The darkness was absolute. There were no stars, no horizon, no ground… and yet, beneath her body, Arya felt a cold, slimy surface, like stone coated in slime.
When her heavy eyelids lifted just a few millimeters, the first thing she noticed was the fog. Thick, dense, damp… hanging in the air as if it had a life of its own. She could not see beyond a couple of meters; beyond that was a white wall of vapor.
She was completely naked, wearing only the red scarf her mother had given her so many years ago, hanging from her neck. Her orange fur was covered in tiny drops of dew, and the vixen remained lying there for a few seconds, trying to understand where she was. But deep in her mind, something already knew, even if she didn’t want to admit it.
She rose slowly. The silence was absolute… until the voices came.
They weren’t human voices, not even animal ones. They defied reality. A guttural, wet chorus that seeped into her head as if it came from everywhere at once. Each word echoed like a call in a deep well, and at the same time, like a whisper at her ear.
—Arya…—
The sound made the fur on her neck bristle. The vixen took a step toward the fog, but her senses screamed not to. There was no direction they came from… because they came from everywhere.
Time passed. Or so she thought. In that place, seconds and hours dissolved just like her sanity. Her breathing slowed, her gaze grew heavier. She waited. Waited for something that, deep down, she already knew would come.
And then… it happened.
From the veil of fog, tentacles emerged. First one, then dozens. They came forth as if the mist itself had turned into living flesh, writhing in the air before falling upon her.
—Come closer… little one…— growled a voice from the depths. Deep, viscous.
Arya did not step back. She only narrowed her eyes.
—At last we are alone. I’ve waited a long time to see you— it continued.
The tentacles gripped her arms and legs, then coiled around her waist, neck, even her buttocks. They were warm, throbbing, covered in a thick slime that soaked her fur. The restraint was total.
And then she saw it.
The demon slowly materialized from the fog, as if the fog itself were shaping its flesh. A massive, dark eye, its iris burning like live coal. The pupil—vertical and razor-sharp—fixed itself on her. Around it, rings of wet, jagged fangs crowned the sight. Its body… a living amalgam of flesh and thick liquid, an abominable squid mottled with dozens of small eyes that opened and closed out of sync.
Each breath it took shifted the gelatinous mass, which dripped blood and slime onto the invisible floor.
The monster loomed over her, so close she could smell the stench of carrion and death.
—I will destroy everything you love, Arya. I will tear you apart from the inside…— the voice deepened, becoming more intimate —I will make you mine… oh yes… all mine.
Arya did not move. Her gaze remained fixed, unshaken, as if this were not a threat… but her destiny.
The fog thinned, and the surroundings grew even darker.
—That’s it… keep coming closer, little one— said the creature, its voice resounding like a gunshot inside a closed room —Look at the abyss around us.
The monster was closer now, each word a viscous heartbeat in the air. The fog rippled with its advance, as if the entire world around her was breathing in sync with its presence.
—Now you are but a single thought fading into the shadows… and I am the emissary of your doom, the burning veil of the end.—
Arya looked at it with revulsion, but her eyes—blue and green—remained steady, unblinking. Several tentacles, warm and damp, began to explore her face, sliding with a repulsive caress. They didn’t just want to touch her… they wanted to get inside her, to merge with her being, to leave their mark on every fiber of the bounty hunter.
It wasn’t the first time she had dreamed of it. The demon. The alien parasite had been haunting her for months. At first, the encounter would leave her breathless, her heart pounding so hard it felt like it would break free from her chest. But over time, she had learned to see through the lie of those dreams. The initial desperation would extinguish like a candle snuffed out by a hurricane.
She clutched the sheets tightly, feeling the warm brush of the fabric against her fingers. She needed that physical anchor, that confirmation she was awake.
"For a second I must remember it’s all over", she thought.
But deep down, she wasn’t truly sure of that.
"How much have we sacrificed?" she wondered in silence. "Every time I close my eyes, he’s there… in the dark… waiting. Always waiting".
She opened her eyes abruptly. The sensation of dampness and fog faded, replaced by the gentle gloom of her bedroom aboard the Dark Nebula.
She was naked. The fabric of the purple sheets clung to her warm fur, reminding her that on her ship she could be free—she could be herself without pretenses or shame. The faint hum of the engine traveled through the metallic walls, like a constant murmur accompanying her on every journey.
She stretched lazily, rolling across the soft mattress until she lay on her side. And then she saw it.
