Chapter 147
After an hour, Nille and Lin Yue finally returned to the underground sub-basement.
The atmosphere had shifted slightly, less like a testing facility, more like a temporary command dining space. A long reinforced table had been set up near the center, covered with simple but high-quality meals prepared by Rune Forge staff. Steam rose from warm dishes, and several top personnel were already gathered around it.
Professor Caelum Verdanis Eruien sat calmly at one end, as if he had been waiting without urgency at all.
Nhulla Loresong was beside him, quietly reviewing a few floating rune notes while occasionally glancing at the food.
Head Merchant Rume Ironbark sat with the ease of someone completely at home in controlled chaos, already halfway through organizing both conversation and appetite.
As Nille and Lin Yue stepped into view, the room briefly shifted its attention toward them.
Rume was the first to break the silence.
"Well, well," he said with a teasing grin, leaning back slightly. "Where did you two lovebirds wander off to?"
Lin Yue immediately paused mid-step, her expression flickering, just slightly, between surprise and embarrassment, though she quickly composed herself.
Nille, on the other hand, stopped naturally, as if the question was simply another logistical inquiry.
Rume chuckled lightly before continuing.
"Don't tell me the Rune Forge hall wasn't enough for you. You already broke the training schedule, now you're breaking lunch timing too?"
Nhulla finally looked up from her interface, her tone calm but faintly amused.
"They were in Hall Three," she said simply. "Usage logs confirm extended training activity."
Rume raised an eyebrow. "Extended training?"
Caelum, still seated, glanced up from his cup of tea.
His expression softened slightly as he looked at the two of them.
"Let them eat first," he said calmly. "Whatever they were doing… I suspect it was more productive than our meeting."
Rume let out a short laugh.
"Oh? That confident, professor?"
Caelum didn't answer immediately. Instead, he looked at Nille for a brief moment, then Lin Yue.
Something quiet passed in his gaze, recognition of progress, not just effort.
"They are learning faster than expected," he said at last.
Rume shrugged, gesturing toward the table.
"Fine, fine. Sit down before I start charging you for overtime development time."
The tension in the room eased.
Lin Yue exhaled softly and stepped closer to Nille, walking beside him rather than slightly behind as before.
Nille followed naturally.
No hesitation.
No distance.
Just movement toward the table.
As they approached, Rume smirked again, but this time less teasing and more observant.
"Just don't tell me you two went and created another weapon behind my back," he said.
Nille finally spoke, tone calm.
"Only understanding."
Rume blinked once.
Then laughed.
"That's what they all say right before I get another invention request."
And just like that, the group settled into lunch, while the Rune Forge continued to hum beneath them, quietly recording the fact that something in the balance of its visitors had already begun to change.
Nille and Lin Yue were finally able to get proper rest.
The tension that had built up from training, testing, and constant adaptation slowly eased as their bodies settled into recovery. Fatigue that they had been ignoring began to surface only now that the immediate pressure was gone—but it was manageable, the kind of exhaustion that came from controlled exertion rather than collapse.
The food prepared for them was simple, but carefully chosen. Nothing excessive, nothing distracting—just meals designed to restore spiritual stability and physical stamina. Warm broth, lightly infused grains, and small portions of nutrient-rich meat and vegetables prepared with stabilizing runes embedded in the cooking process.
Professor Caelum Verdanis Eruien, Nhulla Loresong, and Head Merchant Rume Ironbark made sure of it personally.
Not out of ceremony.
But understanding.
They had all seen enough expeditions fail not because of battle, but because recovery was ignored.
Rume leaned back in his seat, watching the two eat with a rare moment of quiet approval.
"Don't get used to this kind of comfort," he said lightly. "Out there, you don't get second servings."
Nhulla didn't look up from her notes but added calmly, "Energy stabilization levels are already returning to baseline. Their recovery rate is above expected average."
Caelum, sitting more quietly than usual, simply observed.
He wasn't measuring them anymore.
Not like before.
Now he was confirming something else, consistency.
Sustainability.
Nille ate without haste, but with clear awareness. Every movement felt grounded again, like his body was re-synchronizing with normal rhythm after being pushed beyond it.
