It was two and a half days later and nobody had an inkling of what the next match would be. Hallas was good at that.

Despite being dead, Eraphim still prided himself on always knowing everything. He was the keeper of sacred knowledge after all. Thyaenius, King Nurial's former spymaster and Rinaren's close friend, had been Eraphim's friend and Dark Court source and always told him everything.

Except he had been killed by the Arch Demon Arwinan and Eraphim still hadn't seen him in the Under Realm four thousand years later. Perhaps he had finally decided to rest and enjoy eternity with his lover somewhere down here where it was peaceful. It would explain his lack of visits, Eraphim did tend to lurk in the same area as soldiers and assassins. He hoped the quiet, former spymaster was alright wherever he was.

His hopeful thoughts cut off when Ingresh draped his arm comfortably across Eraphim's shoulders, the two of them sitting together on the floor while the rest of their former teammates looked on with surprise. Until the next trial was announced, they were all on hiatus and currently sharing a round of drinks in celebration of surviving the first match. Ingresh had taken advantage of the time and now pressed a quick kiss to Eraphim's neck, earning a choked off gag from Gyna.

Kaeshan couldn't stand the awkwardness of it all anymore. "So the old man and the wise leader are together now?"

Ingresh choked on his laugh and hid his smile against Eraphim's neck at Eraphim being called an old man. Eraphim hit his leg and glared up at Kaeshan, who smiled down at them with a knowing look. "Is there a problem?"

"None at all."

"Alright. Gyna?"

The sly, blonde assassin gave them a disgusted look. "Just don't kiss during a fight. If we're ever a team again, I don't want to die with an arclyph dagger to the heart because you two decided to make out in the middle of the battlefield."

Eraphim was genuinely insulted. He placed a hand over heart. "I would never do that."

"Uh huh. Sure, old man." Eraphim cried his outrage just as the doors to the lounge opened.

"Why do you always have the worst timing, Nyon?" Ingresh stiffened against him and quickly swatted Eraphim's shoulder. Eraphim purposefully ignored it.

Gyna spat out her wine, coughing twice and turning a wide-eyed look of surprise towards the Ancient. "Your name is Nyon?"

Nyon(dran) growled at Eraphim and snatched Eraphim's untouched glass of wine from his hand. He drank it unceremoniously and threw the empty glass back at him. A shield sprang up, rebounding the wine glass and it shattered on the floor.

"Over-dramatic."

Nyondran proceeded towards the only empty seat in the room and collapsed into it, not once lowering his guard as he glared at them all.

Gyna didn't care. "Hey, how does the old man know your name?"

The Ancient didn't respond. Eraphim answered for him. "His sparring partner told me."

"He didn't tell you a damn thing. And he wasn't a sparring partner," Nyondran snarled.

"Then who was he? Your lover?" Eraphim asked sweetly.

Nyondran's nostrils flared. "That was the infamous assassin Axilas. I'm sure you've heard of him. He's the one who killed King Osiris' predecessor." Eraphim had heard of him. "And he and I were settling a blood feud."

"You two were fighting with arclyph blades. You do realize they can only be used during matches."

"I don't give a damn about what that common demon Sairon says."

"Well you should, he reports to Hallas."

"Screw Hallas. I'm already dead and a murderer. I hold nothing dear to me."

"Except for your pride. I'm assuming you lost, or the two of you were discovered and punished for breaking a rule. That's why you have nowhere else to go but to join this sorry lot."

Nyondran leaned forward, half covered in shadows. His face showed no mercy. "You don't know anything about me."

"He's the one you ran after in the first match wasn't he? What did he ever do to you? Wait, is he the one who killed you?"

"No."

"Then what is it?"

"Why should I tell you? If we're in the business of trading stories, why don't you tell me how you're so powerful?"

Eraphim froze for half a second. It was enough. "Something to share, Volcron?"

"Not with you. I'm betting you have more secrets than me."

"If we're betting, then you lose." Fate he's relentless. He's someone who kills with words and blades.

