After our hard-won victory over the Archnogorgon, the party set up camp and retired for the evening to replenish our strength. I curled up into my bedroll, with Riveria beside me, and then fell into a deep sleep and found myself dreaming.
In the dream, I found myself standing in an unfamiliar, grandiose hall, its walls adorned with elven tapestries and glowing with a faint ethereal light. Before me stood a younger version of Riveria, her hair less composed and her eyes sparkling with a rebellious fire. She moved with a certain grace yet had an edge of restlessness, like a bird trapped in a gilded cage, yearning for freedom.
She tiptoed through the shadows, attempting to sneak past guards who seemed oblivious to her presence. But just as she reached the large, ornate doors that led outside, a firm hand clamped down on her shoulder. The dream blurred for a moment, and then I found myself in another room—the throne room.
Her father, the high-elf King, towered above her from his throne. His expression was stern, cold even, as he gazed down at Riveria with an air of unyielding authority.
"You think you can just leave?" His voice echoed through the chamber, heavy with disapproval. "You are the heir to this throne, Riveria. Your place is here."
Riveria stood defiant, her chin lifted in a show of courage. "I want to see the world! This castle is nothing but a prison."
"Then your chains will remain." Her father's tone left no room for argument. "It is your duty to uphold our traditions and ways. You are not an adventurer, free to roam as you please."
"What about my dreams?" she retorted. "My freedom?"
"Your freedom is over the moment you were born into this family. Your duty is to carry on our legacy. That is the burden of royalty."
The King's face hardened further, his eyes narrowing. "One day, you will be Queen. This is the only place where you belong."
"No, it's not!" Riveria glared back at him, her own anger flaring up. "I'm not going to stay here forever and rot away, living someone else's life. I'm sick of this!"
"That is enough!" Her father's voice rose to a roar, his eyes flashing with warning. "You will do as you're told, or you will be punished."
"I don't belong to you, father. You can't control me. Not anymore."
Her words hung in the air like a challenge, and the silence that followed was almost palpable. Finally, in a moment of fury, he raised his hand and struck her across the face. Riveria fell to the ground, stunned and scared, as a single tear slid down her cheek.
I felt the sting of the blow, my heart hammering against my chest. Anger burned in my veins as I watched the scene unfolding before me. Riveria's face was stained with tears as she laid on the floor, too shocked to move. I could see the pain and humiliation written clearly in her expression—a pain that I knew all too well.
"Not another word out of you, Riveria! The only way you're leaving is if I throw you out, and you won't last five minutes out there in that cruel world! It seems I have failed to teach you properly, Riveria, you spoilt, ungrateful, precious little bitch!" The king snarled at Riveria with all the ferocity of a wild animal.
He went on to viciously curse, spit, and hit her some more for good measure, as she knelt there sobbing.
"I'll kill you before I ever let you leave here!" The King raged. "Do you understand me?!"
She did not answer, but instead gazed up at him through tear-filled eyes. And when she finally spoke, her voice was soft, yet steady.
I felt a surge of anger and disgust swell within me. Without thinking, I rushed forward to intervene, but my hands passed through them like mist. Riveria's eyes widened as she saw me. To my surprise, there was no fear in them—only hope.
"Riveria." I called out to her. "I'm here."
"Are you here to save me?" she asked, her voice trembling yet filled with expectation.
Before I could respond or even comprehend what was happening, I was jolted awake. Riveria's concerned face hovered above mine.
"Are you alright, my love?" Her brow was furrowed with concern, her eyes dark and full of emotion.
"I am." I nodded slowly. "Just a bad dream."
She leaned in and pressed her lips against mine.
"I had the exact same dream." She retorted.
I blinked in confusion, my heart still racing from the vivid dream. Riveria's concerned face hovered above mine, her eyes filled with a mixture of surprise and understanding. "You... you had the same dream?" I asked, my voice hoarse from sleep.
She nodded, her composed expression tinged with a hint of vulnerability I had never seen before. "It seems our minds were somehow connected, allowing us to share that memory from my past."
