Night had fallen over the Fortress Country, cloaking its towering walls and narrow streets in shadows. The city was a labyrinth of stone and secrets, and beneath its surface, in the dark and twisting underground, Zinia and Mei followed closely behind Kiva.
Zinia's patience was wearing thin, but she kept her expression neutral, her green eyes scanning the dark alleyways and hidden passages that Kiva led them through. She knew they were close to something—information, answers, anything that could finally break the silence that had surrounded their quest for so long.
Mei followed quietly at her side, as always. He said nothing, offering no insight or opinion. He never did unless asked, but Zinia didn't need his words. His presence was enough, a constant, silent force that grounded her even in the most uncertain of times. The fact that Mei could handle whatever danger they walked into helped to ease her mind, if only slightly.
Kiva, on the other hand, was visibly nervous. She had led them through a maze of underground passages for what felt like hours, her earlier bravado evaporating as the tension thickened. Zinia could see it in the way Kiva's shoulders tensed and the quick, furtive glances she cast over her shoulder.
"How much longer?" Zinia asked, her voice cutting through the darkness like a blade.
"We're close," Kiva whispered, her voice shaky. "Just a little further."
Zinia didn't respond, her eyes narrowing as she focused on the path ahead. The underground was a different world from the surface—a place of hidden deals, illegal trades, and people who thrived in the shadows. It was the perfect place for someone to traffic in secrets, and Zinia knew that anyone who dealt in information here wouldn't be easily intimidated. She would need to tread carefully.
They finally arrived at a small, nondescript door, barely visible in the dim light of a single flickering lantern. Kiva stopped in front of it, hesitating for a moment before glancing back at Zinia.
"This is it," she muttered, her voice barely audible. "But be careful. The person inside... they're dangerous."
Zinia raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "I don't care how dangerous they are. Open the door."
Kiva swallowed hard and knocked twice, then three times more in a distinct pattern. For a moment, there was nothing but silence. Then, the door creaked open, revealing a figure cloaked in shadows. They stepped aside, wordlessly allowing the group to enter.
Zinia didn't hesitate, pushing past Kiva and into the dimly lit room. Mei followed closely behind, his silent presence as intimidating as ever. Inside, the air was thick with the smell of damp stone and stale smoke. The walls were lined with shelves of books, scrolls, and strange artifacts that Zinia couldn't begin to decipher. At the center of the room stood a tall figure draped in a dark hooded cloak, their face obscured.
The figure's voice was low and gravelly, barely above a whisper. "You're not from here. What do you want?"
Zinia stepped forward, her eyes locked onto the figure's shadowed form. "We're looking for information. Valuable information."
"And what makes you think I have what you seek?" the figure asked, their tone dripping with suspicion.
Zinia's gaze was unwavering. "Because we were told you do. Now, let's not waste time."
The figure chuckled softly, a dry, humorless sound. "Information isn't free, especially not here. And I don't give it to just anyone."
Zinia took a deep breath, keeping her temper in check. She knew she couldn't reveal too much—not their names, not their true intentions. "I'm not just anyone. I want to know everything you have about the Valeborne family. Old bloodlines. Power. Secrets." She left it vague, intentionally avoiding any mention of herself or Mei.
The figure shifted slightly, and Zinia could feel the weight of their gaze from beneath the hood. "The Valeborne..." they repeated, their voice thoughtful. "That's a name I haven't heard in a long time. Why the interest?"
"That's none of your concern," Zinia snapped. "Just tell me what you know."
For a moment, the room was silent, the tension palpable. Then, the figure began to speak, slowly, carefully choosing their words. "The Valeborne... a family that once wielded great power, both feared and respected. But they fell from grace, didn't they? The stories say that most of them are dead now. A tragedy, really. They were at the heart of something bigger... something that threatened the balance of power of this war in ways most couldn't understand."
Zinia felt her heart race, her pulse pounding in her ears. This was more than she had hoped for—a lead, a real lead. She kept her face neutral, refusing to show any sign of how much this information meant to her.
"And this... power," Zinia asked, her voice low. "What can you tell me about it?"
The figure was silent for a long moment before speaking again. "It wasn't just power. It was something more. Some say the Valeborne were involved in scientific alchemy, things that could alter the very fabric of life. The people in power believe they were the key to unlocking something darker—something that the would make them invincible."
Zinia's fists clenched at her sides. She could feel the answers just out of reach, but she couldn't risk pushing too hard. "Do you have more? Documents? Records? Anything concrete?"
The figure let out another low chuckle. "You think something like that would be easy to find? No, but there are whispers—rumors of a vault deep within the Fortress Country. A vault that holds the records of the Valeborne's dealing. But it's heavily guarded, nearly impossible to reach without the right... connections."
"A vault?" Zinia repeated, her eyes narrowing. "Where?"
The figure leaned in slightly, their voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "I can't tell you that. Not yet. But if you're willing to make a deal... perhaps we can come to an arrangement."
Zinia's gaze hardened. She hated deals—hated being at the mercy of anyone. But this was the closest they had come to real answers in weeks. She couldn't afford to let it slip away.
"What kind of arrangement?" she asked, her voice cold.
The figure smiled beneath their hood, though Zinia couldn't see it. "That's for another time. For now, I've given you enough. Consider it a gift—a taste of what you might gain if you choose to play your cards right."
Zinia's fists clenched, but she forced herself to stay calm. She had what she needed for now—a lead. And that was enough.
"Let's go," she said sharply to Mei and Kiva, turning on her heel and heading for the door.
As they left the underground and made their way back to the surface, Zinia's mind raced. A vault, hidden deep within the Fortress Country, holding the secrets of her family... It was the first real step toward uncovering the truth.
But as they walked through the silent streets, Zinia knew one thing for certain—whatever deal she would need to make, she would make it on her own terms. No one would control her. Not now. Not ever.