The morning was just as gray and unwelcoming as the one before. But now the fog clung to the windows like a ghostly web, and the sky seemed trapped between slabs of concrete cloud. The weather stubbornly refused to brighten — it was as if the day itself didn't want to begin.
Cain woke far too early — not out of necessity, but from nerves. A wordless unrest boiled inside him, one that didn't ease even in sleep. He sat at the edge of his bed for a few minutes, staring into the shadow of his own hands. At last, he stood, pulled on a dark shirt, and retrieved a small metal flask from his nightstand. Painkillers. The flask looked simple but practical — a rough black casing with a built-in clip for easy attachment to a belt.
Then Cain stepped out of his room and walked down the corridor, where the silent walls absorbed the sound of every step. After a few minutes, he stopped in front of a door. Eli's room.
Cain was certain she knew exactly when — and with whom — he was to leave for the dungeon.
"Eli," he said softly and knocked on the door.
The door opened unexpectedly fast, and Cain was met by a face steeped in worry. The girl's eyes were wide open, and a shadow of anxiety flickered in them the moment she saw him.
"Cain?" Her voice was a little hoarse, as if she had just woken up, but tension was clearly present. "You're... already up?"
He nodded.
"I couldn't sleep. I wanted to know — when do I leave? And with whom?"
Eli stepped aside, letting him into the room. Her expression softened slightly, but the worried spark in her eyes remained. She looked at him in silence, as if something was forming in her thoughts that she didn't want to say aloud.
"We leave in two hours. Sebastian and I will be accompanying you."
A smile lit up Cain's face at her words. He was genuinely relieved that those he trusted would be by his side on such an important day, not strangers.
Eli's expression grew complicated when she saw his smile, but Cain didn't notice.
"Then hurry up and get dressed — let's head to the armory!" Cain said with enthusiasm.
"Just a minute. Could you wait outside?"
"Oh… okay," Cain answered, slightly flushed.
Eli didn't take long. Within five minutes, she emerged from her room dressed in a warm gray sweater and plain dark pants. Even in such simple clothing, her beauty was undeniable.
"Shall we go?" Eli asked.
Cain nodded slightly.
Together they headed toward the eastern wing of the estate. The path was fairly long, since the armory was located there, while they had been in the western wing.
But after twenty minutes, they finally arrived.
Inside the dim hall filled with weapons, Sebastian was already waiting. He stood still, but his posture betrayed a faint tension — eyes focused, jaw slightly clenched. He was clad in light battle armor made of flexible darksteel plates covering his chest, shoulders, and forearms, without hindering movement. As for his weapon, Sebastian had chosen a silver rapier — elegant, with fine engravings of interwoven Sun and Moon symbols along the blade.
He looked ready and collected. He greeted Cain and Eli with a brief nod, but said nothing more.
Cain, after returning the greeting, began inspecting the room more closely.
The walls bowed under the weight of the arsenal — racks of weapons in all shapes and sizes stretched up to the ceiling, like relics of a forgotten era. The air was thick with the bitter scent of metal, laced with the subtle tremor of mana fields — everything here was not merely a tool of battle, but an extension of someone's fate, a memory of blood, fear, and victories.
Suddenly, the silence trembled. From the shadow crouched in the corner of the hall, a man emerged. His figure was wrapped in a deep black cloak that seemed to absorb light. His face remained hidden under the darkness of a hood.
Without a word, he approached Cain and solemnly handed him three items.
"By order of your father... Lord Kael Ravenshade," he said with deep respect, each word heavy, as if carrying the shadow of a will that never spoke in vain. His voice echoed dully off the stone walls, as though the very space acknowledged the weight of what was said.
His task complete, the man vanished as suddenly as he had appeared.
Cain now held three items — each seemed to breathe with its own energy. Without hesitation, he summoned the [System] to learn their true nature.
—
Cloak "Night's Shadow"
Type: Defensive Cloak
Rank: E
Effects:
+ 5 Agility
+ 5 Perception
Reduces movement noise by 20%
Masks presence in shadows, though not fully
Passive Ability:Symphony of Silence — Dampens surrounding sounds within a 0.5-meter radius of the wearer during movement
—
Sword "Moonless Dawn"
Type: One-Handed Sword
Rank: ED
Effects:
+ 25 Strength
+ 5% Critical Hit Chance
Active Ability:Deep Slash
Description: Delivers a cut that ignores 5% of the target's defense
Mana Cost: 25
Activation Time: 0.5 seconds
Cooldown: 20 seconds
—
Dagger "Whisper of the Depths"
Type: Dagger
Rank: FE
Effects:
+ 3 Agility
+ 3 Accuracy
2% chance to inflict Paralytic Tremor for 2 seconds
Passive Ability:Light Dissolution — Weapon becomes nearly invisible in darkness or shadow
—
Cain felt that while the items weren't overwhelmingly powerful, they provided solid support — offering protection, maneuverability, and combat assistance.
Exactly what he needed.
He quickly equipped the new gear.
The "Night's Shadow" cloak draped over his shoulders as if tailored for him — light, nearly weightless, with a deep, dark hue that swallowed light.
The dagger "Whisper of the Depths" he strapped to the inner left side of his belt — positioned for a swift draw.
The one-handed sword "Moonless Dawn" rested in plain but reliable scabbards across his back, slightly tilted for an easy right-hand draw.
When Cain finished equipping his gear, his gaze met Eli's. She was ready too. Her outfit had changed into a dark gray combat uniform with a high collar and protective inserts at the chest and forearms. At her hip — a one-handed sword with a slender blade, balanced for swift strikes and defense. On the opposite side — a strange dagger in a plain black sheath.
The dagger radiated a strange energy that made Cain's skin crawl.
But he pushed the feeling aside as pre-mission anxiety.
The dagger seemed ordinary to Cain.
But it was far from ordinary...
It was the very artifact meant to take Cain's life, should the mission fail. Eli knew what it was. And yet… she remained silent.
Suddenly, Sebastian turned and called out:
"It's time. The teleportation circle is already activated."
His voice was calm, slightly tense, but composed — as expected from a seasoned warrior.
Cain nodded, and the trio moved to the next chamber — to the portal that would take them to where the true trial would begin.