The five figures sat in tense silence, bound tightly to their chairs. Three men, two women. All of them bore signs of struggle—bruised faces, torn clothes, defiance burning in their eyes.

  Bone took slow, deliberate steps toward them, exhaling a curl of cigar smoke as he observed them one by one.

  Then, he grinned.

  "Ahh… my favorite quintet."

  His voice was smooth, ced with amusement, but there was a dangerous undercurrent beneath it.

  "Two of my very own, raised by yours truly ,me. A trickster from Illusion, an engineer from Galmond, and st but certainly not least… a rider of the highest quality."

  He csped his hands together, as if reminiscing.

  "You were the best team ever assembled, stealing the impossible, doing the impossible—for me. And yet…"

  He paused, tilting his head, his grin widening.

  "Imagine my surprise when I hear that some of my most precious goods have been stolen. And who do I find behind it?"

  He let the question hang in the air, then chuckled.

  "You."

  His sharp gaze flicked over each of them before stopping on a woman with dark, unruly hair—Tess, the rider.

  "Now, Tess, I expected this from you." He waved his hand in a dismissive gesture. "You've always had a reckless streak. But Nyx and Vex?"

  His eyes nded on two of the men, his expression turning mockingly hurt.

  "My very own?" He sighed dramatically, shaking his head. "That wounds me."

  Silence settled in the room.

  Then, Bone’s smile faded, repced by a calcuting look.

  "Now… what should I do with a bunch of thieves, I wonder?

  Bone took a slow drag from his cigar, letting the embers at its tip glow a deep, fiery red. The thick smoke curled in the air, drifting zily toward the ceiling of the dimly lit room. He exhaled, his sharp golden teeth catching the flickering candlelight as he let out a sigh of exaggerated disappointment.

  His cold, calcuting gaze swept over the five bound figures before him. Jasper. Orin. Tess. Nyx. Vex.

  Each of them tied, gagged, and defeated. But not broken. Not yet.

  Bone chuckled, the sound dripping with amusement as he stepped forward, his well-polished shoes clicking softly against the stone floor. He crouched before Vex, his gaze settling on her as though she were some precious treasure.

  "Vex, Vex, my dear daughter…" he murmured, shaking his head slowly. "You know you're my favorite, don't you? The most precious among this rabble."

  He reached out and gently gripped her chin between his fingers, tilting her face up to meet his gaze. There was something almost tender in his touch, something that made it all the more terrifying.

  Vex's breath came in short, panicked bursts through her nose, her arms pulling instinctively at her restraints. Bone's piercing gaze bore into her, a predator examining his prize.

  "So, you know what?" He smirked. "I’ll let you go."

  A flicker of relief fshed through Vex’s tear-filled eyes

  And then Bone’s smirk widened into something cruel.

  "But of course, punishment must be served." His tone darkened, any trace of mock affection vanishing in an instant. "So I’ll just have to transfer it… to your dear brother."

  Vex jerked violently in her chair, her muffled scream raw and desperate, but the gag turned it into nothing more than a choked whimper. Her entire body shook, her wide, tear-filled eyes locked onto Bone’s, silently begging, pleading.

  Bone ignored her. He turned his head slowly, his gaze nding on Nyx, Vex’s brother, who sat utterly still, his jaw clenched, his expression bnk—except for his hands, which were trembling against the ropes that bound him.

  "Now, Nyx… what should I take from you this time?" Bone mused, pacing around him like a beast sizing up its next meal. "A hand? A leg? Or maybe your tongue?"

  He let the words sink in, savoring the tension, the raw fear flickering in Nyx’s otherwise composed demeanor.

  Bone let out a mock sigh, shaking his head.

  "I’ve been very lenient with you over the years, haven’t I?" His voice dropped lower, more menacing. "But this time… you really pushed your luck."

  He snapped his fingers, his face lighting up as though he had just thought of something wonderful.

  "Oh! I know! We’ll just send you to spend some quality time at the Fun House!"

