Chapter 113
Nille merely sighed and glanced toward Lin.
"Just go with the flow," he said quietly.
Lin tilted her head slightly.
"That sounds suspicious."
"It is."
The honesty of the answer immediately made her laugh.
Together, they stepped through the gateway.
The transition was instantaneous.
One moment they were standing inside Rune Forge's underground facility.
The next, they emerged into the growing settlement surrounding the former swamp castle.
The difference from only a few days ago was astonishing.
Where rotting marshland and malignant-infested ruins had once stood, organized activity now filled the area. Enchanted tents lined the cleared grounds. Construction teams moved supplies between newly erected structures. Barrier artifacts pulsed softly around the perimeter. Medical personnel traveled between treatment stations while engineers calibrated defensive installations.
It looked less like a disaster zone and more like the beginnings of a frontier town.
As soon as Nille appeared, however, something unexpected happened.
The surrounding Drows stopped what they were doing.
Conversations halted.
Tools lowered.
Workers turned.
One after another, the Dark Elves placed a hand over their chest and bowed their heads respectfully.
"Benefactor."
"Benefactor Nille."
"Our gratitude, Benefactor."
The greetings spread outward like a ripple through water.
Lin blinked.
Then blinked again.
The reaction was far beyond simple appreciation.
This was reverence.
Respect earned through action rather than status.
Nille immediately looked uncomfortable.
"Please don't start."
Unfortunately, nobody listened.
Several older Drows bowed even deeper.
To them, this young man had done what nobody else had been willing to do.
He had entered the swamp.
Killed the Zipacna malignant,
Protected the survivors.
Brought medicine.
Food.
Shelter.
And most importantly, hope.
Lin quietly watched everything unfold.
Then she slowly turned toward Nille.
"You forgot to mention this."
"I forgot a lot of things."
"Clearly."
Before the conversation could continue, a familiar voice rang out across the settlement.
"Benefactor!"
A dark-haired figure sprinted across the clearing.
Liraya Venshiel.
The young Dark Elven girl practically flew across the open ground.
The moment she spotted Nille, her face lit up with excitement.
"Benefactor!"
Several nearby Drows immediately realized what was about to happen.
A few of them visibly winced.
Others looked amused.
Nille recognized the expression too late.
Liraya accelerated.
She was clearly aiming for a running hug.
Unfortunately for her, Lin Yue Meiying reacted first.
With perfect calmness, Lin took a single step forward.
Then another.
Positioning herself directly between Nille and the charging Dark Elf.
The movement was so natural that it looked almost instinctive.
Like a cat casually placing itself between another cat and something it considered important.
Liraya skidded to a stop.
Lin smiled politely.
Liraya smiled politely.
For several seconds, neither moved.
The atmosphere became strangely tense.
Nearby workers immediately pretended not to watch.
They failed completely.
Everyone was watching.
Nille looked from one girl to the other.
Then, with the instincts of a man who had survived Hydras, Malignants, dimensional backlash, and Sector 12 itself, he wisely chose to remain completely silent.
Liraya tilted her head as she studied the unfamiliar girl standing directly between her and Nille.
"And who are you?"
Lin's smile remained gentle.
Elegant.
Dangerously polite.
"Lin Yue Meiying."
"Oh."
Liraya's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Ah... you're one of the hired helps."
Several nearby Drows immediately looked away.
A few Rune Forge workers suddenly became fascinated by the ground.
Nille closed his eyes for a brief moment.
Lin's smile somehow became even sweeter.
Unfortunately, everyone who knew her understood that was not a good sign.
"No," Lin replied pleasantly. "I'm not a hired help, little girl."
The words were delivered so politely that they somehow felt even sharper.
Then Lin tilted her head.
"And who might you be?"
Liraya blinked.
"I am Liraya Venshiel."
"Oh."
Lin nodded slowly.
"The little girl I've heard so much about."
Liraya's eyebrow twitched.
"I'm not little."
"Of course not."
"You called me little."
"I said little girl."
"That's the same thing."
Lin smiled.
"If you say so."
Liraya folded her arms.
