A hollow, monotone voice suddenly cuts through the tension. "That would be a very bad idea," the voice says from behind me. I whirl around, gasping as IG-22 looms over me. My heart races, and without thinking, I grab my knife, pointing it defensively at the towering droid.

  "You lack the capability to fight effectively," IG-22 remarks, taking a step closer. "The probability of your survival is slim."

  "That's enough," Ryu orders, his voice sharp.

  "The possibility of her dying remains high," IG-22 continues, its tiny red eyes fixed on me. My grip tightens on the knife, my hands trembling as the being advances. I take a shaky step back, every nerve on edge.

  "Go," Ryu commands. "You're scaring her. Go patrol the area."

  It hesitates for a moment, its eyes flicking between me and Ryu, then it turns, its steps heavy and loud as it leaves the cave. My breath catches in my throat, and as soon as the being is out of sight, I slump onto a nearby bench, my legs too weak to hold me.

  "What is that thing?" I shout, my voice quivering with leftover fear.

  "Think of IG-22 as a metal golem," Ryu explains, his tone calm but not entirely reassuring.

  "A metal golem? And it's under your control?" I ask, still trying to steady my breathing. Ryu nods.

  "He won't harm you," Ryu assures me. "Not unless I tell him to."

  "That's not exactly comforting," I mutter, my chest still heaving from the encounter.

  "He must follow all of my orders. Talia and Nikko can order him around too, but he can't do anything without my permission."

  "Then why did he knock me out and tie me up?" I ask.

  "Well," Ryu begins, his tone even, "I ordered him to save you. IG-22 has a tendency to take things quite literally, thanks to a little... problem in his creation. He acts on commands with no nuance, and I didn't exactly specify that he shouldn't stun you or tie you up."

  I let out a frustrated sigh, running my hands through my hair. "Got anything strong to drink?" I ask, hoping for something to calm my nerves.

  Ryu shakes his head. "No, I don't. But I know this is a lot to take in all at once." He picks up a small flask and pours some water into a glass, then offers it to me.

  I snatch it from his hand and down the water in a few quick gulps, hoping it'll settle the storm of panic still brewing inside me. But it does nothing to ease my hyperventilation. My heart is still racing, my breaths coming shallow and fast.

  "A lot is an understatement," I say as I slam the empty cup down.

  "Me and my group are heading to Elaria. If you wish, you may accompany us," Ryu suggests. There's sincerity in his voice but wouldn't be the first time someone sounded sincere only to be lying to me.

  "And if I don't want to?" I ask, my hand slowly approaching the handle of my knife.

  "Then you may leave. Exit is over there," Ryu says pointing at the cave entrance. "But, if I may I would like to study that book of yours," Ryu asks.

  I look up at him, uncertain what his facial expression could be under that void of shadow. "Can I think about it?" I ask.

  Ryu nods.

  "But you may read that book as long as I get it back," I say, setting down the empty glass.

  "Of course," Ryu says. He turns and raises his left arm, speaking to it. "Apollo, can you return to the cave? DP-7, you come too," he says.

  Confused, I stare at Ryu, wondering if he's insane or if I am, when suddenly a male voice speaks from his glove.

  "Affirmative," he says, followed by a series of beeps, baffling me even more.

  I watch in awe as a towering knight steps into the cave. He is clad in imposing armor that glints dully in the cave's dim light. His armor is intricately designed with various engravings and embellishments, each piece fitting perfectly into the next, forming a seamless protective layer. His face is obscured by a helm, the eye slits dark and unreadable. A large shield is strapped to his back, and a spear, gleaming with sharp edges, is sheathed alongside it. He exudes an aura of strength and unwavering duty, his every movement precise and deliberate.

  Beside him, a small hovering creature enters, emitting a series of beeps and whirrs. It has a spherical body with several appendages protruding from it, each equipped with various tools and features. Its surface is sleek, covered in what looks like metal plating with tiny lights blinking intermittently. The creature hovers effortlessly, its small red eyes scanning the cave with an almost eerie intelligence. It beeps continuously, the sound clockwork yet oddly expressive, as if trying to communicate in its own unique language. The sight of the small flying creature, with its hovering motion and strange sounds, is unnerving.

  "What is that thing saying?" I shout as the flying creature circles me, beeping hysterically.

  "It's introducing itself to you, Rebecca," Ryu calmly explains. "It's saying it is very nice to meet you."

  "And what is that creature's name?" I ask, stepping back and raising my hands in a defensive manner as the red-eyed being stops before me.

