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Chapter 412: Adventurers

The light filtered weakly through the jagged rocks above the cavern as Aeliana stepped carefully behind Luca. The remnants of sleep clung to her, but the urgency in his movements kept her alert.

The scaled carcass from the night before lay discarded, its charred edges a stark reminder of what had drawn the creatures so close. Aeliana's thoughts swirled as she adjusted the cloak Luca had tossed to her earlier, its rough fabric draped awkwardly over her slender shoulders.

"Are we just going to leave it there?" Aeliana asked again, her amber eyes narrowing slightly at the discarded carcass as they moved closer to the cavern's exit.

Luca glanced over his shoulder, his smirk faint but present. "Yep."

"Don't adventurers normally store the hides of monsters?" she pressed, her tone skeptical. "Aren't they valuable or something?"

"Indeed, we do," Luca replied, his tone carrying a mock seriousness that immediately set her on edge.

"Then why—"

"What makes you think I hadn't stored the carcasses already?" he interrupted, turning just enough for her to catch the glint of mischief in his dark eyes.

Aeliana blinked, her steps faltering slightly. "Wait… you did?"

"Yep," he said nonchalantly, adjusting the strap of his pack. "Just because I brought one doesn't mean I only hunted one."

She stared at him, a mix of disbelief and mild annoyance crossing her face. "Why didn't you say so earlier?"

"Where's the fun in that?" Luca teased, his smirk widening. "Besides, you looked so adorably concerned about it. Thought I'd let you stew for a bit."

Aeliana groaned, her hand brushing against her temple as she muttered under her breath, "Sigh…."

"Come on, daylight's wasting."

******

The air outside the cavern was sharp and cold, carrying with it an eerie stillness that made Aeliana pause as soon as they stepped into the open. The terrain was unlike anything she had ever seen—a jagged expanse of blackened stone and twisted formations, as though the land itself had been scarred by some ancient calamity. Sparse patches of vegetation clung stubbornly to life, their muted colors adding to the bleak atmosphere.

But it wasn't just the ground that unsettled her.

Aeliana's gaze lifted to the sky, and her breath hitched. The familiar blue was gone, replaced by an expanse of darkened gray-green hues that swirled faintly, as if alive. Dotted across the expanse were countless stars, sharp and brilliant, yet their light felt wrong—too piercing, too deliberate. It was as if the stars weren't merely shining but watching, countless unseen gazes boring into her from above.

A shiver ran down her spine as she turned to Luca, who was already striding forward, seemingly unbothered by the oppressive atmosphere. "This place…" she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "It doesn't feel right."

"Noticed that, did you?" he replied, glancing back with a raised brow. "Took me about three seconds to feel it the first time."

Aeliana frowned, her arms tightening around herself. "Where are we even going now?" she asked, trying to keep the unease out of her voice.

Luca stopped and turned fully to face her, his expression softening slightly. "I don't know," he said simply, shrugging one shoulder. "Remember, this is my first time here too."

Her lips parted slightly, but no words came out. For a moment, she just stared at him, processing the admission. "...That's not reassuring," she said finally, her tone flat.

"It's the truth," Luca replied, his smirk returning. "But hey, at least we're lost together. That's something, right?"

Aeliana let out a sharp exhale, part frustration, part something she couldn't quite name. She glanced back at the jagged terrain, the eerie sky, the oppressive weight of unseen eyes. Every instinct screamed at her to retreat, to find shelter and stay hidden. But there was no safety in this place.

"Fine," she said, stepping forward to match his pace, though her steps were hesitant. "But if we're lost, you'd better not get me killed."

Luca chuckled, his hand resting lightly on the hilt of his blade. "Don't worry, little ember. I'm pretty good at staying alive."

The faintest flicker of a smile tugged at Aeliana's lips despite herself. "You'd better be."

The strange sky loomed overhead, oppressive and foreign, as Luca and Aeliana continued their cautious trek through the twisted terrain. The only sounds were the faint crunch of their steps against the jagged ground and the occasional whisper of wind carrying an unsettling chill.

