《No Reprise》 Chapter 1; No Reprise For A Wrathful Knight The Body of Envy has long been raging through Elveria. Those were the words that were now beginning to be jotted down into the Envidian history books. The terrorist organization of rogue mages terrorizes the towns of the Elvish motherland. Yet, its capital, Rindale, has been fighting the battles of the land by itself as Queen Aurelia and her guard has been hard at work for Elveria. A knight from the neighboring island of Rimu has been sent over to help their cause, first assigned to handling their goblin problem. ¡­ A boat crossed the waters. A young man, no older than twenty, wore black armor adorned with golden accents. He stood atop the vessel, which moved forward without needing paddles. His expression was unreadable. His skin was pale, perhaps a shade mellow than the sand he was nearing on the beach. His hair was black and messy yet not greasy. His eyes were a gradient of purple. Bags under his eyes showed his potential tiredness. A black sword sat on the belt of his armor. At first glance, it was nothing more than your typical sword of a knight of Rimu. Yet, if you glanced briefly, you would notice the many peculiarities of the blade, such as its refusal to reflect the sun¡¯s light, which it took so unfavorably from the world. The knight stepped off the boat, the steel plates of his boots hitting the gravel and sand below. The ship sat, looking like it was watching to see if he would safely make it into the dangerous forest. The forest looked wicked. Branches twisted in jagged shapes. Green birds stirred at the top of the trees. As if camouflaged, they launched into the shadows when they flew off. The knight paused under a low branch, its bark scarred with thin grooves. His eyes followed the path of one of the birds, which disappeared like it was guiding him. The knight thought the birds never seemed to fall. Slowly, he moved through the forest. The ground was soft yet damp, with leaves and moss sprawling from every corner. As he walked, the knight rested his hand on the hilt, his fingers brushing the grip; a sudden cry ripped through the quiet. It was neither human nor entirely animal. The knight stopped, turning the way the cry had originated. His blade slid from its sheath without resistance. Its edge was sharp and perfect, as if a blacksmith had recently forged it. The knight held it, its weight balanced in his grip. The sword was lively, like a pit of lava you dare not touch. Something moved in the distance, soft and calculated. The knight, his eyes not hinting towards his emotions, turned toward the noise. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°I didn¡¯t hide my bloodlust enough.¡± The quiet sound of rustling barely registered before the knight moved on instinct. A tiny gremlin lunged from the shadows, its claws aimed at the armor on his back as if it could go through it. The knight jumped into the air with an ease that went against the weight of his armor. His body twisted mid-flip, his sword arcing through the air. The blade struck nothing but air-at least at first. The force of the swing rippled outward. A tree was in his strike¡¯s path, fractured at its base, leveling with a crash, spreading and revealing many more gremlins creeping toward him in the shadow from the undergrowth. Kaiser landed without a sound; the gremlin that had tried to ambush him now split cleanly in two along with the tree. Its remains hit the ground with a wet thud, and a chorus of screeches erupted around him. The forest moved. Creatures poured from the shadows, their eyes glowing in anger after seeing their friend defaced in a way that seemed effortless. They rushed him unorganized, their claws scraping against the bark of the trees and teeth gnashing as they closed in on the knight. He stood motionless, calm despite the swarming gremlins. One creature darted toward him, its claws slashing upward. The knight¡¯s blade moved in a blur. The gremlin fell apart before it could complete its swing. Another came from his left. Without turning, the knight spun on his heel, the blade slicing through the air and severing the creature¡¯s head in a single stroke. Gremlins leaped at him from all angles, and each was met with the same result: an arc of dark steel followed by silence. An enormous gremlin, its body weaved with muscles and claws more penetrating than the others, barreled toward him, letting out a throaty roar. ¡°You¡¯re a gremlin? Hm. It looks more like a goblin. Shame you won¡¯t live long enough to evolve.¡± He didn¡¯t even bother to step back. The knight slanted forward. The beast came running; the armored male stepped forward. He invaded the arm swing of the beast as he ducked. Driving his sword into the beast, stabbing through its lungs. The gremlin coughed blood from its collapsing lungs; the creature¡¯s acceleration carried it forward even as it fell in two and stopped in its tracks. Its lifeless body collapses at his feet. More screeches came from the trees but didn¡¯t sound like battle cries, perhaps more like screeches of terror. The remaining gremlins paused, circling him just beyond the reach of his sword. Kaiser tilted his head slightly, glancing at the varmint. He flicked the blood from his blade with a quick snap of his wrist; the motion was clean and practiced. More of a samurai than a knight, the sound was sharp enough to slice through the silence. His stance adjusted subtly, and the sword rested comfortably in his grip. The blade seemed to reflect the sunlight. A gremlin stepped forward, their eyes now glowing, locking onto the knights. The creature hesitated momentarily, its claws twitching. The remaining gremlins decided they were the chosen ones who could rake the knight into the wind. He noticed this change and felt a faint smile tug at the corner of his mouth. ¡°...Finisirae,¡± he said; as the word left his mouth, the blade pulsed violently, energy from it expanding outward in a sudden spiral. The blast was rending through the air with a deafening roar. It tore the forest like a storm, leveling trees and disintegrating every gremlin within its radius. The creatures didn¡¯t even have time to screech before the violet inferno consumed them, reducing their bodies to ash scattered on the breeze. When the light finally faded, the forest was quiet again, save for the creaking of splintered wood and the faint rustle of leaves falling to the scorched ground. The knight lowered his blade. He glanced at the devastation around him, his eyes reflecting indifference. He had not come here to care about a small part of a forest. Sheathing his sword, he turned and walked deeper into the forest, stepping over the charred remains without a second thought. Whatever was waiting, he was ready. The forest, however, was not. Chapter 2; Elara My moniker is Kaiser. No, I don''t have a royal name¡ªI¡¯m not a king, prince, or baron. The meat sizzled. The juices hissed against the fire as I slowly turned the skewer. The girl before me seemed to believe I was just an ordinary traveler, unaware of the truth. I don''t need this food, to be honest. Across from me sat a caged girl I had found at the goblin camp. I described her position as sitting, but her knees were up to her face. Her arms were tightly wrapped around her, her hands strategically placed. Her long, wavy brown hair hung in tangled curtains over her face, but her wide eyes were locked on me, unblinking. I could feel her trembling from here. ¡°Relax,¡± I said, not even looking up from the fire. ¡°If I wanted you dead, you¡¯d already be part of this stew.¡± She flinched but said nothing. Typical. I¡¯m a knight from Rimu, often called the slums of Elveria. They never have much to say once they realize who or what they¡¯re dealing with. I understand her fear. If I were in her position, I¡¯d probably be terrified too. The crackle of the flames filled the silence between us. I let it stretch, waiting for her to speak. Say something. Anything. I have a mission, and this is a distraction. Most of the time, people give away more that way. I guess she has something to hide. Perhaps she¡¯s a hungry siren¡ªand she¡¯s looking at me like that instead of the cooked creature in my hand because she wants something more significant to eat. Who knows. Let¡¯s rewind for a moment to the forest: the ash, the screams, the scorched wood just before I met her in that goblin camp. ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥¡ã?Ç°?