The bar had grown quieter, its patrons dwindling as the evening stretched on. Nyx and Luminar sat in their booth, the low murmur of conversation and clink of glasses providing a steady backdrop. Luminar idly traced patterns on the condensation of her glass, her boredom evident.

  “You think Prism found the place yet?” Nyx mused, leaning back in his seat.

  Luminar exhaled sharply. “If she hasn’t, it’s because she got distracted by something shiny.” She flicked through the photos she’d taken earlier on her Lexicom, pausing occasionally to delete the ones she didn’t like.

  Nyx smirked. “She’s gonna call any second now and tell us she ‘definitely knew where it was the whole time.’”

  Before Luminar could respond, the door to the bar swung open, revealing an Ossari man clad in dark robes. His skeletal frame was partially obscured by the fabric, but the faint glow from his core pulsed softly beneath. In his hands, he carried an old, weathered tome, its surface cracked and worn as though it had seen centuries of use.

  The man’s hollow eyes scanned the room before landing on Nyx and Luminar. Without hesitation, he approached their booth.

  “You two,” he said, his voice carrying a resonant quality that seemed to fill the space. “I require your assistance.”

  Luminar raised an eyebrow, sitting up straighter. “With what, exactly?”

  The Ossari carefully placed the tome on the table, his bony fingers resting lightly on its cover. “I need you to look at this.”

  Nyx exchanged a glance with Luminar before responding. “Look at it?”

  “Yes,” the man said, his tone calm but insistent. “Open it. Tell me what you see.”

  The request was odd, but curiosity got the better of them. Luminar reached out, flipping open the tome. The pages were yellowed and brittle, yet entirely blank. She turned several more, each one as empty as the last.

  “Nothing,” she said, closing it with a faint frown. “It’s empty.”

  Nyx nodded in agreement. “There’s nothing here.”

  The Ossari’s expression shifted slightly, a flicker of disappointment crossing his skeletal features. “I see,” he said softly. “Thank you for your assistance.”

  He retrieved the tome and held it close, his glowing eyes studying them. “I am Ralveth. And who might you be?”

  “Nyx,” Nyx said, his tone measured.

  “Luminar,” she added, her gaze sharp.

  “What brings you to Ashen Grove?” Ralveth asked, his curiosity evident.

  Luminar, her patience waning, leaned back in her seat. “We’re looking for the arena.”

  Ralveth tilted his head slightly. “I’m familiar with it. I can show you the way.”

  Nyx raised an eyebrow, leaning forward slightly. “It’s that easy? Now I’m starting to think Prism’s skill isn’t so skillful after all.”

  Luminar smirked, rising from her seat. “Prism will just find us on the way. Let’s go.”

  Ralveth guided them through a series of increasingly narrow alleys, the dim lighting casting long shadows across the bone-white walls of Ashen Grove. The sounds of the bustling town faded behind them, replaced by an eerie stillness.

  “Oh yes,” Ralveth said, his tone conversational. “The arena is under the nightclub. I’m not really into that scene, but I’m a local, so I don’t mind helping, especially since you did me that favor earlier.”

  Nyx glanced at him, his swirling eyes narrowing slightly. “That tome… were we supposed to see something in it?”

  Ralveth opened his mouth to respond, but his words caught in his throat as another figure emerged from the shadows ahead. Tall and gaunt, with glowing blue eyes and an unmistakable Ossari presence, the man stepped into their path. His skeletal form radiated quiet menace, and his gaze locked onto Ralveth with quiet intensity.

  Nyx and Luminar stopped short, their instincts flaring to life.

  Luminar’s Lexicom buzzed in her pocket. She felt it, registered it, but didn’t look down. Her focus was locked onto the strange Ossari ahead of them.

  Whatever this was, it demanded her full attention.

  Prism leaned against a streetlight, her crystalline fur shimmering under the artificial glow. The two Ossari standing before her were animated, their skeletal features illuminated by the shifting hues of their glowing cores. Their excitement was infectious.

  “You’ve got to come to the club with us,” one of them said, his hollow eyes wide with enthusiasm. “Your fur… it’s gold. You’ll look so luxx under the lights.”

