The night was still, the air thick with tension. I sat perched on a thick branch, legs folded, gaze locked into the dark forest ahead. The restless stir of my forces was the only thing breaking the silence.
A shadow materialized beside me, forming out of the darkness itself. "How much longer, ma'am? The forces are growing restless. Are we not going to attack?"
I clicked my tongue, slowly turning my head. My eyes locked onto the figure. Instinctively, they took a step back before dipping their head. "I apologize," they muttered before vanishing into the night.
Silence settled once more. I exhaled, waiting. My pupils tightened, three black concentric rings within my pupils narrowing in an instant. My vision stretched forward, pulling the distant world into sharp focus.
Two thousand meters away, a silver-haired woman stood outside the camp. She gazed up at the stars, her expression unreadable. Then, as if sensing something, she lowered her head.
Our eyes met.
A sharp breath left my lips as I cut the vision, my vision zooming back out, heart pounding. My hands clenched the bark beneath me. "That's not a fucking human."
She didn't know where I was. Not exactly. But the way she'd looked—no hesitation, no searching—meant she had sensed me the moment I set my sights on her.
I rose to my feet, balancing on the thick branch. Lifting my right hand, I announced into the night, "We're retreating. This situation is too risky."
A chorus of discontent rumbled from the darkness around me.
"Shut the fuck up." My voice cut through the night like a blade. "If you don't want me to kill you, then go jump into that nest of danger yourselves. I won't blame idiots for doing idiotic things… so go, kill yourselves, you ungrateful fucks."
Silence. Then, without another word, they followed as I moved through the forest, shadows shifting amongst each other.
At an unremarkable patch of earth, the ground trembled beneath us. Without hesitation, I stepped forward as the earth caved in, swallowing us whole. The descent was quick. The tunnel sealed above us just as fast, enclosing us in darkness—until we emerged into the vast cavern below.
I glanced up. The ceiling shimmered, shifting into an endless expanse of stars, a galaxy stretching wide, casting a soft nebula glow over the stone city beneath it.
The others revealed themselves now, their dark brown hair reflecting the cosmic light. Unlike mine, they lacked the pure abyssal black, but the crimson glow in their eyes remained the same.
Landing on the ground, I felt the earth give way beneath me. A crater formed at my feet, then smoothed over in an instant, turning into soft grass.
Seventy strong, we stood at the edge of the prairie, gazing upon the towering city before us. Carved into the cavern walls, bridges and stairways wove through grand stone structures, their archways lined with flickering lights. Balconies jutted out over the abyss, and spires stretched toward the glowing void above.
This was home.
"God dammit… no action this week."
"Fuck…"
"I'm so tired of doing nothing."
"Let's just capture them. They didn't seem very powerful."
I rolled my eyes as grumbles filled the air as we strode toward the city. My underlings, though obedient, were not happy. I heard their muttering—complaints about retreating, about wasted effort, about how we should have struck. I ignored them. Their loyalty kept them moving, but their pride made them restless.
As we neared the entrance, the atmosphere shifted. Other Gloomtaurs, dressed in looser, more casual attire, stood waiting. They greeted us, some with nods, others with murmured words of welcome. Unlike us, who wore sleek, form-fitting garb suited for battle, these Gloomtaurs lived their lives here, beneath the earth, away from the frontlines.
I walked through them, and the crowd instinctively parted. Some called out, asking about our mission, about what had changed, about why we had returned so soon. I didn't stop. I didn't even look at them. Their words meant nothing to me. My focus was ahead, my mind elsewhere.
However, one voice cut through the noise.
"Lady Mabbel, the prisoners from last time... we have a problem."
I halted and turned. A man stood there, short dark brown hair framing a scar that ran from the corner of his mouth, slashing upward through his eye and brow, vanishing at the top of his forehead. His blood-red gaze met mine without hesitation.
"Is it urgent?" I asked.
He hesitated, mouth opening and closing a few times before finally saying, "Not necessarily… I'll… I'll try to take care of the problem to the best of my capabilities, ma'am."
"Good." I nodded. "If it is still a problem by tomorrow, notify me first thing in the morning."
He bowed, then turned and disappeared into the city. I resumed walking, taking in the sights as I moved.