Through the porthole, beyond the reinforced glass, what had been a tiny point of light for days of travel now filled almost her entire field of vision. Kraumir. A massive planet, wrapped in a veil of red and purple clouds, spinning slowly as if trying to hypnotize her. From this distance, it looked like a lost oasis in the middle of a sea of stars.
"How ironic…" she thought. "From here, you can’t see the enemy".
Apparently beautiful, a planet that could inspire songs and works of art… but Arya knew the truth. It was an empty beauty, a mask to hide the rot spreading through its core. Kraumir was cursed to its very foundations, marked by a wound that would never heal.
Her gaze remained fixed on that celestial body. She felt the temptation to look away, to ignore it, but she couldn’t. That monster must never return. Mordium. And Arya, though she hated every second of what she was about to do, was the only one who could make sure of it.
She reclined again on the fluffy cushions of her cramped cubicle. Crossing her legs, she rested her head against the wall, her ears lowered, her face wearing a mixture of disdain and melancholy.
Out there, Kraumir seemed to look back at her, just as the demon had in her dream.
And for a moment, Arya couldn’t help but think that perhaps she hadn’t escaped the nightmare.
Perhaps… it was only the beginning.
Still, the constant rattling of the ship was like a metallic lullaby. "The purr of the engine relaxes me… it reminds me of the workshop back home, of the days of adventure when things were simpler", Arya thought, sinking for a moment into that deep, familiar rhythm.
She yawned lazily, then arched her back. She stretched her arms above her head, feeling her muscles protest with a faint tingling. Slowly, she rolled off the bunk and sat up, letting the sheet slide off completely.
The space beyond the cabin window was a vast black ocean, speckled with distant stars.
"I’m outside the Elysium system… in a forbidden zone", she thought, letting out a sigh. "Where not even the toughest bounty hunters dare to come… because there’s nothing here. Only death. They call it The Void".
She got up, barefoot, and walked toward the built-in wardrobe in the curved wall of the cabin. The metallic floor was cold beneath her feet—a sensation that brought her a certain clarity. Opening the compartment, she selected her dark, lightweight, functional underwear, with just a touch of softness she liked.
Arya was slender and sinewy, the kind of body shaped by years of chases, fights, and grueling training; yet her broad, firm hips added a natural femininity that contrasted with her fierce aura. Her breasts were small but rounded, topped with blushing areolas. Her glutes were firm and shapely, worthy of a seasoned gymnast. And between her thighs was a soft, pink slit, framed by the white fur that surrounded it.
As she adjusted the straps of her panties, her mind drifted. "Kraumir… a perfect place to build a secret civilization… far from the war, a place to start over. At least, that’s what the Eclipse tribe believed… until…"
A booming voice interrupted the flow of her thoughts.
—Arya, my reason for existing!— cried a shrill, artificial voice, but with a strange undertone, as if it came from something alive.
She exhaled sharply and rolled her eyes, blowing away a lock of blue-and-brown hair that had fallen across her face.
—Oh, damn it… there was so much silence,— she said, with sarcasm so dry it was almost tangible.
—Oh, come on!— replied the voice, dripping with exaggerated indignation. —I know you can’t live without my charming personality.
The source of that enthusiasm floated in from the cabin’s automatic door: Rob. His oval, polished body reflected the dim red glow of the cabin. The screen covering most of his front displayed a pixelated, mischievous smile, eyebrows bouncing up and down energetically. Small lateral thrusters kept him hovering, emitting a faint, rhythmic hum.
Arya glanced at him from the corner of her eye.
—Don’t call me “my reason for existing” with that face, it’s creepy.
—But it’s true,— Rob said, exaggerating the size of his eyes on the screen. —You’re the hero, I’m the comic relief… together we’re unstoppable.
—Or unbearable,— Arya replied with a half-smile, bending down to pick up her tight pants from the floor.
Rob spun in the air, making a loop that left a bluish trail in its wake.
—Ready to kick some alien butt?
He floated in circles around Arya, moving like an overexcited puppy unable to stay still.
She glanced at him from the corner of her eye, still dressing. No matter how many times he interrupted her, Rob always seemed to find a way to pull at least the faintest hint of a smile from her.
—Well, you’re not an alien, but I can still kick your tin-can butt if you want— she said, winking at the hyperactive robot as she adjusted the strap of her bra.
Arya chuckled and shook her head. There was no hierarchy between them; they were like siblings… siblings who spent most of their time challenging and mocking each other.
—Oh, so that’s how it’s gonna be? Fine…— Rob tilted his metallic body forward, projecting a defiant expression on his screen —Let’s make a bet. Whoever takes out the most Rollaks gets the racing simulator for a month.
