The Hollow Fortress

Blake and Malrek followed the narrow trail that curved around the rocky slope, sticking to the shadows cast by the towering trees. The forest thinned as they approached the rear wall of the fortress — a wall of grey stone that loomed above them like a sleeping giant.

They crouched behind a dense thicket of thornbush, the leaves rustling softly in the wind.

Blake narrowed his eyes, scanning the walls."How do we get over that?" he asked, voice barely more than a breath.

Malrek's gaze never left the stone wall of the fortress.

"I could open a portal directly inside, but the energy would draw attention. If scouts are watching the wall, we'd be seen immediately."

Blake was quiet for a moment. Then—"Let me get a closer look. I'll check where the nearest guard is."

Malrek turned to him sharply."What? How exactly are you planning to—"

"Just wait here."

Before Malrek could protest, Blake was already moving — smooth and silent. He sprinted across the short clearing with a low, athletic crouch, every movement sharp and disciplined. He reached the stone wall without making a sound and pressed his back to it.

Malrek stayed crouched behind the bush, eyes narrowed."Idiot's going to get himself killed..."

Blake reached behind his back and unsheathed two slender daggers, each blade glinting faintly under the sun. He stabbed one into the stone, then another slightly higher up. With fluid precision, he began to climb, burying the daggers into the stone one after another — a technique Malrek had taught him years ago in the mountains. But even Malrek had to admit—Blake was damn good at it now.

He scaled the massive wall quickly, silently, until he reached the top and stood upright, fully exposed to the wind, with no attempt to hide.

Malrek's eyes widened."What the hell is he doing?" he muttered under his breath.

Then Blake looked down, locked eyes with Malrek through the bush cover, and gave a sharp wave. A signal. Come up.

Malrek hesitated. He glanced around, searching for signs of movement in the fortress.

Nothing.

With a sigh, he finally raised a hand and opened a void portal beside him. Darkness twisted open like a torn sheet in reality, and Malrek stepped through, reappearing beside Blake at the top of the wall.

They stood side by side, wind tugging at their cloaks.

From here, they had a full view of the fortress.

Stone towers stretched high. Barracks, stables, guard posts—all of it—laid out below like a perfect diagram of military precision.

But something was wrong.

Blake's jaw clenched."Where the hell is everyone?"

The courtyard was empty. No guards. No scouts. Not even a stable horse or a loose dog. The gates were sealed, but the place looked abandoned. Not a soul in sight.

Malrek stepped forward slightly, scanning with narrowed eyes.

"This... doesn't feel right."

Blake nodded grimly."It's too quiet."

Blake and Malrek dropped silently from the wall, landing in the heart of the fortress. The stone courtyard echoed beneath their boots, each step bouncing off the abandoned walls like whispers in a crypt.

They moved slowly, blades drawn.Every corner they turned.Every empty hall.Every vacant watch post—

Nothing.

No guards.No patrols.No Mirai.

Blake's fists clenched tighter with each passing second.His voice came low, teeth gritted."They played us."

Malrek glanced around, eyes sharp."This doesn't make sense. Not even supplies… they cleared out everything."

The silence was unbearable. Too perfect. Too hollow.

Eventually, they made their way into what must've once been the mess hall. Tables smashed. Plates shattered. Still… no bodies. No sign of a struggle.

Then they heard it.

A cough.

Both men froze.

Blake stepped forward, cautiously rounding the corner into a side room. Malrek followed, blade low, senses sharpened.

Sitting on a wooden stool near the corner, beneath a cracked window, was an old man. His frame was thin and brittle, and he wore the grey uniform of Duke Ardan's guard, though it sagged on him like it no longer belonged.

The man raised his hand slowly in peace.

"No need for weapons, boys. I'm not in any shape to fight," he said, voice raspy with age.

Malrek didn't lower his blade. Blake took a step forward, jaw tense.

"Where is everyone?" Blake snapped."Where's the girl?"

The old man gave a long, slow sigh."Gone. I'm the only one left."

Blake's lip curled."You expect me to believe that? You expect me to believe they just left you here to rot?"

The man looked up, eyes dark but strangely warm."I wasn't left. I chose to stay. Someone had to answer your questions."

Malrek finally spoke."If you know where she is, say it. Now."

The old man nodded slowly."They took her to the east. To a fortress."

Malrek narrowed his eyes."Duke Ardan has no fortresses in the east. His holdings stop far from the border."

That's when the old man laughed — loud, wheezing, and almost joyful—a madman's laugh.

Blake took a step closer, his anger boiling."What the hell's so funny, old man?"

The man grinned, revealing a few crooked teeth.

"I didn't say Ardan's fortress."