Gyna's eyes now held suspicion as she looked at Eraphim. "What is he talking about, old man?"

Eraphim studied Nyondran. He couldn't know. No one but Rinaren and his closest friends knew he was the son of a Celestial. The son of Henoss in fact, which was why his flames were so strong. He baited me. It was so obvious, I should never have attacked him. If a secret like this came out, it could mean the end of the Four Realms. Wars had been waged over the first half-breed child of a Celestial.

The reason everyone wanted such a creature for themselves was because Eraphim and a few others in hiding were the only beings alive who could enter all Four Realms and decimate one in a matter of minutes if they wished. The Dark Realm was poisonous to the Celestials, The Realm of the Celestials was poisonous to everyone, the Mortal Realm was accessible to all, and the Under Realm could only be entered by demons and the dead. So Eraphim's kind was quite desirable as a weapon or assassin in that case.

Eraphim leaned back against the wall and threw Nyondran and Gyna a carefree smirk. "I certainly don't know. It's rather hard to tell whether he's threatening you or making small talk."

Fate help me. Now Nyondran and Gyna were both studying him.

"Who sired you, Volcron?" Nyondran purred. Fate! Just stab me already would you?

Eraphim leveled a cold gaze towards the Ancient. "That's none of your business."

"It rather is. Lying to your friends doesn't look very good."

Eraphim glared at the Ancient, Nyondran glared right back.

Through all this, Ingresh had remained silent. He opened his mouth now. "Leave it be, Nyondran. The two of you can settle this in the next match."

Nyondran whipped his gaze to Ingresh. There was pure death in his eyes. "And you. You may as well have the biggest secret of us all."

Ingresh paled considerably.

Eraphim couldn't stand the Ancient any longer. He jumped to his feet and teleported, reappearing across the room and slamming the Ancient into the wall. Hard.

"If you talk to him like that again, I will rip out your throat and then your heart," he seethed.

The Ancient merely laughed deep in his throat. "At least you finally had the courage to bite."

"Yes. And now I'm waiting for you to do the same," Eraphim snarled.

Nyondran let out a mocking laugh. He had to lean down to whisper in Eraphim's ear since Eraphim was holding him by the front of his shirt, flames beginning to flicker at the tips of his fingers. "You've been so interested in discovering my past that you haven't even thought about what the captain is hiding." Ingresh.

"We all have our secrets. Ingresh can tell me his in time."

Nyondran let out another laugh, this time like a savage howl. Fate, has he gone insane? "I rather think you'll want to know this one as soon as possible. Why do you think his eyes look that why? Why do you think someone with his advanced fighting skills didn't rise higher in the army?"

Those had been Eraphim's exact thoughts. Please Mynestra, don't let my suspicions be true. He rarely ever prayed to the Goddess of the Four Realms.

"How do you know so much."

"I have ears. I melt into the shadows. I thrive on the darkness down here. You, you thrive on sunlight. But there is no sun or light down here. Only death." Somehow that statement rattled Eraphim to his core.

He released the Ancient, who fell to the floor gracefully and silently.

"We're done here." It came out too hoarsely. Eraphim whipped around and made towards Ingresh, whose face was still slightly pale from Nyondran's earlier statement.

Upon Eraphim's questioning look, Ingresh let out a deep breath and relaxed infinitesimally. "I'm fine."

Eraphim decided to leave it at that, because he had just realized something. Hallas had done it again. A manipulative savage indeed.

He had given them a few days in between matches on purpose, because technically, the Trial of the Fade was always happening. Bastard, Nyondran has been probing for weaknesses this entire time! It's been two days, that means the next match should commence any time now.

Almost as if on cue, the doors to their lounge suddenly opened to reveal Sairon's grim face.

"All of you get up now and follow me. Your next trial is starting."

"What is it this time? Because swords and blades are becoming repetitive." It was Gyna who said it.

"No. No blades. Today, you're going to relive each of your deaths."