The room smelled faintly of old wood and burning oil.
A single lantern hung from a metal hook in the ceiling, its dim orange flame flickering with every subtle movement of air. Shadows stretched across the stone walls like silent observers, shifting slightly whenever the lantern swayed.
Reider sat across from Sylva.
The table between them was small and plain, little more than a slab of wood balanced on uneven legs. His chair creaked faintly as he leaned back, arms crossed over his chest.
Sylva, meanwhile, was tied to the chair opposite him.
Rope bound her wrists behind the backrest and looped around the chair legs. The restraints were tight enough to prevent escape, but not so cruel that they cut into her skin.
Despite the situation, she didn't look afraid.
If anything…
She looked annoyed.
Sylva leaned back as much as the ropes allowed and tilted her head toward him, her crimson eyes narrowing with irritation.
"You know," she said casually, "kidnapping a lady and then ignoring her for a whole day is very rude."
Reider didn't react immediately.
His gaze remained calm and steady, watching her the way a strategist might watch a chessboard.
"You'll be fine," he replied flatly.
He shifted slightly in his chair.
"If you're worried about your safety, don't be."
His eyes sharpened.
"I need information."
A pause.
"Not your blood."
Sylva raised one eyebrow.
The irritation faded, replaced by a sly smirk.
"Oh?"
Her voice carried a teasing lilt.
"So I'm important now?"
Reider didn't acknowledge the comment.
Instead, he leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on the table.
His eyes locked onto hers.
"Lilith and Kraggor."
The names alone seemed to change the air in the room.
"What can you tell me about them?"
Sylva's smirk faltered.
It was subtle—barely noticeable—but Reider caught it instantly.
Her shoulders stiffened slightly against the ropes.
"You're going straight for the dangerous ones, huh?"
Reider tilted his head slightly, studying her reaction like a scientist examining a rare specimen.
"So they are dangerous."
Sylva sighed.
The playful energy drained from her posture as she shifted in the chair.
"Obviously."
She rolled her eyes.
"Lilith represents Pride."
Her gaze darkened slightly.
"Kraggor represents Wrath."
Reider's fingers tapped softly against the wooden table.
"Pride and Wrath, huh?"
He repeated the words quietly, tasting them like unfamiliar flavors.
Sylva leaned forward as much as the ropes allowed, her expression turning serious.
"They're both among the strongest subordinates under the Demon King."
She paused.
"Lilith first."
Her lips pressed together briefly.
"She's cunning. Manipulative."
Then her eyes narrowed slightly.
"And worst of all… she thinks she's untouchable."
Reider's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Why's that?"
Sylva scoffed.
"Because she is."
She leaned back again, the ropes creaking softly.
"Her pride isn't just a personality trait."
Her gaze returned to him.
"It's her power."
Reider stopped tapping the table.
"If you challenge her," Sylva continued, "but don't truly believe you can win…"
Her voice lowered.
"You won't even be able to harm her."
The lantern flickered again.
Reider's expression remained calm, but his mind was already working through possibilities.
"So her ability is tied to perception?"
Sylva nodded slowly.
"Something like that."
Her smirk returned faintly.
"If she sees herself as superior to you… and you accept that…"
Her eyes gleamed.
"She'll always be stronger."
She shrugged.
"It's like reality bends in her favor."
Reider leaned back in his chair.
"Sounds annoying."
Sylva chuckled.
"Oh, it is."
Her smile sharpened.
"And she absolutely loves rubbing it in."
Silence fell between them briefly.
Then Reider leaned forward again.
"And Kraggor?"
This time Sylva didn't smirk.
Her expression hardened.
"He's different."
Her tone carried a quiet seriousness now.
"If Lilith is calculated…"
Her fingers curled slightly against the ropes.
"Kraggor is pure destruction."
The lantern flame flickered violently for a moment.
"He's Wrath in every sense of the word."