The words hit like a slap.

Blake and Malrek exchanged a glance.It couldn't be—

"You're talking about... Rollo?" Blake said slowly.

The old man tilted his head, smile deepening.

But then he looked straight at Blake. Eyes piercing. Voice colder.

"Judith helped you… and you leave her to suffer."

Blake's heart skipped.

"What did you say?" he asked sharply."How do you know her?"

The old man didn't respond. He just laughed again. A loud, rasping laugh that echoed off the hollow stone walls.

Then—

A sudden gust of wind ripped through the broken windows.

Dust and ash swept through the air like a swirling storm.Blake shielded his eyes.Malrek turned his head.

When the air cleared—The man was gone.

The stool sat empty. The room was silent once more.

Blake stepped forward, fists shaking. His voice was low, confused.

"What the hell was that?"

Malrek didn't answer right away. He simply looked at the empty stool, eyes narrowed beneath his mask.

"We need to move. Now."

The sun was beginning to set as Blake and Malrek stepped through the portal and into the familiar darkness of the Black Halo's cabin. The warm glow of lanterns flickered off wooden walls.

Javier looked up from where he sat sharpening his blade.Lora, Julie, and Selene were gathered near the fire.Tonza sat propped up on a cushion, still pale but speaking softly to Julie.

When the others noticed Blake and Malrek, the room quieted.

"You're back," Lora said. "Did you find her?"

Blake shook his head, his face hard."No. The fortress was empty. Every guard, every trace of life… gone."

Malrek added, "Except for one old soldier. Left behind to speak to us."

The Black Halo gathered close as Malrek recounted the encounter — the old man's strange demeanor, the mention of a fortress in the east, and his final cryptic words.

When Blake repeated the name Judith, Julie looked up sharply.

"Judith… wasn't that your—"

"My maid," Blake said quietly. "From before my exile. She raised me more than anyone else in that damn castle."

The group fell silent, trying to piece it all together.

Javier growled, "So now we're up against two dukes? Ardan and Rollo?"

"Lucky us," Selene whispered.

Blake stepped forward, eyes serious."Then maybe we need to stop playing it safe. I'll go talk to Rollo myself."

A wave of protest hit instantly.

"Absolutely not," Lora snapped.

"He'll have you executed the moment he sees you," Javier added.

"You can't go alone!" Julie said.

Blake's gaze didn't waver."He won't kill me."

Malrek narrowed his eyes."You're putting a lot of faith in someone who let the world think you were dead."

Blake looked up, voice steady but heavy with meaning."That's because… Rollo is my father."

The air went still. Not a sound. Even the fire seemed to quiet.

Selene's eyes widened.Lora's mouth parted in disbelief.Julie covered her lips with her hand.Even Javier, who never seemed surprised by anything, went stiff.

"You're... a duke's son?" Tonza murmured.

Blake nodded once. "Born into privilege. Thrown into exile. Just another deviant disappointment."

The room spiraled into confused arguments.They threw doubts, concerns, and furious warnings.

But Blake stood still, letting them talk.

Eventually, Malrek raised a hand."Enough. We're not deciding this now. Dismiss the meeting. Eat something. Rest. We'll figure out our next move tomorrow."

Later that night, under the silver shimmer of moonlight, Blake and Selene moved quietly through the woods surrounding the hideout.

Selene carried a basket in one hand, her other hand brushing aside tall grass.Blake walked beside her, a small knife in hand, searching for wild mushrooms among the tree roots.

They worked in silence until Selene finally broke it.

"So… the son of a duke," she said softly, not looking at him.

Blake smiled faintly. "Doesn't sound as noble when you've spent nine years scraping by in the woods."

Selene stopped and crouched beside a thick log, plucking a cluster of mushrooms.

"It's not that," she said after a pause."It's just… everything's happening so fast. You've fought dragons, lost friends, fought mercenaries and bounty hunters."

Her voice caught slightly. Blake knelt beside her.

"And now," she continued, "you're thinking of walking straight into the jaws of the man who exiled you. What if he hasn't changed? What if he wants to finish what he started?"

Blake stayed quiet, then whispered:

"Then I'll handle it. I have to. Mirai doesn't have time for my family drama."

Selene turned to face him, her voice lower now, trembling with emotion.

"I've already watched too much burn. I… I can't handle it if something happens to you too."

Blake looked at her, surprised.

She stepped closer, gently touched his chest."Just promise me you'll be careful. Whatever you do, wherever you go."

Blake met her gaze. A brief silence passed between them, delicate but charged.

"I promise."

Selene smiled faintly, then turned away before her face could betray more.

"Come on. These mushrooms won't gather themselves."