A towering knight, his armor adorned with intricate sigils of rank, stepped into view. His eyes narrowed behind the slits of his helm.
"There's been a change of plans. All knights are to report to the plaza. The queen will be addressing us herself."
He was, of course, referring to the sacrifice lady, after all, she was the one wearing knight's armor and holding a sword.
Alexander and the girl froze. Without hesitation, he took a step away from her, not out of fear, nor with any intent to abandon her.
It was the opposite.
He had realized it was time to shift the plan.
As the knight approached, his boots thudding against the stone floor, Alexander lunged forward, spear in hand. But the knight's instincts were sharp. He moved like a shadow, easily sidestepping the strike and swinging his arm guard to parry.
"Go!" Alexander shouted.
But the girl didn't move.
Alexander didn't come off as an experienced warrior, he can't even channel his essence, nor hold a proper weapon, she knew leaving would spell his death, and the death of her essence bank.
So instead, she took her sword and lunged at the knight with a sharp diagonal slash.
"What are you doing?" the knight barked in frustration, barely managing to deflect her blow.
Steel scraped against his gauntlet, and he stepped back, drawing his blade and assuming a ready stance.
Alexander glanced at her, startled. "I didn't know you were good with a sword."
She smirked faintly. "Well, we did just meet, so there are a lot of things you don't know about me, Alex."
He turned back toward the knight and tightened his grip on the spear. "Like the fact that you're a princess. One of the Void Queen's daughters."
Her expression didn't change much, but her eyelashes flicked for a moment. "What's it to you?"
"Nothing."
Alexander thrust his spear again, this time, channeling a faint pulse of essence into the weapon. A shimmer of pale gold danced along the shaft as it surged forward.
The knight raised his sword in defense, pale silver essence crackling as it activated the runes inscribed along the blade, the blade vibrated as the sigil like letters inscribed on it began to glow.
But it still wasn't enough, Alexander's spear tore through the wind with a whistle, the impact shattering the knight's enchantments and blasting him down the hallway.
Alexander stood frozen in disbelief.
So did the girl.
What kind of essence is that? she thought. Pale gold… it completely overpowered a rank two warrior's enchantments. He only just opened his soul sea. If the monarchs find out what he's capable of, they will do everything in their power to extract his soul and refine him into a soul pellet…
She had seen unique essences before, she possessed one herself, but none this potent. The Codex had no mention of anything like pale gold essence.
Alexander didn't wait to admire his work. He grabbed her wrist.
"Let's go!"
They ran.
The echo of the knight's crash still reverberated down the hall as they fled. Alexander's mind raced as he retraced the path the first knight had taken to reach the prison, a winding trail that led to a narrow flight of stairs clinging to the castle's outer wall.
But the knight was not down for long.
He rose with a furious snarl, blood dripping from the cracks in his armor, and gave chase with relentless steps.
Just as Alexander and the girl reached the hallway leading to the staircase, they came to a skidding halt.
A wall of spears blocked the way.
Dozens of guards in formation stood between them and freedom. From here, Alexander could even see the storm clouds gathering through an open archway. A few strides away... but it might as well have been miles.
"So," the girl said, catching her breath. "What do we do now?"
Alexander felt his nerves coil. "We fight or die. Maybe even do both... if you're up for it."
She shrugged, calm as ever. Then she brought her hands together, fingers tracing the air like an artist sketching in light. Her essence was still sealed, but she could draw from Alexander's instead.
Pale gold threads laced her fingertips, forming cryptic, shifting letters that pulsed with an eerie glow. No two symbols were the same, and none ever produced the same effect twice.
They were the letters of the Forbidden Tongue, and what she was performing was an ancient and banned art.
Sorcery.
While she turned to confront the guards, Alexander pivoted.
The knight had caught up, his sword drawn, blood trailing with each step. His silver essence surged again, and he let out a battle cry as he lunged.
Alexander didn't hesitate.
This was it.
If he wanted to live, he had to channel essence through his body. No weapon. No artifact. Just raw will.
He'd seen her do it.
He could feel the echo of her pull, every time she drew from him, she carved clearer patterns within his soul sea. The pathways were burning hot now. Visible.
Without thinking, he reached inward and pulled.
A sphere of pale gold essence gathered in his palm.
Alexander stared at it, briefly, in awe.
Then instinct took over.
He shaped it. Molded it. The sphere flattened, elongated, and solidified into a glowing blade.
The knight's sword came down.
Alexander raised his essence weapon.
Clang.
Sparks flew. Their blades clashed, and both fighters staggered backward.
The knight blinked. "What?"
Alexander steadied himself, exhaled slowly, and mimicked the knight's stance. He had seen it twice. That was more than enough.
Behind him, the princess fought with terrifying grace. She danced between guards, unleashing bursts of sorcery, quick spells focused on disabling limbs, blinding eyes, staggering opponents. Her sword flicked out between spells, striking with precision.
Dozens of armed soldiers couldn't touch her.
If Alexander had turned around, he would've been stunned.
But he didn't.
He was focused now.
Essence sword in hand, he took a step forward.