Lin Yue sat beside him, slightly closer than before, also recovering quietly. She glanced at him once or twice, but said nothing, choosing instead to simply exist in the same space without pressure or urgency.
The atmosphere was calm.
Almost ordinary.
But none of the adults at the table treated it as such.
Because they all understood what came next.
Rume finally broke the silence again, more serious this time.
"Once you're done eating," he said, "you'll be heading back out, won't you?"
Nille didn't immediately answer.
He finished a bite, set his spoon down, and only then nodded once.
"Yes."
No hesitation.
No doubt.
Lin Yue followed a moment later.
"We're ready," she added.
Rume exhaled through his nose, half amused, half resigned.
"Of course you are."
Caelum finally spoke again, his tone steady but thoughtful.
"Recovery is not just rest," he said. "It is preparation for continuation."
He looked at both of them.
"And you two… have already accepted continuation as your default state."
Nhulla closed her notes.
"Then we should adjust expectations accordingly," she said simply. "Their growth rate will not slow."
Rume gave a small shrug.
"Good for business," he muttered.
But his eyes stayed on them a moment longer than necessary.
Because even for someone used to talent, ambition, and chaos…
It was becoming increasingly clear that this expedition was no longer just an exploration.
It was acceleration.
And once they stood up from that table, they would not be the same version of themselves that had sat down.
Lunch ended quickly.
Not because anyone was rushing.
But because everyone at the table understood that the expedition was about to resume.
The atmosphere inside the Third Sub-Basement shifted almost immediately. Staff members began clearing the dining area while others moved equipment carts away from the central floor.
Head Merchant Rume Ironbark stood from his seat and clapped his hands once.
"Move it, people. Clear the center."
The Rune Forge personnel reacted immediately.
Within minutes, the central area of the sub-basement was completely open.
Nille stepped forward toward the center of the floor.
The others gathered nearby.
Professor Caelum Verdanis Eruien adjusted the straps on his expedition gear.
Nhulla Loresong checked the calibration of her assessment artifacts one final time.
Lin Yue secured the new rapid-fire crossbow across her back and confirmed her gas mask seals were properly fitted.
Rume personally inspected the four large gas containers.
Each cylinder was reinforced with runic enchantments and contained a specialized sleeping and sensory-disruption compound designed specifically for hostile Malignants.
Not guaranteed.
Not perfect.
But enough to create an advantage.
Rume patted one of the containers.
"If this doesn't work, lad, I'm sending you the bill."
Nille smiled.
"If it doesn't work, we probably won't be around to pay it."
That earned several nervous laughs from nearby staff.
Even Rume snorted.
"Fair point."
The joking ended there.
Everyone focused.
Nille raised his hand.
Space distorted.
A familiar silver fracture appeared in the air.
The crack widened.
Expanded.
Then unfolded into a stable gateway.
Immediately the atmosphere on the other side became visible.
Dark forest.
Ancient trees.
Dense vegetation.
The Middle Belt Forest.
The exact location where they had abandoned their camp.
No one stepped through.
Not yet.
Nille watched carefully.
No immediate movement.
No sudden attacks.
No visible predators.
Still...
No one trusted appearances.
Nille glanced at Rume.
"Now."
Rume grinned.
"Gladly."
The dwarf lifted the first gas cylinder.
Then the second.
Then the third and fourth using rune-assisted strength enchantments.
One after another he hurled them through the gateway.
The heavy containers vanished into the forest beyond.
A few seconds later,
THUMP.
THUMP.
THUMP.
THUMP.
The containers impacted somewhere near the abandoned campsite.
Rume immediately activated the remote trigger rune.
The cylinders detonated.
Not explosively.
But with a sudden release of thick enchanted gas.
Dense white clouds erupted outward.
Expanding rapidly through the forest.
The sleeping agent spread through the trees.
Flowing between roots.
Drifting through brush.
Seeking every hidden creature that might be watching.
Nille waited several seconds.
Then closed the gateway.
The forest disappeared.
Everyone remained silent.
Waiting.
Five seconds.
Ten seconds.
Twenty.
Professor Caelum quietly counted.
Nhulla monitored environmental readings.
