He glanced at Lashmine, her expression a mix of awe and calculation as she addressed Luka. Even in this moment, her composure reminded him why she could see through him so easily.
Risha, on the other hand, was more open, her eyes darting between the craters and Luka as if trying to reconcile what she'd just witnessed.
Luna stood beside Luka, quietly assessing him. She knew something was wrong, even if Luka tried to hide it behind his usual bravado. But she didn't push him, not yet.
"We shouldn't linger here," Yonis finally said, breaking the silence. "That platoon wasn't alone. If we don't move, reinforcements will find us, and I doubt they'll come in small numbers."
The mention of reinforcements pulled the group's focus back to the situation at hand. Luka nodded, his face darkening as he considered the possibility.
"He's right," Luka said. "We need to get the princess to safety before more of them show up. The Jacquer king and queen are too methodical to rely on a single patrol."
"Where do we go, then?" Risha asked, her voice sharper than intended. Her nerves were still frayed. "Back the way we came? Or forward into whatever might be behind those doors?"
Lashmine stepped forward, her voice steady.
"We move forward. The longer we stay out here, the more vulnerable we are." She turned to Yonis, her eyes meeting his briefly before shifting to the rest of the group. "But we need a plan. Luna, Luka, can you handle another group like that if they appear?"
Luka hesitated, his hand brushing the hilt of his sword. "Not like that. Not without a long rest. My blood magic has limits."
"And I'm good, but not that good," Luna added, giving a small, humorless laugh. "If another platoon shows up, we'll have to fight smarter, not harder."
Yonis frowned, his mind racing. He turned toward the heavy double doors looming in the distance. If the Jacquer rulers had stationed their troops here, it meant this place was important. But what lay inside? Reinforcements? Or something worse?
"We don't have much of a choice," Yonis said. "If we stay outside, we're sitting targets. At least inside, we'll have some cover. If there's an ambush waiting, we'll deal with it when it happens."
Lashmine nodded. "Then it's settled. We move now."
The group fell into formation, Luka and Luna taking the lead, with Lashmine and Risha protected in the center. Yonis walked at the rear, his eyes scanning the horizon for any signs of movement. As they approached the massive doors, the silence became oppressive.
Even the wind seemed to hold its breath.
Yonis reached out, brushing his hand against the wood. The doors were ancient, their surface scarred by years of weathering and battles. He glanced at the others. Luka gave a small nod, and Yonis pushed.
The doors creaked open, revealing a dimly lit hall beyond. The air was heavy, damp with an unplaceable scent that made Yonis' skin prickle. Shadows danced along the walls, cast by flickering torches that lined the corridor.
Lashmine stepped forward, her voice barely above a whisper. "Stay sharp. We don't know what's waiting for us here."
The group advanced cautiously, their footsteps echoing in the cavernous space. The tension was palpable, each of them acutely aware that this could very well be another trap.
As they moved deeper into the hall, a low hum began to fill the air—a deep, resonant vibration that seemed to come from the walls themselves. Luna's hand tightened on her flute, and Luka's grip on his sword grew white-knuckled.
"What is that?" Risha asked, her voice trembling.
Yonis didn't answer. He knew this feeling all too well. The air here was saturated with fear, anger, and pain—the perfect conditions for his abilities to awaken. But he held himself back. Not yet.
The hum grew louder, and then a voice echoed through the hall, cold and commanding.
"You've come far," it said, reverberating off the stone. "But your journey ends here."
From the shadows, figures began to emerge—cloaked in darkness, their movements unnatural. The group tensed, weapons raised, as the first of their new adversaries stepped into the light.
Their armor bore the same runes as the knights outside, but their bodies were different. Twisted. Enhanced. The Jacquer king and queen hadn't just raised soldiers—they'd created monsters.
The group stood in a vast hall, their attention fixed on the new adversaries before them. The princess remained calm at the center of her bodyguards, who instinctively moved to shield her. The hall itself was sparsely decorated, its only features a long red carpet stretching to the far end and a series of pillars that framed the room like silent sentinels.
Their adversaries were an eerie sight—three figures whose bodies seemed unnaturally fused with the features of animals. They wore a strange combination of robes and armor, but it was their grotesque transformations that drew the group's unease.
Jagged horns jutted from the foreheads of all three, and their skin bore the characteristics of the creatures they resembled. The woman in the center appeared to be fused with a deer, her limbs unnaturally slender, her movements graceful yet unsettling. The two figures flanking her were unmistakably connected to the red bears native to Lauf, their hulking forms brimming with an intimidating strength.
One of the bear-like knights growled, his deep voice echoing across the chamber. "Which one of you intruders caused the rain? My master was impressed."
Luna and the princess instinctively turned toward Luka, but he remained silent, his expression unreadable.
