Nidaba's eyes fluttered open as the wagon jolted over a bump. The first thing she noticed was the rough, wooden cuffs binding her hands. She was seated on a raised wooden platform, purposefully designed to keep her from making direct contact with the earth. Embeded into the wood were poorly worked spell nulls, their glassy surfaces glinting in the dim light—feeble attempts to suppress her dynamis.

Next to her sat a young Nephilan girl from the Sariel tribe, her small body trembling with sobs. The presence of a Liluvar soldier from the Utu Empire loomed nearby, his stern expression unwavering as he guarded the two prisoners. Nidaba's heart ached for the child, and she attempted to comfort her, speaking in soothing tones. But the guard, unable to comprehend her language, misinterpreted her intentions. With a swift motion, he struck Nidaba across the face, commanding her to keep no secrets. Nidaba responded with silence, her eyes burning with defiance.

Upon arriving at the Utu Empire, both Nidaba and the child were thrown into a stone cell. The stone walls surrounded them, cold and unyielding, while Nidaba remained confined on a wooden platform, preventing her from channeling her magic through the stone.

Amid the bleakness, Nidaba remembered the stone necklace Elpenor had gifted her. She whispered instructions to the child, guiding her to remove the necklace and touch one end to the floor and the other to the skin on her back. As soon as the child complied, Nidaba began to channel her dynamis through the necklace, creating a small tunnel beneath their cell. For three days, she worked tirelessly, her determination unwavering, until the tunnel was large enough to accommodate both of them.

On the final night, Nidaba had the child sit on her lap and instructed her to hold on tightly. With careful precision, she lowered the earth beneath them, guiding them into the tunnel. Once safely inside, she moved the earth back to cover their tracks, ensuring their escape would go unnoticed. With the child's help, she managed to break free from the wooden cuffs that bound her.

Nidaba and the child emerged into the outside world, the fresh air a stark contrast to the stifling confines of their cell.

Nidaba gently guided the Nephilan girl out of the cave, their footsteps echoing softly against the ancient stone. As they emerged into the open air, Nidaba asked the girl her name. The little Nephilan hesitated for a moment before replying, "Isabeli."

With a nod, Nidaba smiled and led Isabeli towards the Gishmukal trees that were heavy with ripe fruit. They worked together to collect the fruit, their hands moving quickly but carefully. After gathering enough, they made their way to a nearby stream to fetch some water. They built a small fire, and Nidaba collected the charcoal that formed, knowing it would be useful later.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, they returned to the cave. Nidaba sealed the entrance with her earth magic, forming a solid barrier of stone. Isabeli looked around, her eyes wide with curiosity and a hint of fear. "Why did you do that? It's so dark," she asked.

"Give me a second," Nidaba replied with a reassuring smile. She reached down and pulled some glowing stones from the ground, their soft light illuminating the cave. The warm glow cast comforting shadows on the walls.

Nidaba turned to Isabeli and explained, "We sealed the cave so Utu soldiers can't find us. Shadowmelders might be tracking our movements, and that why we didn’t make a big campfire to help mask our presence."

They sat down to eat the fruit they had collected, savoring each bite. After they finished, Nidaba used her earth magic to create a cup with a hole in the center. She made a charcoal filter and placed it inside the cup, then crafted a stone pot. She found a hotspot in the cave where the earth's warmth would allow her to boil water.

As the water boiled, she filled two cups, one for herself and one for Isabeli. They drank the purified water and felt the warmth spread through their bodies. Exhausted but safe, they lay down to rest, the glowing stones casting a gentle light as they drifted off to sleep.

The dim light of dawn filtered through the glowin rock, casting faint patterns on the stony walls. Isabeli stretched, her fingers brushing against the cool ground, while Nidaba adjusted the small pack slung over her shoulder.

"We’ll use a different way out this time," Nidaba said, her voice low but firm. Isabeli frowned slightly, her hand hovering near the wall they’d exited from the day before.

"Why not the same one?" Isabeli asked, curiosity laced with a hint of unease.

Nidaba’s serpentine hair rustled softly, mirroring her calculated gaze as she placed her hands against the far wall. "If we always use the same path, we make ourselves too easy to track." As her words faded, she channeled her earth magic. The rock shifted under her touch, closing and sealing the new exit as they left, smooth as though it had never been there. She turned to Isabeli with a faint smile. "The earth keeps our secrets."

They exited through the newly-formed passage, heading in the opposite direction from where they had traveled the day before. The forest greeted them with the crisp smell of dew and the symphony of distant birdsong. It wasn’t long before they encountered signs of life.

A rustle in the undergrowth caught Isabeli's attention. Before she could speak, Nidaba raised her hand, her focus sharp. With a subtle motion of her fingers, the ground beneath the bushes shifted, revealing a boar frozen mid-step. A twist of earth encased its legs, rooting it in place. Nidaba struck quickly, ending its struggle.