¡ã©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ The forest was darker now, and the air was heavy with the stench of rot and something else¡ªnot much different from where I came from. I didn¡¯t mind it, though. I was much more focused on the scent of the fleeting gremlins I was following. My boots pressed into the ground with cautious steps. This sword''s aura seemed to grow darker and thicker. I rested a hand on the hilt, the familiar chill biting my palm. ¡°Finisirae. Which way? ¡± There was no response for a moment¡ªonly the forest''s silence. The blade emitted energy toward the direction of a scent. I turned, adjusting my path. I wouldn¡¯t call it talking. Finisirae didn¡¯t speak in any way a person would understand. But it answered in its own cold, violent way. A way¡­only I could understand, I suppose. As I walked, I couldn''t help but focus on the area; my nose twitched as I approached the space where Finisirae''s aura led me. Looking up, I saw smoke, which almost smelled better than the blood earlier. I stopped at the edge of the clearing. "Found you," I whispered, my voice not heard under the flames in the distance. I began to step forward. My steps grew faster as I went from a slow-paced run to a fast sprint. Confused, the goblins threw their heads up as they heard quiet steps approaching them before one goblin screamed in agony. Finisirae sang in my hand, its dark aura rippling as it bit into the first goblin''s neck, silencing its scream with a wet gurgle. The others turned too late; their confusion turned into terror as I tore through them like a storm. It began to rain, and my eyes widened with excitement. The next goblin crumpled as its chest was split open. The third tried to flee but was caught mid-step, its legs severed as blood spurted in crimson flashes over my armor. Yet? That didn''t stop me. I moved with ruthless precision, my movements a dance of carnage. A goblin ran at me with a jagged spear. It lunged at me, snarling. The goblin threw the spear, but I sidestepped. Effortlessly. The spear whistled past my head, my blade plunging into the goblin¡¯s gut, twisting it to cause the creature more agony. A huge axe swung down over my head, yet I put my hand up. Catching the impact with my bare hand, my hand bled from the catch. I turned, looking up at the massive goblin who threw the axe at me.Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. I yanked my sword free from my last victim, then, with a quick pivot, drove the sword upward, splitting the goblin¡¯s weapon¡ªand its skull¡ªin two. Both goblins collapsed with a shriek drowned out by the crackling fire beside me. The clearing was silent now, save for the occasional crackle of the flames. I stood near the bodies, blood dripping from my blade and my hand. I raised my hand, letting the rain hit it and barely hissing from the pain. But my hiss turned into laughter, dark and rasping. I reveled in the pain, in the rush. It was like I was one with it; its effect was minimal. And I felt like I was second to none as long as I had this¡ªsword. The blade that brought me into this world. The blade that made me into a demon when it came to the things I hated. Goblins. Gremlins. They disgust me. The sword pulsed in my hand, and for a moment, my vision pulsed, a flash of something wild in me. But I cursed, throwing the blade into the dirt with a violent grunt. It stabbed down into the ground as I panted slightly. Its power waned slowly as if it was excited from the rush. Then, the pain from my still bleeding hand came. The rain hit hard and cold, but it did nothing to clear the buzz in my head. My breathing became heavy as I stood, wiping my bloodied hand on my pants. ¡°Damn sword¡­¡± My voice was rough; I hadn''t spoken since I rushed to this small camp. I looked up, letting the rain hit me. I listened for any other goblins or gremlins around for me to hunt. That''s what I was sent here for¡ªmy mission? Yet I know I can''t do this forever. Soon, one of the orc clans will begin looking for me. Gremlins, Goblins, Orcs, and maybe even Hobgoblins. I don''t think I can take Hobgoblins without a guild, if any, still stand inside this land. Rindale. I have to make it to Rindale. I need to make it to Rindale. I shook my head, clearing my throat as I spat on the ground before I heard it¡ªthe water in the distance. No, the flowing river is not far from the camp. I could use it now. I began to walk toward the water, sliding down the small cliff and stopping before the mud-and-dirt at the water. I looked down at the water, briefly glancing at my reflection before I threw my hand into it, letting the current take the blood. I don¡¯t have any bandages on me to prevent any infections. Maybe they could¡¯ve dispatched a cleric with me or anybody if I was in a guild. I glanced back at the clearing, climbing up with my non-injured hand. The fire still crackled in the distance, the smell of scorched flesh lingering in the air. It didn¡¯t matter. The goblins were nothing but pests. I turned, wiping my hand off the muddy ground, the cold water still clinging to my fingers. Then I heard it. The sound of creaking wheels, muffled voices. Goblins, their language carrying over the air. I looked over where I heard it coming from. A carriage was coming to this ¡®camp,¡¯ cargo at the back. Hidden beneath a blanket. The rain slowed. I needed whatever was in that carriage. Whatever it was, it would keep me moving. I didn''t bring money from Rimu. I approached quietly, slipping out of the camp and behind the trees near the path I used to enter the village. The two goblins in the carriage hadn''t noticed me yet, but they would. They always did. And when they did? It would be no different for the others of their kind. ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥¡ã?²»¾Ã?¡ã©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ I guess that brings you up to date¡­ I apologize for my storytelling. Then again, I suppose my voice could be interesting to some. ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥¡ã?չʾ?¡ã©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ ¡°... So. Girl. What''s your name? Are you going to speak now? Why did the goblins have you as cargo? Who are you?¡± I stabbed Finisirae into the log beside me, the cursed blade vibrating faintly as though displeased. Not that I cared; it had gotten what it wanted today. The sound of the metal smashing into the wood made the girl flinch violently¡ªher eyes wide and trembling. I stood up and then walked to her. She grew increasingly anxious. I crouched in front of her, my face inches from hers. ¡°You¡¯re trembling,¡± I started, trying not to scare her anymore. She looks like she''s on the edge of breaking even now. Her eyes tell it. ¡°There¡¯s nothing for you to be afraid of now. Not from me. Not anymore.¡± The girl''s whole body had curled itself to shield. My brows furrowed; I had a mission. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± I asked again, tilting my head. ¡°Why were the goblins dragging you around like cargo? Who are you to them?¡± For a moment, the only sounds were the fire and the rain. She swallowed. Her voice caught somewhere in her throat. ¡°My name is... My name is Elara,¡± she whispered, finally speaking. Took her long enough. I smiled, leaning back and studying her face. I think I get her. Almost. The huge mystery she''s been holding back. I stood up. Walking back to where I began. ¡°Well, Elara,¡± I said, picking up Finisirae. ¡°You¡¯ve got a lot of explaining to do. And I feel you will make this journey far more interesting than I intended.¡± The blade pulsed faintly in my hand as though mocking my words, but I ignored it, turning back toward the fire. ¡°Let¡¯s see if you¡¯re worth the trouble... And get you some clothes while we''re at it.¡± I sat down, back at the log. The fleshly hole from Finisirae noticed, and Elara''s eyes didn''t leave it before looking back at me ¡°Uh¡­¡± She begins; I could assume she wasn''t one for conversation starters. It must have been hard with her environment with the goblins, especially with most of the Orc Race not understanding the human tongue and using their barbarian language. I waited for her to speak so we could get moving. I don''t talk while we move. ¡°Wh¡ªwhat''s your name?¡± I looked back up. Confused by her asking me the question, I maintained eye contact. My face moved by itself, lips curving into the best smile I could give her. ¡°Kaiser... It''s Kaiser.¡± Chapter 3; Lynda Do you know what it means to walk from the coastline to the capital? This would be something trivial for most¡ªsuicidal even. The capital of Elveria, Rindale, is centered in the middle of the huge landmass. This means no matter what angle you enter the country from, you¡¯ll cross the same area to get to the most important kingdom. Kaiser carried Elara on his back, covering her with a blanket he had taken from his boat and the supplies he had taken with him. Tall trees lined the path to Braywick. Their awnings cast pieces of light on the ground. Kaiser¡¯s boots crunched gravel. The silence was heavy, broken only by the occasional bird. Elara was awake, her gaze flicking to the trees, through her eyes showed weariness. ¡°How far is this town?¡± she asked, her tone light, full of drowsiness. Kaiser glanced back. ¡°Half a day if we don¡¯t stop.¡± Elara nodded, her eyes drifting to the trees. A sparkle shone from the forest, like a silhouette. ¡°You have been there before?¡± Elara asked; her speech was¡ªalbeit improper. He thought about the question. ¡°No, I would imagine it''s just like any other low-ranked Elveria town. Taverns, people scraping by, and trouble somewhere¡ªwhere is your home? This trip isn''t for you, it''s not hard to see.¡± Elara hesitated, her fingers shifting their grip on the blanket and Kaiser. ¡°A place with no name. Just houses and hills. Quieter than Braywick, I bet¡­¡± Her voice was soft. Soft as if she were speaking more to herself than him. Kaiser¡¯s jaw tightened. ¡°Why leave? A nameless place would suit you better than where we¡¯re headed.¡± He adjusted Elara''s weight on his back; she wasn''t hard to hold¡ªbut she seemed persistent in moving around while on his shoulders. ¡°Really now?¡± Elara gave a faint, humorless laugh. But something was layered in the laugh that made Kaiser turn his attention more on her, just slightly. ¡°Really now?¡± he started, repeating what she said like it confused him. ¡°You didn''t feel like you belonged in the place you came from? You said it was quiet.