The skull mounting(1)

As theodore delved deeper into meditation, attuning both his aura and mana, a sudden awareness washed over him like icy water. A sinister presence lingered nearby—a group of individuals lying in wait. The realization struck him: the carriage journey was a trap. The Queen had orchestrated this, and Mimi was either complicit or under her influence.

Yet theodore remained composed. Sitting cross-legged within the carriage, he radiated an air of calm detachment, as though the world outside held no concern for him. When the carriage abruptly halted, his suspicions solidified. The man at the reins climbed down and swung open the door with a sneer.

"Oi, kid! Get out," one of the men barked.

Stepping outside, theodore found himself in a wooded area far removed from any familiar road. The dense trees loomed high, casting oppressive shadows that seemed to stretch endlessly. The air was damp and heavy, the silence broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves.

He glanced at his map, feigning a casual smile. "Oh, I see. This just so happens to be near Skull Head Mountain," he said, his tone light and mocking.

One of the men scoffed. "Look at him, pretending not to care."

"Stop the act, kid!" another spat. "Today's the day you join your cursed mother in hell."

The men unsheathed their daggers, their smirks dripping with malice. "Get ready to scream, boy!" one taunted, the rest laughing as they fanned out to surround him.

Theodore , however, didn't flinch. His cold gaze swept over them, calculating. "How about we have a little chat first?" he said calmly.

Before the men could react, Theodore raised his hand, unleashing a powerful blast of ice magic. The temperature plummeted as frost rapidly formed around their feet. In seconds, the men were frozen solid up to their necks, their smug grins replaced by wide-eyed panic.

"What the—! He can use magic?!" one of them shrieked. "The Queen said he was cursed! He's not supposed to—"

"Shut up!" the leader barked. "Don't go spilling names, idiot!"

Despite their panic, a few tried to reassure themselves. "It's just ice magic! He can't keep it up for long!"

Theodore stepped closer, his expression unreadable. "Where is Skull Head Mountain?" he asked, his voice steady but laced with quiet menace.

The men only laughed mockingly. "You think we'll talk? Even if we knew, you're as good as dead anyway."

Unbothered by their bravado, he turned his attention to the leader. "Ah, you must be the boss," he said with a faint smile. "Let's see if you're more cooperative."

Without warning, theodore placed his hand on the man's head. A crackling sound filled the air as the ice spread, freezing the man solid. With a sharp shove, theodore toppled the frozen figure to the ground, shattering him into countless icy fragments.

The remaining men stared in horror, their defiance crumbling.

"H-He killed the boss!" one stammered.

"I'm sorry! Please spare me! Skull Head Mountain is twenty minutes that way!" another blurted out, pointing desperately.

"I can take you there!" one cried, tears streaming down his face. "Just don't kill me!"

Theodore's cold smirk returned. "Why would I spare dead men?" he replied, his voice like a death knell.

"No! Please!" they begged, their pleas turning to screams as he summoned Shadow. The dark entity emerged from his own shadow, its otherworldly presence suffocating. Tendrils of black magic twisted and coiled, devouring the men's souls as their anguished cries echoed through the woods.

Hours later, Akira resumed his journey, now armed with a sword taken from one of the fallen men. Shadow lurked silently within his own shadow, an ever-present guardian. The forest grew darker and denser as he pressed on, the air becoming colder with each step.

A distant scream shattered the silence. Theodore's eyes narrowed, and he veered toward the sound. In a small clearing, he found a young woman—her long white hair and flowing garments marking her as a saintess—under attack by two rough-looking men. Her translucent veil fluttered as she stumbled back, clutching a prayer charm.

He moved swiftly. In a blur of motion, he disarmed and incapacitated the attackers, binding their wrists with magic. They crumpled to the ground, groaning in pain.

"Thank you for saving me, young one," the saintess said softly, stepping toward him. She attempted to embrace him, but Theodore stiffened, clearly uncomfortable. He took a step back, avoiding her touch.

"Oh, you don't like affection?" she teased lightly, though her tone remained kind. "What's a young boy like you doing in a place this dangerous?"

Akira smiled faintly, masking his irritation. "I was following some mercenaries. I'm one myself."

Her eyes widened in surprise. "You're so young! How old are you?"

"Ten," he replied. "And you?"

"Oh! I'm Sky, a 19-year-old saintess of the Holy Temple. What's your name?"

Theodore hesitated. He couldn't reveal his true identity as Theodore, unsure of whether the Holy Temple was aligned with his stepmother. He forced a smile. "My name is Samuel."

Sky nodded warmly. "Samuel. You're quite skilled for someone so young. It's impressive."

"It's thanks to my grandfather," theodore said, deflecting her praise. "But what's a saintess doing here alone?"

"I'm not alone," she replied with a laugh. "I brought my maid."

A moment later, a young girl—no older than thirteen or fourteen—emerged from the forest, clutching a wooden stick. Her plain brown hair and black eyes gave her an unremarkable appearance, but her expression was fierce.

"Saintess Sky! Are you all right?" the girl cried, running toward them. "I couldn't leave you behind!"

"I told you to save yourself, Cadin," Sky said with a sigh. "But thank Gaia, I'm fine. He saved me."

Cadin glared at a Theodore with suspicion. "What's a kid doing in the middle of a forest?"

Sky frowned. "Cadin! Remember the teachings of the Holy Temple—be kind to strangers!"

"Fine," Cadin muttered reluctantly, though her gaze remained wary.

Theodore's thoughts churned. These two seem foolish. He feigned politeness. "If it's all right, I'll accompany you. Safety in numbers, right?"

Sky clapped her hands together, delighted. "That's a wonderful idea! We're headed to Skull Head Mountain."

Akira's lips curved into a smile. How convenient. "Sure. Let's go."