The deer-woman turned to the bear who had spoken, her tone calm yet commanding. "Patience, Reydon. Introductions are important." Her voice carried a gentle cadence, but her pitch-black eyes betrayed an unnatural intensity. Bowing slightly, she addressed the group. "We mean you no harm. Our king has bid us to greet the intruders in the Jacquer wing."
Her words sent ripples of unease through the group, but her tone remained cordial. "I admit," she continued, "I did not expect the intruders to include the princess of Lauf herself. Rest assured, no harm will come to you for dispatching our men. Please—follow us to the main hall."
The two bear-knights lowered their heads in deference, their movements slow and deliberate, as if to emphasize their supposed lack of hostility.
The princess stepped forward, her orange dress catching the light from the sparse torches lining the walls. Her hair, styled in an exquisite bun adorned with encrusted jewels, made her presence even more striking against the muted, somber tones of the room. Her gaze lingered on the strange figures before her. "Might I ask," she said, her voice steady, "why do you knights bear the traits of animals?"
The deer-woman straightened and answered, her tone still measured. "The Jacquer kingdom has long used magic to enhance life. Our forms are the result of the king and queen's vision for a stronger future. They intended to reveal these advancements the day before your wedding. Now, please—follow us."
With that, she turned and walked toward the massive double doors at the far end of the hall, the two bear-knights trailing closely behind her.
Risha edged closer to the group, her discomfort palpable. "No, no," she whispered, clutching Luka's cloak as if it were her lifeline. "They look so creepy. What if there are insect people back there?" Her voice cracked with nervous energy as her grip on Luka's cloak tightened.
The group stepped into the massive chamber, their footsteps echoing off the white, metallic floor. The room was vast, with towering walls lined by gleaming panels that depicted the life of King Jorgo Jacquer.
Yonis' sharp eyes lingered on one panel as they walked past. The title read "Jorgo Jacquer Ascends the Throne". The image depicted Jorgo and his older brother locked in a duel, their swords clashing in the center. The intensity of the scene left no doubt—Jorgo had killed his brother to claim the throne. An irrational jolt of panic coursed through Yonis, his unease growing.
The deer-woman and her bear-like companions strode ahead, their movements eerily synchronized. The air was heavy with tension, every breath the group took seeming to echo louder than it should have. The transformed knights stopped at the end of the hall, where an ornate set of silver doors stood. "Wait here," the deer-woman said, her voice calm yet unnervingly hollow. She motioned to the twin bears, who flanked the door and crossed their arms in unison.
Yonis turned to the princess, his voice quiet but firm. "Your Highness, this could easily be a trap. Are you sure the king can be reasoned with?" His words were cautious, but his gaze betrayed his concern.
Lashmine didn't answer immediately. She glanced at the massive doors before turning back to Yonis. "I haven't spoken to King Jorgo since I was a child," she admitted, her voice steady but faintly uncertain. "He treated me like family once, but... things are different now. Still, I don't believe he would try to kill me. Not here, over this."
Yonis studied her for a moment longer. Her words were confident, but he sensed doubt in her voice. The princess was better at reading him than he was at reading her, and she must have known he wasn't entirely reassured.
Behind them, Risha huddled close to Luka, her voice barely above a whisper. "This place is too creepy. And those knights—they're not human anymore," she murmured, clutching Luka's cloak tightly.
"Relax," Luka muttered, tugging his cloak free. "Just stay behind me, and you'll be fine."
"You said you wouldn't protect me anymore!" Risha shot back, her voice rising slightly.
"Then stop hanging onto me!" Luka growled, fighting back over control of his cloak.
Luna, who had been walking near the back of the group, smirked at the exchange. She stepped beside Risha, throwing an arm around her shoulders. "Don't worry so much," she said lightly. "With all of us here, what could possibly go wrong?"
"I'm serious!" Risha protested, her voice small. "What if those knights have friends? What if they're hiding insect-people somewhere?
I don't.....want..to.....be....around...bug people!"
Luna laughed loudly, giving Risha a playful shove. "You're hopeless."
As the group approached the silver doors, Yonis felt his shoulders tense. He glanced at the others. Luka's expression was unreadable, but Yonis could tell from his posture that something weighed on his mind. Luna seemed eager, her fingers twitching slightly. She had always been fiery, and Yonis knew she hated being underestimated. Risha, despite her fear, was curiously focused on the panels, her childlike wonder cutting through the tension.
The princess walked quietly, her thoughts a world away. Her mind raced as she considered what to say to King Jorgo. She hadn't seen him in years, not since she was a child more concerned with toys than politics. Could he still see her as that little girl? Or worse, would he dismiss her entirely?
Her thoughts drifted to her brother's sudden arrival at the castle. Sarath had always been dangerously ambitious, and she suspected that was why their father had kept him at a distance. Whatever announcement he had planned, it couldn't be good.
