Of course they didn’t believe me. Why would they, after all. I’m a Hanguhn in all but name.

- Uuriintuya, Second Prophet of the Adjha’nai. Dated -46 b.f.

The Matriarch’s red eyes held an unfathomable depth to them, an aura of absolute supremacy that could not be denied. He was nothing before this creature. There would be no escape. Not for someone like him. A lowly human, a bug to be squashed. Holding onto one of her sharp scales, Silas continued to climb down the statue.

Just a little bit further and he would be able to jump without hurting himself. Below, Zaya and Ashnur were fighting against the guards raining crossbow bolts down on them. Silas used the Matriarch’s wings as cover, and the bolts broke against the solid stone of the statue.

Yamut was already gone. Imira seemed on the verge to leave, shooting pleading glances at Ashnur as she waited near the chamber’s exit.

The guards from above disappeared, and a new figure stepped into view. A blackened line above her cheek dripped with fresh blood. She wove a spark of fire in her left palm, stoking it with the right as it expanded into a ball of flame.

Silas looked down. Still too high to jump. One step at a time, he reached the Matriarch’s midsection. The fireball left the guard captain’s hands, and this time, he didn’t have the Matriarch’s wings to hide behind.

Seeing the scorching ball of flame approaching, Silas let go of the statue and braced himself for the impact. His legs screamed in pain as he landed and he tumbled to the ground in a mess of limbs. He would have to practice that.

Zaya and Layla sent a barrage of attacks at the guards to give Silas cover as he joined their side. Nurana stood near the entrance of the chamber, weaving a mass of something between her hands that made Silas instinctively take a step back. It flew upwards like a shadow, dissipating as it met the guards. There was no noise, no impact, nothing. But a heartbeat later, one guard went limp and fell forward. He was dead before his body splattered against the hard stone floor.

Zaya helped Silas out of the chamber and into the hallway.

“Glad you caught up,” the tall Drakhonian said as she went to heal one of his knees.

“Thanks for that, whatever it was.”

Nurana grimaced. “You don’t want to know.”

Grunts of pain came from ahead, the deep, grating sounds seeming anything but human. Ashnur and Layla led them around the corner, where Imira was crouching on the floor, grunting in pain as her body shrunk down.

One by one, her bones compressed and the scales were sucked back into her skin. Her claws fell off and her fingernails widened, red marks visible underneath where the nail bed hadn’t healed yet.

Yamut seemed surprised to see them. “If we can get out of the catacombs fast enough, we can shake them off before the whole garrison comes out of its nest to comb the city. Once we reach the Lower District, we should be safe. But we need to be fast,” he said, throwing a glance at Ashnur who was still panting heavily.

Imira took a step towards Yamut, her teeth bared. “Don’t worry about him. Just get us out of here, and I’ll do the rest.”

Yamut looked like he wanted to say more, but reluctantly nodded. They hurried out of the catacombs, the stale air of the graves creeping into their lungs like leeches, determined to suck the last bit of moisture out of them. At least here, there weren’t any undead. A shudder went through Silas as he remembered the encounter in Al-Talash.

It was still night when they emerged from the catacombs, the cool breeze coming from the Southern Sea a welcoming change. At night, few people roamed the streets of the Upper District. Yamut led them through the city silently, taking turns where Silas hadn’t known alleys existed.

Guards patrolled the main streets, yet none were present in the narrow alleyways home to the tinkerers and smaller shops of Nu-Taquim. When they reached the Lower District, the guards disappeared altogether.

The Hall of the Lower District stood out like a lighthouse, the large Magelight perched above its front wall guiding them. Few people were present when they entered.

Galmor came rushing out the back, welcoming them with a relieved smile. “Imira, I’m so glad to see you again.” Worry creased his wrinkled forehead. “Did everything go smoothly?”

