The atmosphere in the lower district of Veymar was thick with tension, the scent of sweat, iron, and smoldering torches mixing into an oppressive cloud above the gathered mercenaries. Evolis stood at the edge of the crude fighting pit, his golden eyes scanning the chaotic scene before him. The crowd was ruthless—hardened warriors, bounty hunters, and exiled Dark Elves alike, all jeering, betting, and watching the match with a bloodthirsty fervor.
The Dark Elf warrior in the pit, the one who had just thrown his challenge, was a monstrous sight. Standing nearly seven feet tall, his body was packed with corded muscle, dark blue skin glistening with a faint Etherion sheen. Twin axes rested in his hands, their jagged edges humming with dark energy, and his crimson eyes gleamed with malice.
Evolis exhaled slowly, stepping forward as the gathered mercenaries turned to look at him.
"Oh? We got a challenger!" someone shouted from the crowd, followed by a mix of laughter and murmurs.
A mercenary, daring to challenge one of the stronger Dark Elf warriors? The amusement was palpable.
Orion clapped Evolis on the back, his smirk widening. "Well, 'Veil,' looks like you're up. Make it good." His voice carried just the right amount of playfulness, but the glint in his eyes told Evolis to be careful.
Aeliana gave him a sharp glance. "Keep it controlled. We can't afford to attract too much attention."
Evolis rolled his shoulders, exhaling calmly before stepping into the pit.
His opponent was a hulking Dark Elf with twin axes strapped across his back. His violet-hued eyes narrowed at Evolis before his lips curled into a sneer. "A lone mercenary from a dead company? Thought I was gonna get a real warm-up first."
The crowd jeered, some shaking their heads, already anticipating a quick fight.
Evolis merely tilted his head, cracking his knuckles. "You'll warm up just fine, if you last that long."
A ripple of reaction swept through the gathered mercenaries, some laughing, others whistling at the bold remark. The Dark Elf warrior's smirk vanished, replaced by a flicker of irritation.
"Bold words," the fighter growled, unsheathing his axes. "Let's see if you can back them up."
The announcer, a grizzled orc standing just outside the pit, raised his hand. "Rules are simple. Fight ends when someone concedes, is knocked out, or can't move. No killing. Begin!"
The moment the words left his mouth, the Dark Elf lunged.
He moved fast, his axes carving through the air with a speed that made the onlookers flinch. But for Evolis, it was different.
Space folded.
One moment, the axes were streaking toward him, the next, Evolis had already sidestepped, the space between them shifting subtly, adjusting reality just enough to place him out of reach. To the untrained eye, it looked as if he had barely moved, but the effortless precision was what made it terrifying.
The Dark Elf snarled and swung again, this time widening his stance, aiming for a brutal diagonal cut. Again, Evolis wasn't there.
He flowed like liquid, using the smallest distortions of space to bend the battlefield to his will. He didn't dodge—he simply ceased to exist in that spot.
The crowd began murmuring. The Dark Elf's attacks were being completely nullified.
"What the hell?" someone muttered. "How's he moving like that?"
Orion grinned from the sidelines. "Oh, this is gonna be fun."
The Dark Elf warrior's frustration boiled over. He snarled and slammed one of his axes into the ground, sending a surge of dark Etherion outward in a concussive wave. The ground cracked, debris flying as the force aimed to throw Evolis off balance.
Evolis reacted instantly.
Space twisted.
Instead of letting the shockwave hit him, he manipulated the distance—shifting himself two feet to the side in an instant, making it seem as if he had already been standing there all along.
The Dark Elf barely had time to process what had happened before Evolis retaliated.
With a flicker of movement, Evolis stepped forward, space bending subtly beneath his feet, and drove a sharp palm strike into the warrior's ribcage. But instead of just landing a normal hit—
He collapsed the space between them at the last second.
The effect was instantaneous—the force of the strike tripled, the impact slamming into the Dark Elf like a warhammer. The massive warrior staggered, eyes wide as pain bloomed through his ribs. He barely had time to process before Evolis vanished again, appearing at his blind spot.
Then came the real attack.
Evolis spun sharply, folding the space around his leg, amplifying its force as he delivered a devastating roundhouse kick to the warrior's side. The sound of the impact echoed through the pit, the Dark Elf hurling backward, his body skidding across the dirt.
The crowd erupted into stunned silence.
The Dark Elf coughed, struggling to his feet, his axes shaking in his grip. He wasn't out yet. But there was something in his eyes now—something Evolis had seen many times before.
Doubt.
And doubt was deadly.
Evolis slowly circled the Dark Elf, as the dark elf watched him wearily. Then suddenly as soon as he took his next step, Evolis compressed the space between them and his next step took him right next to the Dark Elf.
The elf's eyes widened as he quickly brought down his axe to attack evolis, but he felt as though he was swinging through muddy waters, as his axe kept on going towards Evolis yet never reaching him.
The space around Evolis loosened as he threw a punch straight at the Dark Elf.
The Dark Elf barely noticed a fist appear before his eyes before he was blasted across the arena and slammed into one of the walls.
Evolis exhaled, rolling his shoulders as he walked toward his opponent. "Still think you were gonna get a warm-up?"
The warrior growled, spitting blood onto the ground. "You cocky little—"
He roared and threw one of his axes.
A desperate move, but one Evolis had expected.
Space shifted.
Instead of dodging, Evolis compressed the distance between himself and the axe, then expanded it again in a fraction of a second—the weapon, instead of hitting him, veered wildly off course, sailing into the crowd.
The warrior barely had time to blink before Evolis was right in front of him.