Rume crossed his arms.
Lin Yue adjusted her mask.
Then Nille nodded.
"Time."
The entire team secured their enchanted gas masks.
Runes activated across the masks' surfaces.
Filtering systems came online.
Protective barriers sealed.
Once everyone confirmed readiness, Nille raised his hand again.
But this time he didn't open the gate toward the campsite.
Instead he focused on a different location.
A place several dozen meters away.
Far enough to avoid immediate detection.
Close enough to maintain orientation.
The silver fracture appeared once more.
Space unfolded.
A second gateway stabilized.
This one opened into a rocky section of forest hidden behind several massive boulders.
No campsite.
No abandoned equipment.
No obvious signs of their previous presence.
Exactly what Nille wanted.
He looked toward the group.
"Move."
No hesitation followed.
Professor Caelum entered first.
Nhulla followed.
Rume immediately behind them.
Lin Yue stepped through next.
Nille entered last.
The moment he crossed the threshold, he closed the gateway behind him.
Silence returned.
The ancient forest surrounded them once more.
The air felt heavy.
The strange temporal pressure of the Draconian Mountain Range immediately returned.
Towering trees stretched overhead.
Ancient roots covered the ground.
Spiritual interference distorted assessment readings.
But something else stood out.
It was quieter.
Far quieter than before.
No distant howls.
No metallic wingbeats.
No movement among the canopy.
The gas operation appeared successful.
At least for now.
Nhulla immediately activated her assessment artifacts.
Runes flickered across her interface.
Life signs appeared.
Dozens.
Hundreds.
Most were distant.
Some were moving.
Several near the campsite location were now completely stationary.
Rume looked at the readings.
"Looks like the gas did its job."
Professor Caelum nodded.
"Temporary advantage."
Lin Yue scanned the forest carefully.
"Nothing stays asleep forever."
Nille agreed.
Which was why they immediately began moving.
The abandoned campsite and logistics golems still needed to be recovered.
The expedition had only just resumed.
And somewhere deeper within the Middle Belt Forest, beyond the ancient trees and hidden valleys, waited answers that none of Yamatai's records had ever documented.
The second phase of the expedition had officially begun.
The moment all five crossed through the gateway, they immediately dropped into prepared positions.
No one spoke.
No one relaxed.
Their eyes scanned the surrounding terrain.
The results of the gas deployment became obvious almost immediately.
Several Lightning Dire Wolves lay motionless throughout the forest clearing.
One rested against the roots of an ancient tree.
Another had collapsed beside a cluster of boulders overlooking the valley below.
A few more could be seen scattered throughout the undergrowth.
All breathing.
All alive.
All unconscious.
The sleeping gas had worked.
At least against the creatures caught directly within its spread.
Nhulla quickly checked her assessment interface.
"Multiple life signs confirmed. Most are unconscious."
Professor Caelum nodded.
"Good."
But then Lin Yue pointed upward.
The true problem remained.
Above the abandoned campsite.
Stymphalian Birds.
Dozens of them.
Their brass-colored wings reflected faint sunlight filtering through the forest canopy.
Sharp metallic beaks glimmered like forged weapons.
Some circled high overhead.
Others perched on nearby cliff faces and ancient trees.
More continued arriving.
The flock was growing.
Nille immediately raised a hand.
A simple signal.
Equip weapons.
Without hesitation, everyone unslung their newly crafted rapid-fire crossbow guns.
The compact weapons unfolded from their travel configuration.
Runes activated.
Malignant cores hummed softly.
Magazine chambers locked into place.
Each expedition member took cover among the trees and boulders surrounding the clearing.
The position was ideal.
Natural concealment.
Limited visibility.
Good firing angles.
Most importantly, The unconscious Malignants remained in the open.
Exactly as Nille had hoped.
The gas slowly dispersed through the area.
As the scent faded, the Stymphalian Birds became increasingly interested in what lay below.
Hunger began overcoming caution.
The sleeping Dire Wolves.
The smaller forest creatures.
Even several unconscious herbivorous Malignants caught by the gas.
Easy prey.
Free food.
The birds continued circling.
Watching.
Waiting.
Then the flock parted.
