The room beyond the door was small, colder than the passage outside.
At first, it looked empty.
Then Kaizer saw her.
Amalthir was curled near the far wall, half-hidden behind broken wooden crates and torn cloth.
Her wrists were marked with shallow bruises, and dust clung to her hair and face.
She wasn’t moving much, but her chest rose faintly.
Kaizer ran toward her.
“Amalthir!”
Rujark moved faster.
He reached her first and dropped to one knee, placing two fingers near her neck.
Kaizer stopped beside him, gripping his axe tightly.
“…Is she dead?”
Rujark’s jaw tightened.
“No.”
He checked her breathing again, then looked over her arms, her face, and the marks around her wrists.
“She’s alive.
Weak, but alive.”
Kaizer let out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding.
“…Good.”
Rujark carefully lifted her from the ground.
She stirred slightly, her eyes opening only a little.
“Rujark…?” she whispered.
“I’m here,” he said quietly.
“Don’t speak.”
Her gaze drifted weakly toward Kaizer.
“…Kaizer?”
He blinked.
“…Yeah.
We found you.”
Her eyes closed again.
Rujark lifted her onto his back, securing her carefully.
“She’s exhausted,” he said.
“Whatever took her didn’t bring her here to kill her immediately.”
Kaizer looked around the room.
“…Then why?”
Rujark didn’t answer.
That was when Kaizer noticed the faint glow near the far wall.
Kaizer was standing near the far wall, staring at something.
“…What is that?”
Rujark walked over.
At first, he didn’t see it.
Then he notices a faint glow.
Small, floating.
It was no bigger than a pea.
A soft light hovered in place, flickering gently.
Its color was strange.
Not bright like fire, not cold like moonlight.
It reminded Kaizer of something.
“…It looks like that thing from before,” he said.
Rujark narrowed his eyes.
“…The creature?”
Kaizer nodded.
“…Same color.”
He stepped closer.
The light didn’t move away.
It stayed there, floating, as if waiting.
Kaizer tilted his head slightly.
“…There was something else.”
Rujark looked at him.
“…What do you mean?” Rujark replied.
Kaizer pointed.
“…When I was fighting it… I saw lines.”
Rujark didn’t interrupt.
“…Like smoke.
On its body.”
He squinted at the light.
“…This feels like that.”
Rujark stepped closer now, still holding Amalthir steady with one arm.
He studied the floating light carefully.
“…If it’s the same thing…”
He paused.
“…Then this might be what held it together.”
Kaizer blinked.
“…Like the main part?”
“…Something like that.” Rujark said.
Rujark’s gaze hardened slightly.
Kaizer looked at the light again.It didn’t feel dangerous but it didn’t feel normal either.
“…You want me to hit it?” Kaizer asked.
Rujark gave a small nod.
“…Carefully.”
Kaizer stepped forward.
He raised his axe slowly and for a moment, he hesitated.
Not out of fear.
Just… thinking.
Then— he swung.
The blade passed through the light.
It didn’t shatter nor did it explode.
It simply faded.
Gone.
For a second, nothing happened.
Kaizer lowered his axe.
“…That’s it?”
Rujark didn’t answer.
He was listening.
A low sound echoed through the cave.
A crack.
Then another, ground shifted slightly under their feet.
Dust fell from the ceiling.
Kaizer looked up.
“…What was that?”
Rujark’s expression changed immediately.
“…We’re leaving.
Now.”
The cave trembled.
Another crack split across the wall then the ceiling.
Pieces of stone broke loose and hit the ground.
“It’s collapsing,” Rujark said.
Kaizer grabbed his axe.
“…Because of that thing?”
“Probably.”
Rujark lifted Amalthir onto his back again.
“Move.” They ran.
The tunnel behind them cracked and shifted, rocks falling as they passed.
The path they had taken earlier no longer felt the same.
Some parts had already collapsed, forcing them to change direction.
Kaizer stayed close.
“…This way!”
Rujark followed without hesitation.
More cracks formed overhead.
Dust filled the air, making it harder to see.
The ground shook again.
A large section of the ceiling collapsed behind them, blocking part of the path.
Kaizer didn’t stop.
He kept moving forward, turning where the space allowed, following what felt like the way.
Rujark kept pace, adjusting his movements to avoid falling debris while keeping Amalthir secure.
Light, Faint at first but then clearer.
The cave exit.
“Almost there,” Rujark said.
Kaizer pushed forward.
The ground shifted one last time beneath them as they reached the opening.
They burst out of the cave just as a large section behind them collapsed completely, sealing the entrance.
Silence.
Kaizer bent forward, hands on his knees.
“…That… was loud.”
Rujark lowered Amalthir carefully to the ground, breathing heavier than before.
“…You’re fine?” he asked.
Kaizer nodded.
“…Yeah.”
He looked back at the cave.
“…It’s gone.”
Rujark followed his gaze.
“…Good.”
They stayed there for a moment, catching their breath.
The forest around them was calm.
Trees stood tall, leaves shifting gently with the wind.
The light filtered through the branches, soft and steady.
Compared to the cave, it felt open.
Clear.
Alive.
Kaizer stood up straight.
“…We should go back.”
“…We will.”
He lifted Amalthir again.
“…Stay close.”
The walk back was quieter.
Not tense, Just… tired.
Kaizer walked beside Rujark, occasionally glancing at Amalthir.
“…She still sleeping.”
“She’s exhausted,” Rujark said.
Kaizer nodded.
“…Me too.”
Rujark almost smiled.
“…You did well.”
Kaizer looked at him.
“…Yeah?”
“…Yeah.” Rujark said.
Kaizer didn’t say anything else, but he smiled a little.
By the time they reached the settlement, the sun had shifted lower in the sky.
Smoke rose from different parts of the village, not from cooking fires.
From damage.
Several huts had been broken.
Some completely destroyed.
Ogres moved around quickly, lifting debris, repairing structures, carrying supplies.
The ground showed signs of a fight.
Deep marks burnt patches.
Broken wood scattered across the area.
Kaizer slowed.
“…What happened here?”
Rujark didn’t answer.
He was already moving.
Fast.
“Move aside,” he called.
Ogres turned as he passed, their eyes locking onto the figure on his back.
Recognition hit immediately.
“The chieftain—” the other ogres murmured,
“His daughter—”
Rujark didn’t stop.
He pushed through until he reached the center of the settlement.
Grakthar stood there.
Still and watching.
Rujark stepped forward and lowered Amalthir carefully.
“…She’s alive,” he said.
Grakthar didn’t speak at first.
He knelt slightly, placing a large hand near her shoulder.
Checking and Confirming.
Then he stood.
“…What happened?”
Rujark straightened.
“…She was taken into a cave beyond the eastern forest.”
He paused.
“…We found her.
The source was destroyed.”
Grakthar’s gaze shifted slightly.
“…The source.”
Rujark nodded.
“…Yes.”
Grakthar looked past him.
At Kaizer.
Kaizer stood quietly, looking around the damaged settlement.
“…You were there,” Grakthar said.
Kaizer looked up.
“…Yeah.”
Grakthar studied him for a moment.
Then looked back at Amalthir.
“…We’ll speak later.”
Rujark nodded.
“…Understood.”
Kaizer glanced around again.
At the broken huts and at the ogres rebuilding, the quiet urgency in everything.
“…We fix it?” he asked.
Rujark looked at him.
“…Yeah.”
Kaizer nodded.
“…Okay.”
He walked forward to help.