Main chamber,

  Forgotten Temple,

  Whispering Woods,

  -

  Flame residue flickered in Eric’s palm, his breaths uneven.

  Across from him, Archy threw away the burning white cloak, mana daggers hovering on his body.

  Next to him, Gideon planted his two heavy shields into the ground, exhaling steadily.

  Another room. Same death circle.

  Bodies, dagger plunged in their stomach. A woman and a boy wearing different outfit slumped near the altar.

  No... is that the girl’s mom and brother?

  Damn it.

  "Why, what!!" His voice cracked as he shouted. "Archy, please tell me honestly what’s happening!?"

  Archy tilted his head, almost amused. "Hmm, let me see Junior. I offered these souls, for the coming of mother."

  He pointed, the mana blades flying towards Eric. "Come, brother. Stop struggling and let me enlighten you."

  Gareth intercepted, deflecting the daggers with swift movements of his spears. "Plan, Eric. Do you need a reminder, he’s out of your league."

  “Oh Gareth, ever the loyal hound. But must you interrupt? I’m in the middle of a lesson.” Archy’s grin widened, lazy and theatrical. “Still, since Eric’s fond of you... I’ll make room in the family.”

  Gareth dematerialized his spears, “You’ve completely lost it. And this ‘mother’ bullshit—what, you buy one off a cult pamphlet?”

  Archy didn’t flinch. Just that same soft smile. “Then let’s continue your enlightenment.”

  Archy dashed to the side, leaving behind a light blue trail.

  Ten more mana daggers appeared around him, suspended in the air. They glowed with sharp intent, spinning slowly, waiting for his command.

  Eric flung a Blaze Pearl. It cut through the air, heat trailing behind.

  Archy raised his hand. A thin, curved barrier formed instantly. The pearl struck it and burst. Fire surged outward, but the shield held firm. The flames scattered across the floor, dying fast.

  Eric raised both arms. Fire surged forward in a sweeping blast.

  Archy countered, launching his daggers one after another. Each one cracked through the fire, splitting the heat, striking the stone behind Eric.

  The exchange didn’t stop. Spells collided in the middle of the chamber.

  He slid to the left, hand forming another pearl.

  Looking down, he realized, stuck on his coat, a mana dagger. Ah shit.

  Archy launched forward, targeting the dagger on Eric’s body like a magnet. His daggers followed his movement, ready to strike.

  A shadow moved behind Archy. Gareth.

  He emerged from the smoke, silent. Spear in hand. One step. Another. He lunged at Archy.

  As the spear was about to strike him, Archy disappeared, leaving behind only his mirage.

  Eric tried to side step as far as possible, alas,

  Archy was behind him, grabbing his neck, “How many times do I need to teach you, Eric. Pay attention to your surroundings.” Archy said, laughing.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  Gareth froze, not one step, in the fear that Archy would puncture Eric with his daggers.

  Eric raised his hands, dispersing the blaze pearl on his hand. No dagger? Just talk. Why gloat now?

  “Ah yes, you got me brother. Let’s go home. Lady Ariana is waiting. You need to explain all this to her.”

  “No no no. The deal was you follow my instruction, not the opposite.” Archy leaned closer, wrapping Eric’s neck with his arm.

  Gareth was about to move again.

  “Stop Gareth, let me handle this” Eric shouted to Gareth, and came focusing back to Archy behind him, “But what if I keep struggling? Would you kill me?”

  “Kill you? What are you talking about? You’re my brother Eric. I wouldn't hurt you even if Lady Ariana ordered me to. Same with mother, all we-”

  Eric released heat from his entire body, flame wrapping him instantly. Archy was forced to jump back mid sentence.

  “Gareth, here’s the plan. They’re not gonna kill me. Focus on the attack, at all cost.” Eric ordered, the flames thinned around Eric’s body. Careful now, I’ve lost too much mana.

  Gareth moved.

  He burst forward, spears rematerializing in both hands. The left aimed low, a feint. The right—sharp and steady—drove toward Archy's throat.

  But Archy twisted, sliding between attacks with dancer-like grace, “Oof Gareth. Not even hesitating to aim for my throat, eh.”

