Lucavion turned to Vitaliara, her celestial form perched on his shoulder, her golden eyes flickering with intensity. She had been the one to discover the unique scent clinging faintly to Thalion’s mangled body—a subtle but unmistakable trail that led them deeper into the Crimson Serpent Sect’s stronghold. Her nose, attuned to the finer nuances of mana and life essence, had guided them this far.
[It’s faint, but I’m sure of it,] Vitaliara said firmly, her voice clear in Lucavion’s mind. [This scent… it leads to something hidden below.]
Lucavion gave a curt nod, his dark eyes narrowing as he focused on the path ahead. Without a word, he strode forward, his estoc gleaming faintly with the residue of the [Flame of Equinox]. His pace quickened as they moved through the blood-soaked corridors, his blade striking down anyone foolish enough to stand in his way. Crimson arcs of blood painted the walls and floors as screams echoed briefly before being silenced.
The deeper they descended, the colder and more oppressive the air became. The faint scent Vitaliara had detected grew stronger, laced with hints of decay and despair. Lucavion’s expression remained unreadable, though his eyes burned with a cold, unyielding determination.
Finally, Vitaliara’s tail lashed with urgency. [We’re close. Just ahead, Lucavion.]
The corridor opened into a narrow staircase spiraling downward into darkness. Lucavion didn’t hesitate, his boots echoing against the stone steps as he descended rapidly. The oppressive atmosphere thickened, and with each step, the scent became more distinct—a mixture of desperation and muted power, suppressed by something unnatural.
At the bottom of the staircase, a heavy iron door barred their way. Lucavion placed his hand on it, his [Flame of Equinox] surging along the metal. With a sharp, deliberate push, he forced it open, the hinges groaning in protest.
The scene that greeted them was both shocking and infuriating.
Rows of chambers stretched out before them, each one containing malnourished figures. Their gaunt faces and hollow eyes spoke of prolonged suffering, their bodies weak from neglect. Most of them were cuffed with glinting, rune-etched artifacts designed to suppress their Awakened abilities, rendering them helpless.
Vitaliara’s breath hitched, her fur bristling as her golden eyes scanned the prisoners. [I recognize some of them…] she whispered, her voice heavy with sorrow. [They’re from the Azure Blossom Sect. These were Gabriela’s disciples.]
Lucavion’s gaze swept over the chambers, his sharp mind processing the scope of what he was seeing. “So, this is what became of them,” he murmured, his voice low and cold. “Vaelric didn’t just destroy the sect—he turned its survivors into tools.”
The despair in the air was palpable, but Lucavion didn’t falter. He stepped into the room, his blade ready as his eyes darted between the chambers. Vitaliara leapt down, pacing anxiously as she recognized more familiar faces. [We need to free them, Lucavion. They’ve suffered enough.]
Lucavion nodded, his mind already working through the situation. The cuffs would need to be destroyed, and the disciples, though weakened, would require guidance to escape. It wouldn’t be easy, but the path forward was clear.
He approached one of the chambers, his gaze locking onto a young woman slumped against the back wall. Her once-pristine robes were tattered, and her skin was pale and bruised, but there was a faint glimmer of defiance in her eyes—a spark that hadn’t yet been extinguished.
“Rest easy,” Lucavion said softly, his voice carrying an uncharacteristic note of reassurance. “Your time in this prison is over.”
He raised his blade, the [Flame of Equinox] flaring to life as he prepared to cut through the restraints. Behind him, Vitaliara’s golden eyes shimmered with determination.
As Lucavion’s blade flared to life, casting ethereal shadows across the chamber, a sudden cry broke the oppressive silence.
“Lady Vitaliara?”
The voice was hoarse, trembling with disbelief. Lucavion paused mid-strike, his sharp gaze snapping to the source of the voice—a gaunt man clutching the bars of his chamber. His hollow eyes, sunken with malnourishment, widened as they fixed on the celestial figure beside Lucavion.
“LADY VITALIARA!” another voice shouted, the desperate hope in the cry reverberating through the chamber. “YOU’RE BACK?”
A wave of whispers and exclamations followed, filling the air with a mixture of disbelief and elation. Figures stirred in their cells, weak hands reaching through the bars as more voices joined the chorus. “It’s her! She’s returned!” “Lady Vitaliara is here!”
Vitaliara’s fur bristled with emotion as she stepped closer to Lucavion’s shoulder, her golden eyes scanning the disciples who now stared at her with expressions that ranged from stunned disbelief to unrestrained joy. [They recognize me…] she murmured, her voice thick with emotion. [Even after all this time…]
Lucavion’s expression softened slightly, though his eyes remained calculating. He glanced at Vitaliara, noting the way her presence seemed to breathe life into the broken figures before them. He understood their reaction perfectly.
