Morning arrived quietly in Eldross.
The pale sunlight crept through the thin curtains of the rented inn room, painting soft gold lines across the wooden floorboards. The night's chill had faded, replaced by the gentle warmth of early daylight. Outside, the distant sounds of the waking city echoed faintly—vendors setting up their stalls, wagon wheels rattling across stone roads, and the occasional shout of merchants beginning their daily trade.
Inside the room, however, the atmosphere was calmer.
Vael stretched her arms lazily above her head as she sat at the small table near the center of the room. The faint rustling of clothing filled the space as she shifted in her seat.
Across from her, Eryndra leaned back in her chair, arms crossed, her posture relaxed in a way it rarely was when Reider was present.
She let out a satisfied sigh as she stretched.
"Finally," she said with a grin, "some peace and quiet without Reider brooding in the corner."
Mei sat beside her, delicately lifting a cup of tea to her lips. Steam curled gently upward from the drink as she took a small sip.
A faint smirk appeared on her face.
"You sound jealous, Eryndra."
Eryndra immediately turned her head away with a sharp huff.
"As if."
She waved a dismissive hand.
"He's just… always so serious."
Her nose wrinkled slightly.
"It's annoying."
Vael watched the exchange quietly.
A faint smirk tugged at the corner of her lips as she leaned back in her chair. But after a moment, her gaze shifted toward Mei, and the amusement in her eyes slowly faded.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"Speaking of annoying…"
Mei paused mid-sip.
The cup hovered just before her lips as she slowly turned her head.
Vael tilted her head slightly.
"You're really playing weak, huh?"
The room went quiet.
Mei lowered the cup slowly, placing it on the table with a soft clink.
Eryndra blinked, clearly confused.
She looked between them.
"What's this about?"
Vael leaned forward slightly, resting her elbows on the table.
Her smirk returned.
"Oh, nothing too complicated."
Her gaze locked onto Mei.
"Just that Mei here conveniently lets herself get into trouble."
Her smile widened slightly.
"So Reider can swoop in and save her."
Mei clicked her tongue softly.
"That's ridiculous."
Vael tilted her head again, clearly enjoying the moment.
"Is it?"
Her eyes glinted with amusement.
"A god who's supposedly unawakened, yet somehow always survives by the narrowest margins?"
She tapped her finger lightly against the table.
"Sounds a little suspicious to me."
Eryndra's eyes widened slightly.
She turned toward Mei with sudden interest.
"Wait…"
Her eyebrows rose.
"You're pretending to be helpless?"
Mei sighed softly.
Her hand came up to rub her temples as though she were already tired of the conversation.
"It's not like that."
Her voice grew quieter.
"Reider… he's different."
Vael leaned back again, folding her arms.
"Oh?"
Mei's gaze dropped briefly to the table.
"He doesn't see himself as a protector."
She paused.
"And he definitely doesn't want to be seen as a weapon."
Her fingers traced the rim of her teacup.
"But if he has someone to protect…"
Her eyes lifted slightly.
"…it gives him purpose."
The words lingered in the air.
Vael studied her for a moment.
"So you're guiding him, then?"
Her voice was calm but sharp.
"Making him believe he needs to step in."
Mei exhaled slowly.
The playful expression she normally wore had faded.
"I'm giving him a reason to care."
Her eyes softened slightly.
"He's not like other people."
She hesitated.
"He's barely three months old."
Eryndra blinked.
Even Vael's eyebrows lifted slightly.
"And yet," Mei continued quietly, "he already carries more weight than most people do in an entire lifetime."
Silence fell over the room.
Eryndra leaned forward slightly, her gaze thoughtful.
"So…"
She tilted her head.
"You trust him that much?"
Mei's lips curved into a small smile.
But there was sadness hidden behind it.
"More than anyone."
Vael groaned dramatically.
She leaned back in her chair and ran a hand through her hair.
"Ugh."
"You're such a manipulative little thing."
Mei shrugged calmly.
"And yet…"
She took another sip of tea.
"You're not denying it works."
Vael scowled but said nothing.
Eryndra leaned forward slightly, resting her chin on her hand as she studied Vael.
"I'm actually more surprised you caught onto it first."
Vael looked offended.
Before Eryndra could react—
Flick!
"Ow!"
Vael's finger had snapped sharply against her forehead.
"Hey!"
"I'm not stupid!"
Eryndra rubbed her forehead, smirking.
"Debatable."
Mei chuckled softly at their bickering.
"At least we're all on the same page now."
Vael sighed again.
"Fine, fine."
She waved a hand dismissively.
"Just don't expect me to play damsel like you."
Mei raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
A mischievous smile spread across her face.
"So you're saying you wouldn't want Reider saving you?"
Vael froze.
Her expression went blank for half a second.
Then—
"That's not what I—"
But it was too late.
Eryndra and Mei had already exchanged a glance.
The kind that meant trouble.
Mei leaned forward slightly.
"Vael…"
Her voice was sweetly teasing.
"Do you like it when he worries about you?"
Vael turned bright red.
"Shut up."
Eryndra grinned like a predator sensing blood.
"Ohhhh."
"She totally does."
Vael glared at both of them.
"I swear if either of you say another word—"
Mei and Eryndra spoke at the exact same time.
"She totally does!"
Vael groaned loudly and dropped her head onto the table.