  Eric didn’t wait.

  His hand snapped forward, hurling a Blaze Pearl. The heat left a shimmer in the air. Archy’s eyes flicked toward it mid-dodge.

  He spun again, the pearl grazing his shoulder before detonating in a short burst of flame.

  Smoke and fire flared behind him.

  Gareth was already in pursuit, closing the gap with another step.

  His second spear nearly sliced through Archy's barrier—but not quite. Sparks flew as metal clashed with mana, and Archy vanished again into motion, daggers circling him.

  Eric’s breath got heavier. He narrowed his eyes and chuckled. And Gideon is standing still, not even trying.

  He formed another pearl, smaller this time, less heat.

  He flung it to the right—past Archy. It exploded mid-air, a blinding burst. A distraction.

  Gareth lunged from the smoke.

  This time, his spear almost landed. Archy blinked—just for a second—caught off guard by the flash.

  But the floor shook.

  Eric flinched. A tremor rattled his teeth. Debris exploded into the air as Gideon slammed both shields into the ground.

  The impact echoed like thunder. Stone cracked in a spreading pattern. Dust surged outward in a thick, gray wave.

  A wall of force threw Eric a step back. He threw up his arm, shielding his eyes.

  Gareth stumbled mid-strike. His momentum was broken.

  Archy didn’t waste the chance. He ducked low, spun, and sent three daggers flying in a tight arc. They curved toward Gareth's chest—sharp, fast, humming with mana.

  Eric reacted before he thought. “Gareth—!”

  Another pearl flared in his palm.

  He slammed it into the ground. Flame shot up between Gareth and the daggers, intercepting them mid-flight. The blades scattered off-course, one embedding itself in a wall with a hiss.

  The dust settled only slightly. Visibility was low. Eric coughed, waving smoke from his face.

  He scanned the room.

  Archy stood still now, outlined by the glow of his hovering daggers. His coat fluttered from the aftershock. A smirk played on his lips.

  "Good. That’s almost good, you guys," Archy said, his voice smooth and unbothered.

  The casual tone didn’t match the chaos around them, as if they were just playing a game.

  Eric’s teeth clenched. His legs felt heavier with each passing moment, the strain of the fight pressing down on him. He couldn’t keep up this pace for much longer.

  “Time out!” Eric shouted, his breath ragged.

  Archy tilted his head, a faint smirk still playing on his lips, but he raised his hand in a casual surrender. "Time out, then. I’ll allow it."

  He reached into his coat and pulled out a small vial of blue liquid. “Here, Junior. A bit of mana for you. It’ll help.”

  Eric shook his head immediately, refusing the vial. No way in hell I’m drinking your stuff now.

  Archy’s smirk widened, but there was a quiet understanding in his gaze.

  Gideon pulled something from his pack. “Fine, then. If you won’t take mana, how about this?”

  He pulled out a flask, and the strong scent of potato spirits wafted through the air. "A bit of alcohol to warm your bones. Not that it’ll heal you, but it might loosen you up a bit."

  Eric glanced at the flask, eyeing it warily before shaking his head. “No thanks.”

  The three of them stood there like this was a tea break, not an altar full of corpses.

  “You know, Eric,” Archy said, swirling the bottle lazily, “after this, I’ll show you what mother showed me.”

  He took a sip. The air sharpened with the sting of alcohol.

  Eric didn’t blink. “Who is this ‘mother’ you’re talking about, anyway?”

  Archy smiled faintly, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. “Hmm. Hard to explain…” He turned slightly, offering the bottle back to Gideon. “But you’ll understand soon enough.”

  Gideon accepted it in silence, slipping it back into his belt. Still no emotion. Just that calm, mountain-still posture.

  Eric scanned the room, weighing distances, looking for angles.

  Suddenly, there was movement.

  Gareth was already mid-step, launching forward without any build-up, without a single warning.

  It wasn’t a feint, not hesitation—just pure motion. Fast. Direct. Relentless.

  Archy and Gideon immediately fell into defensive stances, preparing for the next strike.

  However.

  Gareth wasn’t charging at them.

  Eric’s heart skipped a beat as he registered where the spear was aimed. No… Me?

  -