  A visible shudder ran through Nyx’s body.

  Across from him, Vex’s entire world colpsed. She thrashed wildly in her chair, the ropes cutting into her skin as she struggled in vain. Tears streamed freely down her face, her strangled sobs muffled by the gag.

  She knew exactly what the Fun House was.

  She knew what horrors awaited her brother.

  Bone barely gave her another gnce. He had already moved on.

  His gaze nded on Tess next, and a slow, wicked grin stretched across his face.

  "Tess the Rider," he said, as if savoring the name. "Has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?"

  Tess lifted her head, her amber eyes burning with fury, her jaw tight, her muscles coiled. She knew what was coming.

  Bone chuckled. "I’m sure some of my clients would be… very interested in you."

  Tess’s body jerked forward as she fought against the restraints. Her expression twisted with pure rage, her nails digging so hard into her palms that they threatened to draw blood.

  Bone didn’t even flinch. He had seen that same fury before, that same defiance. He loved it.

  "Break her spirit before you deliver her," he added with a smirk. "It’ll make her worth more."

  Then, without another word, he turned to Jasper, the engineer.

  "And Jasper… well, you’re actually useful, aren’t you?" He clicked his tongue. "Send him to the mines. A man of your skills shouldn’t go to waste."

  Jasper's head hung low. Tears welled up in his eyes, but he didn’t resist.

  Bone saved Orin for st.

  He tilted his head, tapping his chin thoughtfully.

  "And Orin… hmm. Now what to do with you?"

  Orin’s pleading, panic-stricken eyes locked onto Bone’s, his muffled cries shaking with terror.

  Bone gave a dramatic shrug. "I don’t really have any use for a party performer right now."

  He snapped his fingers, then grinned.

  "Ah! I know! Sell him to Maddox. He loves an entertainer for his pet."

  Orin thrashed violently, his screams muffled by the gag, his entire body convulsing in panic.

  No one escaped Maddox.

  No one came back whole.

  Bone took a slow, satisfied drag of his cigar. He let the smoke swirl in the air before exhaling, taking in the broken expressions before him.Vex's tear-filled gaze was locked on her brother, helpless and shattered.Tess’s rage burned hotter than ever, but she was powerless to act.

  Nyx sat still, his body tense, resigned to his fate.Jasper's hands trembled, the quiet devastation in his eyes deepening with each passing second.

  Orin sobbed, his body convulsing, unable to do anything but scream into the gag.

  Bone sighed, stretching his arms.

  "Well, I’d say that just about settles it," he said casually.

  He turned on his heel, already giving orders to his men.

  "Now, let’s get things moving, shall we?"

  Before Bone could take another step toward the door, an underling rushed in, nearly out of breath, his face pale with urgency.

  "Boss! Someone's here to see you."

  Bone arched an eyebrow, exhaling a thin stream of smoke from his cigar. "Oh? And who might that be?"

  The underling shook his head. "I don't know, Boss. But..." He hesitated before opening his palm, revealing a small stack of gold coins, each bearing a sigil unfamiliar to them.

  For a moment, Bone's ever-present smirk faltered. His fingers curled around the coin as he examined it closely, his sharp eyes gleaming with curiosity. A currency he didn't recognize? Now that was something new. His grin returned, wider than before.

  "Looks like we have an important guest," he mused, flipping the coin before tucking it into his pocket. "Make him feel comfortable. I'll see him personally."The Meeting Chamber

  The air inside the well-lit chamber carried the rich scent of polished wood and fresh parchment. Bone stepped inside, his eyes immediately locking onto the lone figure seated in an elegant high-backed chair across the room, surrounded by finely crafted furnishings..

  The stranger was cd entirely in bck, hooded robes, his face obscured in the flickering candlelight.

  Bone closed the door behind him and let out a chuckle. "Now, what do I owe the pleasure of meeting you today?"

  The hooded man shifted slightly but remained silent.

  Bone took a seat, resting an elbow on the armrest. "You got a name, stranger?"

