[Location - Base of Azure Mountain]
The border patrol had just completed their routine perimeter check, gathering at their usual meeting spot deep within the forest.
Tonight, however, was anything but ordinary. The Phoenix Festival was in full bloom, with fireworks marking the end of the physical celebrations and the start of the spiritual ones.
Typically, the tribal Elders would mark this transition by sending a single fireball into the night sky. This time, though, it was the Phoenix Queen herself who led the display, her fiery silhouette captivating every sentry along the Skyward Borders for miles.
Even the seasoned patrollers could not resist lowering their guard momentarily to witness their Queen soaring through the explosions.
"What a stunning sight..." the Captain murmured.
She was the first to reach the checkpoint, allowing her a brief moment of peace to absorb the spectacle overhead. But that serenity was shattered when the sharp snap of a twig echoed from the dark forest.
The Captain's joyous expression disappeared instantly, replaced by the lethal focus of a seasoned warrior. Years of harsh combat experience took over, her hand darting to her sword at the slightest hint of danger.
She wasn't alone. The other three patrollers reacted with the same rapid precision, weapons partially drawn and stances lowered, ready to respond to any threat.
The tension quickly dissipated when the silhouette of the intruder stepped into the moonlight.
"Illinos..." the Captain sighed, finally remembering to breathe as she released her grip on her weapon.
He offered her a steady, reassuring nod, stepping into the clearing.
"Why are you here?" she inquired, her tone shifting from commanding to curious.
A low, playful chuckle came from her left. It was Beninar, her loyal right-hand man.
"Cap, haven't you heard the rumors?" he teased, leaning against a tree.
"Rumors?"
"Oh dear," Anastasia, the rookie patroller, chimed in with a cheeky grin. "You really need to socialize more, Cap. These dark woods aren't going to help you find a husband, you know."
"Hmph," the Captain retorted, crossing her arms defensively. "Who needs a man when I have a sharp blade?"
"Yes, yes... just admit you can't find a husband," Anastasia replied smoothly.
"YOU—!" the Captain snapped, her face reddening before she calmed herself. She turned her glare back to Beninar. "So, what exactly am I missing?"
"Illinos is courting the Queen."
"Seriously?" The Captain stared at Illinos, her scarred face showing utter disbelief.
Beninar nodded seriously.
That was all the Captain needed to piece things together.
"I see," she began, forcing her shocked expression into a more serious, analytical one. "Ambition is commendable. There is no better way to climb the ranks..."
"...though I heard she already rejected him," Anastasia murmured, loudly enough for the entire forest to hear.
Those words shattered the Captain's serious demeanor. She struggled to maintain her composure for a moment before bursting into laughter.
"Ha. Ha. Ha. Laugh it up," Illinos grumbled, crossing his arms.
"I'm sorry, I'm in no position to judge," the Captain said, wiping a tear from her eye. "At least you're trying—"
"—Miserably, that is," Anastasia finished, sending the group into another bout of laughter.
"Do not forget," Illinos defended himself over their chuckles, "the Ancestor fell for a human! There are no limits when it comes to love."
"Love? Next, you'll be telling us you already have baby names chosen," Anastasia teased.
"What is wrong with planning ahead?" Illinos replied, his chin held high.
The Captain, recognizing his sincerity, decided to set an example. She stepped beside him, placing a firm, reassuring hand on his armored shoulder. "You are right, Illinos. We've managed to survive out here in the darkness because we always think ten steps ahead of our adversaries. So never hesitate to pursue love as you see fit. We have your back, as always."
"Cap..."
Her words had a noticeable impact. The rest of the squad quickly dropped their teasing grins, adopting more sincere expressions as they closed the gaps between them.
"What the Cap says is true. If any young noble deserves the Queen's favor, it's you," Melivek added softly.
"I agree," Beninar nodded.
"Just don't forget us when you're sitting high up with the Golden Feather Chieftains," Anastasia said, offering a warm, genuine smile.
"Guys..." Illinos began, a proud, grateful smile spreading across his face. "Don't worry. We've bled down here in the mud together. I will ensure we feast well up there in the halls too."
The group returned his smile, sharing a brief, profound moment of camaraderie. But the sentiment was soon interrupted by the Captain's disciplined nature.
