iv - Into the Heart of Darkness

With their preparations complete, X, Korin, and the task force set out for Sancuster. As they journeyed, X left Oklein in charge of the group while she and Korin continued on ahead to Sancuster on Vallei, leaving the rest of the task force just under a day's ride away.

X and Korin met one of the spies disguised as a merchant. Korin and the spy took their places at the front of the wagon, while X remained hidden in the back with the goods.

At the city gate, the guard began his inspection. He approached the wagon, peering inside to check its contents. When he opened the door, he was met with the sight of X, handing him a bag of gold. Without so much as a blink, the guard took the gold, closed the door, and motioned for them to enter the city.

Once inside, they were amazed by the beauty and sophistication of the kingdom. Surrounded by towering stone walls and imposing metal gates, the sheer scale of it all was breathtaking. The castle loomed high above, while the bustling markets and vibrant streets stretched as far as the eye could see. It was overwhelming.

Opposing such a massive kingdom... it felt impossible.

Korin, and the merchant spy headed to the shop to meet with the other spy, who was undercover as a shopkeeper. They were led to a hidden backroom, where the spies began to brief them on the gathered information.

The first spy spoke up, "We've been tracking missing persons reports and noticed a spike in recent months. Public executions stopped around the same time, and now even members of noble families are turning up missing. My gut tells me they're ending up in the same place as the others. I also got a tip from a former convict who escaped with help from an underground organization—he mentioned going from spending twelve hours mining to living in the mine altogether."

The second spy added, "Sancuster currently has two official mines. One is privately owned but heavily guarded, far too much for a mere mining operation. The other, owned by the kingdom, has apparently been shut down for months, but there's still heavy traffic in and out."

X cut in, "Korin, take care of my things. I'm heading out."

Korin looked up, puzzled. "Where are you going?"

"To see what I can find," X replied. She stepped out briefly, then returned. "Can someone point me to the nearest tavern?"

Following the spy's directions, X arrived at the tavern. She stepped through the door and paused, taking in the scene with a sweeping glance. Her gaze settled on a table near the corner where a group of rough-looking men were seated, sharing drinks. Without hesitation, she strode purposefully toward them.

Crack!

Her fist connected squarely with one of the men's noses, sending him crashing off his chair. The others immediately jumped up, ready to retaliate. Fists flew, chairs were overturned, and the entire place erupted into chaos. Soon, other patrons joined in, transforming the skirmish into a full-blown bar brawl.

The guards arrived shortly afterward, struggling to break up the fights. Once things had calmed down, one of them approached the barkeep. "What happened here?" he demanded.

The barkeep pointed directly at X. "It's the black one. She just walked in and started attacking everyone."

The guards turned to find X casually leaning back in a chair, her legs propped up on the table as she gave them a shrug and a cheeky smile.

"Let's see if we can channel all that rage somewhere useful," one of the guards said as he rolled his shoulders, stepping forward and seizing her arm with practiced ease. Without much resistance, they dragged her off.

The guards threw X into a dimly lit cell, the heavy door clanging shut behind her. With a smirk, one of the guards called out, "Freak number one, meet freak number two." Their laughter echoed down the corridor as they walked away.

X sat up and glanced at the presence in the corner of the cell. A lady with the standard Thrydian features but with yellow skin instead of the usual gray sat there.

"Hey, freak number two," the lady said with a smile and a casual wave.

X's eyes narrowed slightly. "I'm guessing you're freak number one?"

"So, what are you in for?" the lady asked, tilting her head with curiosity.

X sighed deeply. "I'm looking for someone. Do you know what's going to happen to us?"

"Us?" the lady repeated, her voice tinged with confusion. "As in you?"

"Huh?" X replied, her brow furrowing in puzzlement.

Before the lady could say more, X's vision began to blur, and the sounds around her faded into a dull roar. Overwhelmed by the encroaching darkness, she felt her consciousness slipping away. With a final, muffled gasp, she blacked out.

X came to, feeling a guard frantically shaking her, his face twisted in panic. His voice, though frantic, was barely coherent, but she caught fragments of "They're all dead."

"Where is she?" the guard demanded, trying to slap X awake. Her head turned towards the side of the room where the lady had been, but she was no longer there. With that, X lost consciousness once more.

Meanwhile, Korin wandered the streets of Sancuster, his thoughts restless. I've been walking for hours, and every lead I follow turns into a dead end. I swear, those spies made this seem easier than it is.

In the midst of his inner monologue, Korin spotted a man he thought was dead—his father, who now seemed to have another family. Driven by a mix of shock and curiosity, Korin decided to follow him to be sure.

When they arrived home, Korin started to approach the front door but hesitated and turned back, deciding against it.

