Maeve arrived at the infirmary with quick, confident steps, her boots clacking against the wooden floor. She didn't wait for anyone to announce her. She didn't knock. She simply pushed the door open and strode straight toward Han's room.
Shin and Isolde followed behind her, exchanging a glance that said everything:
She's in full work mode.
When Maeve reached Han's door, she stopped, turned around, and raised a hand.
"Alright, everyone out. I need to assess Han alone."
Eva's eyes widened. "A‑alone...?"
Maeve nodded. "Yes. I need to work without distractions. Assessing injuries like his requires focus."
Eva hesitated, her fingers tightening around Han's blanket. She didn't want to leave him — not even for a second.
Maeve softened her voice. "Eva... relax. I got you, fam."
Eva blinked. "Fam...?"
Maeve winked. "Means you can trust me."
Then she raised her voice again.
"And remember — no matter what noise you hear coming out of this room, just ignore it!"
Everyone froze.
"...Noise?" Shin muttered.
Maeve didn't explain.
She simply shut the door behind her with a loud thunk.
The moment the door closed, Maeve cracked her knuckles.
"Alright, big guy... let's see what they did to you."
Han, barely conscious, groaned. "Maeve... go easy..."
"No promises."
She activated her bangles — tools unfolded, runes lit up, and mechanical arms extended from her portable kit.
Then the chaos began.
CLANK!
BANG!
WHIRRR–CHUNK!
Han yelped.
"OW—HEY—THAT'S MY RIB—!"
"Hold still, I'm scanning your mana‑core nodes!"
"That's cold—!"
"Stop whining, you're tougher than this."
More clanking. More metallic scraping. More startled yelling from Han.
Finally, after a long barrage of noise, Maeve stepped back, panting.
"Alright... I got what I need."
She placed a hand on Han's forehead.
"You did good. Rest now."
Han exhaled softly and slipped into a peaceful sleep.
Outside, everyone froze as the noises continued.
Nurses panicked.
"What is happening in there?!"
"Is someone being attacked?!"
"Should we call security?!"
Shin raised both hands. "No, no — everything is fine! Maeve is just... doing an assessment."
The nurses stared at him like he'd lost his mind.
Dr. Eldric arrived next, adjusting his glasses.
"What in the world is going on? I heard screaming and metal clashing from across the ward!"
Isolde answered calmly, "Maeve is assessing Han's condition."
Dr. Eldric froze.
"...Maeve? Maeve the blacksmith?"
Shin nodded.
Dr. Eldric looked stunned. "She came here personally? To assess a patient herself? Astonishing..."
Another loud crash shook the door.
BOOM!
Everyone jumped.
Dr. Eldric stared at the door, pale. "What is she doing to him...?"
Shin sighed. "Honestly? We have no idea."
Finally, the noises stopped.
The door creaked open.
Maeve stepped out, drenched in sweat and sipping a cold beverage.
She raised her left arm, pressed a bangle, and muttered:
"Oh. Right. Almost forgot to hide it."
A massive suitcase materialized beside her with a heavy THUD.
She kicked it, it expanded, projected holograms, then collapsed and warped away.
Everyone stared, jaws dropped.
Maeve looked around.
"...What? Is this the first time you guys saw a sub‑space compartment spell?"
Everyone nodded.
Maeve sighed. "You people need to get out more."
She waved them away.
"Carry on, carry on... shoo shoo shoo."
Then she added, loud enough for everyone to hear:
"It's ok now. Han is resting."
Relief washed over the entire hallway.
Maeve clapped her hands.
"Alright! Shin, everyone — gather up. I've assessed Han's condition."
She raised her arm again, activating a hologram of Han's body.
"Apparently, there was a substance used on Han that is far more advanced than anything currently discovered — or even logged in my database."
Eva gasped.
"This toxic substance burned out the mana‑core elements in his body. Completely drained his magic. That's why healing spells won't work."
Shin clenched his fists. "So that's why nothing helped..."
Maeve nodded. "Right now, my focus is Han. If I'm going to proceed with the procedure, I'll need all of you to fetch the necessary items."
She pointed at Chrome.
"You — big guy with the horns. I need more mithril. Those sacks outside ain't enough."
Chrome blinked. "You noticed that?"
"I notice everything."
Chrome straightened. "I'll bring Pixie."
Pixie saluted. "Mining mission accepted!"
Maeve turned to Isolde and Sam.
