I sprinted until I reached the far edge of the red hunting grounds, disbelief and exhilaration mingling in my chest. I actually ran! As in, put one foot in front of the other and moved really fast. Did I get so giddy about the prospect of peril that I forgot to be afraid?

Before me, a stream meandered along the base of the snowy mountain, its icy chill biting at my face. I veered south, navigating a rocky path until I finally reached the entrance. Large boulders formed a natural bridge across the stream, and I used them to traverse to the other side. The stream, choked with rocks and pebbles, barely flowed here, and the snowy slopes on either side loomed tall and foreboding. In the distance, Red Rock Mountain pierced through the misty haze, its dark crimson hue standing stark against the white landscape. The mountain's jagged peaks and ominous dark crevices would have given Blanche’s trypophobia a serious workout.

I sent Warbec and Valkyrjie back to Vaultrove, leaving only Apo and me to brave the rest of the journey.

Apo, perched atop my head like an anxious hat, muttered, “I have a very bad feeling about this.”

We skirted the lake, only to discover that the slopes' base was littered with the bones and skulls of various creatures, including a few unfortunate mortals. Apo clutched my hair tightly. I sneaked a look at the still waters, which also held a macabre collection of bones and skulls.

The fog grew denser but stayed away from me, leaving the path clearly visible. When it finally cleared, we found ourselves at the base of Red Rock Mountain. To my left, a dark hole yawned wide enough for a single person to enter. Taking a deep breath, I peered inside, but it was a void of absolute darkness.

“Cici,” Apo shivered. “This is a really bad idea.”

A gust of wind flowed from within the hole, momentarily reassuring me. Just as I was about to step inside, Chrysorion materialized with a raucous squawk, blocking my path. I let out a startled cry as his wings beat furiously against my face, urging me to turn back.

“Chrysorion, enough!” I grunted, raising my arms in defense against his frantic flapping.

“Turn back, Legacie,” his gravelly voice commanded, filled with urgency.

In response, I summoned a transparent barrier, encasing him in a shimmering veil ward that floated above us. Chrysorion battered against the barrier, but it held firm. “I’m sorry,” I murmured, “but you can peck at me later. I need to find what I’m searching for.” His indignant screech echoed inside the box as I took one more step toward the dark hole.

I darted into the narrow opening, glad my height was just right for the cramped entrance. Not that I could see where I was going—the tunnel was pitch black, and every step felt like I was skating on oil, the walls just as slick as the floor beneath me. Red Rock Mountain exuded a potent mineral richness, but the air was thick with an elusive scent I couldn’t quite place. After what felt like a lifetime of cautious stumbling, I emerged into a small, circular cavern. The walls were studded with crystals, casting a kaleidoscope of colors that lit up the place like some psychedelic disco ball. But other than the light show, it was dead silent.

“What now?” Apo whispered, and I couldn’t help but share the sentiment.

I scanned the room. Not much to see, really. Just a bunch of smaller tunnels leading off the cavern, all about three or four feet above me. I stepped into the middle of the space, trying to sense anything unusual, but it was like someone had vacuum-sealed the room. Everything was too... quiet. Suspiciously quiet. Still, I felt safe—well, as safe as you can feel in a hidden mountain tunnel with zero exit strategy. White Veil would’ve alerted me if danger was nearby.

Where to next?

A soft fluttering sound caught my attention. My eyes locked onto a pure white dove, glimmering in the rainbow light, perched on the entrance of a tunnel to my left.

“Is that a dove?” Apo asked, sounding as confused as I was.

“Yep. And we need to get up there.”

I raised my hands and, with a swift surge of energy, propelled myself effortlessly into the air, levitated off the ground and alighted gently on the second level. By the time I landed, the dove had already disappeared. The tunnel ahead, bathed in the soft glow of shimmering miniscule crystals, led to a rough, winding staircase. With no time to waste, I hurried forward, ascending the steps. The staircase veered sharply right, ending on a landing, then turned left, and again to another landing, then another left. As I reached the midpoint of the fourth flight, a wave of pulsating energy rippled through the crystals, walls, ceilings and steps, pulling me forward with a powerful force. It was exhilarating, my body humming in tune with White Veil and Sunburst. Energized, I sprinted up the remaining stairs until I stood before a narrow flight of steps leading to a stark, whitewashed wooden door. The handle was nothing but a single, charred rope affixed in the center.

