Valentina prowled through the underground halls of the quen’talrat mines, with the echoes of Black and Ash’s horses ominously fading, swallowed by the vastness of the ancient caverns. Her footsteps were hardly heard, and Grace’s were nonexistent.

The sheer scale of the place was staggering, built for apparently super-intelligent, thirty-foot-tall gorillas, like Quin, and it showed it.

Sculpted arches soared above her, their intricate carvings telling stories of battles long past, scenes of epic war frozen in time and painted with some kind of sparkling dust that looked like crushed gems. Statues of mighty quen’talrat warriors stood sentinel along the passageways, their stone faces etched with fierce roars.

Quin’s people were something else, she thought, her eyes tracing the exquisite details of a battle scene etched into the wall. Even their art screams power, and Quin’s only, like, a few months old, which is insane to think about.

The air was thick with the scent of decay and blood, a grim reminder of the carnage left in Death’s wake. Valentina’s keen eyes caught glimpses of the undead ri’bot, mindlessly shambling along, their lifeless eyes glowing faintly in the flickering flames along the hallway.

The clanless had positioned the torches reasonably close to one another due to their poor eyesight, casting long, flickering shadows that illuminated the ancient murals that decorated the cavern walls. Bodies of the fallen lay scattered, signs of a weak resistance becoming more evident as they went. More undead were rising to join the ranks of the undead as Valentina and her companions passed by, Death’s field of shadows spreading smog along the floor.

As they descended deeper into the mines, the corridors opened into a colossal cavern that stretched out into an abyss. Bridges and platforms spanned the void into eternity, their edges lined with intricate railings that wound around the giant hole in the mountain. Far below, molten lava poured from cracks in the rock, glowing rivers that vanished into the darkness. Valentina’s night vision couldn’t penetrate the depths of the chasm, the blackness below swallowing the light as if a mouth accepting tribute.

This place is a nightmare, she mused, her fur bristling at the sight. What was the purpose of this place… They’ve got rail systems, elevators, and, by the looks of it, the defended areas seem to be designed to keep people in rather than out. I’m sure you’d love this place, Empress, she commented in her heart.

The ramp they followed spiraled downward, its steep incline leading them into the heart of the mountain. The air grew warmer, the heat from the lava flows seeping into the stone beneath her feet. She could hear the distant rumble of the earth, the mountain’s core beating with a slow, powerful rhythm. One thing was for sure: this place was no ordinary mine—they had been digging toward something.

On a bridge ahead, she saw him—the Supreme Leader—standing with a group of his lieutenants. The leader wielded a shockwave device, a blend of runic technology and excellent craftsmanship that was sure not ri’bot made, its surface etched with glowing symbols.

The device hummed ominously, a menacing promise of its destructive power to hurl anything that inched out across the open walkway to be another sacrifice for the mines. Valentina’s eyes narrowed as she took in the sight of him wearing gear adorned with her own fur, her precious stripes displayed like some kind of twisted trophy.

Licking her lips, she chuckled to herself as the undead unconsciously parted for them. You’re dead, bastard.

The Supreme Leader and his lieutenants laughed at their fallen comrades, attempting to inch forward to reach them, their voices carrying over the chasm.

“Not even the Pits can take us!” one of the lieutenants crowed, his voice echoing off the cavern walls.

Valentina’s mouth tightened as she took in the Supreme Leader and his lieutenants’ strategy. They’d created a choke point, stacking their shockwave devices together on wooden carts, forming a faint white barrier that pulsed with energy. The undead ri’bot stumbled and faltered against the wall or tumbled over the edge if they allowed them onto the walkway.

“These Pit fiends don’t stand a chance!”

“Look at them, so pathetic. Even in death, they’re useless!”

Valentina moved through the slow, shuffling mass of undead ri’bot, with Grace, Black, and Ash flanking her. The weight of the situation pressed down on her, but her mind was clearer now. These powerful soldiers of her Empress waited on her command, and the responsibility was nerve-wracking. What was worse was that they weren’t saying a word! No, they were probably talking through The Empress’ Nexus.

They reached the edge of the bridge, just beyond the reach of the shockwave device. The Supreme Leader’s mocking voice rang out.