  "Dee-Pee-Seven," Ryu says slowly, emphasizing every syllable.

  "DP-7?" I repeat. "That's an odd name."

  "And I am Apollo," the knight introduces himself, holding out his hand. I hesitantly accept it. Apollo's grip is firm as he shakes my hand.

  "You are the woman who was fleeing from those soldiers, correct?" Apollo asks, his tone a hint of concern.

  I nod, trying to force a smile, but it barely reaches my lips. Everything—those strange soldiers, the Shadowfell, Ryu, this strange crew—it's too much, pressing down on me like an unbearable weight. My heart races, and I can feel my breaths coming faster, the walls of the cave suddenly feeling too close, too confining.

  "I... I need some air," I stammer, the words tumbling out before I can stop them. My voice shakes, and I feel a lump forming in my throat. "Is it okay if I step outside for a moment? I just need to breathe."

  Ryu, leaning against the cave wall with his arms crossed, looks at me. His face is, as always, obscured by the shadow of his hood, but I can feel his gaze on me, assessing, understanding. After a brief pause, he gives a slow nod. "Go ahead," he says, his voice steady, calm. "Take your time."

  I offer him a shaky nod of gratitude, but I can barely muster a response. The moment Ryu gives his approval, I turn on my heel and quickly make my way toward the mouth of the cave. My steps are hurried, desperate, as though the weight of the cave is suffocating me, and I need to escape.

  The moment I step outside, the cool air hits my face, and I let out a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding. The sky above is dark, the night lit only by the pale light of the moon. The stars are scattered like dust across the inky sky, but I barely register the beauty of it. My legs feel weak, and I collapse to my knees on the rough ground just outside the entrance, gasping as I try to steady myself.

  I close my eyes, the world spinning for a moment. Everything—this place, these people, that thing inside the cave—it feels so unreal, so impossible. My heart pounds in my chest, and I press my hand to my forehead, trying to push away the rising panic.

  I rummage through my satchel and find a small flask. A symbol of a griffin is on the metal as I twist off the cap and take a big sip. The liquid tastes metallic and burns my throat, but it helps calm me down a bit. I breathe heavily, the prior moments replaying in my mind. The clashing of blades breaks my thought process. I look behind me, seeing Ryu, the knight, and that small floating creature still engaged with my book, so nothing dangerous, I presume. I put away the flask and follow the source of the clashing of blades.

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  ?????

  Further into the forest, I step into what appears to be a training ground with wooden puppets and targets everywhere, covered in scorch marks and cuts. In an open area, I see Talia and Nikko sparring. Talia wields a short sword, and Nikko wields a knife. Both move with grace and precision, each strike met with a block or a dodge.

  Nikko is holding her own against Talia, who fights with an elegant yet fierce style. Talia's movements are fluid, her strikes precise and controlled. Nikko, despite her smaller stature, is quick and agile, her knife flashing in the fading light as she parries and counters Talia's attacks. Talia feints a strike to the left, then quickly pivots to the right, but Nikko is ready, deflecting the blow and pushing forward with a series of rapid thrusts.

  The two continue their sparring, each movement a testament to their training and skill. I watch in awe, realizing just how formidable this group truly is. I watch intently as Talia expertly disarms Nikko. She grabs Nikko's knife-wielding hand, twists her around, and sweeps her leg out from under her. Nikko loses her balance and falls to the ground, her knife clattering away. Talia quickly pins Nikko down, her knee pressing lightly on Nikko's back.

  "I yield," Nikko says, sounding a bit defeated.

  I'm impressed. Despite Nikko's young age, she has a remarkable fighting spirit. Nikko's disappointment is evident, but Talia helps her up and gives her a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "You're doing great, Nikko. Keep practicing, and you'll be able to beat me in no time."

  Talia notices me standing nearby and smirks as she smoothly sheathes her short sword. "Enjoyed the show?" she asks with a flourish, her tone light. Nikko follows suit, carefully sliding her knife away.

  Caught off guard, I stumble over my words. "I... I'm sorry. I was just getting some fresh air and heard the commotion. I didn't mean to intrude..."

  Talia giggles softly, cutting through my rambling. "It's fine. I understand. Those golems can be unsettling at first. Trust me, they freaked me out too when I first saw them."

  Relieved by her response, I let out a sigh. "Aren't you still just a little uncomfortable around them, though?"

