"My name is Runa," the woman said simply as she stepped out of the cell.
Kyren's grin widened, his cheeks heating despite himself. She was stunning—the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen. Dark curls cascaded down her back, framing sharp, elegant features. Her golden-brown eyes locked onto his, filled with something unreadable. Her deep rich brown with a subtle shimmer, as if kissed by moonlight.
"I'm Kyren, and that's a beautiful name," he said.
She raised a brow. "Are you going to keep staring, or are we escaping?"
Without waiting for an answer, she grabbed his hand and pulled him forward. Kyren stumbled after her, Lydel dragged along behind him. Baldwin limped after them, moving surprisingly fast for an old man.
The door opened into a great hall where several cultists sat at long wooden tables, food spread before them. None of them reacted as the group ran past. Some muttered in prayer, eyes closed, while others chewed slowly, vacant stares locked on their plates.
"Why aren't they doing anything?" Kyren whispered.
"Drugs," Baldwin said under his breath. "Now, follow me."
The hall spilled into a massive chamber—a marketplace, bustling with people. Unlike the eerie silence of LongFoot, this place was alive. Cultists in robes bartered with traders in plain clothes. Vendors hawked wares from behind makeshift stalls, selling food, weapons, and strange trinkets. The air was thick with the scent of roasted meat and something pungent, almost metallic.
Baldwin led them along the edges of the room, weaving through the crowd. Kyren kept his head down, but no one paid them any mind. They weren't prisoners here. Just more faces in the sea of people.
At the far end of the market, Baldwin crouched beside a hatch in the floor. With a grunt, he pried it open and slipped inside.
"Down here," he whispered.
Kyren followed, dropping into a narrow tunnel barely tall enough for him to stand upright. The damp air smelled of stone and rust. They moved in silence, their footsteps echoing.
At the end of the tunnel, Baldwin stopped in front of a rusted metal hatch set into the wall. He pressed a hand against it, then stepped back and slammed his shoulder into the door. The metal shuddered, then burst open, the hatch clattering to the floor.
Beyond the opening lay a vast underground chamber, spanning hundreds of feet. The walls were lined with small, single-person rooms stacked in layers, stretching ten floors high. Metal walkways crisscrossed above, connecting the endless rows of doors.
Kyren barely had time to take it all in before Baldwin turned away and strolled toward a woman sitting in a shallow tub, washing her clothes. He exchanged a few hushed words before returning.
"Good news—my room's still open," Baldwin said, grinning. "Also, I didn't get caught this time."
With a casual ease, he pulled out a bundle of food—bread, dried meat, and fruit—all snatched from the market. He tore a loaf of bread into four pieces and handed one to each of them.
Kyren accepted his share, but before eating, he summoned a small vial of glowing red liquid. He turned to Lydel, lowering his voice.
"Drink this, bro. You're still bleeding from your face."
Lydel took the potion and downed it in one gulp. His wounds sealed instantly, the bruising fading from his skin.
Kyren turned back to Baldwin. "Who do I talk to about getting a room for the night?"
Baldwin laughed. "You don't. You just find an empty one and claim it. There should be some near mine."
Without another word, Baldwin headed toward a staircase, the rest of them following close behind.
As they climbed, Kyren glanced at Runa. "So, how did you end up in Zafeer?"
Her steps didn't falter, but her voice was cold. "Why do you want to know?"
Kyren smirked. "Just trying to get to know the person I'm escaping with."
She scoffed. "You think I'm planning to escape?"
"I don't mean running away. I mean taking this place down from the outside—finding routes in and out, cutting off their power."
She didn't answer. Instead, Lydel groaned. "Both of you, shut up and find a damn place to sleep. Or is it even nighttime?"
Runa simply turned her head away and continued following Baldwin.
They climbed three flights of stairs before Baldwin stopped in front of a row of doors. He strode up to the first one and kicked it open.
"Empty. This one's up for grabs."
He moved to the next, slamming the door open. "Another empty one."
He opened a third door and grinned. "This one's mine."
One more door down, he kicked another open. "Also empty."
Lydel shoved past him. "Mine."
Baldwin huffed. "Damn, alright."
Runa stepped into the first room without a word, sitting on the small cot inside. Kyren took the second, finally finishing his piece of bread as he leaned back against the wall.
Then, the notification bell rang.
He pulled up the system menu, his vision filling with a glowing blue screen.
[Event: Grand Stand]
Your whole party holds a grudge to clear this outpost of the cult.
Reward: New party member
Yes/No
Kyren didn't hesitate. Yes.
The notification vanished, replaced by a brief flash of another screen.
[Runa Ironheart]
Physical Constitution: A
Strength: A
Speed: A
Stamina: A+
Mana Pool: S+
[Ability: Ironheart's Arsenal]
(Active/Passive – Mana-Based Ability)
Runa can transform natural materials into weapons, with the weapon type determined by the element of the material used. She can telekinetically control these weapons.
The screen disappeared as fast as it had appeared. Kyren's pulse quickened.
With Runa on his side, they could tear through the cultists.
But then another thought struck him.
If she was this strong… how did they capture her?
The question nagged at him as he stood. He left his room, stopping outside Runa's door.
"Hey, I don't mean to bother you, but do you mind if we talk for a bit?"
Runa glanced up from where she sat on the bed. "Sure. But only if you answer my questions too."
Kyren smirked. "Fair trade." He stepped inside, closing the door behind him.
Runa patted the spot beside her. "Go on. Ask first."
Kyren sat down. "Alright. How exactly did they capture you? Because I've got this feeling you're really strong."
Runa's expression darkened, her fists clenching in her lap.
"Wasn't expecting that as your first question," she muttered. "I don't come from the outskirts of Epsilon. I come from a city about 200 miles south."
Her voice shifted, something harder beneath it.
"I left that place to find somewhere I could survive based on my abilities. But by the time I made it through the forests and plains, I was nearly out of mana. I saw the outpost and let my guard down."
Her knuckles whitened. "The moment I walked through the gates, they trapped me. The mud turned to quicksand. Before I could fight back, they had me locked up."
Kyren exhaled, nodding. "That explains a lot."
Runa lifted her gaze, her golden-brown eyes sharp and knowing.
"Now my turn," she said. "You're the 'Forgotten Son' of Mayor Warhammer, aren't you?"
Kyren's breath hitched.
The words hit him like a punch to the gut.