“Well, well, if it isn’t the naked fur bank! You think you can sneak behind us and attack our backs like last time? We can last here for weeks; we’ve got enough food. What have you got, useless Pit fiends?”

Valentina flexed her fingers, her claws itching to tear through his smug face. His words echoed in her mind, but she pushed aside the anger, focusing on the task at hand. Their torches won’t last that long, but I’ve got a mission to do. In the grand scheme of things, they’re worthless gnats.

She leaned in close to Grace, her voice a low whisper as the serene hare man amiably surveyed the grand environment more than the defended clanless.

“I know I’m weak. I know I can’t get past these barriers on my own; I’ve tried before when I was taking out their lower ranks. Can you…take out the barriers and the shockwave device? The Empress will be interested in them, so is it possible to not damage them… Is it possible?”

Grace’s serenity didn’t falter as he nodded. “Anything is possible with the right approach. I’m sure you would find a way, given time. None of these toads pose that much of a risk to you.”

Death’s hollow eyes glowed with an eerie light. “I don’t know about you, Sis, but I’d like to see more of Grace’s moves. What do you say?”

Famine’s grin widened atop her thin horse as she stretched out. “Why don’t you show us some of Nungal’s power you’re always going on about.”

Valentina took a deep breath, steeling herself and now wondering exactly how powerful the hare was as she looked at his scarred, bare chest. “I don’t know who Nungal is, but I’d rather be done with this business so I can get back to The Empress because this shit is a bust. The clanless are only good for followers and supporting the Wixum.”

Valentina crouched low, her muscles coiled with tension, eyes locked onto the Supreme Leader across the chasm. The mocking laughter of the leader and his lieutenants grated on her nerves, their jeers echoing in the cavern. This bastard had humiliated her, and she was ready to repay the favor tenfold.

Grace’s serene voice cut through her boiling anger, a calm presence in the storm of her emotions. “Valentina, there is strength in belief. If you wish to see the power of faith, I will demonstrate.”

She glanced at him, his lean, muscular form relaxed but seemingly always ready for action. His silver eyes held no threat, yet she felt a chill as if a knife was just a centimeter away from piercing her heart, cutting through her rage. She gulped, trying to calm her bristling fur, her ears flattening against her head.

“Be specific with your order,” Grace continued, his hand resting lightly on one of his swords. “Are you asking me to remove these barriers alone, or do you wish for me to eliminate the threat so we can explore these halls and find something useful for The Empress?”

Valentina hesitated, her eyes flicking to Black and Ash. Both watched with interest, their expressions a mix of curiosity and excitement.

“Will they…suffer for what they did to me?” she asked, her voice tinged with the bitterness of her ordeal.

Grace’s smile rose a little, a hint of amusement in his eyes that made her growl and cheeks turn a tad pink. “I will ask my goddess.” He closed his eyes, and the air around him seemed to hum with a quiet power.

Valentina rubbed her arm as goosebumps ran down its length beneath her fur. Who the heck is this Nungal chick? He serves The Empress, but also some goddess? Black and Ash seem to respect his power. I have no idea what The Empress has been doing! I’m so out of the loop…

When he opened them again, the intensity in his silver gaze made Valentina’s breath catch in her throat.

“Nungal has told me she will see to it herself,” Grace said, his voice calm and assured. “She has granted me permission to unlock my third seal, and unsheath one of her blades. I have not done this since facing the Lightning Champion of the Island of Storms. Is that acceptable?”

Valentina’s pulse quickened, excitement building as she saw the anticipation on Black and Ash’s faces. Her own curiosity was piqued, despite her irritation. “Sure.”

Grace’s smile widened, and he bowed his head slightly in acknowledgment. He stepped forward, his movements fluid and graceful as the unintelligent undead shuffled to the side.

He smoothly knelt on the cold, black stone floor, an ethereal glow casting out from him, bathing the walls in an otherworldly light. His silver eyes closed, and he began to murmur a prayer, his voice soft yet resonant.

“I’m building this house, on the moon;

“I am a lost, wanderer;

“Looking at you, like a star;

“From the place, the world forgot;

“There is nothing, that I can do;

“Except bury my love for you.”