  She shrugs casually. "It took a while, but I've gotten used to the small one, DP-7. IG-22, though? Yeah, he still creeps me out."

  I glance at Nikko, who's been listening closely. "What about you, Nikko? How do you feel about IG-22?"

  Nikko's eyes light up with excitement. "I think IG-22 is interesting—and kinda funny! One time, he was watching Papa and Talia while they were lying in bed toge—"

  Before Nikko can finish, Talia's face flushes bright red as she quickly covers the girl's mouth. "We were sleeping!" Talia says, her voice filled with embarrassment.

  I raise an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "Sleeping together, huh?"

  Talia's blush deepens, and she scowls in frustration. "Not like that! Ugh, get your mind out of the gutter," she snaps, trying to maintain composure. "And don't talk like that in front of Nikko."

  With a soft nudge, she sends Nikko off. "Go see your father," she instructs, and the girl nods, happily running off to find Ryu.

  Once Nikko is out of earshot, I lean a little closer, lowering my voice. "So, you and Ryu... are you two together?"

  Talia's face turns an even deeper shade of pink. "That—that's none of your business!" she huffs, her tone defensive. She quickly spins around and marches back into the cave, leaving me standing there, more curious than ever.

  I chuckle softly to myself, the fear and hysteria from earlier gradually melting away. There's an odd comfort in this strange situation, and I can't help but feel more at ease. She likes him, I think, a small smile playing on my lips. Taking a deep breath, I decide it's time to head back to the cave.

  As I step inside, the atmosphere feels quieter, more peaceful. Ryu and Talia are standing by a workbench cluttered with various papers, and my book lies open in the midst of it all. The tension from earlier seems distant now, replaced by a strange sense of calm. I scan the cave but notice that IG-22, DP-7, and Apollo are nowhere to be seen. In the back, I spot Nikko soundly asleep on the bed, her small form shifting occasionally in her dreams.

  For the first time since this whirlwind began, I feel like I can breathe. Everything feels quieter, more manageable. Even my earlier panic seems almost laughable in the face of the calm that has settled over the cave.

  Ryu turns to me as I step inside, his movements calm and deliberate. "Here," he says, carefully closing my book and handing it back to me. His voice is softer than before, a subtle concern in his tone. "Feeling better?"

  I nod slightly, taking the book from him. "Yeah, a bit," I admit, feeling the weight of the earlier tension lifting even more.

  "You've already read the entire book?" I ask, confused as I put the book back into my satchel.

  Ryu nods. "Thanks to you, Rebecca, I learned much about the Shadowfell."

  I approach the workbench, intrigued. "What did you learn?"

  Ryu begins to explain. "That there isn't just one Shadowfell, but in fact seven of them."

  "Seven?" Talia exclaims. "One is causing so much chaos. I can't imagine what seven can do." She looks worried, and I share her concern.

  Ryu continues, "The notes didn't specify how, but the Shadowfell were put to rest and bound by a powerful binding spell. Their tombs? The dungeons."

  I step up. "The dungeons? That can't be. They are great labyrinths filled with challenging monsters and obstacles to test adventurers, built by the Shadow Prince to hide his greatest treasures..." My voice trails off as the realization hits me. The dungeons are the tombs. "Crap!"

  Ryu nods. "I believe the Shadowfell is going to revive its slumbering brethren, causing all this chaos as a distraction."

  He pushes one of the papers to the center of the table for Talia and me to see. The paper has a detailed drawing of the continents of Aranthia with various markings. "I marked the locations of the kingdoms and the dungeons. Notice anything similar?" Ryu asks.

  Talia and I move closer to the map. "All I see are the seven kingdoms and the seven dungeons," Talia says. Then her eyes widen, and she turns to Ryu. I realize it too and look at him.

  He nods. "Seven dungeons, seven kingdoms, seven Shadowfell. If the Shadowfell are revived, every kingdom will fall."

  "Did the book say anything about how to rebind them?" I ask.

  Ryu shakes his head. "No. The letters have faded and are illegible. But that won't matter," he says.

  "How come?" I ask.

  "Because we possess weapons that can harm the Shadowfell," Ryu says, gathering the scattered papers on the workbench and carefully slipping them into his pouch of holding.

  I look to Talia, hoping for a more straightforward answer, but she simply gives me an encouraging nod before stepping away to sit by the fire. Realizing I won't get much more than that, I sigh and turn back to Ryu, though his face remains concealed in the shadows of his hood. "I've made up my mind," I say, attempting a smile. "I still want to help."