I sat up slowly, trying to process what I had just witnessed. The image of Riveria's father striking her across the face was still seared into my mind, filling me with a sense of protectiveness I couldn't quite explain.
"I'm sorry you had to witness that," she continued softly. "It was a painful memory, one I haven't thought about in a long time."
I reached out and placed a gentle hand on her cheek. "I promise I won't let anyone hurt you ever again."
"My love..." A slight blush colored her pale cheeks. "You don't have to worry about me. I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself."
"I know," I replied, meeting her gaze with unwavering resolve. "But I love you too much."
Riveria smiled and kissed me softly, her lips lingering against mine for a moment before pulling away. "You're so stubborn," she sighed, "But I suppose that's part of what makes you so charming."
"I'm not charming." Bell retorted. "I'm talentless, unlike you."
"You may not have talent except for in the bedroom, but you do have diligence." she chided. "And for that, I am eternally grateful."
"Does that old memory still haunt you?"
Riveria's eyes widened slightly, as if she hadn't expected me to understand. "It was a long time ago," she said, her voice steady despite the emotions swirling in her eyes. "But thank you, Bell. Your presence in the dream, even though you couldn't intervene, gave me a sense of hope I hadn't felt in that moment before."
I reached out instinctively, placing my hand on hers in a gesture of comfort. "I may not have been able to help then, but I'm here now. And I promise, I'll always be there to support you and your dreams, no matter what."
The words fell from my lips before I could stop them, and for a moment, I wondered if I had said too much. But then Riveria's expression softened, and she leaned forward to kiss me again, her lips warm and full of promise.
"Thank you, my love. That means more to me than you know."
As we sat there in the quiet of the room, I couldn't help but feel a new sense of connection to Riveria. The dream had given me a glimpse into her past, into the struggles and pain she had endured. And now, more than ever, I was determined to stand by her side and help her find the freedom and happiness she deserved.
Tyratryx's eyes blazed with fury as she listened to the report from her minion. Her hands clenched into fists, her sharp nails digging into her palms.
"Arachnogorgon has fallen," the creature hissed, cowering before her. "The adventurers have claimed the second shard of the Eye."
A low growl escaped Tyratryx's throat, building into a roar of rage. "Those insolent fools!" she snarled, her voice echoing through the dark chambers of her lair. "They dare defy me? They dare challenge my power?"
She stood abruptly, her dark robes swirling around her. "They will pay for this," she hissed, her eyes glinting with malice. "They will all pay."
Tyratryx turned to another of her servants, a twisted creature with multiple eyes and writhing tentacles. "Prepare the missiles," she commanded, her voice cold and ruthless. "Target Orario. I want that city reduced to ashes."
The creature bowed, scuttling away to carry out her orders. Tyratryx turned back to the cowering minion who had delivered the news.
"As for you," she said, her voice deceptively soft. "You have failed me. And failure is not tolerated."
With a flick of her wrist, the minion was engulfed in flames, its screams echoing through the chamber as it was reduced to ash.
Tyratryx turned to the large, crystalline screen before her, watching as her missiles were loaded and prepared. A cruel smile twisted her lips as she imagined the destruction they would soon unleash.
"Fire," she commanded, her voice barely above a whisper.
The missiles launched, streaking through the sky towards the unsuspecting city of Orario. Tyratryx watched with satisfaction as they struck their targets, exploding in massive fireballs that consumed everything in their path.
Screams of terror and agony filled the air as buildings crumbled and flames spread. The streets were chaos as people ran for their lives, many of them cut down by the falling debris or consumed by the inferno.
In mere moments, scores of innocent lives were snuffed out, their bodies littering the ruined streets. Smoke billowed into the sky, turning the once vibrant city into a hellscape of destruction and death.
Tyratryx laughed, a cold, cruel sound that echoed through her lair. "Let this be a lesson to all who would defy me," she declared, her eyes glinting with malevolent satisfaction. "I am the Queen of Monsters, and all will bow before me or perish."