His words carried a profound sense of longing and devotion, the haunting melody echoing through the cavern like a hymn. Valentina watched, her breath catching as the air around Grace seemed to shimmer, his very presence commanding attention. She had seen power before, seen The Empress summon back the dead, but this was something different, something sacred.

“The brightness of the sun;

“Will give me just enough;

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“To bury my love;

“In the Moondust.

“I long to hear your voice;

“But still I make the choice;

“To bury my love;

“In the Moondust.”

A soft light began to coalesce in front of him, forming the figure of a woman. Her long, violet hair flowed like liquid galaxies, and her deep lilac eyes swirled with cosmic energy. She was both beautiful and terrifying, an embodiment of loveliness and judgment. Valentina’s heart pounded as she felt the weight of Grace’s emotions, his love and reverence for this goddess palpable in the air.

“Nothing can breathe, in this space;

“Colder even than, the darkest sea.

“I have dreams about the days;

“In your sunset breeze.

“But the first thing that I will do;

“Is bury my love for you.”

Nungal’s gaze softened as she looked down at Grace, her fingers gently tracing his cheek. “My faithful servant,” she murmured, her voice like a celestial symphony. “You honor me with your devotion.”

Grace’s eyes opened, shimmering with unshed tears. “I live to serve you, My Goddess.”

Nungal leaned down, pressing a kiss to his forehead. A wave of energy surged around Grace, and the carnelian shackles around his wrists and ankles glowed a deep maroon before unlocking and falling away. Valentina’s eyes widened, her fur standing on end.

The man rose, his movements fluid and filled with purpose. It was as if all time had slowed, excluding him; she couldn’t breathe or move, and no sound echoed through the cavern.

He placed his hand on one of his curved swords with reverence. The sheathed blade seemed to hum with a life of its own, resonating with the cosmic energy that flickered with a liquid, phantom force.

“I’m a castaway, and men reap what they sow;

“And I say what I know, to be true.”

Grace continued his prayer as he walked forward, his voice unwavering. The shockwaves from the Supreme Leader’s device were frozen in place, quivering the air, but they parted around him as he proceeded, unable to touch his divine aura. Valentina could only watch in awe as he approached the leader, his presence commanding and unyielding.

“Yes, I'm living far away, on the face of the moon;

“I’ve buried my love to give the world to you.”

Grace stopped in front of the Supreme Leader, his silver eyes locking onto the toad’s wide, terrified gaze, unable to move. “Congratulations,” he softly said, his voice carrying the weight of divine judgment. “You have the honor of meeting Nungal. Send her my love.”

The Supreme Leader’s smug confidence shattered, replaced by a look of pure terror as he gazed into the eyes of the goddess who stood behind Grace. Valentina felt a surge of satisfaction, her lips curling into a smirk as she felt the assurance of what awaited the toad who had enslaved his own people.

He stumbled back and tried to run as Grace slowly slid his blade out. Yet, she couldn’t see it as if the weapon were a ghost, ethereal. The words of the ri’bot faded with all sound in the area. With an elegance Valentina couldn’t describe, the world stood utterly still, hanging for several seconds.

The hare turned, his phantom sword slid into its sheath. On his second step, the click of the sword entered the scabbard, and every ri’bot, including the undead, exploded before fading into nothingness, leaving the ring of his blade humming in the still atmosphere.

The stillness in the cavern was almost suffocating, the tension a distinctive force that pressed down on her chest as the hum of the blade still rang throughout the giant space.

She blinked, trying to comprehend what had just happened. One moment, the Supreme Leader and his minions, including the raised undead, were there, and the next, they were nothing but particles in the air, erased from existence by Grace’s ethereal blade.

That was... unbelievable. She swallowed hard, her ears twitching as she turned to Black and Death, searching their expressions for any sign of what to do next.

Black’s usual smirk was replaced by a look of genuine awe. “Well,” she said, breaking the silence with her calm, calculated tone, “I suppose that answers any questions about his power. I must say, I shouldn’t be surprised after meeting Nungal myself.”

The flicker in Death’s hollow eyes showed a rare smile playing on his skeletal lips. “I’ve seen many things in the last few months, but that… That was something else. Grace, you continue to surprise us.”

