The sun climbed high over the cliff, spilling dry heat that made the gray rocks shimmer as if sweating under the light. A soft wind whistled through the stones, carrying the distant murmur of the Veridian forest below, where green treetops swayed beneath a sky staining itself a dirty red. The lake gleamed far off, a silver mirror trapped among the trees, and the air smelled of damp earth and fresh moss, laced with a sharp hint of old pine that stung the nose. Sebastián was still asleep, sprawled on the flat rock with the tattered blanket from Chapter 95 half-covering him, his messy brown hair plastered to his sweaty forehead. Kaili sat beside him, legs crossed, watching him with a mix of annoyance and amusement, her iridescent wings humming low as the Lunar Chameleon brooch in her hair flickered between silver and red under the sun.
A sharp crack split the air when Sebastián, still half-asleep, rolled over and stepped on a loose branch while trying to stand. His boots slipped on the wet grass, and with a clumsy shout—"Shit!"—he fell face-first, his face slamming into the ground with a dull thud that kicked up a cloud of dirt and dry leaves.
—"Ouch!" —he groaned, spitting out dirt as he sat up with a grunt, rubbing his nose with a filthy hand—. "I think I broke something, Kaili. This hurts like hell."
Kaili let out a dry laugh that echoed across the cliff, her wings buzzing louder as she leaned toward him, crossing her arms with a creak of her black armor.
—"Don't be stupid, human" —she said, her voice sharp but brimming with laughter—. "You didn't break anything, you're just clumsy as always. What'd you expect, standing up like some hero after sleeping like a log?"
Sebastián shot her a frown, brushing dirt off his shirt with awkward swipes that only smeared it more.
—"Thanks for the love, Kaili" —he shot back, sarcastic, stumbling to his feet—. "Really lifts my spirits knowing you believe in me. How about another kiss to fix me up this time?"
She raised an eyebrow, her crooked smile flashing a fang as her golden runes glowed briefly on her purple skin.
—"Keep dreaming, stubborn ass" —she snapped, rising with a fluid motion that cracked the rock under her boots—. "I'll kick you into the lake again and fix you with punches if you keep running that mouth. Didn't learn a damn thing yesterday, huh?"
He laughed, a warm sound cutting through the wind as he wiped his face with his sleeve, leaving a streak of grime on his cheek.
—"I learned your lips are soft, Kaili" —he said, winking while stretching, his joints popping like dry twigs—. "And that you punish me with pain 'cause you care. That counts, right?"
Kaili snorted, giving him a light shove on the shoulder that made him stumble again.
—"You're the one who cares, idiot" —she shot back, her wings buzzing fast like a nervous swarm—. "I just wanted to see you squirm a bit. Too bad it doesn't teach you to shut up."
—"Never gonna shut up with you around, Kaili" —he said, grinning as he picked up the blanket and shook it with a flap that released more dust—. "Hey, speaking of yesterday… what's the plan today? Don't tell me we're just gonna sit here staring at the lake."
She crossed her arms again, glaring at the Veridian forest with a growl that sounded like a challenge to the wind.
—"No clue, human" —she said, kicking a rock that rolled off the edge with a clack clack—. "I could keep watching you eat dirt, but I'm sick of this damn cliff."
Sebastián scratched the back of his neck, dropping the blanket onto his pack with a soft plop.
—"Remember that red root I saw in a sketch from the dungeon?" —he said, his voice rising with a spark of excitement—. "I wanna look for it. For my collection. The forest's right down there, we could head down and…"
—"Again with your stupid plants, gardener?" —Kaili cut him off, whipping around so fast her wings let out a buzz that shook nearby leaves—. "You're driving me nuts with your weeds! What's next, weaving me another flower necklace?"
He laughed, raising his hands like he was surrendering, though his eyes twinkled with amusement.
—"It's a root, Kaili, not a flower" —he said, stepping toward her—. "Red, weird, smells like it'd knock you out. Thought you'd like something like that, chaos princess. Besides, the forest's close, it's no big deal."
She stared at him, her cosmic eyes narrowing as her silver runes flickered with irritation.
—"I'm done with filthy forests, stubborn ass" —she snapped, kicking another rock that flew off into the void—. "Everything stinks of rotten moss and ugly crows. If you want your root, fine, but then we're outta here to some human city. East Vigil, or whatever you call that dump. There's gotta be something useful there."
Sebastián blinked, his grin widening like she'd just handed him a gift, though a flicker of confusion crossed his face.
—"East Vigil?" —he said, leaning toward her—. "That still around? I haven't left the dungeon in a hundred years, Kaili. You sure you wanna mess with humans after all that time?"
—"I hate anything boring, gardener" —she shot back, smacking his arm hard enough to make him wince and step back—. "If I stay here, I'll kick you 'til you sprout roots. Let's grab your crap and see what's left of that place."
—"Deal, princess" —he said, laughing as he grabbed his pack and slung it over his shoulder with a clumsy swing—. "Down to the forest it is. But don't get mad if I trip again."
—"Trip, and I'll leave you with the crows, idiot" —Kaili snapped, starting down the steep path with firm steps that crunched the dirt under her boots.
