The Woman in the Den???, calm warmth,
"Yeah… it's been long years since we last met."
She stepped into the dim light, her face finally clear— revealing Elvein.
Zoick froze—jaw dropping as if time had stopped around him.
Zoick astonished,
"What… what are you doing here?"
Rakhad trying to piece things together,
"Wait—how do you even know this place? We don't know the way. How do you?"
Ferin leaned back with a tired sigh.
Ferin relieved, casual,
"Oye, Elvein. Good to see you."
Elvein smiled warmly.
Elvein gentle,
"How are you doing, Querion?"
Querion calm,
"As you see… very well."
Eldrin crossed his arms, smirking.
Eldrin teasing,
"So… guess you forgot your uncle, huh?"
Elvein flat, playful,
"Nah."
She sat in the circle casually. Behind her, Rakhad and Zoick remained stuck—unable to process a single thing.
Rakhad tensed, rattled,
"W-wait! You know everyone here? You're Sang Jaey's classmate! How do you know them all?"
Zoick nodded quickly.
Zoick confirming,
"Yeah! I saw you when we came to the school."
Ferin glared at her.
Ferin scolding,
"Idiot! Why did you lie saying you didn't find him?!"
Eldrin annoyed,
"Yes! We were literally on that planet. You didn't even tell us you were with him!"
Elvein guilty,
"Sorry… I just wanted to have a friendship with him. Make him remember his past by doing the past things."
Querion leaned forward.
Querion curious,
"What happened then?"
Elvein sheepish,
"Just… slipped away. I mean, he didn't get it."
A demon servant entered quietly, placing tea in front of all of them.
Zoick confused,
"How did he know you came?"
Elvein simple,
"Because I told him to bring tea for us."
Rakhad took a sip, then leaned forward with intensity.
Rakhad serious curiosity,
"Okay… I'm asking something now."
Querion nodded while sipping.
Querion permitting,
"Ask."
Rakhad baffled and excited,
"How do all of you look young like us? You're all from thousands of years ago… right?"
Querion flat, deadpan,
"It is secret."
Zoick inhaled—
Zoick trying,
"Te—"
Ferin cut him off.
Ferin changing topic,
"You know, Elvein… we were just about to mention your name. And then you appeared."
Elvein confused,
"Mention my name? Why?"
Ferin straightforward,
"Because we were telling the story of Shammroy. And we stopped at the journey to Bernetter."
Elvein blinked—then nodded.
Elvein ready,
"Oh, okay. Then let me tell the next part.
Until now, you all said your version.
From now on… I'll say mine."
Eldrin gesturing,
"Proceed."
Heading Toward Bernetter
A sweeping shot rose above the Valkerio plains—endless land stretching under a cold sky.
The Terion group walked the vast road, their silhouettes small against the horizon.
Elvein's voice layered over the scene:
Elvein narrating,
"On that same day… I, Terion—the captain of our team—Aseri, and Roven… we headed toward Bernetter.
As we came closer, the air filled with an eerie silence… and the sense of an uneasy, raw aura."
The fading wind led them to a massive cave, dark as an unlit world.
Aseri uneasy,
"What is this… uneven aura?"
Roven alert,
"Yes… something's wrong."
Elvein whispering,
"Guys… do you sense something?"
Aseri focused,
"Yeah. Weak pulsing auras. What… what might it be?"
Terion determined,
"Let's find out inside."
The Two Paths
The group stepped into the cave.
As the group was marching forward , they witnesses —
Corpses of unkind creatures lay scattered—lifeless, twisted.
Before they could analyze anything, the path split into two.
Terion commanding,
"Aseri and Roven—take that side.
Elvein and I will take this one."
They nodded and separated.
As Terion and Elvein walked deeper, their boots crushed dried blood. Larger corpses appeared—ten times the size.
Elvein shaken whisper,
"What… happened here?"
A sudden vibration—
His sword glowed. He touched it.
Roven's voice echoed from the blade:
Roven's voice breathing hard,
"Captain! We found the same corpses here… but bigger. And more of them than before."
Terion's eyes darkened with curiosity.
Terion tensed,
"Who would do this much… bloodbath?"
They walked forward.
Terion warning,
"Careful. Guard up. I sense something here."
He tightened his grip—Elvein mirrored him.
From above, five creatures dropped with a heavy thud.
Both weapons were drawn instantly—fear locking their muscles.
But the creatures were already dead.
They exhaled and continued.
The Kneeling Stranger
The four regrouped in a massive hall—a dim, echoing chamber that smelled of dust and death.
There, in the center, a lone man was kneeling, gasping, staring toward the mouth of the den.
Around him, three others lay scattered—barely alive, fighting for breath.
Elvein's voice lowered:
Elvein , soft narration,
"That… is when I saw them.
And… him."