Ariella
Thornhill,
Vankar Island
Northern Isle Region,
Kingdom of Ashtarium
October 29th 6414
As soon as the black tendrils of darkness slithered into the stump of Lil's left arm, her eyes rolled back and she collapsed—unconscious before she hit the ground.
I shoved past Jen without a second thought, but before I could reach her, Lil's body jerked violently, arching upward as if yanked by invisible strings. Her sternum ignited, pulsing with a fierce, blinding glow—like something ancient had awakened inside her.
Then it happened.
A cocoon of pure, unrefined Essence erupted around her, swirling with chaotic energy. I skidded to a stop, rooted in place as the entire chamber trembled, the walls groaning like something massive stirred beneath them.
The very fabric of space cracked.
Web-like fissures splintered across the floor, spreading like glass under pressure. The same inky-black substance began to pour out from those cracks—living, writhing, pulsing. It moved purposefully, wrapping around us like a tide of shadows, swallowing us whole.
And then—
Darkness.
Total. Absolute. My senses vanished, smothered in a void so deep it erased the concept of sound, sight, and even thought. It was complete sensory deprivation, an unnatural emptiness that pressed against my mind, threatening to crush it.
Then—light.
Thin beams at first, piercing through the dark like rays cutting through water. Then a rush—a surge—as my senses came flooding back all at once. Sight. Smell. Sound. Touch.
I gasped, the world snapping back into focus.
But we were no longer in the Forgelab.
I looked around, disoriented, heart pounding. We were back in Thornhill Forest, though not the one above—this was the Dungeon floor version, a denser, more primal reflection of the surface.
The Essence around us was thicker, heavier, almost oppressive. I could feel it clinging to my skin, humming beneath my feet. It told me we were still deep within the Dungeon… likely back on the Tutorial Floor, the place where it had all begun.
My first instinct was to search for Lil.
I turned—and there she was.
Lying next to me, still wrapped in the same Essence cocoon, the light around her flickering like a dying star preparing to reignite.
She was still unconscious. But something was changing inside her.
Something monumental. It was in that tense silence that my ears caught something—movement. A rustle, subtle at first, but growing. I turned my head sharply and saw the trees shifting, their branches swaying not with the wind, but with intention—like they were aware of us.
Jen reacted first.
Her blade flashed with white-hot light, carving through the air as a pair of twisting branches lunged toward us like serpents. They froze mid-lash, suspended in a sheath of glowing ice, cracked and brittle.
But it wasn't over.
With a sound like thunder splintering wood, more branches snapped toward us, faster than lightning. I drew the shortsword from my side, my reflexes barely keeping pace as I slashed through the incoming limbs. Beside me, Ben shifted into his combat stance, his claws glowing faintly as he ripped through the foliage with brutal precision. Neil, ever calm, extended his hands and summoned a sequence of defensive barriers, casting them around each of us like glimmering domes of crystalline light.
"Keep your eyes on the trees!" Jen shouted.
I did—and what I saw made my blood run cold.
One of the massive trees was trembling, its roots splintering the ground as they tore free, dragging up soil and stone. The entire tree began to move.
"What the hell is happening?" Ben growled.
**"The trees…" Neil said slowly, eyes widening, "they're alive."
No.Not just alive.
Only one race could do this.
The realization hit me as more branches surged forward, each one saturated with raw mana, thick enough to make the air shimmer. Neil's barriers cracked under the pressure—webs of light shattering into nothing as they buckled. Jen retaliated, unleashing another volley of crescent-shaped slashes from her sword, freezing every limb in her path. But this time, the ice shattered under the force of the branches' overwhelming energy.
We were overpowered.
Within seconds, the branches coiled around us—binding, lifting, pulling us from the ground like prey caught in a net. I struggled against them, cutting, twisting, trying to summon even a flicker of mana—but it was useless.
The branches were draining me, siphoning the energy from my core with relentless force. My strength slipped away like water through my fingers.
Then I saw it.
The branches were snaking toward Lil's cocoon.
No.
I thrashed, shouted—but my voice felt like it disappeared into the forest.
And just as the branches neared her, a beam of pure white light cut through the darkness like a divine blade. The first branch withered on contact, curling into ash. More lights followed—precise, fast, like arrows made of starlight. One by one, the branches unravelled, sliced apart by invisible force.