I stood before the door, feeling an immaculate energy emanating from behind it. My Sunburst seemed to reach out in response. My throat went dry, and my hands quivered. Taking a deep breath, I grasped the rope. It was warm to the touch. I tugged, and the door slid open with a smooth, resonant grind, disappearing upward.

“Whoa,” I breathed in awe. My gaze was fixed on the Netherlight Blade, which hovered majestically in the center of the room. This was another circular cavern, narrower and loftier than the previous one. I stepped forward, my eyes locked on the blade encased in a red luminescent box. Despite the cursed barrier surrounding it, the blade's aura shone with a brilliance that defied it.

The Netherlight Blade is a legendary blade forged from Phoenix Steel—a fusion of celestial essence and mortal craftsmanship, crafted from the radiant plume of a phoenix's tail feather, making it one of the rarest weapons in existence. The hilt, precisely 24.7 inches in length with a circumference of 10.7 centimeters. The double blades—one a deep, translucent mysterious onyx, the other a radiant opal—glimmered with unmatched beauty. I’d read about it in one of Grandfather Morros’ books at the Savidge Estate (on my mother’s side of the family). It was said to manipulate and slice through both light and shadow. The onyx blade side pointed skyward.

A loud, raspy cough shattered the silence, and I screamed nearly jumped out of my skin. Apo shrieked, tumbling off my cape before scrambling back up in a panic. To my left, a man hung upside down on the wall, five feet off the ground.

“Help… me,” the man wheezed, barely louder than a whisper.

He wore a uniform almost identical to mine, though his looked far more formal—definitely someone of higher rank. Rusting star-shaped insignia adorned his sleeves, and his collar sported worn-out ornaments. His face was pale and dry, like he’d been here far too long.

I stepped closer, wary. “Who are you?”

“Novice… release me, help… me,” he gasped, each breath a struggle.

Did he just call me Novice?

I scanned for any enchantment keeping him bound, but there was none. Instead, thick metal chains wrapped around his wrists, torso, knees, and ankles, securing him to the wall.

"Cici," Apo muttered, tugging at the hem of my cape, a warning laced in his voice.

Ignoring it, I focused my magic on the chains, guiding a precise, delicate motion through the air. The chains disintegrated into sand, crumbling down as did the wall holding them. The man slumped to the ground as the sand scattered across the floor. I took a step back, watched him squirm and groan, then sighed in relief.

“Who are you?” I asked again. He lay on the floor, thin and sickly, though he seemed young. Like Raiver's age. Scars and burns marked his forehead, lips, and cheeks. His eyelids were half-closed, with bloodshot eyes barely peeking out at the edges beneath pale blond hair.

And he smelled burnt. Like really burnt. His uniform was in tatters, full of bite-sized patches missing from his cape and sleeves. One boot was gone entirely, while the other had a hole in the toe. His pants had scorch marks too. I squinted at his neck, expecting more burns, but the skin was… surprisingly normal. His hands, though, were wrapped in leather gloves so worn they looked like they’d been through a meat grinder. Then, his eyes fluttered fully open, revealing an unsettling lilac hue.

“Out… we… need… to get… out… of here,” he muttered, his head lolling from side to side. “So… thirsty.”

A vampire? I tilted his chin down, checking his teeth. No fangs.

Then, I pulled down his collar and there it is: a blue, fourteen-pointed star on his chest. A Gifted. Of course.

He groaned again, coughing between breaths. “So… hungry.”

“How long have you been in here?” I asked, trying not to gag as the smell of his breath hit me.

“A… year,” he rasped, his voice fading as his eyes closed. His breathing slowed, but he was still alive. Barely.

Well, that explained why he looks all skin and bones.

