Seraph and Rennford led the ten soldiers of Group Four into the cave, drawing out their Auroral Tiers to illuminate the path.
They followed the winding tunnel downward.
Several Calami still lingered inside, but they were swiftly dealt with as the soldiers spread out and eliminated them with ease.
Seraph slowly moved closer to Ryn, who was walking just behind him.
"Thank you,"
he said quietly but clearly—
a word of gratitude for Ryn's subtle hint about the plan.
Ryn lowered his head slightly in acknowledgment.
The cave had only two levels.
Since it was newly formed, it wasn't particularly large.
When they reached the Womb Chamber,
Seraph ordered all the soldiers—except Ryn—to return to the upper level,
leaving Ryn to guard the Womb Chamber entrance.
Everyone obeyed without protest.
Goran turned to Ryn.
"I'll head back up first."
Ryn nodded.
The other nine soldiers ascended the tunnel.
Seraph and Rennford stepped into the Womb Chamber.
Ryn watched them for a moment, and when nothing seemed immediately dangerous, he turned his back to the chamber door.
Inside the Womb Chamber, Seraph spoke to Rennford.
"Rennford, remember the method for releasing these vessels.
It is a technique passed down to me by the previous commander…
and now, I will pass it on to you."
Slash.
Thud.
A sound echoed—
as if something had been severed.
Ryn stood still, listening in silent anguish.
The sounds continued.
Again.
And again.
Unrelenting.
He understood instantly what Seraph was doing—
and what was happening inside that chamber.
But he could do nothing.
This was the way it had always been done.
A method passed down through generations of commanders.
Ryn clenched his fists.
He did not feel anger toward Seraph.
What he felt…
was only sorrow.
He pitied the unfortunate vessels—
those who had been dragged here, forced to serve as containers,
only to meet such a brutal end in the end.
And then…
All sounds fell silent.
Afterward, Seraph ordered Rennford to burn all the vessels with fire,
before everyone withdrew from the cave.
When Seraph stepped outside, he immediately declared victory.
Cheers of triumph thundered throughout the camp once more.
That evening, a small celebration was held in the military camp
to thank all the trainee soldiers and mages.
Seraph proudly announced the success of the mission—
A battle in which not a single life was lost,
amid laughter and joyous celebration.
Ryn sat quietly beneath a large tree,
his thoughts still trapped in what had happened inside the cave.
"Hey."
Goran's rough voice called out to him.
"Not going to have a drink? This is our first real victory, you know."
He raised a half-filled mug of rum and took a swig.
Ryn remained silent.
Goran stared at him with concern.
"Come on, what's wrong with you?
Why do you look so down? Tell me."
Ryn gave a faint smile and replied softly,
"I won't drink… and it's nothing.
Don't worry about me. Go enjoy yourself."
Sensing that he shouldn't push further,
Goran stepped away and rejoined the others.
Ryn stayed where he was,
his gaze drifting into the distant darkness,
as if searching for some kind of answer.
An answer he wasn't even sure could be found.
When dawn finally broke,
the army—still groggy from the previous night's celebration—
began its march back to Central,
arriving in the afternoon of the same day.
The order to disband was given.
The soldiers and mages went their separate ways,
their faces filled with joy from victory.
Ryn, after returning his mission plaque,
headed straight back to Richard's house.