A short while later, his father emerged alone. Korin trailed him for a distance before finally confronting him.

"Do they know about me?" Korin's voice cut through the quiet, coming from behind.

His father turned around, recognition dawning on his face, but he was left stunned and speechless. Korin's voice grew louder, tinged with anger. "You went to war and never came back. Meanwhile, you've—" He paused, unable to finish the thought.

His father tried to speak, but Korin interrupted him, his voice now somber. "Mom got taken. It's been months now, but apparently she's somewhere in this kingdom."

The shock in his father's eyes was palpable, and all he could manage was a weak "No." Korin stared him down, his voice steely. "If anything has happened to her, you'll be the one to suffer for it." With that, he turned and walked away, leaving his father standing alone in the street with his head in his hands.

X awoke to a sharp, jarring pain in her side. The sting of an electric baton sent a jolt through her body, snapping her into consciousness. A guard loomed over her, his smirk cutting through the darkness of the underground Ethral mine. "Told you she was still alive," he sneered.

He kicked a pickaxe toward her, the metal clattering loudly on the rocky ground. "Get to work," he commanded, his voice harsh.

Still groggy and weakened from the effects of whatever had been done to her in the cell, X struggled to her feet and took up the pickaxe. The mine was cold and grim, and the oppressive weight of forced labor settled heavily on her shoulders. Despite her exhaustion, she managed to get through the grueling day.

As night fell, the guards left the mine and locked the door behind them, their footsteps fading away. The prisoners were left in eerie silence. Seizing the opportunity, X began her search for the captured villagers. She inquired among the prisoners, looking for anyone from the village in the mountains. After some effort, she found someone from her village who led her to the others.

Navigating the dimly lit mine, she eventually found Nirana. The woman was curled up alone, her body showing the signs of severe distress. The sight of her was heart-wrenching. When Nirana's eyes met hers, a smile slowly spread across her face—a small, yet warm smile that reminded X of the first day they had met.

X knelt beside her, reaching out for a hug. "I'm going to get you out of here, I swear," she vowed softly.

After they broke the embrace, X's eyes fell to Nirana's midsection. Her heart sank as she realized Nirana was pregnant. A surge of anger flushed across X's face as she stared at Nirana's belly in stunned silence.

Nirana reached out and touched X's cheek gently, guiding her to look into her eyes. "It's nothing. Let's just get out of here," she urged.

X's expression remained stern, her voice cold and demanding. "Who was it?"

Nirana hesitated, her gaze dropping to the floor before she met X's eyes again. "X, I—" She started, but X's impatience was clear. She stood up and, looking down at Nirana, pressed, "Who?"

Back in Sancuster, Korin made his way back to the shop, his mind too distracted to focus on chasing more leads. "So, all this time…" he muttered, still processing the encounter with his father. His feet moved on autopilot, replaying the events over and over in his mind.

He slowed as he passed by a market stall, something catching his eye.

"Whoa, what kind of crossbow is this?" Korin asked, picking up the strange-looking weapon.

"It's a rapid-fire crossbow," the shopkeeper replied, barely glancing at him.

"How do you load the arrows?"

The shopkeeper sighed, clearly annoyed. "Look, kid, I don't make the merchandise—I just sell it."

"Well, how do you expect to sell something you don't even know about?" Korin snapped, his frustration showing.

As he spoke, something in the corner of his eye made him freeze. A man was talking to a guard, pointing directly at him. "Shit." Korin clenched his fists, glancing around.

Without warning, the guard sprinted toward him, yelling for him to stop. Korin's heart leapt into his throat, and he bolted. Weaving through the bustling streets of Sancuster, he whispered, "I've got to lose him…" He ducked into a narrow alley, confident he'd shaken the guard.

Feeling smug, he slowed down and turned a corner—only to find the guard waiting for him, arms crossed, a smirk on his face.

Korin's heart sank. "I was just going for my evening jog. What seems to be the officer, problem?" he asked, feigning nonchalance.

The guard wasn't buying it. Without a word, he grabbed Korin by the arm. And just like that, he was taken away.

Korin was brought before a woman dressed in regal attire. She eyed him with cold calculation before speaking.

"I'm Queen Aesaelin of Sancuster," she introduced herself, her voice sharp. "Don't bother lying—I know you're a spy from Dawncreak."

"I've never even heard of Dawncreak," Korin replied, his voice steady, but the queen's expression remained unmoved.

"For a spy, you're really bad at sneaking around," she continued, unimpressed by his denial. "If some other guards had found you, you'd be dead by now—or worse."

Korin tilted his head, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "I get the feeling you think I could be of use."

"My sources tell me Dawncreak's army was marching for Sancuster but suddenly stopped, as if they're waiting for a signal," Aesaelin said, her eyes narrowing.

