Volume 1 – Chapter 10
The morning at the Royal Fortress began with complete chaos.
“FINN!
GIVE IT BACK!”
“You’ll have to catch me first!”
Finn sprinted across the courtyard holding Kael’s training sword over his head while laughing like a madman.
“You little rat!”
Kael chased after him, knocking over a bucket of water that splashed straight onto another squad.
“…”
The soaked recruits slowly turned.
“Oh no…” Mira whispered.
“Run.”
The five scattered in different directions while nearly twenty angry recruits chased them through the fortress.
Raimer couldn’t stop laughing.
Even Alyra, who usually hid every emotion, covered her mouth as a small laugh escaped.
“You laughed,” Raimer said.
“I did not.”
“You literally did.”
“…You imagined it.”
After an hour of punishment that included carrying stone blocks around the training yard, the five collapsed beneath an old oak tree.
Finn sighed dramatically.
“I regret absolutely nothing.”
Kael threw a pebble at him.
“I should’ve let those recruits beat you.”
“They couldn’t catch me.”
“They almost did.”
“They caught you.”
“…Details.”
Everyone burst into laughter.
For the first time in years, Raimer forgot about war.
Forgot about his missing sister.
Forgot about the nightmares.
He simply enjoyed being surrounded by friends.
The fortress bell rang.
Commander Varick stood before every surviving squad.
“You’ve proven you can fight.”
“Now you’ll prove you can think.”
Behind him hung a large map.
Several regions were marked in red.
One location was circled in black.
Nocthollow Colony.
“The Shadow Realm left many scars across this kingdom.”
“Not every colony is overrun.”
“Some are abandoned.”
“But abandoned…”
He paused.
“…doesn’t mean empty.”
“Nocthollow was once a mining town.”
“Years ago, Shadow creatures emerged beneath it.”
“The civilians fled.”
“Since then, strange creatures have claimed its streets.”
“Your assignment is not to destroy the colony.”
“It is to enter…”
“Map the area.”
“Identify enemy nests.”
“And return.”
“No unnecessary battles.”
“No reckless heroics.”
“Information wins wars.”
Raimer studied the map.
It would be his first step into territory once touched by the Shadow Realm.
The group spent the afternoon preparing supplies.
Mira carefully packed medicine.
Kael checked everyone’s weapons.
Finn somehow packed three bags of snacks.
“What?” he defended himself.
“I fight better when I’m full.”
“You fight worse when you’re awake,” Kael replied.
While everyone else argued, Raimer walked toward the water well.
Someone was already there.
Alyra.
She quietly filled a leather flask.
For a few moments, neither spoke.
“You laughed today,” Raimer said.
She sighed.
“So you’re not letting that go.”
“It suits you.”
She looked at him with narrowed eyes.
“I’ve survived wars.”
“I’ve survived exile.”
“And somehow…”
“The hardest thing today was listening to Finn.”
Raimer laughed.
“So you admit he’s impossible?”
“I believe impossible is too kind a word.”
The two shared a quiet smile.
For the first time…
The silence between them felt comfortable.
Raimer caught himself staring.
The afternoon sunlight reflected through Alyra’s silver hair as the breeze gently moved it across her face.
She noticed.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“You were staring.”
“I wasn’t.”
“You were.”
“About?”
Raimer looked away, suddenly embarrassed.
“…Nothing important.”
Alyra tilted her head with the faintest smile.
“If you say so.”
As she walked away, Raimer let out a quiet breath.
His heart was beating faster than it should have.
Mira, who had witnessed the entire exchange from a distance, walked beside him.
“You like her.”
Raimer nearly dropped his water flask.
“W-What?”
“I didn’t say anything.”
“You didn’t have to.”
She walked away smiling.
Behind them, Finn shouted across the courtyard.
“OI RAIMER!”
“WHEN’S THE WEDDING?”
The entire squad burst into laughter.
Even Alyra’s ears turned slightly red before she quickly walked ahead, pretending she hadn’t heard.
Raimer buried his face in his hands.
“I hate all of you.”
“No, you don’t,” Kael replied with a grin.
“…Yeah.”
“I really don’t.”
The next morning, five horses carried the squad beyond the kingdom’s borders.
The forests grew darker.
The air became colder.
Even the birds stopped singing.
Broken houses appeared along the roadside.
Trees twisted into unnatural shapes.
An old wooden sign leaned against a crumbling stone wall.
Its faded letters barely remained.
NOCTHOLLOW COLONY
Beyond the sign stood a massive iron gate, half buried beneath black vines.
The streets inside were silent.
No voices.
No wind.
No movement.
Only endless darkness waiting beyond the entrance.
Commander Varick’s final words echoed in Raimer’s mind.
“Observe.”
“Survive.”
“Return.”
Raimer tightened his grip on his sword.
“Everyone ready?”
The four nodded.
Together…
The five stepped toward the abandoned colony.
To Be Continued…