“We descend beneath the ground in search for the stairs leading to ascension. Someday we will take to the skies… and maybe, even beyond.” — Fatalis. Yohan read the engraved writing on the platform. They had reached the bottom of the circular shaft without incident. They had descended in a constant speed that was neither fast nor slow. He had no way to know how Eve had done such feat, but he was sure it had to do something with the shadows she manipulated probably with her Jewel Armament. “Fatalis? Who’s that?” asked Zeke. He thought back at their history lessons but could not recall a famous personage in history with such a name. “The Falsefather,” answered Eve. She was leaning on the wall near an open doorway, completely hidden in the dark except for two dimly glowing red orbs. “He is remembered in history texts as the Falsefather. Apparently, the name he used connotes death, and nobody liked that, even his own cult followers.” “He claimed to have provided many of the advancements during the technological boom in the old era, including the flotation engine, airship designs, and Jewel Armaments, but his claims were dismissed as lies and attempts in trying to cause a war between the races. In the end, the only accepted fact was that he was the creator of the Eternal Queen and the Horde,” Yohan said. Zeke gave his older brother an exasperated look. They were in the same class and he didn’t need that supplementary lesson. “No one knows if the Eternal Queen really did exist,” Eve said, “or still existing.” Zeke gulped. He looked down at the text on the platform and thought aloud, “So this place… was it once used by the Falsefather as a hideout or something?” “That’s what we’re here to find out,” answered Eve. She led the way through the only exit of the shaft, her dark figure skirting the edges of the light shone by Yohan’s torch. As they walked through seemingly endless corridors, they noted the multiple sets of footprints on the dusty floor. Doors were already opened by force and the rooms seemed to have already been scavenged. “I didn’t do this,” said Eve defensively. “They were already like this when I first scouted the area. I didn’t go too far in because I felt some presences deeper inside. I’m not suited much for combat, so you three will do the dirty stuff and I’ll provide support.” The three doubted her words about not being suited for combat. The fact that Eve could make the three of them unable to move with a raise of her hand was very deadly in any combat situation. Some of the rooms they visited had already collapsed, while the rest had been raided completely of useful equipments. What were left where utilities like desks and seats, and broken items that were far too irreparable to be useful. As they went deeper, they heard activity. “Dim your light,” whispered Eve. Her own glowing orbs seemed to almost disappear, visible only if one tried hard enough and knew were to look. After stealthily making their way through a few corridors, they spotted a small green figure standing by the end of another corridor. It was half the height of an average human with huge ears. It wore armor made of leather and was equipped with a pair of daggers. Its pair of red eyes seemed to glow as it observed and guarded the exit behind it. Before anybody could say a word, Eve and the two dwarfs felt something brush past them. The goblin reacted instantly and tried to open its mouth, but before it could make a sound, shadowy tendrils crawled over its body. One of the tendrils pulled its mouth shut. Morielle appeared beside the tiny green creature. Her weapon was already in her hand. A pair of dark brown eyes were burning with rage as they stared at the goblin’s pair of red eyes. With a flash of silver, the gunblade sliced past the goblin’s neck. The two dwarfs’ eyes widened. Such lack of mercy was expected when one faced a member of the Horde. It was Morielle’s expression that shocked the siblings. It was the first time they had seen someone show such hatred. On the other hand, Eve tutted in annoyance. She walked out of their hiding spot and went over by the exit where the goblin’s corpse now lay. She looked at the room beyond and was slightly stunned. She hurriedly pulled Morielle back into the shadows of the corridor. Through the exit wasn’t just another room. It was probably the most important area in the entire underground structure as it was the largest. Furthermore, the rest of the sounds they had heard were coming from inside. Goblins and orcs were scattered in the room. There were more or less twenty in total, and they were being led by a hooded figure as it tinkered with the central object in the room: an inclined cylindrical vat. There were six orcs, each raising a thick metal tube with bright glowing orbs on one end, standing guard and providing light near the hooded figure while two others seemed to be acting as its assistant. The rest were goblins walking about. Most seemed to be just walking around randomly while a few were actually patrolling