Something larger descended from above.
The Alpha.
Nearly seven feet tall.
Its wingspan stretched over twelve meters.
Its brass feathers gleamed darker than the others.
Scars covered portions of its metallic beak.
Several broken feather-spines along its wings hinted at countless previous battles.
Its assessment reading immediately appeared.
Species: Stymphalian Bird Alpha
Threat Level: Extremely Dangerous
Estimated Level: 640
Role: Flock Leader
Behavior: Highly Intelligent Apex Predator
Special Traits:
Fire Manifestation Enhanced Metallic Feather Projection Advanced Flock Coordination Superior Spiritual Detection Reinforced Brass Armor Feathers
The Alpha landed atop a large boulder overlooking the clearing.
It observed the unconscious prey below.
Observed the surrounding forest.
Observed the campsite.
Several moments passed.
Nille remained perfectly still.
No movement.
No sound.
The Alpha finally made its decision.
A sharp metallic screech echoed through the forest.
KRAAAAK!
The order.
The flock responded instantly.
The circling birds began descending.
One after another.
Two dozen Stymphalian Birds folded their wings and swooped toward the clearing.
The Alpha descended with them.
Hunger had won.
The campsite where they had first detected human prey several days ago was ignored.
The birds no longer cared.
Fresh food was directly beneath them.
And unlike before, It wasn't fighting back.
The flock descended rapidly.
Twenty meters.
Fifteen.
Ten.
Five.
Closer.
Closer.
The Alpha stretched its talons forward.
Preparing to seize one of the unconscious Dire Wolves.
Then, Something pierced its side.
THWACK.
The impact was small.
Almost insignificant.
The Alpha barely noticed it at first.
Only a sudden flash of heat.
A sharp sting beneath its armor feathers.
Its head snapped sideways.
Confused.
It saw a thin enchanted bolt protruding from between its scales.
The Alpha froze.
Not because of the wound.
Because it hadn't detected the attack.
Then, A second impact.
THWACK.
Another bolt struck.
Then another.
Then another.
THWACK.
THWACK.
THWACK.
The Alpha's eyes widened.
From the forest line.
Hidden among the trees.
Five separate firing positions erupted simultaneously.
The moment the flock committed to the dive.
The moment retreat became difficult.
The moment they were clustered together.
The perfect kill zone.
His crossbow gun hummed as another enchanted bolt launched.
The armor-piercing tip penetrated between brass feathers.
The paralyzing rune activated.
The explosive rune triggered a fraction of a second later.
BOOM.
The Alpha staggered mid-air.
And all around it, The ambush began.
The moment the Alpha staggered from the first enchanted bolt, the forest erupted.
Not with spells.
Not with explosions.
But with disciplined fire.
THWACK!
THWACK!
THWACK!
The newly developed crossbow guns unleashed a storm of enchanted arrows.
From the birds' perspective, the attack came from nowhere.
One moment they were diving toward helpless prey.
The next, The forest itself was attacking them.
Nille fired first.
Then Lin Yue.
Then Professor Caelum.
Then Nhulla.
Then Rume.
The five firing positions had been carefully chosen to create overlapping fields of fire.
Every angle was covered.
Every escape path crossed another line of attack.
The Stymphalian Birds flew directly into a killing zone.
Arrow after arrow punched through the air.
The enchanted projectiles moved faster than the birds expected.
Their armor-piercing tips slipped between metallic feathers.
The paralyzing runes activated immediately upon impact.
Birds that should have been agile suddenly found their wings refusing to respond.
Others lost control of their legs.
Several could no longer maintain flight.
The first wave began falling.
Then the second.
Then the third.
The flock tried to scatter.
But it was already too late.
The birds had committed to the dive.
They were low.
Clustered together.
Perfect targets.
THWACK!
THWACK!
THWACK!
Bolts continued pouring into the flock.
Every shot was followed by another.
And another.
And another.
The magazine-fed mechanism worked flawlessly.
The malignant core-powered draw system continuously reloaded and fired.
Dozens of arrows became hundreds.
The sky above the clearing became filled with flashing rune-engraved bolts.
One Stymphalian Bird attempted to ascend.