The young Dark Elf glanced toward Nille.
Then back at Lin.
Then toward Nille again.
The meaning was obvious.
Lin noticed immediately.
Her smile never moved.
"So," Liraya asked innocently, "are you Benefactor's assistant?"
Lin almost laughed.
Almost.
"No."
"Bodyguard?"
"No."
"Secretary?"
"No."
"Personal servant?"
"No."
Liraya tilted her head.
"Then why are you following him around?"
Lin immediately answered.
"I'm spending time with him."
The Dark Elf stared.
Lin smiled.
Liraya stared harder.
Several nearby workers began quietly placing bets.
Nille pretended not to notice.
Liraya pointed at Lin.
"That sounds suspicious."
Lin nodded.
"It probably does."
Liraya looked at Nille.
"Benefactor, is she always like this?"
Nille considered his answer very carefully.
"Yes."
Lin looked pleased.
Liraya looked offended.
"You're taking her side."
"I didn't take anyone's side."
"You answered too quickly."
Lin laughed softly.
The sound alone made Liraya narrow her eyes further.
The Dark Elf suddenly stepped closer to Nille.
Lin immediately stepped closer as well.
Liraya noticed.
Lin noticed that Liraya noticed.
Nille noticed both of them noticing each other.
This was becoming exhausting.
Liraya folded her arms again.
"I've known Benefactor longer than you."
Lin nodded.
"That's true."
The answer surprised her.
"But," Lin continued calmly, "I've also spent more time with him recently."
Liraya froze.
A direct hit.
Several nearby Drows quietly covered their mouths.
One of the Rune Forge staff nearly choked trying not to laugh.
The Dark Elf recovered quickly.
"Benefactor saved my people."
Lin smiled.
"And that's wonderful."
"He risked his life for us."
"Yes."
"He fought a Hydra."
"Also yes."
Liraya pointed triumphantly.
"There."
Lin blinked.
"There what?"
The Dark Elf paused.
Then realized she didn't actually know where she was going with that argument.
Lin's smile widened slightly.
The victory was immediate.
Nille rubbed his forehead.
Somehow fighting Malignants had been easier.
Then, unexpectedly, Liraya looked directly at Lin.
"...You like him."
The statement was completely blunt.
Several people nearby instantly stopped breathing.
Lin remained perfectly composed.
"Yes."
The answer arrived without hesitation.
Without embarrassment.
Without denial.
Liraya stared.
Nille nearly choked.
The surrounding workers collectively lost the ability to act normal.
Then Lin calmly looked back at the Dark Elf.
"And you admire him."
Liraya immediately straightened.
"Of course I do."
"That's obvious."
The two girls stared at each other.
Then, surprisingly, both smiled.
Not friendly.
Not hostile.
But with the mutual understanding of two people who had independently reached the same conclusion.
Nille was important.
And neither intended to be ignored.
Standing nearby, Nille suddenly understood why Rume Ironbark preferred doing business than managing relationships .
Lin walked beside Nille while Luna, the oversized Lakivot cat, remained comfortably draped across his shoulders and upper back. Somehow, the feline had managed to secure herself between the reinforced sections of his clothing where the six retractable whip mechanisms rested. Every now and then her tail lazily swayed behind him as if she had personally claimed the position and intended to keep it.
As they moved through the former swamp fortress, even Lin found herself slowing down to take in the scale of the transformation.
Only days ago, this place had been a decaying ruin surrounded by contaminated water, malignant creatures, and despair.
Now it resembled the foundation of an emerging frontier settlement.
The ground beneath their feet was no longer soft marshland. Rune Forge engineers had stabilized large sections of the terrain using enchantment arrays, drainage systems, and reinforced foundations. What had once been muddy swamp now supported roads wide enough for heavy transport vehicles and construction equipment.
Near the water's edge, countless massive tetrapods had been strategically installed to prevent erosion and stabilize the shoreline. Entire sections of the former moat had been reinforced while engineers continuously monitored water quality and structural integrity.
The castle itself was almost unrecognizable.
Steel support beams reinforced the ancient stone walls.