The Veridian forest hit them with thick air, heavy with the stench of rotten moss and crushed berries that clung to the throat. Skinny trees rose like skeletons, branches clacking in the wind, and shadows writhed on the soft ground with a low hum that set nerves on edge. A shadow crow cawed from a treetop, its obsidian feathers glinting before it bolted with a wingbeat like torn fabric. Sebastián walked with his easy stride, boots sinking into the earth with a plop plop that kicked up specks of dirt, while Kaili marched beside him, her wings buzzing with impatience, her armor creaking like it was alive.
—"Move it, stubborn ass" —she said, kicking a root with a crunch that sent dirt flying—. "Find your damn plant before I rot here."
—"Chill, Kaili" —he replied, crouching to poke at the ground with curious fingers—. "It's not that easy, it's gotta be red, with black streaks. Saw it in that sketch, I swear…"
He tripped over a hidden root, dropping to his knees with a "Damn it!" that made Kaili laugh again, her cackle bouncing through the trees.
—"You're a disaster, gardener" —she said, crossing her arms as she loomed over him—. "How're you still alive with those clumsy feet after a hundred years?"
—"'Cause you look out for me, princess" —he shot back, getting up with a grunt and brushing off his hands—. "Look, here it is!" —He pointed at a bright red root poking through the moss, black veins running across it like cracks, a whiff of spoiled berries rising as he yanked it free with a tug—. "Red and weird, just like I said!"
Kaili stepped closer, sniffing the root with a grimace that wrinkled her purple nose.
—"Stinks, human" —she said, pulling back—. "Great, you got your toy. Now let's get outta this dump before I feel like torching it all."
Sebastián tucked the root into his pack with a triumphant grin, wiping his hands on his pants.
—"What if we look for more leads in that city of yours?" —he said, eyes gleaming as he looked at her—. "A herbalist, a market, something. Haven't seen one in a century, Kaili. What do you say?"
She snorted, kicking the ground with a thump that stirred up more dirt.
—"I say yeah, stubborn ass" —she replied, heading toward a clearing among the trees—. "But I'm not walking into that place with these wings and horns starting a mess. Let's do it right."
They reached the clearing, a circle of dirt ringed by trees that creaked like they were whispering to each other. The air thickened with a dark hum as Kaili raised her hands, her runes flaring with a silver flash that turned pitch black.
—"Can't go in like this, human" —she said, her voice steady as she glanced at Sebastián—. "My wings and horns would have those dumb humans running or shooting arrows at me. Gotta look like one of you."
Sebastián blinked, dropping his pack with a soft thud.
—"So what're you gonna do, Kaili?" —he asked, leaning toward her with curiosity.
She smirked, a crooked grin flashing a fang as she closed her eyes.
—"Watch me, stubborn ass" —she said, and a dark energy wrapped around her like a cloak of liquid shadows. Her wings faded with a final buzz, her horns melted into the air, and her purple skin paled to an almost translucent shade, glowing faintly under the sun. Her jet-black hair grew longer, cascading to her waist like gleaming obsidian, and her dark eyes filled with a faint silver shimmer, like stars caught in a void. Her black armor shifted, plates molding into a sleek design with sharp silver edges, hugging her athletic frame with jagged lines that screamed controlled chaos. A short black cape fluttered from her shoulders, and her gauntlets ended in subtle points that looked ready to slice.
Sebastián's jaw dropped, the red root forgotten in his pack as he stared her up and down.
—"Kaili, you're… stunning!" —he said, his voice shaking with awe—. "You're the most beautiful and terrifying thing I've seen in a hundred years. How the hell are you still you?"
She opened her eyes, the silver glint cutting through the air as she threw him a mocking smile.
—"Shut up, idiot" —she shot back, stepping toward him with a stride that blended seduction and menace—. "Still me, just without wings so you don't piss yourself. Don't get too excited, gardener."
—"Too late" —he said, laughing as he ran a hand through his hair—. "If the guards see you like this, they'll faint before they even ask us anything."
—"Let 'em faint" —she snapped, raising a hand to open a portal that rippled like a dark abyss—. "Cross, stubborn ass, and don't puke on my boots this time or I'll kick you back through."
Sebastián swallowed hard, edging toward the portal with caution.
—"No promises" —he said, stepping forward—. "Ugh, here I go…" —The world twisted around him, his stomach churning, and as he stumbled out the other side, he dropped to his knees, puking onto the grass with a "Shit!" that echoed.
Kaili stepped through after him, her cape fluttering as she laughed, the dry sound slicing the air.
—"Disgusting, gardener" —she said, looming over him with her arms crossed—. "You're a weak-ass mess. How're you still alive after a century?"
—"'Cause of you, Kaili" —he gasped, digging into his pack with a rustle of fabric. He pulled out a beat-up canteen, popping it open with a faint pop, and dropped in a small green pill that fizzed when it hit the water—. "Hold on a sec." —He brought the canteen to his mouth, gargled with a loud gurgle, and spat a green stream onto the grass, wiping his chin with his sleeve—. "Much better. Made these pills with dungeon mint and lily root. Kills the bad taste in a snap."
She raised an eyebrow, her crooked grin widening.
