From a distance, a figure watched Lucian with narrowed eyes, his gaze sharp. The man's arms were crossed, and the corner of his mouth twitched as his subordinate approached.

"Did he catch your interest?" the cheerful subordinate asked, his tone light, almost teasing.

"Who?" the man replied, not moving his eyes from Lucian.

"That one, the skinny blonde you're glaring at." The subordinate grinned. "Lucian Ardent, son of Duke Ardent. Though, he's better known for being useless."

The man's expression didn't change, but his posture shifted slightly. "Lucian Ardent, you say?"

The subordinate nodded eagerly. "Yeah, he's a nobody, really. Not much to worry about. Would you like me to bring him to you?"

The man paused for a moment before responding with a curt nod. "Take him to my tent."

---

Meanwhile, Lucian had no destination in mind as he wandered aimlessly toward the outskirts of the camp. His steps were slow, more deliberate than confused. Yet, no matter where he went, the stares followed him like a shadow. It wasn't hard to figure out why.

The tattered noble clothes he wore stuck out like a sore thumb in the military encampment, but worse still was the emblem on his chest—the emblem of the Ardent family. It glimmered in the fading sunlight, but instead of respect, it only seemed to draw glares of contempt from everyone he passed. Whether it was because of the family name, his past, or his frail appearance, Lucian couldn't tell, but it didn't matter. The message was clear: he wasn't welcome here.

'Wonderful,' Lucian thought sarcastically as he pulled the ragged cloak tighter around himself, 'I look like a beggar who stole a nobleman's rags and a family crest. No wonder they're all giving me looks.'

As he trudged along, even the soldiers gave him wide berth, their whispers loud enough for him to catch snippets of what they were saying.

"Isn't that the Ardent boy?"

"Shouldn't he be dead already?"

"He's as good as dead if he stays out here..."

Lucian's jaw clenched as he forced himself to ignore them, his blue eyes scanning the horizon for something—anything—to occupy his mind.

Lucian continued his aimless walk, eventually straying beyond the busy confines of the camp. The clamor of soldiers, the clang of armor, and the distant booms of explosions faded as he wandered farther, the chaos of the war behind him. Soon, he found himself in a more secluded area, near the edge of a forest where the trees cast long shadows on the uneven ground.

He sighed heavily and sat down on a large, weathered stone. The cool breeze from the forest rustled the leaves, offering a momentary peace, but it wasn't enough to calm his thoughts. Lucian ran a hand over his face, fingers pressing against his temples as if he could will away the frustration and confusion.

'What am I supposed to do now?' he thought, trying to steady his breathing. 'This world... these people. It's all insane. How do I even survive this? I can barely move without this damn body giving out.'

His thoughts spiraled, but then a sound.

'Hnngh'

A faint groan, barely audible over the rustling of leaves.

Lucian straightened up, his brow furrowing as he glanced around cautiously. The camp was still a good distance behind him, and aside from the occasional muffled explosion, everything else was quiet. Too quiet.

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'Hnnnh!...'

The groan came again, clearer this time, but it seemed to come from everywhere at once. It echoed in his head, as though the sound was reverberating within his skull. His heart skipped a beat, and he quickly stood, eyes scanning the treeline.

'What the hell? There's no one here...'

He took a few hesitant steps forward, glancing back toward the camp, wondering if the stress was finally getting to him. But just as he started to turn back, he heard it again—a faint, desperate whisper.

"Help... me..."

Lucian froze, eyes wide. This time, it wasn't a vague noise. It was clear. And it wasn't coming from inside his head. The voice, weak and full of pain, drifted from deeper within the forest, just beyond the treeline.

He stared into the dense foliage, trying to pinpoint the source of the sound, but there was no movement, no sign of anyone. Only silence and shadows.

But then, he heard it again.

"Please... help..."

Lucian hesitated, his instincts screaming at him to turn back.

"It's not my problem," he muttered under his breath, shaking his head in frustration. "I've got enough on my plate without playing hero."

But the groans continued, each one a sharp reminder of the pain and suffering around him, and a wave of irritation washed over him.

"Damn it!" he snapped, clenching his fists. "Can't you just shut up?"

But the pleas only grew louder, more desperate, and despite his better judgment, Lucian felt a pull deep within him—a strange compulsion that urged him forward. It was as if the very trees were whispering to him, beckoning him to come closer.

"Fine!" he growled, the frustration spilling over.

He took a step into the forest, leaving the camp behind. The air was cooler here, and the shadows deepened as he ventured further into the underbrush, the distant sounds of battle fading into a haunting silence.

