The cold night air bit into Alex's skin as he stumbled through the dense undergrowth of the ruined city beyond the Archive. His breathing was ragged, his mana reserves dangerously low after the intense battle. Each step sent sharp jolts of pain through his body, but he pushed forward, knowing that stopping meant certain death.
A flicker of movement in the distance caught his eye. Shadows danced along the walls of a crumbling temple, their forms barely illuminated by the crescent moon. He tensed, readying himself for another fight.
"Easy, Alex," a hushed voice called out.
He spun around, hands crackling with residual mana, only to see a hooded figure emerging from the darkness. The figure pulled back their hood, revealing a familiar face—Nyssa Caelum. Her piercing green eyes assessed him quickly, her lips pressing into a thin line at the sight of his injuries.
"You look like hell," she muttered, stepping forward. "Come with me."
Alex hesitated only a moment before following. Nyssa was a former imperial spy, now one of Twilight's most elusive agents. If she was here, then Twilight had anticipated his need for an escape.
She led him through a maze of collapsed buildings until they reached an underground passage hidden beneath a collapsed statue. With a flick of her wrist, she activated an old Twilight sigil, and a concealed door groaned open, revealing a dimly lit stairway leading into the depths below.
Once inside, the scent of damp stone and burning incense filled Alex's senses. They entered a vast underground chamber where resistance fighters moved swiftly, preparing supplies and treating the wounded. The walls bore ancient carvings, remnants of a forgotten age, now serving as the last refuge for those who opposed the Saints.
"You'll be safe here," Nyssa said, leading him to a secluded alcove. "For now."
Alex sank onto a worn cot, exhaling sharply. The weight of his mission pressed against him, but for the first time in days, he allowed himself a moment of respite.
"This war is bigger than we ever imagined," he murmured, staring at the flickering lantern above. "They're hiding something. Something far worse than just controlling the world."
Nyssa nodded grimly. "And we're running out of time to stop it."
The battle was far from over. And in the shadows of this hidden refuge, the next stage of their fight would begin.