  A moment of silence passed before the figure finally responded, his voice unmistakably male, deep and steady.

  "Call me Adrak."

  Bone smirked, reclining in his chair. "Alright, Adrak. I hear you got some business with me. Let’s hear it."

  Adrak nodded. "I require something to be stolen."

  Bone's grin widened. "Ahh, now you're speaking my nguage." He leaned forward. "What exactly are we talking about here? A jewel? A ledger? A weapon?"

  Adrak shook his head. "A vase."

  Bone blinked, then let out a sharp ugh. "A vase? All this mystery for some pottery?"

  "Not just any vase," Adrak crified. "It is in a difficult pce to retrieve."

  Bone's amusement faded slightly. "Difficult how? Where is it?"

  Adrak hesitated before finally saying, "On another continent." somewhere you have never heard of.

  That caught Bone off guard. His fingers tightened around the cigar as he stared at the hooded man. Another continent? He had contacts, networks, and spies across all known nds—so how was this a pce he had never heard of?

  He muttered to himself, "Somewhere I've never heard of... How intriguing."

  He leaned forward, his gold-toothed grin returning. "Alright, let's assume I’m interested. How do we get there?"

  Adrak’s voice remained unwavering. "I am the only one who knows the way. I will take your people there, and they will retrieve the vase. Once the job is done, I will return here to collect it and compensate you accordingly."

  Bone’s smirk never faded, but there was a flicker of suspicion behind his sharp eyes. "And how do I know you’ll pay up? I don’t even know who you really are."

  Adrak exhaled softly, then lifted a hand and pulled a bag of gold from thin air.

  Bone’s men in the room tensed, eyes wide with shock. Even Bone himself had to admit he was impressed. There had been no movement, no sleight of hand. The gold was simply... there.

  Adrak set the bag on the table between them with a soft thud. "This is just a fraction of what you will receive."

  Bone studied the bag for a moment before chuckling. "Well now, I do love a man who pays up front."

  He took a final drag of his cigar and exhaled slowly. "Alright, you got a deal. When do you need my people ready?"

  "Two days from now," Adrak answered. "At the southern coast. Bring a flying ship and enough energy reserves for a long journey."

  Bone nodded, rubbing his chin. "Two days, south coast, flying ship… Got it."

  Adrak stood up smoothly, his robes barely making a sound. Without another word, he turned to leave the chamber.

  Bone watched him go, tapping his fingers against the armrest. A mystery man, a strange currency, a nd he'd never heard of, and a job unlike any other.

  A slow grin spread across his face.

  Things were about to get very interesting.

  Before Bone could take another step toward the door, an underling rushed in, nearly out of breath, his face pale with urgency.

  "Boss! Someone's here to see you."

  Bone arched an eyebrow, exhaling a thin stream of smoke from his cigar. "Oh? And who might that be?"

  The underling shook his head. "I don't know, Boss. But..." He hesitated before opening his palm, revealing a small stack of gold coins, each bearing a sigil unfamiliar to them.

  For a moment, Bone's ever-present smirk faltered. His fingers curled around the coin as he examined it closely, his sharp eyes gleaming with curiosity. A currency he didn't recognize? Now that was something new. His grin returned, wider than before.

  "Looks like we have an important guest," he mused, flipping the coin before tucking it into his pocket. "Make him feel comfortable. I'll see him personally."

  The air inside the well-lit chamber carried the rich scent of polished wood and fresh parchment. Bone stepped inside, his eyes immediately locking onto the lone figure seated in an elegant high-backed chair across the room, surrounded by finely crafted furnishings.

  The stranger was cd entirely in bck, hooded robes, his face obscured in the flickering candlelight.

  Bone closed the door behind him and let out a chuckle. "Now, what do I owe the pleasure of meeting you today?"

  The hooded man shifted slightly but remained silent.

  Bone took a seat, resting an elbow on the armrest. "You got a name, stranger?"

  A moment of silence passed before the figure finally responded, his voice unmistakably male, deep and steady.