I dropped to the forest floor with a thud, the breath knocked from my lungs. Groaning, I forced myself up and stumbled toward Lil, still encased in her glowing cocoon. She remained untouched.
Then I heard it—movement from above.
Figures dropped from the treetops, landing silently in the underbrush. They wore leaf-shaped armor, natural yet reinforced, woven with Essence. Their tree-bark skin gave them away immediately.
Treants.
Feyborns, connected to the natural world more deeply than any Manaborn. The forest was their domain.
One of them hissed, snarling toward the source of the light that had freed us.
"Take it easy, Mary. Don't kill them." A calm voice echoed from the shadows.
We turned—my team and I—and saw a girl holding a blade to the throat of the snarling Treant. She stood poised and unshaken, her movements clean and controlled.
Then, from the shadows, a tall figure stepped into the clearing.
He wore a flowing white robe, draped over a black battle tunic. His silver hair, long and shimmering, cascaded down his back. A cane tapped softly as he walked—not out of weakness, but as if to mark each step with presence. His face appeared youthful, mid-forties at most, but his aura betrayed age beyond mortal comprehension.
The girl—Mary, apparently—lowered her blade and moved to stand behind him. Her golden hair shimmered in the moonlight, her earth-toned skin glinting with gold undertones. Her eyes—indigo—reminded me uncomfortably of my own.
"Levi Avrams," the tallest Treant rumbled, stepping forward.
"Eiti," the silver-haired man—Levi—replied, voice calm and commanding.
"What is the meaning of this?" Eiti asked, his deep voice filled with tension.
"Do not worry," Levi said with a faint smile. "Mary will not kill any of you."
True to his word, Mary sheathed her blade and walked gracefully past the Treants, taking her place behind Levi. That's when I noticed the elegant longbow slung across her back.
She was the one who saved us.
"I meant—what are you doing here?" Eiti growled, the roots around him twitching in agitation.
Levi stood unmoved. "I'm here to stop you from doing something you'll regret," he said calmly, his tone layered with authority. "The girl is not yours to take."
"She has absorbed the Codex," Eiti countered, his bark-like voice echoing through the glade. "The seal is broken..."
Levi raised an eyebrow. "And I assume you mean to claim the Codex for yourself?"
Eiti said nothing.
"That power—"
"—Does not belong to you," Levi interrupted, his voice cutting through like a blade. "It chose her. And you would be wise to respect its decision."
With a graceful motion, Levi lifted a single finger. The Essence cocoon holding Lil began to levitate, cradled by invisible forces. Raw, unrefined Essence swirled around it, obedient to his will.
"I'll apologize for stepping into your territory," Levi said, his silver gaze sweeping across the assembled Treants. "But I'll be taking the girl… and the little ones as well."
His eyes landed on us. The weight of his presence hit like gravity—dense, ancient, suffocating. Even the Treants stilled beneath it.
Eiti growled low in his throat, bark cracking along his skin, but made no move to stop us. Whatever power Levi wielded, even the Treants feared it.
And so we followed.
I stayed close to the cocoon, watching it float effortlessly above the forest floor. I couldn't look away—how was this man able to manipulate such a dense volume of Essence directly? No spells. No catalysts. Just will.
Beside me, Mary walked in silence, steps light, almost soundless against the moss and brush. But I could feel her eyes on me—sharp, calculating, like she was peeling back every layer of who I was.
Finally, she broke the silence.
"Why the disguise, Princess?"
I stopped walking. So did Ben and Neil. Their shock rippled in the air.
Only Jen remained perfectly still, her face unreadable.
I didn't even have time to process it before Levi spoke again.
"Mary," he said quietly, "the Princess's reasons are her own. That's not your concern."
Mary didn't budge. "But Father… she's with comrades. Why would she hide herself from them?" She gestured at Ben, Neil, and Jen with a casual flick of her hand. "What's the point of loyalty if it's not met with truth?"
Her words hit harder than I expected.
I cleared my throat, forcing their attention back to me. "Enough with the riddles," I said. "Who are you people, and where exactly are you taking us?"
I couldn't sense their cultivation levels—they were shielded, deeply hidden—but I didn't need to. Their presence alone told me they were powerful. Far more than they let on.
