Liora blinked her eyes. There was so much softness and love in that moment that even Snehwal felt shaken for a second. Her face showed a gentle red blush and quiet affection, but Liora did not say anything.
Snehwal held her hand and helped her stand up. He asked softly, "Are you okay?"
Liora looked away shyly and replied in a very low voice, "Hm…" It felt like the answer came straight from her heart. It was so sweet that it could melt anyone.
At that moment, time seemed to stop for Liora.
Just then, Lily came from behind and placed her hand on Snehwal's shoulder. She said, "Why are you standing here? Come on, we have to go."
Then Lily's eyes met Liora's. But this time, it was not like before. There was no tension anymore. Instead, there was a warm feeling between them— like the love between two sisters.
All three of them set out together. They still needed to gather some resources that would be useful while staying in the empire. They also needed a few rare items.
Some things would be bought with money,
some would be taken by claiming their right,
and some would be obtained through hunting.
Far away from Kankal City…
South Direction — inside Humbha's sky-ice frozen palace… A room within that palace, covered in layers of ice— where the cold did not stop at the body, but sank deep into the soul itself.
There, three Yakshinis sat facing one another— Jury Yakshini, Shon Yakshini, and Lith Yakshini.
Blue ice frozen into the walls glowed faintly,
as if it were silently witnessing their suffering every single moment.
Jury Yakshini clenched her fists. Her voice trembled, but anger burned clearly within it—
"How long…? How long will we live like this?"
"We are Yakshinis, yet we are kept like slaves!"
Shon Yakshini lowered her head. Fear and exhaustion filled her eyes—
"Humbha Yakshini…"
The moment her name was spoken, the room seemed to grow even colder.
"Her host drinks our energy like nectar… and in return?"
"This palace… this prison… and our worth?"
Her voice broke—
"Less than that of a slave."
Lith Yakshini scraped the ice on the wall with the hand she leaned on.
There were no tears in her eyes— only burning pain.
"Our power, our dignity— everything is trapped in chains bound to her."
"Every night, it feels like my soul is slowly fading away."
Silence filled the room for a few moments.
Only the cracking sound of ice could be heard.
Then Jury spoke, softly but firmly—
"We have to escape."
Shon jolted—
"Escape? From this palace?"
Her breathing quickened—
"It's impossible… every path, every door— all are bound by her monstrous power."
A faint spark appeared in Lith's eyes—
"Not directly from the palace…"
she said quietly.
"But the empire's competition…"
"That is the only time when our chains loosen."
Jury looked at her—
"If we enter the competition… and then run?"
Shon's face turned pale—
"If we are caught?"
"Humbha will not spare us."
"She will start killing us one by one."
Lith clenched her teeth—
"And if we stay here… we are not truly alive anyway."
Their gazes met. There was fear. There was pain.
But beneath that fear—
there was a hunger for freedom. Outside, the icy storm grew stronger. And inside that frozen palace— Three Yakshinis, for the first time, were daring to dream of breaking their fate.
The cold silence of the room suddenly shattered. The door opened without a sound.
Footsteps echoed across the ice-frozen floor—heavy, slow, and deadly. All three Yakshinis froze at the same time. He had arrived.
Mascar—the host of Humbha Yakshini.
His mere presence changed the air inside the room. The blue ice on the walls began to darken, as if fear itself was changing color.
His eyes locked onto Lith Yakshini. No words. No command. Only a gesture.
Mascar stepped forward and grabbed Lith's hand. His fingers were ice-cold, like iron.
Lith's body trembled for a brief moment—but she did not resist. She did not scream. She did not speak. Her eyes met Jury and Shon just once. That single look carried everything— Apology, fear… and farewell.
Jury tried to speak— But her voice died in her throat. Shon's fingers began to shake.
Her lips moved, but no sound came out. Both of them knew.
If they said anything— The next turn would be theirs. Mascar dragged Lith toward the side room. The door closed. For a moment—silence.
Then— A scream. Sharp. Raw. Soul-tearing.
Jury jolted in place. Shon covered her ears with her hands. Another scream. Then another. The walls trembled. The ice cracked.
Lith's voice… was no longer recognizable.
Tears streamed down Jury's face—but she could not move. Shon collapsed to the floor,
her entire body shaking uncontrollably.
They knew— These screams were not just of pain. They were a reminder that they were not free. And as long as the name Humbha lived— Their screams would live too.
Outside, the icy wind grew stronger.
And inside— two Yakshinis, continued to break in silence.