"Which group?"
Eryx's voice was taut with shock, his gaze locked onto Navia's as if searching for answers she wasn't ready to give.
"You'll find out soon enough. Now, let's go." Navia's tone was firm, not unkind, but carrying the weight of something inevitable.
They moved through the City of Shadows, a place where beauty lurked beneath the chaos like a forgotten jewel. Towering buildings leaned in conspiratorial whispers over narrow, torch-lit streets, their forms twisting under the flickering glow of arcane lanterns and the hum of tech-wired energy. The air carried scents of sizzling meat from street vendors, mingling with the acrid tang of forge smoke and the floral bite of potion fumes. Guild banners snapped in the restless wind, marking domains of power and promises of fortune.
At the city's heart loomed the Central House—a fortress of blackstone, pulsing with an unspoken authority that kept the city's undercurrent in check. And just before its gates stood the Slayers Guild, its entrance flanked by rune-etched golems standing sentinel, their eyes burning with contained magic. The statues lining the pathway whispered without words, their presence an omen.
Eryx blinked in awe, his gaze sweeping over the towering spires and sunlit streets of Essential. "You know, I never really thought about it until now," he murmured, his voice carrying a quiet wonder. "I've been here for days, yet I never realized how vast and breathtaking this city truly is. I haven't even explored half of it… and there's a fortress within its walls." His eyes widened as if he'd just glimpsed paradise itself.
Navia let out a sharp sigh, crossing her arms. "Unbelievable. What kind of person lives in a place this long and still has no clue what it even looks like?" she huffed, shaking her head. "You're an absolute idiot. Fine—once we finish this mission, I'll personally make sure you see every corner of this city. But don't think for a second I'm doing it for you. Honestly, your habits annoy me more than anything."
Eryx glanced sideways, his voice dropping into a hushed whisper. "Hey, I just asked you to be my sister, but seriously—have you met my real sister in person? Because you're acting exactly like her. She always teases me, makes fun of me, and never misses a chance to knock me down in every possible way."
Navia scoffed, striding into the guild without breaking her pace. "Maybe, but I doubt I've met her. Honestly, it doesn't matter—everyone would treat you the same way. You just have that… quality. Like a walking target for bullying," she said, smirking. "But let me make one thing clear—if anyone besides me tried messing with you like this, they'd be dead. No exceptions."
The guild was bustling, filled with murmuring voices and shifting glances. Every eye seemed drawn to the table where a group of slayers sat, deep in conversation with Captain Atlas. Navia barely paused before calling out, "Atlas, we're here."
Eryx furrowed his brows. "Hey, wait—he's our captain. Why do you only call him by his name instead of 'Captain'?"
Navia let out a small sigh, turning her gaze elsewhere, a faint blush dusting her cheeks. "It's my choice. He was my fellow slayer in the past. Sure, he became the captain of the whole guild and the Night Slayers, but to me, he's still my best friend. I can call him whatever I want."
Eryx grinned, eyes gleaming with mischief. "Ohhh. I think I just figured out why you call him by his name."
Navia stiffened, her blush deepening. "W—what do you think you found out?"
"You like him," Eryx declared, laughing. "You're blushing, Navia. Red as blood! Pfhhh—look at yo—"
Before he could finish, Navia's foot connected with his leg, sending him crashing to the ground in agony. "Shut up," she growled. "One more word and you're dead, idiot. Do you have a death wish?"
Atlas turned from his conversation, brows furrowed. "What was that sound?" he asked.
A man with light yellow hair and dark eyes chuckled. "Ah, Captain. That was Navia. She kicked that poor guy in his weak spot—dropped him instantly. She's seriously dangerous."
Atlas sighed, his focus settling on Navia. "Alright. Explain. Why did you kick him?"
Navia let out a nervous laugh, waving a hand dismissively. "Nothing... hehehe... He was just crossing the line, so I taught him a lesson."
Atlas narrowed his eyes, his gaze steady and probing. "Then why are you turning red? Did he say something he shouldn't have?"
Navia flinched. "ATLAS, you—" She quickly turned her head to the side, trying to hide the blush creeping across her cheeks. "It's nothing. Don't waste time—just tell us the plan."
Atlas raised a brow, murmuring under his breath, "That's… strange. I've never seen her act like this before."
Then, shifting his focus to Eryx, he asked, "Are you okay?"
Eryx straightened, shaking off the lingering pain. "Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. It was nothing. Just… reminded me of my old life—when I was with my family. My sister and I used to fight like this every day. You just witnessed a sibling conversation, so don't mind us. Hehehe, but seriously, Navia, I can't believe you—"
Before he could finish, Navia cut him off with a sharp glare. "Do you have a death wish, idiot? Shut the hell up."
Atlas sighed and stepped between them, placing a firm hand on both their shoulders. "Alright, enough. Focus. Here's the plan."
Atlas leaned forward, his gaze steady. "Eryx, this is a rare opportunity for you. This group is one of the strongest groups of Nightslayers from all over the world. They know exactly how your power works, and they'll help you unlock its full potential. Your ice core will be broken down and reshaped, allowing you to wield your power the way it was meant to be used."
He paused, shifting his focus to Navia. "Navia, you'll be with the second group. The team will be split into two—one stationed in the upper part of the forest, the other in the lower. I'm placing you in the upper region so you can collect samples for research."
Navia crossed her arms, eyes sharp with curiosity. "Why the second group? Why not let me go with the first team instead?"
Atlas nodded, expecting the question. "Good. Here's the situation. A few days ago, we sent lower-ranked guild members to scout the area. We received a commission request from an unknown source—someone we couldn't identify. According to the request, the mission was classified as Seeker Rank and involved the Forest of Shadows, specifically a deserted village hidden within it."
His voice grew heavier. "That village was surrounded by low-ranking demons. The reports mentioned an alarming number of corpses—humans, elves, even vampires. But when we sent our slayers to investigate, none of them returned.
He exhaled deeply, taking a slow sip from his drink before continuing. "Before deploying higher-ranked slayers from the Night Slayers, we found… an eyeball. After testing, we confirmed it belonged to one of our missing slayers. We have no idea how it made its way back to the city gates."
Eryx paled. "Wait—an eyeball? You mean a full, intact eye pulled from someone's body? Who could've done that?"
Atlas shook his head grimly. "We don't know yet. That's why we have only one option—go in and find out. As for the team split, I'll be leading one group, and Blazej will lead the other. His team—including you, Navia—will investigate the abandoned village, gathering samples to uncover what happened there. Meanwhile, my team will engage the demons head-on and figure out why the Seeker-ranked creatures have suddenly grown so powerful. Am I clear?"A chorus of voices rang out in unison. "Yes, Captain!"
Navia's expression shifted, a strange mix of nostalgia and quiet longing flickering in her eyes. "It's been a while since we worked together, Atlas. And now, once again, we won't be fighting side by side. I miss the old days…" She sighed, shaking off the thought. "Anyway—when do we leave?"
Atlas set down his drink and met her gaze. "Now."
As the room emptied, only Blazej lingered. He crossed his arms, gaze flicking toward the doorway. "Did you feel it, Captain?" he muttered. "Someone was listening outside. They'll interfere with the mission."
Atlas remained unfazed, a quiet smirk tugging at his lips. "Don't worry. It's part of the plan." His eyes darkened with resolve. "We'll hunt down Elio. Just wait for the right moment."
—Chapter 9 ends—