As always, our home was as alive as the surface… however, just a bit different.
Glowing veins of minerals wove through the cavern walls, casting dim, soft light over the stone paths. Bridges arched across deep crevices, connecting various levels of the city like a sprawling web. Steam drifted from vents in the ground, warming the air, while waterfalls of luminescent liquid cascaded down carved channels, feeding into underground reservoirs. The air smelled of damp stone, smoke, and the faint scent of cooked meat from distant food stalls.
Despite the darkness, life thrived here. Merchants called from their stands, peddling pottery crafted in the depths. Smiths hammered away in their forges, the clang of metal echoing through the caverns. Children darted between alleyways, their laughter breaking through the usual gruff voices of the city's inhabitants. This was our home, our refuge, carved from the bones of the earth itself.
At the city's peak stood my fortress. Two massive guards, clad in dark armor, flanked the entrance. As I approached, they straightened, then spoke in unison.
"We're glad to see you're doing well, Lady Mabbel. Please enjoy your stay."
I gave a curt nod before stepping inside.
The fortress was cold, dimly lit by braziers filled with blue flames. Shadows stretched long across the stone walls, flickering with every movement. The air was thick with the scent of old parchment, steel, and the faintest trace of blood. Tapestries lined the halls, depicting battles long past—our victories, our losses. My boots echoed against the polished stone floors as I moved deeper inside.
Near my chamber, I spotted a passing knight and gestured him over. "Bring me some wine."
He bowed wordlessly before hurrying off.
I entered my room, locking the door behind me. The chamber was vast, lined with dark wooden furniture and deep red drapery. A grand chandelier of blackened iron hung from the ceiling, unlit. The bed was massive, its frame carved from obsidian, its sheets deep crimson. A desk sat near the far wall, covered in scrolls and reports, and beyond it, a large window revealed the cavern's ever-present starry illusion.
I undressed, stepping into the adjoining bathroom. The water was hot, washing away the tension clinging to my muscles. The silence was welcome, a rare moment of peace. When I finished, I donned simple, comfortable clothes and returned to my chamber.
Sitting at the edge of my bed, I stared at the map spread across my desk. The Sunbolt Mountains stretched before me, marked with key locations. But my eyes landed on one in particular—The Grumblehold Fortress.
With a flick of my fingers, darkness coiled into shape, forming a dagger in my grasp. I twirled it absentmindedly before flicking my wrist. The blade whistled through the air before burying itself in the map, piercing straight through the marked fortress.
"This is a chance," I muttered. My fingers tapped against the obsidian bedframe. My lips curled into a smirk. "A chance to get rid of the last of those blinded bastards."
…
(Tridra POV)
After a few days of traveling, we had finally entered the middle ring. And the change in difficulty was almost immediate.
The Gallbeings were like living nightmares—twisted figures of moss-covered bone, their hollow eyes glowing with eerie malice. Their massive, gnarled limbs swung with supernatural strength, tearing through the battlefield. They also reeked of damp earth and decay.
I ducked under a massive claw, rolling to the side as Edwin blocked another swipe with his shield, his longsword flashing in the dim light of dusk. The impact sent him sliding back, his boots digging into the dirt. Alexandra moved in with her blade, slashing at the creature's leg, forcing it to shift its weight.
A goblin leaped at me from the side. I twisted, daggers flashing as I drove one into its gut and the other across its throat. It gurgled, collapsing at my feet. Another lunged, but a knight wielding twin shortswords intercepted it, his blades cutting precisely.
To my right, the knight with the mace and shield slammed his weapon into the ground, sending a pulse of holy energy outward. The golden lion on his back flared with even more holy power, forcing several goblins to recoil. The knight with the lance used the moment to thrust forward, impaling two in a single strike before yanking his weapon free.
The knight with the battle axe cleaved through another goblin, then turned his shield to deflect a green magical blast from one of the Gallbeings. Sparks crackled against the metal, and he gritted his teeth as he braced himself. Alexandra moved behind him, using his shield as cover before stepping out and slicing through another enemy's arm.
I darted between them, moving fast, dodging, striking where their attacks left openings. A goblin aimed a spell at Edwin's back. I flung a dagger straight into its throat before it could release the energy. He nodded in thanks before bashing a goblin's skull in with his shield.
