And then it happened.
The heavy steel door groaned on its hinges, a sound that dragged like claws across stone. It echoed through the silent prison hall, rattling in the bones of every prisoner. Beastkin ears twitched, human hands clenched against the chains that bound them. All eyes snapped toward the entrance.
Vielwalker stepped inside.
It was not just his form that entered but the suffocating weight that accompanied him. A wave of darkness pressed into the chamber, swallowing the air, heavy and alive. His presence wrapped around every throat like an invisible coil, chilling and oppressive.
"The time is near," he said. His voice was a low whisper, almost soft, but it carried like venom.
Behind him, a dozen robed men filed into the prison with silent, practiced precision. They needed no orders. They dispersed immediately, moving as shadows through the hall. The sound of rusted bars scraping open cracked the silence, each squeal of iron more dreadful than the last.
Inside their cage, Lily and Syl moved instinctively, shoulders brushing as they stepped in front of Isilwen. Their bodies trembled, but their stance was steady, defiance drawn tight in the lines of their faces.
Kibo's hands clenched around his chains. His first instinct was to rise, to throw himself between them and danger. But a voice cut him short.
"Brat… stay put."
Ignis's words carried no warmth, only sharp steel. His eyes, though dulled by captivity, still burned with the same command that knows all.
Kibo froze, heart hammering. Every part of him screamed to resist, but he obeyed.
The robed men reached the cages of the elves. Their grip was merciless, their movements efficient. They dragged the prisoners out one by one, treating them not as people but as offerings. The elves did not fight back. Their eyes were hollow, their bodies too broken, too drained to resist. They knew what stood before them. They knew Vielwalker was there. To defy him was not bravery. It was suicide.
The prison became a grim procession. Shackled elves pulled into the open, their silence more haunting than screams.
Vielwalker's eyes followed the motion, gleaming with sick amusement. He spread his hands, his tone a mockery of tenderness.
"Be gentle. We would not want them to die on us… would we?"
The robed men stiffened. Their cruelty shrank before his command. They obeyed, not from compassion but from fear deeper than their own malice.
One by one, the elves were led away. Their quiet suffering clung to the hall, a weight heavier than their chains.
Then Vielwalker's head tilted. His gaze drifted.
"There is one you forgot," he said softly, his words curving into a smile sharp as a blade.
The robed men stilled. One of them blinked in confusion. The others busied themselves with locking empty cages, pretending not to hear.
Vielwalker stepped forward, each pace deliberate, carrying the silence with him. His eyes slid to the final occupied cell.
Syl and Lily still pressed in front of Isilwen, their strength waning. His smile widened as his gaze fell on Kibo.
"Ah," he murmured, as though greeting an old acquaintance. "You are awake."
Kibo's thoughts raced, a wild storm he could not grasp. Who is this man? Why does the very air bend to him?
Vielwalker's lips curled, reading the fear in his eyes. "I am Vielwalker," he said, the name rolling off his tongue like a curse.
A jolt of dread pierced through Kibo's chest. How… how did he know what I was thinking?
Vielwalker turned, his voice drifting lazily toward a nearby servant. "There is an elf girl here."
The robed man nodded instantly. Without hesitation, he moved toward the cage. Vielwalker stepped aside as if unveiling a spectacle.
The door screeched open.
At once, a crushing weight descended upon them. It was more than fear. It was suffocation, an invisible hand pressing down on their lungs. Kibo, Syl, and Lily collapsed to the stone floor, choking on desperate breaths, their bodies trembling like leaves in a storm.
What is this? Kibo's mind screamed as the pressure coiled tighter around his chest. He clawed at the floor, trying to rise, but his body refused him.
Syl's fingers dug into the stone as she fought to move, teeth gritted in defiance. Lily writhed beside her, gasping, her resolve breaking beneath the weight.
Only the robed man remained untouched. He strode inside as if the pressure did not exist, his hands locking like iron around Isilwen's arms.
Isilwen, too, seemed untouched by the crushing force that pinned the others. Her face was sad, her steps unresisting as the robed man pulled her from the cell. The clang of the iron door locking open was like a death knell, sealing her departure.
