bit her lip and looked over her shoulder. Then, leaning in, she whispered, “... has no limits.”
The world spun around Cade.
“What does that even mean?” He asked.
Her grip on his shoulder tightened. “You need to learn control. Whatever is inside of you looks ready to explode at any moment, and you’re just a copper ranker!”
She practically shoved him towards the exit.
“Please, just give me something to go on!” Cade protested. “I’ve been trying to figure out how to establish this stupid thing, but it’s resisting any attempt to conform it to a specific shape or order! If you know anything that might help, you’ve got to let me know! None of the common methods are working, trust me.”
She ignored him, but he dug his feet in as anger roared inside his chest.
He needed answers.
Cade wasn’t going to let an opportunity like this just pass him up. With a twist of his body, he shifted under her surprisingly strong grip and placed a hand on her arm.
His look turned serious. “Please. I have no idea what’s going on with me.”
She stared at him for a long moment, and Cade could see her inner battle finally give into his side.
“Fine,” the elf sighed. “But the Lifekeepers always send someone to check on downed contestants. When I hear them, you’re gone. Understand?”
“Yes!” He exclaimed, and she shushed him with a warm hand over his mouth.
“Gods, child.” She took in a shuddering breath and looked over his back at the door. “Okay, everyone has a core, sort of.”
She clenched her eyes shut in frustration.
“Whether it ever gets awakened is entirely dependent on circumstances. But whatever wakes their core up determines the dominion they have access to,” she explained quickly.
“Yes, I know this much. There are dozens of dominions, right?” Cade asked quickly,
“Indeed,” she confirmed. “They cover every aspect of reality. Death, Life, Honor, Prosperity, Destiny—everything. Each of the gods has a slice of the pie that is reality. It’s what makes them gods, so far as we can tell, at least. They don’t really share how they got where they are, or if they were even mortal like us at some point.”
She sighed, and her words slowed a bit.
“Whatever’s inside of you is unlike anything I’ve ever seen.” She bit at her lower lip nervously. “The tablet said that wind and flame and storm and darkness and conflict are all housed inside that flimsy excuse of a core you got there,” the elf shook her head in bafflement. “And those were just the ones it pointed out before it overloaded. How you’re not dead where you stand is a miracle.”
“That’s nothing new. I sneezed lava a few days ago. You mentioned that my core is coppery? Is that because of the color my magic sometimes has? I’ve seen others have that too, but I’ve also seen silver and even a few golds in my time—erm—traveling,” Cade corrected quickly.
“Yes,” the physician said with a tight nod. “The hue of your magic indicates the stage of evolution your core has. Copper is just the first.”
Her words cut off as she tilted her head. The blood drained from her face, and she shoved him toward the door again.
“Learn to control that magic in you,” she whispered. “Figure out what comes easiest, and build from there, okay?”
Cade stopped at the door, turning back to her. “But how do I—”
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“Just go!” she hissed, locking the door behind him as soon as he stepped out.
The corridor outside was eerily quiet, the kind of silence that screams of impending chaos.
Then he heard it. Footsteps.
By the sound of them, there were at least half a dozen people heading his way. Cade’s pulse quickened as he moved swiftly, his senses on high alert. His mind replayed the physician’s words.
No limit. Control. Execution.
Each step was a blend of urgency and caution, and he shot through the glowflake-lit hallway like his life depended on it.
Despite the tension, Cade couldn’t help but mutter to himself, “Great. First, I’m almost poisoned at a ball, and now I’m a time bomb with unlimited power. Just another day in the life of Cade Stormhollow.”
His path wound through a series of narrow corridors, each twist and turn heightening his sense of disorientation. The walls, adorned with more elven carvings and glowing runes, seemed to close in on him. His leather boots echoed softly as he padded his way up a winding staircase that he hoped led to the surface.
As he rounded a corner, he nearly collided with a pair of Lifekeeper guards. Behind them, a long staircase rose up into the light of day. Their green and white armor gleamed under the soft light of the glowflake sconces overhead, and the one on the right pressed a gauntleted hand into his chest.
Cade’s chest tightened, but he forced a casual smile.
“Evening, gentlemen,” he said, walking past them with a courteous nod.
“What’re ya doin wandering about?” The one on the right proclaimed in such a thick accent Cade had trouble understanding him. “Civilians aren’t allowed down here!”
“Oh, I’m not a civilian!” Cade responded.
The one on the left raised his eyebrow. “Ya aren’t? Well, what are ya, then? Ya ain’t no warrior, that’s for sure!”
He placed a hand on his short sword, and the leather straps beneath his thick armor creaked as he leaned forward to loom over Cade.