Three arrows struck its wing joints.
It immediately folded and crashed into a tree.
Another opened its beak to unleash fire.
A bolt pierced its throat before the spell could form.
The fire detonated internally.
The bird dropped from the sky.
A third attempted to turn away.
Nille tracked it.
One shot.
Two shots.
Three shots.
The final bolt struck the base of its wing.
The bird spiraled downward.
The Alpha screeched furiously.
Its brass wings expanded.
Fire erupted around its body.
The creature tried to rally the flock.
Tried to force them upward.
Tried to organize a retreat.
Then it took another dozen arrows.
The first pierced its shoulder.
The second struck its chest.
The third entered through a gap beneath its wing.
The rest followed.
Paralyzing runes arrow stacked.
Explosive tips detonated.
Armor-piercing enchantments ignored much of its natural defense.
The Alpha's movements slowed.
Its wings became uneven.
Its fire flickered.
Then, Gravity won.
The massive bird crashed into the clearing below.
The impact shook the ground.
Around it, dozens of other Stymphalian Birds were already scattered across the forest floor.
Some motionless.
Some twitching.
Most unable to move.
The ambush had lasted less than a minute.
Silence followed.
Only the sound of falling leaves remained.
Smoke drifted lazily through the clearing.
Professor Caelum slowly lowered his crossbow.
"...Effective."
Nhulla stared at her assessment readings.
Her eyes widened slightly.
"More than effective."
Rume Ironbark looked at the battlefield and let out a long whistle.
"By the Forge..."
Even he appeared impressed.
The flock that had threatened their entire expedition.
The same predators that had forced them to retreat.
The same creatures that could overwhelm experienced hunters.
Had been neutralized almost instantly.
Not through superior levels.
Not through overwhelming magic.
Not through brute force.
But through planning.
Preparation.
Terrain advantage.
Weapon design.
And patience.
Nille lowered his weapon.
His gaze remained fixed on the fallen Alpha.
The battle had proven something important.
The crossbow gun worked.
Not in a testing hall.
Not against training golems.
But against real predators.
Against creatures specifically adapted for aerial hunting.
Against an enemy that should have held every advantage.
And yet, The flock had fallen before it ever reached striking distance.
For a moment, no one moved.
Then Rume suddenly burst into laughter.
A deep, booming laugh that echoed through the trees.
"Lad..."
He slapped the side of his crossbow.
"We are going to sell thousands of these."
Even Professor Caelum couldn't entirely hide his amusement.
Because for all the danger of the Draconian Mountain Range...
For all the unknown horrors still waiting deeper within it...
The expedition had just demonstrated a simple truth.
Sometimes the greatest weapon wasn't a stronger spell.
It was giving ordinary people a better tool.
The last Stymphalian Bird fell from the sky.
Its wings twitched once.
Twice.
Then stopped moving entirely.
A heavy silence settled over the clearing.
For several moments, no one spoke.
The forest itself seemed to pause.
No metallic wingbeats.
No predatory cries.
No movement above the canopy.
Only the distant sound of leaves swaying in the mountain wind.
The flock was gone.
Completely.
Nille kept his crossbow raised for several more seconds.
Not because he expected another attack.
But because experience had taught him something important.
The most dangerous moment in any battle was often the moment people believed it was over.
His eyes continued scanning the trees.
The cliffs.
The sky.
The sleeping Dire Wolves.
Everything.
Only after nearly a minute passed without incident did he finally lower the weapon.
"Check the area."
The others immediately moved.
Professor Caelum activated several detection spells.
Golden runes spread outward through the forest floor.
Nhulla checked her assessment artifact.
Line after line of data appeared across her display.
Heartbeats.
Spiritual signatures.
Movement patterns.
One by one the readings updated.
Then stopped.
She looked up.
"Confirmed."
Her voice remained calm.
"All Stymphalian Bird signatures have ceased."
Rume let out a long breath.
"Well."
He looked around the battlefield.
"That's one problem solved."
The dwarf began walking toward the Alpha.
The massive creature lay half-buried among broken vegetation.
Its brass wings were spread across the clearing like fallen banners.
Even in death, it looked dangerous.
Professor Caelum joined him.