“No. We were discovered. We’ll have to hide for the time being. I only came to let you know. I don’t doubt the guards will be here soon enough to search for us.” Imira turned around, facing Silas and the rest. “I’m sorry to have dragged you into this, but you can’t stay here. They know your faces. You won’t be safe in the city anymore, not even in the Lower District.”

“Mother, let them come with us. I trust them,” Ashnur interjected.

“I do, too.” She turned back to Silas. “You all have proven yourselves more than worthy to join our cause. There is somewhere we can go where even the Empress can’t get to us. Yet, I have to warn you. Once you’re there, you won’t be able to come back for some time.”

Nurana nodded. “Thank you for your trust. We weren’t planning to come back, anyway.”

Imira let out a sigh of relief. “I was hoping you’d say that. I would hate to see you leave. The place is called the Undercity. Getting there won’t be easy, but I know a way.”

Silas inwardly smiled. This was it. The infamous lair of the Cult calling itself the Ascended. Silas breathed to calm his beating heart. If they got there, they only had to find the Empress’ informant and they’d receive the last dose necessary to clean their Taint and heal Gnarly. They were so close.

“Let’s go, then,” he said. “ But what about these people? Won’t they tell on us? If the guards are coming…” Silas began but was interrupted by Imira as she let out a short chuckle.

“Don’t worry about them. Down here, people stick together. They won’t mention a word to the guards.”

“We need to get Layla before we leave,” Ashnur pleaded. “Her foot was injured when defeating the Shelter.”

Imira hesitated.

“Please, mother. She deserves a second chance. She’s just as talented as Zaya.”

Zaya cocked an eyebrow but held her silence.

“Alright. I know an entrance near the Shelter, but we need to leave right now if we want to make it there. Goodbye, Galmor. Thank you for everything.”

Galmor already herded them towards the back entrance. “Hurry up now, dear. We’ll be fine.” He spared one final look at Silas and his friends. “A bright future awaits you, my children. Don’t let it go to waste.”

“Yamut, lead them to Kanzo’s entry,” Imira ordered him. “It should still be open. Ashnur and I will pick up Layla and meet you there.”

Silas, Zaya, and Nurana followed Yamut to a nondescript house a short walk away from the Shelter. Silas found it hard to believe this was the entrance to the Ascended’s tunnels. Yamut knocked on the door. No response.

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Gentle waves came from the Southern Sea, weaving between the many fishing boats swaying lightly in the dark waters. There was a little corner there, right between two piers where the water was deeper and the currents stronger than usual.

So deep that multiple people could stand on top of each other without breaching the surface, it had been the perfect spot. Would they ever be missed? Their bodies bloated like bread left in the rain, the salt water circulating through their dead lungs, their eyes would have long been plucked out by the fish as the crabs nested in their skulls.

How many would there be, down there? Corpses tied to a brick to prevent it from coming afloat, their bodies covered the seabed in a blanket of polished, white bones carefully picked clean of any remaining flesh.

The sea was always hungry.

Yamut knocked again, louder this time. The door opened just a crack. Two dark eyes peered out.

“Before the Matriarch,” a voice came.

“All will bow,” Yamut answered. The door opened, and Yamut stepped in. Silas followed, his eyes taking a moment to adjust to the dim light within. “What can I do for you?” the man asked, crossing his arms. His deep, heavy brows furrowed together as he took in Silas. Even in the dark, his light skin stood out.

“We need to get down. I was informed it’s still open?”

“What’s supposed to be still open?”

Yamut scowled. “Stop pretending, Imira sent me. She’ll be here in a moment. They need to disappear for a bit.”

“Did she, now?” the man’s gaze wandered over their small group.

“Yes, she did,” Imira’s voice came from outside as she stepped in. Ashnur and Layla ducked in afterwards. The man’s poise relaxed. “It’s good to see you again, Imira. I’ll still have to follow protocol, though.”