¡± Elara looked up, then down at the ground. She saw a wandering Vixen running past them in the distance, its footing quiet as a ghost on glass. ¡°...Quiet doesn¡¯t mean safe. And safety is harder to find than quiet¡­¡± ¡°...Hm.¡± Kaiser nodded, digesting her words. He had seen her kind before¡ªthe ones who carried their scattered stories like broken glass, not easily pieced together. Elara looked at the ground, still her view moving to the trees. Then she saw it¡ªthe sparkle she had noticed earlier appeared again, clearer this time¡ªa glint low in the trees, catching the sunlight. It moved between the branches, like a shadow. Elara moved to tap Kaiser but he already sensed it, stopping abruptly. The knight''s eyes narrowed as he scanned the forest. ¡°Stay quiet,¡± he lowered her gently to the ground. Elara swayed slightly, the blanket tightly held together by her tight grip. Kaiser steadied her, turning toward the source of what Elara had seen and what he sensed... The air felt heavier now. Kaiser drew his sword, the gravel crunching under his boot. ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± he called out, his voice steady but sharp, cutting through the stillness. A figure emerged from the trees. They moved as if dissociated, turning from a glowing shadow into an elf? It was as if they had not meant to be heard, although they had been there for a while. They stepped into the light. It was a woman who wore a robe with pointy ears, holding a staff in her hand. A scarf draped over her shoulder, nearly to the ground. Her skin was pale, her hair a shade of dirty blonde perhaps, and her eyes¡ªan odd reflection of pink.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡°You''re a knight. From Rimu I assume?¡± She walked closer to Kaiser, stopping just short of her nose as he raised his sword. The woman jumped slightly, her eyes going inward, making her cross-eyed. She moved her hand up to correct her glasses, taking a step back. ¡°I suppose you are the knight from Rimu. The island full of¡­ pirates, bandits, and¡ªscavengers, was it?¡± Kaiser looked at her, examining her form. Confused yet intrigued, he was cautious as he held Finisirae up at her. ¡°Who are you? And how do you know of my arrival, and who I am?¡± Elara shifted on his back, causing him to move his shoulder slightly. The woman saw this, looking over his shoulder at Elara. ¡°Is the girl bare?¡ªdid you rape her?¡± She shifted her staff slightly; it glowed faintly as though preparing a spell. Kaiser''s eyes widened as he raised his sword in defense, but the glow faded quickly. The woman¡¯s stance relaxed. ¡°Good. You didn''t. That armor hasn''t come off of you in months, it seems¡­¡± Kaiser¡¯s grip on the hilt of his sword loosened slightly, though his eyes never left the woman as he shifted Elara¡¯s weight on his back. Finisirae hadn''t made a noise this whole time. Why? Elara¡¯s gaze moved between Kaiser and the stranger¡ªuneasy, curious, and far from at ease. The woman stepped forward cautiously, her staff¡¯s red charms jingling faintly with the movement. She held up a hand in a gesture of peace, her expression softening. ¡°I mean no harm,¡± she said, her voice even but touched. ¡°My name is Lynda. I¡¯m a scout for Braywick. I have been watching you to ensure no harm comes to the village. We¡¯ve had bad experiences¡ªeven with knights like yourself.¡± Kaiser raised an eyebrow. ¡°A scout with a staff. That¡¯s not typical for a village watch. Do you not have a guard? Anything of the sort?¡± Lynda offered a small smile. ¡°Braywick isn¡¯t a typical village these days, knight. And neither are its visitors.¡± Her eyes briefly flicked to Elara, then back to him. ¡°We¡¯ve had to adapt. Orc raids nearly leveled us a few months ago. Everyone¡ªscouts, farmers, even the blacksmith¡ªtook on new roles to defend what¡¯s left.¡± Kaiser¡¯s expression softened slightly at the mention of the orc raids. He¡¯d seen such devastation before, the remnants of villages that were little more than ash and bones. ¡°You¡¯re making sure I¡¯m not here to finish the job,¡± he said, the edge of his voice cutting through the air like a blade. Lynda didn¡¯t flinch, meeting his gaze head-on. ¡°You can¡¯t blame us for being cautious¡ªbut I see now you¡¯re not a threat.¡± She gestured to Elara. ¡°Carrying someone like that¡­ it doesn¡¯t match the kind of man who came before you.¡± Elara stirred, her voice soft but pointed. ¡°You said that orcs almost took Braywick down with raids¡­ Why hasn¡¯t the kingdom done anything?¡± Lynda looked, letting out a dry, bitter laugh. ¡°The kingdom? They don''t care about a village this far out. We¡¯re on our own, girl. Always have been...¡± Her expression darkened, the memory of past failures evident in her tone. ¡°But we¡¯ve learned to take care of ourselves¡­¡± Kaiser nodded, an unspoken understanding between him and Lynda. ¡°You¡¯re not wrong to be cautious¡­¡± he said. ¡°But if I¡¯d meant harm¡ªyou wouldn¡¯t have stopped me.¡± Lynda gave a smile, not one of humor. Likely of disregardance. ¡°Fair enough, knight.¡± She shifted her staff, the glow returning. This time now the color of blue. ¡°I can take you to Braywick faster, instantly. If you¡¯re willing to trust me.¡± Kaiser looked at her, making eye contact. He paused, obviously suspicious of the claim. ¡°And how do you plan to do that?¡± Lynda tilted her head, the faint smirk returning. ¡°You¡¯re carrying a young woman who looks ready to collapse, and I¡¯ve got a spell that will get us there well before nightfall. It¡¯s not much, but it¡¯s better than moving through gravel and trees for the next few hours...¡± Elara glanced at Kaiser, her tire visible. ¡°You pick, Kaiser¡± she murmured, but her eyes pleading for reprise. He hesitated, weighing the risks. The idea of trusting a stranger from a town he¡¯s never been was not atall appealing, but his other options were equally unfavorable. He thought on it for a while more; finally, he nodded, his decision made. ¡°Do it.¡± Lynda stepped forward, planting her staff into the ground. ¡°Hold on to each other,¡± she instructed, the air around them beginning to hum with energy. ¡°And don¡¯t let go until we¡¯re there.¡± Kaiser adjusted his grip on Elara, his arms tightening around her. Lynda gave her hand to him. Kaiser took it, unappealing. The glow from Lynda¡¯s staff intensified, filling the clearing with light. The last thing he saw was her sharp, knowing smile before the world around them dissolved into a blur. Chapter 4; Braywick The light from Lynda¡¯s spell was warm. Kaiser was the first to feel all of his weight¡ªvanish. What is this technique? His body was in a state of arrest, going against the laws that held the moon high and the tides low. It was like swimming in the water surrounded by gold and white guppies, swirling in patterns that seemed to fold the space around them. Kaiser felt Elara move slightly on his back ¡°What is this?¡± she questioned, sounding scared. She trembled, worried. ¡°It¡¯s the Elven Force,¡± Lynda answered, her tone even, attempting to be calm, but Kaiser caught a note of strain. ¡°Light bent into something more useful. Stay still, this isn¡¯t¡ª¡± Her voice trailed off as her fingers danced over the staff, as if something had unsettled her. ¡°Six, seven... Keep breathing,¡± she murmured, more to herself than to Kaiser and Elara. ¡°Should I be worried?¡± Kaiser stated, though he couldn¡¯t keep the faint irritation from slipping into his question. Lynda didn¡¯t look back at him, muttering numbers under her breath. ¡°Only if I lose track of the numbers. Then things might get¡ªmessy.¡± ¡°Messy,¡± Elara questioned, her voice was higher now, and Kaiser felt her grip shift nervously. ¡°She¡¯s trying to keep us alive,¡± Kaiser muttered. The light blurred¡ªa m¨¦lange of greens and browns distorted into streaks. ¡°Ten, eleven¡­ and¡ªsteady,¡± she said, her voice dropping to a murmur. ¡°We¡¯re almost there.¡± Kaiser glanced at the faint outline of her staff ahead, glowing additionally brilliant with every count. The rush of motion eased, Elara¡¯s 1voice softened, breaking the brief silence. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ beautiful,¡± she murmured, her tone awed. Kaiser didn¡¯t answer. Lynda¡¯s focus never wavered, her hand on her staff. ¡°Thirteen¡­ Fifteen¡­.¡± The light shifted again into a single point ahead. ¡°Sixteen!¡± ¡­ ¡°...I skipped a number!¡± ©¥©¥©¥©¥¡ã? Ö®ºó ¡ã©¥©¥©¥©¥ Kaiser, Elara, and Lynda fell through the air¡¯s current. Elara was the first to scream. The black-haired Knight looked to the mage who got them in this situation. She was muttering under her breath. Was it a prayer? ¡°Damn it, this is how I die...¡± He thought about the situation, though he didn¡¯t appear to be particularly bothered by it. Maybe more irritated than anything. His face contorted as he drew his blade, facing it to the ground. ¡°I need to do something... I need to do... anything...¡± He put power into the blade, his own aura flowing into the sword as he began to power the blade up, a glint in his eyes. ¡°Finisirae!¡ª¡± ¡°O Radiance of the Eos¡± Lynda began, cutting Kaiser off ¡°Grant me the grace of ethereal flight, ¡¯twixt light and dark! Illuminate my drop, guiding hand of the fallen elves, bear me aloft and don me with twilight¡¯s wings!