Cordelia’s hands were pressed against the stone gate, her breath coming in shallow, jagged gasps. She could hear their friend behind the wall, still fighting. The sounds of steel clashing against steel, the guttural roars of the chimera, and Sebastian’s war cry, it all filtered through the thick stone, muted, but undeniably there. Daniel stood beside her, his hand resting on the gate as if he could somehow break through it, bring them back. But neither of them moved. They just stood there, listening.

And then, slowly, the sounds began to fade.

First, it was Sebastian’s voice. The defiant shouts, the spellcasting they grew more and more distant, eventually swallowed by the beast’s roars. Cordelia’s heart clenched painfully in her chest as she strained to hear him again, hoping for one more shout, one more sign that he was still fighting.

But there was nothing.

Next came the scraping of metal, Theodore’s sword, each clash of steel softer than the last, until it was nothing more than a faint whisper against the stone. Cordelia pressed her forehead against the cold surface of the gate, her eyes filled with tears. They were gone. They were really gone…

A deafening roar echoed through the stone—louder, more violent than any before. It was the chimera, and in its wake, there was only silence.

Complete, suffocating silence.

Cordelia’s breath caught in her throat. She didn’t move. She couldn’t. Her legs felt rooted to the ground, her body unwilling to leave the place.

Daniel was the first to break. He turned his back to the gate, his face pale, his expression hollow. He shook his head and looked at Cordelia, but there was no fire in his eyes, no determination—just the weight of grief settling in. “They’re… They…” he couldn't even finish his sentence.

It was a statement of fact that neither of them wanted to accept.

Cordelia swallowed hard, her chest tightening as the truth settled over her like a lead weight. She pushed away from the stone wall, her fingers lingering against the rough surface for just a second longer before she turned to face Daniel.

“I—” Her voice cracked, the words caught in her throat. She wanted to scream, to shout at the world for taking them away. But all that came out was a trembling breath.

“We have to go,” Daniel said, though it sounded like he didn’t want to. His hand hovered near his sword, as if he could still fight something, anything, to change what had happened. But there was nothing left to fight. Cordelia nodded, though the motion felt mechanical, distant. Her body was moving, but her mind was still back there, behind the stone gate, with them. With Theodore. With Sebastian.

As she and Daniel slowly backed away from the wall, the oppressive silence hung between them. Each step they took away from the gate felt like a betrayal, like they were abandoning their friends in their final moments. But the truth was, they needed to survive.

But the reality was that the Academy... The place that had been their home for years, the place where they had trained, learned, fought, laughed—it had been reduced to rubble and ash. The halls that had once echoed with the voices of children and knights, had been silenced.

As they moved deeper into the tunnel, the silence followed them, echoing in the space between their breaths, in the hollow thud of their boots on the cold stone floor. It was louder than any battle cry, heavier than any roar of a beast. Cordelia’s thoughts whirled with a chaotic storm of grief, guilt, and the crushing realization that there was nothing they could have done. Cordelia felt the tears burn at the corners of her eyes, but she blinked them back. There was no time for that now. Without a word, they pressed on, each step heavier than the last. Behind them, the stone gate, now looking even smaller as they got further, stood like a tomb sealing away not just the battle, but everything they had lost.

Ahead of them was only darkness.

They continued onward, each step amplifying the stillness. Their boots occasionally disturbed clumps of damp moss and scattered debris, creating soft, crunching noises beneath their feet. The dripping of water grew more sporadic, its irregular rhythm breaking the silence with a haunting, rhythmic cadence. The torches on the walls cast long shadows that stretched and contracted along the tunnel’s length, flickering over uneven stone and narrow ledges. Cordelia’s breath formed ghostly clouds in the chill air, disappearing quickly into the darkness.

Daniel walked in front of her, his face illuminated by the flickering light of the torches. His expression was tense and alert. As they progressed, the tunnel seemed to close in on them, the walls growing even narrower and the air even colder.

When they rounded a bend, a distant light began to pierce the darkness, growing steadily brighter. The faint promise of escape urged them forward. Cordelia quickened her pace, eager to reach the source of light, but Daniel abruptly halted her. “Wait. Look,” he said, pointing ahead.

The tunnel opened into a vast cavern, its expanse starkly contrasting to the oppressive narrowness they had just endured. A muddy slope descended from their feet, leading down into the cavern below.

Cordelia nodded, her gaze fixed on the slope slick with mud and moss. They approached cautiously, their steps slipping in the thick mud. As they descended, the slope grew steeper, and their footing gave way. They began to slide uncontrollably, the descent a chaotic rush that ended abruptly in a muddy, jarring landing at the bottom of the cavern.

