The walk to the mines wasn't long, but every step felt like wading through quicksand. The air outside the palace was damp and thick, hinting at an approaching storm. My cloak, hastily grabbed before I slipped out unnoticed, barely warded off the chill. It was reckless to go alone, but trust wasn't a luxury I could afford yet. Not with so many unanswered questions.
The mines were tucked at the edge of the estate, hidden by jagged cliffs and dense forest. As I neared the entrance, the world seemed to grow darker, the light of the sun dimming behind the thick canopy overhead. The smell hit me first—metallic and acrid, with a hint of decay. It was enough to make my stomach churn.
The system's notification pinged in the corner of my vision.
[**Environmental Hazard Detected: Elevated toxin levels in the air. Prolonged exposure is not recommended.**]
I hesitated, hand resting on the rough stone wall at the entrance. This was the place. If the toxins in my body were tied to the mines, the answers were buried somewhere within.
"Just don't breathe too deeply," I muttered to myself, stepping into the shadows.
The inside of the mine was colder than I expected, the air clinging to my skin like a damp cloth. My footsteps echoed off the narrow walls, the sound unnerving in the suffocating silence. The system's map helped guide me, highlighting pathways that spiraled deeper into the earth.
As I walked, I noticed marks on the walls. Strange symbols etched into the stone, faint but deliberate. They didn't look like mining instructions or worker's notes. Something about them felt… older. Forgotten. My fingers traced one of the carvings, and a shiver ran down my spine.
[**Unknown Markings Detected. Insufficient Data for Analysis.**]
Of course. More questions, no answers.
I was deep into the tunnels when I heard it—a soft shuffle, followed by the faint clink of metal. My body tensed, instinctively pulling my cloak tighter around me. For a moment, I considered retreating. But then a voice cut through the stillness, low and sardonic.
"You really should know better than to wander in here alone."
I spun around, my heart lurching. Standing a few paces behind me, leaning casually against the wall, was Damian Frostfeather. His black hair caught the faint light, a striking contrast against the dark stone. His gray eyes, sharp and unyielding, pinned me in place.
"What are you doing here?" I demanded, though my voice came out more breathless than I'd intended.
He smirked, pushing off the wall to close the distance between us. "Funny. I was about to ask you the same thing. Dangerous place for someone like you."
"Someone like me?"
"Fragile. Naive. Reckless."
I clenched my fists, resisting the urge to snap back. He wasn't wrong—at least about the reckless part—but I wasn't about to let him have the upper hand.
"Why are you here?" I repeated, stepping back to create some distance. "Don't tell me you're here to protect me."
Damian chuckled, a low sound that echoed in the narrow tunnel. "Protect you? Hardly. But it'd be a shame if something happened to our dear empress. You're more useful alive, after all."
"Useful?" My voice sharpened. "To who? You?"
He tilted his head, his expression unreadable. "Let's just say I have a vested interest in keeping you around. For now."
Before I could retort, the tunnel rumbled, a low, ominous sound that sent dust cascading from the ceiling. Damian's smirk vanished, replaced by a sharp alertness.
"Move," he barked, grabbing my arm and pulling me down the tunnel.
"What's happening?" I asked, struggling to keep up with his pace.
"The supports in these old tunnels aren't exactly reliable," he said, his voice tight. "If you're not careful, they'll bury you alive."
Great. Just what I needed.
The rumbling grew louder, and the ground beneath us trembled. Damian's grip on my arm was firm, his movements decisive as he led me through the twisting pathways. We turned a corner just as the tunnel behind us caved in with a deafening crash. My heart pounded, and for a moment, all I could hear was the sound of falling rock and my ragged breathing.
When the dust settled, I realized we were in a larger chamber. The walls here were smoother, the air less suffocating. A faint glow emanated from veins of ore running through the stone, casting eerie reflections.
Damian released my arm and turned to face me, his expression a mixture of annoyance and… concern. No, that couldn't be right.
"Are you trying to get yourself killed?" he demanded.
I straightened, brushing dust off my cloak. "I didn't ask for your help."
"Clearly. Because asking for help would imply you're not infallible," he said, crossing his arms. "What were you even looking for down here?"
I hesitated. Telling him the truth felt risky, but lying would be pointless. Damian had a way of seeing through deceit.
"Information," I admitted. "About the toxins. About the… sickness."
His eyes narrowed. "The mines have been poisoned for years. Everyone knows that."
"Not everyone," I shot back. "And if they did, why hasn't anyone done anything about it?"
He laughed a bitter sound. "Because fixing it doesn't line anyone's pockets. The mines keep the treasury afloat. As long as the gold flows, the rest doesn't matter."
His words sent a chill through me. Was that why my body—Karina's body—was riddled with toxins? Had this all been swept under the rug for profit?
I took a step forward, my voice firm. "Then it's time someone did something about it."
Damian's gaze softened, just for a moment, before he shook his head. "You're bold, I'll give you that. But boldness gets you killed in this world."
"Maybe. But if I'm going to survive, I need to understand what I'm up against."
He studied me for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Finally, he sighed. "Fine. If you're that determined to play hero, I'll help. But don't expect me to hold your hand."
"I don't need you to," I said, though I couldn't deny the relief that coursed through me. Having Damian on my side, even temporarily, was better than navigating this alone.
"Good." He turned, motioning for me to follow. "Then let's get out of here before the whole place comes down on our heads."
As we made our way back through the tunnels, I couldn't help but feel the weight of what I'd discovered. The mines were a ticking time bomb, their poisoned veins a threat not just to me but to everyone connected to them. And Damian, for all his arrogance and mystery, might just be the ally I needed to uncover the truth.