Aeliana kept her gaze low, the starlight pressing on her like a weight. Her thoughts flitted back to Luca's casual confidence, her lips pressing into a thin line. 'Doesn't he feel it too? This place… it's like we're being watched.'

Just then, a sound broke the stillness—a faint rustling, sharp and quick, like claws scraping against stone.

Aeliana froze, her amber eyes darting toward the source of the noise. The shadows shifted, deepening unnaturally in one spot, and then—

"Hieek!"

A grotesque creature leaped out from the darkness, its elongated limbs and jagged fangs catching the eerie starlight. Its form was twisted, its pale, mottled flesh stretched over an unnervingly thin frame, and its eyes glowed with a malevolent light.

Aeliana gasped, stumbling back as her body instinctively recoiled. "What—what is that?!"

Before the words had fully left her lips, Luca was already in front of her. His blade gleamed as he swung it with precision, a blackish light emanating from its edge as it sliced clean through the creature.

The beast let out a gurgled screech, its body splitting apart midair before crumpling lifelessly to the ground. Dark, foul-smelling ichor seeped from its wounds, hissing faintly against the stone.

Aeliana stared, her breath hitching as her gaze darted between the fallen creature and Luca, who stood calmly, his blade angled downward. The blackish light from his sword faded, but something about it lingered in the air—an unnatural energy that seemed to ripple faintly against her senses.

Her gaze flicked upward, drawn inexplicably to the sky. The strange stars, sharp and too numerous, seemed to pulse faintly, their light pressing against her mind like a distant whisper she couldn't quite hear.

'What… was that?' she thought, her chest tightening. The light from Luca's blade, the way the stars seemed to shift as though responding—it didn't feel like a coincidence.

But before she could dwell on the unsettling feeling, a guttural snarl erupted from behind.

"Luca!" she cried out, her voice sharp with alarm.

He turned just in time as another creature—this one larger and even more grotesque than the first—lunged toward him. Its maw opened wide, revealing rows of jagged, dripping teeth as it aimed for his head.

Luca's movements were fluid, almost effortless. He sidestepped the attack, his blade flashing in a wide arc that cleaved through the creature's neck with a sickening crunch.

The beast's head rolled to the ground, its body crumpling seconds later. Luca flicked his wrist, sending the remaining ichor splattering off his blade as he turned to Aeliana.

"You okay?" he asked, his tone calm but edged with a hint of concern.

Aeliana nodded shakily, though her gaze lingered on the creature's remains. "What are these things?" she whispered, her voice trembling.

"Trouble," Luca replied simply, his smirk faint but present. He glanced around, his dark eyes scanning the shadows for any more signs of movement. "And probably just the start of it."

Aeliana's chest heaved as she tried to steady herself, her thoughts still spinning. The blackish light from Luca's blade, the strange pulse of the stars, the oppressive weight of the air—it all felt connected somehow.

But she pushed the feeling aside, knowing that survival was all that mattered now.

"Stay close," Luca said, his tone more serious now as he motioned for her to follow. "We can't stay here."

*******

The jagged landscape blurred around Aeliana as the world shifted in chaotic motion. Her arms clung tightly to Luca's neck, her breath coming in ragged gasps as he carried her with a speed and precision that defied the uneven terrain beneath them. The howls and snarls of pursuing monsters echoed relentlessly behind them, a constant reminder of the danger nipping at their heels.

"Hold on," Luca muttered, his voice low but steady despite the strain in his movements.

Aeliana's heart pounded in her chest, her mind flashing back to the moments that had led them to this frantic escape.

'How it came to this….'

That was a question that one needed to answer.

Chapter 413: Adventurer (2)

The oppressive starlight continued to press down on them as Luca and Aeliana made their way cautiously through the jagged terrain. The eerie silence of the land was broken only by their footsteps and the faint, distant growls that never quite seemed to vanish.

Aeliana's nerves were fraying with each step, the unnatural landscape and oppressive air gnawing at her resolve. "Are we even going in the right direction?" she asked, her voice tight.