‘She was their guardian,’ Lucavion thought, his mind piecing together the fragments of their shared history. ‘The one who protected their sect when it still stood. Even if they barely knew her personally, her presence must have been a symbol of strength, of hope.’ He glanced back at the trembling figures. ‘And they’ve been living without either for far too long.’
“Lady Vitaliara…” The young woman in the chamber before Lucavion whispered, her voice barely audible but heavy with reverence. She reached out a trembling hand toward Vitaliara, her eyes filling with tears. “You’ve come back… You’ve come to save us.”
Vitaliara leapt gracefully from Lucavion’s shoulder, landing on the stone floor with quiet dignity. She padded closer to the bars of the chamber, her celestial form glowing faintly in the dim light. [I’ve returned,] she said softly, her voice resonating with warmth and sorrow. [I’m sorry it took so long.]
The disciples in the chambers pressed closer to their bars, their faces alight with something they hadn’t felt in years—hope.
Lucavion observed the scene silently, his blade still glowing with the [Flame of Equinox]. He could see the fragile balance in their expressions, the way they clung to Vitaliara’s presence as though it were the only thing keeping them upright. Without a word, he turned back to the restraints binding the young woman before him and brought the blade down in a precise, fluid motion.
The cuffs shattered, the suppression runes flickering and dying. The young woman gasped, the sudden release of her mana like a flood breaking through a dam. She collapsed forward, her body trembling as she struggled to steady herself.
“Rest,” Lucavion said simply, his voice calm yet firm. “Your strength will return. You’ll need it.”
One by one, he moved to the other chambers, his blade striking with precision to free the disciples. Each time the restraints shattered, the same mixture of disbelief and gratitude spread through the air, their gazes alternating between him and Vitaliara.
Vitaliara turned to Lucavion, her voice steady but filled with gratitude. [Thank you, Lucavion. For this.]
Lucavion smirked faintly, his eyes glinting with his usual sharpness. “I’m just the executioner,” he replied, though his tone carried a rare note of sincerity. “You’re the one they needed to see.”
As Lucavion moved through the chambers, his blade striking with precision to shatter the restraints of the Azure Blossom Sect disciples, his steps eventually carried him to the very end of the corridor. A faint, chilling hum resonated from the last cell, distinct from the others. Vitaliara paused beside him, her golden eyes narrowing as she peered at the iron door reinforced with layers of intricate runes.
[This cell…] Vitaliara’s voice trembled slightly, a mix of recognition and unease threading her tone. [It’s different. It was meant to hold someone… special.]
Lucavion tilted his head, his dark eyes scanning the markings on the door. “Special,” he echoed, his voice calm yet curious. He extended his hand, the [Flame of Equinox] flaring as he pressed his palm against the cold iron. The runes flared briefly before disintegrating under the weight of his mana. With a sharp motion, he pushed the door open, the groan of the hinges reverberating through the corridor.
The iron door creaked open, revealing a dimly lit chamber. Unlike the other cells, this one bore an air of restraint rather than outright neglect. The faint scent of stale mana lingered, and though the woman inside was gaunt and malnourished like the others, there was an undeniable sharpness to her gaze, a flicker of vitality that hadn’t been entirely extinguished.
Lucavion’s eyes immediately locked onto her as she sat upright against the far wall, her wrists bound by rune-etched cuffs. Her long, dark hair framed a face marked with exhaustion but still strikingly composed. The moment Lucavion stepped into the cell, her eyes snapped upward, sharp and alert.
“Ah…” she breathed, her voice cracking with the strain of disuse. Her grey eyes widened as they settled on the small, glowing figure that padded into the room beside Lucavion. “Lady Vitaliara…”
The reverence in her tone was unmistakable, her expression a mixture of disbelief and joy. She struggled to rise, her cuffed hands trembling as she tried to push herself up.
Vitaliara leapt gracefully to the floor, her celestial glow illuminating the woman’s gaunt features. [Yes, it’s me,] she said softly, her voice warm yet tinged with sorrow. [I’ve returned.]
But instead of relief, the woman’s face twisted into a grimace. “Why?” she demanded, her voice hoarse but sharp. “Why did you come back? You should have escaped! It’s much more dangerous now!” Her tone was laced with urgency and fear, as though her words alone could shield Vitaliara from some unseen peril.
Lucavion’s brows lifted slightly, the corner of his mouth curving into a faint smirk. “Grateful, aren’t you?” he remarked dryly, his tone light but edged with amusement. “We just risked quite a lot to find you.”
The woman’s sharp gaze darted to Lucavion, her grey eyes narrowing slightly as though trying to measure him. “You don’t understand,” she said firmly, her voice gaining strength. “The Crimson Serpent Sect…..They are really strong…..Their leader….Vaelric….he is a peak 4-star warrior….”
“Ah….that guy….he is dead….I just killed him.”
At that, the girl’s chin fell to the ground….
“What?”