¡± The incantation danced from out of Lynda¡¯s mouth like a hymn. Her voice was clear, the chaos muted as she spoke. The strands of light around her staff swelled, expanding outward into a burst of wind. Kaiser¡¯s sword still mid-swing, the aura he built up vanishing as Lynda''s spell was cast. Their fall slowed, the air shifting as if a hand in midair had caught them. The wind itself is a net under their feet. Elara held onto Kaiser still, her scream from moments ago echoing in the Knights ears. ¡°Relax,¡± Lynda called, panting with tire etched over her face. ¡°I¡¯ve got it under control,¡± she said as she forced herself to get it together. Elara nodded, slowly calming down. Kaiser didn¡¯t reply, his eyes scanning the rapidly approaching ground. The landscape unfolded below¡ªthe town of Braywick, just large enough to avoid being called a settlement and surrounded by smaller nearby villages. Merchants trekked the streets, while someone walked alongside a black-and-white Taurus, ready to sell it. Moss-covered structures and stretches of farmland dotted the land. The scars of past conflicts were evident¡ªremnants of homes stood as sentinels, guarding against the memories of the Orc raids. Dirt paths lay between houses, leading toward the town center, where a colossal tree loomed. Its ancient trunk and roots spread like veins across the ground. ¡°That¡¯s... the Moringa tree,¡± Lynda murmured as they descended, her voice tinged with quiet reverence. ¡°Said to grant miracles, though I wouldn¡¯t count on it.¡± Elara¡¯s grip on Kaiser¡¯s shoulder tightened as her eyes drank like a rushing alcoholic in the sight. The tree¡¯s top stretched upward, its branches clawing at the heavens. ¡°It¡¯s beautiful,¡± she whispered, awe softening her tone.If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°It¡¯s a tree,¡± Kaiser replied flatly, his attention elsewhere. His sharp gaze swept over the farmland beyond: workers stooped over crops, an occasional plow cutting through the soil. To the south, the dark mouth of a mine gaped like a wound in the earth. Lynda¡¯s spell deposited them gently into a modest square near the tree. The cobblestones underfoot were uneven, hastily patched after the orc raids of the past. Townsfolk paused mid-step, their stares laced with curiosity and unease. A boy clung to his mother¡¯s skirts, his wide eyes peeking out from behind her. Kaiser adjusted Elara¡¯s weight on his back, his instincts on high alert. The tension in the air was thick and familiar¡ªa village hardened by hardship, braced for the next blow. A gruff voice broke the stillness. ¡°Lynda. You brought company.¡± Kaiser turned toward the source: a tall man stepping out from the shade of a leaning awning. His dark hair hung to his ears, his sharp features etched with the weariness of too many battles and too few nights¡¯ rest. His eyes locked onto Kaiser with a mix of calculation and distrust. ¡°Wyrn Needleheart,¡± Lynda greeted, dipping her head slightly. ¡°These two were stranded, and I thought¡ª¡± ¡°You thought wrong,¡± Wyrn interrupted, his tone more resigned than angry, as though he¡¯d expected trouble the moment Lynda appeared. ¡°Braywick doesn¡¯t have the luxury of strangers right now.¡± Kaiser¡¯s jaw tightened. ¡°We¡¯re not here to burden anyone,¡± he said coldly. ¡°We¡¯ll be out of your way soon enough.¡± Wyrn¡¯s gaze flicked to Elara, then back to Kaiser. ¡°You¡¯d better be,¡± he muttered. ¡°The guild¡¯s already bled this place dry, and whatever¡¯s stirring in the dungeons isn¡¯t waiting politely.¡± The weight of his words sat over the square. Kaiser didn¡¯t flinch, though his expression darkened. He adjusted Elara¡¯s position, his stance unconsciously shifting to one of quiet readiness. Lynda stepped forward ¡°Wyrn, they¡¯re not with the guild.¡± Her voice is soft but firm. ¡°If that¡¯s what you¡¯re worried about.¡± she finished, her eyes carried a silent plea. ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter.¡± her silent plea was ignored. ¡°Outsiders draw eyes, and eyes bring trouble. The guild¡¯s already left us scraping for supplies, and now they¡¯re off chasing some dungeon that¡¯ll probably kill them. Braywick can¡¯t afford more chaos.¡± ¡°Then don¡¯t lump us in with them,¡± Kaiser said, interrupting the conversation between the two from behind Lynda. His voice froze through the crowd around them. ¡°We¡¯re not here to play anyone¡¯s pawn. We¡¯ll handle our business and move on.¡± ¡°You¡¯d better.¡± Wyrn started with a skeptical voice ¡°I¡¯ve no patience for cleaning up after someone else¡¯s mess.¡± ¡°Enough,¡± Lynda interjected sharply, squaring her shoulders. The light-hearted, stoic yet weary demeanor she carried when she met Kaiser in the forest was replaced by a presence built from many debates and arguments, like a granddaughter and grandfather. Although, Lynda and Wyrn clearly shared no kinship. ¡°They¡¯re with me. I wouldn¡¯t have brought them here if I thought they were a threat.¡± Wyrn stared at her for a while, unspoken words passing between them. Finally, he gave in, his tense posture easing. ¡°Fine. But don¡¯t make me regret this.¡± His gaze turned back to Kaiser. ¡°Keep your head down, Knight. This isn¡¯t a fortress. The rules are different here.¡± Kaiser¡¯s lips curled in a faint, disdainful smirk. ¡°I¡¯ll manage.¡± Elara, silent until now, spoke. ¡°What¡¯s this about a dungeon? And the guild?¡± Wyrn snorted, crossing his arms. ¡°The guild¡¯s a plague¡ªbig enough to think they own the world, stupid enough to think they can tame it. They came sniffing around Braywick for some dungeon they heard about, threw coin like it¡¯d fix everything, then vanished underground. Haven¡¯t seen them since.¡± Kaiser¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°If they haven¡¯t come out, they¡¯re probably dead.¡± ¡°Maybe,¡± Wyrn said indifferently. ¡°But they left us short on supplies and answers. If whatever they poked decides to crawl out, it¡¯ll be on us to deal with it.¡± Elara glanced between them, concern flickering in her eyes. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t someone check? If they¡¯re in trouble¡ª¡± ¡°No,¡± Kaiser cut in firmly. ¡°That¡¯s not our problem.¡± ¡°But¡ª¡± ¡°Our mission,¡± he said, his tone brooking no argument, ¡°is to get you to Rindale. That¡¯s it. We¡¯re not here to play rescue team for a guild too greedy to know better.¡± ¡°But Kaiser!¡ª¡± Lynda raised a hand, cutting Elara off as she stepped in front of her. ¡°Kaiser. As a Knight of Rimu, part of the Knight Order, we are allowed to invoke the Code of Chivalry upon you.¡± Kaiser¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°...What?¡± ¡°Section 4, Article 17 of the Order¡¯s Principles,¡± Lynda recited, her tone calm. She had memorized this. ¡°It states that any citizen of your missioning country¡ªin this case, Elveria¡ªcan embark you to undertake a quest deemed essential for the greater good. Surely, as a Knight, you understand how vital the guild¡¯s actions are to this nation.¡± Kaiser¡¯s jaw tightened, his gaze icy. ¡°You think quoting bureaucracy will change my mind? I don¡¯t answer to any and everyone who waves a piece of parchment at me.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not about the parchment.¡± Lynda said, holding her ground ¡°It¡¯s about duty. If the guild caused something dangerous in that dungeon, it won''t stop at Braywick¡¯s borders. It would threaten the entire region¡ªor worse. You¡¯re a Knight. Isn¡¯t protecting people part of your oath?¡± The air between was heavy, the silence broke by Elara shifting uneasily behind Lynda. Nervous. Kaiser¡¯s glare shifted to her, his expression a mix of frustration and resignation. Finally, he exhaled sharply, ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll look into your damn dungeon.¡± his voice low still holding its freezing tone. ¡°But don¡¯t expect me to play hero. We go in, assess the situation, and get out. That¡¯s it.¡± Lynda¡¯s shoulders relaxed slightly, though her tone remained measured. ¡°That¡¯s all I ask. Thank you.¡± Kaiser turned on his heel, adjusting the weight of his sword. ¡°Elara, stay close. I¡¯m not dragging you out of trouble twice.¡± Kaiser said, his voice seemed almost venomous. Elara hurried after him, her steps quick and uncertain. ¡°Kaiser, I¡¯m¡ª¡± ¡°We¡¯re not discussing this,¡± he cut her off, his tone final. ¡°Just keep up.¡± As they moved toward the outskirts of the village, Lynda watched them go. ¡°Thank you, Kaiser,¡± she called out after him, her voice carrying a quiet sincerity. He raised a hand without looking back. ¡°We¡¯ll be back.¡± Chapter 5; Survivors Hercules was a great figure in world history. It is said that King Eurystheus gave him twelve labors. Eight of these labors involved the legendary Hercules fighting eight monsters and sealing them into dungeons that he formed all by hand. These dungeons were built intricately like labyrinths, meant to seal these monsters forever¡­ in which they could. However, a few decades ago, centuries after they were built, one of the many guilds in the world for the first time located a dungeon. Then suddenly¡ª they began popping up all over the world. Braywick, a small town in Elveria, was one of the eight places where a dungeon was located. Braywick, Year 1003 ¡°So¡­ Lynda.¡± ¡°Yes, Wyrn?¡± Lynda followed a few paces behind, her hands tucked into her cloak. Wyrn walked ahead with his boots crunching softly on the path. ¡°Why did you tell the knight and his friend not to trust the Moringa tree?¡± ©¥©¥©¥©¥¡ã? Ö®ºó ¡ã©¥©¥©¥©¥ A boy ran across the stone ground, panting with a torch in his hand as his heart beat out of his chest. His bushy tail stiff. The light followed his shadow, his shadow held hands with the light. The torch gripped in his hand. Orange marks decorated his body, His breath was uneven, his wolf akin ears brushing against a chain hanging from the roof. He tripped for a second, picking himself back up. The floor was uneven, cold. The chilling breeze from it was enough to cause the boy to slow. ¡°N¡­No!...