Reza swiftly navigated through the noble district’s streets and crossed into the island forum. The eight towers of the Echoes Churches stood tall, each adorned with glowing orbs. Sorana’s remained veiled until her Archon was chosen. Reza stood at the palace’s precipice, gazing down into the bustling Forum where people hurriedly completed their late afternoon errands. He had no specific purpose until he met with Kelburn to finalize the deal, so he observed the progress of the Broken King and the young children moving into the building. While most were granted entry, he noticed a young man turned away; his head hung low in defeat at the king’s hands.

  What made the Broken King choose who got to go into the building? How did the wraiths choose their pacts? Reza had once asked Elana a question, but she had ignored it and refused to meet his gaze until the subject had been dropped. He unleashed his power again, descending onto the palace stairs and releasing Elana. He navigated through the crowd, weaving towards the building and its ever-vigilant sentinel.

  Reza could not understand his purpose in returning to the building, but the king intrigued him. He waited for the few children to pass through and present their wraiths as they returned from their ceremony. Each child had wide eyes and smiles that conveyed their innocent delight in this significant step. It was a remarkable moment; the pact of a wraith held sway within the city, and people regarded their counterparts with newfound respect. Many believed one was not a man or woman until the wraith pact was completed.

  When no children remained, Reza hesitated before finally entering the gate and approaching the Broken King.

  The wraith sat with his intricately carved cane resting on his lap, his scarred face fixed on him. Reza sat on the ground before him, patiently waiting for something to occur. But nothing happened.

  “I’ve walked past this building countless times over the past fifteen years since my pact with you. I can’t help but wonder about your identity and the circumstances that led you to this position.” Reza whispered, his voice filled with curiosity.

  Reza pondered why he had chosen to visit the Broken King and why today, of all days. Why not one of the churches? He remained steadfast in his presence, feeling the stares of onlookers but choosing to ignore them. The Broken King fixed his gaze on Reza, never making a single gesture.

  “It’s pointless to dwell on it. After all, you can’t talk to me anyway. I wish Elana could speak. It would undoubtedly simplify our pact.”

  Despite Reza’s words, the Broken King remained silent. Reza continued to sit, his legs crossed, waiting for the reason behind his presence. Suddenly, a shadow moved to his side.

  “Excuse me, may I try to pass through?” A young female voice asked.

  Reza turned to see a young girl, perhaps fifteen or sixteen, standing a few feet away.

  He gestured towards the Broken King. “Of course, I wouldn’t want to delay your ceremony.” Reza glanced over his shoulder, where a couple stood at the gate, observing the young girl.

  She bowed, and Reza waited patiently to witness the girl approach the King. She paused briefly, and he gestured with his scepter. The girl, wide-eyed, nodded in acknowledgment and proceeded through the door.

  Reza approached the parents. “You have a fine daughter there. She displayed remarkable courage. I was utterly speechless when I performed such a feat at her age.”

  They beamed with joy, and the father bowed slightly in gratitude. “Thank you, Lord Reza. That news brings immense happiness to us.”

  Reza froze for a moment, momentarily taken aback by the question. How did they know his name? However, he quickly realized that he had likely been recognized from the contest. A smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he acknowledged his foolishness. With a nod, he bowed, acknowledging that it was time for him to depart. The Broken King was not receptive to his questions today, but perhaps another day, he would respond.

  As Reza began to walk through the crowd, someone forcefully pushed him aside. He held his ground and summoned Elana. Just as she materialized, a blade flashed into the man’s hand, and he lunged at Reza in an attempt to stab him. Reza flared his energy and found himself back in the front of the Broken King. Multiple assassins emerged from the shadows, their blades drawn, ready to attack him.

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  “This is what I get for leaving my guards behind,” he muttered under his breath.

  Reza drew his daggers and launched a fierce attack on the assassins. He unleashed a flare, swiftly approaching one of the men. With ease, he brought his blade across the man’s neck, causing a deafening scream from the crowd surrounding the Broken King's domain. Amidst the chaos, Reza caught sight of the girl standing at the building’s doorway, her eyes wide with terror.

  As he prepared to unleash another flare and deliver a swift strike, Reza noticed a man clutching his wounded leg after being stabbed through the thigh. With a final, decisive blow, he ended the man’s life, silencing his screams. However, the sound of approaching footsteps prompted Reza to flare his power once more. Just as he appeared to block a blade aimed at his neck, he realized it was too close.