But there were too many.
One knight took a heavy blow to the side, blood spilling onto the ground. Another staggered, gripping his wounded arm as he barely raised his sword to block. My lungs burned. My limbs felt heavier with every passing second.
Every single passing second felt like hell.
This was by far our hardest fight.
Then, suddenly, out of thin air, dark red squares flickered beneath the Gallbeings.
They shuddered, their limbs suddenly sluggish, as if shackled by invisible chains. Their movements lost their incredible accuracy, almost becoming clumsy, while their attacks were slow and predictable. At the same moment, light blue squares formed beneath us.
Relief flooded my body. The exhaustion vanished in an instant. My daggers felt weightless. My mind sharpened, and the fatigue that had threatened to drag me down disappeared.
We struck with revitalized force.
I darted forward, slashing through the nearest enemy before spinning into another, my blades cutting deep. Edwin's sword ignited with golden energy as he drove it straight into a Gallbeing's chest, sending cracks of light through its form before it crumbled into a pile of roots and twigs. The knight with the mace crushed another's skull, the holy lion mantle on his back glowing even brighter than before.
The battle ended in moments. The last Gallbeing fell, its body dissolving into the earth.
Breathing heavily, I turned back. Ophelia stood there, a golden shimmer fading from her body in tandem with the squares beneath us disappearing.
Edwin wiped blood from his forehead, giving her an exhausted look. "Finally decided to help out, huh?"
Ophelia, as expressionless as ever, met his gaze without hesitation. "I have not felt their gaze since a couple of days ago. They are no longer watching us. I should be able to help out now."
The moment the battle haze lifted, our bodies gave in. The knights collapsed where they stood. I felt my legs buckle, my vision tilting.
Before I could hit the ground, strong arms caught me.
I looked up. Alexandra.
My face warmed as she helped me down gently, her grip firm but careful. Workers rushed in, bandages and medicine in hand, tending to wounds without hesitation. One knelt beside me, inspecting the gash across my chest.
"I need to cut away the cloth," he said, reaching for his tools.
Before he could, Alexandra placed a hand on his shoulder. "I'll handle it."
He gave a small nod, handing the tool to her, and moved to help another knight.
I swallowed hard as Alexandra knelt in front of me. The exhaustion weighed on me, but my heart pounded for an entirely different reason.
She carefully cut away the torn fabric, her touch lingering as she worked. The bandages wrapped around my chest were exposed, and I felt my face heat up even more.
Then she pressed cool medicine against the wound.
SHE'S TOUCHING ME! OH MY GOD, SHE'S TOUCHING ME!
I kept my mouth shut, trying not to let my internal screaming show. She patched me up efficiently, her expression focused, her hands gentle.
"All done," she smiled, helping me to my feet. I barely registered her lifting me, carrying me in her arms toward Ophelia's cart.
My face must've been glowing red.
Ophelia watched us with her usual blank expression as Alexandra carried me all the way inside, setting me down beside her on the couch.
Alexandra frowned, concern in her eyes. "Are you sure you're alright? Want me to get you some water? Some anesthetic?"
"N-No, I'm good," I stammered, forcing an awkward smile.
She continued to smile back, warm and reassuring, before brushing a few strands of hair from my face. Then she glanced at Ophelia and gave a playful wink before stepping out of the cart.
That left just me and Ophelia, sitting side by side.
She tilted her head slightly, the faintest smirk on her lips. "You are quite red, honey."
Bum Bum... Bum Bum...
I sputtered, words failing me.
She scooted closer, wrapping an arm around me and pulling me in, resting my head against her lap.
BUM BUM... BUM BUM...
"Just get some rest," she murmured, fingers brushing through my hair. "Once we find a suitable place to set up camp, we are going to rest for the evening. So, just take your time and recuperate your strength. Get some sleep."
I looked up at her, and she smiled softly.
BUM BUM… BUM BUM… BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM
My heart felt as if it was about to thump out of my chest.
Oh no, I've fallen for her as well.
I looked up at Ophelia once more before hearing her say, "So.. it is here, huh? In the middle ring? How sneaky..."
Clearly, she had figured something out, but I was too tangled in my own thoughts to try and decipher those words.