LYRIAN
The silence that followed Romi's collapse was absolute.
Everyone stared — pale, stunned, breath locked in their throats — as the young Diviner lay unmoving on the floor. Even the torches lining the cavern seemed to flicker in shock.
Lyrian felt Reone's arm sweep instinctively in front of her, pulling her slightly to his side.
He was tense — coiled — realizing that the same kind of people who had reduced the Diviner to this state were the same ones who had killed Lyrian.
Primi cursed under his breath and dropped to his knees beside Romi. He pressed two fingers to the boy's neck.
A beat.
Another.
"He is fine," Primi exhaled at last, shoulders sagging with relief.
"Put him on the couch," one of the elders ordered.
"I'll heal him," Anika said — though even now her vision was still swimming from bringing Lyrian back to life.
"You're too weak from earlier, Princess. I will do it," the elder replied firmly.
Anika swallowed and nodded. He was right.
She watched as Primi lifted Romi with careful strength and carried him to the long stone couch — the same one Lyrian herself had awakened on minutes earlier.
"Lhanak, Feya," Anika called as the other two injured Diviners staggered toward chairs, bruised and shaking. "Are you alright?"
They nodded sluggishly.
"Yeah," Lhanak rasped. "We'll be fine."
Feya raised glowing hands to her ribs, sealing the bruises. Lhanak did the same to his broken arm.
Lyrian's eyes widened.
It hit her again — the truth she was only just beginning to accept.
These people were really Diviners.
And the myth about them… wasn't a myth at all.
Across the room, the King held Romi steady while the elder placed glowing hands above him — a deeper, older magic crackling in the air.
As the healing continued, Primi turned to Lhanak and Feya.
The moment Lhanak met his captain's gaze, he swallowed hard.
"I'm sorry, Captain," he said tightly. "The Extractors… they got to Darel before we reached him. And they forced the Nest's location out of him."
Gasps rippled through the elders like a shockwave.
Primi's jaw clenched.
King Arnab's expression froze, worry folding sharply across his features.
"How long until they reach us?" Primi asked, voice dropping into full command mode.
"Not long," Feya said with a wince. "The traps slowed them, but… they have powers, they're strong. I think they'll reach the Nest in about… half an hour."
Lhanak's face twisted. Staring at Romi, he whispered, "This is my fault. I insisted we attack earlier even though we were outnumbered, and now—"
"You made a mistake," Primi cut in sharply. "A big one."
Lhanak flinched.
"But the only thing you can do now is learn from it."
Shame burned in Lhanak's eyes, but he nodded stiffly.
King Arnab rose, expression grim.
"Captain, assemble the troops immediately. We need to stop the Extractors before they enter the Nest."
"We?" Anika blurted, worry laced through her voice. "Dad—"
"Yes, Anika. I'm going too," King Arnab said.
Before she could protest, Primi stepped forward.
"We'll meet them at the entrance," he said.
"Yes," the King agreed. "They cannot be allowed to harm another one of our people."
Primi bowed — only for a voice behind them to cut in.
"With that plan, that's just impossible."
It was Reone.
Everyone turned — Lyrian most of all, her heart jumping at how boldly he was speaking… to the King.
"Come again?" King Arnab asked, eyes narrowing.
Reone stepped forward, calm but steady.
"Forgive me for speaking plainly, Your Majesty… but your army won't be able to stop the Extractors without casualties. Even with warriors like you and Captain Primi leading."
Primi bristled. "We are three times their number, and highly trained—"
"And the Extractors," Reone cut in, "have powers — stolen, yes, but formidable. And their weapons and technology outclass your blades and spears by… a lot."
Lyrian winced. His bluntness painful.
But he continued anyway.
"If you send an army, you might win. But you'll lose people. A lot of them."
Primi glared. "So you're saying you have a better idea?"
Reone nodded.
"I do."
Lyrian's stomach twisted.
Of course he did. And of course he wanted everyone to go with it.
"Let's hear it," Primi said, arms crossing.
"This is outrageous," an elder snapped. "We cannot rely on an outsider for a course of action—"
King Arnab lifted a hand.
"As King, I consider any idea that protects my people," he said. "Speak, Reone."
Reone inclined his head.
"When Anika and Primi brought me to the Nest," he said, "we passed a tunnel Primi said was unstable — ready to collapse."
The Diviners exchanged looks, uncomprehending.
"We lure the Extractors there," Reone explained. "Then bring the cave down on them, eliminating them once and for all. But with no direct combat.And No casualties."
"Except on the Extractors' side," the King murmured.
"Exactly."
Silence.
Then King Arnab turned to Primi.
"Captain?"
Primi thought it through, then exhaled.
"It's simple. But it might work."
