Where Ashes and Oaths Collide のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 91 - チャプター 100

A few hushed conversations ceased as Escuro entered, eyes briefly flickering over him before returning to their drinks. He was just another face in the dim, smoky interior. Escuro slid further into the room, melting into the shadows near the back. His eyes scanned the patrons, searching for any sign of recognition, any threat. The knife was still clutched in his hand, its metal slick with sweat. He needed to ditch it, and fast. He needed to blend in, to become invisible. He needed to figure out what was happening outside these walls, and how it connected to the water, to Estrela and to Salvaxe. He looked over at the roaring fireplace where clusters of patrons were warming themselves while flames dance across the stonework, casting shifting shadows that make faces seem almost sinister. Mounted above the hearth hangs the skull of a large stag or elk, its antlers stretching outward like the crown of some forgotten forest kind. Nearby, a faded crimson banner hangs from one of the pi

“Have you found Emile?” Escuro asked still looking into the fire. Escuridade shook her head, her raven hair catching the orange light of the embers. “No. our scouts have not reported any sightings of Mar’s daughter. We have combed through the residential districts and the docks, but nothing.” She leaned her back against the stone railing, looking out over the burning skyline of Cidade dos escravos. The victory felt hollow without knowing where the girl was. “If she is still in the city, she might have been caught in the initial purge,” she continued, her voice tightening. “Or worse– the Santo’s Order might have taken her before we even arrived. We need to send more men into the lower quarters once the fires die down.” She turned her purple eyes toward him, studying the tension in his jaw. “Why are you so focuses on her tonight? We just took a city, Escuro. we should be celebrating with the army.”&l

The deepest section belongs to the murderers. The corridor itself seemed quieter here. Not because the prisoners lacked voices, but because they had learned silence could be as effective as threats. Some sat perfectly still in the corners of their cages, their expressions unreadable. Others paced with slow, measured steps, counting distance that never changed. A few simply watching, their eyes reflecting the dim blue flames with unsettling intensity. Escuridade walked through the heart of the lower dungeon as though every lock, every gate, and every shadow already belonged to her. At the far end of the corridor stood a final gate fashioned from blackened iron.Unlike every barrier before it, this one bore no signs of rust despite the damp air. Heavy chains wrapped around its frame, secured by a lock whose craftsmanship suggested it had been forged for a singular purpose. Beyond its bars stretched another flight of sandstone steps, disappearing into darkness so completely that

Every heartbeat brought the chaos nearer. A few isolated clashes remained, each one distinct now instead of blending into the storm that had come before. One. A pause. Another. A final, powerful impact echoed through the stone passage, followed by the unmistakable crash of armoured weight collapsing onto the floor. After that come only breathing. Slow. Measured. One set of footsteps remained standing. The victor walked closer at an unhurried pace, boots crunching over scattered debris. Salvaxe waited for death. Then he felt a hand on his shoulder. Slowly he turned, so he is on his back. It took him a while to recognise the man. His hair was darker, his eyes red. There was an intensity about him. “Salvaxe, my old friend. I finally found you again,” he said, taking something out of his pocket.…Escuridade stares at the vial of black powder in his hand, then at the small, jagged cut on his finger. The silence that followed was heavy, pressing against her chest l

“My father,” Emile repeated, the words sounding foreign on her tongue. Her fingers tightened on Salvaxe’s arm, her knuckles turning white. A single tear traced a path through the grime on her cheek, leaving a clean streak behind. “He is still looking?” she asked, her voice cracking. “After all this time?” she looked up at the ceiling, her eyes swimming with a sudden, overwhelming clarity that made Escuridade’s breath catch. For the first time since they had found her, the girl did not look like a broken thing. “Yes, we will contact him as soon as we can,” Salvaxe said and they continued walking. “We are close to ending all of this.” The walk through the dungeon felt longer than it should have.The air was still thick with cloying, sweet scent of the white powder, and Escuridade kept her eyes scanning the shadows of the corridor, her hand resting near the silver amulet at her throat. Emile moved like a gho