Warlock’s Crypt

The amphitheater was already beginning to empty.

Daniel descended slowly to the first level of the stands, while the noise of the crowd dissipated in ever rarer waves. Gupta and Thanatos were speaking to each other not far away, laughing at some irony only the two of them understood.

Sallustia followed close behind. But it was not to any of them that Daniel turned his attention.

Lord Juncuso approached through the side corridor, his toga embroidered with the heraldry of his house. The politician walked with upright posture, discreet nobility, though his slumped shoulders betrayed the exhaustion of the mental struggle he had waged against Madame Umbra.

His gaze passed through Daniel, asking for a conversation that did not belong to the others.

“De Lio…” he said in a low voice. “A word, if you will.”

Daniel nodded to Gupta and Thanatos, and a brief gesture with his cane was enough for them to step away. Only Sallustia remained at his side.

“I must thank you” began the Lord Cohortes, cleaning the lens of his silver-framed monocle against the sleeve of his toga. “Had it not been for your swift intervention, I do not know what our fate would have been. I used all I knew… and still, I almost succumbed to the thaumaturgic domination that assailed us.”

The two of them walked into a more secluded area of the amphitheater, where the sound of the few who still lingered in the Devanic Coliseum could no longer reach them.

Daniel slightly inclined his head as he spoke to the Custos Arcana.

“There was a magus in the honor box. She was using true exchange, and as you yourself taught me, real sacrifice always amplifies power.”

Juncuso closed his eyes for a moment and rubbed his temples.

“The woman? Do you know who she was?”

“Her name was Madame Umbra. There was also an assassin in a mask with her, her bodyguard. La Farfalla.” Daniel punctuated the last name with a tap of his cane.

Juncuso’s eyes opened with sudden recognition.

“La Farfalla… I have heard of her. She is loyal to the contracts she signs. But the magus… I do not know.”

“From the runes I saw on her” Daniel recalled, the image of her blood running down pale skin still vivid. “I would say she was from Versagënn.”

The weight of the name lowered the lord’s shoulders further.

“Versagënn was one of the points of contention in the debate. There is a revolt in the north, and I would not be surprised if it was orchestrated by the Swords.”

Daniel nodded.

“Then Umbra may be part of something larger.”

“Even so” Juncuso continued, “you helped us preserve some dignity. Facing those two gave Senator Vuso Sepella Pisca and me the chance to create the necessary disruption to end the event before the Swords could consolidate an advantage.”

There was a brief pause. Sallustia remained silent, her eyes sweeping the corridor in vigilance.

“They will be more careful now” Daniel warned, a mix of apprehension and recognition.

“And that is not good” Juncuso arched his brows. “If the magus was in the Princeps’ box, it was because Prebito put her there. But you already know that. He is aware something went off-script. If before he did not consider us worthy adversaries, now he will move every piece at his disposal.”

“Not against you” Daniel corrected. “Against Fidenzio de Lio. He has the senator’s sights now.”

The lord fixed his eyes on him.

“Which makes no improvement. If he exposes that you are not a legitimate noble, he will wield a powerful weapon against the Coins party.”

“Did the prince prepare my persona for such scrutiny?” Daniel asked, narrowing his eyes, his hand firm on the cane.

Juncuso hesitated, which was answer enough.

“Sicario was careful. Very careful. But no shield is flawless. Fidenzio can withstand a superficial check. But if Prebito decides to dig deeper… I cannot promise anything.”

Daniel exhaled slowly. The threat was real, and he knew it.

“And you, my lord? Can you face him?”

Juncuso’s smile was bitter.

“I have always been more magus than politician. I spent my youth studying Foundation, Focus, and Form, not rhetoric. Prebito… he was born for those halls. Even without spells, he is a man who manipulates like few others. I only accepted to be here because the Convergence had no one else reliable among the Coins.”

Daniel let the silence stretch. Then he struck the tip of his cane against the ground, resolved.

“I think I know where they are hiding.”

“Where?”

“In the Warlock’s Crypt.”

The words lingered briefly, until Sallustia finally broke the silence.

“We are at a disadvantage. We have no way to prepare the ground.”

“Perhaps the legends are just that” Daniel ventured. “Legends.”

“They are not” Juncuso scratched his chin. “They never are.”

The lord drew a long breath, delaying before asking:

“Do you intend to go there immediately?”

“I cannot wait.” Daniel adjusted his collar, hiding his face better in the half-light. “If Umbra spoke the truth, the Crypt is their meeting place. And if the Swords plan to use it as refuge, then we are already late.”

“It is too dangerous” hissed the slave-paladin behind him. “We would have no support if something happens.”

“I never expected political support in the field.” Despite the sharp answer, Daniel’s voice carried no hostility. “The prince entrusted us with this mission.”

Sallustia nodded, her eyes turning back to her watch.

“If you truly go to the Crypt, do not underestimate Prebito” Juncuso murmured. “He does not confine himself to speeches. He is always ready to dirty his hands.”

Daniel made a brief bow, leaning on his cane.

“I will not underestimate him.”

Juncuso left them. Back in the main hall of the coliseum, the arena was nearly deserted.

“You took your time” Gupta said, raising a brow. “We had to invent excuses for a few curious ones.”

Grace did not answer.

The two men exchanged glances, but did not press. Sallustia was already walking ahead, toward the exit.

The evening breeze met them outside. The sky was heavy, clouds veiling the sunset.

Daniel stopped for a moment on the staircase, his gaze distant. The three turned to him, waiting for his decision.

“The Warlock’s Crypt. That is where we are going.”