9:58

“So, what’s the plan?” I said, trying to keep calm.

“Well, you tell me! How did you get in?” he demanded.

“An Aelith guided us in,” I replied, glancing at the now-solid wall before us.

“And you followed a strange, suspicious creature all the way in?” he mocked.

“When you put it like that, I feel incredibly dumb.” I sighed, running my hand through my hair in frustration.

“Don’t.” He smiled. “It’s thanks to that I am free now…well, partly.”

“Anyway,” I continued, pointing towards the wall, “we got in from there. We just passed through it, as if it were made of air. I hope you’ll believe me.”

He tilted his head, frowning slightly. “What I find hard to believe,” he said slowly, “is that you said ‘we.’ Were there others with you?”

To say that I was alone would be a lie, but saying I was escorted would be one too.

“Well… it’s complicated,” I began, shifting under his stare. “You see, there are two other people within me. Or rather… only one now.”

He looked at me, his eyes full of confusion.

“Now that you mention it,” he murmured, “your behavior is a bit different from earlier. Both were impulsive—but the first was very arrogant!”

“Hahaha, indeed,” I chuckled, glancing away. “By the looks of it, the wall is impregnable,” I added, changing the subject.

“Clearly there is a spell on it,” he muttered, squinting at the wall. “Leave magical matters to me, human. I mean…what should I call you?”

“My name is Mia. What’s yours?” I asked.

“Uh, my name…right…it’s Thalor,” he said.

He hesitated over his own name —couldn’t he make it less obvious?

“Quite a unique name,” I remarked. “But I bet it’s common among mermen, yes?”

“I’m a Nauvaryn, not a merman!” he protested, clearly offended.

“O—okay…”

“Aren’t you going to ask me what the difference is between a Nauvaryn and a merman?” he asked, crossing his arms.

I shook my head with a half-smile. “I think we should focus on getting out of here first!”

7:53

Thalor recited a string of incantations, his voice echoing faintly against the stone.

Nothing happened.

“Ugh, it’s too—” he caught himself, clearing his throat. “Ahem, I mean, that mage must’ve used something quite powerful on this one.” He paused, frowning at the wall. “I think we should fetch that Aelith to reopen the gate.”

At his words, I felt a cold draft stir through the air. There had to be another exit somewhere, but what if it was him?

“We still have time, right?” I asked, my voice laced with concern.

“Yes, we’ve got about six minutes left,” he replied, his tone reassuring. “Let’s follow the air current. Don’t worry, the opening is quite small, so it couldn’t possibly be that mage.”

“…”

“If you don’t trust me, feel free to stay behind,” he said, walking away.

I took a deep breath, then followed him quietly.

The sound of our footsteps echoed through the corridor, sharp and unsettling, disturbing the slumbering hostages who lay in their cages. A soft, desperate cry broke the silence.

“Help me, please!” a voice called, barely audible yet full of fear.

As I turned to glance back, Thalor gently placed his hand over my eyes, his voice firm yet soft. “It’s either us, or neither, remember?”

His touch was very comforting, yet cold. However, there was no denying that he was right.

“I promise I’ll come save you, just hold on, okay?” I said, trying to reassure myself as much as him.

Huh… Like you saved that slave boy the other day?

This inner voice was unmistakably Alba’s, her presence seeping through my thoughts.

“We’re getting closer—only a few steps left.” Thalor said, urgency lacing his words. “And we only have four minutes to go!”

Thalor didn’t remove his hand from my eyes until we reached a dead end. He carried me carefully in his arms—as if afraid he might break me—and ran through the current. His movements were light and fluid—almost like floating.

“Odd… I could still feel the air current,” he sighed, his voice tinged with frustration.

Glancing around, I noticed the Aelith behind us, half-hidden behind the wall.

“Well, are you going to go tell him about us again?” I asked, my tone sharp.

“It can’t, even if it wants to,” Thalor said, appearing behind it swiftly. He grabbed it violently, crushing it in his grip. “So, either you help us out, or I’ll tear you to pieces— not that that hasn’t already happened to you…” he whispered, “Ugh, forget that, just help us out, alright?”

“Houff, Chouf!” the creature squealed in alarm.

The Aelith stood next to the wall, gathering its energy. It didn’t hesitate to help us, which seemed very suspicious. What if it takes us straight to that wicked mage?

“Great! We have only one minute and a half left! Hurry!” Thalor shouted, his voice cutting through my thoughts.

The Aelith burst into radiant light and dove into the wall. A ripple spread across the stone surface, turning it as transparent and fluid as water.

“Freedom, here I come!” Thalor shouted, leaping through without a second thought.

I hesitated, looking back—thinking of Philamina. How this cursed place had become her final resting ground.