¡± He stammered, speeding up once again. Something was chasing him, another set of steps heard in the background. Moving. Gaining. His bare feet slammed into the cold floor: tired, labored and out of breath. The torch itself barely went through the darkness. As if the light itself wasn¡¯t enough to penetrate the body of darkness. His amber eyes shone from the torch, his white hair formed into a small ponytail stopping at his collar bone. His snow colored hair appeared to be melting from how the sweat dropped from his head. In front of him, the torch revealed a wall. He skidded around the corner, the edge of his shoulder slamming into the rough stone but he would care less as adrenaline ran through his body. The thing behind him sped up, cutting the corner with him now. The slam into the stone slowed him more than he thought it did. He bolted down the corridor, lungs burning. The walls closed in, scraping his shoulder as he maneuvered through the corridor. His feet stumbled, but he didn¡¯t dare stop. Not with claws raking the floor behind him, each step, gaining. A gate was up ahead, heavy iron shone just slightly from the torchlight from below in the boy¡¯s hands. His pulse spiked as the creature behind him got closer ¡°Damn it!¡± He forces himself to move faster. He put his hands to his mouth and cupped them ¡°Lucy, drop the gate!¡± he shouted, the sound of his voice reverberated, on cue the gate began to drop. He dove, sliding across the stone. The marks on his body turned yellow. A spark formed as a streak of lightning followed the boy, bursting into lightning as he flashed forward. The gate hit like thunder behind him, a sound split the air, crashing onto the creature¡¯s neck. The sound was wet, final. Almost cruel. The wolf boy stumbled, falling to the dry stone floor as the torch he held hit the floor. He fought for breath. His eyes went wild with adrenaline still going through his veins. The iron gate, now a mess of blood and the decapitated creature¡¯s remains, stood at the base of the stone wall. The creature¡¯s final scream was still in the air. He exhaled, wiping sweat from his face. His hand moved to find the extinguished stick of the former torch.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Yet, a hand interlocked with his. Helping him up. ¡°Wolfe! Are you alright?¡± a voice said, the torchlight was lit again as Wolfe took in the two people now in his surroundings. Lucy, the girl that he had called to earlier. And Mason, who held the reformed torch. Presumably, the person who set it ablaze again. Lucy¡¯s large rabbit ears twitch with concern. Her blue eyes flickered across the body of Wolfe as the adrenaline began to wear off. Mason himself looked down at Wolfe, his face was stern yet unreadable. Lucy scanned for injury, moving closer, her long white hair cascading behind her. Wolfe chuckled weakly, forcing himself to his feet. ¡°That was the third one today. This dungeon¡¯s really trying to kill us.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be reckless.¡± Lucy¡¯s tone was firm, her voice was thick with concern and thin with the slightest tang of annoyance. She adjusted the golden jewelry on her neck and wrists. Her touch was light, contrasting the weight of the gold she wore. ¡°We can¡¯t keep rushing headlong into danger like this. We need to wait until the guild comes and saves us¡­¡± Mason let out a low grunt, his gaze narrowing as he stepped forward. He towered over Wolfe and Lucy. His form glimmered in the torchlight he held. He leaned his massive frame against the bloodstained gate. ¡°Wait for the guild?¡± he began, his long braids swaying slightly ¡°And what?¡ªsit here like prey until the next creature shows up?¡± His voice rumbled with disdain, his sharp eyes fixed on Lucy. ¡°We¡¯ve been down here long enough to know no one¡¯s coming.¡± Lucy¡¯s ears twitched, her expression hardened ¡°They will come. Guilds don¡¯t leave their members behind.¡± she replied, standing her ground. Mason snorted, dismissing her. ¡°You think we¡¯re that important to them? Two hybrids and one orc lost in a dungeon isn¡¯t worth the ink to write a report. If we want out, we have to fight for it ourselves, and kill the Chimera sealed in here by Hercules long ago...¡± Wolfe coughed, finally catching his breath as he steadied himself. His amber eyes darted between the two. ¡°Mason¡¯s got a point, Lucy. This dungeon¡¯s been trying to bury us from the moment we stepped inside. If we wait too long, there might not be anything left for them to save.¡± Lucy¡¯s glare flicked to Wolfe, her hands clenching at her sides. ¡°I just don¡¯t want to lose anyone else. Is that so hard to understand? We¡¯ve already lost Muffin... Larissa... Yana... Ramia¡­ They were so happy to be hired by the Guild¡­ to be able to make money for their families¡­ If I lose hope in the guild, then those four kids and everyone else died for nothing¡­¡± Mason scoffed ¡°Hope in the guild won¡¯t bring them back, Lucy.¡± his voice was bitter. ¡°And it sure as hell won¡¯t get us out of this deathtrap.¡± He pushed off the gate and straightened, his imposing figure casting a long shadow on the dungeon walls. ¡°We¡¯re not here to fight for their honor. We¡¯re here to survive. And the only way we¡¯re doing that is by keeping out of the Chimera¡¯s path.¡± He adjusted the hilt of his weapon, his gaze meeting Lucy¡¯s then Wolfe ¡°Let¡¯s head back to the main section. We need to regroup, find a route that doesn¡¯t lead us straight into the beast¡¯s lair. Fighting that thing is suicide.¡± Lucy¡¯s ears twitched again, she hesitated then glanced at Wolfe. The wolf boy gave her a small nod. It made a sense of reassurance wash over her, but she still gave Mason a feisty gaze. ¡°Fine,¡± she relented, her voice barely above a whisper. ¡°But if we run into it, we fight together. I won¡¯t leave anyone behind. I¡¯ll use my magic and Wolfe can use his¡­ Spark.¡± ¡°Agreed.¡± Mason¡¯s tone offered a flicker of understanding ¡°But let¡¯s hope it doesn¡¯t come to that.¡± The trio began to move, the silence of the dungeon broken only by the soft sounds of their footsteps. The torchlight flickered, casting shadows which danced across the ancient stone walls built centuries ago. The air grew colder as they watched their steps, Wolfe¡¯s amber eyes scanned their surroundings as they took their steps. The marks on his body dimmed since their earlier glow. He glanced back at Lucy then at Mason. ¡°Let¡¯s hope Hercules really knew what he was doing when he locked that thing away,¡± Wolfe muttered under his breath. Mason didn¡¯t look ¡°Hercules might¡¯ve built these dungeons to hold monsters. But he didn¡¯t build them for us to survive.¡± he replied, his voice low. ©¥©¥©¥©¥¡ã? Ö®ºó ¡ã©¥©¥©¥©¥ ¡°Having to go back so you get basic clothing was annoying.¡± Kaiser stated as he ran at high speeds over to the dungeon. Elara on his back looked down at him, the blanket that covered her now elsewhere as she wore a green dress, simple in appearance. Her brown skin radiates against the light from the sun above. ¡°I apologize¡­¡± she replied, but Kaiser only shook his head. ¡°Don¡¯t bother apologizing¡­ After this, we¡¯re going straight to Rindale... So we can get you back home, and off my shoulders¡± Kaiser stated, an incoming boulder in his sight as he held onto Elara¡¯s legs on his shoulder before jumping high into the air over it. ¡°Wooo!¡± Elara elated. Kaiser smirked slightly ¡°Don¡¯t get too used to that.¡± Chapter 6; Mission Kaiser¡¯s feet punched the ground, yet his boots were clean as he ran through what felt like muddy water. The weight of his armor and Elara who clung to his shoulders bogged him down, the action less bothering Kaiser than it had been in the past. She looks ahead, Kaiser looks further. She sees a statue, and Kaiser sees the distant but ever-close entrance to the dungeon. ¡°Section 4, Article 17 of the Order¡¯s Principles¡­¡± Lynda¡¯s words echoed into him as he recalled how he even got into this predicament. Then again, if this beast gets out of this dungeon he would probably have been sent here anyway. Other dungeons had a massive army take on the beast inside, and even then they were not always success stories. Many of these dungeons still stand. So who the hell paid these guilders for essentially a suicide mission? This area still held the sounds of ancient, the ones that no one could quite explain, some explained it as screams from hell and the heavens. Laughing devils and crying angels. ¡°Kaiser, what is that statue ahead?¡± Elara questioned, Kaiser himself looked up to look at the statue. It was moss-covered, yet Kaiser could still see that it was Ashura. Even what devotees of the old cults called the Devil, Satan, and Lucifer, some even refer to it as the Beelzebub. ¡°It¡¯s a religious statue.¡± He simply answered. ¡°It was likely built by a member of one of the cults of old before Canaan¡¯s Holy Renaissance took out.¡±Elara slouched, looking down from Kaiser¡¯s shoulder to his face. ¡°You don¡¯t look curious about it.¡± Kaiser looked up at her, then he looked straight ahead at the goal in mind. Make it to the dungeon and see if there¡¯s anyone else there left to save. ¡°Why should I be curious about something that likely predates the trees out here, let alone the statue itself.