—A month?— Arya raised an eyebrow —I hope you’re ready to spend thirty days crying in a corner.
Rob pretended to crack his knuckles… though all he really did was play a “crack” sound file he’d downloaded from the net.
But the moment was interrupted by an invasive alert that echoed throughout the ship.
—A flight-path anomaly has been detected. Immediate action is recommended,— said the system’s pre-recorded voice, with that flat tone that always sounded like “you’re going to die, but no rush.”
—Of course…— Rob rolled his blue eyes —Wouldn’t be a normal day without the universe trying to kill us before breakfast.
—Relax,— Arya shrugged as she pulled on her space-suit gloves. —The readings on this junk are always wrong. It interprets the smallest turbulence as a course deviation. Alright, Rob, time to work.
—Believe me…— Rob spun slowly in an exaggerated motion —I’d love to go out there and fix it, but my battery’s at 3%. If I go into the vacuum in these conditions, I’ll end up drifting forever… frozen… forgotten… for all eternity.
He even projected a distressed face on his screen, complete with a couple of pixelated drops sliding down the sides like fake sweat.
—Oh, my poor droid…— Arya said in an overblown, melodramatic tone —You must be exhausted after reading comics all day.
—Hey, scanning and analyzing comic books takes processing power,— Rob replied, offended, while crossing his arms (or at least the closest thing he had to arms).
—I’ll never understand how a robot can be so lazy. Fine, I’ll handle it this time. But remind me to reprogram you when we get back to base.
—Reprogram me? —Rob blinked in alarm— You’re joking, right? Wait… I’m coming with you! —he said, boosting his thrusters, following Arya like a spoiled child determined not to be left behind.
—You know, Rob? —Arya said, rubbing the back of her neck as she bent down to grab her helmet from the co-pilot’s seat— I just figured out why you’re always complaining.
She left him hanging while they both passed through the padded zero-gravity tunnel that led them outside the ship. And once they were floating in space, Rob replied:
—Because everything resembles its owner? —he said with that slightly metallic voice but full of mischief, throwing the jab right back at her.
—Nope, it’s actually simpler. How had I not realized it before? —Arya smiled, drawing out the words with a tone of revelation— You’re short!
Rob let out an offended beep, as if the comment had poked at some sensitive circuit.
—Pff… and what does that have to do with anything? —he grumbled, modulating his voice to sound deeper, as if trying to make up for his height with authority.
—You can’t reach happiness! —the vixen shot back, bursting into a laugh so wide it could almost be felt through the polarized glass of her visor.
The robot spun around, projecting a pair of frowning eyebrows on his display face.
—Oh, you are such a… —he began, but was immediately cut off by the vixen.
—Beautiful and magnificent bounty hunter? I know. People are always telling me that —Arya interrupted with a theatrical gesture, resting one hand on her hip and lifting her chin as if she were on a runway.
Rob let out a long hum, as if to say “don’t get me started” without using words. But then, his voice dropped in tone.
—Arya…
The vixen stopped smiling for a second. She recognized that voice. It wasn’t the one of a joking companion; it was that of an ally clearly upset.
—Okay, sorry, I went too far —she said, grabbing her magnetic screwdriver and floating toward the external sensor compartment— Now, let’s finish this.
She leaned in front of the maintenance panel, ready to open the ship’s sensor bay.
—Arya, wait. Look at the receiver —said Rob, his display projecting tiny question marks around his face.
—What about it? —she asked, not too concerned at first.
—I thought our communication line was encrypted… —Rob replied, tilting his eyes as if he were frowning.
—Because it is —Arya answered, leaning in to check the indicator— Only our group has access to it.
But then Rob expanded the signal, and Arya saw that the light wasn’t just a glitch: an unsigned text transmission was coming straight into their most secure channel.
—What the…? —she whispered.
Rob said nothing, but the silence was enough to confirm he didn’t understand either.
—Give me a second to decode it —Arya said, her brow now furrowed and her fingers dancing over the holographic panel. She forced the security system to reveal the original message. Her gloves creaked against the metal, and the tension in her chest grew.
When the text finally appeared, it was as if the entire universe had gone silent.
Two words. Simple. Cold. Terrifying.
"Help me"
Arya’s pupils contracted instantly, her breathing turned erratic. It was as if the cold of space had seeped straight into her suit. Her hands trembled as the screen kept flashing, projecting that message that could not—should not—exist.