As he moved deeper, an unsettling sensation crept over him, an almost magnetic pull guiding him. It felt as if something were drawing him in, coaxing him toward the source of the voice.

The groans transformed into soft whimpers, and the closer he got, the more palpable the energy became, like an unseen force wrapping around him.

"This is insane," he grumbled, but each step felt heavier, as if the ground itself was urging him on. "What am I even doing?"

He navigated through the trees, branches scratching at his arms, and soon the landscape began to shift. The sounds of the camp faded away, replaced by an eerie stillness, broken only by the rustling leaves and the whisper of the wind.

Lucian pressed on, his determination faltering as the path twisted and turned. He was aware of how easy it was to lose his way, the forest becoming a labyrinth that seemed to change with every step.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity of wandering, he stumbled upon a cave entrance. It loomed ahead, dark and foreboding, the mouth of the cave gaping like a hungry maw.

Above the entrance, he squinted at the words etched into the stone.

"Abandon all hope, ye who enter here."

Lucian stared at the inscription, an uncomfortable sensation settling in his gut.

As he lingered at the threshold, the faint cries of help faded momentarily, only to be replaced by an unsettling silence. It was almost as if the cave was beckoning him, promising secrets—or dangers—within.

Against his better judgment, he took a step forward, curiosity overpowering his fear.

"This better not be a trap," he muttered, entering the darkness, the cave swallowing him whole.

The air was dank, thick with the musty scent of damp earth and mold. He moved cautiously, each step echoing in the stillness, the unsettling sounds of his own breathing filling the void. The distant cries for help grew louder, intertwining with the oppressive silence, a haunting melody that urged him to venture deeper.

"Wait, isn't this how people die in movies—?" he began to think, but before he could finish, his foot struck something solid. A platform, he realized too late.

"Shit!" he shouted as the ground beneath him suddenly gave way, the platform collapsing into a gaping maw.

He fell, and for a brief moment, time seemed to stretch as he plummeted down the sloping tunnel.

"Oh, great, fantastic!"

The cold stone scraped against his skin, and he could feel the air rushing past him, roaring like a wild beast.

He felt the ground tilt and roll beneath him, sending him tumbling head over heels, and he braced himself for impact. The tunnel twisted and turned, the walls rushing past in a blur as he gained speed, the cries for help now a distant echo lost in the whirlwind of his thoughts.

"Please, just let me land on something soft!" he grunted, squeezing his eyes shut as the shadows blurred around him.

Just as the last words left his mouth, he felt a sudden jolt, and in the blink of an eye, he collided with something solid.

"Fuuuuuuu—!"

The sound of his voice cut off abruptly as he slammed into an immense stone wall at the end of the tunnel. The impact rattled him to the core, sending a shockwave of pain through his body. Stars danced in his vision, and he crumpled to the ground, gasping for breath.

He lay there for a moment, stunned, his heart racing in his chest. Dust swirled around him in the faint light filtering through cracks in the cave walls, and the eerie cries now reverberated through the chamber, louder than ever.

"P-Perfect," he groaned, pushing himself up with a grunt, wincing as pain radiated through his back. "Just what I needed."

As he sat against the cold, unforgiving stone, he took a moment to gather himself, the echoes of his fall fading into the silence of the cavern. The vastness of the chamber stretched before him, shadows shifting and dancing along the rocky walls, and he could feel an unsettling sensation in the pit of his stomach.

As he turned his gaze to the side, his heart plummeted at the grotesque sight before him. Several jagged spikes jutted from the walls of the tunnel, their sharp tips glistening in the dim light like the fangs of some lurking predator.

But what truly caught his attention was the skeleton impaled on one of those spikes, its bony arms frozen in a futile grasp for freedom.

"Lovely"

He took a cautious step back, the reality of his situation hitting him like a cold wave. If he had fallen just a little differently or had been even slightly taller, he could've easily joined that unfortunate soul in a similar display of morbid artistry.

"Guess I'll skip the human shish kebab routine for now," he muttered, shaking off the shivers creeping up his spine.

Steeling himself, he turned away from the macabre sight, focusing on the path ahead.

With each step deeper into the tunnel, he could hear the echoes of his footsteps mingling with distant cries that reverberated in the gloom.

"Just my luck," he grumbled. "Stumbling into a cave that doubles as a crypt. Fantastic."

He felt as if unseen eyes were tracking his every move. Lucian quickened his pace, the distant whispers growing louder, echoing his thoughts and swirling around him like a mocking chorus.

The cave widened into a chamber, and the bioluminescent light cast a ghostly blue hue on the rocky walls, making the whole place look almost ethereal.