Grace’s otherworldly presence and overwhelming presence faded with the goddess’ figure vanishing like smoke, and his shackles reappeared on his wrists and ankles. He stood at the edge of the bridge, his staple amiable smile in place while his silver eyes stared down at the depths of the abyss below.

“The Supreme Leader has been judged,” he said quietly, his voice carrying a serene finality. “Nungal’s will is done.”

Valentina felt a shiver run down her spine. Grace, you’re something else entirely. She stepped forward, trying to regain her composure, her claws flexing as she looked at the spot where the Supreme Leader had stood. No harm had come to their devices. “I…I can’t believe he’s just…gone. It’s as if he never existed. No blood. No flesh… Nothing.”

Grace gave her a gentle look, his demeanor as tranquil as ever. “As I said, faith is a powerful thing, Valentina. Nungal’s justice is swift and absolute, as is The Empress’.”

Black’s grin returned, a spark of mischief in her eyes. “I think we’re all a bit more impressed than we’d like to admit. Valentina, you handled yourself well, so don’t be too hard on yourself. Now, the rescue is done, the threats neutralized, and a…rather unusual place ready to be explored.”

Valentina took a deep breath, nodding firmly. “Yeah, let’s get these prisoners out and figure out what other secrets this place holds. I have a feeling there’s more to uncover. Although…do you think The Empress would want to explore this herself?” she asked with a strained smile as Grace rejoined them, the mine now eerie with how still and silent it was.

Death rubbed his bony jaw, looking up at the fathomless ceiling with its layers of spiraling walkways and corridors. “We could get lost in here for weeks…perhaps months. If you’re asking for my opinion, it is best we look around for anything new on our way out rather than wander. Reporting back should be our priority.

“She could use more followers, as well, so seeing to the clanless could prove fruitful. I think your judgment was right in focusing on the mission we were given, Val. Grace, can you speak to The Empress right now?”

The man’s ears tilted to the right with his gaze, no doubt following sounds far more distant than her smaller ears could detect. “Not for a short time. I must prepare my mind and heart to properly reach out after communing with Nungal.”

“Alright then,” Valentina nodded. “We head out.”

She smiled, feeling like she actually had something under her belt now. She had a large number of followers and a giant quen’talrat mine to present to Her Empress. Her tail swung at her back as she hopped onto Black’s horse, her feet feeling a little stressed with how far they’d walked and how much pressure she’d put on them in her fight with Grace.

Valentina glanced down at the calm, relaxed hare, her cheeks coloring while getting a good look at him. The Empress is alright with us worshiping Nungal and her… I want to learn more about Nungal after that. She’s real… A real goddess. I saw her for a brief second… He’s more than just a warrior with her strength; he’s a force of nature…just like Empress Elinor.

As they moved deeper into the fortress, the weight of Grace’s display of power still hung in the air. Valentina’s mind raced, trying to process everything she had witnessed.

The corridor they followed was lined with more of the strange, glowing obelisks, their runes pulsating with a faint light. The air grew warmer, and the sound of distant machinery echoed through the cavern. Valentina’s sharp ears directed them further past the exit door, and she could smell that the ri’bot leaders they’d rescued had run out of the fortress.

Her ears fluttered, a weird noise brought her attention to Grace’s earlier action. Questioning the long-eared hare, he confirmed it had begun once he’d released his seals, suggesting the timing could be coincidence. Valentia wasn’t so sure, though.

Pausing for a moment just before the open doors of the mine’s exit, she looked further down the corridor, the opposite way they’d come. It sounded like something metal slamming against a wall. “Let’s…just check that out real fast.”

Proceeding a bit further and following her gut, Valentina’s lungs jumped into her throat upon making it to what looked to be a colossal storage area, where a giant, ornate door blocked their sight of what lay beyond; that wasn’t the important part, though.

Valentina’s ears shifted to the left, where the largest cart system they’d come across so far came into focus, leading to the door as if the area was meant to transport a ton of goods from the mine. The faint shimmer of a force field blocking their path from reaching the far more complex obelisk on the platform, and a large mechanical quen’talrat seemed to be malfunctioning inside, walking into the barrier on the opposite side of them.