in set routes. A pair was approaching the exit where the four were hiding. Eve glared at Morielle, but realized that her expression was hidden behind her mask. It was too late too hide. Goblins had good sense of smell and the pair had already noticed the scent of blood. Even if they tried to run away, they would still be tracked from the scent on Morielle’s weapon and clothes. For a moment, Eve was tempted to just kill the girl and leave. In the end, she chose to make someone else pay for it. “Follow my lead,” commanded Eve as she rushed out of the corridor and into the room. Tens of pairs of red eyes immediately landed on her followed by shouts of rage towards the intruder. A loud blast echoed in the chamber as Zeke’s shotgun erupted. Small stone pellets burst through the nearest goblin’s body instantly killing it before it realized what happened. Its companion was stunned, giving Yohan enough time to smash his warhammer on its head. They had succesfully grabbed the initiative, but it was only enough for two kills. The advantage was now gone, and what followed would be a disadvantageous fight. Eve hated being disadvantaged, but she had no choice at the moment. The vat in the center of the room was an important asset, and they should not let the Horde obtain it. This was the trio’s first time fighting against the Horde, but they had no qualms about it. It had been drilled into them during their lessons that the Horde was not to be given any form of mercy. The goblins were the first to rush toward the intruders. The orcs stayed by the hooded figure’s side, forming a protective encirclement around it. Yohan swung his warhammer with abandon. It didn’t matter if he missed. His goal was to create space between the goblins and his companions. Zeke was using a mid-ranged weapon, and his shots needed time in between. The older brother’s goal was to buy time for his younger sibling. Every now and then, a goblin would be able to close the distance and attack Yohan. During those moments, Eve would respond by restraining the goblin with her shadow tendrils. Yohan could then counter-attack. Eve did not lie when she said she was not suited for combat. Most of her abilities were for stealth and ambush. Although she could hold her own in a fight like this, she could not ensure the safety of the other three. Earlier, she had sensed the presence of the three’s senior who was assigned to protect them if worst comes to worst. She used an ability that caused him to get lost in the maze of corridors. She now regretted that decision, hoping that he would hear the sound of battle and quickly make his way over here. They had taken down almost half the number of goblins when Eve realized that one person was missing. She looked around and saw her confronting the orcs. “When did— Damn it!” she could only curse at her own carelessness and the girl’s recklessness. If something happened to her… she didn’t know what that unpredictable fleet general would do. Fortunately, she felt the presence of the man she had stranded earlier and decided to leave the dwarfs to fight the rest of the goblins on their own. She sprinted to where Morielle was to assist her. Morielle had been doing fine on her own. She had managed to take down two orcs with five shots. Her shots were not as loud as they were and could be masked by the sound of battle. Zeke’s shotgun blast was much louder. The pentrative power of her shots had also lessened. Each successful hit on an orc would leave a gaping hole on its flesh cauterized by the lightning’s heat, although their race’s extreme endurance meant that it was not fatal unless a vital area was hit. After successfully killing two orcs, the battle quickly went downhill for her. Finaly, seeing her as a threat, the hooded figure participated in the battle. Beneath its clothes was a human-like figure with deathly pale skin and hollow sockets. It revealed a Jewel Armament within its grasp. Its central jewel and two sub-jewels were filled with swirling dark energy. With a wave of its hand, Morielle started feeling sick. Her head ached and her stomach churned. She wanted to vomit, but held it in as she dodged the orcs’ attacks with their swords and hatchets. A few grazed her, and her parries caused her hand to grow numb from the force. She aimed at the undead knowing that it was causing her to feel sick. As she pulled the trigger, she heard a shout from behind her as she felt the familiar sensation of something trying to hinder her movements. “Idiot, stop!” But it was too late. She had already pulled the trigger and a bolt of lightning flashed toward her target. Unfortunately, her vision had already been affected by her sickness and she missed. The shot went straight at the vat behind her target. Shadow tendrils pulled her away from harm. She saw the familiar figure covered in black stand in front of her. Eve’s hands were clenched into fists, and from her knuckles grew a pair of long blades made of shadows. Those were the last things she saw as she fainted.

