In a dimly lit room, illuminated only by the soft glow of an Ether Lantern, Revan knelt beside a body that was quickly growing cold. His eyes were calm, but focused, studying every detail.

  He reached down and picked up a tube-like device, its Ether Stone core still glowing faintly. After examining it briefly, he slipped it into one of the inner pockets of his tunic.

  "Have you ever killed someone before?" Luna's voice broke the silence behind him.

  Revan didn't turn to look at her. "No," he answered plainly.

  "You seem... calm."

  Revan stood and walked to the door. He gripped the handle and turned it slowly, peeking out through a narrow crack. Outside was a long hallway lined with identical wooden doors on both sides.

  He scanned the corridor, eyes sharp and alert. Once satisfied that it was empty, he closed the door again quietly.

  "Vaelgrim children are trained to spy and kill by the time we turn eight," he said. "Are you alright?"

  "I think so," Luna replied softly. But the images were still fresh in her mind—the severed hand, the fallen bodies, the chaos in the garden.

  "Let's move," Revan said.

  "Are you sure? There might be more of them out there."

  "Staying here won't change anything."

  Luna hesitated. "Okay… but I'm not sure I'll be much help now," she admitted, her voice tinged with guilt.

  Revan glanced back at her, a small smile forming. "Hey, without your help, I wouldn't have even taken down one of them back in the garden."

  Luna blinked, surprised. Then she smiled back, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly. She took a deep breath.

  "Alright."

  "Let's go," Revan said again, holding out his hand.

  Luna hesitated for a heartbeat, then took it.

  "Stay close," he whispered.

  With that, Revan eased the door open, and the two of them slipped into the corridor—moving swiftly but silently, their footsteps muffled against the cold stone floor.

  At the far end of the hallway, a switchback staircase curved downward. They descended halfway before pausing at the landing.

  Revan leaned forward and peered around the corner. Below was a wide hall, dimly lit by flickering Ether Lanterns. Several long tables filled the space, and seated at them were figures clad in the same dark robes worn by the attackers from the garden.

  Luna crept beside him, her breath catching as she spotted the robes.

  Then—a sudden sound.

  A door creaked open above, followed by the unmistakable echo of footsteps.

  Without hesitation, Revan grabbed Luna's hand and pulled her down, slipping into the deep shadows beneath the staircase. The light above flickered across the stone as the footsteps grew louder, each one hammering like a drumbeat in their ears.

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  Their hearts pounded. Revan's breath slowed; Luna's did the opposite.

  She inhaled sharply—too sharply—and a faint whimper escaped her throat, unintentional but piercing in the silence.

  The footsteps stopped.

  Right above them.

  Revan acted on instinct. He reached out, gently but firmly covering Luna's mouth, drawing her into his arms. His eyes never left the gap in the stairwell above, muscles tense, ready.

  Then—a shadow. A figure leaned over the railing, peering down.

  "I heard something," one of them muttered, voice cautious. "From under the stairs."

  Luna's eyes widened in panic. Revan could feel her heartbeat thudding against his chest, fast and frantic. He leaned in, whispering just above her ear.

  "We're okay," he breathed, barely audible.

  Gradually, Luna's breathing slowed. Her body, still trembling, began to settle in his arms.

  A second voice replied from the stairs, scoffing. "No way anyone else is down here, idiot. You're still drunk?"

  A rough laugh followed. "Hah! Get lost."

  "Just don't lose the main gate key again," another chimed in, chuckling. "Lord Cervarin'll have your head—HAHAHAHA!"

  Their footsteps continued, descending the rest of the stairs. Revan and Luna remained frozen as the group crossed the hall and joined a cluster of robed figures at one of the long tables.

  Silence returned.

  Slowly, Revan lifted his hand from Luna's mouth. She exhaled softly.

  "House Cervarin," she whispered.

  "You know them?" Revan asked.

  "The Duke of Thalenwood," Luna replied, eyes still fixed on the stairwell.

  Revan's brow furrowed. "Are we in Teleria?"

  "I'm not sure," Luna murmured, her voice low. "But we need to get outside. If I can see the stars... or the terrain, I might be able to figure out where we are."

  "You can do that?" Revan whispered, surprised.

  "Well, Teleria has a few iconic volcanoes," Luna explained. "My father took me and my brother to visit all of them. If I can spot even one, I'll have a good idea of where we are."

  Revan nodded, impressed. "Alright. Let's get out of here. Stay alert—we still can't sense their Etherea."

  He took her hand again, and together they slipped out from under the stairs, their footsteps quiet and calculated.

  The hallway was filled with the sound of muffled laughter and casual conversation coming from the nearby hall—masking the soft tap of their feet.

  They crouched low behind one of the long tables, inching forward until they could see more of the room.

  It was a dining hall, dimly lit, with a rustic warmth that clashed with the tension tightening in their chests. At the far end stood a small bar counter, partially cluttered with empty mugs and bottles.

  Moving carefully, they made their way toward it.

  Just as they reached the bar, a figure suddenly rose from behind it. The man hadn't noticed them—his attention still focused downward, clearly searching for something.

  Revan and Luna instinctively pressed their backs against the side of the bar, holding their breath, barely daring to move.

  Up ahead, directly past the bar, was a wide open doorway leading into a larger chamber.

  "Damn it... where do they keep the booze in this place?" the man muttered, oblivious.

  Taking the chance, Revan tugged Luna's hand and guided her forward, slipping silently into the next room.

  It was a grand hall, much taller than the last, with two curved staircases that wound up toward a balcony overlooking the space.

  And above the balcony, framed between elegant pillars, stood a large ornate door—its gilded frame catching the lantern light.

  Luna's eyes lit up with cautious hope. "Do you think that's the exit?"

  Revan studied the grand door in silence, uncertainty flickering in his eyes—but hope held stronger.

  "It has to be... right?" he whispered.

  Without waiting for an answer, he led Luna forward by the hand, moving steadily toward the staircase. Every few steps, Revan glanced over his shoulder, making sure they weren't being followed.

  "You're really good at this," Luna whispered.

  "At what?"

  "Being sneaky," she replied with a faint smile.

  Revan gave a soft chuckle. "You kind of have to be... if you ever want to steal sweets from the Vaelgrim kitchens."

  Luna stifled a laugh, her nerves easing just a little.

  They reached the base of the staircase and began climbing, step by careful step, until they stood before the towering, ornate doors.

  Revan reached out, placing his hand on the massive handle—

  And the door suddenly swung open from the other side.

  They both froze.

  Standing before them was a man, equally startled. His eyes widened for a brief moment before narrowing, the shock quickly replaced by something colder.

  He was older—his short, neatly styled brown hair streaked with white lines of age at the temples. A well-groomed beard framed his jaw, partially hiding the twitch of a smirk beneath.

  He wore noble attire, tailored and regal, with the crest of a stag and grand antlers emblazoned on his chest—the symbol of House Cervarin.

  A slow smile curled across his lips, both amused and predatory.

  "Well, well… what do we have here?" he said, his voice smooth with menace.