"There is no 'right' direction here," Luca replied without looking back, his tone infuriatingly calm. "Just forward."

She bit back a sharp retort, knowing he was right but hating the vagueness of their situation. Before she could press further, Luca's movements stilled, his body tensing like a coiled spring.

"What is it?" she whispered, her heart skipping a beat.

He held up a hand, silently signaling her to stop. She complied, her amber eyes darting around in search of whatever had caught his attention. The faint hum of conversation reached her ears, distant but unmistakable. She squinted, her gaze catching the faint flicker of torches in the distance.

"It's… people?" she murmured, her voice tinged with a mixture of disbelief and relief.

A group of figures came into view as they crept closer. There were six of them, clad in a mix of armor and worn cloaks, their weapons glinting faintly in the eerie starlight. The group appeared to be a mix of adventurers and mercenaries, their stances wary and their voices hushed as they gestured toward something in the distance.

"Thank the gods," Aeliana said softly, a breath of relief escaping her. She took a step forward, but Luca's hand shot out, grabbing her wrist firmly.

"Stop," he said, his voice low and sharp.

She froze, startled by the intensity in his tone. "What are you doing?" she hissed, trying to keep her voice down. "There are others! We can team up—they can help us fight the monsters!"

Luca's grip didn't loosen. If anything, his hold grew more deliberate, though not enough to hurt. His dark eyes stayed locked on the group, his expression unreadable.

"No," he said firmly.

Aeliana stilled, her amber eyes flicking between the group in the distance and Luca's unyielding expression. His grip on her wrist was steady, his dark eyes sharp and serious in a way she hadn't seen before.

Her heart twisted, frustration and uncertainty warring within her. She wanted to argue, to insist that they needed allies—that the mercenaries might be their best chance of surviving this twisted place. But something about Luca's demeanor stopped her.

He wasn't teasing. He wasn't smirking. The faint air of playful arrogance that usually hung around him had vanished entirely, replaced by a quiet intensity that made her chest tighten.

'He's done so much already…' she thought, the memory of his blade flashing to defend her replaying in her mind. 'I can't just dismiss his instincts, not after everything he's done to keep me alive.'

Still, the thought gnawed at her.

'But what if he's wrong? What if they're not a threat? What if this is our one chance to find help, and we just let it slip away?'

She clenched her fists at her sides, her nails digging into her palms as she tried to suppress the rising doubt.

Luca released her wrist slowly, his gaze softening just enough to register her hesitation. "Good," he said quietly, stepping back into the shadows. "Let's move before they notice us."

Aeliana hesitated for a moment longer, her eyes lingering on the mercenaries. The flickering torchlight illuminated their figures as they gestured to one another, their voices too faint to hear but filled with urgency.

'They don't look dangerous,' she thought, her chest tightening. 'They don't even seem to notice us. Why is he so sure they're a threat?'

Aeliana hesitated as they retreated into the shadows, her thoughts a chaotic swirl. Her amber eyes flicked to Luca's back as he led the way, his steps deliberate and sure, though his grip on his blade hadn't loosened.

'Maybe there's something he knows that I don't,' she thought, frustration mingling with a reluctant sense of trust. Luca's confidence, his calm certainty in the face of danger—it was maddening, but it was hard to ignore the fact that he'd kept her alive.

But...

Her gaze lingered on the distant mercenaries one final time. The flickering torchlight painted their forms in faint, uneven light, and for a moment, they seemed entirely ordinary. Just adventurers, wary and alert, talking amongst themselves.

And then she saw it.

"Huh?"

One of the adventurers turned slightly, his back still facing her but his head craned unnaturally over his shoulder. Aeliana's breath hitched as her eyes locked onto his.

Or rather, where his eyes should have been.

The man's sockets were completely black, empty voids that seemed to drink in the light. His irises glowed faintly purple, the eerie hue twisting unnaturally against the darkness.

But that wasn't the worst of it.

"Ah…" Aeliana's voice barely escaped her lips as her body stiffened.