As she was dragged away, Lily's body convulsed with shallow breaths, her lungs fighting for air. Yet she forced her voice out, broken and desperate. "Isilwen!"
Her cry echoed through the prison, raw and trembling, but no answer came. Isilwen's figure disappeared into the shadows, her silence more painful than if she had screamed.
The other captives recoiled, clutching one another in terror, beastkin and human alike. Their wide eyes followed Vielwalker's retreating figure, every trembling body pressed against the cold stone walls as if they could melt into them. Whimpers filled the air, fragile and thin, the sound of hope unraveling.
Kibo lay on the floor, his cheek against the icy stone, his body burning with the memory of that suffocating weight. His chest rose and fell with ragged rhythm, every breath stolen and clawed back like a prize. Darkness threatened to drag him under.
Stay put.
Ignis's voice echoed sharp in his skull, steady where his body was not. The words were cold, but they anchored him. A lifeline in the storm.
And then, as suddenly as it had come, the pressure was gone.
The hall felt wrong in its stillness, the absence of that crushing weight almost worse than its presence. Vielwalker stood in the center, his gaze sweeping across them, savoring the wreckage he had left behind. His smile curved, deliberate and cruel.
"That is about a wrap of it," he said softly, his tone as casual as if he had finished a simple chore. His eyes lingered on Kibo for the briefest moment before he added, "You must survive."
With that, he turned, his cloak whispering across the floor. The steel door groaned shut behind him, slamming into place with finality. The sound rattled through the prison, an iron seal on their helplessness.
Then came the silence.
Minutes stretched, the air heavy with the stink of dust and despair. The faint particles still hung in the torchlight, a shimmering reminder of the power that had smothered them all. No one spoke. Some wept softly. Others sat frozen, their chains rattling with every shiver.
Kibo, lying still, felt strength return by degrees. His breathing evened. His chest no longer buckled under invisible hands. Then Ignis's voice cut through again, sharp and commanding.
Brat… now you can act.
Kibo opened his eyes. He dragged a deep breath into his lungs and forced himself upright. His chained hands hovered before him. A faint glow sparked, threads of mana coiling from his palms and wrapping around the iron. He focused, every thought sharpening on the links biting into his skin.
The chains groaned, metal straining with a tortured screech. The sound made Lily and Syl lift their heads in shock, their tear-streaked faces blinking through disbelief.
With one final pulse of mana, the iron snapped. Shards of chain clattered to the stone floor, the harsh clang echoing like thunder in the silence.
Lily's lips parted. "How…" she whispered, her voice small, raw with exhaustion.
Kibo moved quickly, not allowing hesitation. He reached for her wrists, taking her hands firmly. Mana surged again, flowing into the iron cuffs, making them glow faintly before cracking apart. The shards dropped, freeing her.
"It is all about perception," he said quietly, his tone low but steady. "You must feel the mana within the material… and then know where to strike the link."
Lily stared at her bare wrists, rubbing them as though the skin there was foreign. Words failed her.
Kibo turned to Syl. She did not hesitate. She thrust her bound hands toward him, her gaze steady despite her trembling body. He took them, his grip firm, and once again the glow bloomed. The chains shattered cleanly, fragments scattering across the floor.
"And it is mostly strength," he added simply, brushing the frost of mana from his palms.
Syl flexed her fingers, exhaling a shaky breath of relief. Beside her, Lily touched her freed skin again, the cool air of the cell biting strangely after the unyielding grip of iron.
"What… what next are we to do?" Lily asked. Her voice trembled, but the question held a flicker of resolve.
Kibo stood, straightening to his full height despite the dim light and the filth clinging to him. He placed a hand on the cell bars, feeling their weight, their structure. His fingers trailed over the cold steel.
"First, we need to escape," he said. His voice was quiet but carried a new gravity. "And get everyone out of here."
Syl's throat tightened. Her hands clenched against her chest. "What about Isilwen?" she asked, her voice strained, urgent. "We cannot leave her."
Kibo's hand froze on the bars. His jaw tightened, his silence heavy.
That would be difficult, he thought grimly.
Ignis's voice followed, calm and biting. It would not be hard to get out of here.
