Beily emerged from the swirling dust, brushing debris from his shoulders. A thin trail of blood trickled from his nose. He wiped it away with the back of his hand, his crooked grin widening.
"I didn't expect that," he admitted, cracking his knuckles. "You hit good. But let's see how long you can dance."
Before Eliana could react, Beily crouched low, locking his right arm back like a loaded spring. His muscles coiled tight, and his eyes sharpened with feral amusement.
"If you've got any defensive magic," he said, "now's the time to use it."
But Eliana didn't flinch.
Instead, she raised her arms wide, the wind swirling fiercely around her palms. Vines burst from the earth beneath her feet, surging toward Beily like living serpents. Leaves shimmered like blades in the air, carried by razor-sharp gusts of wind.
Beily's smirk never faded.
The first vine shot at his leg — he dodged it with a swift sidestep.
Another coiled around his arm. He flexed, snapping it effortlessly.
But Eliana was relentless.
Dozens more erupted from the earth, wrapping around him, tightening like iron chains. Beily grunted, testing their strength.
"Persistent little thing," he mused. "Alright, let's see you hold me."
The vines constricted tighter, pulling him toward the ground. Suddenly, a cyclonic gust blasted from Eliana's hands, hurling shards of leaf and thorn at him like a storm of knives. They ripped across his chest and shoulders, drawing blood.
Beily's grin widened in admiration.
"Good. Real good!"
But Eliana wasn't done.
She slammed her palms together, and from the churned earth, a colossal form erupted — a towering humanoid tree, bark as hard as steel, eyes glowing green with her magic.
The giant tree several meters tall roared to life.
It lunged at Beily with crushing speed, its enormous fists raining down upon him like meteors.
Boom.
Boom.
Boom.
Each punch sent tremors through the battlefield, craters exploding outward beneath Beily's feet as he blocked, dodged, and parried. The impact cracked the ground, clouds of dust mushrooming into the sky.
Valerius, watching with wide eyes, whispered under his breath, "She's... she's a monster with magic."
Eryndor, ever composed, narrowed his gaze. "Her control over natural forces is extraordinary."
Ziraiah's mouth hung open. "She's holding him back!"
Beily, pinned beneath the storm of blows, laughed — not out of mockery, but genuine excitement.
"That's it, princess!" he called out, voice echoing over the chaos. "Don't stop now! If you hesitate for even a breath, I'll split your skull open!"
Eliana pressed harder, veins of power glowing along her arms as the humanoid tree's fists blurred with speed. It pounded Beily into the ground, over and over, dust and stone erupting around them like volcanic eruptions.
But then — Beily's patience ended.
His eyes sharpened, and his aura shifted. Gone was the playful curiosity. In its place, raw, controlled brutality.
"Enough playtime."
With a roar, Beily thrust two of his arms upward, snapping the tree's giant arms apart like twigs. His body blurred as he launched himself into the air, spiraling above Eliana.
Eliana's eyes widened.
She thrust her hands forward, summoning her final defence.
A radiant barrier erupted around her — a shimmering dome of magic, smooth and luminous, as perfect as crystal.
Beily landed before her with a grin.
"So you do have it," he said, admiring the barrier's surface. "The same one that shielded you before."
He crouched low, locking his arm back like a coiled spring once more.
"I hope this is sturdier than the last, princess."
Beily shot forward like a cannonball, slamming his fist into the barrier.
A shockwave thundered across the field as Eliana's shield was hurled like a meteor, crashing into the side of the mountain that housed the Unbound base.
Inside the hideout, cracks snaked across the stone walls. Anuel, seated before the seer screen, jolted at the impact.
"What the hell was that?" she gasped.
Daiel smirked. "Beily."
Sumshus, who had been lounging nearby, perked up. "I heard he's testing the Elvheins," he said, standing. "Let's go watch."
Daiel smirked. "Good idea. I'm curious to see what they can actually do."
He rose from his seat and glanced over his shoulder. "You coming, Anuel?"
Anuel gave a small nod as she stood. "Yeah."
And with that, the three of them made their way toward the field.
Back outside, dust spiraled from the crash site as Beily leapt after the barrier, landing with a heavy thud.
He tapped twice on the surface of the shield.
"Not even a scratch," he said, admiringly. "Nice."
Then, he cocked his fist back once more.
"But I wonder... how long can you hold? We're going to the beniek ruin, let me see your limit."
He began hammering the barrier, again and again, each strike thunderous, each blow driving the shield deeper into the mountain.
Eliana gritted her teeth, pouring every ounce of her will into maintaining the barrier. Her breath came in sharp gasps.
