Kael stood in the central hall of his dungeon, shelves and tables spread before him like the preparation ground of a general. Scrolls, maps, mana crystals, enchanted blades, and compressed rations were neatly lined in rows. His hand moved over each item, carefully picking only what would serve the journey ahead.
Sara stood nearby, nervously shifting as he adjusted the last strap of her new attire. She wore a dark, reinforced travel outfit—less elaborate than his own but equally practical. In his hand, Kael held a mask, sleek and elegant, its design mirroring his but shaped with feminine curves and faint traces of phoenix-feather patterns etched into the metal.
"This is yours," Kael said, placing it in her hands. "From this moment forward, whenever you step beyond this village, you wear it. No exceptions. No one must see your face, Sara. Understand?"
Sara nodded, her voice soft but resolute. "I understand. I'll never remove it outside."
He gave a firm nod, satisfied, then turned as the leaders of the human, dwarf, and elf factions approached. Behind them trailed members of his research division, each waiting silently for orders.
"I'll be gone for a time," Kael said, his voice echoing through the stone chamber. "While I'm away, you'll continue refining the mana-absorption arrays and strengthening the supply lines. Golems are tasked to train without interruption. Any threat that dares approach the dungeon will be handled as instructed. I expect no disorder when I return."
"Yes, Lord Kael," they answered in unison, their bows precise.
But before he could turn away, the human leader and the elf matriarch exchanged hesitant glances before stepping forward. The human cleared his throat.
"My lord, there is… a matter brought to us. A request. Among the people living here, a couple wishes to marry. The woman is human, the man is elven. They seek your permission to unite, but the council felt this was a decision you should make."
The hall went silent. Even Sara tilted her head beneath her new mask, waiting for his reply.
Kael blinked once, then let out a quiet breath. "Permission? That's unnecessary." He looked at both leaders sharply. "Their lives are their own. If they choose to stand together, then let them. No one here will chain another's choice. People have the right to decide their partner and their future."
The leaders lowered their heads, relief in their expressions. The elf matriarch's lips curved in a faint smile. "Understood. Then we shall prepare the ceremony in peace."
"Do as you will," Kael said, already turning.
His cloak swept behind him as he led Sara toward the portal leading above. He gave one last look at his dungeon, his eyes narrowing in silent command at the towering constructs standing guard.
"Keep everything moving," he said quietly. Then, with Sara at his side, Kael stepped out into the world once more.
The path ahead was Greyspire, and from there—the Mining Capital of the Empire.
The heavy doors of the dungeon closed behind Kael and Sara as they departed, but within, life stirred in new and unexpected ways.
The request Kael had approved—an intermarriage between human and elf—had spread quickly among the settlers. What might once have been a cause for division became a symbol of something greater. Preparations began almost immediately, both sides bringing their unique traditions into the cavernous halls.
Humans set long wooden tables, draped with woven fabrics dyed in deep colors, laden with bread, meat, and fruit gathered from the dungeon's cultivated farms. They sang songs of hearth and home, voices warm and steady.
The elves responded with their own heritage. They carved glowing runes into the stone walls, lighting the chamber with a soft, natural radiance. Bowls of fragrant herbs burned in braziers, their smoke rising like thin ribbons that carried blessings of life and renewal. A group of elven musicians tuned their stringed instruments, melodies flowing like water over stone.
Side by side, these two peoples—once wary, once fractured—labored together. The dwarves, not to be outdone, contributed by forging a ceremonial ring of twin metals, iron and mithril fused into one seamless band, hammered beneath the song of their forges.
When the moment arrived, the couple stood hand in hand before the gathering. The woman's human family sang the old song of union, while the man's elven kin raised their voices in ancient tongue, offering prayers to the spirits of forest and flame. The joining of words, melodies, and blessings was unlike anything their world had seen—a blending of lives and cultures within the sanctuary Kael had forged.
It was not merely a marriage. It was a symbol that in this dungeon, once born of shadows and secrets, people of every race could find unity.
And though Kael was not present to witness it, the meaning of his words—"Their lives are their own"—echoed in every heart that night.
Far from the celebrations, Kael and Sara arrived at Greyspire as dawn spread its pale light over the fortress-city. The scars of war still marked the walls and streets, yet life had returned swiftly. Merchants opened stalls, soldiers patrolled, and banners of the royal family waved proudly in the breeze.
At the gate, Princess Elira awaited, her armor polished but her expression weary. Relief softened her features the moment she saw him riding at the head of his small group.
But then her eyes fell on the woman beside him—masked, her presence quiet yet unmistakable. Elira's brow arched slightly.
"Kael," she greeted, her voice carrying the formality of her station. "I welcome you back to Greyspire. But tell me… who is this?"
Before Sara could stammer an excuse, Kael's voice cut cleanly through the air. "She is my fiancée."
Sara's breath caught beneath the mask, her cheeks blazing scarlet. Her hands clutched at the edge of her cloak, and though no one could see her face, the tremor in her voice betrayed her fluster. "F-F-Fiancée…?"
Elira blinked, surprise flashing across her features. But rather than pry, she offered the faintest of smiles, bowing her head slightly. "Then Greyspire welcomes her as well."
The carriage waiting near the steps creaked as the driver adjusted reins. Kael offered his hand, helping Sara up first before stepping inside himself. Once seated across from the princess, he spoke with his usual calm.
"This annual event," he said, eyes narrowing behind his mask, "I'll need every detail. Purpose, attendees, and the stakes. I want nothing left uncertain."
Elira nodded, leaning forward as the carriage began to roll through the cobbled streets. "It is no mere gathering, Kael. The Mining Capital does not host events for ceremony alone. This one… will decide more than just trade."
Her words hung heavy, promising revelations to come.