"Okay, but before we concern ourselves with feasts in the royal halls, we must first ensure the borders remain secure. We will reconvene here in exactly one hour."
"Yes, Captain!" the squad barked in unison.
With their orders given, the patrollers turned and began to disperse. One by one, they vanished into the dense, pitch-black forest, heading in different directions to ensure no beasts or demons could breach the mountain's initial line of defense.
---
[Location - Eastern Side of Azure Mountain]
This was typically Melivek's area to oversee. He had traversed this particular boundary countless times. While experience is a valuable asset in the wild, it can also become a perilous drug—one that lulls a once-vigilant novice into lowering their defenses as they transform into a seasoned veteran.
Adding to this false sense of security, the Queen had recently displayed her True Divinity to the entire continent. As if that weren't deterrent enough, she had also introduced her fearsome, enigmatic Master to the Phoenix Tribe.
"Who would dare attack us now?" Melivek murmured to himself, pushing aside a low-hanging branch.
Having completed his main patrol area, he ventured further east, moving into the thick outskirts that linked Azure Mountain to the Golden Feather Tribe's territory.
Everything appeared entirely normal. Even the nocturnal creatures were eerily silent tonight. While this wasn't particularly unusual due to the thunderous, booming sounds of the festival fireworks above, the quiet down here felt unusually heavy.
That was until he noticed something pale in the distance.
Melivek halted, his eyes narrowing in the dim light. "Is that... a leg?"
Just off the beaten path, partially concealed by a dense cluster of bushes, a pale, delicate leg protruded from the ground. The bone structure and size were clearly not that of an adult. There was only one chilling conclusion to draw.
"A child?!"
Panic surged within him as Melivek dashed forward, hoping his worst fears hadn't come true. It wasn't entirely unheard of for children to go missing in these woods during large festivals. Sometimes the young ones wandered farther than they should, unfortunately encountering ravenous spirit beasts that cared little about whose flesh they devoured, as long as their hunger was sated.
He slid to the ground beside the bushes, urgently pulling back the foliage.
From the appearance of the tiny, fragile girl lying face-down on the forest floor, she had miraculously escaped such a grim fate. Her skin was unbroken, though alarmingly pale.
"Hey, are you okay?" Melivek asked with urgency. He dropped to his knees, carefully placing his ear near the little girl's mouth to check for signs of life.
He detected the faint, rhythmic sound of breathing.
"Thank goodness! She's breathing—"
His voice faltered abruptly. The little girl's eyes suddenly snapped open, revealing no whites or pupils—just an endless swirl of pitch-purple void.
"We've got your back, as always," she murmured.
Melivek felt his blood run cold. The voice was not that of a lost child; it was a perfect imitation of a woman's voice.
"Captain?" he stammered, his seasoned instincts finally urging him to draw his weapon.
He scrambled backward, attempting to rise to his feet, but the little girl dissolved into a cloud of violet mist. In an instant, the dark energy slipped through his defenses, re-forming directly behind him.
SNAP!
There was no epic clash, no fierce exchange of blows. Only the sickening crunch of bone as Morgal effortlessly twisted Melivek's neck before he could even react. His lifeless body fell to the forest floor with a heavy, dull thud.
"Hehe. Silly you," Morgal giggled, standing over his corpse. "Didn't I tell you I was behind you? Why didn't you look?"
Melivek was already gone. His empty, glassy eyes stared blankly into the dirt, forever unable to respond to her playful taunt.
"How boring..." Morgal sighed, her innocent facade dissolving into pure, cold indifference.
She raised a small hand, and the shadows beside her twisted violently. A Void Guardian emerged from the darkness. Unlike the jagged, crystalline behemoths she typically summoned for battle, this construct was sleek and terrifyingly smooth. Its skin had a liquid, silver-black texture, eerily reminiscent of the Void Mirror Raiking had used a thousand years ago to project the mortal realm to Libinea.
"You know what to do," Morgal commanded, turning away from the corpse. "Be quick now. We still have four... more... toys to play with."
A wide, sadistic grin spread across her face as she gazed deep into the woods, locking onto the distant Qi signatures of the remaining patrollers.