The oppressive darkness and the thrumming didn’t impede Nio at all. After passing through the initial entrance, the hole opened. It transformed into a wide corridor adorned by carvings and inlaid with precious metals.


    Mio’s eyes quickly adapted to the environment. He spent little time studying the side paths, choosing to head down the main corridor towards the voices.


    This place, too, was deserted. Or, more likely—emptied by whatever horror waited below. The presence of whatever it was grew stronger as they found stairways to deeper levels of the complex.


    Ahead, there was light brought by the soldiers. Their torches threw eerie shadows, somehow worse than the darkness itself. Their worried whispers didn’t tell Mio and Mila much.


    They were one of many exploring groups sent to the area by the military command. The capital city was an important strategic point, but the officers were aware there was something strange about it.


    The orders were to discover whatever it was and bring back news. From what was discussed, it seemed quite a few leaders from the opposing army were sure a group of survivors had been bolted up in the capital and slaughtering scouting parties.


    That was the official story, anyway. Most of the present soldiers were sure they were here to be killed for one transgression or another.


    Frankly, Mila didn’t believe those were the reasons. The Eternity’s forces weren’t dumb. They had to have at least some hunch of what was here. She had seen too many ambushes and devastating defeats orchestrated by the enemy generals to believe otherwise.


    So then, why was this group here?


    Mila had a few guesses. It was possible that someone was trying to get rid of them, but the more worrying possibility was—


    “What was that?” The soldier holding a torch stopped suddenly. “Did you hear that?”


    “No,” One of the gruffest ones slapped the torchbearer on the back of his head. “Don’t scare us. There is…” He trailed off. “Did you hear that?”


    “Oh, not you, too!” The third soldier complained. “There is nothing. Are you pretending so that we have something to report and head back?” He glared at the two who had spoken up.


    “Well, no…” The torchbearer hesitated.


    The third soldier continued to glare. “Do you know what will happen to us if we give them the wrong information? I am already on the shit list. If they catch us lying, we will all be sent to the front lines.” His tirade didn’t end. “We will be ground to dust by the fucking Usurper.”


    Mila knew who this Usurper was. She had heard the rumours that Aaers had planned the Emperor’s death. It had been his scheme that had gone wrong at the last moment.


    At least that''s what the Eternity’s goons were saying. She didn’t believe it and… Couldn’t she just ask? It was possible now, and there was no reason not to.


    But that was for later. After another round of arguing, the group of soldiers decided to continue. Mila wondered how they could not hear the thrumming. It was so clear and resonant—becoming more so as they continued down the corridor and stairs.


    The horrific sound was almost alluring and inviting. It made Mila feel sick. She knew Nio was feeling the same from how he reacted.


    It wasn’t the same for the soldiers, though. They fell silent, falling into a trance. Their attention stopped wandering, and their speed increased.


    Now it was clear—whatever it was, it was luring in weaker-willed people. Perhaps that was the criteria for choosing this group. Perhaps that was why their leader had not come down. Perhaps they were here to feed the evil thing that delved here.


    Mila believed the last guess was the most probable. She didn’t think it was a God down here—or anything to do with their ilk. It didn’t feel like the monstrosity that haunted them in real life.


    This felt like something else, but just as alien as ‘It’ that wanted to enter the world. Maybe. Possibly. Mila didn’t quite understand, and she didn’t consider herself an expert.


    Then again, Mila didn’t think there were many experts. Most would die just by being in proximity to these things.


    From how nervous Nio was, even he was not safe. And Mila believed this assassin could kill an inquisitor quite easily. She guessed he had been given information she wasn’t allowed to hear.


    Mila had to wonder why that was. Was it because the information was dangerous for her or because of who had revealed it? Her mind spun around, trying to figure things out.


    You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    But all Mila achieved was to watch mindless drones march towards their doom. The group in front of them dropped their torch, and their arms hung limply by their sides.


    Nio had made some noise purposefully to gauge their reaction, but there was none. He had approached them after, even dropping his spell once or twice.


    But the soldiers remained unresponsive. Their eyes were empty, and their sole purpose remained to head down.


    A floor after floor, they descended under the palace rubble. The lower they went, the less decorated the surroundings were until just stone walls remained.


    The aura of ancientness was palpable. The simplicity of the corridor didn’t take away from the impression of them approaching a secret.


    Mila doubted it had been this Empire that had built this place. Neither the previous one nor the one before. It looked to be crafted by human hands, but she could not shake the feeling they had not.


    And one thing was sure—this place was not where an emperor would keep a treasury. Mila feared Nio had fallen into a trance, but he was as alert as ever. It appeared he was following these men purposefully.