Her mind was dragged back, against her will, to that night… to screams, fire, and emptiness. To what she had lost.
—Oh no… please, no… —she murmured to herself, unaware that Rob was watching her silently.
Because she knew.
That message… was from him.
Arya jumped into the Dark Nebula, the metallic sound of her boots echoing down the narrow corridor. Rob followed, floating, without a word. With trembling hands, she tore off her helmet and let it drop with a dull thud onto the floor. The ship’s air, fresh but artificial, hit her sweaty face. She was breathing fast, as if she had run miles.
She leaned against the wall, one hand to her forehead. Cold sweat slid down her temple, and then, without being able to stop it, her mind pulled her toward an image burned into her heart: Bryce, looking at her with those glacial eyes full of tenderness, smiling under a starry sky, telling her a silly joke just to make her laugh.
The first tear fell before she realized it. She sank to the floor, the hard metal offering no mercy. She covered her face with both hands, pressing hard, as if she could erase the pain through sheer force. A frustrated growl escaped her, and suddenly she slammed the wall with all she had. The noise reverberated through the compartment.
Rob approached slowly.
—It’s him… —she whispered, barely audible— It’s Bryce.
Rob watched her, processing.
—Arya… breathe. You have to calm down. I know how you feel, but you have to keep your composure. —His tone was serious, but carried an unusual warmth.
—No. You don’t know how I feel. You’re just a robot… you’ve never felt real emotions —she shot back, lifting her gaze, her eyes shining with tears—. You’re… No… no…
The silence that followed was heavy. Arya clenched her teeth, swallowing hard, instantly regretting and ashamed of her words.
—I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that… —she said, moving in to hug him. The android was stiff at first, but eventually wrapped his metallic arms around her.
—I’m frustrated, Rob… —her voice broke— I can’t stop thinking that we left him there… that we abandoned him in that hell. And all this time… all this damn time… he was still alive!
—Arya… —Rob said softly— There was no way to know. The reactor explosion was fifty megatons. No one… nothing could survive that. Statistically, it’s impossible.
She shook her head, teeth clenched.
—But he did. —Arya met his gaze— No. There’s no other explanation. No one else could have sent that message. No one else has access to that communication line except the Dravion Specters. Somehow… he made it. I don’t know how, but he did. And we… we left him behind.
Rob gave a warning gesture.
—Don’t rush into this. If he’s alive, there’s a high chance Mordium survived too. If we go there without preparation, without a plan—
—I don’t care. I’m not wasting any more time —she said firmly.
The purpose of her trip to that place had been to ensure Mordium had been completely destroyed. She couldn’t let the nightmares keep haunting her. She couldn’t let Bryce’s sacrifice be in vain. But this changed everything. This would probably not just be a rescue mission—it would be her final hunt.
Arya was already in the cockpit. She dropped into the pilot’s seat, powering up the systems. The Dark Nebula’s engines roared like a beast, making the entire ship vibrate. The lights on the console reflected in her heterochromatic eyes,intense, resolute.
Her hands gripped the controls, and with a sharp maneuver, she set a direct course for that cursed planet—the one that had stolen so many lives and memories.
As the hyperdrive prepared, her thoughts overflowed.
She remembered the first time she met Bryce:
She was barely sixteen, her worn boots covered in mechanical dust, her orange fur stained with soot. She moved between rusted chimneys and humming pipes with the agility of a shadow. The loot hung from her back—high-end components taken from the mobile base of the Dravion Specters. Bounty hunters, some called them heroes, others terrorists—but they had resources, and that was the only thing that mattered in the girl’s eyes. She had disabled a military-grade security system as if it were a mere toy. Not for fame. Not for the challenge. But because she needed to eat.
The wastelands offered no mercy. The war had left her orphaned when she was just a child, with nothing but her wits for company.
She leapt from one wall to the roof of another building and slid down an improvised rope into her shelter—an abandoned restaurant from another era, covered with broken signs, flickering lights, and the remnants of a world that no longer existed.
Inside, she shook off her lint-covered scarf and dropped the loot onto a dusty table.
Waiting for her there was Rob, her best friend—a small, oval-shaped floating android with bright sky-blue eyes. She had built him herself when she was only fourteen, using stolen parts from Imperial machines and the remains of a diplomatic droid she had found in the trash.
“We did it,” she murmured, her voice sounding older than it should have been.
Rob floated closer, scanning the artifacts with a blue flash.
“You’ve got valuable parts. Energy cores, military tracking chips, psionic amplifiers… This could keep us alive for three months.”