Military-grade enchanted concrete strengthened weakened foundations.
Fresh roofing had already replaced many collapsed sections.
Clean water systems ran through newly installed pipes.
Storage facilities occupied renovated chambers.
Defensive positions had been rebuilt.
Three additional sentry weapon platforms now occupied elevated positions overlooking the surrounding terrain, complementing the original defensive network.
The old rotting huts that once housed desperate survivors were gone.
In their place stood rows of modular container housing units designed for rapid deployment. Each contained insulation enchantments, water access, heating systems, and emergency protective barriers.
The entire area hummed with activity.
Construction crews moved continuously.
Supply teams transported materials.
Engineers calibrated defensive systems.
Medical staff treated recovering Drows.
Agricultural specialists surveyed newly cleared land.
Artificers installed rune arrays throughout the settlement.
Everywhere Nille looked, Rune Forge personnel were working.
Not dozens.
Hundreds.
More than three hundred employees, contractors, specialists, guards, engineers, merchants, artificers, miners, and support staff operated throughout the growing settlement.
The Dwarves seemed particularly energized.
Many moved with the enthusiasm of craftsmen who had discovered the opportunity of a lifetime.
Heavy cranes lifted stone and steel.
Enchanted bulldozers uprooted dead trees and cleared contaminated terrain.
Massive rune-powered excavation machines prepared fields for future farming operations.
Transport vehicles continuously moved between the portal hub and various construction zones.
What impressed Lin most wasn't the speed.
It was the organization.
Everything functioned according to a schedule.
Every worker knew their assignment.
Every team understood their objective.
Nothing felt chaotic despite the scale.
It felt planned.
Calculated.
Professional.
At the center of much of it stood Head Merchant Rume Ironbark.
The elderly dwarf moved through the settlement like a battlefield commander.
One moment he was inspecting mining operations.
The next he was reviewing construction blueprints.
Minutes later he was negotiating supply allocations with quartermasters before personally entering the mine to inspect ore extraction rates.
The entrance to the newly secured mine had become one of the most heavily protected areas within the settlement.
Steel reinforcements lined the shaft.
Ventilation artifacts continuously supplied fresh air.
Water filtration systems operated around the clock.
Structural stabilization arrays reinforced the surrounding rock.
Security personnel maintained constant watch.
The reason was obvious.
The mine represented the economic heart of the operation.
The mithril.
The gold.
The silver.
The future profits.
Everything began there.
Nearby, an entirely new forge complex was already under construction.
Rows of portable smelters operated day and night.
Rune artisans worked alongside master blacksmiths.
Several Dwarven forge masters supervised the creation of weapons, tools, armor components, mining equipment, and construction materials.
Temporary food stalls had appeared around worker zones.
Field kitchens served hundreds of meals daily.
Supply depots managed inventory.
Medical stations treated injuries.
Communication towers coordinated operations across the entire settlement.
What Rune Forge had created wasn't simply a mining camp.
It was becoming a self-sustaining economic outpost.
A future branch.
A permanent foothold.
Lin finally noticed something written on several newly installed information boards throughout the settlement.
She read one silently.
Then another.
Then a third.
The wording was almost identical.
Property Ownership Recognition Notice
The territory, mineral rights, and associated land claims remain under the ownership and authority of the recognized Benefactor and designated Drow representatives.
Rune Forge Merchant Group operates under a sponsorship, development, security, and exclusive extraction agreement approved by the recognized owners.
All personnel are reminded that they are guests, partners, and contracted operators within this territory.
Lin looked toward Nille.
Now she understood.
Rune Forge wasn't behaving like conquerors.
They were behaving like investors.
Rume Ironbark had made that distinction crystal clear.
Every employee, contractor, security officer, engineer, and manager had received the same instructions.
This land belonged to the Drows and their Benefactor.
Rune Forge had secured exclusive mining rights.
Exclusive commercial rights.
Exclusive development priority.
But ownership remained elsewhere.
From a business perspective, it was brilliant.
By recognizing local ownership, Rune Forge gained loyalty.
By providing infrastructure, security, medicine, food, and economic development, they gained influence.
