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of being suspended in mid-air, his wrists and ankles bound by cold, unforgiving metal. He tried to struggle, to b

of the room, "Oh, impressive. I've never seen any

in a chair, whittling a dagger with a look of bored nonchalance. It was Grekh, the commander-in-c

alked over to Xanthos, his boots echoing off the cold stone walls. "You're not going anywhere," Grekh said, his

face him. "The Gifted are notoriously hard to kill," Grekh said, his eyes narr

ng off the stone walls. "They were fools," he snarled, his eyes blazing with defian

ck to his chair, still chuckling, and sat down, his eyes never leaving Xanthos's face. As he composed himself, hi

ho seethed with rage. "I like you, Xanthos," Grekh said, his s

"I think you'd make a wonderful Imperial Blade for th

nt. "I'd rather die than work for the Empero

ening with rage. "I wasn't asking," he muttered, his voice lo

iece of Imperial craftsmanship, with intricate engravings and etchings that seemed to shimmer in the dim light of the room. The armor itself was a dark, bu

sed and swollen. Orion's eyes were downcast, his shoulders slumped in defeat, as Elara tossed him to the

e wrenched him to his knees. Her eyes locked onto Xanthos', a cold, calculating glint in their dep

anticipation. "Hold on, Elara." He turned his attention back

of seeing his sister, Elara, as a pawn in Grekh's game had worn off, replaced by a cold, hard determination. X

th a speed that was almost supernatural. In a blur of motion, the Archivist's head was seve

his spine as he realized just how deadly the commander was. Elara stood like a

ace. "So, Xanthos," he said, his voice dripping with anticipa

mpire, but dying was a less pleasant option. And who knows? Maybe he would actually have the chance to k

As she did, Grekh spoke up, his voice cold and detached. "Elara, take car

unch himself at the commander, to wrap his hands around Grekh's throat and squeeze the life out of him. But he had seen the way Grekh had killed his uncle, w

his time, gathering his strength and waiting for the perfect moment to s

spreading across his face. "And, Xanthos," he said, his voice dripping with malice

of the chamber, leaving Xanthos to seethe with anger and an