48

  In Finn and Maxi’s chamber, the late afternoon sun painted the wooden beams with streaks of gold. A gentle breeze flowed through the window, carrying the scent of the courtyard’s flowers. Maxi sat cross-legged on the floor beside a wooden box—one gifted by King Sargon earlier that morning—overflowing with gold coins, jewels, and a medallion carved with ancient glyphs. The gemstones shimmered against the dim lantern light like captured stars.

  “Bro,” Maxi said, narrowing his eyes as he held a ruby the size of a grape up to the window, “you think… if we bring this back to our world, how much we can sell it for?” He turned the gem around dramatically. “I’m thinking we can buy, like… three houses. Or maybe a car. Or twenty PS5s.”

  Finn didn’t respond.

  “Bro?” Maxi repeated, turning around.

  Finn was standing in front of the mirror, turning slightly from side to side in the dark blue leather coat the maid had prepared for him. He tugged lightly at the sleeves, trying to see if it made him look impressive or ridiculous. His mind was obviously not on gemstones or PS5s.

  “Stop admiring yourself—you’re not that hot” Maxi snapped his fingers.

  But Finn didn’t hear anything—his thoughts were somewhere between worry for Katherine, the closeness of Princess Sophia, and the weight of everything that had happened in Aurum. After a moment, he exhaled, nodded to himself in the mirror, then turned to Maxi.

  “Max, I’ll be back later,” Finn said softly.

  “Where you going?”

  Finn shrugged. “Just… need to meet the princess.”

  Maxi opened his mouth to press further, but Finn was already out the door.

  Maxi sighed dramatically. “Cool, cool. Just leave me with all the treasure. No big deal.”

  He reached into the wooden box again, sifting through coins until his fingers found the medallion. It was warm—unnaturally warm. He examined the carvings, tracing the looping script with curiosity.

  Then—

  A whisper.

  Soft. Faint. Breathless.

  Not in the room.

  Not in the air.

  Inside.

  Maxi jerked upright, eyes wide. “Huh?” He looked around. “HELLO? Who the heck said that?”

  No answer.

  He shook his head, sat back down.

  Another whisper. This time brushing the back of his neck like invisible fingers.

  Maxi leapt to his feet.

  “OKAY, NOPE. NOPE.” He spun around wildly. “If this is some ghost from Aurum or whatever—I swear, I’m Catholic—STOP IT.”

  No one.

  But the whisper tugged at him again, like a silent beckoning. Without quite knowing why, Maxi stepped into the hallway, following the faint pull, his steps echoing through the stone and wood corridors. He ended up climbing stairs, crossing walkways, wandering towers. It was like the whisper was tugging at his ribs, guiding him like a thread he couldn’t see.

  He finally reached the alchemy tower.

  The lab was empty.

  Quiet.

  Dusty sunlight filtered through tall arched windows, illuminating the tables lined with vials, dried herbs, and scrolls. The faint scent of bitter herbs lingered in the air.

  Maxi walked to the center table—where the Karit lay.

  He stared at the curved blade. He remembered how it vibrated when he lifted it the first time, how it moved like it had a will of its own.

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  “Well,” Maxi muttered, “this is definitely where ghosts live.”

  He turned to leave.

  The whisper hit him again—louder, closer, almost scolding.

  Maxi spun around. “WHAT?!”

  Silence.

  Only the Karit gleamed under the sunlight.

  Curiosity won. Caution died.

  “Fine,” Maxi grumbled. “But if some demon tries to eat my soul, I’m suing somebody.”

  He reached out.

  The moment his fingers touched the Karit—

  SHUUUUU—

  A massive sucking wind burst outward then inward, spiraling around him. The entire lab trembled as if inhaling. Papers flew. Herbs scattered. Light bent inward.

  Then:

  Everything went white.

  Maxi blinked.

  He was no longer in the lab.

  He stood on a grassy hill under a massive tree. The sky was vibrant blue, clouds drifting lazily overhead. A figure lay under the tree, half-naked, slender, relaxed, chewing on a blade of grass.

  Long ears. Sharp cheekbones. Bare feet.

  An elf.

  Maxi’s jaw dropped. “What… the… anime hell?”

  The elf lifted a lazy eyelid.

  “You,” the elf said, pointing accusingly with the grass stem. “Who are YOU?”

  Maxi pointed back, offended. “No—YOU answer first! Who are YOU?! Why am I here?! And WHY does your underwear look like it’s from a fantasy calendar?!”

  The elf sighed dramatically, sitting up.

  “I called for the boy who defeated me—the boy with the pact.” His voice was annoyed, almost insulted. “But somehow… SOMEHOW… it ended up being YOU instead.”

  He clicked his tongue in deep disappointment. “Tsk… tsk… tsk… how very unfortunate.”

  “Wow,” Maxi said. “Thanks. Amazing customer service. Zero stars.”