I slipped off my cape and draped it over the Adalguard's body, commanding my magic to secure it protectively around him while infusing warmth and basic healing spells into his frail form. As I assessed his energy aura, I realized he was a Gifock, but his life force was alarmingly low. It was astonishing that he had survived for a year, especially given his proximity to the Netherlight Blade. But that couldn’t be right—the Blade had only been stolen a night ago. But it still could be a possibility. Staring in awe at the Blade, I realized that if its presence had drained him so profoundly in just a single day, it was far more potent and dangerous than than my most terrifying fantasies.

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

“How cool,” I muttered, almost wistful.

I asked Apo to keep an eye on the man and made my way back to the hovering Blade. Extending my hand, White Veil effortlessly pierced through the cursed box’s barrier. A grin spread across my face as my fingers brushed the hilt, but my grin faltered when a massive, sinister figure lunged at me from behind. I ducked instinctively, and with a swift gesture, casted “Sunburst.” A burst of fiery light erupted, incinerating the wretched creature in a spectacular explosion.

“Whoa! I panicked. I didn’t mean to!” I shouted in defense, glancing over at Apo.

He looked utterly horrified. “What are you apologizing for!?”

“I don’t know! Didn’t you think that was a bit over-the-top?”

“No! Grab skeleton guy and let’s get out of here!” Apo’s urgency snapped me back into action.

Infernals surged into the room with blinding speed, their capes slapping and swishing while their mournful groans created a symphony of dread. The Netherlight Blade pulsated heavily within its red-tinged barrier. As the red figures circled and lunged toward us, I unleashed Sunburst again, fiery balls of energy streaking from my body and reducing those that got too close into ash. Apo, with a grip that felt like iron, clutched the top of my head, and I bent over the man, wrapping my arms around him for protection. Whispering “Red Hunting,” I harnessed my power, enveloping us in a blinding flash of light. With my forehead pressed against his, I shielded his eyes from the simultaneous brilliance of White Veil and Sunburst. We were whisked from the cavern and transported onto the stream within the Red Hunting Grounds.

Ah, crap! I’d forgotten Chrysorion at the mountain. I summoned Warbec and Valkyrjie from Vaultrove for aid. Just then, a deep, gut-churning wail echoed from the snowy peaks, making my spine tingle. Red figures began pouring down the slopes like a terrifying blood-red avalanche, and I sensed more drawing near from the east where I had first entered.

“Give me a break!” I hissed, exasperated.

Apo panicked, scrambling inside and diving under the shoulder pads of my uniform like it was the safest bunker on the planet. Just in time, my winged denizens streaked past us. and circling back. I stretched out my hands, reaching for Valkyrjie, her ethereal form visible high in the sky. With a surge of power, she swooped down, her body expanding as she dove. The instant my power touched her, she plummeted fast from the sky, her body expanding like a giant bird of prey. Her claws flared wide, ready to snatch up her quarry. With a swift, practiced move, she captured the man and ascended on her mighty wings, disappearing into the clouds.

I sprang to my feet and dashed toward the forest, the acrid stench of blood and decaying flesh pressing in on me. Overhead, Warbec’s mournful wail echoed through the air.

“Go! Warn the Adalguards!” I shouted urgently. Warbec hesitated momentarily but then took off in obedience.

Chrysorion flitted beside me, his gaze sharp and disapproving. “You can scold me later,” I said, he looked at me with irritation, “but go with Warbec and alert Commander Norman Ottezen.”

Though he was initially reluctant, he sped after Warbec with impressive swiftness. My knees burned with each stride as I continued to run. As I glanced back, the Red Hunting Grounds were smothered in a noxious cloud of red, black, and dark brown smoke. The stench was overpowering. I ducked just in time as something lashed out from my left, then tumbled down a slope, landing unceremoniously in a puddle.