Imira smiled. “Of course, I wouldn’t expect anything less.” She bowed her head, revealing a small scar on the back of her neck. The man stood up on his toes, laid a finger on it, and nodded. “Follow me.”

He stopped in a small room in the back, pulled open a latch in the floor and gestured down the stairs. “There is a gap between the two shelves near the right wall. But be careful when moving them, the food stocked there isn’t just for show.”

“Thank you, Kanzo. I’ll put in a good word for you, once I’m there.”

Kanzo grunted. “Please do. May the Matriarch’s boons help you ascend.”

“And you,” she replied before heading down the stairs.

Behind the shelf, a narrow tunnel led into near darkness.

“Whatever you do, don’t stray off. These tunnels are as much a maze as an entry, so stay close to me,” Imira cautioned.

The tunnel was made of rough sandstone. Zaya and Nurana, being the last to enter, carefully pushed back the shelves. Silas stared into the narrow tunnel. Apart from the Magelight Imira held, the blackness was absolute. Imira took a slow pace, scanning the walls on each side. Suddenly, she stopped and kneeled.

There was a small, black mark near the ground, hiding between the dancing shadows cast by her Magelight. Imira trailed the mark with her index finger. A green flame lit up, burning brightly for a heartbeat before dissipating. Somewhere ahead of them, stone rumbled.

Imira’s steps quickened. She stopped before a junction where the tunnel split off into two directions. A few pebbles were lying on the ground near the right entry. Imira strode through confidently. “This way.”

Silsa gave up trying to keep track after they did a sharp U-turn for the third time. How anyone could navigate this maze was beyond him. Could it be that Imira was purposefully taking a longer route so they wouldn’t be able to trace it back in case Silas or the rest had second thoughts?

Ultimately, it didn’t matter. Silas needed to heal Gnarly. Now that they were almost in the Undercity, there would be no going back. He was just glad to have Zaya and Nurana by his side.

He knew their afflictions of the Taint weren’t as severe as his own. It was possible the Empress would just let them go if they refused to work for her, although Silas doubted it. He’d seen how easily her guards dragged someone from the streets and threw them in prison. Imira might not be innocent, but the Empress’ ruled with an iron fist. Denying a request from her was as good as a death sentence.

At last, the tunnel’s rough stone floor changed into a staircase leading down. Imira stopped. “We’re about to enter a Cleansing Chamber. Don’t worry, this is something every new member must undergo before entering the Undercity. Its main purpose is to assure no one harboring any ill intentions enters our sanctuary.” Imira smiled down at them. “Since you have nothing to hide, you’ll be fine.”

With that, she led them downwards. Layla slung an arm over Ashnur’s and Zaya’s shoulder to hobble down the stairs. While her foot had healed, she still couldn’t put much weight on it without intense pain. The bone had been broken in too many places for Nurana to fix.

The chamber itself was relatively small. Small cells had been carved into the stone, each one barred with a thick, heavy metal door. They reminded Silas of the cells he’d seen in the Royal Prison. A woman sat at the table in its center. She had a round, plum face and a neck so short Silas wasn’t sure where shoulders stopped and head began. Two people wearing armor and spears stood near the entrance leading farther down. Each one’s skin was covered entirely with scales, their narrow, yellow eyes shifting between their group as Silas entered.

The woman stood up from her chair and bowed before Imira. “It’s so good to see you again, Imira. We feared the worst.”

“Worry not. My friends here helped to free me. It seems like the Matriarch isn’t done with me yet.”

The woman’s beady eyes settled on Silas. “I thank you from the bottom of my heart. You have done a great deed for our community.”

“After the kindness she has shown us, it was the least we could do. We couldn’t just sit idle,” Nurana answered.

Imira smiled at Nurana. “You have a way with words, you know that, my child?”

Nurana’s lips curved upward slightly. “So I have.”

“I’m afraid I won’t be able to stay any longer, but after the Cleansing, please come to my house. Just ask for me once you arrive in the Undercity, and people will gladly help you.”