“See, look!” Cade exclaimed and raised his left wrist. When he noticed the soul curse there, he paled and raised his other hand. “Here! See, I’m a contestant and everything.”
“Waaait.” the guard on the right drew out the word like it tasted funny.
He shoved Cade gently in the chest and leaned back to get a better look at him. Then, after a breathless moment as the footsteps behind him drew closer, the guard laughed in recognition.
“Oy! You’re the Bloodsucker, aren’t ya?” The guard announced. “I can’t believe I didn’t recognize you! That was mighty smart of you, realizing old Conflict was one of them vampiric sorts. I heard a bard once say all of his Whispers were converted after he ascended.”
“That’s bollocks!” His companion retorted with a nasally scoff.
Cade was taken aback at the title. Behind him, the steps grew closer.
“Sorry, did you call me Bloodsucker?” Cade clarified smoothly.
“Oh, ya haven’t heard?” The other guard remarked with a dimpled smile. “Everyone and their mothers know about you now. The way you just drew that Baron’s blood out to save your friends! Blimey, that was nasty shite, but ya did it for them. You’re a real nasty one, aren’t ya? Save any of it for later, did ya?”
Cade decided it was time to go.
“Well, I’m glad that’s what everyone remembers,” he stated with a professional nod. “And no, I didn’t save any. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’d better go check on my team.”
The young thief winked at the guards and slid past them as they continued to argue enthusiastically about the trial. He took the stairs two steps at a time and was back in the sunlight in no time. His heart pulsed rapidly in his chest.
He was safe.
A pale form slammed into his face, and he went crashing to the ground. His skull cracked against the sandstone floor, and he heard a chorus of laughter and “oofs!” as soon as he went down. Green eyes consumed his vision, and a barbed tongue like that of a cat’s washed over his mouth and cheeks.
“Oh, Bunny! Gross!” Cade complained, but he found himself laughing along with everyone else.
He peered between Bunny’s legs and claws as the dragonling crawled all over his head, and he saw the remaining seven members of his team. They stood beside a small grove of pillars that separated them from a bustling street.
“You gave us a scare, oh mighty leader.” Elena threw the husk of some red fruit at his face, and he flicked it away. “Don’t do that again... Okay?”
“Aww, she’s still feeling guilty for getting mad at you after saving my life; isn’t that sweet?” Jer said.
The redhead’s lips were pursed, and his head was tilted down in the worst excuse of an adorable expression Cade had ever seen. Orro slapped him upside the head, and Jer cursed.
“I’m glad you’re okay,” Orro growled roughly, though Cade knew it was because of his incredible lack of experience dealing with emotions. “Any idea why you passed out after Life tried to heal your wounds like the rest of us?”
“I have an idea, yeah,” Cade answered. “But let’s talk about it later, okay? I need a drink,”
“And a bath, brother,” Rayka teased, but held out a hand to help him up. He took it, and she hauled him up. “Though you could swim in this for a while.”
She tossed him one of the large green bags he’d seen the Lifekeepers holding earlier. When he caught it, the divine clink of coins sliding over one another greeted his ears.
He could’ve cried, it was such a glorious sound.
“Speaking of drinks and baths,” Gavin chimed in from where he leaned against one of the pillars. “We’ve been given special accommodations now that we passed the first trial. The city is paying for everything, which means the first round is on me.”
The bubbly girl, Evie, was behind the same pillar and was ogling the tall man when she thought no one was paying attention.
Cade laughed. “Lead the way.”
Gavin led them down the street from the goddess’s colosseum to a massive spire of wood gilded in gold. Cade honestly couldn’t tell if it was a tree, or simply a design so organic and detailed that it merely looked like it was grown from the earth.
On either side of each of the three large doors leading into the structure, Lifekeeper guards stood at the attention. Cade’s heart quickened at the sight of them, and he remembered what the elf had told him:
They can never find out.
He gulped and followed his crew inside the building. The first thing that struck Cade as he entered the hotel was the sheer opulence of it all. The entrance alone was a marvel, a grand archway carved from a single piece of shimmering crystal, enchanted to reflect a kaleidoscope of colors as the sun set.
Beyond the arch, the lobby opened up into a vast, cavernous space, its high ceilings supported by massive pillars—each intricately carved with scenes from the city’s mythology.
Between them, enchanted waterfalls created walls of water that separated different areas, their waters shimmering with a spectrum of colors as they tumbled into crystal-clear pools filled with vibrant tropical fish.
The constant flow provided a calming backdrop of sound while the air exuded fragrance with the scent of exotic flowers—orchids, hibiscus, and jasmine—each plant meticulously arranged to enhance the natural beauty of the space.