By securing long-term extraction contracts, they gained profit.
Everyone benefited.
The Drows gained protection, stability, housing, healthcare, employment, and a future.
Rune Forge gained access to one of the most valuable mineral discoveries in recent decades.
And because the arrangement was based on mutual benefit rather than exploitation, resistance remained almost nonexistent.
Rume Ironbark wasn't merely building a mine.
He was building an economy.
A trade hub.
A strategic foothold deep inside one of the most dangerous territories on Yamatai Island.
And judging by the smile on the old dwarf's face as he directed another convoy of supplies toward the mine entrance, he intended to make every single coin of the investment count.
Head Merchant Rume Ironbark was standing near a large construction map spread across a reinforced table, barking orders at engineers, miners, and logistics personnel simultaneously. Several supervisors hurried away the moment they received instructions, while others waited patiently for their turn.
The moment the old dwarf spotted Nille approaching, his face immediately brightened.
"Lad!"
His booming voice carried across half the construction zone.
"Yer back!"
Several workers turned toward the familiar figure.
Rume strode forward and immediately noticed Lin standing beside him.
The dwarf's thick beard twitched.
Then a wide grin spread across his face.
"Well now."
He pointed toward Lin.
"And who might this gorgeous young lady be?"
Lin immediately straightened.
The smile on her face became radiant.
Rume folded his arms.
"Yer lover?"
Lin's entire mood visibly improved.
Meanwhile—
Liraya Venshiel looked absolutely horrified.
The young Dark Elf practically jumped forward.
"What?!"
Several nearby workers froze.
Liraya pointed directly at Lin.
"Her?"
The Dark Elf looked back toward Rume.
"Gorgeous?"
Then back toward Lin.
Then back toward Rume again.
"Merchant Leader, have you gone blind?!"
The surrounding workers immediately lowered their heads.
Several dwarves suddenly found their boots fascinating.
Lin's smile twitched.
Dangerously.
Nille immediately recognized disaster approaching.
Fast.
Very fast.
"Liraya—"
The Dark Elf folded her arms.
"What?"
"Liraya."
"What?"
"Please stop."
"I'm only telling the truth."
Lin's smile somehow became even sweeter.
"Oh?"
Liraya nodded confidently.
"Yes."
The two girls stared at one another.
The temperature around them seemed to drop.
Rume watched everything with growing amusement.
"Oh this is excellent."
"It is not," Nille replied immediately.
"It absolutely is."
Before the situation could escalate further, Nille carefully reached toward his shoulders.
Luna immediately looked offended.
The large Lakivot cat had been comfortably riding there for quite some time.
Unfortunately for her, she was suddenly lifted into Nille's arms.
Then he turned toward Liraya.
The Dark Elf blinked.
Nille gently held Luna toward her.
"Liraya."
The girl's expression immediately softened.
"Yes?"
"I need a favor."
The transformation was so fast that even Lin blinked.
"A favor?"
Nille nodded.
"We're going to have a private meeting with Merchant Leader Rume."
Liraya immediately straightened.
Then Nille gently placed Luna into her arms.
The oversized cat settled comfortably against the smaller Dark Elf.
Liraya looked surprised.
Then delighted.
Nille smiled.
"It would make me happy if you could take care of my Abyan while I'm busy."
The word seemed to strike directly through every defensive wall the Dark Elf possessed.
Her ears twitched.
Her expression brightened instantly.
Nille trusted her.
Personally.
With something important.
Liraya carefully hugged Luna closer.
The Lakivot cat immediately accepted her new position.
The young Dark Elf looked down at the fluffy creature.
Then slowly lifted her head.
And looked directly at Lin.
The expression on her face practically radiated victory.
It wasn't hostile.
It wasn't aggressive.
It was somehow worse.
Pure pride.
The unmistakable look of someone saying:
"Master Nille trusted me with something important."
"Unlike you."
Lin immediately understood the message.
So did Nille.
So did Rume.
The old dwarf nearly burst out laughing.
Liraya carefully adjusted Luna in her arms.
Then gave Lin the most innocent smile imaginable.