The adventurer's face began to contort, the flesh warping grotesquely as though something beneath it was trying to break free. His mouth stretched impossibly wide, his teeth elongating into jagged, uneven points. Dark veins pulsed across his skin, spreading like cracks in stone.

"SCREEEECH!"

The sound tore through the air, sharp and inhuman, sending a shiver down Aeliana's spine. The other mercenaries snapped their heads toward the screeching figure, but their reactions weren't what she expected. Instead of confusion or alarm, their movements became jerky, unnatural. One by one, their faces began to change.

"Ah… no…" Aeliana whispered, her body trembling as she stumbled back.

"Tch."

Luca was in front of her in an instant, grabbing her arm firmly as his gaze locked onto the monstrosities forming in the clearing. "Now you see why?"

Aeliana couldn't respond, her mind reeling from the sight. Her legs felt weak, her heart pounding painfully in her chest as she struggled to process what she had just seen.

"Don't just stand there!" Luca barked, his tone sharp as he pulled her forward.

Aeliana's chest heaved as panic clawed at her mind, her amber eyes locked onto the grotesque forms in the clearing. Her body trembled violently, her breaths shallow and rapid, and when she tried to move her legs, they refused to obey.

Move! she screamed at herself internally, but no matter how desperately she willed her body to respond, it remained frozen, as if rooted to the ground.

"Come on, Aeliana!" Luca's sharp voice cut through the haze of fear, but she couldn't respond. Her lips parted slightly, her hands trembling at her sides, but she was paralyzed.

"I see… paralysis effect," Luca muttered, his voice low but calm despite the chaos around them.

The screeches grew louder, the monstrous figures lurching forward with unnatural movements. Luca glanced toward them, his dark eyes narrowing briefly before he turned his attention back to Aeliana.

"Excuse me for a second," he said, his tone light despite the tension in the air.

Before she could comprehend his words, Luca crouched slightly, slipping one arm beneath her knees and the other around her back. With a fluid motion, he scooped her up into his arms, his grip firm and steady.

"Close your eyes and ears," he instructed, his voice softer now but still commanding. "We're in for a ride."

Aeliana barely had time to react before the world around her shifted violently. The sensation was immediate and overwhelming—a rush of air and pressure that made her stomach flip as Luca surged forward, his movements impossibly fast.

She clung to him instinctively, her hands clutching the fabric of his coat as the oppressive starlight blurred into streaks above them. A heavy, crushing force pressed down on her, making it difficult to breathe, and she had to fight to keep from crying out.

But the screeches didn't fade.

Even as Luca sprinted at an incredible speed, the grotesque creatures seemed to be everywhere, their inhuman cries echoing from every direction. Aeliana could hear their claws scraping against the jagged terrain, the sound grating and relentless.

"They're still… following us…" she managed to whisper, her voice barely audible over the pounding of her heart and the wind rushing past her ears.

"I noticed," Luca replied, his tone clipped but composed. He shifted slightly, his arms adjusting to keep her secure as he darted around a sharp outcrop of rock.

The terrain beneath them was uneven and treacherous, but Luca's movements didn't falter. His grip on her was firm, and his steps were precise, each one carrying them further away from the horrors that pursued them.

"Don't think about them," he said, his voice cutting through the chaos. "Focus on me. Breathe."

Aeliana squeezed her eyes shut, her body trembling as she buried her face against his chest. His heartbeat was steady beneath her ear, a stark contrast to the chaos raging around them.

'Breathe,' she repeated to herself, clinging to his words like a lifeline. 'Just breathe.'

The screeches grew fainter, but they didn't vanish entirely, and Aeliana knew the creatures weren't far behind. Even so, Luca's unwavering presence made her chest feel slightly less tight, her mind slightly less consumed by fear.

"But still….it appears that we will not have any time to rest for now.

GRR!

Since before her eyes, another bunch of monsters will growl forward.

Chapter 414: Life

The oppressive weight of the starlit sky pressed down on Aeliana as another wave of grotesque monsters emerged from the shadows, their guttural growls reverberating through the jagged terrain. Their twisted forms glistened faintly in the eerie light, their glowing purple eyes fixed hungrily on Luca and her.

