Nyx stirred awake, her body heavy and sluggish. She groaned in protest as a dull ache throbbed in her head. Muffled voices swirled around her before her vision blurred and refocused.

Her throat felt itchy and dry. Slowly, she shifted, attempting to sit up, but every movement felt like dragging herself through water.

“It’s okay, Nyx. Take your time.”

The familiar voice of Till reached her ears, soft and soothing. She blinked a few times, the world coming into focus.

“Is she awake?” another voice asked from somewhere nearby.

“She’s waking up,” Till replied quickly, his tone tinged with relief.

“How are you feeling? Are you okay?” Till’s face came into view, his bright blue eyes wide with worry.

Nyx managed a faint nod. “Yeah… just thirsty,” she croaked, her voice hoarse.

“Hold on,” Till said hurriedly, grabbing a cup of water. He held it out to her, and she took it with trembling hands.

The cool liquid soothed her parched throat, and she let out a small sigh of relief. “Thanks,” she murmured, her voice steadier now.

“What happened?” she asked, her brows furrowing.

Till hesitated, glancing over his shoulder at the other person in the room. Finally, he said, “You’ve been out for a day. When the guards came to the dungeon…”

Nyx’s stomach twisted at the mention of the dungeon, fragments of her last memory flashing in her mind—the shaman’s rage, the goblins’ screams, and the searing light of her final strike.

Till continued, his voice quiet but tense. “It turns out, the group that went with you to the dungeon… they weren’t supposed to be there.”

Nyx frowned, confusion flickering across her face. “What do you mean?”

“They lied,” Till said, his expression darkening. “Another group of hunters came to the guards yesterday, saying they were heading out to raid the goblin dungeon. They told the guards it was their job, that they had taken it from the guild.”

Nyx tilted her head slightly. “So? What does that have to do with—”

“That’s when the guards realized something was wrong,” Till interrupted. “The guild confirmed the second group’s story. The first team—the ones who went with you—had no business being there.”

Nyx’s breath caught. The hunters. Their insistence on leaving quickly, their refusal to wait for Till… it all started to make sense.

“The guards were confused,” Till continued. “They told the second team another group had already gone into the dungeon—with you. But that group swore they didn’t know anything about it.”

Nyx’s pulse quickened as Till’s expression grew more serious.

“The guards rushed to the dungeon,” he said, his voice lowering. “When they got there, they found… the bodies. Three headless hunters.”

Nyx’s chest tightened, her breath catching in her throat.

“And you,” Till added softly, his gaze dropping to the floor. “You were passed out. There wasn’t a single goblin in sight—just goblin blood everywhere.”

He hesitated before adding, “The guards said they’ve never seen anything like it. They didn’t know if it was you or… something else.”

The room fell silent for a moment, the weight of his words pressing down on her like a stone.

“Thankfully,” Till said, his voice trying to sound hopeful, “you weren’t hurt. But the guards said they’ll need to talk to you about what happened.”

Nyx swallowed hard, her throat feeling dry again despite the water. She nodded slowly. “Okay.”

Till studied her carefully, his worry etched across his face. He opened his mouth as if to say more but hesitated. Finally, his voice cracked.

“I thought—” He looked away, his hands tightening into fists at his sides. “I thought you were gone, Nyx.”

His words hit harder than she expected, and for a moment, she couldn’t find a reply.

“I’m fine,” Nyx said at last, her voice firmer this time. “Just a little headache… and I’m hungry.”

Till’s expression softened slightly. “Alright. Stay here. I’ll go get you something to eat.”

Before she could protest, Till hurried out of the room.

Nyx leaned back against the wall, closing her eyes as fragments of the battle in the dungeon replayed in her mind. She could see flashes of light, hear the dying screams of goblins, and feel the weight of her final strike. But Till’s’ words haunted her.

You were the only one alive. No one knows how.

She clenched her fists, trying to push the thought aside. But even as the ache in her body began to fade, she couldn’t shake the feeling that this was far from over.