It was not innocent.
At all.
Lin's eye twitched.
Then she calmly stepped closer to Nille.
Much closer.
Before anyone could react, she wrapped both arms around his.
The movement was smooth.
Natural.
Possessive.
Liraya froze.
The smile on her face vanished.
Lin turned her head.
Looked directly at the Dark Elf.
Then—
like a child who had just won an argument—
she stuck out her tongue.
"Bleh!"
The sound was shameless.
Absolutely shameless.
The entire construction site fell silent.
Several workers nearly dropped tools.
One dwarf accidentally walked into a crate.
A nearby artificer immediately pretended not to exist.
Liraya stared, and also stick out her tongue and said " bleh!"
everybody was completely stunned.
Lin smiled sweetly afterward. as the dark elven girl turned around and walked out, and casually went toward her small private space among the temporary tents designated for her .
As though they both had done nothing wrong, they were just marking their claim
Rume Ironbark finally lost his self control.
The old dwarf erupted into laughter so loud it echoed across the entire construction zone.
"HAHAHAHA!"
"Oh this is glorious!"
Nille closed his eyes.
For a brief moment, he missed fighting and hunting malignants.
They had been significantly less complicated.
Nille continued walking beside Head Merchant Rume Ironbark while Lin Yue Meiying remained firmly attached to his arm. Whether she was doing it because she genuinely wanted to or because she knew a certain Dark Elven girl was watching from a distance was a question Nille wisely chose not to ask.
Behind them, Liraya stood holding Luna while glaring at Lin's retreating figure.
Lin, sensing it without even turning around, smiled to herself.
The rivalry was becoming increasingly obvious.
Ahead of them, the former castle had become almost unrecognizable.
Workers continuously moved through the massive main gate, which had undergone extensive repairs over the past few days. The reinforced entrance now stood nearly fifteen feet tall and ten feet wide, supported by steel beams, rune-inscribed stonework, and defensive enchantments hidden within the structure itself.
The old stone steps leading toward the interior had been repaired and expanded.
Nearby, several enchanted minecarts emerged from a secured tunnel entrance beneath the castle. Unlike traditional carts, these hovered several inches above specially designed rail tracks embedded into the ground. Loaded with ore and construction materials, they moved smoothly toward processing stations without requiring beasts of burden or manual labor.
Several engineers were already constructing an additional transportation route beside the primary entrance.
Rume pointed toward the activity.
"Traffic management."
Nille nodded.
"Smart."
The dwarf grunted.
"More people are coming."
"Miners."
"Craftsmen."
"Laborers."
"Refugees."
"Merchants."
"We keep using a single route and we'll create a bottleneck."
Nille understood immediately.
Infrastructure always came before expansion.
Without proper logistics, growth eventually became its own problem.
As they entered the newly renovated main structure, Lin found herself genuinely impressed.
The former castle interior no longer felt like an abandoned ruin.
The central hall had become a command center.
Large maps covered several walls.
Resource charts.
Mining reports.
Population estimates.
Construction schedules.
Security patrol routes.
Supply inventories.
Everything was organized.
Everything had a purpose.
Personnel moved continuously between stations carrying reports and documents.
The entire operation felt less like a settlement and more like a rapidly growing company headquarters.
Rume led them toward a private conference room overlooking much of the ongoing activity.
The moment they sat down, business immediately became the focus.
"The portal changed everything."
Rume tapped a map spread across the table.
"With a stable route connecting my underground facilities to this location, I can move cargo trucks, heavy equipment, construction supplies, and personnel directly from my warehouses."
His finger moved across several marked logistics points.
"What would've taken weeks through traditional transportation now takes minutes."
Nille nodded.
The implications were enormous.
For Rune Forge.
For the Drows.
For the future settlement.
For Sector 12 itself.
Rume continued.
"My merchant partners already want in."
That didn't surprise Nille.
Profits attracted attention.
Especially profits involving mithril.
"How much interest?"
The dwarf barked a laugh.
"Enough to make me lock my office doors."
Lin chuckled quietly.
Rume folded his arms.
"Everyone wants a piece."