Sylva's gaze drifted slightly, as though recalling something unpleasant.
"He doesn't think."
Her voice lowered.
"He reacts."
Her eyes darkened.
"He fights on instinct. The more he fights… the angrier he gets."
She paused.
"And the angrier he gets…"
Her lips pressed together.
"The stronger he becomes."
Reider imagined the battlefield she described.
A towering demon.
Armor cracked and burning.
Eyes blazing with rage as entire armies collapsed beneath overwhelming fury.
"There's no reasoning with him once he reaches that state," Sylva continued quietly.
"He won't stop."
Her voice grew darker.
"Not until everything in his path is destroyed."
Reider sat silently for a moment.
Then he spoke.
"So one is untouchable if you acknowledge her superiority."
He tapped the table once.
"And the other becomes stronger the longer he fights."
Sylva tilted her head.
"You catch on fast."
A small smirk crept onto Reider's face.
"It's not that complicated."
He leaned back again.
"They're just specialized in psychological warfare."
Sylva blinked.
"Oh?"
She leaned forward with interest.
"Explain."
Reider crossed his arms.
"Lilith manipulates perception."
His voice was calm, analytical.
"If you let her dictate the mental battlefield…"
He shrugged.
"She wins the physical one."
Sylva nodded slowly.
"That's… surprisingly accurate."
Reider tapped his temple.
"Kraggor's the opposite."
He continued.
"He forces his opponent into a losing war of attrition."
His eyes sharpened.
"The longer the fight drags on, the stronger he becomes."
He paused.
"His enemies don't just lose because he's strong."
His gaze turned cold.
"They lose because they're exhausted while he's still getting stronger."
Sylva stared at him.
For a moment, genuine fascination replaced her usual teasing.
"You think like a strategist."
Reider shrugged.
"I just don't like fighting battles I don't understand."
Sylva leaned back slightly.
Her smirk returned.
"You're either very smart…"
She studied his face carefully.
"…or very dangerous."
Reider met her gaze without hesitation.
"Why not both?"
Sylva laughed softly.
"You know…"
She tilted her head.
"I think I might actually start liking you, Reider."
He stood up.
Stretching his arms slightly.
"Good."
His tone remained completely flat.
"That makes one of us."
Sylva laughed again, clearly amused by his bluntness.
Reider walked toward the door.
His expression had already shifted back to serious.
"This conversation isn't over."
His hand rested on the door handle.
"I'll be back."
The door opened.
Then closed behind him.
Silence returned to the dim room.
Sylva leaned back in her chair.
Her smirk slowly faded.
Her crimson eyes narrowed slightly.
"I wonder…"
Her thoughts drifted.
"…if he realizes just how much of a monster he really is."
Across the inn…
The atmosphere couldn't have been more different.
Laughter and chatter filled the air as patrons enjoyed drinks and meals.
In a secluded corner near the back, five women sat around a wooden table.
Leona looked unusually quiet.
The princess sat with her arms crossed, her brows furrowed in thought.
Across from her, Zera calmly sipped from a glass.
She watched Leona over the rim of her drink with mild curiosity.
Vael leaned forward, resting her chin in her palm.
"You've been quiet, princess."
Her golden eyes studied Leona carefully.
"Something on your mind?"
Leona exhaled slowly.
Her shoulders tensed.
"I keep thinking…"
Her fingers curled slightly.
"…about what we're going to do."
She looked down briefly.
"The demons have my sister."
Her voice tightened.
"And they've taken my kingdom."
Her jaw clenched.
"I need to do more."
Zera placed her drink down with a soft clink.
"You're already doing something."
Her tone was calm but firm.
"You're gathering information. Building allies."
She leaned back slightly.
"If you rushed in right now…"
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"You'd just get yourself killed."
Leona clenched her fists.
"I know."
Her voice carried frustration.
"But waiting…"
She swallowed.
"…feels like abandoning them."
