Now that Nyx and Lorienna were “friends”—or at least, Lorienna refused to leave her alone—Nyx had learned some interesting things about this kingdom.

She discovered that Alinthor was ruled by a Queen, a stark contrast to the other kingdoms she had encountered. It was also home to something unexpected: a massive library.

A masterpiece of elven craftsmanship and magic, The Celestial Archive was a grand, towering structure built from smooth white marble infused with silver veins that shimmered with arcane energy. Its massive, arching windows were made of crystal glass, enchanted to reflect the shifting constellations above, making the ceiling feel like an endless night sky.

Inside, floating shelves of enchanted wood carried tomes that hovered and shifted seamlessly, moving to where they were needed. The floors were polished moonstone, glowing faintly beneath every step, while towering silver-lit pillars hummed softly with stored knowledge. At its heart, a cascading waterfall of liquid starlight flowed into a tranquil pool, revealing glimpses of forgotten history and future possibilities to those who gazed into its depths.

The Celestial Archive was more than a library—it was a sacred vault of knowledge, time, and magic, where past, present, and future intertwined.

It was beautiful.

When Nyx wasn’t with Lorienna or out on a hunt, this was where she spent her time.

“Didn’t take you for a bookworm,” Lorienna’s teasing voice cut through the quiet air.

Nyx, who had been staring at a particularly old tome that pulsed faintly with magic, barely spared her a glance. “I’m not.”

“Uh-huh,” Lorienna leaned against one of the hovering shelves, smirking. “You’ve been here every time I turn around. Secret scholar?”

Nyx sighed, snapping the book shut. “I just like the quiet.”

Lorienna chuckled. “Sure, sure. Next thing I know, you’ll be lecturing me on elven history.”

Nyx rolled her eyes and stood, placing the tome back in its floating place. “Yeah, that’s it.”

But even as she said it, her fingers lingered against the book’s spine for just a second longer before she walked past Lorienna and out of the archive.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Nyx was on another hunter’s job today—gathering herbs. It was a simple enough task, something she could complete without much thought. Today, she was alone since Lorienna would be arriving late.

That was fine with her.

She used the opportunity to release her shadow army.

“Come on out,” she commanded softly.

Dark tendrils rippled from beneath her feet as her shadows emerged, eager and restless. The moment Len and Ryu materialized, they stood silently by her side, awaiting orders. Frosty stretched its massive limbs, shaking off the confines of the domain, while Zarvok calmly adjusted his staff.

They were happy to be out, and they wasted no time getting to work.

While they gathered herbs, Nyx spoke to Uriel in her mind.

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“What do you think about everything that’s happened since we arrived here?”

Uriel’s voice was steady. “You’re adapting quickly. Your skills are strengthening, and your control over the shadow domain is becoming more refined.”

Nyx hummed in response. “Do you think I should get another skill?”

Uriel considered this for a moment. “It would be beneficial, but you already have an arsenal most hunters could only dream of. If another constellation offers you a skill, as long as it’s useful, you should take it.”

Nyx scowled slightly. “I don’t like them.”

“That much is clear.”

She sighed. “They didn’t give Till a skill even though he deserved one. And none of them tried to save Drac and the others from disappearing.”

There was a beat of silence before Uriel responded. “You’re right to be wary. But consider this—if you truly want to become a constellation, you’ll need power. Refusing their gifts out of spite may only hold you back.”

Nyx was quiet, letting Uriel’s words sink in.

Finally, she exhaled and muttered, “Fine. If it benefits me in the long run, I’ll consider it.”

As their conversation continued, the shadow army worked diligently—well, most of them did.

Len and Ryu were in a silent standoff again, neither moving from their spots as if waiting for the other to make the first move.

Frosty, meanwhile, was running around rampant, stomping on the grass, completely ignoring the task at hand.

Zarvok, ever the responsible one, was actually collecting the herbs. The small shaman goblin hummed to himself as he worked, occasionally side-eyeing the others.

Nyx stopped and took in the sight of her chaotic companions.

She couldn’t help it—she laughed.

A real, genuine laugh.

It felt like it had been so long since she’d had a moment like this.

After a while, the shadows piled up the herbs in a pouch and handed it to Nyx. She adjusted the bag’s weight and gave them a small nod of approval.

“Alright, back inside.”

The disappointment was immediate, especially from Frosty, who huffed dramatically before nudging Nyx’s leg. She smirked and crouched down, ruffling its icy fur.

“Next time, you’ll get to stay out longer.”

Satisfied, Frosty nuzzled against her before sinking back into the shadows with the others.

With the job done, Nyx made her way back to the guild.

The sun hung lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the town as she walked through the bustling streets. The familiar scent of roasted meat from the market stalls made her stomach grumble, but she ignored it for now.

When she arrived at the guild, the usual energy filled the space—hunters boasting, laughing, and preparing for their next mission.

She stepped up to the counter and placed the pouch filled with herbs down.

“These are from the ones I gathered,” she said, her voice even.

The receptionist blinked at the sheer amount before quickly tallying up the count.

Murmurs spread around her.

“That’s a lot for a single run…”

“How does she work so fast?”

“She’s still just an F-rank, right?”

Nyx ignored the whispers as the receptionist handed her payment. She took the small pouch of coins, weighing it in her palm before slipping it into her pocket.

“Good work,” the receptionist said, though they still looked slightly puzzled by her efficiency.

Nyx simply nodded and turned to leave.

Now all that was left was to wait for Lorienna.

She found her usual meeting spot near the guild’s entrance and leaned against a stone pillar, arms crossed.

She let out a slow breath.

She was getting stronger.

But she still had a long way to go.

After what felt like an eternity, Lorienna finally arrived.

“You’re late,” Nyx grumbled, crossing her arms.

“I’m sorry,” Lorienna said with an apologetic smile.

Nyx let out an exaggerated sigh. “I’ve been waiting so long my stomach is eating itself.”

Lorienna chuckled, clearly amused. “Well, I’m here now, so let’s eat.”

Just as Nyx was about to agree, a shift in the air caught her attention. Her senses sharpened.

“You’re being followed.”

In an instant, she shoved Lorienna behind her and reached for the dagger hidden beneath her cloak. Her fingers barely brushed the hilt before Lorienna grabbed her wrist.

“Wait—Nyx, it’s okay!” she said quickly. “This is my… um… my…”

Nyx arched a brow, unimpressed with the hesitation. “Your what?”

“My—my friend,” Lorienna finally said, though Nyx caught the slight hesitation in her voice.

Nyx’s eyes flickered toward the stranger. She didn’t trust easily, and this was no exception.

“Really?”

“Yes, really,” Lorienna insisted. “Now, can we please go eat? You were just saying how hungry you were.”

Nyx didn’t loosen her stance right away, but her stomach grumbled, betraying her resolve. With a final glance at the stranger, she huffed.

“Fine. But if they try anything weird, I’m stabbing first and asking questions later.”

With that, the three of them made their way toward food, one suspicious, one relieved, and one entirely too quiet.