Beily's punches turned relentless, like a war drum pounding into her soul.
Daiel, Anuel, and Sumshus arrived at the edge of the field just as Beily unleashed another powerful strike against Eliana's barrier.
"Wow," Daiel muttered, raising an eyebrow. "He's really going at it."
Sumshus leaned forward slightly, squinting. "Wait... isn't that the princess? I thought he was only testing the Elvheins."
Anuel's eyes stayed fixed on the scene. "If she can withstand Beily's attacks, then the princess is more capable than we thought."
Daiel Smirked. "Beily isn't even taking this seriously."
The three of them found a spot along the slope and sat down, settling in to watch the rest unfold.
As Eliana received the barrage of blows, one thought went through her mind.
How is he so strong? I sense no mana from him.
Crack.
Crack.
Crack.
Finally, with one earth-splitting blow, the barrier shattered.
A blast of concussive energy erupted outward, kicking up a cyclone of dust and rubble.
Eliana collapsed to her knees, sweat pouring down her face, her chest heaving with exhaustion.
Beily stood above her, lowering his fist.
"You did good, princess," he said, almost softly. "Better than I expected. You can rest."
He turned his head slightly, glancing over his shoulder at the others.
"Now," he said, voice rumbling like distant thunder.
Beily vanished in a blink, reappearing before Ziraiah, who had been kneeling beside Valerius.
He cocked his arm back, his grin returning.
"It's your turn."
Beily struck Ziraiah squarely in the chest.
She was launched into the air and crashed into the ground with a painful thud. A cry escaped her lips, sharp and broken. She curled into herself, trembling.
"What… was that?" she thought, as her lungs begged for air. The world spun sideways.
"Ziraiah!" Eryndor's voice rang out, taut with fear. He sprinted toward her without hesitation.
Valerius was only a step behind, panic in his eyes.
Beily tilted his head as he looked down at her. "You didn't bleed. Your bones didn't break either. You took that a lot better than your brother, and I hit you with the same amount of force too."
Eryndor turned to him, his voice seething, refined, yet laced with fury.
"By what depravity does a man justify such brutality against a child? Has all sense of honour abandoned you?"
Beily remained unbothered. "We're going to the Beniek Ruins. That place won't spare you because of your age. Child or not—it doesn't care. You Elvheins are rare breeds. I expected something more."
He glanced at Lisa. "Go heal her."
Off to the side, Silvie stood silently, arms crossed. Her thoughts churned behind her calm gaze.
I still can't get over it. They're not human. If I'd taken a hit like that… I'd be dead. And yet, they look so human… when they're clearly not.
Beily ran a hand over his face, frustrated. "Don't any of you Elvheins have innate abilities? Anything at all?"
Ziraiah cried softly as Lisa knelt beside her, magic already beginning to mend the bruises. The tension in the air thickened.
Eliana stepped forward, her voice cool and cutting.
"How can you be so cruel?" she asked. "Men like you… you don't have hearts."
His hand clenched slightly. Just enough to crackle the gravel underfoot. But he said nothing.
But something in her words hit him.
He looked away.
"We're done," he muttered, and turned his back on all of them.
As he walked off, Eliana's voice seemed to echo in his head.
Eliana dropped to her knees beside Ziraiah.
"Are you alright?" she asked gently.
Eryndor had his sister cradled in his arms, his tone low, composed, and reassuring.
"Endure but a while longer, Ziraiah. The agony shall pass, as all storms do. You possess strength beyond this trial — it shall not break you."
Lisa looked over her shoulder and sighed.
"I think you hurt his feelings."
Eliana's expression hardened. "It doesn't matter. I know men like him."
Lisa frowned. "No, you don't. You don't know what Beily's been through. And need I remind you—you're a princess. You've never had a difficult life. Everyone here's had it rough. Beily especially."
She stood up, her tone firm.
"You wouldn't want the life he's had. So cut him some slack."
Then she added, more softly, "Let's go back."
Eryndor rose, gently lifting Ziraiah into his arms. The group began the slow walk back to the mountain.
Valerius walked beside Eliana. The silence between them stretched on, thick and awkward.
This is my chance, he thought. I should say something. Come on, Valerius. This field isn't endless. Open your damn mouth. What do I even say? What's wrong with me? I've never had trouble talking to girls before. No way... am I crushing on her? Ugh, just say something. Anything.
He scratched his head awkwardly, glanced at her, and finally blurted out:
"The weather is nice… isn't it?"
Eliana turned to him, confused. "What?"
Valerius panicked. "Ah—I mean… I think the weather's nice."
