A tall, dark-skinned woman clad in heavy armor strode confidently into the Stellaris royal capital. Her armor bore the emblem of a demon's head beneath a guillotine, scorched into the chest plate, and a massive sword nearly as tall as her rested on her back. Behind her marched fifteen men, all donning similar armor, their presence commanding attention as they entered the city.
The Abyssi Wanderers—a team sent from below to aid in the fight against the looming demon invasion—had arrived. Civilians shot wary glances their way, whispering nervously, but the group paid them no mind. As the woman reached the city center, a contingent of knights approached her.
One of the knights, a man with a polished demeanor, stepped forward. "Good evening. You must be Captain Zoraya. It's an honor to meet you. Welcome to the surface. I trust you'll enjoy your time here."
Zoraya extended a hand for a firm shake, smirking slightly. "Thanks for the welcome, but I ain't here for a vacation. Gotta say, though—this sun up here? Feels damn good. Makes me feel stronger than I thought it would."
Her words were casual but carried an edge of authority, leaving the knights impressed by her presence.
Zoraya let go of the knight's hand, her sharp gaze locking onto his. "So, I heard a mercenary helped out the envoy we sent topside. I'd like to bring him on board. Think you can take me to him?"
Her tone was direct, no-nonsense, and left little room for debate. The knight hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Of course, Captain. I'll guide you to him right away."
"Good," Zoraya replied, resting a hand on the hilt of her massive sword. "Let's not waste any time."
Zoraya followed behind the knights, her heavy boots echoing on the cobblestone streets. Behind her, her men trailed along, their eyes wide with awe as they took in the sights of the bustling city. Most of them had been born and raised in the Abyss, never knowing the surface, and those who hadn't had spent so many years below that they'd nearly forgotten what it was like up here.
Noticing their wonder, Zoraya didn't bother reprimanding them for failing to maintain their usual discipline. She let them take it all in. This might be the only chance they'd have to truly experience the surface, and even she couldn't blame them for being mesmerized by its vibrancy.
After walking through the bustling city streets for a while, the group finally arrived at a modest yet well-maintained building with a sign above the door reading Shadow Panther Mercenaries. Zoraya smirked as she eyed the establishment.
"Quaint. Hard to believe the guy who killed a demon prince calls this place home," she remarked with a hint of amusement. Without hesitation, she strode up to the door and pushed it open.
Inside, a striking woman with long red hair sat casually at the front desk, her demeanor warm and unshaken by Zoraya's imposing presence. She flashed a polite smile.
"You must be here to see Ezra," the woman said confidently, already rising from her seat. "I'll go ge—"
Before she could finish, the sound of heavy footsteps on the stairs drew everyone's attention. Ezra descended, fully clad in his pitch-black armor, his hood pulled low, obscuring much of his face. His sheathed sword rested lightly in his hand, the air around him heavy with quiet authority.
The red-haired woman stepped back, a knowing smile tugging at her lips. "Well, there he is," she quipped, gesturing toward Ezra.
Ezra stopped just behind the desk, his posture tense and cautious, as though he were prepared for an ambush at any moment. His dark eyes scanned Zoraya with sharp precision.
"What brings someone at the peak of the Master Realm to seek me out?" he asked coolly. Though his tone was calm, it was clear he wasn't taking any chances. Zoraya noticed the subtle flicker of movement in the corner of her eye—a sniper stationed in a nearby tree, weapon trained on her. Another presence lurked just behind her men, ready to strike at a moment's notice. It was clear Ezra had taken every precaution, likely sensing the sheer magnitude of her exposed aether.
Zoraya smiled, unfazed. "Relax, I didn't come here to fight. You can call your men off—we're here to hire you."
Ezra studied her for a moment before reaching up to pull back his hood. As his face came into full view, Zoraya's expression shifted from calm composure to visible shock. Her golden eyes widened as she breathed a single word:
"Elthar."
The recognition in her voice was enough to make Ezra's brow furrow, his own gaze narrowing as he looked her over more closely. Then, to the surprise of everyone in the room, his lips spread into a bright smile—something none of his mercenaries had ever seen.
"Well, I'll be damned," Ezra said, his voice filled with genuine excitement. "Another Elthar. It's about time! The last one I met vanished in a puff of smoke before I could get any answers."
Ezra effortlessly vaulted over the desk, landing with the grace of someone who had done it a hundred times before. His expression briefly lit up with curiosity as he asked, "What do you need to hire me for?"
But as quickly as the excitement appeared, it vanished. His cool, composed demeanor returned, like the brief burst of enthusiasm had never happened. He folded his arms, his eyes sharp and calculating, as if he were already weighing the potential risks and rewards of the job before Zoraya even responded.
Zoraya crossed her arms, leaning slightly on the hilt of her massive sword as she studied Ezra. "Straight to the point, huh? I like that." She nodded to him. "We need someone with your skills to assist in the fight against the coming demon invasion. Your reputation says you've already handled a demon prince. That's exactly the kind of power we could use."
Ezra's eyes narrowed slightly. "A demon prince is one thing. An invasion is something else entirely. I don't get involved in wars without knowing all the details. What exactly are you expecting from me?"
Zoraya smirked. "I'm not asking you to fight an army on your own. We have forces for that. But the Abyssi Wanderers can't take on every high-level threat that'll crawl out of the abyss. That's where you come in. Take care of the demons that slip past us or the ones too strong for our soldiers. It's a support role... for now."
Ezra tilted his head slightly, studying her. "Support role, huh? And what do I get out of it?"
Zoraya chuckled, a low, warm sound that contrasted with her intimidating armor. "Aside from not getting killed if the demons win? Gold, of course. Enough to make it worth your while. And..." She leaned in slightly, her voice dropping. "If you're looking for answers about your Elthar abilities, there's a chance the demons have some knowledge we don't. You help us, and I'll make sure you get access to any information we recover from them."
Ezra raised an eyebrow, intrigued but still cautious. "And how do I know I can trust you to hold up your end of the deal?"
Zoraya straightened up, her demeanor serious now. "Because I don't break my promises. Especially not to someone like you. And frankly, I wouldn't have marched my team all the way up here if I wasn't serious about this. You're an Elthar—We're almost extinct. That makes you valuable, and I'm not about to waste this opportunity."
Ezra considered her words, then nodded slowly. "Alright. I'll help—for now. But if I feel like I'm being used or lied to, I'm out. Understood?"
Zoraya grinned, offering her hand. "Understood. Welcome to the fight, Ezra."
He shook her hand firmly, the faintest hint of a smirk crossing his lips. "Let's hope you're ready for what you're signing up for."