  The other Ossari nodded eagerly. “And tonight’s fights are going to be golden. Everyone’s betting on Maraxis. He’s undefeated this month.”

  Prism’s ears perked up at that, and a sly grin spread across her face. “Fights, huh? Sounds gold. Let me go grab my friends first.”

  She gave them a quick wave before heading back toward the bar where she’d left Nyx and Luminar. Her tail swished behind her, the faint gemstone chime echoing softly as she walked. But when she stepped inside, the booth where she’d left them was empty.

  Prism frowned, her ears flicking. “Not good,” she muttered, scanning the room. After a moment of hesitation, worry began to creep in. “Alright, guys, where are you?”

  She pulled out her Lexicom, quickly tapping Luminar’s name. The call rang. And rang. No answer.

  Prism groaned, rubbing her temple. “This is why at least one of you needs to actually use your Lexicom like a normal person. What do you even have one for, Lumi?”

  Nyx and Luminar stood frozen as the tall Ossari emerged from the shadows, his skeletal form radiating an unsettling authority. His glowing blue eyes locked onto the tome in Ralveth’s hands, and his lips moved in a faint murmur.

  “There it is,” the Ossari said to himself, his voice low and gravelly. He began to stride toward them with purpose.

  Ralveth’s composure crumbled instantly. “Please,” he begged, clutching the tome tightly to his chest. “I need to find the master of the book. You have to let me…”

  The Ossari silenced him with a single motion. His skeletal hand rested gently on Ralveth’s head, and a faint glow pulsed from his palm. Ralveth’s knees buckled, and he crumpled to the ground, unconscious. The tome slipped from his grasp and landed softly on the ground.

  “Finally,” the Ossari muttered, bending down to retrieve the book. He inspected its cover with a look of exhaustion. “Sixteen days! No overtime!”

  Nyx and Luminar exchanged wide-eyed glances, their instincts warring between action and confusion. Nyx cleared his throat, his voice carefully neutral. “Uh… is he going to be okay?”

  The Ossari glanced at Ralveth’s motionless form, his tone laced with fatigue. “Yeah, he’s just sleeping. I got the company’s property back. That’s all that matters.”

  Luminar’s sharp gaze lingered on the fallen Ossari. “He was our guide to the arena. What are we supposed to do now?”

  Before the Ossari could respond, a familiar voice broke through the tension. “Nyx! Lumi!”

  This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

  Prism jogged toward them, her fur catching the faint light of the alley. Behind her, the two Ossari ravers followed closely, their enthusiasm undimmed.

  “You guys disappeared on me! And start actually answering your Lexicom for Axiom’s sake! You guys are about to rep them and still act like you’re living in a different era.” Prism crossed her arms, clearly exasperated. “Seriously, Lumi, you just use yours for pictures.”

  Luminar huffed, sliding her Lexicom into her jacket. “Because that’s all I need it for.”

  Prism shot Nyx a look. “See, this is why you need one. So at least one of you can be normal.”

  Nyx smirked. “I think I’ll just let Lumi handle all the tech.”

  Luminar folded her arms. “See? Works out fine.”

  Prism rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide her grin. “You two are impossible.”

  She turned to the unconscious Ralveth and the now empty alleyway beyond him. “Uh… where’d the creepy one go?”

  Nyx and Luminar turned back around, but the mysterious Ossari was gone. Not even a trace of his presence remained.

  Luminar sighed, her irritation returning. “Great. Now what?”

  Prism tilted her head, her grin slowly returning. “Don’t worry. I think I’ve got just the thing to get us back on track. Time to win it big!”

  The two Ossari ravers, Jex and Myra, hoisted Prism onto their shoulders, their hollow eyes gleaming with excitement as they paraded through the dimly lit alleys. Prism laughed, her pearlescent fur catching the glow of streetlights.

  “To the club!” Jex shouted, his voice echoing through the narrow streets.

  “Best night ever!” Myra added, her enthusiasm infectious as they carried Prism off toward their destination.