"Mining contracts."
"Supply contracts."
"Construction rights."
"Transportation rights."
"Agricultural rights."
"They're practically throwing offers at me."
Nille remained thoughtful.
Then he pointed toward a different area on the map.
"What about housing?"
Rume paused.
"Housing?"
"Permanent housing."
The dwarf leaned forward.
Nille continued.
"More Drows will arrive."
"Refugees."
"Families."
"Workers."
"Children."
"Eventually we'll exceed the capacity of temporary shelters."
He tapped several open areas surrounding the castle.
"We need residential zones."
"Schools."
"Medical facilities."
"Community spaces."
"Food production."
The room grew quieter.
Because what Nille was describing wasn't a mining operation.
It was a town.
A future city.
Lin silently listened.
The more she learned about him, the more she noticed the difference in how he approached problems.
Most people saw resources.
Nille saw people.
Rume slowly nodded.
"Continue."
Nille pointed toward another section.
"Employment."
"We can't simply feed everyone forever."
The dwarf immediately agreed.
"Correct."
"People need work."
"Purpose."
"Responsibility."
Nille nodded.
"Some can work in agriculture."
"Some in construction."
"Some in mining."
"Others in transportation."
"Security."
"Maintenance."
"Craftsmanship."
"Food production."
"There are hundreds of roles."
Rume rubbed his beard thoughtfully.
"You're thinking long term."
"I'm thinking survival."
The answer came immediately.
Because dependency created weakness.
Opportunity created stability.
Then Nille pointed toward another topic.
Security.
The atmosphere shifted slightly.
Rume's expression became more serious.
"That concerns me too."
Nille folded his hands together.
"Right now loyalty is easy."
"People are grateful."
"They're hopeful."
"They trust us."
Rume nodded.
"But gratitude fades."
"Exactly."
The dwarf's eyes sharpened.
Both of them understood human nature.
And elven nature.
And dwarven nature.
And every other race for that matter.
Good intentions alone never sustained a settlement.
Nille continued.
"We need clear laws."
"We need transparency."
"We need accountability."
"We need people to feel ownership over the future."
Rume slowly smiled.
"Now yer talking like a leader."
Nille immediately shook his head.
"No."
The answer was immediate.
Firm.
Certain.
"I'm talking like someone who doesn't want this place falling apart five years from now."
That answer made Rume laugh.
Because it was exactly the sort of thing a leader would say while insisting he wasn't one.
The dwarf leaned back in his chair.
Then looked out the window toward the growing settlement.
Workers.
Builders.
Miners.
Drows.
Merchants.
Craftsmen.
Engineers.
Security personnel.
A future was slowly taking shape.
And for the first time since discovering the mine, Rume realized something important.
The mithril wasn't the most valuable thing they had found beneath this castle.
It was the opportunity.
Everything else was merely built on top of it.
Rume eventually led Nille and Lin toward one of the busiest sections of the settlement—the mining complex.
The area had transformed dramatically since the first ore vein had been discovered.
What had once been a rough excavation site was now a fully operational mining facility.
Large support structures reinforced the entrance.
Air filtration artifacts hummed continuously.
Workers moved in organized shifts.
Security personnel monitored every access point.
Most impressive of all was the newly constructed elevator shaft.
The massive industrial platform descended deep beneath the castle through a reinforced vertical tunnel lined with steel beams, rune arrays, and stabilization enchantments.
Lin looked down into the shaft.
The depth alone was intimidating.
Rume noticed her expression and grinned.
"Aye."
"It goes deep."
"Much deeper than we originally expected."
The dwarf leaned against a reinforced railing overlooking the operation.
"The interesting part isn't the ore."
Nille glanced toward him.
Rume pointed downward.
"It's the tunnel itself."
"The original shaft."
"The one we expanded."
"The one beneath the castle."
Several engineers continued their work below as he spoke.
"It wasn't built by us."
"It was already there."
Nille nodded.
He had suspected as much.
Rume folded his arms.
"After examining the structure, I'm beginning to think the mine itself may have been an accidental discovery."
Lin looked surprised.
