Jane smirked. "Fine. Our buddy." She leaned closer to the screen. "Now Cynthia—you have to get out of there. Go to the palace!" Her voice was desperate, as if sheer willpower alone could make her words reach Cynthia.
Lillian shook her head, her frustration boiling over. "Jane, listen. Cipher's there now. It's time for revenge." Her eyes darkened. "Teach those bullies a lesson." Her grip tightened on the chair's arms. "If they won't listen? Let Zane burn them to ashes. They deserve it. They almost killed Nova. Ren. And Asher! They need to pay!" Her voice cracked at the end, raw with emotion. Jane bit her lip, unable to argue.
The screen flickered, shifting focus to the heart of the Karian Kingdom. Within the grand halls of the castle, Queen Drusilla sat upon her throne. Before her, gathered in solemn anticipation, were Dr. Marcellus Thorn, Elise Blackwell, Lucius Vance, and Father Gideon Hale. She clasped her hands together, leaning forward slightly.
"I called you all here to revisit the mission we entrusted to Cipher. Nearly twenty-four hours have passed, and she has not returned." A quiet murmur stirred among the council. "My cousin Nova likely went with her, though she never informed me," the queen continued, her tone sharpening. "That concerns me greatly. I've decided to send a team of our elite fighters to search for them in Darensia City." She surveyed their faces. "What does the council think of this decision?" Her gaze lingered as she invited their approval—or perhaps a challenge to her plan.
Dr. Marcellus Thorn raised her hand, her voice calm yet firm. "I do not support this course of action, Your Majesty. If Cipher cannot handle herself within the Kingdom, how could she possibly survive the evil forest? That is where the real danger lies." She let the words settle before continuing. "I suggest we wait five more days before jeopardizing her mission."
Queen Drusilla absorbed the response, scanning the room for differing opinions. Silence stretched—but then Lucius lifted his hand. She gave him a slight nod. "Go ahead, Lucius."
Lucius sat forward. "Your Majesty, I support Dr. Thorn's position. Cipher deserves a chance to prove herself. And as for Nova, she is a highly skilled fighter. If she is with Cipher, I doubt they are in immediate danger."
"And I have reason to believe Rendell Graves accompanied them," Father Gideon added, his expression contemplative. "If so, they are far more secure than you might fear, Your Majesty."
The Queen's sharp eyes settled on Elise Blackwell. "Elise, what say you?"
Elise hesitated only briefly before sighing softly. "I have no strong opinion on the matter, Your Majesty. My duty is to see that your wishes are carried out."
Queen Drusilla weighed the perspectives carefully, folding her arms as she deliberated. "Three days more," she finally declared, her voice decisive. The meeting was adjourned.
Asher finished patching up Ren, his hands steady as he worked with the equipment and medicine the pit doctor had left behind. The promise of the doctor's return lingered in the back of his mind, but for now, survival was all that mattered. Ren flexed his shoulder, testing the fresh bandages. "Thanks, brother. I feel fresh—no pain at all."
Asher gave a small nod, his focus elsewhere. His voice dropped slightly. "So… how do we escape this dungeon? Fighting isn't the way—there are too many of them. And we've got those two to worry about. Maybe we should just leave them behind." his lips curled into a mischievous smile.
"Are you serious?" Ren frowned. "You aren't serious?"
Asher chuckled, his laughter breaking the tension. "Relax, bro. I was messing with you. Did you see your face?"
Ren's grin was slow but genuine. "Looks like you're enjoying yourself, despite nearly dying."
Asher shrugged, his eyebrows raising in mock innocence. "I'm just enjoying the moment. Who knows what tomorrow will bring?"
Ren thought for a moment, then nodded. "I guess that's the right attitude."
Asher's nod became exaggerated. "You damn right."
Their brief moment of levity shattered when footsteps echoed through the cell block. The steel bars rattled as Lord Vutagon Mondanza appeared, his presence suffocating the air.
"Well, well," Mondanza drawled, gripping the bars with one hand. "It looks like you two are quite comfortable here."
Ren and Asher exchanged a glance but said nothing.
Lord Vutagon Mondanza's smile widened. "That was quite the spectacle you two put on today. I must admit—I'm curious about what you'll bring tomorrow. You know I'll take it higher, don't you? Each day, I'll push you further. I'll break your souls, piece by piece, until I see you take your last breath." The silence in the cell block was deafening.
Asher stepped forward, his voice steady but sharp. "I understand why you're doing this to us. But why Nova? Why the young girl?"
Lord Vutagon Mondanza chuckled, the sound low and mocking. "Oh, you're so ignorant. Did you learn nothing on the stage today?" He sighed, shaking his head as if disappointed. "The world is changing, and so am I. You two—I could forgive you. If you pledge your allegiance to me. Call me Lord. Work for me. Be my right and left hand. I'll take you to heights your minds have never dreamed of." His tone darkened. "But if you refuse… I'll still make the most out of you. I'll capitalize on your suffering. Tomorrow, if you don't make a deal with me, you'll face the Ghost Beast. I'm sure you've heard of it."
Ren and Asher exchanged glances, their expressions unreadable. Then they both chuckled. "That's a myth from our childhood," Ren said, his tone dismissive.
Lord Vutagon Mondanza's smile didn't falter. "Oh? Then refuse my offer, and you'll meet him yourself." He leaned closer, biting his bottom lip in amusement.
Asher's jaw tightened, his voice cutting through the tension. "Well, I don't know about Ren, but my answer is no. I'd rather go to hell than live under your roof."
Ren smirked. "I guess I don't need to say it, right?"
Lord Vutagon Mondanza's gaze lingered on them a moment longer. Then he straightened, his smile cold. "Well, lads, enjoy your now. Rest up. Tend to your wounds. I need you at your best to face my Ghost Beast." With that, he turned and walked away, his footsteps echoing down the corridor.
Ren exhaled, his voice low. "Do you think he was serious?"
Asher leaned back against the wall, his expression unreadable. "I don't know. And I don't care to know."
Cipher sat against the cold stone wall, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the cracks in the surface. The silence between her and Nova was heavy, but eventually she spoke. "Nova…" Cipher hesitated. "You think Ren and Asher are okay?"
Nova met her gaze, her expression unreadable. "I'm sure they are," she said, though her words carried an underlying weight. "But when I came in… I didn't want to talk about it."
Cipher stiffened slightly. "Why?"
Nova exhaled, her fingers gripping the hem of her sleeve. "Ren took a hit. A cestus punch—right in the ribs."
Cipher frowned. "Cestus?" The unfamiliar word rolled off her tongue, confusion evident.
"A glove with spikes," Nova explained, her voice low. Cipher barely had time to absorb the information when the sudden echo of approaching footsteps cut through the cell. Both women instantly tensed.