"That’ll be our meat for the day," Nidaba remarked, gathering the boar as Isabeli moved among the trees, her eyes scanning the branches. She returned moments later, her hands cradling a collection of nuts and fruits. But something caught her attention—a cluster of delicate worms spinning threads of silk under the shade of a leafy canopy.

"Nidaba, look at these," Isabeli whispered, crouching near the worms.

Nidaba's serpentine locks coiled forward, studying the discovery intently. Without hesitation, she knelt and crafted a small cage from branches and vines with her wood-shaping abilities. She placed the worms, alongside a handful of their leaves, inside the cage. "This is a rare and valuable find, Isabeli," she said with a glint of approval. "Excellent eye."

The mood grew tense on their way back to the cave. Nidaba halted Isabeli with a firm grip on her arm. She pointed ahead, where three figures—a pair of Utu trackers and a soldier—stood near the extinguished remnants of the fire they had left behind yesterday.

One tracker gestured toward the forest, saying, "Looks like they went that way." His companion nodded in agreement, and the group began heading in the opposite direction from the cave.

Isabeli and Nidaba shared a breath of relief, but it was short-lived. The stillness broke with the faint snap of a stick. Both their eyes darted to the cage of silkworms—one broken twig had betrayed their position.

The Utu soldier stiffened, scanning the trees. "Did you hear that?"

His gaze fixed toward their hiding spot, and Isabeli's heart raced, every muscle screaming to flee. Before panic could take hold, a rabbit darted from the undergrowth, its quick steps scattering leaves.

"Must’ve been a rabbit or a deer," the soldier muttered. The trackers nodded, and the trio resumed their path, disappearing into the forest.

Nidaba motioned for Isabeli to move, both women darting silently through the trees, urgency lending speed to their steps. They reached the cave as the first rays of the sun painted the sky in hues of orange and gold, their breaths heavy but spirits intact.

The cave grew silent as Nidaba and Isabeli carefully sealed the entrance, ensuring no sign of their passage remained. With a focused gesture, Nidaba called upon her earth magic to meld the rocks together seamlessly, leaving behind a smooth, unbroken surface. The tension in the air softened slightly as they stepped into their secure refuge.

Nidaba set to work, preparing their meal. She placed a wide, flat plate with folded edges atop the pot, letting the boar meat roast slowly while the water for the day boiled below. The savory aroma began to fill the air, mingling with the faint, earthy scent of the cave.

As they waited, Nidaba turned her serpentine gaze to Isabeli, her tone curious yet gentle. "You’ve stayed strong through all of this, Isabeli. Tell me about the life you had before."

Isabeli hesitated, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. But the warmth in Nidaba’s voice encouraged her to speak. "I was part of the Sariel tribe from the Deserian Kingdom," Isabeli began softly. "I was learning to be a scribe, like my parents. They taught me the art of recording histories, of preserving the stories of our people."

Her voice faltered, and she took a deep breath before continuing. "But something changed. The tribe grew… barbaric. They started hunting those who carried knowledge—the scribes. My parents…" Her words cracked, and she looked down. "They didn’t make it. I barely escaped. As I fled, I saw it—the great eldritch beast." Her eyes widened, the memory clearly vivid. "I thought I was going to die that day."

Nidaba’s serpentine hair shifted slightly, listening intently. Isabeli’s expression softened as she recalled what came next. "But then… I saw people like you, Nidaba. They faced the beast, and they fought it. Among them was a man named Lugal. He saved me. But before I could thank him…" Her voice grew tight again. "Two Utu soldiers attacked him. They did something to him, something I couldn’t understand. The next thing I knew, I was captured—and then I met you."

Nidaba’s golden eyes widened at the mention of Lugal. "Lugal? The scout from the Villa of the Earth Tone?" Her voice carried both awe and dread. "He’s one of the best we have, sharp and nearly impossible to outmaneuver. If they took him down…" She trailed off, her brow furrowing in thought. "It means they’ve been spying on us—on the Villa. And if they’re bold enough to target him, it might mean war is brewing."

The crackle of the boiling water broke the heavy silence that followed. Nidaba gently placed a hand on Isabeli’s shoulder, giving her a steadying look. "You’ve been through so much, but you’ve shown incredible strength."

They shared the boar meat, the flavors rich and comforting against the backdrop of their conversation. As the meal ended, Nidaba turned to Isabeli. "Get some rest. You’ll need it for whatever lies ahead." Her voice carried the weight of her resolve.

Isabeli nodded, exhaustion finally winning over as she settled into her makeshift bedding. Nidaba, however, remained awake, her thoughts churning. Determined to make use of the silk worms Isabeli had found, she carefully began weaving the silk into cloaks. Her hands moved with a practiced grace, and despite the danger looming outside, her work was precise and steady. With each strand she wove, she hoped to create something that would protect them in the battles to come.