  "You will be a burden," comes a cold, hollow voice from behind me. I startle, letting out a small yelp, and spin around to find IG-22 standing uncomfortably close, its glowing photoreceptors fixed on me.

  "Dammit!" I cry, clutching my chest, still trying to catch my breath. "Do you have to sneak up on people like that?"

  IG-22's eyes move slightly, almost as if it's appraising me. "In your current state, you will likely hinder this mission or fail to withstand the dangers we face," it says, its tone flat yet sharp, as though it's merely stating a fact. "The Shadowfell does not leave weaknesses unexploited."

  I feel a knot tighten in my stomach, but before I can respond, Ryu steps between us, facing IG-22. "That's enough, IG-22," he says, his voice firm. "She's here because she wants to help, not because she's a warrior."

  IG-22 tilts its head slightly, its eyes whirring as if in thought. "Understood. The probability of her survival though still remains low," it replies, backing away before Ryu gestures for it to leave.

  As IG-22 moves to the entrance, I let out a shaky breath, glancing at Ryu. "Thanks," I murmur, my voice barely above a whisper. The golem's words still sting, yet Ryu's presence feels unexpectedly grounding.

  Ryu gives me an apologetic nod. "I'll have a word with him. He's... not exactly tactful."

  I nod and settle by the fire, where Talia sits, her warmth inviting. Behind her, Nikko has drifted back to sleep, curled up in peaceful oblivion. Talia notices my expression and leans forward slightly, her smile gentle. "Are you okay?" she asks, concern in her eyes.

  I try to smile back, though the knot in my stomach twists uncomfortably. "He's right, you know," I admit, my voice catching. "I'm not much of a fighter... never was."

  Talia reaches out, taking my hand in hers, her touch soft and steady. "You don't need to be," she reassures me. "Ryu doesn't care about that. None of us do." She glances over to where Ryu leans against the wall, a faint tendril of smoke curling from a pipe he's lit.

  Her words calm me, easing some of the doubt gnawing at me. I pull out my flask, an idea surfacing. "Thanks, Talia. So... how about a drink?" I offer, managing a grin as I unscrew the flask's cap.

  "Oh, I'm not much of a drinker," Talia says with a slight shrug.

  I take a swig, feeling the familiar burn travel down my throat, and offer her the flask. "Neither am I. But a little after a day like this—it can work wonders."

  Talia looks at it skeptically before taking a tentative sip, only to pull back instantly, coughing hard. I can't help but laugh. "Lightweight!"

  "Shut up!" she splutters, her face scrunching up. "What... what is that?"

  "It's called Snaps," I reply with a grin. "Got it from a miner in Varum. I have no idea what's in it, but it works."

  Ryu, overhearing, comes over with a curious look. "Mind if I try?" He reaches for the flask, lifts it towards his shadowed face, and takes a sip before jerking his head back, coughing. "That's... vile," he says, his voice hoarse, and Talia dissolves into giggles as she snatches the flask back.

  She takes another quick drink, but her face contorts in an instant, and she's coughing just as hard as Ryu did. I reach for the flask. "Hey, don't drink it all!"

  "Just one more!" Talia protests, giggling, but Ryu smoothly takes the flask from her hand and passes it back to me.

  I laugh and slip it back into my bag. "You're terrible, Talia."

  "And Talia likes Ryu!" she slurs, pointing a finger at him, her words thick with tipsiness.

  Ryu raises an eyebrow, then chuckles softly. "That's enough for you, Talia." Without another word, he bends down, sweeping her up in his arms. She shrieks in surprise, her arms looping around his neck as he carries her towards the bedding.

  "Good night!" she calls out, her voice bright with laughter, and I watch, smiling.

  Ryu lays her down beside Nikko, brushing a few stray strands of hair from her face before standing up. "There's a bedroll over there if you need it," he says, nodding towards a satchel propped against the wall.

  "Wait," I ask, pausing, "aren't you taking watch?"

  Ryu gives a slight shake of his head. "Apollo and IG-22 are already keeping guard. Get some sleep; we'll move out at sunrise."

  As Ryu lies down near the others, I sit alone by the fire, watching the flames dance and crackle. Despite the exhaustion, I can't shake the thought that maybe I'm out of my depth. But something about the way they all look out for each other, the way Talia and Ryu care for Nikko... it brings a strange sense of comfort. Maybe, just maybe, I have a place here. Wrapping my cloak around myself, I stare into the fire, wondering what lies ahead for me.