"Good," the King said. "Then we follow the outsider's plan. And that… is final."
The elder who had protested shut his mouth immediately.
"But you won't carry out this plan alone," the King added. "I'll come. I can act as bait."
Anika shook her head instantly, fear tightening her expression. Her father was a warrior, yes — but he was also old.
Primi stepped forward.
"Your Majesty, forgive me for speaking out of turn — but you are too important to risk. Let me go in your stead."
"No need to worry about me, Captain. I can hold my own," the King said confidently.
"But think of the Nest, Your Highness. In the unlikely chance that you do fall, who leads us? The Princess is still too young," Primi said, giving Anika a sly look.
The King opened his mouth — but Anika cut in.
"He's right, Dad. We need you here."
"The young ones speak sense, Your Majesty. Please listen to them," an elder agreed.
The King sighed.
"Fine. Primi can have all the fun."
"Thank you for trusting me, Your Majesty. I shall do my best for you," Primi said, poorly hiding a smile.
"I know you will, Captain," the King replied with dignity, though there was a little envy in his voice.
"I'm coming too, as backup.I case things go south," Lhanak announced, eyes blazing. "I owe them."
"Same," Feya said, cracking her knuckles.
"Are you guys sure you're up to it?" Primi asked.
They straightened — fully healed now.
"We're sure," Lhanak said.
Primi nodded.
"I'm not staying behind either," Anika said as she pushed to her feet — only to sway where she stood.
Her father caught her arm.
"You're in no condition to fight," King Arnab said gently.
"But I'm a member of the guard and they're my people. I can't just sit here."
"I feel the same. But Primi will go in our stead. Trust him," the King said.
Anika looked at Primi.
He met her gaze steadily.
"…Alright," she whispered. "I'll trust you."
Primi gave a small nod.
"Well, I'm coming too. I have my own score to settle," a menacing voice said.
Lyrian.
Reone snapped toward her, alarm tightening his entire body.
"Absolutely not," he said sharply. "You're not going anywhere."
Lyrian raised a brow. "Is that so?"
"Yes."
"And why not?" she demanded, arms crossing.
He almost said 'Because I don't want you to die again.'
But he swallowed it down. He'd already decided he wasn't going to tell her the truth about her death. It already weighed heavily on him. He would not burden her with that.
Instead, he forced out, "Because you were just healed from… a very serious injury. Caused by them. It's insane to throw yourself in their direction again."
"So I'm supposed to hide like a coward? Not happening, Reone. I'm going to hit them twice as hard for what they did to me."
"I think our last encounter proved you're no match for them," Reone said coldly.
He didn't mean to be harsh — he just really needed her to stay.
Lyrian's jaw tightened. "I was distracted with saving you last time. I'll make better decisions next time."
Reone rolled his eyes. They both knew she didn't mean it.
"Lyrian, you're still recovering."
"For the twelfth time," she said, raising her arms, "I feel fine. And I have powers, in case you forgot. One sonic blast from me, and that unstable cave collapses instantly."
Reone froze.
She wasn't wrong.
But fear overrode logic.
"And last I checked,Reone," Lyrian frowned, "I don't need your permission to do anything.So I'm coming. And that's final."
Feya groaned. "Reone and Lyrian, right? Can you two please settle this? We don't have time."
"Exactly," Primi muttered.
Reone exhaled hard.
"Fine. You win, Lyrian," he ground out.
He knew from experience — there was no changing her mind when she was this determined. She'd go regardless.
He would simply have to protect her… and pray he wouldn't fail her again,he thought nervously.
He wondered briefly if the outcome of this conversation would've have heen different he told her the truth about her death. Seeing her determined face, he doubted it.
Lyrian smiled triumphantly. "Of course I do."
Anika then smiled at her happily.
"You go, Lyrian. Make your own choices, sister."
Everyone stared at her.
Noticing, Anika blinked and added, "…I mean — oh. My head."
The King narrowed his eyes. Not fooled by his daughter's antics
"If Anika is finished...will five people work for your plan,Reone?" he asked him.
Reone nodded immediately.
"Good."
Primi stepped forward and dropped to one knee before the King. The others followed automatically — even Reone and Lyrian, awkward and out of sync.
"Bless us as we go, Your Majesty," Primi said.
King Arnab nodded solemnly.
"You have my blessing, my brave children. All of you."
His gaze landed deliberately on Lyrian and Reone.
They blinked,startled but they nodded back to him in response — which seemed enough.
The group rose.
"Let's move," Primi ordered.
The group followed him toward the passage.
"Good luck, you guys!" Anika called brightly.
Lyrian paused to smile at her.
"Thanks, Anika," she said. Then softer: "We might need it."