"I need runes from the Cursed Shrine. Fifty pieces."
Both nodded.
Then she pointed at Ciara.
"I need a giant koi fish from the Lagoon. Only appears at midnight. Glows like gold."
Ciara nodded. "I'll get it done."
Finally, she faced Shin.
"And you... you get the dangerous one. The Sand Worm in the Ruined Village."
Everyone froze.
"It's bigger than my vehicle," Maeve added. "And Leviathan's Crown isn't small."
Shin didn't flinch.
"I can do it. For Han."
Everyone nodded.
Maeve clapped.
"Good! Move out! I want everything here before sunrise!"
Everyone scattered.
Maeve took another sip of her drink.
Then—
Tap... tap... tap...
She turned.
Sakura stood there with teary eyes, puffed cheeks, and trembling lips — clearly upset.
"How about me...? You forgot all about me?"
Maeve stared... then her eyes drifted downward.
She stared longer than necessary.
Sakura froze. "W‑Why are you looking there?!"
Maeve nodded as if confirming a theory.
"...Damn, girl. Those things are huge."
Sakura's face turned bright red.
"W‑WHAT?! Why are you staring at my chest?!"
Maeve shrugged. "Because it's right there. Hard to miss. I'm surprised you can run without knocking yourself out."
Sakura stomped. "They're not that big!"
Maeve said "They have their own gravitational pull."
"STOP SAYING WEIRD THINGS!" Sakura responded
Maeve sipped her drink. "Look, you asked why I didn't give you a task. I was distracted. For obvious reasons."
Sakura: "You're impossible!"
Maeve: "And you're top‑heavy. Life's tough."
Sakura squeaked and smacked her shoulder.
Maeve laughed. "Relax, princess. I'll give you a task later. Go cool off before you explode."
"I'm not exploding... you're just a jerk..."
"Love you too."
Maeve then walked outside of the infirmary and spotted Chrome and Pixie.
"You two are heading to the mines, right?"
They nodded.
"Good. Come with me to the Leviathan. I'll lend you something you can use for mining."
Chrome scratched his head. "Alright. Let's follow Maeve, Pixie."
Pixie nodded eagerly.
Meanwhile, Isolde and Sam reached the Cursed Shrine — a fog‑choked ruin that looked more like a graveyard. The air was cold, heavy, and unnervingly still. Faint blue runes glowed across the cracked stone floor.
"The runes are scattered everywhere, Isolde!" Sam shouted.
"Let's get those fifty runes fast. This place gives me the creeps."
They began picking up the glowing runes and placing them into a large bag. Each one was heavier than it looked — by the time they reached twenty, the bag was already straining.
"We should've brought a cart..." Sam sighed.
Isolde didn't respond.
She was staring into the fog, her eyes narrowing.
Then she whispered:
"Drop the bag."
Sam froze. "What...?"
"We're not alone."
A faint clanking echoed through the fog — the sound of bones knocking together... and metal dragging across stone.
A cold shiver crawled up Sam's spine.
Shapes emerged from the fog — dozens... then more... until nearly a hundred skeleton warriors surrounded them, blocking every path.
Rusty swords. Cracked shields. Empty eye sockets glowing faint blue.
"We fight our way through," Isolde said, pushing her cloak back and pulling out both revolvers. "Let's roll."
Sam nodded and began chanting.
Isolde moved first.
She dashed straight into the crowd, firing precise shots that shattered skulls one after another. A skeleton swung a rusted blade at her — she dropped into a limbo slide, the sword slicing the air above her face. While sliding, she fired a clean shot straight into the skeleton's skull — shattering it.
She rose to her feet and unleashed a wild spray of bullets, each shot precise, each one blowing apart a skull. Skeletons collapsed left and right.
Click.
Empty.
She spotted a skeleton with a shield charging her.
Perfect.
"SAM, your turn!" Isolde shouted as she sprinted toward it.
She leapt, planted her foot on the shield, and vaulted high into the air — reloading mid‑flight with practiced ease.
Below her, Sam unleashed a barrage of icicle bolts, piercing through multiple skeletons at once. Frost spread across the ground as she summoned an ice wall to block incoming attacks.
Arrows whistled through the air toward Isolde.
She landed, dashed in a zigzag pattern, and used the ice wall as a springboard — launching herself upward toward the balcony where the archer skeletons stood.
Reaching the top, she holstered one revolver, lowered the other to her hip, and placed her palm over the hammer.