The trio made their way through the forest, Sky explaining her mission to exterminate a rumored demon sealed within Skull Head Mountain. As they walked, the ominous shape of the mountain loomed in the distance. Its jagged peaks and gaping skull-shaped cave exuded a sinister energy, sending chills down Akira's spine.

When they finally reached the mountain's base, Cadin accidentally pressed her hand against a hidden mechanism, triggering a series of rumbling vibrations. A staircase emerged along the mountainside, leading to the skull's mouth.

"Well done, Cadin!" Sky said cheerfully.

Pride flashed across Cadin's face as they began the treacherous climb. The steps were narrow, and the wind howled around them, but theodore's focus never wavered. Whatever lies beyond that door, he thought, will be mine.

The trio climbed cautiously toward the mouth of the skull-shaped cave. The wind howled, cold and biting, as they ascended the narrow stone steps. Without any railing for support, each of them kept one hand pressed firmly against the jagged rock wall. The higher they climbed, the darker the sky became, as though the mountain itself was draining the light from the world.

When they finally reached the cave's entrance, an unsettling chill greeted them. The darkness inside felt alive, thick and oppressive. Sky picked up a nearby rock, imbuing it with holy light. The faint glow illuminated the cave's walls, revealing sharp protrusions and faded carvings.

"Be careful," she said, her voice low. "This place reeks of old magic. I'll lead the way."

She tossed the glowing rock ahead to test the ground. The moment it hit the cave floor, a barrage of arrows shot out from hidden slits in the walls, moving with deadly precision. Sky flinched, pulling the others back.

"I guess there are traps," she muttered. "We'll need to tread carefully."

Theodore 's sharp eyes scanned the walls, noting subtle grooves and pressure points. Crude mechanisms. With her light and my agility, this will be simple.

The trio moved deeper into the cave, their footsteps echoing softly. Sky's holy light guided them, but as they progressed, the traps seemed to vanish. Instead, the air grew heavier with mana, and an ominous hum vibrated through the stone. They soon stood before a massive door embedded into the cave wall, crafted from dark stone and etched with intricate runes. Its design was grotesque—a gaping maw with jagged, lifelike teeth occupied the center, exhaling faint bursts of mana like the breath of a sleeping beast.

"What is this...?" Sky whispered, her holy aura dimming under the oppressive energy emanating from the door.

Theodore stepped closer, examining the runes with a discerning gaze. His fingertips traced the ancient text, careful not to touch the maw itself. He pushed against the door experimentally, but it refused to budge.

"Be careful, Samuel!" Sky exclaimed. "This door... it's unlike anything I've encountered. The mana inside—it's far beyond what I can handle. We should turn back and report this to the Holy Temple."

Theodore clenched his jaw. After all this effort, she wants to give up?

Cadin interrupted, her voice hesitant. "Your Holiness... I think I can read some of the runes."

Sky turned, incredulous. "What? Why didn't you mention this before?"

"I-I wasn't sure if I could," Cadin stammered. "But I think I can decipher these." She squinted at the carvings before murmuring, "The door... it requires a sacrifice to awaken."

Sky recoiled. "A sacrifice? No! We can't! This is forbidden magic. We'll have to seal the cave and inform the temple—"

Theodore cut her off with a sharp tone. "We've come this far, and now you want to retreat?" His expression darkened. "What a waste of time."

Cadin hesitated, guilt flickering across her face. "Your Holiness, maybe we should..."

"No, Cadin," Sky snapped, her voice unsteady. "We don't meddle with magic like this. We're leaving."

But Theodore had no intention of turning back. Subtly, he placed his hand on Cadin's shoulder, letting his dark magic seep into her mind. Her thoughts began to twist and churn, paranoia creeping into her heart.

Cadin's face contorted with anger, and she whirled on Sky. "You... you treat me like a servant! I'm not your slave!"

Sky blinked, taken aback. "Cadin, what are you saying?"

Theodore's influence deepened, stirring Cadin's buried frustrations. "You always order me around! You don't care about me, only about your stupid mission!"

"Cadin! That's not true!" Sky stepped forward, reaching out to calm her, but Cadin slapped her hand away. The tension between them crackled in the air, fueled by theodore's silent meddling.

Suddenly, Cadin shoved Sky backward. The saintess stumbled, her body hitting the door. The maw sprang to life, its jagged teeth gnashing as it emitted a low, guttural growl. Before anyone could react, it lunged forward, swallowing Sky whole. Her scream echoed through the cave before fading into silence.

Cadin fell to her knees, trembling. "I... I didn't mean to... I..." She looked at Theodore , panic in her eyes. "You saw that! It wasn't my fault!"

Theodore 's cold gaze bore into her. "You pushed her," he said simply, his voice devoid of sympathy.

"It wasn't on purpose!" Cadin's voice cracked. "Please! You have to believe me!"

Theodore smirked, enjoying the fear radiating from her. He glanced at the door. Its maw had receded slightly, but the runes now glowed faintly. One more sacrifice, he realized. "Look," he said, pointing. "The door needs one more offering."

"No! Please! Don't do this!" Cadin scrambled backward, but Theodore moved swiftly. Grabbing her hair, he yanked her forward, ignoring her screams. Blood dripped from her nose where he'd struck her moments earlier.

"Stop! I'll do anything! I'll pay you! I'll—" Her pleas dissolved into curses. "I hate you! I curse you!"

Theodore smiled coldly. "Goodbye, Cadin." With a single motion, he threw her toward the door. The maw sprang open once more, devouring her in an instant. The door shuddered, its runes flaring to life before it creaked open, revealing the path beyond.

Theodore stood before the dark corridor, satisfaction flickering in his eyes. "Finally," he muttered, stepping through.