Lashmine glanced briefly at Yonis, catching his lingering gaze. His eyes were intense, almost admiring, though he was quick to look away. People who looked at her like that often got hurt. She didn't want to see him hurt.
The silver doors groaned as they swung open, revealing a throne room bathed in dim light. At the far end sat King Jorgo Jacquer, his imposing figure perched on a black stone throne. His sharp features were illuminated by the faint glow of the room, his dark hair streaked with gray. He wore a crimson robe lined with gold, and at his side stood a young woman dressed in a maid's uniform. Her head was bowed low, her posture stiff with tension.
The princess stepped forward, her movements poised yet deliberate. "Your Majesty," she said, her voice steady. "It has been many years since we last met. I come to you now not as a child of Lauf, but as an emissary seeking peace."
King Jorgo's lips curved into a thin smile, though his eyes remained cold. "Lashmine," he said, his voice resonant. "It has indeed been a long time. I did not expect the little girl who once played in my halls to return under such... complicated circumstances." His gaze swept over the group, lingering briefly on Yonis before returning to the princess.
"And yet, here you are," he continued, his tone heavy with skepticism. "Accompanied by such... intriguing company."
Lashmine inclined her head slightly. "I believe Lauf and Jacquer have more to gain from peace than from war. Your strength as a king has never been in question, but there is no need for further bloodshed, especially for such a nonsensical reason."
The king leaned forward, his elbows resting on the arms of his throne. His smile faded, replaced by a steely expression. "A noble sentiment," he said slowly. "But tell me, Princess—how do you propose we achieve peace when even my own wife has declared war against me?"
The weight of his words hung heavy in the air. Yonis instincts told him the danger wasn't just in the words being spoken. There was something deeper, more insidious lurking beneath the surface of this exchange.
"I've heard the rumors in court, Your Highness," Lashmine began, her voice even yet probing. "They say you were unfaithful to your wife—with a maid." Her eyes flicked briefly toward the maid standing beside the throne before returning to the king.
Jorgo's expression didn't waver, though his smile grew colder. "You're still too young, Princess. Soon you'll learn that the gossip of court is little more than hollow noise. Fake news," he said dismissively.
Lashmine's gaze sharpened, but the king continued, leaning back on his throne. "Sadly, my wife has lost her mind. Those scouts your guards killed earlier weren't here to harm anyone—they were ensuring the queen didn't escape while it was still daytime in the main hall."
Luka stiffened at the revelation, a bolt of regret shooting through him. He tried to suppress it, remembering his father's harsh lessons: caring about the lives he took was weakness. Yonis, standing beside him, felt the weight of Luka's regret but betrayed nothing in his expression.
"Her mind? Please, Your Highness," Lashmine pressed, her voice laced with skepticism. "Explain further. I don't understand. I had planned to speak with the queen as well."
The king's lips pressed into a thin line. "That wouldn't be advisable," he replied. "For the past two years, Jacquer has pursued a way to enhance human life through ancient magic—ritual magic. Dread magic."
At the mention of dread magic, Yonis's heart skipped a beat. He froze, his composure faltering for the briefest moment. Lashmine turned at that moment.....she caught it. Her sharp eyes turned to him, studying his face. For a fleeting second, he felt exposed, vulnerable. He quickly looked away; he was now beginning to understand how dangerous she was, but the damage was done. She'd seen enough to know there was something he wasn't saying.
King Jorgo didn't seem to notice the exchange. "While my research aimed to connect people with creatures that complemented human physiology, my wife sought something else. She wanted to merge humans with beings that could grant otherworldly strength, power, and beauty," he explained, his tone darkening. "Her experiments have filled her castle with beautiful, deadly monsters. If you attempt to negotiate with her, you won't leave alive."
The group fell silent, stunned by the gravity of his words. The air in the chamber grew heavy, and the mood turned grim. Lashmine glanced back at her bodyguards, her eyes silently asking, What do we do now?
Turning back to Jorgo, she lifted her chin defiantly. "You understand, Your Highness, if I'm having trouble taking you at your word, don't you?"
The king inclined his head slightly, a faint shadow of a smile returning to his face. "I suppose. But the truth has a way of revealing itself, in time. Unfortunately, you and your companions will have to spend the night here."
The group exchanged confused glances, unease spreading among them.
"The nights in this hall last far longer than the daylight," Jorgo continued, his voice steady yet foreboding. "The door to the main castle locks itself when the sun sets. That will keep her creatures from getting out and they grow large enough that they won't be able to fit through the massive doors that lead here." He paused, letting his words sink in. "know this—at night, the monsters my wife has created grow exponentially stronger... and larger. If you insist on speaking with her, you'll have to wait until morning."
The grim finality of his words settled over the group like a shroud, leaving no room for argument.