Levi glanced over his shoulder. "I am Levi Avrams," he said simply. "And this is my daughter, Mary."
We continued through the undergrowth, the canopy parting above us just enough to let slivers of moonlight through. The cocoon floated between us like a silent guardian, casting a soft glow over the path.
We walked in silence for what felt like an eternity, the forest growing denser and quieter with every step, until we reached what appeared to be a weathered wooden fence surrounding a modest hut. The structure looked simple, almost humble, yet something about it pulsed with quiet magic—ancient, subtle, undeniably alive.
Mary stepped forward and opened the gate, pushing it open with ease. Levi lingered at the entrance, his posture still and patient, waiting for us to enter.
I glanced at my companions—Ben and Neil looked worn, their shoulders sagging slightly; Jen's face remained unreadable, ever the sentinel.
I stepped through the fence.
And stopped.
The space beyond was nothing like I expected.
What lay before us wasn't a hut's interior, but a vast, open field, stretching into soft, golden hills. Farmland. Lush and fertile, it sprawled out like a hidden sanctuary. Scattered across the land were Magic Beasts—some grazing peacefully, others lounging in the tall grass. They resembled cows, goats, and sheep, but there was an otherworldly edge to them: glowing horns, iridescent fur, slit-pupiled eyes that tracked our movement.
In the distance, a woman in white robes tended the fields. She moved with the grace of someone who belonged here, effortlessly guiding the beasts into their separate enclosures. A large woven basket rested on her hip, filled with herbs and small fruits glowing faintly with Essence.
When she sensed our presence, she turned.
Her eyes locked on us, and something in me shivered.
She appeared to be in her thirties, but I knew better. That wasn't her true age. Power radiated from her—not loud or aggressive, but steady, ancient, and deeply rooted.
She approached, each step deliberate, her gaze passing over us like a judge sizing up new petitioners.
"I see you reached them in time," she said, voice warm but tinged with authority.
"Yes, Mother," Mary replied. "The damned Feys were about to kill them, but I stopped them."
The woman smiled gently, the stern lines in her face softening. "Very good, my sweetheart."
Then her attention shifted fully to us. Her eyes softened further with something like pity, though not condescension—more like a quiet mourning for the burdens we carried.
"Mary, why don't you take our guests inside. Let them rest, wash up, and recover what they've lost."
I shook my head, heart tightening. "I'm not leaving Lil."
The woman studied me with an unreadable look before speaking.
"Do not worry, Ariella Ashtarmel."
Her use of my full name made me stiffen.
"Lilith Kain is undergoing an Awakening. Unless you possess the ability to accelerate such a process—which I doubt you do—I suggest you rest. You've endured much… more than most could withstand. There is no shame in drawing breath before the next storm."
I wanted to argue. To insist I was fine. But then I looked at Ben, who could barely stand straight. Neil, pale and glassy-eyed. Even I could feel the emptiness gnawing at me—my mana was gone, my stamina drained, and worst of all, the slow itch creeping at the back of my throat.
The hunger was stirring.
Only Jen looked unbothered, standing tall and composed as if untouched by the draining assault we'd just endured.
"...Alright," I said at last, my voice low.
Mary gave a satisfied nod and gestured for us to follow. "Alright, Princess. This way."
And just like that, we left the field behind—stepping further into whatever fate awaited us in this strange sanctuary.
****
The room Mary led me to was far more spacious than I expected—a warm, earthy chamber, with a large wooden-framed bed draped in soft linen and surrounded by shelves carved into the walls, each one brimming with old, leather-bound books. The scent of aged wood and dried herbs lingered in the air, grounding and oddly comforting.
Mary lingered in the doorway, a soft smile tugging at her lips. For some reason, it unsettled me. Not in a threatening way—just… off. I couldn't place why.
What caught my attention was her skin.
Like the others, her complexion had a strange sunlit quality, as though the light had kissed her flesh. It wasn't just a trick of the golden hue in the room. The sunlight streaming through the window—real, warm, and impossible—bathed her in a gentle glow.
Since they were still inside the Dungeon, this sanctuary wasn't just unusual—it was strange and weird to have humans, who looked like Awakened Manaborns, living within such a place. And then there was the sun… the warm, shining light that made my skin tingle. I could feel it. And while it didn't affect me—thanks to my unique constitution—it definitely seems to have some effect on our host.