Korin remained silent.

"Your silence tells me I might be right." She stepped closer, her gaze piercing. "But if all this is some kind of retaliation for what the bandits did, then we can help each other."

"What are you suggesting?" Korin asked, his voice cautious.

"I need your army to march for Sancuster."

"And get them killed?" Korin raised an eyebrow. "They'll be outnumbered."

"They don't have to fight. They could retreat before engaging, for all I care." Her tone was dismissive. "I just need them to draw enough attention from the kingdom for me to make my move."

Korin tilted his head, smirking. "Did you catch your husband having an affair and now want to take his kingdom?"

"It's far more serious than some petty affair." She paused, her voice softening for a moment, as if she were weighing her next words carefully.

"If you want my help, I need to know what's going on," Korin added.

"The current king killed my father—his own brother—and took the throne," she said, her voice cold again. "He would have gotten rid of me too, but with half the nobles still loyal to my father, he figured it was safer to marry me. I've waited years for a chance like this."

Aesaelin's eyes bore into Korin's. "So will you do it?"

Korin leaned back slightly, a small, knowing grin on his lips. "Sure, that army was always meant to be a diversion anyway."

As this happened, a group of three burly men were engaged in conversation and laughter. As X drew nearer, one of them remarked, "New shipment?" He nudged his companion, noticing her approach.

"She's a little too muscular for me," another man replied, his gaze lingering on X. "I like them small and delicate. You have to feel like you can break them if you're too rough." He crossed his arms over his chest and sensually rubbed his hands up and down his arms. Both men burst into laughter.

X seized a pickaxe and closed in on them. The third man, noticing her approach, called out, "Put that down before you hurt your—" His sentence was cut short as X drove the pickaxe into his skull.

Without hesitation, X grabbed a lantern and shattered it against the second man's head, setting his head ablaze. He scrambled, trying in vain to put out the flames.

The first man, sitting behind a table, attempted to flip it at X. But she punched through the table, unfazed. A punch from the man struck her square in the face, but she caught his second punch and retaliated by dislocating his shoulder with a powerful blow. Stepping on his knee, she forced him to the ground, then kneed him in the face three times, with his head wedged between the walls of the mine and her knee. His body finally crumpled to the floor.

The second man, having extinguished the fire, reappeared with a pickaxe. X swiftly turned, tackling him to the ground and disarming him. She sat on his chest, pinning his arms with her knees, and, grabbing the pickaxe, pounded his face mercilessly until brain matter clung to the weapon.

Hearing faint murmurs from the first man—still barely alive—X approached him and repeatedly stomped on his head until she was certain he was dead.

Before she could even catch her breath, guards armed with electric batons stormed into the mine. They lashed out indiscriminately, targeting everyone in their path—women and the elderly were not spared. Amidst the chaos, some individuals who still had fighting spirit resisted, but the guards overwhelmed them with sheer numbers.

X fought through the guards, enduring the numbing pain of electric shocks. Her strategy was clear: she smashed as many lanterns as possible. Other prisoners, realizing her plan, joined in. Fires ignited throughout the cave, but with nothing but rocks to burn, they quickly burned out, leaving only the harsh light of the electric batons and the guards with targets on their backs.

In the ensuing chaos, the prisoners attacked anything holding a baton, while the guards targeted everything else. Overwhelmed, the guards were soon outnumbered, and the prisoners began to escape. X led Nirana out of the cave, fighting both guards and prisoners indiscriminately. As they emerged, they were met with a barrage of blaster fire. The guards shot at anyone not in uniform, and bodies piled up at the cave's entrance, the violence inside continuing unabated. It seemed hopeless; their backs were against the wall.

X was left with no choice but to use her last resort—a risky move, but one reserved for desperate moments. She pulled out the whistle from around her neck and blew into it as hard as she could. The sound echoed through the cave and beyond. Nothing happened. She blew again, harder this time, but still, no response. She glanced at Nirana, who leaned against the wall of the cave, exhausted and with her hand on her belly. Despite her fatigue, Nirana gave X a reassuring smile—a smile that was forced but still intended to offer encouragement.

Determined, X took out her whistle once more, preparing for one final attempt. Just as she was about to blow, a familiar roar filled the air—it was Vallei. The dragon swooped down, breathing mist over the guards and turning them to stone. The surviving guards fired at Vallei as she flew away, but this created the opening X needed. She bolted towards the closest guard, swiftly disarming him. Despite taking a few shots, she retaliated by shooting at the remaining guards, splitting their attention and allowing the prisoners to overcome them. Vallei circled back, petrifying more guards, and soon, the battle was decisively won.

