We rode the kappa from cave to cave.
One after another.
Again and again.
Each cave was empty—some collapsed, some filled only with dust and echoes. By the time the sun began to sink beneath the horizon, my body felt heavy and my thoughts dull.
When darkness finally fell, we returned to Hazel's cave—our safe home.
The next day, Amelia joined us again.
We searched another cave.
Nothing.
Then a third.
The moment we stepped inside, the air felt wrong.
A figure stood deep in the darkness.
Hazel moved closer—
And suddenly, black slime leapt toward her.
I reacted on instinct, blocking it with my sword. The impact sent a chill up my arm. Hazel raised her hand and used manipulation magic, forcing light into the cave.
The figure was revealed.
A blond elf.
His face twisted with anger and something far worse.
Nestle: So… what brings you here today, Hazel?
Hazel froze.
Hazel: I'm here to bring you back, brother.
Brother…?
Nestle laughed softly.
Nestle: Sorry. I'm not interested.
For your foolish sense of justice, the Fate Dragon will punish you all with death.
Xiver: Fate Dragon…?
Nestle: Yes. His army has three comrades.
And one of them… is your friend Maria.
He stood up.
Amelia stepped forward, her eyes locked onto him.
Amelia: What happened to Maria?
Nestle: Why should I—
Martha didn't let him finish.
She hurled an explosive spell toward the black slime. Nestle reacted instantly, using the slime to absorb the blast.
At the same moment, Amelia jumped onto Hazel's back, snatched a dagger from my waist, and launched herself forward.
The slime rushed toward her.
I slammed my hand into the ground, using earth magic to rip the slime away from her path.
Amelia didn't hesitate.
She drove the dagger into Nestle's neck.
Black liquid spilled out.
Not blood.
Slime.
Hazel: …I guess after all this, I lost my brother.
Nestle laughed.
Nestle: Hahahaha… you're right.
Absolutely right.
The madness in his eyes deepened.
We ran.
Hazel raised a divine barrier around us as the cave exploded behind us.
Then—
Xiver: WHERE THE HELL IS AMELIA?!
Nestle emerged from the smoke.
He was holding Amelia.
Black slime wrapped around her body, binding her tightly.
Nestle: HAHAHAHAHA!
Do you want your little friend back?
You do, don't you? Say it. Say it. SAY IT!
My mind flashed.
The thug.
Sara.
Saving her sister.
Not again.
Hazel: Xiver! His weakness is fire magic!
I hurled a fireball.
It did nothing.
Nestle: Idiots.
Do you really think I'd leave myself with a weakness?
Today, I am reborn—perfect. Nothing but power.
He was completely gone.
But Amelia wasn't.
Why should I save her?
What is she to me?
Is she real?
No.
This pain.
This fear.
This bond.
This is reality.
I decide what's real.
I slammed my hands down.
Stone rose around Nestle—walls, then a ceiling—forming a tight prison.
Nestle: What… are you?
I sealed it with magic.
Then I screamed—
Xiver: MARTHA! USE YOUR EXPLOSION MAGIC—NOW!
Martha: Roger!
Hazel: Wait! If you kill him, you'll kill Amelia!
And you'll lose your cure!
Xiver: That won't kill him.
The next attack will.
NOW!
The explosion roared.
Dust and smoke filled the air.
When it cleared—
Nestle was shattered into pieces.
Amelia's body lay outside the rubble.
This isn't over yet.