Ryuu's feet hit the cobblestones of Orario with a thud, her eyes widening in horror at the scene before her. Flames licked the sky, casting an eerie glow over the city. The air was thick with smoke and the acrid stench of burning wood and flesh. Screams echoed through the streets, mingling with the cries for help from those trapped under debris.
Aisha landed beside her, her face set in grim determination. "This is Tyratryx's doing," she growled, clenching her fists. "We have to find survivors and get them to safety."
Haruhime and Mikoto arrived moments later, their eyes wide with shock. "We need to help them," Haruhime said, her voice trembling. "There are people trapped!"
The group sprinted towards the heart of the devastation, weaving through the chaos. They pulled survivors from beneath collapsed buildings and extinguished flames where they could.
Suddenly, a deafening roar filled the air. Ryuu looked up just in time to see a missile hurtling towards Babel, its path unwavering. Her heart pounded in her chest as she shouted a warning.
"Take cover!"
The missile struck with a thunderous explosion, sending shockwaves through the ground. Babel shuddered under the impact, and rubble cascaded down from its towering structure, blocking the entrance to the Dungeon.
Dust and debris filled the air, making it hard to see or breathe. Ryuu coughed, waving a hand in front of her face to clear some of the dust. She glanced at Aisha, who was helping a child out from under a fallen beam.
"We have to clear that rubble," Ryuu said urgently. "If we can't get back into the Dungeon, Bell and Riveria are trapped down there."
Aisha nodded, her expression fierce. "Right. Let's move!"
Haruhime and Mikoto joined them, their faces set with determination. Together, they began working on clearing the debris blocking Babel's entrance.
As they heaved stones and twisted metal aside, more adventurers joined them in their efforts. The community of Orario pulled together in the face of disaster, working tirelessly to open a path back into the Dungeon.
With each piece of rubble moved aside, hope flickered brighter in Ryuu's chest. She knew they had to succeed—not just for themselves but for everyone counting on them below ground.
Amidst the chaos and destruction in Orario, a new terror emerged from the depths of Knossos. The Cult of Tyratryx, Xenos brainwashed by Medusa's dark influence, surged into the city streets, their eyes glowing with malevolent intent.
Armed with twisted weapons and imbued with unnatural strength, these corrupted creatures began to hunt down the High Elves, Riveria's people. Screams of terror filled the air as the Xenos ruthlessly cut down any elf they encountered, their blades dripping with innocent blood.
The elves, caught off guard by the sudden onslaught, scrambled to defend themselves. Some fought back with magic and weapons, while others fled in panic, seeking refuge in the crumbling buildings of Orario.
But the Cult of Tyratryx was relentless. They pursued their prey with single-minded determination, their twisted minds focused solely on the extermination of the elvish race.
In the heart of the city, a group of High Elves made a desperate stand. Led by a fierce warrior named Calanon, they formed a defensive line, their bows and swords at the ready.
The Xenos charged forward, their monstrous forms silhouetted against the flickering flames. Calanon loosed arrow after arrow, each one finding its mark in the chest of an advancing foe.
But for every Xenos that fell, two more seemed to take its place. They swarmed over the elves' defenses, their claws and fangs tearing into flesh.
Calanon fought with the fury of a cornered animal, his blade flashing in the firelight. He cut down Xenos left and right, his face splattered with their dark blood.
But even his skill and bravery were not enough. A massive Xenos, its body covered in twisted spikes, barreled into him, knocking him to the ground. The creature raised its clawed hand, ready to deliver the killing blow.
Suddenly, a blinding light filled the area, and the Xenos recoiled, shrieking in pain. Calanon looked up to see a group of adventurers charging into the fray, their weapons glowing with divine power.
Among them was Ryuu, her face set in grim determination as she cut down the Xenos with lightning-fast strikes. Aisha, Haruhime, and Mikoto fought beside her, their combined strength turning the tide of battle.
But even as they pushed the Xenos back, Calanon knew that this was only the beginning. The Cult of Tyratryx would not rest until every last elf was dead, and Riveria's people faced an uncertain future in the face of this new and terrifying threat.