—————————————————

Nyx sat quietly in the room after Till left, her hands resting in her lap. The faint ache in her head lingered, but her body felt lighter now. The water had soothed her throat, but her mind churned with unanswered questions.

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“Uriel,” she murmured softly, closing her eyes.

“I’m here,” the voice replied, calm and steady as always.

“What happened?” she asked, her tone laced with equal parts curiosity and apprehension. “After… I blacked out.”

Uriel was silent for a moment, as if carefully considering its response. Then, its voice resonated clearly in her mind.

“When you fell unconscious, I took over as you requested,” Uriel began. “Your injuries were significant, but the Eternal Rebirth skill activated immediately. It healed your wounds and purged your body of exhaustion, allowing me full control.”

Nyx nodded faintly, her fingers curling against her palms. “And then?”

“I eliminated the remaining goblins with efficiency,” Uriel continued, its tone clinical. “Your shadow goblins, Len and Ryu, proved effective against their counterparts. Meanwhile, me—through you—activated Solar Storm Rend. The combination of radiant energy and precise strikes decimated the goblin forces.”

Nyx’s memories stirred faintly, fragments of light and thunder flashing across her mind.

Uriel’s tone shifted slightly, adopting a more serious edge. “The goblin shaman, the one who commands the other goblins underwent a forced evolution during the battle. He sacrificed his physical form, transforming into a skeletal variant enhanced with dark magic. His power increased significantly, though it came at the cost of his sanity.”

Nyx’s brows furrowed. “And you… defeated him?”

“Of. Course,” Uriel replied simply. “The battle required precision. His enhanced form was resistant to conventional strikes, but by exploiting the combination of Solar Storm Rend and your daggers, we were able to overwhelm him. His final moments were filled with rage and bitterness, but his energy was consumed by your shadow.”

Nyx’s chest tightened as she processed the information. “Consumed? What does that mean?”

“All goblins present in the dungeon, including the shaman, I used Necromancy and the goblins are now under your control, are currently in your Shadow Domain,” Uriel explained. “Awaiting your command.”

Nyx’s eyes widened, a mix of emotions flickering across her face—shock, confusion, and a faint trace of satisfaction.

“They’re… in the Shadow Domain?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Yes,” Uriel affirmed. “Their forms have been fully integrated. Even the goblin shaman, though powerful, is bound to your will now. He serves alongside the others as a shadow entity.”

Nyx exhaled slowly, leaning back against the wall. The weight of the revelation settled over her, both daunting and exhilarating.

“I didn’t think…” she began, her words faltering. “I didn’t think it would work like that.”

“The Shadow Domain is an extension of your abilities,” Uriel said. “It responds to your will, even subconsciously. Those you defeat can be resurrected with your necromancy skill and can be held in the domain until you need them.”

Nyx pressed her lips into a thin line, her thoughts racing. The idea of commanding an army of shadows—creatures that had once been her enemies—was strange. But there was also a glimmer of relief in knowing the goblin shaman, with all his malice and power, was under her control now.

“I’ll need to check on them soon,” she murmured, more to herself than to Uriel.

“A wise decision,” Uriel agreed. “Their loyalty is absolute, but understanding their capabilities will strengthen your command.”

Nyx sat in silence for a moment, her mind heavy with the weight of the revelation. She was surprised, shocked even, at what Uriel had done. But deep down, a part of her was glad. The goblins—and their shaman—were no longer a threat.

Taking a deep breath, she opened her eyes, her resolve hardening. “Thank you, Uriel.”

“I am here to serve,” Uriel replied, its voice calm and unwavering.

Nyx nodded, her thoughts already drifting to the shadowy figures waiting for her command. For now, she will rest. But soon, she would step into the Shadow Domain and face what she had become.

The scent of savory broth reached Nyx’s nose before she even saw Till return. Her stomach growled softly, and she realized just how hungry she was. The door creaked open, and Till entered, carefully balancing a tray holding a steaming bowl of soup. Behind him, two guards followed, their presence immediately drawing her attention.

