The fortress seemed to stretch endlessly, its maze-like corridors making it easy to lose track of where they'd been.
"Are you sure we're going the right way?"
"Do you have a better suggestion?"
Ren opened his mouth but hesitated. He didn't.
But after several more turns, the walls seemed to close in, and Ren's earlier doubt turned into outright suspicion.
The air felt heavier here, the faint smell of dampness and something metallic lingering.
Suddenly, they came to a halt in front of a heavy iron door, partially ajar. A low, unnatural growl echoed from within, causing both of them to tense.
The room beyond was pitch black, the faint torchlight from the corridor barely reaching inside.
They stepped in, the sound of their breathing unnervingly loud in the oppressive silence. As they moved deeper, faint shapes began to take form in the darkness.
Then, all at once, the room came alive with a dim, eerie glow.
Eyes.
Dozens of them, scattered throughout the room, glowing faintly in the darkness. They were in cages, watching silently.
"This... this is where they're keeping the beasts..."
A low growl came from one of the cages, followed by another, and another, until the room was filled with a chorus of menacing sounds.
Shin unsheathed her rapier, her eyes darting around.
"They're agitated."
"Probably because they thought we're bandits."
Ren took a cautious step back, his eyes darting around the room. The beasts' glowing eyes fixed on him, unblinking. The rattling of chains and the deep, guttural growls began to escalate, growing louder with each passing second.
Shin tightened her grip on her rapier.
"If they make any more noise, the bandits will hear us."
"How do we shut them up without getting torn apart?"
"There has to be something here... some way they control them."
The beasts, growing more restless, began banging against their cages, the sound echoing through the chamber like thunder.
Voices echoed from the corridor, sharp and urgent.
Shin grabbed Ren's arm and pulled him toward a stack of crates in the corner of the room.
Without a second thought, she pushed the lid off one of the larger crates and shoved Ren inside. She climbed in after him, barely managing to pull the lid back on top before the door to the beast chamber creaked open.
The voices grew louder as several bandits entered the room, their boots clanking against the stone floor.
Ren tried to adjust himself in the cramped space, but Shin pressed a hand against his chest to stop him. Her face was inches from his, her breath brushing against his skin.
"Stop moving." She whispered, her voice barely audible.
Ren's cheeks burned as he realized how close they were. Shin's knee pressed uncomfortably against his side, and his shoulder was wedged awkwardly against the crate wall.
"This... is not ideal."
"Shut up."
The bandits' voices grew clearer as they moved deeper into the room.
"What's with the beasts? They were going crazy a minute ago."
"Probably just agitated. You know how sensitive they are."
"Still, keep an eye on them. If something's off, the boss won't be happy."
Ren held his breath, his body tense as he listened to the bandits moving around the room. One of them paused dangerously close to their crate, and for a moment, Ren thought he might open it.
But after a long, agonizing pause, the bandit moved away.
"Let's get out of here. I don't want to be around these monsters longer than I have to."
The sound of their footsteps faded as they left the room, the door creaking shut behind them.
"That was way too close..."
Shin leaned forward, closing the already minimal gap between them. Ren's words caught in his throat, his face flushing as her intense stare locked on him.
"I... uh... w-what are you—"
For a moment, he thought she was about to kiss him.
But then, her body pressed fully against his, her hand sliding to the edge of the crate behind him.
His mind went blank. His breath hitched, heart hammering against his ribs.
"Hold still," she whispered, her voice calm but firm.
Her fingers fumbled along the edge, as she retrieved something hidden behind him, a small vial filled with a strange, glowing liquid.
"Got it."
Ren blinked, his face still hot.
"Y-you were reaching for that?"
"What else would I be doing?"
"I-uh-nothing! Never mind!"
Shin lifted the lid slightly, peeking out to make sure the coast was clear. Satisfied, she climbed out of the crate and offered a hand to Ren.
Ren took her hand, climbing out awkwardly.
As Ren dusted himself off, his gaze fell on the glowing vial in Shin's hand. Its contents shimmered faintly, a mesmerizing swirl of colors that seemed almost alive.
"So... what's in the vial?"
Shin paused, glancing at the vial before tucking it into her pouch.
"Rune Veil. Nothing more."
"Rune Veil? That doesn't really explain anything. What does it do?"
"It's not your concern."
Shin replied briskly, already turning toward the door.
Ren opened his mouth to argue but thought better of it. With a resigned sigh, he followed her out of the room.
"Where to now?"
"This way,"
She said, pointing down a narrow passage to their left.
Ren hesitated, glancing back over his shoulder toward the room they had just left.
"Are you sure?"
Shin nodded as she stepped into the shadowy corridor. Ren followed close behind, the oppressive silence of the fortress now broken only by the faint echo of their footsteps.