  "Call me Adrak."

  Bone smirked, reclining in his chair. "Alright, Adrak. I hear you got some business with me. Let’s hear it."

  Adrak nodded. "I require something to be stolen."

  Bone's grin widened. "Ahh, now you're speaking my nguage." He leaned forward. "What exactly are we talking about here? A jewel? A ledger? A weapon?"

  Adrak shook his head. "A vase."

  Bone blinked, then let out a sharp ugh. "A vase? All this mystery for some pottery?"

  "Not just any vase," Adrak crified. "It is in a difficult pce to retrieve."

  Bone's amusement faded slightly. "Difficult how? Where is it?"

  Adrak hesitated before finally saying, "On another continent." somewhere you have not heard of.

  That caught Bone off guard. His fingers tightened around the cigar as he stared at the hooded man. Another continent? He had contacts, networks, and spies across all known nds—so how was this a pce he had never heard of?

  He muttered to himself, "Somewhere I've never heard of... How intriguing."

  He leaned forward, his gold-toothed grin returning. "Alright, let's assume I’m interested. How do we get there?"

  Adrak’s voice remained unwavering. "I am the only one who knows the way. I will take your people there, and they will retrieve the vase. Once the job is done, I will return here to collect it and compensate you accordingly."

  Bone’s smirk never faded, but there was a flicker of suspicion behind his sharp eyes. "And how do I know you’ll pay up? I don’t even know who you really are."

  Adrak exhaled softly, then lifted a hand and pulled a bag of gold from thin air.

  Bone’s men in the room tensed, eyes wide with shock. Even Bone himself had to admit he was impressed. There had been no movement, no sleight of hand. The gold was simply... there.

  Adrak set the bag on the table between them with a soft thud. "This is just a fraction of what you will receive."

  Bone studied the bag for a moment before chuckling. "Well now, I do love a man who pays up front."

  He took a final drag of his cigar and exhaled slowly. "Alright, you got a deal. When do you need my people ready?"

  "Two days from now," Adrak answered. "At the southern coast. Bring a flying ship and enough energy reserves for a long journey."

  Bone nodded, rubbing his chin. "Two days, south coast, flying ship… Got it."

  Adrak stood up smoothly, his robes barely making a sound. Without another word, he turned to leave the chamber.

  Bone watched him go, tapping his fingers against the armrest. A mystery man, a strange currency, a nd he'd never heard of, and a job unlike any other.

  A slow grin spread across his face.

  NOTE

  The End of the Era of GodsLong before the rise of kingdoms, before mortals carved their names into history, the world was shaped by the Era of Gods—a time when divine beings ruled, waged war, and shaped the fabric of reality itself.

  But their power, vast and unchecked, led to devastation.

  The war between the divine beings, each wielding forces beyond mortal comprehension, shattered the heavens and scarred the nd. The very foundations of the world trembled under their conflict, and what was once a paradise became a nd of ruin.

  When the final battle ended, only one deity stood in the aftermath: Lumara, Goddess of Light.

  Though victorious, she did not celebrate. The world y in ashes, and the presence of divine power had left scars too deep to heal.

  Fearing that gods could bring only destruction, she and the remaining deities made a solemn pact—to seal themselves away from the world. No longer would they interfere in the affairs of mortals. No longer would their power dictate the fate of creation.

  With this decree, the Era of Gods ended.

  The Rebuilding – The Seven Warriors of LightThough the gods had departed, the world was not left to die.

  Alongside Lumara stood Seven Warriors—mortals chosen to carry the will of the light, their strength rivaling even that of fallen gods. Together, they led the survivors of the divine war and began to rebuild civilization from the ruins.

  They raised cities where there was once only wastend.They restored order where there was only chaos.They established ws, guiding the people toward a new era of prosperity.

  It was through their hands that the Kingdom of Pentra was born, the first great kingdom of the new age.

  Over time, their descendants would become the rulers, nobility, and guardians of Pentra, their bloodlines carrying the legacy of divine power