This underground hideout was colder than it had been. Or perhaps it was simply the burden of what Asher had learned.
He always thought that his reincarnation into this world was a coincidence, a second chance arranged by some higher power.
Now?
It was planned. Controlled. By an Architect that had whispered treachery in the ear of the universe for centuries.
And if the Guild's Vault of Origins had answers for him, then he'd been left with only one possible option.
Break in and take them.
Dr. Rhyse leaned on her desk, eyeing him cautiously.
"The Vault is one of the most heavily fortified places in the whole city," she said. "Even the top Guild officers don't have full access."
Seraphine crossed her arms. "Then how do we get in?"
Rhyse smirked. "With a little chaos."
She faced her console again, pulling up a hologram of the Guild's central headquarters.
It was massive. A bastion of steel, iron, and sorcery — crusted with entangled barriers, automated defenses, and Rift-energy perception fields.
At its most profound, the Vault of Origins — a chamber locked behind eight layers of security.
Seraphine frowned. "That's a lot of layers to cut through."
Asher stared at the map, his silver eyes keen.
There's always a weak point," he muttered. "We just have to find it."
Dr. Rhyse nodded. "That's where our inside man comes in.
Seraphine raised an eyebrow. "Inside man?"
The doctor pressed the screen, another one.
The hologram showed a face—a man in his early thirties with sharp features and a scar across his right cheek, his short black hair slicked back.
"This is Reed Halvar, a former Guild researcher," Rhyse said. "He was with the Rift Studies Division originally — back before the Guild tried to erase him."
Asher's brows furrowed. "Erase?"
Rhyse's expression darkened.
"The Guild has its own way of dealing with those who ask too many questions."
Seraphine scoffed. "Great. Another one the Guild wants dead."
Rhyse smirked. "Which is why he's exactly right for this."
She pressed something on the console, and a different map came up, one showing the city's underneath.
"He's holed up in the deserted tunnels under Sector 4. And, if we do find him, he can unlock the Vault for us."
Asher exhaled. "So first, we find Reed."
"No," Seraphine said, shaking her head with a dry chuckle. "And I suppose he's not just going to give you the key."
Rhyse smirked. "Probably not."
Asher cracked his knuckles.
"Then we'll just have to make him."
An hour later, Asher and Seraphine were winding their way through the dim tunnels beneath the city.
The air was a humid classic, briny with rust, dankness, and anonymous rot. Faded neon lights glimmered far-off — the ghosts of a time when the metal arteries of the tunnels were used for transport.
Now they lay abandoned, denizens of rogue scavengers, exiled fighters and outlaws.
"No. You don't understand," Seraphine said, refusing to release her fingertips from her weapon. "I hate places like this."
Asher smirked. "That's why you have me."
She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, 'cause fighting is your thing."
He chuckled but didn't argue.
As they went deeper, Asher's instincts seemed to sharpen. Something was watching them.
Seraphine noticed it too. "We're not alone."
Asher's silver eyes flickered. Phantom Step—his body slid into shadow for an instant, just enough perception of movement.
Footsteps. Three. No, four figures.
Closing in.
Then, out of the shadows, a dagger emerged — directly at Seraphine's back.
Asher moved instantly.
He pulled her arm and jerked her aside, that blade missing her mere inches.
A hooded figure charged toward him.
Asher countered himself quickly — he seized the attacker's wrist and twisted sharply. With a snap of the knot, the figure collapsed in the tunnel, screaming.
Before he could react further, two more charged at him.
Seraphine knocked one down — swinging her blade in a perfect arc, knocking her attacker's weapon away, then kicking them back.
The other lunged at Asher.
But he was faster.
He bypassed it instead, slapping the blow away effortlessly and delivering a punch straight to the stomach, emptying their lungs of air.
The last attacker hesitated.
Big mistake.
Asher lunged before they had time to respond, gripping their collar and smashing them against the tunnel wall.
"You're not in the mood for games," he said gruffly. "Where's Reed?"
The attacker wheezed, squirming in his hold. "I—I don't know—"
Asher's eyes darkened.
He pressed harder.
"I don't like liars."
The man gulped. "Okay! Okay! There's more to dig down under! But he won't talk to you — he doesn't trust anybody!"
Asher released him, and he dropped to the ground. "That's something our issue to deal with."
Seraphine wiped her jacket clean. "Well, that was fun."
Asher smirked. "For me, yeah."
She sighed. "Come on, let's keep moving before more show up."
Another twenty minutes of tunneling and they came to a sealed chamber.
The heavy metal door was covered in rust.
Seraphine knocked. "Reed! Open up!"
Silence.
She rang again, and this time hit the bell harder.
Still nothing.
Asher locked eyes with her. Then, without thinking—he kicked in the door.
It slammed open, and revealed a darkened chamber with old-world monitors, data screens, and maps.
At the back of the chamber, a man sat in an old chair, a gun pointed straight at Asher's head.
"…About damn time," Reed muttered.
Seraphine stiffened and put her hand on her weapon.
Asher just smirked. "How is that a way to greet your new best friend?"
Reed squinted but did not lower the gun. "You shouldn't be here. The Guild is already out to get you."
Unfazed, Asher stepped up. "Yeah? Let them try."
Reed took a breath and dropped his gun. "You're either very brave or very stupid."
Seraphine smirked. "Bit of both."
Reed shook his head. "Why are you here?"
Asher met his gaze. "We require entry to the Vault of Origins."
Reed froze.
Then he laughed — a dry, humorless sound.
"You're serious?"
Asher nodded. "Dead serious."
Reed sighed and ran a hand through his hair.
"You don't know what you're in for.
Asher crossed his arms. "Well, why don't you explain to us?"
Reed looked at him for a long moment.
Then, finally, he spoke.
"If you go breaking into that Vault…"
His voice turned grim.
"You don't just steal information."
His eyes darkened.
"You'll be declaring war against the Guild.