"Accidental?"
The dwarf nodded.
"The construction style doesn't match a dedicated mining operation."
He pointed toward several exposed stone sections.
"The shaft branches."
"The supports are inconsistent."
"The excavation pattern makes no sense if the goal was resource extraction."
His finger traced a route on a nearby map.
"It looks more like someone dug into the vein while constructing something else."
Nille considered that.
Rume continued.
"My current theory?"
"The original owners of the castle may not have even known how valuable the deposit actually was."
That possibility hung heavily in the air.
A fortune buried beneath generations of stone.
Ignored.
Forgotten.
Lost to time.
The dwarf scratched his beard.
"I asked the Drows about the castle."
"What they knew."
"What stories remained."
"What records survived."
His expression became thoughtful.
"The answer was interesting."
Nille listened.
"When they first arrived, the only resident was Veylthra."
The name immediately caught Lin's attention.
"The Hydra?"
Rume nodded.
"Aye."
"Apparently she often appeared in humanoid form."
The dwarf shrugged.
"The Drows assumed she owned the place."
"Reasonable conclusion if ye ask me."
"A giant Hydra living in an abandoned castle."
"Most folk aren't going to question that."
Lin laughed quietly.
"Fair point."
Rume continued.
"But after several years they realized something strange."
"The Hydra never acted like an owner."
That drew Nille's attention.
Rume noticed.
"According to their accounts, she rarely entered certain sections."
"Never touched some of the older chambers."
"Avoided particular ruins."
"Almost like..."
The dwarf paused.
"She was occupying the place."
"Not ruling it."
The implication was obvious.
Veylthra may have simply moved in after everyone else had disappeared.
Just another resident.
A powerful one.
But not the original owner.
"The Drows eventually concluded the castle belonged to someone much older."
Rume pointed toward the distant landscape beyond the settlement.
"A race that existed before the swamp."
Before the water.
Before the Hydra.
Before the Drows.
Perhaps before many of the current records still surviving within Yamatai.
Silence followed.
Then—
Nyx suddenly spoke inside Nille's mind.
"Detection confirmed."
Nille remained outwardly calm.
"Source?"
A brief pause followed.
"Unknown."
That answer immediately concerned him.
Nyx rarely admitted uncertainty.
"Elaborate."
The artificial intelligence responded instantly.
"I am detecting faint mana signatures throughout the structure."
Nille subtly looked around.
Nothing appeared unusual.
Workers continued moving.
Machinery operated normally.
The mine remained stable.
"Natural mana?"
"Negative."
Nyx's answer came immediately.
"The pattern does not resemble ambient mana accumulation."
"Nor does it match modern enchantment architecture."
A faint projection appeared within Nille's vision.
Several weak energy traces highlighted beneath the castle.
Then farther below.
Then deeper still.
The locations formed a network.
Ancient.
Dormant.
Hidden.
Nille's expression remained unchanged.
Inside, however, his attention sharpened.
"How old?"
Several seconds passed.
Nyx analyzed.
Then answered.
"Estimated age impossible to determine."
"However..."
The pause lingered.
"The signatures exhibit structural characteristics predating all known Rune Forge installations."
That immediately narrowed the possibilities.
By a lot.
Nyx continued.
"There is a possibility these energy patterns belong to the original builders."
Nille slowly looked toward the distant depths of the mine.
Far below.
Beyond the ore veins.
Beyond the current excavation zones.
Beyond where Rune Forge had reached.
Something was still there.
Not active.
Not awake.
But present.
Watching.
Waiting.
Lingering beneath centuries of stone.
Rume was still explaining mining logistics when Nille's attention briefly drifted downward again.
The feeling was difficult to describe.
It wasn't danger.
It wasn't hostility.
It was more like discovering the faint outline of a forgotten chapter beneath layers of history.
The castle.
The mine.
The ancient tunnels.
The strange mana signatures.
And the mysterious race that had once lived here before the swamp existed at all.
For the first time since arriving, Nille had the distinct feeling that the mithril mine might only be the surface of a much larger discovery.
And somewhere deep beneath their feet, something old still remained.