Arya collapsed onto a huge, torn beanbag chair. Her breathing was still ragged. Her greasy fur fell over her eyes. Her hands trembled slightly, though she hid it with her usual iron composure.
—Three months…— she repeated, more to herself than to Rob. —That’s a long time.—
—Not long enough.—
The voice didn’t come from Rob.
She froze.
Slowly, she turned her head. From the shadows emerged a tall, silent figure with a steady gait, a gray wolf with eyes as blue as ice. His black cape was slowly fluttering, his bounty hunter’s suit covered in dents, cuts, and burns. His very presence seemed to absorb the light around him.
—Not just anyone can sneak into a level-three station without setting off a single alarm— the imposing figure said from the other end of the corridor.
Arya spun around, hunching like a cornered beast. Her claws were ready, her fangs half-bared. She was used to fighting. To running. To surviving.
—Who the hell are you?— she snapped, taking a step back. —Don’t come any closer— she growled.
—I won’t,” he said, unmoving. —I’m not here to hurt you—.
—You here for what I stole?—
—Yes— he admitted. —But not in the way you think—.
Arya tilted her head. Her breathing slowed, like a beast sizing up a hunter.
—Then how?—
Bryce took a step forward, not in threat, but with the calm of an old friend.
—I reviewed the security data. Not a single trace. Not one alarm triggered. You disabled a military-grade system in under three minutes… using old tools and a fork—.
She didn’t reply. Her claws remained out.
—I didn’t come to punish you— he added. —I came because I want to understand it. I want to understand you.—
Arya tensed even more, eyeing him with distrust. Rob floated a few steps behind her, ready to electrocute the intruder.
—So? Not my fault you don’t know how to protect your stuff— she spat.
—Maybe. But I’m not here to scold you. I want to ask you something— the wolf said calmly.
—What?—
—How long have you been alone?—
The question hit her like a punch to the gut. She didn’t show it—but she didn’t need to. Bryce had already seen it.
—Why do you care?— she growled, but with less bite.
—I care because I’ve been there too. And because I know what it’s like to have to look over your shoulder all the time. To sleep with one eye open. To steal just to survive. To pretend you’re fine. To pretend it doesn’t hurt.—
Arya pressed her lips together. That last word—hurt—burned hotter than molten iron.
—I’m not asking you to tell me your story. Just to listen to me. You’re smart. Fast. But you shouldn’t be alone. Not with what you can do. Not with what you could become—.
—And what do you know about that?—
Bryce allowed himself the faintest smile. Not mocking, empathetic.
—I know there are two kinds of people in this world: those who burn out instantly… and those who fight to the end, waiting for help that never comes. I don’t want you to go through that—.
She swallowed hard. Her throat felt dry.
—Pff. With that hero look of yours, you probably grew up in a golden cradle. You don’t know anything about me—.
—When I was a kid, I worked in the Dravion mines to help my father. We barely had enough to eat. And when the Elysium Empire invaded our planet, my mother was enslaved, my father died trying to protect her. At that age, I already knew how to bury bodies—.
Arya looked into the wolf’s eyes and instantly knew he was telling the truth. That solemn, weary expression, she knew it well; she had seen it in the mirror many times. An awkward silence filled the air for a few seconds.
—Listen, I didn’t come to judge you. I came because I believe you could be more, much more. What you did was extraordinary, but in the wrong hands, it could destroy you. There’s another path—.
—What? Be another pawn? Serve another cause that only wants to use me?—
—No. Be part of something you choose. The Dravion Specters, we’re not soldiers. Not Imperial lapdogs. We hunt those no one else dares touch. We protect those without a voice. We’re not perfect… but we try to help those who need it most, however we can.
So I’m offering you that, the chance to come with us. To not have to fight every day as if it were your last. You could have a family, a place where you don’t have to hide your talents. A place where you’d be more than a girl with a red scarf, running from life. No one gave me that choice, but now… now I can give it to you—.
A long silence.
—And if I say no?—
—Then you leave. With what you stole. No punishment. No debt. And I’ll walk away knowing I at least tried—.
—And if I say yes… and then regret it?—
—You’re free to leave anytime. We’ll never chain you—.
Arya glanced at the loot on the table, at Rob floating silently, at the dust covering the walls of what was once a place full of life.
—I don’t know if I can trust you— she said, almost in a whisper.
—Then let me prove there are still people worth trusting—.
The artificial wind blew again through the metallic corridors. Rob floated beside Arya. The girl remained thoughtful for a long moment, looking at Rob as if seeking his approval.