One clean strike to the gut. No fancy distortions this time—just raw, controlled power.
The Dark Elf collapsed.
Silence fell over the pit.
Then—
Roars erupted from the crowd, some cheering, others cursing at their lost bets. But no one could deny it.
Evolis had won.
The announcer, still looking slightly stunned, finally lifted his arm. "Winner—The Black Veil's team member!"
Evolis stepped back, exhaling through his nose, his golden eyes unreadable as he turned toward Aeliana and Orion.
Orion was grinning wildly. "I mean, I knew you were good, kid, but damn."
Aeliana, ever the composed one, nodded approvingly. "You controlled the fight without revealing too much. That was impressive."
Evolis smirked. "I do my best."
Orion clapped a hand on his shoulder. "Well, congratulations, because you just put us exactly where we need to be."
Aeliana arched a brow. "Which means?"
Orion gestured toward a group of figures watching from the upper balcony—a mix of Dark Elven officers and high-ranking mercenaries.
"It means the people who matter just took notice. And that, people, is how you infiltrate an army."
Evolis exhaled, looking up toward the balcony where the real power sat.
This was just the beginning.
---
The chamber was dimly lit, the violet glow of Etherion crystals embedded in the black stone walls casting eerie, shifting patterns across the floor. Heavy curtains veiled the towering windows, allowing only the faintest slivers of moonlight to creep through. The air carried a subtle tension, thick and unspoken.
At the center of it all, seated comfortably in a high-backed chair, was Selene Varadis.
The supposed pitiful, crimson-haired lady who served her 'Lord', Cassiel.
She swirled a glass of dark wine idly, her crimson hair cascading over one shoulder, her expression unreadable. Despite the stillness of her posture, there was an unmistakable air of authority about her, one that made even the shadows seem to coil at her presence.
The quiet knock at her door was expected.
"Enter," she murmured, not looking up.
The heavy doors creaked open, revealing a robed figure who stepped inside cautiously, bowing deeply before speaking.
"My lady, a report has arrived from our observers in Veylith."
Selene hummed in interest but did not immediately respond. Instead, she tilted her glass, watching the deep crimson liquid swirl within. The informant knew better than to take this as disinterest—Selene was merely allowing the weight of his words to settle.
The robed man swallowed before continuing. "It's him. Evolis."
That caught her attention.
Selene's fingers stopped their lazy motion against the glass. For a moment, there was silence.
"Speak," she commanded.
The informant nodded hastily. "Our sources in the Elven Kingdom have confirmed persistent sightings of a young human male, one matching the descriptions from the Ascension Trial. He was taken in by the Elves months ago, and since then, he has risen within their ranks at an alarming rate. His presence has caused quite the stir among their high command."
Selene remained quiet, absorbing the information.
She had already suspected as much.
"You are certain it is him?" she asked, her tone measured.
"As certain as one can be without direct confrontation," the informant admitted. "The details align too perfectly. The name, the timing of his arrival, his rapid advancement in power. It cannot be mere coincidence."
Selene exhaled softly, resting her chin against her palm. Evolis had always been an anomaly, even in the past. His potential had been... unnatural. And if he had truly survived, if he was truly out there, walking free…
She almost smiled.
Almost.
"What else?" she prompted.
The informant shifted. "The Elven Kingdom has been preparing for war, as expected. However, there are whispers that Evolis is being deployed... not to the front lines, but to covert operations. It seems they are testing him. Perhaps even grooming him for something larger."
Selene's eyes darkened at that. "A weapon."
"Perhaps," the man conceded. "Or an experiment. We are unsure."
Selene traced the rim of her glass thoughtfully. "And yet, despite all this, you hesitate."
The informant stiffened but did not deny it.
Selene's gaze sharpened. "You're debating whether to ask me if we should report this to Cassiel, aren't you?"
The robed man swallowed thickly, nodding. "Yes, my lady."
Selene did not answer right away.
Instead, she stood, moving toward the towering windows. She parted the curtains with a delicate hand, gazing out at the sprawling city below. A sea of darkened rooftops stretched beneath the moonlight, flickering violet lanterns painting the streets with eerie illumination.
After a long moment, she spoke.
"No."
The informant blinked. "No?"
She turned slightly, crimson eyes gleaming in the dim light. "Cassiel is not to be informed. Not yet."
"But, my lady—"
"Do not make me repeat myself," Selene said, her voice velvet-smooth but carrying the weight of finality.
The informant quickly bowed his head. "Understood."
Selene let the silence stretch for a moment before continuing. "Send a reconnaissance team. Elite, discreet, and completely off the books. I want detailed information—where he is, what he is doing, who he is working with. I want his weaknesses, his habits, and most importantly…" She turned fully now, a slow, calculated smirk tugging at the corner of her lips.
"I want to know why he is still alive."
The informant hesitated only briefly before bowing again. "It will be done."
As he turned to leave, Selene spoke once more, stopping him at the threshold.
"And if they are discovered?"
She did not need to elaborate.
The informant straightened. "They know what to do."
Satisfied, Selene watched as the doors closed behind him, leaving her alone once more in the dim glow of her chamber.
She exhaled, bringing the wine glass to her lips.
Evolis.
So, you did survive.
The implications were dangerous. If he was alive, then certain truths had been buried. Certain narratives had been carefully constructed to hide a failure.
And Selene?
Selene hated failures.
Her gaze flickered back to the city beyond. The night stretched endlessly before her, quiet and waiting.
She smiled.
"Let's see what you're really made of, Evolis."
And this time, she would be watching very, very closely.