¡± Suddenly as Kaiser looked up at Elara, ahead of him two holes began to erupt from the ground quickly ¡°Kaiser! Ahead!¡± Reverberated screams were released out into the world from the holes, Kaiser jumped above the holes, and Elara held onto his shoulders as towering giants of golems appeared. ¡°YOU CAN NOT PASS!!¡± They screamed, Kaiser unsheathed his sword swinging it through the air as a purple flare of lightning burned through the air. ¡°Finisirae!¡± A purple blast forms at the hilt, batted down by the fuller of his blade. It speeds down to the ground, landing on the two creatures with a forced ferocity. Dust settles into the air, Kaiser relaxes thinking the battle is over, yet one of the creatures screams out, followed by the other one. He lands on the ground, putting Elara down from his shoulders. He looks ahead. Weaker than usual¡­? Kaiser frowned. His sword¡¯s spell had never been that weak before. When he used it on goblins and gremlins¡ªit cut through them with ease. That¡¯s it. These things must have some resistance to magic. He burst forward ¡°Kaiser!¡± Elara exclaimed, Kaiser turned looking over his shoulder. ¡°Stay there,¡± he ordered, his tone curt but not unkind. The creatures, though damaged, rose. Smoke curled from their wounds, but they showed no sign of pain. Without warning, they lunged. Blurring forward with unnatural speed. Kaiser shifted his stance, his grip tightening around Finisirae¡¯s hilt. His mind registered two attackers, but he focused on the nearest one first. As it lunged, jagged claws slashing for his throat, he pivoted sharply, feinting left. The creature overcommitted, throwing itself off-balance, and in that instant, Kaiser struck. He twisted his wrist and drove Finisirae upward in a vicious diagonal slash. The blade bit deep, cleaving through flesh and bone with a sickening crack as it tore open the creature¡¯s chest. Its momentum carried it forward even in death, its body crumpling against his shoulder before sliding lifelessly to the ground. Kaiser didn¡¯t pause. Using the weight of his last strike, he stepped into a spin, his blade carving an arc through the air. The second creature snarled, claws raised for a counterattack, but it was too slow. With a downward stroke, Kaiser brought Finisirae crashing onto its outstretched arm. A splintering snap echoed as the limb was severed at the elbow, black ichor spraying from the wound.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. The monster reeled back, shrieking in agony, but Kaiser was already moving to finish it off. His blade lifted, poised for the killing blow, and then a roar erupted from behind him. His smirk barely had time to form before his instincts screamed. The first creature, not finished off with barely a body, raised his arm to attack Kaiser from behind. ¡°Kaiser!¡± Elara¡¯s voice tore through the air, sharp with panic. Kaiser moved to strike, but he was too slow. A shadow sat¡ªtoo close, too fast. Time stopped abruptly, it stretched its hands in sickening increments. He could hear his heartbeat like war drums. Then impact. A force like a gavel slammed into his back, shattering his balance. Pain detonated through his ribs, knocking the air from his lungs. His vision blurred, and his body flung forward like a puppet without its strings. He had never been hit that hard before. His fingers numbed around Finisirae¡¯s hilt. His mind reeled, thoughts unwrapped into pieces. The demon clawed at him, reaching for his sword. It moved frantically, it knew Kaiser was vulnerable. This was its chance to take the blade and kill him... Damn¡­ This is going to hurt¡­ Darkness edged his vision. Somewhere, distant yet searing, a name surfaced from his memory. I¡¯m sorry, Annika¡­ The creature walked towards him. Its stone body merged with its fallen partner becoming one huge undead titan. Two heads formed on its newly formed figure they roared at Kaiser as he lay there. Ready to meet his end¡­ before Elara ran in front of him. ¡°From the Feywild to the accursed Nuar, I set aflame the earth to ignite my opponent!¡± A huge ball of fire forms at the chest of Elara, as if she were warming her hands to an imaginary campfire she places her hands behind the inferno. ¡°Incinerate!¡± The blast leaves her hand, flying at the merged golem as it collides with full force, it burns and tears the stones from its body destroying it as its rock body turns molten. Before it fell, melting into the Earth¡¯s floor. Kaiser looked on surprised before Elara rushed. Sliding on the ground as she appeared at his slide. He was collecting himself both from the hit from the titan and from watching Elara likely save his life¡­ Save HIS life¡­ Not her being saved. Why was he so weak? Why couldn¡¯t he get up? Why would couldn¡¯t he¡ª ¡°Kaiser!¡± A slap called him back to the real world, Elara looked down into his eye as he looked up at her surprised, his eyes calmed. His gaze settled before he smiled. ¡°Yeah¡­ That¡¯s the name I was given.¡± Their gazes locked, Elara¡¯s settled before she closed her eyes, exhaling a deep breath of worry before opening her eyes back to meet his again. ¡°Get up, silly.¡± ©¥©¥©¥©¥¡ã? Ö®ºó ¡ã©¥©¥©¥©¥ The dungeon creaked as Wolfe, Lucy, and Mason walked through the stone-layered corridor. They had been trying to stay away from Shattered Angels and other dangerous Floor Beasts. Like all dungeons, this one had several floors. The first floor didn¡¯t have many beasts, but Lucy and Wolfe¡¯s mastery wasn¡¯t exactly high enough to deal with the ones that did lurk there. Mason had been their backbone, and although he was an orc, Wolfe appreciated that. The dungeon air was damp, laced with the scent of stone and something older, something forgotten Their footsteps echoed in the empty corridors, the only sound aside from the occasional distant growl or shifting rubble. Lucy gripped her staff tightly, her knuckles pale. ¡°I hate this place,¡± she muttered, her eyes darting to the dark parts of the hallway. ¡°It¡¯s too quiet.¡± Wolfe nodded, adjusting his grip on his sword. ¡°Means something¡¯s watching.¡± Lucy exhaled sharply. ¡°Please don¡¯t jinx it.¡± Mason, ahead of them, barely reacted. His heavy frame moved with practiced ease, his axe slung over his shoulder. ¡°We need to get to the next safe zone before we rest,¡± he said. ¡°No unnecessary fights.¡± He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. Before a chill ran down all of their spine as a distant laughter caught them off guard. ¡°...What the hell was that?¡± Lucy asked as she turned to the source of the sound, before Shattered Angels appeared, walking on all four in a crab motion as multiple of them came from around the corner. Mason and Wolfe turned at the same time. The Shattered Angel''s bodies were disfigured imitations of divine form¡ªonce humanlike, twisted beyond recognition. Their limbs bent at unnatural angles, joints hyperextended so they scuttled across the stone like soon-to-be discarded marionettes. Wings, or what remained of them, jutted from their backs. Featherless skeletal things, more bone than flesh. The skin that clung to their bodies was white and cracked, although the holy light had long abandoned them. Their faces¡­ Wolfe wished he hadn¡¯t looked. Porcelain masks shattered and barely holding together, revealed glimpses of eyes gazing at them through fractured mouths that shouldn¡¯t be there stretched into grins too wide. The laughter came from them, but their lips never moved. The sound layered as if a chorus of unseen voices spoke through them. One of them twitched violently, its head snapping sideways with an audible crack. Then, in unison, they lunged. ¡°Move!¡± Mason barked, yanking his axe free. Wolfe barely had time to react before the first Shattered Angel was upon him. The marks on him glowed as he dodged it, lightning sharply crawling off his body. The lightning-sparked friction moved with him as he grabbed the frozen Lucy, he and Mason tried to bolt it out of there, alive. Chapter 7; Shattered The wall stretches endlessly in the dungeon, they looked for a turn, a detour, something so they could get away from the Shattered Angels chasing them down the corridor. Wolfe fought to breathe, normally he would have no problem. But this much running? his boots hammering against the stone as he sprinted through the labyrinth. Behind him, the Shattered Angels glided after, their fragmented bodies drifting unnaturally, more like sliding on ice than running on stone. They sang like hymns, maybe a forgotten Psalm. ¡°Shit¡ªshit¡ªshit¡ªshit!¡± Wolfe cursed between breaths. His lungs burned, his legs ached, but stopping meant death. Laying down and giving up meant death, so neither were options. ¡°How many?!¡± Mason yelled, his steps shaking the ground. Wolfe turned back, making¡ª eye contact with one of them again? Do they have eyes? Do they have souls? Wolfe shot his gaze back forward, speeding up just slightly. ¡°Too many!¡± ¡°I told you we shouldn¡¯t have taken that left,¡± Lucy¡¯s voice came from behind them, high-pitched and frantic. ¡°Oh yeah, Lucy, now¡¯s the time for a lecture¡ª¡± A screech cut through the air. The nearest Shattered Angel twisted forward, its elongated limbs lashing out. ¡°Down!¡± Mason bellowed. Wolfe ducked on instinct. A clawed hand raked through the air where his head had been a second ago. Lily screamed as she nearly fell trying to avoid the thing, if it was chosen to go for her instead of Wolfe she would have died. Mason swung his axe in a wide arc. Slicing through its glasslike form. The Shattered Angel reeled, its arm falling and shattering into dust. Yet, it didn¡¯t die. Lucy was the most horrified out of the three of them. ¡°They¡ªthey¡¯re not breaking!