I scrambled to my feet, only to find myself staring, almost a yard away, straight into a nightmarish Varok—a Werewolf-Vampire-Infernal hybrid, because apparently the universe decided regular monsters just weren’t enough. I dared not to move. It stood a solid ten feet tall (as it was always describe din the books), balancing on two massive hind legs. Its hulking body was all werewolf—thick fur, fat, long claws that looked like they could double as machetes, and a black coat that was so drenched in crimson it seemed like the thing was sweating blood. Lovely. Its tail was a spiked monstrosity, like someone crossed a porcupine with a medieval war hammer. One swing of that, and bones would be optional. Then there were the teeth—shark-like, jagged, and definitely not covered by any dental plan. Two oversized fangs poked out. Its pointed ears stood high, while its gray eyes glowed with crimson streaks, with a tiny iris so unsettling it could probably make a ghost nervous. Oh, and let’s not forget the snout—long and menacing, like something you'd expect from the underworld’s top predator.

The trees whispered as they swayed, and though the sky remained a clear expanse of blue and white, the towering canopy of the Red Hunting Ground forest cast everything in shadow. That’s what happens when you're surrounded by trees so tall they practically scrape the heavens. I shuffled backward, careful not to break eye contact with the Varok stalking toward me. Its steps were unnervingly light, but they left deep impressions in the mud, each one a silent threat. I could hear the Infernals, too. Lots of them. If I unleashed Sunburst’s Glory, I’d probably roast everything within miles. Bye-bye, forest. Hello, giant, fiery mess that would stretch all the way to Alabast and Adalguard. Ragna was out of the question, thanks to that little agreement with Keilia.

Apo, my small and irritatingly smart companion, tugged on my ear as the Varok lunged, its gaping maw open as if it planned to swallow me whole. Instinctively, I crossed my arms and slashed the air in front of me. A burst of fiery light erupted from my strike, reducing the Varok to nothing more than glowing embers. I stood, heart pounding, only to hear a chorus of growls. I scrambled out of the puddle, clambering up the slippery, rocky terrain. But I hadn’t made it far before a Varok tribe surrounded me—some crouched low, others perched in the trees, their eyes gleaming with predatory intent. In the distance, the screams of battle echoed, mingling with the clash of steel and the roar of war guns, briefly drawing their attention. Seizing the moment, I bolted, but the Varok were quick on my heels. A bullet whizzed past, aimed at me, but it crumbled into ash before it could even graze my skin.

"Help me!" a boy’s voice cut through the chaos. I groaned but changed course, heading straight for the cries. Infernals had swarmed a group of Adalguards, who were fighting desperately with what little magic and weaponry they had.

I threw myself into the fray, pulling my fist towards the Infernals and concentrating my magic. I could feel their collective essence—their hive-like connection. "Sunburst Descent," I whispered, and one by one, the Infernals imploded, bursting into blinding light and ash.

"Run for it!" I yelled at the Adalguards who stared at me like I was from another planet. They hesitated, staring at me like I was some kind of myth, but their indecision didn’t last long. A new wave of Varok rushed in from both flanks, growling and screeching.

That got them moving. They grabbed their injured and made a break for it, heading for Adalguard Forest. I summoned Thyra and Thygos, calling down their Cloud Beds for the wounded.

"Throw them into the clouds!" I commanded, but of course, their hesitation kicked in like clockwork. I groaned, caught up to one of the limping Adalguards and pushed him, and—cue the scream—the cloud zipped off, carrying him away from the Red Hunting Grounds. That seemed to do the trick, and soon enough, they all followed, their burdens vanishing like magic (well, literally), and they took off running faster than I’d ever seen.

I hung back, taking one last look at the chaos. Darkness had swallowed everything, but here and there, ruby-red eyes glowed through the fog, and the aftershocks of my sunburst spell still flared up like stubborn fireworks.

"Watch out!" Apo yelled, but before I could even blink, WHAM—a log as thick as a troll’s ego slammed into my arm, sending me flying off course. One second I was running, the next I was somersaulting down a slope like some sort of discount acrobat. I crashed into a tree, the impact forcing a groan—and a scream—out of me. THAT HURT.