—All my protocols are telling me this is madness… but it doesn’t feel like a trap— she said quietly.
Arya lowered her gaze. Then raised it. She took a step forward.
—Arya Blaze— she said firmly, though the emotion was clear in her quickened breath. —I don’t like taking orders—.
—Perfect— Bryce replied, smiling for real this time. —We don’t like giving them—.
Arya extended her hand—not with strength, not with challenge, but with fear. With hope.
Bryce took it firmly, but without squeezing. A silent promise sealed in the dark.
—From now on… you’re not alone anymore—.
And for the first time in years, Arya felt she wasn’t running from something… but moving toward something new.
But now, that promise burned like a hot coal in her heart.
“Hold on, Bryce… I’m here now… I’m here.”
The Dark Nebula pierced Kraumir’s atmosphere like a hungry hawk hunting its prey. Friction heat wrapped the ship’s hull in an incandescent halo before the stabilizing turbines kicked in, softening the descent. The sunset bathed the horizon in shades of orange and purple, and a faint mist drifted over the forests stretching as far as the eye could see.
The trees were tall and lush, their deep brown bark seeming to absorb the light only to return it as a faint bluish glow. From their branches hung translucent vines that pulsed with light, as if carrying on some coded conversation among themselves. The lakes Arya saw from the cockpit were masses of crystal-clear water, so pure they mirrored the sky perfectly. Along their shores, bioluminescent aquatic creatures spiraled out of the depths, leaving green and blue trails on the surface before diving back down.
Rob, floating beside her, spoke in a neutral voice tinged with something that almost sounded like nostalgia.
—This place is still… incredible—.
Arya didn’t answer. She just watched the scenery with a furrowed brow, remembering the first time she had set foot on Kraumir. Back then, it had taken her breath away. The beauty was still there, but the weight of her memories stripped it of any peace.
The ship touched down softly on a plain covered in silver grass swaying like waves in the wind. The ramp unfolded with a hydraulic hiss, and Arya descended with firm steps, her red scarf swaying lightly. From a side compartment, she pulled out her black, aerodynamic hoverbike, its red lights flickering to life as she powered it up.
—Let’s go— she said without looking at Rob.
The engine roared, and the bike hovered a few centimeters above the ground with a deep, resonant hum. They sped off through the purple forest, the wind carrying the sweet scent of nocturnal flowers beginning to bloom. Every so often, multi-limbed creatures darted across their path, leaving glowing footprints behind. Metallic-feathered birds soared overhead, singing calls that rang like distant chimes.
Further ahead, they passed through a canyon whose walls were covered in fluorescent crystals that reacted to the engine’s sound, vibrating and shifting colors as if greeting the intruders. Rob studied everything with his usual curiosity, but Arya barely noticed. Her thoughts were elsewhere… with him.
Eventually, the vegetation began to give way to what had once been a great city. Ruins rose in the twilight shadows: broken towers that still bore traces of minimalist architecture with clean lines and elegant geometric forms, now wrapped in vines and moss. Some buildings stood intact despite the centuries, defying time itself, while others had collapsed into piles of stone and corroded metal.
The silence was unsettling. The first time Arya had been here, a group of warriors had emerged to meet her, weapons ready, their armor gleaming in the sunlight. Now, there was no one. No voices, no footsteps—only the distant murmur of the wind slipping between the ruins.
—I don’t like this— Rob said, floating closer.
—Yeah, me neither— she replied.
Along the path, Arya came to a sudden stop. Before them lay the colossal skeleton of what had once been a dragon, its long, jagged bones forming a grim arch over the ground. She could still remember the deafening roar of that creature the first time she set foot on Kraumir… and the way she had brought it down, disintegrating it with a pulse of energy from her suit before it could swallow her whole. The Eclipse warriors hadn’t been too pleased about an intruder slaughtering their wildlife. She closed her eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath, then accelerated again.
The castle’s entrance loomed ahead: two massive doors of blackened metal, engraved with Eclipse symbols overgrown with vegetation that seemed to faintly glow in the dying sunlight. Shadows covered the gap beyond, as if the castle’s interior rejected any outside light.
Arya stopped the bike, dismounted, and walked toward the entrance, her voice breaking the silence:
—Ember! Are you here?—
For a moment, there was only echo. Then, from deep within the darkness, two large yellow eyes emerged, fixed on her, glowing like beacons in the night.
2025-08-10 05:59:50 +0000 UTC
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