—"You're a weird idiot, stubborn ass" —she said, giving him a shove that nearly knocked him over again—. "Shut up and walk before I make you choke on that canteen."
—"Whatever you say, princess" —he replied, laughing as he got up and adjusted his pack, pointing at East Vigil's gates in the distance—. "Let's see what's left of that place."
Theron stood before the wooden and iron gates of East Vigil, his helmet crooked on his sweaty head as the sun scorched his neck. The low towers flanked the path, and the city's distant buzz drifted up—creaking carts, the occasional shout of a vendor. He adjusted his spear with nervous fingers, his graying beard sticking to his face in the heat, and scanned the trail with tired eyes that had seen too many travelers. There was something off in the air today, a tension prickling the back of his neck, like the wind carried a whisper he couldn't catch. He blinked, wiping sweat from his brow with the back of his hand, and then he saw them.
Two figures emerged from the winding path, stepping out from the sparse trees lining the horizon. The man came first, a scrawny, scruffy guy with a tattered pack dangling off one shoulder, worn boots leaving clumsy prints in the dirt, and a filthy shirt that looked like it hadn't been washed in years. His brown hair was a mess, falling over warm eyes that sparkled with a carefree glint, and he walked with a goofy grin, like the world was some private joke. Theron frowned, pegging him as a village herbalist—one of those weirdos who collected odd plants and reeked of damp soil. But it was the woman beside him who stole his breath and froze the blood in his veins all at once.
She was tall, taller than any woman he'd ever seen in his years on guard duty, her frame cutting through the air like a blade. Her black armor gleamed under the sun, sleek plates with sharp silver edges that seemed carved from shadows, hugging her body with a precision that left little to the imagination—narrow waist, strong shoulders, long legs moving with lethal grace. A short black cape flowed from her shoulders, dancing with the wind like it had a mind of its own, and her gauntlets ended in subtle, deadly points that glinted with quiet menace. Her jet-black hair fell to her waist like a river of liquid obsidian, so glossy it seemed to drink in the light and throw it back in hypnotic flashes. Her skin was pale, almost translucent, with a faint glow that couldn't be natural, as if the moon itself had sculpted her. And her eyes—God help him, those eyes—were dark pools with a silver shimmer that pierced his soul, cold as steel and deep as the void, promising chaos with every blink.
Theron's throat tightened, his heart hammering against his ribs like a runaway drum. She was the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen, a beauty that didn't belong to this world, one that made him want to drop to his knees and bolt at the same time. But there was more—a tangible strength radiating from her, a weight that pressed down on the air around him, as if the ground quaked faintly with each step she took. He couldn't lift his gaze without feeling small, insignificant, caught between wanting to stare forever and the gut urge to look away before she swallowed him whole.
—"Halt right there" —he said, his voice steady at first but cracking at the end as he raised a shaky hand—. "Who are you? What do you want?"
The man grinned, stepping forward with his hands in his pockets, his easy tone slicing through the tension like he didn't notice the storm her presence unleashed in Theron's chest.
—"I'm Sebastián" —he said, warm and casual as he got closer—. "And this is Kaili, my wife. We're herbalists, looking for rare plants. Can we come in?"
Theron blinked, sweat trickling down his temple as he processed the words. Wife? He looked at the man again—ragged, skinny, with that beat-up pack and goofy grin—then at her, that warrior goddess who seemed carved from shadows and stars. It didn't add up. The guy didn't look strong enough to lift a sword, let alone be married to a woman whose every move made the earth tremble under her boots. She glanced at him sideways, her crooked smile growing as she took Sebastián's hand with a calm that was pure threat, her gloved fingers lacing with his like an iron bond.
—"Relax, human" —she said, her voice smooth but sharp as a blade, cutting the air as she leaned toward him just enough—. "I don't bite… much. We just wanna get in, not burn your city down."
Theron swallowed hard, sweat dripping down his neck as his eyes locked on her, unable to pull away. Her beauty hit like a physical blow—the black hair rippling like a living stream, those silver-flecked eyes piercing him like arrows, her pale skin glowing with secrets that didn't belong to this earth. But that strength, that energy pouring off her, crushed him. He couldn't believe a woman like her was holding hands with a scruffy herbalist who didn't even look like he could lift a rock. Something was off, something didn't fit, and his gut screamed at him to watch out.
—"Go on through" —he said at last, his voice trembling as he pointed at the gate with a hand he couldn't keep steady—. "But… be careful. I don't know what you're bringing in here, but it doesn't sit right."
—"Thanks, pal" —Sebastián said, clapping him on the shoulder hard enough to make Theron jump like he'd been burned—. "We'll behave, right, Kaili?"
—"Sure, stubborn ass" —she replied, her voice a dangerous purr as she squeezed Sebastián's hand and strode toward the gate, each step echoing like faint thunder—. "For now."
Theron watched them pass, the clamor of East Vigil swallowing them as her figure faded into the crowd, her cape fluttering like a shadow that refused to vanish. He stood there, helmet askew and heart pounding, hands shaking against his spear as a thought hit him like a hammer: he'd just let something in he didn't understand, something that might change everything.