Eclipse Requiem

Kael sat in silence beneath the stone bridge, his body still trembling from his near-drowning. The glow of the **Eclipse Seal** had faded, but he could still feel its presence—like an ember smoldering just beneath his skin.

Across from him, Lyra wrung out her soaked cloak, shivering from the cold.

"You sure you're okay?" she asked, eyeing him with concern.

Kael exhaled slowly. "I don't know."

What could he even say? That something in the abyss had spoken to him? That the darkness itself had let him go as if it recognized him?

Even if he wanted to explain, there was no time.

The **Celestial Vanguard** was still out there. And if Gideon's words meant anything, they had only survived because the **abyss itself** was just as dangerous.

Kael pushed himself to his feet. "We need to move."

Lyra nodded and grabbed her satchel. They followed the narrow, winding path along the underground canal, the air thick with moisture and the scent of damp stone.

It wasn't long before they reached a hidden passage—a rusted iron door built into the side of the tunnel.

Lyra rapped on it three times. A small slot slid open, revealing a pair of sharp, calculating eyes.

"State your business," a gruff voice demanded.

Lyra smirked. "Tell Joren his favorite thief just brought him something interesting."

A pause. Then, the door creaked open.

Kael followed Lyra inside, stepping into a dimly lit chamber filled with the scent of oil lamps and burning incense.

It was a den of **The Shadow Guild**—Astra City's most notorious underground network. Thieves, mercenaries, and smugglers lingered in the shadows, exchanging glances as the two newcomers entered.

Kael tensed. He had heard stories about the Shadow Guild. They ran Astra's black markets, controlled information, and operated outside the reach of the city guard. If you needed something—or needed to disappear—they were the ones to go to.

A broad-shouldered man with a scar across his cheek sat at the head of a wooden table, sipping from a metal flask. His eyes landed on Lyra first, then shifted to Kael.

"Lyra," the man—**Joren**—greeted, setting his flask down. "You only show up when you're desperate."

Lyra crossed her arms. "And you only listen when I bring you something worth your time."

Joren's gaze flickered back to Kael, scrutinizing him. "This the 'something'?"

Kael remained silent, meeting Joren's gaze without flinching.

Lyra smirked. "Not just 'something.' He's got **Celestials** after him."

A murmur rippled through the room. The mere mention of the **Celestial Vanguard** was enough to make even the hardened criminals in the guild shift uneasily.

Joren raised an eyebrow. "That true, kid?"

Kael exhaled. "They tried to kill me tonight. Their captain, Gideon, said my existence was a threat."

Joren leaned back in his chair, stroking his beard. "The Vanguard doesn't waste time on small fry. You must've done something to piss them off."

Kael hesitated. "I… don't know why they want me dead. But I think it has to do with this."

He rolled up his sleeve, revealing the **Eclipse Seal** on his arm.

The moment the mark was exposed, the room fell **dead silent**.

Joren's eyes widened slightly, but his voice remained calm. "Well now… that's interesting."

One of the guild members—a wiry man with a tattooed face—took a step back. "That's a **curse mark**," he muttered. "That thing's bad luck. No wonder the Celestials want him dead."

Kael clenched his fists. "You know what this is?"

Joren didn't answer immediately. Instead, he poured himself another drink and took a slow sip.

Then, he exhaled. "I don't know much. But I know enough to be afraid of it."

Kael felt a weight settle in his chest.

"But," Joren continued, setting down his flask, "fear is a funny thing. It makes people do stupid things. Makes them panic. Makes them **kill** before they understand."

His eyes locked onto Kael's. "If the Celestials want you dead, that means you're either dangerous… or valuable."

Kael stayed silent, waiting.

Joren leaned forward, placing his elbows on the table. "Which brings me to my next point. You came here because you need something. Protection? Information? A way out of Astra?"

Kael took a breath. "I need to know what this mark means. And I need to know why the **Celestial Vanguard** is after me."

Joren smirked. "Then you're in luck."

He reached into his coat and pulled out a **sealed parchment**, sliding it across the table. "This here is an old contract. One made decades ago, between the **Celestial Church** and the previous head of the Shadow Guild."

Kael picked up the parchment, his fingers running over the faded wax seal. "What's in it?"

Joren's smirk widened. "A bounty. A bounty placed on anyone who bears the **Eclipse Seal**."

Kael's breath caught in his throat.

"A bounty…?" Lyra repeated, her expression darkening.

Joren nodded. "The contract states that if the Celestials ever find someone with that mark, they are to be **eliminated immediately**—no questions asked."

Kael's fingers tightened around the parchment.

So it wasn't just Gideon. The **entire Celestial Church** had deemed him an enemy long before he was even born.

He felt Lyra's hand on his shoulder. "Kael… what do we do now?"

Joren exhaled, crossing his arms. "Well, kid. You've got two choices. You run, spend your life looking over your shoulder, and hope the Celestials never find you again."

He leaned forward, his smirk fading.

"Or… you **fight back**."

The words hit Kael like a hammer.

Fight back.

Against the Celestial Vanguard. Against the gods themselves.

A month ago, he was nothing more than a street rat. Now, he was being told he was at war with the most powerful force in the world.

Kael looked down at the mark on his arm.

It pulsed faintly, as if waiting for his decision.

His choice.

His fate.

He clenched his fists.

"I won't run."

Joren grinned. "That's what I wanted to hear."

He extended a hand.

"Then let's make a deal."

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