¡± Lucy screamed, now running with Mason and Wolfe. ¡°No shit,¡± Wolfe snapped. ¡°Just keep running!¡± The corridor stretched ahead, twisting into another dark turn. He didn¡¯t know where they were going anymore. Just away. ¡°We can¡¯t keep this up!¡± Lucy shouted. ¡°You want to fight those things? Be my guest,¡± Wolfe shot back. ¡°I¡¯d rather¡ª¡± he let his guard down even while it was practically in the clouds. He put more energy into replying back to Lucy than in running. Another screech. Another movement too fast for him to track. This time, the blow landed. Something slammed into Wolfe¡¯s back, a force like a hammer driving into his spine. His body buckled, his feet leaving the ground as he was hurled forward. He hit the stone hard, rolling onto his back with a choked gasp. Pain. Shock. His vision left him, abandoned him when he needed it, when it returned all he saw was the creature standing above him. It raised an arm. This was it. This was how he died, being reckless¡­ being¡ªa child. But what else was he supposed to be? In this world, you don''t get the life of a human as a halfling. Mason moved faster than a bullet train. He intersected the hand of the Shattered Angel¡­ with his heart. Blood dripped and leaked from the front and back of his body as the devil stabbed him through his chest. Mason didn''t even get a chance to breathe before The Shattered Angel decapitated him. Flinging Mason¡¯s dead body aside like a broken toy, his blood splattering against the cold stone it made impact with. His head rolled, stopping at Lucy¡¯s feet. She didn¡¯t scream. She couldn¡¯t. Her breath jerked, her legs moved before her mind could catch up, and she ran. Faster than she ever had. Away. Away from Wolfe. Away from the remains of Mason. Away from the nightmare. The angels split¡ªsome racing after Lucy, others turning their hollow, eyeless faces toward Wolfe. They crawled forward, their limbs clicked as they did so. Wolfe barely noticed. His gaze was locked on Mason¡¯s body. The blood pooling around his corpse. The weight of the stillness around him, the sheer wrongness of it, crushed down on Wolfe¡¯s chest like a hand squeezing his heart. He couldn¡¯t breathe. He couldn¡¯t think. Who sent them here? Why were they here?Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Just to die? His stomach twisted. His mind screamed. It didn¡¯t make sense. It doesn¡¯t make sense. It does make sense. A bunch of halflings, some poor peasants and an orc. This was the perfect group to throw away, if they don''t come and save us then they don''t have to pay us. Lightning cracked through the air. The storm didn''t come from the sky, no. It came from him. It came from his soul. Sparks crawled up his arms, his veins burnt like candles, white-hot. He was hot, his body melting like wax he trembled with fury. They had to die. All of them. There was no logic, no hesitation. Only one truth remained. Anything less would be an insult to the man who gave his life for his. He roared out, his voice the beast inside of him. His body is covered with electricity as is his body with marks of gold accents. He moved past the one who took Mason''s life. The first Shattered Angel lunged, their broken wings beating hard enough to kick up dust. Wolfe met it head-on, he jumped into the impact. His feet barely touched the ground. He drove his fist forward, lightning exploding from his knuckles as he shattered the creature¡¯s mask. The crack which came afterwards reverberated through the dungeon. The creature reeled back like a fish, its movements stuttering. Wolfe took his chance, grabbing its throat and slamming it hard into the ground with enough force to crater the stone beneath them. The power in his throw almost dislocated his arm. Another Angel screeched and swiped at his back. Wolfe spun, catching its wrist mid-strike. He twisted hard¡ªbone snapped. The arm bending at a sickening angle, and the angel didn''t even shriek. Wolfe didn¡¯t let go. He pulled it close and slammed his forehead into its face. The crunch of porcelain as the mask split apart. Stunned, it staggered, and Wolfe ripped its broken limb free, sending dusted blood sprayed into the air. He shoved his hand into its chest, it convulsed violently before its body turned to dust. Three more rushed him. They didn¡¯t hesitate, didn¡¯t fear. He didn¡¯t either. The first reached for him¡ªhe ducked, its claws grazing the air above his head. He grabbed its leg, yanking it from the ground and using its momentum to whip it straight into the second. Both collapsed in a tangled heap. The third one came from the side, its hand of a blade arcing downward. Wolfe caught the strike between his palms, electricity surging through his veins as he held the bone in place. The angel pushed down, trying to stab through him, nearly at the halflings neck. But Wolfe bared his teeth and twisted the weapon out of its grasp, snapping the limb at the wrist as it flipped into the air. In the same motion, he jammed his fingers into its eye sockets and poured voltage directly into its mutated skull. It didn¡¯t even have time to scream. He turned to the two he¡¯d knocked down. One had already begun rising. He grabbed its wing and wrenched it free, the creature howled in agony. In pain. He didn¡¯t stop there. He grasped the other and tore that one off too. The angel fell forward, crippled, and Wolfe crushed its head under his boot. The last one hesitated. Just for a second. Just long enough. Wolfe shot forward, grabbing it by the face. His grip was iron. He slammed it against the dungeon wall, again and again, the cracks spreading like spiderwebs. On the final impact, its head caved inward. He let the corpse slide down the stone, lifeless. Turning to dust. Then he stood before the last one. The one that killed Mason. His breathing was ragged. Blood on his arm¡ªsome his, some not. It dripped down his arms. His fingers twitched with static. He stepped toward the Shattered Angel. It didn¡¯t run. It should have. Wolfe reached for Mason¡¯s axe. His fingers wrapped around the hilt. He gritted his teeth and pulled. The weapon refused to move. He growled, his muscles burning, but the weight was too much. His vision abandoned him, but he grabbed it by the collar and pulled it back to him. Rage and grief bleeding together. The angel watched, silent. Waiting, it sung no song. No psalm. No Hymn. And then, out of nowhere, a hand covered Wolfe¡¯s. A shadow stood behind him. Wolfe felt the weapon lift. Not by his strength alone. The weight, his body surged forward with electricity and together, they swung¡ª The axe met flesh. The Shattered Angel turned to dust. Chapter 8; King Rehsa Beneath the sky sat the king, ruler of the land, father to seven daughters. All of his daughters stood before him now, each one an embodiment of what man feared and hidden most above all, Sin. The king didn''t smile. He didn''t utter a word. He only watched and waited. The first of the daughters to step forward was Lust. Her eyes gleamed like polished gems. ¡°Father," she cooed ¡°I love you. I love you for your power, your wealth, your chilvery.¡± She continued, unwrapping parchment, inked with words of admiration. Yet love to her... was a hunger, an unsatiable thing. She would love a peasant if they walked into the room. Then Envy came, her fingers twitching at her sides. ¡°I do not love you,¡± she admitted, voice hushed. ¡°I want to be you.¡± Her list was long, a tally of all she wanted for herself. His strength, his power, and her ador for her father went beyond throwing words around. ¡°I watch you, I study you. I am you if only you would fall.¡± Gluttony was next, her hands full, her eyes fuller. ¡°Father" She began, as the others did. "I love you, but I love what you give me more.¡± her neck was covered with jewels, her wrists frozen, her dress shined of gold. She talked for a while, she could have gone on for hours had Sloth not sailed in. Before she spoke a sword, she exhaled a sharp sigh ¡°I love you,¡± she murmured... And that was it. Effort was a foreign thing. Her love was distant. Long distance. Greed followed ¡°Father, you are the wellspring of all I desire. I am your rightful heir, the oldest to the throne.¡± Her fingers curled like claws, reaching, taking. Her love was a blade¡ªcutting, grasping, never satisfied. Then came Pride, her chin high, her voice even. ¡°My king, I love you because I am your child. Because I am great, as you are great.¡± She stated, adding nothing more. She need to say nothing else in her eyes.The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. And then, the last, Wrath. She did not kneel. She did not smile. She stormed into the hall, eyes burning like cast iron, fists curled tight. ¡°I do not love you. I hate you.¡± The air itself trembled. ¡°You gave me only war. I return it in kind.