Lily leaned forward suddenly, her voice a fragile thread of hope. "Why do you not go and save her? Syl and I can escape with the rest."
"Yes, that is true," Syl agreed softly, her tone carrying both logic and hesitation. "If you went, you would not need to worry about us."
Kibo's head shook once, his answer firm and sharp. "No."
Lily blinked, startled. "Why?" she asked, her voice breaking through the silence, confusion thick in her tone.
"Because that is a bad idea," Kibo replied, his eyes steady, his words weighted with certainty. "We do not know where they took Isilwen, or the rest of the elves. And if you cross paths with him…" His voice dropped, his jaw tightening. "If you face that Vielwalker, you will not survive."
Syl's lips parted, ready to push back, but the sound froze her in place.
A low metallic groan rolled through the prison, deep and merciless, as the steel door at the far end began to move. The air tightened around them. Kibo's head snapped up, every muscle alert.
"Behave. Chained up," he hissed under his breath, his gaze locked on the entrance.
In an instant, they obeyed. Lily, Syl, and Kibo collapsed into their positions, wrists limp at their sides, chains resting around them as though still unbroken. The illusion had to hold.
The door creaked shut with a heavy thud that echoed like a final judgment. The sound of keys followed, rattling through the corridor, and then came the sharper noise of cages being unlatched.
A voice rang out, deep and commanding, but not cruel. "I am Cassian, sent by the King. Come out. I will bring you to safety."
For a moment, no one moved. The slaves cowered inside their cages, their fear heavier than their chains. Some shook their heads, unable to believe rescue could come here. Others hesitated, creeping forward in small, desperate steps.
The man strode deeper into the hall, Lithe, with a shadowy air, his presence steady and assured. His Stormy gray eyes scanned the cages as he moved, a bag slung across his back. In one hand, he carried a set of keys, which he pressed into the hand of a beastkin woman who stared at him with wide, stunned eyes.
"Free everyone," he instructed, his tone both urgent and reassuring. She nodded quickly, fumbling with the locks, while Cassian moved with practiced efficiency, opening more cages and passing keys to trembling hands.
Syl's heart pounded. That voice… I know that voice.
And then he came into view. His gaze swept the row of cells until it caught hers. His eyes widened, and the hard lines of his face broke into open relief.
"Princess…" His voice softened, almost trembling as the word left him. "I was worried for you."
Syl stood, her disbelief plain in her widened eyes. "Cassian?"
Behind her, Lily and Kibo rose as well, their movements careful. Cassian's stare shifted between them, his expression flashing from relief to shock as he noticed their wrists were free, the broken chains scattered at their feet. He opened their cage.
He clutched the bag tighter in his right hand before lifting it slightly toward them. "Your weapons," he said.
Syl stepped forward, her voice unsteady. "What are you doing here?"
Cassian's lips curved into a faint smile, though his eyes stayed sharp. "I could ask you the same, Princess. How did you fall into the Covenant's hands?"
Syl's jaw tightened. Her answer came quiet, heavy. "It is complicated."
Cassian exhaled, a sound somewhere between a sigh and a growl. He held out the bag to Lily, who took it quickly. "You will need these. All of you," he said firmly. "But for now, we must leave this place and put distance between us and their grasp."
Lily pulled free the familiar steel and leather, handing Syl her twin blades and placing Kibo's katana into his waiting hand. Her own dagger felt light in her grip, but solid.
"And what of the elves?" Lily asked, her voice rising as she dropped the bag to the ground.
Cassian's face hardened. His tone left no space for argument. "The elves can wait."
"No, Cassian," Syl countered sharply, stepping forward, her voice shaking with urgency. "The elves will not survive waiting. They are going to be used for…."
"I know." His reply cut across her words like steel. His face shadowed with grim certainty, his eyes narrowing as though the knowledge weighed on him.
The silence that followed was heavy, broken only by the clinking of keys and the shuffle of frightened feet.
Kibo adjusted the katana at his side, his fingers brushing the hilt, his thoughts turning inward. This man seems strong. Perhaps it would be wiser for Syl and Lily to follow him.