  Nyx and Luminar watched them go, then turned their attention to Ralveth. The unconscious Ossari lay slumped against the alley wall, his breathing steady but shallow. Nyx crouched down and propped him against a stack of crates, ensuring he was out of sight but still safe.

  “He’ll be fine here for now,” Nyx said, brushing his hands off.

  Luminar nodded, giving a small shrug. “Let’s catch up before Prism gets us into more trouble.”

  They followed the sounds of distant cheering and music, catching up to Prism and her new entourage just as they reached the nightclub. The building, a sleek structure of dark metal and glowing Ossari runes, pulsed faintly with the beat of the music within. The sign above the door read Eclipse Underground in shifting, holographic letters.

  Oddly, there was no line or bouncer outside. The heavy bass reverberated through the walls, and the faint energy of the sound waves buzzed in the air around them.

  “This is it,” Jex said, setting Prism down with a grin. “Eclipse Underground. The most luxx spot in A.G.”

  Prism adjusted her fur and winked. “Let’s see if it lives up to the hype.”

  The moment they stepped inside, the world exploded into sound and light.

  The dance floor was a riot of movement, Ossari and other races swaying and jumping to the beat. Holograms of shifting geometric patterns and surreal creatures flickered above the crowd, casting eerie glows across the room. Tubes filled with vibrant, glowing liquids lined the walls, each containing an Ossari woman dancing fluidly within, their movements mesmerizing and dreamlike.

  At the far end, the DJ’s booth sat elevated like a throne of sound. The Ossari DJ was a sight to behold—his skeletal frame adorned with intricate metal piercings and glowing implants. But it wasn’t just the music that made him stand out, it was how he controlled the sound itself. With every flick of his wrist, the air above him pulsed and warped, the smoke swirling into precise sharp shapes that pulsed and shattered in sync with the bass.

  He wasn’t just playing music, he was conducting the air itself with his affinity, shaping soundwaves into visible patterns, making the very atmosphere part of the performance.

  Prism and her Ossari companions wasted no time, plunging into the heart of the dance floor. The three of them moved with wild abandon, their energy matching the frenetic pace of the music.

  Nyx and Luminar lingered near the entrance, watching the chaotic scene with a mixture of amusement and disbelief.

  “This is… something,” Nyx said, his voice barely audible over the music.

  Luminar smirked, folding her arms. “It’s definitely her kind of place.”

  “Let’s save any dancing for the arena,” Nyx admitted, watching as Prism twirled in a blur of glowing fur and crystalline sheen, dancing with a level of confidence that made even the Ossari ravers take notice.

  As they watched, Prism caught their gaze from the middle of the crowd. She grinned and tilted her head toward a staircase near the far corner of the room. The stairs descended sharply, flanked by glowing rails, and at the bottom was a small line of people waiting to get past a burly Ossari bouncer.

  Nyx and Luminar exchanged a look, their expressions shifting to knowing smiles.

  “Let’s go,” Luminar said, and together they moved toward the staircase, ready for whatever lay below.

  The bass of the music thumped through the walls as Nyx and Luminar moved through the crowded dance floor, the swirling lights and holograms casting vibrant patterns over the writhing crowd. Luminar smirked as she grabbed Prism by the arm, pulling her away from the two Ossari ravers.

  “Come on,” Luminar said, her voice just audible over the pounding beat. “We’ve got places to be.”

  Prism laughed, falling into step between them. “Alright, alright. Lead the way, you two party poopers.”

  As they moved, the dance floor shifted in rhythm with the DJ’s command. Every shift in frequency created new designs, fractals, spirals, and shifting grids, rippling outward, giving the entire space an almost surreal quality.

  “Alright, I’ll admit,” Nyx said, watching as the DJ twisted the sound into spiraling orbs above the crowd. “That’s actually pretty gold.”

  Prism smirked. “Told you. This place is built different.”

  Nyx and Luminar didn’t stop walking, but Prism couldn't resist a little flair, swaying her tail and shoulders to the beat as they maneuvered through the mass of bodies.

  “Lumi, come on,” Prism nudged her playfully. “Not even a little move? One spin, maybe?”