Zaya’s gaze roamed over the cells carved into the chamber. “What be this cleansing?”

“I’ll leave you to it,” Imira said as she started walking towards the exit.

The plump woman took a sharp breath. “If you please, Imira?” she said, gesturing towards her neck.

Imira smiled. “Of course.”

She crouched down to expose a tiny mark on the base of her neck. Once the other woman touched it, a tiny, dark flame sprouted out and disappeared in her index finger. There was something off about that flame. It looked and seemed like normal fire, but just from a glance, Silas knew it wasn’t.

“You don’t need to worry,” she told them once Imira was gone. “The Cleansing is the initial trial every new member of the Ascended has to overcome. They are meant to test your resilience, intelligence, and loyalty to our case.” She reached into a box near the table and held up a small booklet in both of her palms. Golden letters were elegantly written on the cover. It had a couple dozen pages, at most.

“This,” she began, holding the booklet as if she was afraid of breaking it, “is the First Scripture, written by the Ten Originals almost 3000 years ago. Treat it with care, for it will be yours for the rest of your life. By the time you emerge from the Cleansing Chamber, you are expected to have memorized it by heart.”

Nurana gently accepted her booklet. “How long will this Cleansing last?”

“That depends entirely on you. Some have to face harder trials while others are able to overcome the corruption of the Empress’ influence sooner. Yet, all of us have something to purge. Of course, you will be provided with food and water during your stay in the Cleansing Chambers.”

Silas tried not to let his uneasiness show. She might call it a stay, but he had no illusions of what it was. His eyes flickered to his friends. If either of them mentioned any affiliation to the Empress, they were as good as dead. How far was it to the surface? With the constant turns they had made, he doubted he’d make it back without a guide.

Zaya nodded at him. Finding resolve in her eyes, he prepared himself to go into one of the cells. “Please leave all equipment, weapons, and enchanted items outside. You can keep your clothes, of course.”

Silas ground his teeth. He hated to be unarmed. No turning back now. Carefully placing his spear, bow, hunting knife, and Tom’s cloak on the table, he accepted the booklet from the woman. Gnarly resigned himself to sit on his shoulder.

“I apologize, but that will have to stay with me.”

“No! I go with,” Gnarly declared through the bond.

Fury lit up in Silas’ eyes. “He is called Gnarly, and he is not leaving my side.”

Her smile tightened. “That won’t be possible.”

Nurana intervened before Silas could respond. “I’m sorry, I believe we should have let Imira clear this up. Gnarly is a very simple creature, barely capable of thought.”

“Creak?”

“Be quiet, Gnarly,” Silas communicated.

“If left unattended, he will start eating the table and cause all sorts of problems.”

“Lie! Wood taste bad,” Gnarly voiced through the bond. Silas pretended not to have heard.

Imira eyed Gnarly’s wooden body and glanced back at her table.

Ashnur took a step forward. “I know the procedure, but can’t we make an exception in their case? The little guy can be really annoying if separated from Silas. Please. I’ll make sure to put in a good word for you with my mother,” Ashnur added.

The woman’s beady eyes shrunk even further. “Only this once, and only because you freed Imira.”

“Thank you,” Silas said.

She took a keychain out of her pocket and started opening the cells. Pulling the door open, she gestured for Silas to walk in. “May the Matriarch purge you of your corruption.”

Nodding, he went in, Gnarly sitting on his shoulder. The door swung closed immediately afterwards. The lock clicked once and absolute silence greeted Silas. Apart from a little hole with a latch in one corner, the cell was empty. Silas pulled open the latch, almost vomited, and let it fall shut again. He should have known better.

Dim light crept in from a small window in the door, barely enough to make out the text in the booklet. The floor, walls, and ceiling were made of the same rough sandstone as the tunnels. The cell was cold, unnaturally so. Silas shivered. He opened the booklet.

The sooner he got out of here, the better.