Zeke was not sure how they managed to kill all the enemies and made it out of that place alive. Everything that had happened had filled him with doubts. Looking at his brother’s injuries, he couldn’t help but feel that maybe they shouldn’t have joined Goeden and instead should have opted for a regular academy on airship engineering. They were already back at the desert border. He was tending to his brother’s injuries while sneaking glances at the three ‘adults’ staring down at the unconscious girl. Their two seniors faces were scrunched up. He knew they were thinking what to make out of the situation. Eve on the other hand… she was wearing a mask so he couldn’t tell her expression, but from the way her fists were clenched and shaking, she was obviously seething in anger. They waited for Morielle to wake up. As soon as she did, she started vomiting. Her pale complexion gradually regained color. “Do you know what you just did?” asked Eve. Her voice was cold and deep, completely different from the seemingly lax tone she used earlier with them. She grabbed Morielle by the collar of her clothes and lifted her up to meet the red lenses she had for eyes. Morielle refused to answer and only returned her gaze. “Of course you don’t,” she continued. “All you thought about was your petty revenge. What do you plan to do? Wipe out the entire Horde on your own?” At that moment, Moreille’s expression returned to what she had when she faced the first goblin. “If I have to!” she declared. “I will wipe them all out with my bare hand! If I lose my other arm, I will use my teeth!” Her answer was met with a slap and she fell to the ground. “Stop acting like a spoiled child! You’re not the only one who lost family from the Horde. You’re not the only victim. No matter what you do, if you think only of yourself and act alone, it wouldn’t matter. It will not change anything!” “It will! I will kill! And kill! And keep on killing until nothing is left of them!” She stood up and tried to throw a punch at Eve and missed widely. If Arovin could see her now, he would not be able to relate her current form as the same person who had handed his ass to him. A slap once again resounded and Morielle found herself eating sand. She was then dragged away. All her attempts at fighting back was easily fended against. Her weapon was missing, and she coudln’t activate her Jewel Armament. Eve dragged Morielle toward the vat they had salvaged. It was placed a short distance away from where they were. The two seniors had decided to let Eve handle the matter and they trailed after her. The two dwarfs played the roles of onlookers from a distance. “You were recklessly shooting around with your weapon and hit something you shouldn’t have,” said Eve. She was back to her cold and emotionless voice. The vat was made of a smooth metallic object. Part of it was broken and burnt from where Morielle had accidentally hit it from earlier. The liquid within the vat had already drained from the damaged area and for a moment, Morielle thought she saw something resembling burnt flesh. Eve bent down and lifted the vat’s upper half which was serving as its lid. The sight inside was a mess of burnt flesh, blood, and other unknown fluids. “This vat is a delicate machine, and even the Horde knew its importance. That was why they were taking their time trying to figure out how to safely remove it and its content,” Eve explained. “Now sear this image into your mind. You wanted to kill? Well, congratulations.” Morielle’s raging emotions disappeared in an instant. Eve’s words pierced her soul if she even had one. She faced the bottom of the sea of clouds and screamed. Zeke saw his brother shake his head. They had already seen the content of the vat even before it was removed from the underground room. In fact, there was no point to take it out after seeing its state, but Eve insisted on it. The younger of the dwarf siblings wondered if they would still be having similar missions in the future. Was it too late to leave the academy and transfer to another one? It probably was not a good idea. Besides, this mission seemed to have been mistakenly assigned to them. Maybe they had proceeded at it the wrong way. Maybe they should have retreated and asked for more support. If there was anyone to blame, he was unsure of who. Was it the academy who assigned them here? Was it Eve who had led them into that place? Or was it Morielle who had acted rashly and recklessly? None of the people here would ever forget this moment. A one-armed girl was screaming at the sky in front of the life she had taken away. Inside the vat was a fresh but broken corpse of a small child.