X returned to the entrance to find Nirana, only to see a gentleman accompanying her. "X, you're hurt," Nirana said, reaching out to help her stand. "No, you're the one who—" X began, but before she could finish, she collapsed as the gentleman also extended a hand to assist her.

Elsewhere in Sancuster, preparations were complete. The message had been sent to General Calvyne, and the Dawncreak army resumed its march toward the kingdom. Korin met with Oklein and the rest of the task force near the city's outskirts.

"The army's moving again, and it looks like Sancuster's noticed," Oklein muttered, eyeing the soldiers gathering nearby.

The five of them, dressed in military armor to blend in, merged with a larger group of guards under the queen's command. The chaos of mobilization surrounded them as Sancuster's army prepared to face Dawncreak.

"Stay close," Korin whispered. They slipped through the castle gates, moving unnoticed.

Once inside, they regrouped with Queen Aesaelin, who was already waiting.

"This way," the queen said, leading them swiftly through the corridors. None of the guards dared question her presence as they passed, until finally, they reached the king's chambers.

The doors opened, revealing the king seated in the center of the room, tending to a few plants. Guards filed in behind Aesaelin, surrounding him. He glanced up, meeting her gaze.

"Aesaelin, what's all this?" he asked, voice calm.

"You know exactly what this is," she replied, her tone sharp.

The king barely looked at her, his attention returning to the plants before him. "You don't have it in you to go through with this."

"You have no idea what I'm capable of!" she snapped, her fists clenched.

He sighed, leaning back in his chair. "You've convinced yourself that I somehow killed your father. He was sick for months—there's no way I could have done that. Leave now, and I'll forget this happened. Even your treasonous guards will go unpunished." His eyes met Korin's, the coldness in his gaze making it clear he didn't mean the latter.

The king turned back to Aesaelin, his expression unreadable. "I didn't kill your father. The kingdom has flourished under my rule, and I haven't even bedded you once. So, tell me—why are you here, threatening my life?"

Aesaelin faltered, her resolve wavering as his words seemed to sink in.

"What about the witches of Galedew Forest?" One of the guards stepped forward, eyes fixed on the king.

The king stammered, "That's just propaganda—street rumors."

"Street rumors?" the guard shot back, anger flaring. "You used them to poison the previous king, and as thanks, you massacred their people and gave their land to those things."

"Guards, seize this traitor before she corrupts more innocent minds!" the king commanded desperately.

The guards hesitated, glancing at Queen Aesaelin for a signal, but she gave none. The guard moved closer, removing her helmet. The king's eyes widened in recognition; she was the lady from X's cell. Yet fear washed over his face as he recognized her as something else.

"I'm going to be the last thing you see, you bastard," she said, plunging a needle into his neck.

His veins bulged, blood seeping from every opening as he fell to the ground, clawing at his skin in a futile attempt to escape the pain. It was a gruesome death, and it didn't take long before he lay still.

As the guards moved to apprehend the killer, Queen Aesaelin intervened, stretching her hand out while still staring at her dead husband in horror. She took a moment to readjust herself.

"Thank you all for your help," she said with a slight bow. "You two, take the witch and the ones from Dawncreak to the guest chambers. You four guard this room and make sure no one enters. The rest of you, come with me."

The queen hurried off, the guards following closely behind her.

As Korin and the group waited in silence, the door opened. To his astonishment, it was his mother, accompanied by the same gentleman from the mine. A rush of emotions flooded over him, and his heart raced as he rushed forward to embrace her.

"Mother!" he exclaimed, wrapping his arms around her.

Tears streamed down Nirana's face as they held each other tightly, and Korin felt the warmth of her arms around him, a comfort he had longed for during their separation.

"I was so worried about you," she said, her voice breaking.

"I wish I could have protected you from them," he murmured, guilt lacing his words.

"Don't blame yourself, my son. I'm here now," Nirana replied, cupping his face in her hands.

They shared a moment of silence, their eyes locked, and Korin saw the love and relief mirrored in her gaze. They both knew they had faced darkness, but now, they were together again.

"How did you get out?" Korin asked," Was it X?"

Nirana's face turned to one of worry. The gentleman spoke up, "X isn't doing too well. She was badly injured in the escape. We have some doctors seeing her, but we're not sure if her physiology is Thrydian enough."

"Let me take a look at her," the yellow Thrydian interrupted. "I think I know what the problem might be."

After examining X, she walked out of the room. "She's strong," she said. "Any other person would have died a long time ago, but the worst part is over now."

"Thank you so much," Nirana said.

"Oh please, don't thank me, really," she replied nervously.

"What's your name, young lady?" Nirana asked.

It's Saelys," she replied, glancing back over her shoulder as she exited the room, leaving a cloud of mystery hanging in the air behind her."