    Once again, Mila lacked information. She continued to observe, trying to decipher the thrumming’s message—if any.


    Mila didn’t have to waste time avoiding thinking about impossible things. It appeared they had reached the end of the path.


    The sloshing sound of liquid reached Nio’s ears, and he slowed down. Ahead of them was an exit into a large, open space. Mila could tell the room was full of…


    It was blood. The stench of it was clear. Mila’s heart clenched, wondering for what purpose it was gathered. And why were the Eternity fools feeding it more?


    Just as Mila prepared to face whatever was inside, Nio shut his eyes. He didn’t stop moving but did his best to close off all of his senses.


    Nio’s blind steps were steady at first. But when they stepped inside the room, he staggered.


    An overwhelming not-sound drowned the man, infiltrating his body. The obnoxious, sickening feeling was slowly chipping away at Nio’s core—trying to override what he was.


    And Mila had to suffer it, too. Despite not being in her body, she felt her will struggle against the echo that came from a long-forgotten past.


    Despite knowing this was not the real thing, despite knowing it couldn’t truly reach her, Mila feared this not-sound. Her reaction was instinctive, not driven by her mind at all.


    Mila knew Aaers would not let her experience something that would damage her irreparably. He trusted she would not succumb to the remains of someone else''s memories.


    But none of that helped. All Mila wanted was to curl up and hide in Isabel’s lap.


    The fear was setting in, and Mila felt Isabel’s absence more than ever. She had endured it for a long time now. Almost a week. A week without Isabel.


    Mila had done well to stave off the longing. But now, when she was lost, confused, and afraid… She wanted to be with her girl.


    “Leona…” Nio whispered—the name of his wife rumbling through the chamber.


    It reminded Mila that despite the impression, there was no actual sound. The thrumming was that of an entity—something they didn’t understand communicating with them.


    “...Beino…” Nio breathed out.


    Mila couldn’t tell if he understood how loud he was. Maybe he just didn’t care. His whole being was currently clinging to memories of his family. It was what fuelled his advance.


    Hidden in the back of Nio’s mind, Mila wondered what had happened to the five soldiers. They hadn’t made a peep. And since Nio was holding back from keeping his mana sense active, she didn’t know where they had gone.


    They were likely dead… Mila hoped they were just dead. And she hoped they had died before they had been sucked dry from everything that made them human.


    “...I will come back…” Nio spoke again, his voice raising in volume. “Wait for me…” He didn’t stop, trying to stave off the intrusive presence.


    “I have so much to teach you, Beino…” Nio reminded himself of reasons to go back. “I have to apologise to you, Leona.” He was almost screaming now. “I was never a good husband.”


    “I will do better!”


    “I will go back!”


    “I will fulfil my duty!”


    “Our faith in—” There was a cut in what he wanted to say. But Mila knew who he addressed. “It is our duty to carry—” Another part was taken out. “It is our sacred duty!”


    “AND I WILL RETURN!”


    Nio’s words continued to echo through the place. His powerful promise did nothing to change the thrumming. There was not even an impression of it being acknowledged.


    “...I will…” Nio’s voice was now feeble. “... I will…” He fell on his knees—his palms pressing against cold, smooth stone. He scratched the surface, pulling himself forward.


    Mila still clung to her sanity, insulated by Aaers from the worst of it. She sympathised with the man on a deep level. Her own recent struggles came to mind, and she wished for Nio to prevail.


    “...so close…” He sobbed. “...It must be here somewhere…” Nio choked on his spit. “Here… Somewhere… The Bead… The Emperor’s Vaults… Right here… Unabsorbed…”


    Now Mila understood. It wasn’t that the treasury was here. It was that the presence here had pulled down everything valuable here. At least, that was what she assumed.


    Nio’s blabbering was becoming less and less coherent. He still crawled forward, but it was slower than before.


    But he didn’t stop. Nio didn’t relent. And when he moved a few more meters forward, he finally reached his goal. His fingers brushed against something sharp, cutting into them.


    Nio ignored the bleeding and hurried to dig his hands into the pile of something—most likely things the presence here couldn’t digest. He ignored everything that was not smooth or round, continuously hurting his palms in the process.


    Mila shuddered, understanding the mistake Nio was making. She knew the man was manic—unable to think clearly. But the bleeding…


    The life was pulled out of Nio. It wasn’t as fast as Mila feared, but it was happening. His powerful body and soul resisted, but it was corroded. He would not last, and it would…


    It would leave permanent injuries. Nio would be wounded on a deep level. And while his palm grabbed something round and small, Mila knew how the man would die.


    This nightmare would end soon.