Rheus and Luisa pressed on through the forest, their steps quickened by the adrenaline still coursing through their veins. The battle with the cloaked figure had left them both shaken, though neither wanted to admit it. They were deep in enemy territory now, and the sense of being hunted had only grown more intense after the encounter.
"What do you think that was?" Luisa asked, breaking the silence. She adjusted her bow, her sharp eyes scanning the treetops for any sign of movement.
Rheus didn't answer right away, his mind still racing. The raw power he had unleashed back there—it had frightened him. It wasn't just the strength of it, but the way it had taken over, like a wild beast barely contained.
"I don't know," he finally muttered, keeping his gaze forward. "But whoever that was, they weren't here by accident. Someone is after us, and I don't think it's just about the Lost Kingdom anymore."
Luisa sighed. "I thought as much. The way that figure spoke, it was like they knew more about our journey than we did. And we still don't even know who they're working for."
The wind rustled the branches overhead, and for a moment, both of them tensed, expecting another attack. But the forest remained quiet.
"Do you think they're still following us?" Luisa asked, her voice low.
Rheus frowned. "No. That last blast should have thrown them off our trail. For now, we're safe. But we can't let our guard down. There's something… strange about all of this."
He didn't have to say more for Luisa to understand. The eerie atmosphere around them, the feeling of being watched—it was all too familiar now. Ever since they had embarked on this journey to find the Lost Kingdom, it felt as though they were walking into a trap that had been set long before they even realized.
---
As dawn broke, they finally reached the outskirts of the forest, the trees thinning out to reveal a barren landscape of rocky hills and jagged cliffs. In the distance, a crumbling fortress stood against the horizon, its dark silhouette looming like a forgotten relic from a bygone era.
"The Lost Kingdom…" Luisa whispered, her breath catching at the sight.
Rheus nodded, though his expression remained grim. "We're here. But if the stories are true, this place is cursed."
They made their way cautiously toward the fortress, the ground beneath their feet uneven and unstable. The air was thick with tension, and every gust of wind seemed to carry whispers of ancient voices, long lost to time.
As they approached the gates of the fortress, Rheus slowed, his eyes narrowing as he noticed something unusual. The massive doors, though old and weathered, were not sealed shut. They stood slightly ajar, as if inviting them in.
"Someone's already been here," Rheus said quietly.
Luisa glanced at him. "Do you think it's the cloaked figure? Or someone else?"
Rheus shook his head. "I don't know. But we have to be careful."
They stepped through the gates, the ancient stone walls towering over them like giants from another world. Inside, the fortress was eerily quiet, the silence only broken by the soft echo of their footsteps.
"This place…" Luisa began, her voice hushed. "It doesn't feel right."
Rheus agreed. There was something unsettling about the way the shadows seemed to shift around them, as though the darkness itself was alive, watching their every move. The stories of the Lost Kingdom spoke of a great power that had been hidden away here long ago—a power that could change the fate of the world if unleashed.
But those same stories also warned of a terrible curse that had befallen the kingdom, sealing its fate and dooming any who sought to uncover its secrets.
They ventured deeper into the fortress, their path winding through narrow corridors and abandoned halls. The air grew colder the further they went, and soon, even the light from their torches struggled to pierce the darkness.
Suddenly, a faint sound echoed through the halls—a soft, rhythmic tapping, like footsteps approaching from the shadows.
Rheus and Luisa froze, their hands instinctively reaching for their weapons.
"Someone's here," Rheus whispered.
The tapping grew louder, closer. The shadows around them seemed to thicken, and for a moment, it felt as though the walls themselves were closing in. Then, from the darkness, a figure emerged.
It was the same cloaked figure from before, but this time, they were not alone.
Behind them, more figures appeared—silent, shadowy figures cloaked in the same black robes, their faces hidden beneath hoods. There were at least half a dozen of them, and they moved with an unnatural, eerie grace.
"We've been expecting you," the first figure said, their voice low and mocking. "You've come a long way, but this is as far as you go."
Rheus and Luisa stood back-to-back, their weapons drawn, ready for a fight. But something about the presence of these figures felt different from before. They weren't just dealing with mercenaries or bounty hunters now—these people were skilled, dangerous, and part of something much larger.
"I take it you're not here for a friendly chat," Rheus said, his eyes scanning the figures.
The leader of the group chuckled softly. "Hardly. But you've proven to be… interesting. My master is curious about you, Rheus Marcellion."
The moment the figure uttered Rheus's full name, Luisa's eyes widened in shock. **Marcellion?** That was no common name. In this world, only nobles and royalty bore surnames, and she had known Rheus for long enough to believe he was just a skilled, though mysterious, commoner.
"Wait… *Marcellion?*" Luisa whispered, glancing at Rheus, her mind racing. "You have a last name?"
Rheus said nothing, his jaw clenched as if the name had struck a nerve. The revelation hung in the air, tension thick between them.
"Are you—are you noble?" Luisa continued, her voice rising in disbelief. "Why didn't you ever—"
"I'll explain later," Rheus interrupted sharply, his eyes fixed on the cloaked figure. "But now is not the time."
Luisa nodded, though her expression remained one of confusion and surprise. She had thought she knew Rheus, but this changed everything. Why would he hide something so significant?
The leader of the group chuckled again, clearly enjoying their reaction. "Ah, so she didn't know? Interesting. I thought the mighty Rheus Marcellion would have shared such a detail with his allies."
Rheus tightened his grip on his sword, his gaze dark and unyielding. "Enough games. Who are you? And what does your master want with me?"
The figure tilted their head slightly, the dark hood concealing their face. "All in due time. But first, we must see if you are worthy."
Without warning, the figures lunged forward, their movements swift and deadly. Rheus and Luisa sprang into action, their weapons flashing in the dim light.
Luisa's arrows flew true, striking down two of the shadowy figures with precision. But the others moved too quickly, dodging and weaving through the chaos. Rheus deflected a blow aimed at his head, his sword clashing with the attacker's blade in a shower of sparks.
"These aren't ordinary fighters!" Luisa shouted as she loosed another arrow, her voice strained with effort.
"No," Rheus growled, blocking another strike. "They're trained killers."
As the battle raged on, Rheus felt the familiar surge of magic building within him. He knew he had to be careful—too much, and he could lose control again. But there was no time to hold back.
With a shout, Rheus unleashed a wave of energy, the force knocking two of the attackers off their feet. Luisa followed up with a barrage of arrows, each one charged with magic.
For a moment, it seemed as though they had the upper hand. But the leader of the group remained unfazed, watching from the shadows as his minions fell.
Then, with a slow, deliberate motion, the leader stepped forward, raising his hand. The air around them grew heavy with dark magic, and Rheus could feel the oppressive weight of it pressing down on him.
"This is only the beginning," the leader said, his voice a whisper on the wind. "You will learn the true meaning of fear."
Before Rheus could react, the leader vanished into the shadows, leaving the fortress eerily quiet once more.
The battle was over, but Rheus and Luisa both knew that this was far from the end. The Pandemonium Guild had revealed themselves, and the true hunt had only just begun.