Thud.
At that exact moment—
The door opened.
Reider stepped inside.
He stopped immediately upon seeing the scene.
Vael face-down on the table.
Mei and Eryndra both smirking.
He raised one eyebrow.
"…Do I even want to ask?"
Mei and Eryndra simply looked at him with identical mischievous smiles.
Vael groaned again.
Reider sighed.
"Whatever."
He crossed his arms.
"I need to talk to you all about our next move."
Far away from the quiet inn…
The palace of Eldross stood like a dark monument at the heart of the city.
Towering columns stretched toward the high vaulted ceiling of the throne chamber. Long banners hung between them, their black and crimson colors shifting slightly in the faint breeze drifting through the massive windows.
At the center of the chamber sat Lilith.
She lounged elegantly in a throne-like chair, one leg crossed lazily over the other.
Her long fingers tapped rhythmically against the armrest.
Tap… Tap… Tap…
Her crimson eyes stared toward the massive doors of the hall.
"It's been too long."
Her voice echoed softly through the chamber.
"Where is Sylva?"
Nearby, Kraggor stood like a mountain of muscle and armor.
He leaned against one of the stone pillars, arms crossed tightly over his chest.
"Tch."
"That damn elf should've reported back by now."
Lilith leaned forward slightly.
Her eyes narrowed.
"You think something happened?"
Kraggor shrugged.
His expression remained unreadable.
"Sylva's cunning."
He paused.
"But she's not invincible."
He cracked his neck slightly.
"If she got caught…"
He shrugged again.
"It only means she was weaker than I thought."
Lilith chuckled softly.
She twirled a strand of dark hair between her fingers.
"You're always so quick to discard your pawns."
Her eyes flicked toward him.
"No wonder you've never been very good at playing the long game."
Kraggor's jaw tightened.
"You can sit here playing games."
His voice rumbled like distant thunder.
"But I prefer results."
"If Sylva's gone…"
He turned slightly toward the doors.
"…we move forward without her."
Lilith sighed dramatically.
She raised a hand in mock surrender.
"Fine, fine."
"But I do hate loose ends."
Her eyes glinted.
"If she's alive…"
She smiled slowly.
"She'll talk."
"And that would be… inconvenient."
Kraggor tilted his head.
"Want me to send a scout?"
Lilith waved her hand dismissively.
"No need."
Her voice carried complete confidence.
"If she's been captured…"
Her smile returned.
"They'll bring her to us soon enough."
Kraggor grunted.
"Hmph."
"You always act like you know everything."
Lilith's eyes glowed faintly.
"Because I do."
The tension in the room thickened.
Kraggor finally broke the silence.
"And what about Eleanor?"
Lilith leaned back again.
Resting her chin against her hand.
"Ah…"
"The oh-so-precious Eleanor."
A flicker of amusement crossed her face.
"Leona will come for her."
Her smile widened slightly.
"No doubt about that."
Kraggor's patience was clearly wearing thin.
"If she becomes a problem…"
He clenched his fists.
"We should eliminate her before she gets too close."
Lilith waved a dismissive hand.
"Oh, don't be so dull."
Her eyes sparkled with cruel amusement.
"I want her to come."
Kraggor stared at her.
"And why exactly would we want that?"
Lilith slowly stood.
She stretched slightly, her movements graceful.
"Because…"
Her voice lowered.
"Watching her struggle."
She turned toward the large palace windows.
"Watching her fail…"
Her smile became colder.
"…is far more entertaining than simply killing her."
Kraggor scowled.
"You play too many games, Lilith."
She tilted her head.
"And yet…"
Her eyes gleamed.
"I always win."
Kraggor said nothing.
The silence stretched between them.
Lilith walked toward the massive window overlooking the city.
The wind rushed through the chamber.
Whoooosh.
Her hair fluttered slightly as she gazed out across Eldross.
"Let her come."
Her voice echoed softly.
"Let them all come."
Her smile returned.
"It won't change a thing."
Kraggor crossed his arms again.
Watching her carefully.
Lilith closed her eyes briefly.
"Eleanor is just another piece on the board."
Her voice dropped to a whisper.
"And I'll make sure she plays her role perfectly."
Kraggor's fists clenched.
But he said nothing.
Lilith turned back toward him with a soft smile.
"Now…"
She tilted her head slightly.
"…let's make things interesting."
Kraggor exhaled sharply.
He turned and began walking away.
"Just don't let your games cost us the war."
Lilith watched him leave.
Her smirk never faded.
She returned to the throne-like chair and sat down gracefully.
Her fingers traced the armrest again.
"Oh, Kraggor…"
Her voice was barely above a whisper.
"I never lose."
The view slowly pulled away from the palace.
The enormous structure loomed over the city like a looming shadow.
Far beyond its walls—
Storm clouds began gathering on the distant horizon.
And deep beneath the palace…
A dim prison cell sat hidden within the stone foundations.
Chains clinked softly in the darkness.
A young woman sat against the cold wall.
Her wrists were bound with heavy iron restraints.
But her eyes burned with fierce determination.
Eleanor lifted her head slightly.
Her voice was barely a whisper.
"Leona…"
She closed her eyes briefly.
"I know you'll come."
The cell fell silent again.
And somewhere far away—
The storm continued to grow.
Then—
Darkness.