Helpless, I shut my eyes… and jumped.

****

“Finally! The outside world!” he cried out, collapsing into the dewy grass and rolling like a child finally freed from confinement. “Even the scent of grass smells heavenly now! Aaaah, fresh air, stars and… that cursed moon again…”

I followed his gaze upward.

“The Syrath Lunara…” I muttered under my breath. Its red hue was lighter than the last time I saw it, tinting the whole sky in red.

Thalor glanced at me. “You know quite a bit about this place, more than a regular human should,” he said, closing his eyes briefly, as if savoring the wind brushing against his face.

“Well, not that much,” I replied. “For instance, where are we now?” I asked sarcastically.

“Far from that hell hole, I’ll give you that much!” he said with a lazy grin, propping himself up on his elbows. “The sky has lost more of its stars… and the bloody darkness… is deepening.”  His eyes narrowed as he looked toward the distant horizon. “Ugh, whatever! What is your plan now, young lady?”

I didn’t know what to answer.

Should I just go back home? To my real home…I wonder how things are going there… I am sure they thought I was dead by now…

Or perhaps should I go tell Aloen about what happened to his sister?

Tell him what exactly? That you failed to save her? That you killed her?

The voice in my head— Alba— was relentless. At the very least, I am glad I didn’t set her free.

“Hey… what’s with the sad look?” Thalor asked gently. “We’re free now. And about that little girl— she was brave until the very end. I’ve never seen someone her age act so noble and courageous.”

“What kind of torture did he inflict on her?” I asked, my voice trembling.

He cupped my head between his hands. “Nothing compared to what I had to endure for … I think two or three decades…maybe four! I lost count. Even that bastard doesn’t age so I could only guess time by the number of test subjects he dragged in.”

“…”

“Listen, I am sure that your little friend is now resting in heaven. Had she survived, she would have suffered more, haunted by everything she had been through… What’s done is done. Thinking about it now won’t bring her back, nor will it kill that bastard.”

He paused, his voice softening. “We’ve got to look ahead now, and live. And since your soul is so pure, I am sure you’ll find a way to save the others. So cheer up, alright?”

“Thank you, Thalor. Really…” I whispered, my eyes glistening. “But would you mind lending me your back for a minute?”

“Sure! What for?”

“Just a little favor. And please, don’t turn around until I say so. Please, okay?”

“Alright,” he agreed softly, sensing the gravity of the moment.

His broad back was very comforting, like a quiet shield against the world. Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. The bloody scene flashed again in my mind: Lucius, ripping her heart, her twisted agonized face… Her shivering body, discarded on the filthy ground…

For the first time, crying felt truly rejuvenating.

“Houff, Pouf!” the Aelith chirped, floating around me in an attempt to cheer me up.

“Oh, hi again, little one!” Thalor exclaimed warmly. “I wonder— if you’re free to enter and exit as you please, why do you keep going back to that cursed place?”

The Aelith formed a glowing sphere that revealed a lively, beautiful village, filled with what looked like fairies, dancing under the sunlight.

“He’s threatening to burn it all, isn’t he?” Thalor murmured, his gaze darkening. “Or worse—use your kin as test subjects? Truly, that man is the devil himself!”

“So, this is not your usual form?” I asked, wiping my tears.

The Aelith shook its small body softly.

“Its real body has been shattered by relentless experiments,” Thalor explained grimly. “What you see here is just its life essence, barely held together. When I was imprisoned, Fena was the one who kept me company in my cell. I was furious at that time and was given special treatment by that monster, hahaha… Locked in with her, so I’d vent my rage on her.” He clenched his fists. “That bastard…”

Hearing fragments of their pain made something inside me harden. I couldn’t let this go on. My suffering was nothing compared to theirs.

I gently cupped the Aelith in my hands.

“So, your name is Fena,” I whispered. “What a lovely name.”

I met her glowing eyes with resolve.

“I don’t know how yet, but I will kill that mage. For that, I’ll need your help— and yours too, Thalor. I also have another friend who might help us. Let’s find him. Then we’ll head to your village together. We’ll protect it!”

Thalor looked at me, amusement in his eyes. He leaned closer and whispered in my ear: “Asking for my opinion first would’ve been nice, you know.”

“Sorry! I got carried away,” I said quickly. “If you don’t want to join, feel free to—”

“Hey, hey—who said I didn’t want to join?” he interrupted with a grin. “I’d love to see that bastard fall… and be the one to cut his limbs!”

Fena’s blue eyes sparkled like starlight. I couldn’t tell if the glow was joy, pain, or something in between—but one thing was clear: she was ready to fight beside us.

“Let’s get going then!” Thalor shouted, his voice full of fervor.

The path ahead was unclear, but another journey was just beginning.