The scholar knelt beside one of the metallic feathers.
His eyes immediately widened.
"Interesting."
Rume raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
Caelum carefully examined the feather.
"These aren't natural."
The others approached.
He tapped the feather lightly.
A metallic sound echoed.
"These structures contain naturally formed mana-conductive channels."
Nhulla immediately understood.
"Artifact material."
Caelum nodded.
"High-grade artifact material."
Rume's eyes widened.
Then widened even further.
Then a grin slowly spread across his face.
The kind of grin that usually preceded either enormous profits or extremely questionable decisions.
"You're telling me..."
He pointed at the battlefield.
"...that every single one of these birds is valuable?"
Caelum looked around.
Then nodded once.
"Extremely."
Rume immediately looked at the dozens of corpses scattered across the clearing.
Then at the Alpha.
Then back at the corpses.
His expression became increasingly delighted.
"Lad."
He turned toward Nille.
"We are not leaving a single feather behind."
Nille almost laughed.
Almost.
Instead, he simply nodded.
"Agreed."
The logistics golems suddenly became much more important.
Rume immediately activated their control runes.
The distant golem carriers, which had remained in stationary mode near the old campsite, began responding.
One after another, the large constructs emerged from concealment.
None appeared damaged.
To Nille's relief, the Malignants had ignored them completely.
The golems began collecting the fallen birds under Rume's enthusiastic supervision.
"Careful with the wings!"
"Don't bend those feathers!"
"That Alpha's beak alone is probably worth a fortune!"
The Rune Forge merchant looked happier than he had all expedition.
Meanwhile, Professor Caelum focused on something else.
He slowly looked toward the deeper mountain forest.
His expression became thoughtful.
Very thoughtful.
Nille noticed immediately.
"What is it?"
Caelum remained silent for a moment.
Then he pointed toward the distance.
Far beyond the clearing.
Far beyond the forest.
Toward the deeper reaches of the Draconian Mountain Range.
"The flock."
Nille frowned slightly.
"What about it?"
Caelum looked back at the battlefield.
Then at the dozens of corpses.
Then at the Alpha.
"Think about it."
His voice remained calm.
"There are enough dead birds here to sustain a large predator population."
The others slowly understood.
Nhulla's expression shifted first.
Then Lin Yue's.
Then Rume's.
The realization settled over the group.
Predators existed because prey existed.
Large predator populations required enormous amounts of food.
Which meant, If this many Level 500 and Level 600 aerial predators lived here...
Then there must be something even larger supporting the ecosystem.
Something capable of sustaining them.
Something powerful enough that an entire flock of Stymphalian Birds considered this region worth claiming.
The forest suddenly felt larger.
Older.
More dangerous.
The silence around them no longer felt comforting.
It felt expectant.
As though the mountain itself had simply watched the battle.
And now...
Was waiting to see what they would do next.
Nille followed Caelum's gaze toward the deeper wilderness.
Beyond the Outer Belt.
Beyond the Middle Highlands.
Beyond the regions they had already explored.
Toward lands that no expedition had ever documented.
Then he quietly spoke.
"We keep moving."
Nobody argued.
Because the deeper they traveled into the Draconian Mountain Range...
The clearer it became.
They were no longer exploring the edge of an unknown ecosystem.
They were slowly approaching its heart.
Far deeper within the Draconian Mountain Range, beyond the mapped regions and far beyond the reach of ordinary explorers, a lone figure sat upon a throne grown from ancient roots and living stone.
The forest around her was silent.
Not because life was absent.
But because everything nearby knew its place.
Nothing moved without permission.
Nothing hunted without purpose.
Nothing dared challenge the will of the being who ruled this hidden domain.
A pair of golden eyes slowly opened.
At the same moment the last Stymphalian Bird died.
She felt it.
One after another.
Like candles being extinguished.
Tiny connections severing.
Familiar presences disappearing from her awareness.
Her pets.
Her scouts.
Her hunters.
Gone.
For a brief moment, annoyance crossed her face.
Then curiosity followed.
A crystal-like pool beside her throne rippled.
Ancient runes spread across its surface.
The image shifted.
Forests.