  Luminar smirked, snapping a quick Lexicom shot of the floating soundwave patterns above the DJ booth. “We’ve got other dancing to do,” she said, tucking the device away.

  Nyx grinned.

  Together, the trio wove through the dancers, the crowd parting slightly as Nyx and Luminar strode forward with quiet confidence. When they reached the staircase, the Ossari bouncer, a towering figure with glowing piercings and a scarred exoskeleton, glanced at them, his hollow eyes narrowing slightly.

  Nyx and Luminar met his gaze evenly, their expressions calm and assured. The bouncer tilted his head, then stepped aside without a word, allowing them to pass.

  Prism raised an eyebrow as they descended the steps. “Looking the part, huh?”

  Nyx smirked.

  Luminar chuckled softly.

  The Eclipse Underground’s arena area was a stark contrast to the chaos of the dance floor above. The space was dimly lit, with neon accents illuminating the bars, betting tables, and tiered seating areas that surrounded the central pit. The pit itself was a sunken circle, its floor marked with faint cracks and scorch marks from countless battles.

  A large holographic screen hovered near the entrance, displaying a rotating list of current fighters and their records. Nyx’s eyes flicked across the names, noting Maraxis’s win streak flashing in bold, along with tonight’s scheduled matches. Each fighter’s image and Affinity summary appeared alongside their names, giving onlookers a chance to place informed bets.

  Prism leaned over Nyx’s shoulder, glancing at the display. “See? You guys need your faces up there soon.”

  A match was already underway. In the arena, Maraxis, an imposing Ossari brute, loomed over his opponent, his exoskeleton of bone-like armor gleaming under the harsh lights. His Affinity, the ability to grow and shape calcium phosphate into solid structures, was on full display. Jagged spires of bone erupted from his arms, forming natural weapons that he wielded with devastating efficiency.

  Facing him was a human fighter, lean and wiry, his movements quick and precise. The human’s Affinity allowed him to manipulate carbon, crafting sharp projectiles that he launched from his fingertips. He darted around the arena, firing a barrage of carbon bullets at Maraxis while creating carbon rods to leap onto and block incoming attacks.

  Nyx, Luminar, and Prism found a spot near the edge of the pit, their attention locked on the battle below.

  “That human’s got good reflexes,” Nyx commented, his swirling eyes following the rapid movements of the fighter.

  Luminar nodded. “But he’s not doing enough damage. That Ossari’s armor is too thick.”

  As if to prove her point, Maraxis let out a roar, slamming a massive bone shield into one of the carbon rods and shattering it with ease. The Human stumbled, his footing momentarily lost. Maraxis seized the opening, charging forward and driving a bone spike into the human’s makeshift barricade. The impact sent the man sprawling.

  The crowd erupted into cheers as Maraxis pressed his advantage, growing a series of sharp, bone-like spears along his forearm. He thrust them toward the man, who barely managed to block with another hastily constructed carbon rod. The clash sent sparks flying, but the sheer force of Maraxis’s attack overwhelmed his opponent.

  With a final, devastating blow, Maraxis shattered the human’s defenses entirely, sending him crashing to the arena floor. The match was over.

  The announcer’s voice boomed through the arena. “And another victory for Maraxis! The Ossari juggernaut remains undefeated! We haven’t seen a streak like this in years, folks!”

  Maraxis, standing in the center of the pit, raised his arms triumphantly, his exoskeleton gleaming under the lights. The crowd’s cheers echoed off the walls, but the Ossari brute wasn’t finished.

  “More!” Maraxis bellowed, his voice carrying over the noise. “I challenge any thrillseeker! Show me what you’ve got! We’re all here because we love the fight!”

  Nyx and Luminar exchanged a glance, their unspoken bond stronger than words. Together, they jumped down into the arena, their landing drawing a gasp from the crowd.

  “Oh, this is going to be good,” Prism said, her grin widening. She bolted to the betting tables, her fur shimmering as she pushed her way to the front. “All in on the Chromati!”

  Maraxis turned to face Nyx and Luminar, a feral grin spreading across his skeletal features. “Perfect,” he said, his voice dripping with anticipation. “Let’s see what you’ve got.”