Which begged the question: Who were these people?
"There's a bathhouse inside," Mary said, gesturing toward a carved archway in the stone. "You can use it to freshen up."
I dropped my bow and sword beside the bed, scanning the room once more. Everything was made from living materials—stone, wood, and thread imbued with Essence, humming faintly beneath the surface. There was no metal, no artificial glow.
Mary turned to leave. "I'll leave you to it, Your Highness."
"I'm not a princess anymore," I said, brushing a loose strand of hair behind my ear. "You can drop the title."
She paused, eyes narrowing with a quiet intensity.
"But you're of Ashtarmel blood," she said softly.
Something in her voice made me look up.
She didn't just say the name. She invoked it—with a strange reverence, almost a touch of awe. There was something layered beneath it: not just respect… but expectation.
"The Ashtarmel are the rulers of these lands," she continued. "It's only a matter of time before you take back what is rightfully yours, Princess."
Then, without waiting for a response, she turned and disappeared down the hall.
I stood there, staring at the door after she left.
"Take back what's rightfully mine..."
The words echoed in my mind, sharp and unfamiliar. I'd never once considered reclaiming the throne. Why would I?
I wasn't the heir.
I hadn't been trained in diplomacy or governance. My uncle had taken the crown after the collapse, and I… I had walked away. Or maybe I had run.
All I'd ever cared about was growing stronger, becoming powerful enough to—
I stopped the thought before it finished. I could feel the emotions rising again—dark, twisted things, festering for years in the quiet corners of my heart. I swallowed hard and pushed them down, as I always did.
I hadn't even noticed the tears until I felt them trail down my cheeks. I wiped them away quickly.
No point in thinking about useless things.Not now.
I took off the rest of my gear, placing each piece with care, and walked toward the bathhouse.
When I got out of the bathhouse refreshed and clean, there were clothes waiting for me on the bed, and a mug on a desk with a note.
This should tide you over till dinner
I sniffed the air, the smell of blood hitting my nose. I regarded this mug of blood, as it's scent made the hunger fully realized. This was no Synthbood, the artificial alchemical substance that I know of. Since awakening her Vampirism, synthblood had been the only blood she had ever had. No fresh blood, no living beings' blood. So this Mug would be the first natural blood that I would drink.
For a moment, I hesitated not knowing if it was a good idea to drink it. But then I chastised myself for thinking that way. If they wanted to harm me, they could have done so from the start. I sipped the drink, the taste sending explosions of flavor and delight within my tastebud. It was unbelievable, the sweetness, so I began gulping it down. As soon as I was done, the itch was gone, and my body felt so invigorated. Like my cells were on fire and sparking with so much energy.
Normally, Vampires were able to cultivate through blood drinking. It was a special path of cultivation for our kind, but it was one that you were normally taught how to do. Taking the Life Essence from the blood, then converting it into Mana to strengthen one's soul core. It was not something I had been taught how to do yet. So instead of refilling my Mana reserves within my Mana circuit, the Life Essence was refined into vitality to strengthen my vitality forcefield. This was good. Vitality played an important part in my physical refinement, making me physically stronger.
After I was done feeding and dressed up in the blue dress, I stepped out of the room, looking around in the corridor. I wondered if I should expand my senses, but then thought better of it. I moved towards the staircase when I heard voices coming from up. Even without my internal senses, my natural senses were still sharp. So I was able to pick out the words that were coming from above. I climbed the stairs, reaching the upper floor, where the door to a room was slightly ajar, and I could see Levi and his wife, Leah, in the room whispering and talking.
"....it seems the demon was dropped somewhere else on the dungeon's floor after the codex bonded with her...."
"If they're making their move, then that means Ezrae'el is ready to finish its work,"
"But why now of all times would it..."
"Sssh!" And then the door to the room closed, a click and I couldn't hear anything coming from the room, like a barrier had been set up. I stood there, trying to make sense of what they had been talking about. The Codex. Wasn't that what Levi and the treants had called the thing that had attached itself to Lil? And then there was something about broken seal, and Demons and Ezrae'el. What in Sheol's name was going on?