Cade whistled in appreciation when he noticed that even the flora was not just decorative but enchanted. From what he could see, each of their petals and leaves subtly shifted colors and emitted a gentle, soothing hum.
The glowflakes above this chamber depicted tales of the goddess Life healing the sick, bringing joy to the despondent, and uniting star-crossed lovers, each story told in shimmering, animated vignettes. Each perfectly carved flake glowed softly, casting ethereal light on the polished marble floors below, creating a dreamlike atmosphere.
Cade didn’t care much for the gods, but he had to admit: their obsession with ornate depictions of themselves was worth the narcissism. For from their vanity, art was alive.
Maybe mortalkind wasn’t doomed after all.
“I did it, guys. I’m in heaven,” Jer muttered.
But when Cade looked at him, the boy only had eyes for the employees milling about.
“Not this again,” Elena cursed under her breath.
“This?” Gavin asked her as they strode deeper into the palatial building.
Elena huffed in annoyance. “You’ll see.”
Sure enough, gorgeous male and female attendants moved gracefully through the lobby, their uniforms as impeccable as their manners. Jer decided it was a great time to entertain the female staff, and he started to show off his admittedly impressive acrobatics.
“He’s hopeless,” Elena surmised and shouldered past the rest of the team as she bulled her way toward the front desk.
The servants all wore various shades of white and green, and greeted the guests with warm smiles, their voices melodic and inviting. Every need was anticipated and attended to with an almost magical efficiency, from the smallest request for a cool drink to the grandest demand for luxurious accommodations.
Soon, they were beckoned forward, and each of their tattoos was authenticated. Cade and his companions were led by a particularly striking attendant, a tall woman with flowing auburn hair and eyes of liquid gold. She gestured for them to follow her deeper into the lobby, where the grandeur only increased.
As they approached the reception desk, Cade’s attention was drawn to a figure standing nearby—a winter elf with braided locs and strange black tattoos winding across her pale skin. Her presence was as incongruous with the beauty and serenity of the hotel as a viper in a box full of puppies.
“Wait here. An attendant will be with you in a moment,” The golden-eyed staff member told their motley crew.
Cade looked ahead in line, and past a finely dressed couple in their way, the winter elf continued to speak quietly with the woman behind the desk.
“Something’s not right,” Nora whispered into his ear.
Cade nodded.
As inconspicuously as he could, he studied the winter elf—her posture, the subtle lines across her body that hinted at concealed weapons, and the small detail that the employee she was talking to looked ready to keel over from terror.
He stepped forward, his curiosity getting the better of him. Cade picked up snippets of their conversation as they neared.
The attendant’s fear was palpable, her eyes wide and desperate as she listened to the winter elf.
“I know... Cade... Where... Just... Hugh... “ With each word, Cade’s steps slowed while his pulse quickened.
Sweat gathered across his palms as he heard the winter elf question the lobbyist. “... You will tell me when they arrive.”
On instinct, Cade backed up and grabbed Jer’s arm, pulling him away from a particularly cute half-elf with a freckled face and thick red curls.
“We’re leaving. Now,” he said, his voice low but firm.
“But—” Jer started to protest. “She could be the one!”
Cade cut him off with a glare that brooked no argument.
“Trust me,” he hissed. “We can’t stay here.”
“What? What is it? Are we leaving?” Rayka asked from where she was studying a red flower.
Cade’s eyes flared, and she got the message. The others followed, grumbling quietly in annoyance. Cade’s heart hammered in his chest. Elena’s eyes flashed with irritation, and Orro’s hand twitched toward his hidden blades, but they held their tongues.
The thief led them swiftly toward the exit, his mind rushing through a dozen different scenarios, none of them good. As they reached the doors, he risked a glance back at the lobby.
She was gone.
The winter elf was gone.
Cade cursed, then looked to his team.
“Okay, shut up and listen,” Cade said, and from their serious expressions, all of them knew now wasn’t the time to argue. “That winter elf? She’s trouble. I’m not sure how, and I’m not sure why, but I heard my name and Hugh’s. We’re going back to the Twisted Oak. NOW.”
Nora frowned, and her hand went to the hilt at her side. “What did she want?”
“I don’t know,” Cade admitted, “but I’m not sticking around to find out. We’re safer at the Twisted Oak, where we can keep a low profile.”
They followed him, their irritation giving way to wariness. As they hurried away from the opulent hotel, Cade couldn’t shake the feeling that they had narrowly avoided something terrible. The memory of the terrified attendant and the dangerous aura of the winter elf lingered in his mind.
It was only as the shoddy sign denoting their favorite tavern for lowlifes came into view that the implication of that elf’s presence really slammed home in Cade’s mind:
They were being hunted.
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