“Well, that’s not creepy,” she mumbled, eyeing the intimidating giant. “I see others in the background—over there, below the ramp, but they seem to be broken. I can hear gears inside.”

Death stepped forward, examining the barrier with a thoughtful expression as he ran his finger over it. “Unlike those other obelisks we’ve seen, this one here seems unique. They must be protecting something valuable.”

Valentina's ears twitched as she scanned the room, her eyes narrowing on the massive mechanical quen’talrat clanging against the force field. Grace stood beside her, his silver eyes reflecting a calm intensity as he studied the intricate obelisk. Black and Ash flanked them, their expressions a mix of curiosity and wariness.

The atmosphere was thick with the potential dangers that lay ahead. The flickering torches of the decimated clanless marauders cast eerie shadows on the stone walls, and the hum of the force field added an ominous undertone to the vast open space.

Black glanced at Valentina and Grace while nudging her brother. “I’d like to check it out, yet given the quen’talrat’s famed military prowess, I’d rather not open up something that could be a problem for us without The Empress’ permission. Thoughts, our fluffy-tailed leader?”

“I agree,” she mumbled, moving left and right; the mechanical quen’talrat followed her, its movements rigid. “Wait…that’s in the direction of the black fortress,” she said, pointing at the door. “Do you think this could help us find an underground path inside?”

Black grinned and ruffled her hair, making her frown at being treated like a little kid. “Nice one, Val! Can’t you communicate with The Empress, Grace?”

Grace’s gaze was fixated on the metal quen’tarlat. “I can, if she is listening. Give me a moment.”

He closed his eyes, and a soft glow enveloped him. Valentina watched in awe as the air around him seemed to shimmer with a faint light. His permanent serenity somehow made her even more antsy. She felt a mixture of curiosity and impatience bubbling inside her, her tail twitching with the need to move.

What’s he saying to her? Did I really do a good job…because I don’t think I did. She would have had this done in like half a day… No, less than that. I suck…

Minutes felt like hours as they waited, the only sound the persistent clanking of the mechanical quen’talrat. Finally, Grace opened his eyes, the glow fading as he turned to them with a grave expression.

“The Empress has given new orders,” he said, his voice calm but urgent. “We need to move out immediately. Her Phylactery is broken, the Nexus is unstable, and the Roxim and even War have been taken captive by the Xaltan. She has become the new Great Chief over the other valley clans, and they are preparing to engage the Xaltan.”

Valentina’s ears drew back. “Huh?! How did all of that happen?”

A cold look passed between Ash and Black, their faces hardening. “How is that possible?” Black asked, her voice laced with disbelief. “We recently received advancements from The Empress’ [Rising Empire: 1st Petal]. How could they capture War of all people?”

Grace shook his head, his expression uncharacteristically somber. “Their Mysticism is mimicking the creatures they consume, and they’re using thélméthra drone eggs. What is more concerning is that nearly two Circles of human witches are missing from the attack, their scent wiped clean of the area.”

Valentina’s heart sank at the news. “Twenty-five women… With how few humans we have left, that’s a big deal. We need to move.”

Grace nodded. “The Empress says we must leave the secrets of this place for now and focus on the immediate threat.”

Valentina didn't hesitate and jumped onto Black’s horse. “I guess it’s war.”

Grace somehow managed to keep pace with them on foot, his movements fluid and effortless as they made their way out of the mines. The cool air of the mountain’s interior gave way to the warmer, more humid atmosphere outside, the sounds of the jungle enveloping them as they emerged.

The urgency of what was happening weighed on Valentina’s mind as Grace further explained. While I’ve been ambushing low-level jungle thugs and getting stripped, The Empress has built connections with an entire otherworldly kingdom, made deals with hags, talked with goddesses, and united the entire damn valley under her banner. What the hell!?

I’ll get stronger, Empress. I won’t let you down, I promise. She glanced at Grace, his returned serene expression a stark contrast to the turmoil she felt inside. If I ask…will he train me? Because I’m just not good enough!

They rode through the jungle, the dense foliage closing in around them as they pushed forward. The path ahead was uncertain, but Valentina would fight for The Empress, for the Empire, and for the future they were building together in this alien world. She wanted to be a part of it. To contribute. She wanted to prove herself worthy of The Empress’ trust.