The Last Disciple of Elyndra

Time seemed to have frozen in the dimly lit corridor where Lady Lyanna lay. Caelum was the first to react, quickly kneeling beside her to check her condition.

"She's breathing," he announced, obvious relief in his voice. "But she's unconscious and... by the gods, she's bleeding!"

Indeed, a thin stream of blood was flowing from a cut on the side of her head, contrasting violently with the paleness of her skin. The wound, although not immediately fatal, seemed serious.

Dorian approached, his analytical gaze sweeping the scene. "No visible signs of struggle," he observed. "The attack must have been quick and precise. We need to move her before someone finds us here."

As they prepared to lift Lady Lyanna, the sound of heavy, rhythmic footsteps echoed at the end of the corridor. Wide-eyed, Raven whispered: "The royal guard. They're making their rounds."

A moment of panic seized the group. Being found here, with an unconscious and injured Lady, could mean their immediate disqualification from the tournament, or worse.

"Quick," Caelum hissed, "in the alcove over there!"

With coordination born from their training, they gently lifted Lady Lyanna and slipped into the shadow of a small alcove adorned with a statue. The footsteps were inexorably approaching.

"They're going to see us," Dorian whispered, tension palpable in his voice.

That's when Kaela did something that surprised them all. Stepping out of the alcove with a confident stride, she slightly ruffled her hair and undid the first buttons of her tunic.

"What are you..." Raven began, but Kaela signaled him to be quiet.

Two guards appeared at the corner of the corridor, their armor faintly gleaming in the darkness. They stopped abruptly upon seeing Kaela.

"Good evening, gentlemen," she purred in a voice none of her friends knew she possessed. "I was looking for... well, let's say I was a bit bored in my room. You haven't seen a handsome wandering knight by any chance, have you?"

The guards exchanged a confused look, visibly taken aback by this unexpected appearance.

"Miss," one of them began hesitantly, "you shouldn't be here at this hour. It's... it's against the rules."

Kaela approached, a flirtatious smile on her lips. "Oh, really? But you're here. Perhaps you could escort me back to my room? I'd feel so much... safer."

The guards' cheeks visibly reddened, even in the dim light. They stammered a few incoherent words before one of them managed to articulate: "We... we should continue our rounds. But you should return to your quarters, miss."

"Oh, very well," Kaela sighed with a disappointed pout. "I guess I'll have to find my way all alone. In these dark and scary corridors..."

She walked away with a deliberately swaying gait, attracting the attention of the guards who followed her with their eyes. When she turned the corner, the guards resumed their rounds, visibly disturbed by this encounter.

As soon as they were out of sight, Kaela came running back, her face red with embarrassment. "I can't believe I did that," she muttered.

"Neither can I," said Raven, an amused smile on his lips. "I didn't know you had these acting talents."

"We'll talk about it later," Caelum intervened. "For now, let's get out of here."

Carefully, they lifted Lady Lyanna and carried her to their quarters, checking each intersection to ensure the way was clear. Once inside, they gently laid her on a bed.

Dorian examined the wound on her head. "It's not deep, but it's bleeding a lot. Head wounds are always like that."

While Dorian cleaned and bandaged the wound, Caelum noticed the crumpled parchment in Lyanna's hand. Carefully, he retrieved it and unfolded it.

"You need to see this," he said, calling the others.

They gathered around him, their faces reflecting a mixture of curiosity and apprehension. On the parchment, traced in elegant but hurried handwriting, was a message:

"The Order is moving. The Seal is in danger. Beware of shadows in Selenopolis. The truth hides in the labyrinth. Find the hidden chamber before it's too late. - A"

A heavy silence fell over the room as they digested the implications of this cryptic message.

"'A'?" questioned Kaela, finally breaking the silence. "Who is 'A'?"

"And how is Lady Lyanna involved in all this?" added Raven, his gaze moving from the parchment to Lyanna's unconscious form.

Dorian, who was carefully examining the parchment, frowned. "There's something strange here," he murmured. "Look, in the lower right corner. It looks like some sort of mark or symbol."

They all leaned in for a better look. Indeed, almost imperceptible at first glance, was a tiny symbol: a crescent moon intertwined with a sun.

"The Seal of Abnegation," Caelum breathed. "But why..."

His words were interrupted by a moan coming from the bed. Lady Lyanna was beginning to regain consciousness.

Her eyes opened slowly, filled with confusion and pain. When her gaze fell on the four friends surrounding her, she tried to sit up abruptly, panic visible on her face.

"Easy," Caelum said in a soothing voice, placing a hand on her shoulder to keep her lying down. "You're safe. We found you unconscious in the hallway."

Lyanna brought a hand to her head, wincing when she touched the bandage. "What... what happened?"

"We were hoping you could tell us," Dorian replied. "You were injured and holding this." He showed her the parchment, carefully observing her reaction.

Lyanna's eyes widened in recognition of the message. She looked around, as if searching for an escape route, before finally sighing in resignation.

"I suppose I owe you explanations," she said weakly. "But first, may I have some water?"

Kaela quickly brought her a glass of water, which Lyanna drank eagerly. When she finished, she seemed to gather her strength before speaking.

"This message... it was given to me by a secret contact. Someone working from the inside to counter the plans of the Order of the Veil."

"You know about the Order of the Veil?" Raven asked, surprised.

Lyanna nodded slowly, an expression of pain crossing her face. "More than I'd like to. That's why Sir Alden and I were absent during the last two trials. We... we were investigating certain suspicious activities."

She paused, seeming to weigh her words. "I don't know exactly where the Seal of Abnegation is, but I have strong reasons to believe it's hidden somewhere in the Crystal caves. It's a place Sir Alden and I recently visited, outside the city."

"Why tell us all this now?" Caelum asked, wary.

Lyanna looked him straight in the eye. "Because I don't know who to trust anymore. Sir Alden... he's changed. His recent actions worry me. And then, there was this attack..."

She brought her hand to her head again, her face betraying her pain and fatigue. "I don't remember much. I had received this message and was heading to your quarters to talk to you about it. Then, everything went black."

A tense silence settled in the room as everyone pondered the implications of these revelations.

"We need to decide on our next action," Dorian finally said. "The labyrinth trial starts tomorrow, and this message suggests that answers lie there."

"But how can we focus on a secret quest while we'll be competing against each other?" Kaela asked, expressing the concern weighing on them all.

"We have no choice," Caelum replied. "We must find a way to do both. The fate of Myralis could well depend on what we discover in this labyrinth."

They spent the following hours devising a plan, debating the best way to proceed. The tension was palpable, each aware that their loyalties would be severely tested in the days to come.

"What if we encounter members of the Order in the labyrinth?" Raven asked, raising a crucial point.

"We do what we must to protect the Seal and our allies," Caelum replied, his tone leaving no room for hesitation. "But remember, our priority is to obtain information and prevent the Order from achieving its goal."

Kaela, who had moved closer to the window, suddenly turned around. "What if we can't trust everyone in this room?" Her gaze fell on Lady Lyanna, who looked uncomfortable.

"Kaela," Dorian began in a soothing tone, "we must stay united..."

"No," Kaela interrupted, her voice betraying her frustration. "We can't ignore the possibility that someone here could be a double agent. We're taking too many risks."

A tense silence settled, each realizing that their priorities were beginning to diverge in the face of the tournament's pressure and the growing stakes of their secret mission.

As dawn approached, they prepared for the upcoming trial. The atmosphere was heavy with unspoken words and apprehension. They knew that, despite their friendship and common mission, they could soon find themselves adversaries...