Anthesis of Sadness
Chapter 58: Under the Molten Sky (2)

Chapter 58: Under the Molten Sky (2)

On either side of the central path rose two living columns: elite guards, perfectly motionless, in full armor forged from dark, smoking metals.

They were of the same species as the other demons of Zagnaroth — those humanoids with dark, cracked skin streaked with glowing fissures — but their presence radiated absolute discipline, a contained force.

Each held a halberd of fire, planted in the black floor, gaze fixed straight ahead.

I walked slowly, my steps echoing on the obsidian tiles. Sweat beaded at my nape. I wasn’t exactly afraid... but tense. A heartbeat too fast in my chest, a heightened awareness of every movement.

To my right, Lysara advanced without a word, straight, calm. She observed, but did not react. Her breathing was slow, perfectly measured, almost out of sync with the intensity of the place.

And then I looked up.

At the far end of the hall, on a massive platform forged from the very heart of metal, rose the throne.

It was not sculpted, nor decorated. It seemed born of raw matter, a fusion of molten metal, broken chains, blades, blocks of ore and spikes forged in rage. A forge frozen in the moment the world burns.

And on that throne, seated, arms resting on the armrests, the Lord.

Xagros.

Of the same race as his kin, but... more. Taller. Broader. Older.

His skin was dark as cooled steel, but streaked with veins of raw lava. His muscles seemed carved from rock, and his slow breathing made the air vibrate around him. Steam rose from his shoulders, his neck, like a living forge.

Upon his head sat a crown impossible to define. It seemed made of all the gems, all the minerals of the world, yet none were stable. It moved, fluctuated, constantly reformed itself, as if the mineral world itself were still seeking the right way to crown him. A living work, in eternal mutation, glowing with a light I had never seen elsewhere.

Around him, slightly behind, stood four colossal figures, also of his race, but smaller, less burning. Each wore black armor adorned with runes, marked on the left with the same symbol: a fractured anvil. Their weapons varied — a hammer, a halberd, a curved blade, a Scepter — but all exuded terrible power.

The silence was absolute.

And there, beneath that incandescent dome, surrounded by stone and fire, I understood that I was standing before the summit of Zagnaroth.

And that now... I was no longer just a traveler.

We stopped at a respectful distance from the throne. I felt the Lord’s gaze weigh on us, dense as a mountain. The heat seemed to intensify slightly around his presence, as if the entire room were holding its breath.

Then, slowly, I bent my upper body, inclining my head.

A gesture of respect. Measured. Sincere.

At my side, Lysara did the same, without a word. Silent, perfectly coordinated, almost natural in a gesture that was yet foreign to her.

— Forgive my rudeness, my Lord, I said in a clear and polite voice.

— I do not yet know the customs of this region.

The silence lingered for a second. Then two. The lava above crackled softly. The guards didn’t move a millimeter. Nor did the four figures around the throne.

But I felt that every beat of my heart was heard here. That every word carried weight.

In front of us, Xagros observed us. Motionless. But his eyes — two embers frozen in metal — came to life.

— That’s enough. Raise your head, he said at last, his voice deep, resonant, full of authority and presence.

The kind of voice one doesn’t forget.

I slowly lifted my chin.

— Thank you, my Lord, I said, keeping my eyes in place. Not too high. Not too low.

His gaze pierced through me, then he spoke again, calmly:

— Why do you spend so much? With that sum, you could have bought a house in the High Crowns. Why do this?

I didn’t tremble, but I chose my words carefully.

— Forgive my boldness, my Lord, but I had no other way to contact you. I had to catch your attention. It was... necessary.

He let silence hang. Then a quiet, deep laugh escaped his throat like the rumble of a satisfied volcano.

— Amusing.

He leaned forward slightly, his gaze burning a bit more.

— I’m listening, little vampire. Speak, then.

— If you permit me, my Lord... I have an offer to make you.

Barely had the words left my mouth when a voice exploded behind the throne:

— INSOLENT!

One of the four elite guardians had stepped forward. His magical pressure struck me like a blade. My legs faltered slightly, my breath tightened.

But the Lord simply raised his hand.

Silence fell. Immediate. Absolute.

And in that silence, I felt the watch beat against my wrist. A discreet pulse. Alive. As if it were recording every word. Every gesture. Every threat.

Ready to remind me, at the crucial moment, that a single second could change everything.

The warrior fell silent, stepped back. There had been no word. Just a gesture.

And that simple raised hand reminded me how far I was from his level.

— Continue, vampire.

I nodded.

— Then, if you will allow...

I reached to my waist, slowly detached my satchel, and lifted it before me.

Then, in a fluid motion, I drew several Malacite crystals from it, gleaming in the red light of the room.

I let them float in my palm, then they gently fell back into my hand.

— These are just a few fragments. My satchel is full of them. I don’t know their exact weight... nor their value here.

— But I would like to sell them to you. Directly.

He cut in, his tone neutral.

— For that, you should have gone to a merchant.

But I remained calm.

— I haven’t told you yet...

— What you see here...

— Represents about two to three percent of what I saw where that ore was found.

Silence.

Then laughter. Louder this time. Clearer.

— Ahahahahaha...

— I knew this would be interesting.

I continued.

— I want to sell you the location, I said slowly, holding back the pressure rising in my chest.

— In addition to what I have here, in this satchel.

Silence stretched for a quarter second. Then his voice echoed through the entire hall:

— Interesting...

He leaned slightly forward on his throne.

— And why not simply torture you here and now to obtain the location?

He didn’t wait for an answer. His aura exploded.