Chapter 86: Complications
Axel stirred in the darkness, his breath shallow, his body pressed against the soft futon beneath him. His senses were alert, even in this dimly lit living room, where the faint glow of the moon streamed through the curtained windows. His eyelids fluttered slightly as a familiar voice echoed in his mind.
*My Lord… My Lord! Are you asleep?*
The voice echoed once more, cutting through the silence of the night. Axel's eyes shot open, his heart racing. He could immediately recognize the deep, foreboding tone. It was a voice he had come to associate with one of his closest allies—and his greatest fears.
Standing before him, a shimmering form that only Axel could see, was Velerium.
The sight of the ancient being sent a shiver down Axel's spine. Velerium looked more haggard than usual, his skeletal form etched with deep cracks, as though the very fabric of his being was falling apart. His once-menacing presence seemed fragile, barely holding together.