A pause. Then Eliana nodded, slowly.
"Yes… I guess."
The silence resumed.
As they reached the mountain entrance, Valerius let out a groan and gently bumped his forehead against the stone wall.
You stupid idiot. The weather? Really? Of all the things you could've said… you went with the weather?
They arrived at the mountain where Anuel and the others sat and watched. As the group came to a halt, Anuel's eyes fell on Ziraiah. A smirk played at the corner of her lips.
"Well now," she said, arms crossed. "You took a clean hit from Beily and lived to tell the tale. You're tougher than I thought, little girl."
She turned slightly, voice raised with playful mockery.
"Hey Beily—did you know this 'little girl' actually took down a Mavrik?"
Beily, mid-step, came to a stop. He turned his head slowly, eyes narrowing as if he hadn't heard correctly.
"…She what?" he asked, the amusement fading from his tone.
---
The Binding Hand
Far away, high in the skies above Yilheim, a colossal body of water floated—still and shimmering like glass. Resting atop that water was a floating island, vast and unnatural. It spanned two thousand square kilometers, and at its center rose a fortress of breathtaking majesty.
The central structure was made entirely of Albertite—a rare mineral in Yilheim, golden and radiant, catching sunlight like polished fire. Its glow bathed the island in a warm light, making the entire land feel sacred, mythical.
Crystal-clear rivers wove between clusters of vibrant flora. Strange animals roamed freely, and the air shimmered with latent energy.
At the four corners of the island stood towering fortresses, each shaped like a perfect cube and supported by pillars that stretched several kilometers into the sky. Runes pulsed along the pillars—ancient, glowing, and alive with power. From each floating fortress extended a single bridge, a hundred kilometers long, sloping down toward the main fortress at the center. Each bridge was like an arm, reaching toward the heart of this forgotten marvel.
This place is unlike Ignir. Unlike Mystvir. It is more advanced. More arcane. More silent.
Most of Yilheim didn't even know it existed.
Its name, is Kaldome.
It was the stronghold of the legendary organization known as The Binding Hand—the institution responsible for writing the very laws of Yilheim. It was here the elite Enforcers made their sanctum. Their command post. Their temple.
Inside the central fortress—within a chamber adorned in golden detail and solemn silence—a man sat alone at a sleek, obsidian desk. He appeared human in form, with smooth medium-brown skin and sharp, aristocratic features. Though his bearing suggested middle age, it was the middle age of one who had lived for centuries—seasoned, but far from old.
His neatly combed red hair framed intense crimson eyes that gleamed with focus. A cigarette hung from his lips, its smoke coiling lazily into the air. He wore a fitted blue suit trimmed with elegant white designs, the threads faintly shimmering under the chamber's soft light. A crisp black tie hung from his collar, centered by a silver crest—an ornate emblem that marked his status within the Binding Hand, gleaming like a silent badge of power.
He was reading a newspaper.
Printed boldly across the front page:
The Beniek Ruin—First Ancient Ruin Ever Opened
He exhaled smoke, unconcerned.
It wasn't the ruin itself that mattered.
It was who had opened it.
Rare-blood Elvheins.
Speakers of the Ancient Tongue.
His brows lowered.
"This cannot be," he muttered.
He pressed a button on the desk, activating the comm speaker.
"What is the authenticity of this newspaper?" he asked.
A voice answered immediately.
"It's true, sir. As we speak, several Unbounds from across Yardrad are converging on the Beniek Ruin."
There was a pause.
"And they're not just any Unbounds, sir. According to our intel: the Stellers, the Ironborn, the Devouring Beasts—and many more factions. They're all on the move."
The man's crimson eyes narrowed.
He looked back down at the paper, then at the name of the organization that had printed it.
Constant Update.
"Constant Update?" he said. "Never heard of them. Who are they—and how did they come by such classified information?"
The voice replied, "They're a rogue news outfit—started by Dragoon kids in their twenties. We don't know how they got the story, but we discovered they took a massive loan and put their lives up as collateral to fund the printing."
A pause.
"They've scattered the papers across all of Yardrad. Every Unbound seems to believe it."
The man leaned back slowly.
"For them to go that far... Those children. They're betting everything on one story."
The voice from the speaker turned serious.
"If all these Unbounds converge, sir, the chaos will be unavoidable. The collateral damage will be astronomical. Should we deploy the Enforcer?"
The red-haired man flicked ash into a dish.
"No, we should reduce collateral damage as much as possible." he said calmly. "Let me handle this."
He ended the call.
Then he stood up sharply and bellowed:
"PESTRY! CALL PUNGENCE."
---
To Be Continued...