There it was—the mausoleum of the old empire. Despite its name suggesting a museum, it was more accurate to call it the remains of an entire capital city. The Agad Dynasty, once known simply as the Empire, had been the continent's most powerful superpower. They united and conquered everything under their feet, yet mysteriously vanished, leaving only their grand capital behind.
The capital itself, though once magnificent, was now shrouded in danger, consumed by the ominous miasma. This force wasn't just a natural occurrence—it was deadly. The miasma caused hallucinations, drove people insane, and even created monstrous entities known as Spawns of Darkness, born from the fears of those who ventured too close. Unlike demons, who thrived on demonic energy, these spawns were pure darkness, and both shared the same vulnerability—holy power. Yet, despite its mysterious origins, no one knew where the miasma came from. All anyone knew was that it originated from the heart of the capital.
"My Lady, are you sure this is safe?" Jane asked as she served me tea. We sat leisurely at the top of the fortress wall that encircled the Old Capital, which kept the miasma from spreading beyond its boundaries. The fog below, thick and heavy, looked like a living thing, waiting to swallow us whole.
"We're at the edge of danger, yet you're drinking tea?" Jane's voice wavered, clearly unsettled by our proximity to the cursed city.
Peter, perched on one of the arches, glared at her. I could tell by his expression that he was just as uncomfortable, though he tried to hide it. I took a sip of my tea, letting the chamomile soothe my nerves.
"I brought him to help us," I said calmly, cutting into a freshly buttered scone.
"Help? Really?" Jane huffed, sending a sharp glance Peter's way. "Lady, he's useless!"
"Fufu. Isn't his father the so-called Reaper of the Battlefield? And yet he's afraid of this place," I remarked while gracefully taking another bite of my scone. "Vane, don't bully him too much."
"But, Lady..."
I shrugged, brushing her off. "We've already made a contract. He's mine to command, but there's no need to torment him further. As long as he keeps his word, I'm satisfied. Any more would just be unnecessary cruelty."
Jane fell silent, looking down as if she were reflecting on something. Truth be told, I didn't know what to do with Peter. The contract he signed was already enough punishment. It tied him to me, unable to approach Adele, unable to back out, bound by magic. That was my revenge, and I didn't intend to push it further.
He was… complicated. He was acting strangely around me, lingering by my side when he wasn't needed. I wasn't oblivious—I could feel the odd tension every time he looked at me. But it wasn't my job to sort out his emotions. He's a burden for now. Once this is done, I'll send him back to Adele. Until then, he's my responsibility.
"Mr. Nobody, come here and eat," I called out.
Peter scowled but eventually joined me. He took a seat, much too close for my liking, and helped himself to a scone. He spread the jam with deliberate slowness, shooting Jane a smug look.
"This little…!" Jane muttered under her breath.
"Jane, come sit here beside me," I said, gesturing to the seat next to me. She complied, sliding her chair closer and looping her arm around mine. Then she turned and flashed Peter the smuggest grin I'd ever seen.
Peter, for his part, bit his thumb in frustration, glaring at Jane like they were locked in some silent battle. Is this a war of attrition? I thought to myself as they kept bickering through our tea time.
Night finally came. The fog was too dense in the day, but now, it was time to move. The miasma around the capital grew thicker as the night deepened. Manifestations of the darkness—the Spawns of Darkness—crawled through the fog, attacking anything that ventured too close. Their grotesque forms twisted in the dark, creating an eerie, malevolent presence that filled the air.
"How do we get through this, Lady?" Jane asked, her voice hushed as we stared down at the cursed city.
I crossed my arms, looking over the decayed remains of the old capital. Once a shining beacon of the Empire, it had lost all its former glory, now infested with darkness. A kingdom of shadows, long since fallen.
I flicked my fingers, summoning a magic circle at our feet. "This should help," I said, casting [Lion's Heart] to fortify our minds and bodies against the miasma.
"I'm fine, of course," I added, feeling the divine protection pulsing through me. [God's Beloved] made sure of that. "But you two… You'll need this to make it through."
Jane nodded, reassured, while Peter said nothing. He only stared out at the sea of darkness.
"You don't have to come if you're scared," I said, crossing my arms and smirking. "This isn't part of the contract."
Peter's eyes narrowed at the mention of the contract. Without warning, he leaped from the wall, diving headfirst into the horde of darkness below. His blade flashed as he cut through the spawns with grace, his movements fluid and sharp.
"Crazy bastard," Jane muttered, watching as Peter sliced through the enemies with terrifying efficiency.
"Let's go, Jane." I grabbed her arm and jumped after Peter.
"Wait, Lady—!!" she screamed as we hurtled toward the ground.
We landed smoothly, of course, with Jane clutching onto me for dear life. In truth, I could've done this alone, but…
"It's more fun this way."
I smiled, channeling power into my legs, creating a small crater beneath me as I took off. "Let's move!"