Disoriented and covered in mud, Cordelia slowly got off the ground, taking in the new surroundings. The cavern was bathed in a soft, diffused light from the farther opening, revealing a floor littered with animal bones and carcasses. Whatever lived here, wasn't currently home, it seemed.

Cordelia brushed the dirt off her tunic, and Daniel’s hand gently rested on her shoulder. “You okay?” he asked, his voice carrying a note of concern.

Cordelia nodded silently, avoiding his gaze. Daniel offered a reassuring squeeze on her shoulder before turning towards the opening.

“This looks like a bear’s den,” he said, glancing at the scattered bones. “I’d rather not stick around to meet the homeowner. Let’s move.”

Cordelia nodded. They emerged from the cave, greeted by an unfamiliar landscape stretching before them. The sky above was overcast, casting a gray pallor over the terrain. The ground was uneven, with rocky outcrops and dense underbrush. The terrain felt foreign and disorienting, with no landmarks to guide them.

“Which side of the mountains are we?” Daniel asked curiously.

Cordelia just shrugged as she scanned the surroundings.

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Daniel sighed and began moving forward, as Cordelia followed right behind him. They began to move cautiously through the undergrowth, trying to get their bearings. The silence of the forest was unnerving, broken only by the distant rustle of leaves and the occasional call of a bird. The dense foliage and the irregular terrain made it hard to gauge their direction.

Suddenly, the peace of the forest was shattered by a distant noise— sounds of rustling that seemed to come from multiple directions. Daniel’s hand went instinctively to his sword, and he signaled for Cordelia to move closer to him. They rushed to hide behind a giant tree and listened, trying to determine the source of the noise. The muffled sounds slowly became clearer as they approached.

“...Aiden’s orders. They're going to the Underworld.” One of the voices said.

“Bad move. Chief won't like that.” Said another voice.

A group of Embral scouts emerged, becoming more visible as they got closer. Their faces were hidden behind dark masks and their weapons were at the ready. The scouts had apparently been patrolling the area, in case anyone got out.

“Shit…” Daniel whispered, “This is not good.”

“We should take them out.” Cordelia said, “Quitely.”

Daniel nodded, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the approaching scouts. He whispered back. “Stay low. Follow my lead.”

They crouched deeper into the shadows, creeping through the thick underbrush. The Embral scouts, unaware of their presence, continued their patrol, their footsteps crunching softly on the forest floor. Cordelia’s heart raced as her hand tightly gripped the hilt of her sword. Daniel motioned towards the closest scout, who had wandered slightly ahead of the others. He crept forward, his steps barely making a sound. When the scout was within reach, Daniel lunged, wrapping an arm around the man’s neck and swiftly dragging him into the bushes. The scout let out a soft gurgle before falling limp, Daniel easing him down into the foliage.

Cordelia exhaled softly, steadying her breath. She followed Daniel’s example, circling behind another scout who had paused to adjust the strap on his weapon. With one quick motion, she grabbed him by the neck, silencing him before he could react. The man collapsed in her arms, and she carefully lowered him to the ground.

Breathing heavily, Cordelia started checking the unconscious hunter for any weapons or supplies.

Daniel silently moved towards her, his eyes scanning the area for any other threats. "We need to move quickly. If we stay longer, we might be discovered."

Cordelia nodded as she hastily strapped on the dagger she found on the body and joined Daniel as they started moving towards the path that led to the forest. The distant murmur of the Embral scouts' voices faded slightly as they moved deeper into the foliage. But the silence that followed wasn’t comforting. Every rustle of leaves, every snap of a twig felt like a crack in the stillness, threatening to shatter their cover.

Just as they thought they slip past unnoticed, more voices followed. Two scouts, followed by three more. Then, too many voices all at one...

Daniel tensed beside her, his fingers tightening around the hilt of his sword. One of the scouts stepped closer looking around, as if he could sense their presence. Cordelia’s grip on her newly found dagger tightened, her pulse quickening. The scout paused, head cocked, his gaze sweeping the area. He looked directly toward their hiding place. For a heart-stopping moment, it seemed like he might have spotted them. Cordelia’s breath caught in her throat as she pressed herself harder against the tree, praying the shadows would keep them hidden.

But then, from deeper within the forest, came a rustling—a low, heavy sound, like something large, moving through the brush. The scouts turned in unison, their attention shifting. The rustling grew louder, accompanied by a low, guttural growl.

Daniel's eyes widened. “What in the Abyss was that?” he whispered, barely audible.