¡± The silence that followed was heavier than her fury. The king looked upon his daughters. Measured them and weighed their words, their hearts, their truths. And one by one, he cast judgment. Lust, Greed, and Sloth were the ones to fall. Their love was selfish, and hollow, a desire that only consumed them. Pride was sent to fight in the war, Envy was made the King¡¯s Right Hand, and Gluttony was given a job as the royal cook for the king. But Wrath¡ªWrath had taken the worst of him and wielded it against him. She had burned every bridge before it was ever built. She did not ask, or beg, or want. She only destroyed. And so, he cast her out. But as she left, as the great doors slammed shut behind her, the king did not feel triumph. Only the weight of a throne surrounded by daughters who would never love him as he wished. And the knowledge that Wrath¡ªhis Wrath¡ªwould return one day. His queen was long dead, his kingdom was soon to ruin. A king with seven daughters yet none of them could be his successor. He wrote books, understanding that by raising them the way he had he had doomed the capital, the kingdom, the whole world. You may think the daughter embodying Wrath was cruel, but what if I told you that that single daughter and her father were fighting wars externally and externally that we may never understand. Chapter 9; Entrance Kaiser¡¯s breath came slow, measured. His ribs still ached, the weight of the golem¡¯s hit pressed his chest. Here he was, draped over Elara¡¯s shoulder, the one who saved his life. Yet, he couldn''t feel like nothing more than a fallen soldier¡­ for the first time in his life, he wasn''t the one who did the saving, but he was saved.. He pushed against her hold, his boots scraped against the dirt. ¡°I''m fine, Elara. I am a Knight¡­¡± Elara didn¡¯t let go immediately. Her grip lingered for a fraction longer than necessary before she eased back, watching him carefully. ¡°Be careful¡­¡± The warning wasn¡¯t chiding, he had gotten hurt, yet he was moved well than someone who got hit by the force of a dragon''s tail whip. It completely broke his defenses. Kaiser rolled his shoulders, forcing the stiffness from his limbs. He reached to his belt, his fingers flexed around the hilt of Finisirae as if reaffirming his connection to the blade. He had wasted enough time. The dungeon waited ahead, its entrance covered by an iron gate. It bore no markings, no scripture¡ªjust a sheer, unyielding presence. Something primal stirred in his gut. Not fear. Not yet. He stepped forward. His left hand on Finisirae, his right palm pressed against the cold metal. And then¡ª Zap. Lightning snapped against his skin, the force unseen yet undeniable. A pulse of raw energy surged through his arm, hurling him backward. He hit the ground hard, the scent of burning fabric thick in the air. A voice¡ªno, the Dungeon itself¡ªspoke. ¡°YOU ARE NOT WORTHY.¡± The words weren¡¯t heard. They were felt, rattling in his skull. Kaiser clenched his jaw, shoving himself upright. His vision swam, his eyes wanted to drown in the water. Not worthy? His grip on Finisirae tightened. The weight of his failures pressed against his ribs harder than the golem had. It''s like the third time in his life he felt inferior, the first he was weak. The second he didn''t have enough strength, but now he had enough power. Why would it¡ªWhy did it deny him? The mere question infuriated him. His palm balled into a fist as Finisirae began to glow, purple accents flew from the blade as a demon of a man once there formed in the eyes of Kaiser. Before the touch of an annoying elf took him out of it. Looking back Kaiser met eyes with Lynda, who pointed behind herself at Elara who had the same worried look as before. ¡°Knight.¡± She began ¡°She is the one who killed the titans. She has to open the dungeon, naturally if you did more damage it would allow you as one of the main participants. But she took all of the guardians'' health.¡± ¡°Right.¡± Kaiser said, almost instantly as if he knew the answer to the question. ¡°Let me¡­ get out of your way.¡± The black armored knight moved, the white cloaked elf moved with him as well. The green dress walked in front of the gate shyly, she put her hand to the metal and it vanished instantly. The dungeon roared. Ready for the challenge the three faced. It was cocky in nature, yet it was letting a three headed monster in. ©¥©¥©¥©¥¡ã? Ö®ºó ¡ã©¥©¥©¥©¥ Wolfe breathed heavily. His hand on the axe of Mason, his knuckles white, his grip was shaking, lungs fought not to collapse. The lightning around went from thunderous output to a mere spark. He was tired. He used all he had in that swing¡­ and the hand behind him. He looked up, throwing his head upwards as he looked to see who helped him kill the last of those demons¡­ and no one stood with him. No one else was around to see his feat. He was yet but a lone wolf. He looked at Mason''s axe, his now dead Guild mate''s body in his peripheral vision. It hurts to see, both see the body and use his eyes. It hurts to stand. It hurts to¡ªIf you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. His body loses all its weight, he falls backwards through the air. Hitting the ground with a loud thud. Dust flies up in the air, everything around his unconscious self quiet. Shadows move from the dungeons, crawling around the light from the torches that otherwise lit up the cavern. They grabbed him by his legs, pulling him deeper into the dungeon. Not to eat him, not to harm him, but trap him. Punish him for the massacre of the Angels whose darkness he put light to. ©¥©¥©¥©¥¡ã? Ö®ºó ¡ã©¥©¥©¥©¥ Lynda walked ahead, tracing her fingers along the cavern walls. She frowned, the Elven Force in her body read like a compass. Telling her to turn back around, her being in this area alone made her balance of Light and Dark tilt more to the films of evil. ¡°This isn¡¯t right,¡± she murmured, adjusting her glasses. ¡°The structure doesn¡¯t match any recorded dungeon layouts.¡± Kaiser turned over his shoulder, looking back at Lynda. His grip on Finisirae tightened. ¡°Meaning?¡± ¡°Meaning this place is shifting,¡± she replied, walking slightly faster to meet Kaiser on his side, Elara who was behind her also sped up as to not be left behind in the cold place that gave her chills. ¡°Dungeons don¡¯t stay stagnant, but they don¡¯t rewrite themselves this quickly either. We need to be careful¡ªone wrong step, and we might find ourselves lost on a floor that wasn¡¯t here five minutes ago. Or even worse walking in a looping maze that gets so different every second that forget what the color of the wall was when we walked in.¡± Kaiser exhaled through his nose, scanning the surroundings. His gut twisted, he didn''t have any external form to tell him to be wary. Finisirae in itself wasn''t worried, it didn''t scream to him. Didn¡¯t call to him, the blade was cocky and arrogant in nature. Something is watching. Elara took a step closer to him, not Lynda. As if she still found solace in being closer to the Knight in black armor even if he was likely weaker than her. A spark of fire lit in her hands, providing them with more light outside of the torches that sat it forever ever on the wall. ¡°I don¡¯t like this¡­¡± No one did. They stepped through the dungeon, going down some corridor. Stepping over the bodies and corpses of people who have entered this dungeon in the past, likely not the Guild members however, as they would still be rotting flesh¡ªNot bones. Right? Lynda examined the bodies as they stepped. One was of fairy origin, another few of orc race origin, and nearly a dozen of human origin. This place wasn''t a dungeon, it wasn''t a maze or a trial this was a fucking graveyard. Out of nowhere, a sound rang out. It was distant, but unmistakable as the scream of someone in pure unfiltered agony rang out. It reverberated through the tunnel, bouncing off the wall like broken shards of glass. Elara stiffened, eyes wide. Lynda paled. Kaiser turned his head toward the source, muscles coiled like steel wire, Elara put her hand up, flame in palm. Someone was down there and they were suffering. The tunnel walls trembled. Dust trickled from above, disturbed by something¡ªsomething waking. Then, without warning, the ground beneath Kaiser, Elara, and Lynda sloped downward. ¡°Elara!¡± Kaiser snapped as the magic user lost her footing first, the knight stabbed his sword into the stone between him to hold his ground. Lynda yelped as the floor gave way, sending them all sliding down a smooth, stone chute. The descent was quick. Too quick. They hit the ground hard, Kaiser braced before impact landing in a crouch, sword in hand. Elara stumbled, catching herself. Lynda adjusted her glasses, unamused. A chamber stretched before them, its size covered like gravy in a neck cracking silence. A dark, glistening lake sprawled across the cavern, no visible exit in sight. Stake air held to their skin, going and invading their lungs. ¡°What¡­ is this place?¡± Elara whispered, the first to speak. Lynda approached the nearest wall, her fingers tracing the carvings. Symbols, ancient and pulsing, reacted to her touch¡ªglowing. Kaiser¡¯s eyes narrowed. His vision moved as he read the symbols, the Order forced him to learn these meanings before he took the job as a knight. He sighed, sheathing Finisirae, muttering three words. ¡°It¡¯s trial.¡± The air shifted. A ripple disturbed the lake¡¯s surface. Something moved beneath. The water changed from the dark color it reflected to something much more like oil, dark waves splashing against the stone floor. Kaiser stepped forward, Finisirae raised, purple energy ran from it. A huge serpent of a monster came forth, and just as fast as it appeared it''s body was split in two. Kaiser''s eyes flowed purple. Finisirae roared out as if it itself was in battle. And then Kaiser sheathed his blade, the heat from Finisirae¡¯s blast that split the monster evaporated the water that the serpent had come from. And then, they moved on.