****
The fight pit trembled as Leizage roared, its sound reverberating like a thunderclap through the cavernous space. Chains, thick as a man's arm, strained against its movements as the beast writhed in fury.
The crowd, rowdy moments before, fell silent. A hushed tension replaced their jeers, and even the bandits tasked with controlling the monster hesitated.
"Get those chains tighter!"
Barked a burly man clad in piecemeal armor. His voice carried over the growing chaos.
"We lose control of that thing, and it'll tear us all apart!"
But Leizage was beyond restraint. With a guttural snarl, its claws raked the dirt beneath it, and the blackened runes engraved along its massive form began to glow ominously. The air around the beast distorted, warping with unnatural energy.
A daring handler darted forward, attempting to re-secure a loose shackle on one of Leizage's hind legs. The beast twisted with a speed that belied its size, its tail slamming into the man and sending him careening into the stone wall with a sickening crunch.
The crowd erupted into chaos.
"Get out of there!" someone shouted, but it was too late.
The energy emanating from Leizage peaked as a surge of shadow exploded outward. The torches lining the walls were snuffed out in an instant, plunging the pit into near-total darkness.
Panicked screams filled the void as bandits and spectators alike scrambled for the exits.
In the center of the chaos, Leizage stood unmoving, its glowing red eyes the only visible feature. The chains that had once bound it now hung in pieces at its sides, melted and useless.
"By the gods..."
One of the fleeing bandits muttered, glancing back at the beast as he stumbled toward an exit.
****
The tremors reached Ren and Shin as they hurried through the labyrinthine corridors of the fortress.
The walls shook violently, dust cascading from the ceiling. The faint sound of distant roars and panicked screams echoed through the stone halls.
Shin skidded to a halt, gripping the wall for balance.
"What the hell?"
Ren's heart sank as he recognized the familiar energy thrumming in the air.
"It's Leizage…"
"Your beast?"
"It shouldn't be loose," Ren muttered, breaking into a sprint. "If it's out of control, we don't have much time!"
The fortress seemed to stretch endlessly, each turn identical to the last. Shin followed close behind, her rapier ready in hand.
As they rounded a final corner, the sight before them stopped them in their tracks.
The fight pit loomed ahead, its iron gates blown wide open. Inside, Leizage towered over a lone man, its glowing red eyes locked onto him. The man stumbled backward, his face pale with terror as he clutched a useless spear.
"Help! Somebody—"
His voice cracked as Leizage growled low, the sound vibrating through the air like a warning.
The crowd of bandits that had once packed the stands had scattered, leaving the arena eerily silent except for the beast's heavy breathing.
Ren quickly dashes forward. Leizage's gaze shifted to him instantly, its glowing eyes narrowing.
"Leizage..."
The beast tilted its head, the runes on its body flickering erratically. For a moment, it seemed to hesitate, its massive form lowering slightly.
"Good," Ren murmured, taking another cautious step forward. "It's me... I'm here."
The man on the ground took the opportunity to scramble away, crawling toward the edge of the pit.
But as Ren reached out a hand toward Leizage, the beast snarled, its runes flaring brightly. It lashed out with its tail, the force of the blow cracking the stone floor inches from where Ren stood.
"Ren!"
Shin called out, stepping into the pit with her weapon drawn.
"Stay back!" Ren shouted, his eyes never leaving Leizage. "I can handle this!"
He took a deep breath, focusing on the bond he shared with the beast. Despite the chaos, despite the anger radiating off Leizage, he could still feel the faint thread of their connection.
"I know you're angry, but don't worry... I'm here."
Leizage's growls grew quieter, though its body remained tense. The runes along its sides began to dim, their glow no longer as blinding.
"That's it, good boy."
Slowly, he reached out, his hand brushing against the beast's snout. The moment his fingers made contact, the oppressive energy in the air dissipated, replaced by a calming stillness.
Leizage let out a low rumble, lowering its head as if in submission.
As Leizage lowered its massive body, it revealed a dark, hidden entrance behind it. From that entrance, three figures emerged.
The first was Sunnycluck, next is a white leopard, and the third figure stepped forward, a large panda with an imposing frame.
Its fur was marred with scars, many of them resembling the cruel marks of a whip. Its eyes gleamed with a quiet fury, exuding a calm yet unnerving presence as it sat at the edge of the entrance.
Sunnycluck clucked loudly, as it took a position on top of Leizage's head.
Ren trailed off, his eyes lingering on the scarred panda.
"Where did it come from?"
"It's not mine," Shin said, her brow furrowing. "But it looks like it has a grudge against whoever's in there."
The panda's expression was unreadable, but its scars told a story of suffering and survival.