  Reza flared his power, propelling himself into the air. But one of the assassins proved to be quick and drew a crossbow, aiming a deadly bolt at Elana. Reza had to dodge, and the bolt almost found purchase in his neck. Flaring again, Reza emerged from behind the crossbowman. He swiftly stabbed deep into the man’s back, causing the assassins to collapse against Reza before falling to the ground, lifeless.

  The girl held her ground with a young girl wraith, emitting a soft red glow, standing beside her. One of the assassins, their hand reaching for the girl with their dagger in the other, lunged forward. In a swift motion, the girl kneeled and grabbed a nearby rock, hurling it at the assassin. Reza rushed to help, holding the assassin by the shoulder as he attempted to dodge the rock. With a swift strike, Reza pierced the assassin’s ribs, ensuring that he finished the man before turning his attention back to the young woman.

  “Find a safe place to hide until I signal you,” Reza ordered. She listened and quickly darted behind the throne, seeking refuge from the remaining assassins. “Let’s finish this.”

  Surprisingly, the last two assassins were accompanied by wraiths, hulking men radiating a deep blue glow. Local assassins they are either desperate or foolish?

  With incredible speed, they launched an attack, both men moving faster than the human eye could follow. Reza flared, soaring into the air once again above the men. They began to look for Elana, but their movements were thwarted. Reza prepared to strike, but the weakened king intervened, raising his scepter and slamming it into the ground. A wave of golden light descended, slicing through the air. The first man managed to block the attack, while the other narrowly dodged, sustaining only a minor cut across the shoulder. Unfortunately, it was not life-threatening, and the man was still a threat.

  In a blur of motion, they both wielded their blades with precision, trying to find Reza, their speed unmatched. Reza flared repeatedly, slashing at imaginary body parts that materialized before him. He continued his assault, but the assassins remained vigilant, blocking or dodging his strikes with remarkable agility and precision. Despite Reza’s relentless onslaught, the assassins managed to inflict their own cuts, Reza feeling at least three slashes across his body, though none were deep.

  Finally, Reza flare his power, driving his blade deep into the man’s chest, causing the man to collapse at Reza’s feet. The dagger clutched tightly in the man’s body compelled Reza to allow it to fall from his grasp as he flared away, unwilling to risk the second assassin delivering a fatal backstab.

  The last assassin, witnessing the demise of his comrades, attempted to flee. He leaped over the weathered fence, hoping to escape. But his escape attempt was thwarted as he found himself face-to-face with Reza.

  Reza flared, blocking the man’s path. The man attempted to bash through him, but Reza swiftly switched the grip of his blade and, using the pommel, struck the man’s skull. The man collapsed into Reza’s arms, and Reza pushed him back over the fence. The Broken King stood above the unconscious man. Guards were already rushing through the crowd, ready to apprehend him.

  “I apologize for disrupting your sacred space,” Reza bowed his head. However, the Broken King merely returned to his throne.

  Reza moved over to the young woman. “You may come out now,” he gestured. She hesitantly emerged from her hiding spot, and her parents rushed to her side. Reza continued to converse with her. “Impressive with the rock; what’s your name?”

  She approached him cautiously before speaking, before making a slight bow. “Rael,” she whispered.

  “A lovely name. Is this your wraith?” Reza inquired. The young, radiant wraith stood beside her. He could only be around 9 or 10 years old, making him one of the youngest wraiths Reza had ever encountered.

  “Yes, he emerged from the building to me. He appeared quite different from the others,” she glanced at the King. The scarred face remained unmoved, though Reza was sure he heard the comment.

  “This is my friend Elana. I hope your wraith is as good a friend as she is to me.” Reza said.

  “She has a name? I wonder what hers is.” She gestured to her own.

  “It took me a long time, but keep asking names or check the library records, and you’ll find hers,” Reza motioned to Elana. “It took me hundreds or thousands of names to find hers, but that’s the best advice I can give you first.”

  “Thank you, Lord Reza, for keeping her safe. I cannot thank you more,” Rael’s mother said. They left with the young wraith trailing behind them, a resolute expression on his face.

  Sabine. If he had been attacked, she might have been too. The thought came rushing to his mind without another word to anyone around him. Reza flared his power, rising quickly into the air. Using Elan’s power, he flew through the air, falling towards the noble district to find Sabine. He just hoped he wasn’t too late.