Mountains.
Valleys.
Hundreds of miles away.
Until it finally stopped.
Showing five familiar figures standing amidst a field of fallen Stymphalian Birds.
The woman's lips slowly curved upward.
Then she laughed.
A genuine laugh.
Warm.
Amused.
Dangerous.
"Ah..."
Her golden eyes settled upon one person in particular.
"Nille."
The smile widened.
"You never fail to impress me."
The woman was none other than Elarisse Bathalienne de Tamawon.
Long ago, before titles, territories, and hidden ambitions, there had been another name.
A simple name.
A harmless name.
Luna.
The name Nille had given her when she appeared in his life as nothing more than a wandering stray cat.
At least, that was what he had believed.
Back then, she would appear unexpectedly, often sitting near windows, rooftops, or walls as though she had always belonged there. She would disappear for days, sometimes weeks, before casually returning as if nothing had happened.
Nille had never questioned it.
He was young.
Lonely.
And despite everything he endured, he still had a habit of showing kindness to things others ignored.
So he fed her.
Talked to her.
Complained about life to her.
Shared thoughts he never shared with anyone else.
To him, Luna had simply been a cat.
A strangely intelligent cat.
But still a cat.
The memory made Elarisse smile faintly.
A rare expression.
One almost nobody among her followers had ever seen.
Back then, she had watched him from the shadows.
At first out of curiosity.
Then out of amusement.
Then for reasons she herself had difficulty explaining.
The boy had fascinated her.
A child surrounded by misfortune.
A child who should have broken.
Should have surrendered.
Should have become bitter.
Yet somehow continued moving forward.
Again.
And again.
And again.
Even when every sensible reason suggested he should stop.
But that had been years ago.
Years changed people.
Years changed goals.
Years changed perspectives.
And perhaps no one understood that better than Elarisse herself.
The person she had been then no longer existed.
The same way the child Nille once was no longer existed.
Power had changed her.
Responsibility had changed her.
Ambition had changed her.
The hidden territories required strength.
Strength required sacrifice.
And sacrifice had slowly reshaped her into something entirely different from the curious being who once listened to a lonely boy speak beneath moonlit skies.
She now ruled domains.
Commanded armies.
Directed ancient plans spanning years.
Perhaps decades.
Perhaps longer.
The innocent simplicity of those earlier days felt distant.
Almost unreal.
Elarisse looked once more into the scrying pool.
At the young man standing among fallen Stymphalian Birds.
Confident.
Capable.
Dangerous.
No longer the frightened child she remembered.
A soft sigh escaped her lips.
"Nille."
Her voice carried both fondness and regret.
"You always saw the best in people."
The image remained still.
Unaware.
Unhearing.
Unreachable.
Elarisse's golden eyes narrowed slightly.
Because there was one truth she understood now that Nille did not.
The Luna he remembered had never truly existed.
Not completely.
Not honestly.
Even then she had hidden things.
Even then she had concealed her nature.
Even then she had watched from behind masks.
And that realization brought a rare feeling she seldom experienced.
Regret.
Not because she had deceived him.
But because he had trusted her.
A trust she had never fully earned.
In the past, Nille had seen her differently.
As a companion.
As something familiar.
Something safe.
Something simple.
But that had been a mistake.
A mistake born from innocence.
Because Elarisse Bathalienne de Tamawon was never simply Luna.
She had always been something far more dangerous.
A ruler whose influence stretched across vast sections of the mountain ecosystem.
A being who now stood as an equal ally to Apo Lakkay Masalanta.
Though equal in power, their goals were very different.
Their alliance was practical.
Not ideological.
Not friendly.
Merely useful.
Behind Elarisse stood several evolved winged Encantos.
Powerful beings whose forms combined human and avian traits.
Their feathers shimmered with spiritual energy.
One stepped forward respectfully.
"Mistress."
His voice carried controlled irritation.
"It appears an outsider has interfered with your efforts."
His gaze shifted toward the vision.
"The flock was meant to strengthen our future forces."
The Encanto's expression hardened.
"Would you like me to eliminate them?"
The chamber became silent.
Elarisse continued watching the image.
Watching Nille.
Watching the expedition.
