August tilted his head. "Didn't think I'd get summoned this quickly."
The masked figure patted him on the shoulder. "You just dismantled a legend in this place. Of course, the queen is curious. She rarely calls new blood this fast."
"Good," August muttered. "I was looking for an opportunity anyway."
Without hesitation, he followed the guards through the settlent.
The crowd parted for them with envy reflected in so of their eyes. So people murmured about his battle, others glared at him with open resentnt. August ignored it all—his focus was solely on the task ahead.
As they passed by the lower prisoner sector, his eyes subtly flickered to where the prisoners were kept.
Among them, still shackled and hunched, was Sir Dumblore. He had clearly heard the commotion but didn't look up. August knew he couldn't act now, but at least he was getting closer to the mont he needed.
Soon, they arrived at a massive stone staircase that led into an ominous underground chamber. The guards flanked him as they entered a grand room—if it could even be called that.
The room was vast and illuminated by dim, ghostly blue torches along the walls. Carvings of ancient battles decorated the stone pillars, depicting elves standing victorious over their enemies.
This made August wonder about the true origin of the hollow dusk.
At the far end of the chamber sat Dark Elf lanthis on her makeshift throne of obsidian and bone.
Behind her, a massive dark elf warrior stood in a better-looking armor than the others. His cold gaze fixated on August as he entered.
---
System Notification:
[ NPC Encounter: Dark Elf lanthis, Monarch of Hollow Dusk ]
Level: ???
Title: Ruler of the Underworld Domain
---
lanthis studied him for a long mont before speaking. "You are not what I expected."
August inclined his head slightly. "I get that a lot."
A hint of a smirk curled at the edge of her lips. "You are amusing. Tell , Aleman, what brings you to this place? You have no chains on your wrists, and yet you are here, fighting for your life like the rest of them."
August t her gaze calmly. "A simple answer would be survival. But I doubt you'd believe that."
lanthis chuckled. "You are right. I do not believe in simple answers. You have drawn my attention, Aleman. A newcor who bested Dornak the Butcher in his own ga—quite the feat. My people demand entertainnt. Perhaps you can provide it for them further."
"I didn't co here to be soone's amusent."
lanthis raised an eyebrow. "Didn't you? You issued a challenge, you fought in the ring, you won, and now everyone in Hollow Dusk speaks your na. If that is not a perforr, then what is?"
August shrugged. "Well, I wouldn't have exactly needed to fight if my tag number wasn't at the very bottom now, would I?"
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lanthis leaned forward slightly, resting her chin on her hand. "And what exactly is it that you want? To just exist?"
August knew he had to tread carefully at this point. "Power. Influence. The sa thing that drives most people."
lanthis's gaze darkened. "How bold of you to admit that so openly."
"You don't respect weakness," August replied evenly. "Neither do I."
For a mont, the room was silent. Then, to his surprise, she laughed lightly. "How refreshing. You may have potential yet."
The dark elf warrior beside her shifted slightly. "Shall we test him further, my Queen?"
lanthis raised a hand. "No, not yet."
She turned back to August. "Tell , Aleman, if I were to offer you a place in my court, would you take it?"
August pretended to consider it. "Tempting offer, but I prefer to keep my options open."
lanthis smiled knowingly. "A diplomat as well. Very well, I shall not press you... for now. But understand this—if you remain here, your survival depends on proving your worth. Today, you have done that. But tomorrow?"
She leaned back, waving a dismissive hand. "Go. Enjoy your mont of fa. It will not last."
August gave a respectful nod. "We'll see about that."
As he turned to leave, his mind was already calculating the next steps. He had successfully gotten close to the monarch's circle.
Now, he just needed to leverage this position to get to Sir Dumblore.
Ti was running out.
...
...
The confined space where Sir Dumblore and the others were held was worse than August had imagined.
The stench of sweat, filth, and despair clung to the damp air like an unshakable fog. The prisoners were shackled and starved as they shuffled around the chamber.
Their once-proud eyes were now hollow from the tornt of servitude.
So were forced to carry heavy loads, others beaten for re amusent.
August had noticed that they were being forced to work around the settlent whenever they weren't kept in the confines.
'They treat them like animals,' August took note of this.
He had spent the past two days earning trust within the settlent, performing small yet necessary tasks that ingratiated him with the higher-ups. It was all a front, of course. A ploy to get to where he was now.
He headed for the structure that led to the underground area where he had been summoned to just two days ago by the monarch.
"What are you doing here?" One of the guards questioned upon spotting him approaching the area where the prisoners who last twenty on the rankings were kept.
"Krusk tasked with checking for a particular prisoner. Asked to bring him," August answered with a convincing tone.
Due to his rising popularity in the last couple of days, it wasn't uncommon to find him wandering around these parts so they believed him and let him in.
Imdiately August got in, his eyes swept over the pitiful figures until they landed on a familiar, albeit withered, face—Sir Dumblore.
The old forger's usually sharp eyes flickered with exhaustion, but they widened in shock when they settled on August.
He instantly recognized him.
"What in the void…?" Sir Dumblore rasped. "You are the young Lad from before... what are you doing here?"
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