  The elf rubbed his temples. “Do you ever stop talking?”

  “No.”

  “Horrible.”

  “Okay, if I’m not needed here,” Maxi said, lifting a hand, “bye.”

  He turned—and walked straight into a tree.

  The elf sighed even louder. “That boy—is in trouble.”

  Maxi froze. “My brother?”

  “Yes… Is he your brother?”

  Maxi narrowed his eyes. “And why should I trust you? I don’t even know you. You could be, like, a hallucination. Or some pretty demon.”

  The elf flung the blade of grass aside. “Here I am, extending my hand….—and THIS is the respect I get?”

  Maxi raised his hands. “W-W-Wait! Okay, fine! I’m listening!”

  “There is someone lurking near him. Someone dangerous. If you don’t act—he dies.”

  Maxi straightened. His expression sharpened. “Why help him? What’s it to you?”

  The elf looked away. “Let’s just say… I owe someone. And this repays a debt.”

  Maxi nodded slowly. “Hmmmm.”

  “Well?” the elf snapped. “Do you want the help or not?”

  Maxi clapped his hands together. “Cool, let’s do it.”

  The elf groaned. “Humans. Disgusting.”

  Suddenly Maxi felt the wind shift. Everything slowed. His ears buzzed. His vision blurred, then sharpened. He could feel the world’s air currents, every movement, every heartbeat.

  He saw Finn and Princess Sophia in the courtyard.

  Prince Sergei lunged toward Finn with his sword drawn.

  Maxi’s instincts kicked. His body moved before his thoughts.

  Maxi blinked into the courtyard—mind tethered to Mundi, the ancient elf’s presence lounging in his head as if he were sunbathing there.

  Finn stood inches away from Prince Sergei’s blade.

  A blade that flickered.

  Sophia gasped, frozen. Sergei’s eyes were glassy and wrong.

  Maxi did not think. He moved.

  The Karit pulsed in his hand, and wind spiraled into its core, distorting the air as Maxi swung it upward. Steel met dark iron and the courtyard rang like a cracked bell. The Flicker Sword stuttered, jumping through space, leaving after-images of Sergei’s body in half-steps, quarter-steps—fragments of a man.

  Maxi muttered in his thoughts, “why does he look like he’s lagging in a video game?”

  Video game? Mundi scoffed, voice echoing in the chambers of Maxi’s mind. Child, that sword allows Sergei to move through a tiny fold between moments. A pocket between seconds. A cheat code of existence. Also, I have no idea what a video game is.

  Sergei slipped behind Maxi—no footstep, no whisper of movement. The Karit yanked Maxi’s arm backward just in time, catching Sergei's blade.

  Sparks burst, burning white.

  Maxi rolled. “Bro, he fights like Akuma!”

  Who is Akuma? Another elf I should worry about?

  “No, he—Never mind!”

  Sergei stepped again. A flicker—then his silhouette broke from itself, one copy slashing, the other sliding past Maxi’s shoulder. Maxi felt the tip of the blade nick flesh; warmth trickled down his arm.

  “Okay OW—he actually got me—elf, what do I do!?”

  Do not let him hit you again. You are welcome.

  “That’s not advice!”

  Very well. His sword leaps dimensions. Your Karit devours breath and motion. Feed it.

  Maxi inhaled—wind swelled, drawn into the Karit’s core. For a moment the world slowed. Even Sergei’s flickering seemed to swim through syrup.

  Maxi planted his foot, pivoted, and when Sergei appeared again—Maxi was already there.

  Karit struck the Flicker Sword.

  Not steel on steel—storm on shadow.

  A blast of condensing air thundered outward, rattling windows and sending leaves spiraling skyward. Maxi struck his nape, then his head, Sergei flew back, cloak snapping like torn wings, and he slid across the courtyard stones until he hit the wall and slumped, unconscious but alive.

  Silence. Then—

  Well done, elf murmured, almost sounding proud. You are... less hopeless than I expected.

  Maxi huffed. “Wow. Thanks. That means a lot coming from a half-naked lawn ornament elf.”

  You wish you had my posture.

  Finn rushed to Maxi, eyes wide. Sophia followed, her hand trembling as she looked at Sergei.

  “Maxi—your shoulder! You’re bleeding.”

  “Nah, it’s fine,” Maxi shrugged, instantly regretting it. “Ow. Okay, maybe not fine.”

  Finn pulled him into a brief, shaking hug. “Thank you, bro.”

  Maxi grinned. “Wouldn’t miss saving your butt. Again.”

  As Marco and Prince William arrived, Maxi’s vision started to dim. The elf’s voice drifted like smoke.

  Before I let you go, small human... would you like to know my name?.

  “Yeah?” Maxi muttered aloud, “Gotta call you something anyway. Can’t just label you ‘sarcastic elf guy.’”

  I am Mundi.

  Maxi nodded, satisfied. “Cool name.”

  I know.

  The world blinked—