Ignis's voice answered, cold and unwavering. That is true. But ask him what he knows. If he has come from the King, then he may hold the map you need.
Cassian looked back at the girls, his expression set in stone. "We here must leave this place first. To attempt saving the others now would be a death sentence. Vielwalker will be there."
The words dropped like a heavy weight. Syl opened her mouth, ready to fight him on it, but Kibo spoke first. His voice cut through the air, calm but unyielding.
"I will go."
Cassian turned sharply to him, disbelief flashing in his eyes. Lily and Syl exchanged a glance, then both nodded almost at once, siding with Kibo without hesitation.
Cassian's jaw tightened. His gaze lingered on the boy, moving from his small frame to his steady eyes. Everything in him rebelled at the thought of sending a child into such danger. Yet as he looked deeper, unease coiled in his chest. There was something there, hidden behind Kibo's quiet composure. Something ancient. Something he could not place.
At last, with clear reluctance, Cassian gave a slow nod.
"Very well," he said at last, his voice low. "But heed me, boy. If you cross paths with Vielwalker… you must run. Do not fight him. Do not speak with him. Do not linger. Run."
"I will," Kibo replied, his tone carrying a confidence that seemed far too steady for his years. He tilted his head slightly. "Do you have the directions?"
Cassian hesitated, then reached into his pocket. He drew out a folded map, worn from use, and handed it over. "This will take you to the place where the sacrifice is meant to be held."
Kibo unfolded it, his eyes sweeping across the lines and markings. His Mana Perception flared, tracing the subtle energy flows etched between the sewers. Landmarks glowed in his mind, forming into a living shape. In an instant, his Mana Track Vision built a perfect model of the terrain, paths and shadows rising in detail before him. He crumpled the map, tucking it into his pocket. His head dipped in a firm nod.
He turned to the girls. "Take care of yourselves."
"You too," Lily whispered, her eyes searching his face as if trying to memorize it.
"And do not you dare go on dying," Syl said, her voice firm but her eyes betraying the plea within.
Inside his mind, Ignis snarled. Brat, move already!
Kibo drew a steady breath. His body blurred, mana rushing through his veins. And then, in the blink of an eye, he was gone.
Cassian froze, stunned. His trained eyes tried to follow the movement, but Kibo was already at the door, opening it. Gasps rippled through the freed slaves, their fear giving way to disbelief, then awe.
Kibo pulled the crumpled map from his pocket once more, his eyes flicking over it briefly. His mind replayed the glowing mana trails with perfect clarity. Then he crushed it in his fist and slipped it away again. His form wavered and disappeared, swallowed by the tunnels.
Cassian stood rooted, his chest tight with questions. He turned to Syl, his voice breaking the silence. "Princess… who is that boy?"
Syl's lips curved, pride flickering in her eyes despite the fear surrounding her. "His name is Kibo."
Cassian repeated it under his breath, as though carving it into memory. "Kibo…" He shook himself, regaining his composure. His voice rose, commanding and steady. "Let us go. Everyone here, follow me."
His words rang through the dungeon. The freed slaves stirred, some still too shaken to move, others already helping those who could not stand on their own. Beastkin and humans leaned against one another, shoulders pressed close, a trembling line of survivors bound by desperation.
Cassian's voice carried again, sharp and resolute. "I am a servant of the kingdom. I will not abandon you. The princess and her companion will guard you with their lives."
The crowd turned to Syl, eyes wide with hope and fear. She lifted her chin, hand resting on her blade. "We will protect you," she promised, her voice steady and clear. "With our lives."
Cassian gave a single nod. "Then we move. Stay close to me."
He stepped forward, leading them out of the suffocating dark.
Syl and Lily waited at the rear, weapons drawn, watching each terrified face as they passed. Only when the last of the group moved ahead did they follow, steel in their hands and resolve in their eyes.
Far ahead, Kibo was nothing but a blur in the shadows, racing deeper into the unknown.
This time, do not disappoint me, brat. Ignis growled inside him, the voice edged with both anger and warning. Make your fight worthwhile.
Do not worry, Kibo thought, a faint smile touching his lips as the tunnels rushed past him. I will not.