The city of Florence had long since fallen silent under the cloak of midnight. Moonlight spilled like liquid silver across the red-tiled rooftops, illuminating the narrow alleys with a haunting glow. The bells of Santa Maria Novella tolled in the distance—slow, steady, as though marking not just time, but the weight of fate itself.Inside the cathedral’s basilica, the air was thick with incense and the lingering hush of ancient prayers. But tonight, it was no place of worship. Tonight, it was a battleground.Caelan stood at the entrance, his broad shoulders tense beneath the flowing shadow of his cloak. His sword rested in his grip, but his mind was elsewhere—torn between strategy and fear. Not fear for himself, but for Elion.The mage was across the nave, kneeling at the altar where candle flames flickered uneasily, disturbed by something unseen. Elion’s fingers brushed the marble, his lips moving in quiet incantations. A faint blue glow circled his hands, weaving protective wards in
Last Updated : 2025-08-25 Read more