Watching the crossbow gun weapon on his hands.
Then she shook her head.
"No."
The winged Encanto looked surprised.
"No?"
Elarisse's smile remained.
"I know that young man."
Her fingers lightly tapped the arm of her throne.
"We share history."
The Encanto immediately understood.
Not personal history.
Fate.
Circumstance.
The strange web of events that occasionally connected powerful individuals.
Elarisse continued.
"Besides."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"He may become far more useful alive."
The vision zoomed closer.
The crossbow remained visible.
But that wasn't what interested her.
Her gaze settled deeper.
Past the weapon.
Past the equipment.
Past the visible world.
Toward something only a handful of beings knew existed.
The Buntala Weapons.
Ancient creations tied to powers older than kingdoms.
Older than nations.
Perhaps older than history itself.
Elarisse's voice lowered.
"The weapons are still with him."
The evolved Encantos exchanged glances.
One finally spoke.
"Then we should take them."
Elarisse immediately shook her head.
"No."
Her answer came without hesitation.
"That has already been proven impossible."
The room fell silent again.
She leaned back upon her throne.
"The Buntala Weapons cannot truly be stolen."
Her eyes remained fixed upon Nille's distant image.
"They recognize ownership."
"If taken by force..."
Her smile became knowing.
"They simply disappear."
Several of the Encantos visibly frowned.
This was information very few possessed.
Elarisse continued.
"They choose."
"They always have."
"And right now..."
Her gaze softened slightly.
"They have chosen him."
The vision shifted again.
Showing Nille standing beside Lin Yue.
Showing the subtle interactions between them.
Showing the way they moved around each other.
The trust.
The concern.
The affection.
The connection.
Elarisse watched carefully.
Then laughed again.
A softer laugh this time.
"Well now."
One of the Encantos tilted his head.
"Mistress?"
Elarisse slowly stood.
Her long robes flowed around her as spiritual energy moved through the chamber.
For the first time since viewing the expedition, genuine interest appeared in her eyes.
"I believe I have finally found it."
The Encanto frowned.
"Found what?"
Elarisse's smile widened.
"The one thing capable of moving him."
She pointed toward the image.
Toward Lin Yue.
"He values strength."
"He values loyalty."
"He values responsibility."
"But those things alone will never sway him."
The image lingered on the young woman beside Nille.
Elarisse's smile became almost playful.
"Love, however..."
The chamber became quiet.
Several Encantos suddenly understood.
And that realization made some of them uneasy.
Because manipulating a warrior was difficult.
Manipulating a survivor was even harder.
But manipulating the heart of someone who had finally found something worth protecting?
That was a path many powerful beings had attempted throughout history.
Sometimes successfully.
Sometimes fatally.
Elarisse continued watching the distant vision.
"Do not interfere with them."
Her command carried absolute authority.
"Observe."
"Report."
"And wait."
The evolved Encantos bowed immediately.
"As you command, Mistress."
Far away, unaware of the eyes watching him, Nille continued preparing for the next stage of the expedition.
Unaware that somewhere within the depths of the mountain range, a powerful Encanto had just decided he was no longer merely an explorer.
He had become a person of interest.
And for beings like Elarisse Bathalienne de Tamawon, interest was often far more dangerous than hostility.
Unbeknownst to Elarisse Bathalienne de Tamawon, another thread of conflict was already being woven beneath her carefully controlled intentions. One of her subordinate Encantos, arrogant, resentful, and unable to understand why his mistress would show interest in a mere mortal—quietly decided to act on his own. Interpreting Elarisse's attention toward Nille as a distraction or weakness, he dispatched a disposable lackey to eliminate or cripple the boy,
intending either to remove him from the equation or force Elarisse to abandon her fixation. However, what neither the Encanto nor his subordinate fully understood was that Nille was no longer a helpless child of the past, but someone whose existence had already begun to intersect with deeper forces tied to spatial anomalies, ancient weapons, and unseen guardianship.
This reckless interference would not only risk escalating tensions between mortal and Encanto realms, but also threaten to unravel the carefully maintained balance of observation and restraint, turning what was meant to be a silent manipulation into a catalyst for destruction.