Mei reached across the table and gently placed a hand on Leona's shoulder.
"You're not alone."
Her voice softened.
"We're here to help you."
Leona looked at her.
Her expression softened slightly.
"I appreciate that."
But then she straightened slightly.
"But I also need to be strong on my own."
Her voice grew firmer.
"I can't rely on all of you forever."
Eryndra leaned back in her chair with a grin.
"That's the spirit."
She crossed her legs casually.
"I like people with fire."
Her grin widened.
"Just don't do anything stupid."
She gestured lazily.
"We already have one reckless person in this group."
Vael raised an eyebrow.
"You mean Reider?"
Eryndra waved her hand dismissively.
"Who else?"
She laughed.
"He kidnapped a demon in the middle of the street at insane speed…"
She leaned forward.
"And we're all acting like it's normal."
Zera chuckled.
"Because it is normal."
She shrugged.
"For him, anyway."
Leona tilted her head.
Her curiosity was clear.
"You all seem very confident in him."
She hesitated slightly.
"Even though he doesn't have a core?"
Mei and Vael exchanged a brief glance.
Then Mei smirked.
"You'd understand if you saw him fight."
Leona crossed her arms skeptically.
"I did see him fight."
She frowned.
"He's strong."
Then she tilted her head.
"But technically… isn't he still the weakest among you?"
Vael chuckled softly.
"That's the strange part."
She leaned back.
"He should be the weakest."
Her smile grew slightly mysterious.
"But somehow…"
She shrugged.
"…he isn't."
Eryndra leaned forward.
"And it drives people insane."
Her grin was wicked.
"It's fun to watch."
Leona rubbed her temples.
"I still don't understand."
She sighed.
"No magic. No core."
Her eyes moved between them.
"But you all treat him like he's the scariest one here."
Zera smiled.
"Because he is."
She lifted her glass again.
"You'll see soon enough."
Leona frowned slightly.
Then she turned toward Vael.
"You're a dragon."
Her voice carried genuine curiosity.
"How do you see him?"
Vael's expression softened slightly.
For just a moment.
Then her smirk returned.
"Reider is…"
She paused.
"…complicated."
Her eyes glinted with amusement.
"But if you want the honest answer?"
She rested her chin on her hand.
"I see him as a problem."
Leona blinked.
"A problem?"
Vael's smirk widened.
"A very interesting problem."
Eryndra laughed loudly.
"You're just mad he ran off with me instead of one of you."
Mei huffed.
"Hmph."
She looked away.
"He should've taken someone more responsible."
Vael grinned.
"Oh?"
She tilted her head.
"Were you hoping he'd pick you, Mei?"
Mei's face turned bright red.
"T-That's not what I meant!"
Leona watched them bicker.
Her expression slowly turned tired.
"…Are you sure you're not all just obsessed with him?"
Zera chuckled.
"Oh, we definitely are."
Leona sighed deeply.
"And I'm supposed to trust you all with my kingdom?"
Eryndra grinned.
"Of course!"
She gave a thumbs-up.
"We may be chaotic…"
Her grin sharpened.
"But we get the job done."
Mei straightened slightly.
"Leona."
Her voice was gentle again.
"No matter what happens…"
She smiled.
"We'll help you get Eleanor back."
Leona looked around the table.
At each of them.
Then she smiled.
Determination returned to her eyes.
"Thank you."
Her voice steadied.
"I'll hold you all to that."
Outside the inn…
The city of Eldross stretched across the horizon.
Stone streets twisted through tightly packed buildings, lanterns glowing faintly as evening approached.
But the atmosphere carried something heavier.
Something ominous.
On a distant rooftop…
A hooded figure watched the inn silently.
Their face remained hidden beneath the shadow of the cloak.
They stood perfectly still.
Like a statue observing prey.
After a moment…
The figure turned away.
Their voice was barely a whisper.
"So…"
A faint smile appeared beneath the hood.
"They're finally here."