She fanned the hammer.
A blistering barrage erupted — every bullet cracking through an archer's skull. When the cylinder clicked empty, she holstered the revolver, drew the other, and fanned it again. More skulls shattered. More archers fell.
When the last one dropped, she leapt off the balcony and landed beside Sam.
Sam released another barrage of frost bolts, icy projectiles streaking through the fog and impaling several skeletons.
But the moment she finished casting, a skeleton rushed her from the side, sword raised high.
Before the blade could fall, Isolde appeared in a blur and kicked the skeleton's skull clean off its spine.
She reloaded her revolver with practiced speed.
"A few more left," she muttered. Then she glanced at Sam. "You ok?"
Sam nodded, breath shaky. "I... I have to get stronger."
Isolde grinned. "That's what I like about you. Let's get this over with."
She rushed forward again.
From a distance, she fired six precise shots — six skeletons collapsed instantly. As she reloaded, several more managed to close the distance.
One skeleton swung diagonally.
Isolde ducked under the blade, rose with perfect timing, shoved the barrel of her revolver straight into the skeleton's skull, snapped the chamber shut, and fired point‑blank. Bone exploded outward.
But another skeleton was already in front of her — this one wielding a massive two‑handed sword.
Isolde activated Bullet Time.
The world slowed.
Fog drifted like syrup. Bones creaked in slow motion. The sword descended toward her as if underwater.
She jumped backward, body arching through the air. While flying, she fired three shots — one into the skull of the swordsman, two more into skeletons flanking her right.
Time snapped back to normal.
She hit the ground on her back — and several skeletons were already above her, weapons raised, ready to strike.
Before they could bring their blades down, Sam fired multiple frost bolts in rapid succession, shattering them into icy fragments.
Isolde rolled to her feet.
"You owe me, Isolde," Sam said with a small smile.
Isolde smirked, raised her revolver, and fired.
Sam flinched — but no pain came.
She looked to her left.
A skeleton had been charging straight at her.
Now it lay on the ground, skull blown apart.
"Now we're even!" Isolde shouted.
Isolde spun her revolver once, letting the cylinder click into place as she stepped forward. The fog around them thickened, and more skeletons emerged — dozens more, drawn by the noise and the scent of mana.
"Looks like they're not stopping," Sam said, raising her staff.
"Good," Isolde replied with a grin. "I'm just getting warmed up."
A wave of skeleton warriors charged them.
Isolde moved first.
She dashed straight into the crowd, firing precise shots that shattered skulls one after another. A skeleton swung a rusted axe at her — she sidestepped, grabbed its wrist, twisted, and used its own momentum to slam it into another skeleton before blowing both their heads apart.
Behind her, Sam planted her staff into the ground.
Frost spread outward in a circular burst, freezing the legs of several skeletons in place. She followed up with a sweeping motion, sending a line of ice spikes erupting from the floor, impaling anything in their path.
But the skeletons kept coming.
A massive armored skeleton — a knight with a cracked breastplate — stomped through the fog, dragging a greatsword behind it. Its empty eye sockets glowed brighter than the others.
"Big one incoming!" Sam warned.
"I see it," Isolde said, spinning her revolver and flicking the hammer with her palm.
She fired three shots at the knight's skull — all deflected by its helmet.
"Tch. Tough bastard."
The knight raised its greatsword and brought it down with a thunderous swing.
Isolde rolled aside, the blade smashing into the stone floor and sending debris flying.
"Sam, freeze its legs!"
"On it!"
Sam thrust her staff forward, releasing a concentrated frost beam that encased the knight's legs in thick ice.
The knight struggled, cracking the ice with brute force.
"Do it now!" Sam shouted.
Isolde sprinted toward the immobilized knight, leapt onto its knee, then its shoulder, and vaulted upward. While airborne, she flipped her revolver in her hand, aimed downward, and fired directly into the exposed gap under the helmet.
The bullet pierced through.
The knight's skull shattered.
The massive body collapsed with a heavy crash.
Isolde landed in a crouch, reloading without looking.
"Next," she said.
But the fog shifted again.
More skeletons appeared — archers, warriors, even a few skeletal mages with glowing runes carved into their bones.
Sam's eyes widened. "There's... more?"
"Of course there's more," Isolde said, cracking her neck. "This is a cursed shrine. What did you expect, flowers?"
A volley of arrows flew toward them.