I blinked up at the sky, wincing at the pain radiating from my left arm. Gritting my teeth, I glanced at my throbbing left arm. The log, the offending piece of nature’s artillery, rolled to a stop beside me like it was mocking me. Pain shot through me as I sat up. Apo landed nearby, concern etched on his face.

Suddenly, the air thickened. Leaves rustled, shadows swirled, and the ground felt oppressively heavy. I was surrounded. Crawling backward, I pressed my back against the tree, eyes darting upward. Infernals perched in the branches, their glowing red eyes fixed on me like predators stalking their prey. The skies had darkened completely now, and the stench of blood and rotting flesh hung in the air like a foul blanket. I planted my hand on the ground, tracing a tracking spell along the earth. After a moment, I found the footprints of the Adalguards. Slow, but still moving toward the safety of the forest.

A Varok, all hulking four-legged fury, stopped in front of me, flanked by the Infernals who loomed with an unsettling curiosity. Only their glowing eyes gave away their position. The Varok moved closer, but a low growl from behind it made it pause. It stepped back, cautiously.

I smirked, despite the pain. "Got something to say?"

"Cici, don’t provoke it," Apo whispered. I grabbed him gently and whisked him away to Vaultrove in a flash. “Wait, no!” he protested, his form dissipating mid-air. The last I saw of him, he was angrily punching the air.

The Varok stood motionless, their silent eyes locked on me. I glanced around—the dark smoke was closing in from every direction.

“You can’t touch me, right? You know that.”

I could rip through the west and cast another sunburst spell, but what were they waiting for? My body ached, my legs were tired from running, and hunger gnawed at me. I was planning my next move, preparing to fight my way out of these cursed woods, when a heavy, unseen force pressed on my shoulder. It was like the wind itself was holding me in place.

Then it came—a faint sound of wind chimes, just like before. A white, glittering dove broke through the thick smoke, unnoticed by the Infernals and the Tribe of Varok. Its light was too brilliant to ignore, yet they didn’t seem to see it. The dove landed softly on the ground, glowing with a gentle radiance, and turned its gaze to me. Its eyes locked onto mine, filled with something... knowing.

The footsteps I had been tracing fell silent. The Adalguards had left the Red Hunting Grounds and crossed into the safety of their warded lands.

The dove tapped its feet softly on the earth.

It was as if the answer was handed to me: I was meant to cleanse the Red Hunting Grounds. But... “The Town, the Adalguard Fort—” Her foot tapped again. “Okay,” I muttered.

There was something about the way the dove stood—regal, confident, her wings tucked with purpose. She nodded, and I felt her reassurance. The cleansing I was about to perform would only go as far as she intended it to. I could trust her.

I leaned back against a tree, pulling my head away from the encroaching smoke. It was mere inches from my face but didn’t touch me, as White Veil and Sunburst pushed it back.

I sighed, placed my hands on the ground, ruffling the leaves as I reached deeper into the earth. I could feel its ancient slumber beneath the surface. Reaching for the cursed roots within, I let out a breath and whispered, “Sunveil Glory.”

A jolt of raw energy pulsed through me—my chest, my mind, my entire body. It was as though every cell in my body were supercharged by the universe itself. It felt like gravity and antigravity intertwined in a perfect dance, pulling and pushing me all at once, while I remained perfectly still. My whole body vibrated, a strange mix of icy chills and scorching heat surging through my veins. It felt like I was on the verge of exploding into a thousand blazing shards, but instead, I held firm. The ground trembled, the trees swayed. I opened my eyes to see a brilliant light surrounding me, swirling around me like a protective barrier. The Infernals and Varok—the beasts that had been closing in seconds ago—skittered backward, their twisted faces contorted in terror. Their screeches pierced the air, shrill and desperate, as the raging translucent flames from the light rippled outward, sending waves of white fire crashing through the woods. They knew what was coming. The white fire consumed the infernal creatures while sparing the trees and the natural world around me.

The dove soared into the sky. My eyes grew heavy, the exhaustion pulling at me.

I was so sleepy. And, honestly? I could really use a snack.