The ground trembled slightly, and the air grew thick with an unfamiliar tension. Cordelia squinted through the shadows, trying to make out what was moving beyond the trees. The Embral scouts, too, seemed uncertain now, their stance shifting from confidence to caution.

Suddenly, a massive shape emerged from the undergrowth— a giant bear, its hulking form stepping into the clearing, its fur matted with dirt and twigs, its eyes gleaming with feral intensity. It let out a thunderous growl that reverberated through the forest, shaking the very air around them.

The scouts froze.

“Well, the homeowner is back!” Daniel breathed heavily. Then his expression shifted sharply. He turned toward Cordelia, grabbing her arm and pulling her to her feet. “Run!” he yelled, his voice cutting through the rising chaos.

They bolted, their feet pounding against the uneven forest floor as the sounds of battle erupted behind them. The scouts, who had been fixated on the bear, were now forced to divide their attention. As the bear let out another roar and swiped at one of them, sending him flying through the air with a sickening thud, another scout turned, catching sight of Daniel and Cordelia disappearing into the trees.

“Escapees! There! Leave the bear, catch them!” one of the Embrals shouted, his voice piercing through the din of the fight.

The remaining Embrals reacted immediately, drawing their weapons and running behind them.

Cordelia's lungs burned as she and Daniel weaved through, branches whipping at their faces and tree roots trying to trip them at every turn. The sound of the scouts' boots crunching through the foliage grew louder and closer. Cordelia risked a glance over her shoulder and saw them—three scouts, closing the gap, their dark armor gleaming in the scattered moonlight.

Suddenly, a sharp whistle cut through the air, followed by a thud. An arrow. Cordelia gasped, jerking her head to see an arrow bury itself into the trunk of a tree, inches from where they had just been.

“Embrals and their gods damned arrows!” Daniel growled. “Come on, faster!”

Another arrow flew past, this one closer. Cordelia ducked instinctively, her heart hammering in her chest. But her dodge threw off her balance, and before she could right herself, a flying dagger caught her right by her waist. She cried out, staggering as pain blossomed through her back to the ribs. The world seemed to tilt as she clutched at her side, her hand coming away slick with blood.

“Cordelia!” Daniel’s voice was sharp with panic as he noticed her stumble. He skidded to a halt, rushing back to her.

Cordelia gritted her teeth, forcing herself to stand upright, though each breath sent searing pain through her whole body. Her vision swam, but there was no time to stop. Behind them, the scouts were closing in, their dark forms weaving through the trees, deadly and relentless. Cordelia took the dagger out and stood up.

“I’m fine,” she lied, though her voice trembled. “Keep moving.”

Daniel wrapped an arm around her waist, supporting her weight as they half-ran, half-stumbled forward. But the wound was slowing them down. Cordelia’s breaths came in shallow gasps, each step a fresh wave of agony, and the sound of the pursuing scouts grew ever closer.

“They’re catching up,” Daniel muttered, his voice tight with frustration. “We need t—”

Before he could finish, a deafening roar echoed through the forest once more. The bear had returned, crashing through the trees like an unstoppable force. The scouts barely had time to react before the beast was upon them, its massive paws swiping out with lethal precision. One scout was flung into the air, his body hitting the ground with a sickening crunch.

The other two turned their attention back to the bear, realizing too late that they had become the hunted.

“Now!” Daniel hissed, his grip tightening on Cordelia as he dragged her forward. “While the bear’s distracted!”

They moved as fast as Cordelia’s wounded body would allow, Daniel practically carrying her now. The sounds of battle raged behind them—shouts, growls, the clash of metal. But none of it mattered. The only thing that mattered was putting distance between them and the chaos.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the sounds began to fade, swallowed by the dense forest. Daniel slowed, breathing hard, his arm still wrapped around Cordelia to keep her upright. They stumbled into a small clearing, the moonlight filtering weakly through the canopy above.

Cordelia collapsed to her knees, clutching her side as the pain finally overtook her. Her vision blurred, dark spots dancing at the edges as she struggled to stay conscious. Daniel knelt beside her, his face pale with worry.

“You’re losing too much blood,” he said, his voice low and strained. He tore a strip of cloth from his tunic, pressing it against the wound to staunch the bleeding. “Stay with me, Cordelia. We’re not out of this yet.”

Cordelia’s vision flickered, her body trembling from the shock. She nodded weakly, though her strength was rapidly fading.

“Cordelia! Cordelia!”

Cordelia’s vision blurred more and more, hearing Daniel only in muffled echoes.

Then… Everything went black.

Black…

Darkness…