Isolde grabbed Sam by the collar and yanked her behind a broken pillar as arrows clattered against the stone.
"Thanks," Sam breathed.
"You owe me again," Isolde smirked.
Sam raised her staff. "Then let me pay you back."
She slammed the butt of her staff into the ground.
A shockwave of frost exploded outward, freezing the incoming skeleton mages mid‑chant. Their spells fizzled out as ice crawled up their bones.
Isolde burst from cover, firing at the frozen mages, shattering them into glittering shards.
But the archers were still firing.
Isolde sprinted toward them, weaving through the fog, bullets flying from her revolvers. She slid under a sword swing, kicked off a fallen skeleton's ribcage, and vaulted onto a crumbling wall.
From her elevated position, she fanned the hammer again — a rapid‑fire storm of bullets that tore through the archers.
Sam supported her from below, launching frost bolts that picked off any skeletons trying to flank her.
The two fought in perfect sync — gunfire and ice magic blending into a deadly rhythm.
Finally, the last skeleton fell, its skull rolling across the stone floor before settling at Isolde's feet.
She blew smoke from her revolver.
"That should be all of them."
Sam exhaled, exhausted but smiling. "We... we did it."
Isolde holstered her revolvers. "Damn right we did. Now grab the bag — we're finishing this mission."
Sam lifted the heavy bag of runes with a grunt.
"Still heavy," she muttered.
"Yeah," Isolde said, patting her shoulder. "But now we know you can handle heavy things."
Sam blushed. "Stop teasing me..."
"Never."
They approached the exit — but the fog suddenly thickened again.
A massive cloud of smoke erupted, swirling violently.
From the ground, an Undead Knight rose — towering, armored, and carrying a cursed lance that pulsed with sickly purple light.
"You gotta be kidding me!" Isolde yelled. "Give me a break!"
The knight slammed its lance into the ground, summoning a spectral horse made of bones and shadow. It mounted the steed in one fluid motion and pointed the lance at them.
"SAM! ICE WALL NOW!"
Sam conjured a thick ice wall just as the knight charged. The ground shook as the spectral horse thundered forward. Isolde fired rapidly, but the armor was too thick.
"Tsk... no choice then."
She pressed a button on both revolvers. The two weapons clicked together, merging into a single, heavy magnum revolver.
She loaded six massive magnum rounds into the chamber.
The knight shattered the ice wall with its charge.
Isolde fired the first shot.
BOOM.
The bullet tore through the knight's chest plate.
She fired again — the second shot shattered the knight's shoulder, making it drop the cursed lance.
The knight leapt off the horse with a bone knife, sprinting toward Isolde.
Before it could reach her, Sam cast Frost Spike — a massive shard of ice erupted from the ground, impaling the knight mid‑air and freezing it solid.
"That was close..." Isolde exhaled.
Cracks formed in the ice.
"Oh, come on!"
She aimed the magnum.
"Die already!"
She fired.
The bullet struck the knight's skull, shattering it completely. The frozen body crumbled, dissolving into black smoke that drifted away into the fog.
Silence returned.
Sam lowered her staff. "Is... is it finally over?"
"If another one shows up," Isolde said, holstering her weapon, "I'm burning this whole shrine down."
Isolde holstered her magnum with a sharp click, blowing out a long breath as the last traces of black smoke faded into the fog.
"That's it," she muttered. "I'm officially done with this place."
Sam nodded shakily, still gripping her staff. "I... I didn't think we'd run into something that strong."
"Yeah, well," Isolde said, picking up the heavy bag of runes, "welcome to the Cursed Shrine. Five stars. Would not recommend."
Sam managed a small laugh, but her hands were trembling. Isolde noticed.
She placed a hand on Sam's shoulder.
"You did good. Seriously. That Frost Spike saved my ass."
Sam looked down, cheeks warming. "I just... reacted."
"That's what makes it impressive."
They began walking toward the exit — this time, the fog parted for them, as if the shrine itself acknowledged their victory.
But Isolde wasn't taking chances.
"Let's move fast before this place changes its mind."
They stepped out into the open air, the oppressive atmosphere finally lifting. Sam inhaled deeply, relieved.
"Let's get these runes back to Maeve," Isolde said. "The sooner she fixes Han, the better."
They started down the forest path, unaware that something else was watching them from the treeline — something with hollow eyes and a faint, lingering glow.
But it did not follow.
Not yet.