One of the guards stepped forward—a tall man with sharp features and a calm demeanor. His polished armor gleamed faintly in the light. Nyx recognized him immediately.

“Abel,” she said softly, her voice still hoarse.

Abel gave a small nod, his expression serious but warm. “Good to see you awake, Nyx. You gave us quite a scare.”

The other guard, a burly man with a thick beard, stood slightly behind Abel, his arms crossed as he surveyed the room.

“How are you feeling?” Abel asked, stepping closer.

Nyx hesitated before nodding slightly. “I’m fine. Just… a little tired.”

Abel’s brows furrowed, and his voice softened. “You’ve been through a lot since we first met, haven’t you? I didn’t think you’d be the type to find yourself in a mess like this.”

Nyx looked away, unsure of how to respond. The familiarity in his tone brought a strange mix of comfort and unease.

Abel exchanged a glance with the other guard before sitting down. “We need to ask you some questions about what happened in the dungeon. Can you tell us what you remember?”

Nyx’s heart pounded in her chest, but Uriel’s calm voice steadied her.

“Tell them,” it said in her mind, its tone precise. “Stick to what I say.”

Nyx exhaled slowly, nodding as she began. “When we got to the dungeon, they… they knocked me out.” Her voice wavered, just enough to sound believable. “They said they wanted to sell me to a slave trader to get rich. They didn’t like that I became a hunter and… and took the spotlight.”

Abel’s jaw tightened, his calm expression hardening. The other guard’s eyes narrowed, his grip tightening on his weapon.

“They said I didn’t deserve it,” Nyx continued, her voice quieter now. “That I didn’t belong. Then… the lights went out. Everything went black after that. The next thing I remember is waking up here.”

Nyx’s chest tightened as she repeated Uriel’s words. The lie felt heavy on her tongue, but the truth was something they could never know.

Abel studied her carefully, his piercing gaze searching for any sign of deceit. Finally, he leaned back, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

“The guild confirmed the job wasn’t theirs,” Abel said, his voice calm but firm. “They lied about their assignment to get close to you. Desperation does strange things to people, but this…” He shook his head.

The other guard crossed his arms, his expression grim. “Still, for a kid to go through all that…”

Nyx looked down at her hands, feigning a quiet unease. “I… I didn’t know what to do.”

Abel’s gaze softened slightly. “It’s understandable if some of the details are fuzzy. For now, you should focus on resting.”

“But the guild,” Nyx said quickly. “I need to—”

“Not yet,” Abel interrupted, shaking his head. “You need time to recover before you go back to the guild. Let this settle first.”

Nyx nodded, though her thoughts raced. “Okay,” she said softly.

Abel lingered for a moment, his sharp gaze meeting hers. “Rest, Nyx. I’ll handle the rest for now.” His voice carried a note of familiarity, one that reminded her of their first meeting in the village. With a small nod, he turned and left with the other guard.

After they were gone, Till stayed behind, hovering nervously near her bed as she reached for the bowl of soup.

“It’s hencorn and axechicken,” he said, his tone cheerful despite his earlier worry. “It’s supposed to help with headaches.”

Nyx smiled faintly. “Thanks, Till.”

He watched her closely as she began to eat, his shoulders relaxing when she took her first bite. The warmth of the soup spread through her, soothing her headache and calming her nerves.

“It’s good,” she said between bites, her voice softer now.

Till grinned, his earlier worry giving way to relief. “I thought you’d like it.”

He didn’t say much after that, simply sitting nearby as she finished the bowl. For the first time since waking up, Nyx felt a small sense of normalcy return.

“It’s delicious,” she said when she was done, setting the empty bowl aside.

Till smiled again, though his concern lingered in his eyes. “I’ll stay until you’re ready to sleep, okay?”

Nyx nodded, leaning back against the pillow. As Till quietly settled in, her thoughts drifted to the Shadow Domain and the waiting goblins. Rest would have to come first, but her next steps were already forming in her mind.