Aeliana's breath hitched as she glanced back over Luca's shoulder. The terrain behind them was an impassable wall of jagged stone, its sharp edges and sheer incline making escape impossible. Trapped.

Her chest tightened as despair clawed its way into her heart.

'This is because of me,' she thought bitterly, her amber eyes filling with unspoken guilt. 'If I weren't here… he wouldn't be in this mess.'

Her fingers clutched at Luca's coat as her mind spiraled. 'I'm dragging him down. He could've run. He could've escaped. But because of me…'

Her thoughts were abruptly interrupted by a sound she didn't expect.

"Pffft…"

A soft chuckle.

She blinked, her tear-filled eyes darting to Luca's face.

"Ahahaha…"

He was laughing.

Her confusion deepened as his laughter grew, low and amused, cutting through the tension like a blade. It wasn't forced or nervous. It was genuine.

"It's really ironic, you know," Luca said, his voice carrying an almost playful edge as he set her gently on her feet. His dark eyes gleamed with mischief as he drew his blade, the blackish light from before beginning to ripple faintly along its edge.

Aeliana stared at him, wide-eyed and speechless, as his smirk widened. "All these guys probably think they've caught us in a corner, trapped us here like helpless little prey."

He tilted his head slightly, his grin taking a wilder turn, a glint of something unrestrained flashing in his gaze.

"But the truth?" Luca's voice dropped, taking on a razor-sharp edge.

"You didn't catch me." He pointed his blade toward the oncoming monsters, the dark energy swirling ominously around it.

"I caught you."

SWOOSH!

Before Aeliana could process his words, Luca launched himself forward, his blade cutting through the air with a speed and precision that made her heart skip a beat.

The first monster barely had time to react before Luca's sword cleaved through it, the blackish energy slicing effortlessly through its grotesque body. A spray of ichor splattered against the ground as the creature let out a final screech before crumpling into a lifeless heap.

The remaining monsters hesitated for a fraction of a second, their glowing eyes narrowing as they recalibrated their movements. But Luca didn't give them the chance.

"Too slow," he muttered, his smirk widening as he dashed toward the next one.

Aeliana watched in stunned silence, her heart pounding as the battlefield unfolded before her. Luca's movements were a blur of calculated strikes and fluid dodges, his blade an extension of himself as it cut through the monstrous horde with ruthless efficiency.

Despite the chaos, there was a strange, almost terrifying grace to his actions. Each movement was deliberate, each strike precise, as though he were dancing with the monsters rather than fighting them.

'He's… smiling,' Aeliana realized, her chest tightening as she watched the wild grin on his face. 'Why is he smiling?'

The despair that had gripped her moments ago began to waver, replaced by something warmer, something unfamiliar.

Luca's voice rang out over the screeches of the monsters, light and mocking. "You really thought you'd won, huh?" he taunted, sidestepping a claw swipe before driving his blade into the creature's chest. "Hate to break it to you, but you picked the wrong guy to corner."

Another monster lunged at him, its jagged claws gleaming in the starlight. Luca ducked low, his blade flashing upward to sever its arm in one fluid motion.

Aeliana's breath hitched as she watched him, her fingers trembling as they hovered near her chest.

Her gaze locked onto Luca, her amber eyes wide as she took in the chaos unfolding before her. The monsters came at him in droves, their grotesque forms lunging and snapping with razor-sharp teeth, claws, and the occasional jet of venomous spit. Some screeched, the sound grating and disorienting, while others tried to flank him from behind.

But none of it mattered.

Every monster that got close was met with the deadly precision of Luca's blade. His movements were seamless, a perfect blend of grace and ferocity. His blade flashed through the air, trailing the blackish energy that seemed to hum with a life of its own, and every swing ended with a body crumpling to the ground, lifeless and still.

Aeliana's chest tightened as she realized something.

'He's not just cutting down the ones attacking him,' she thought, her breath catching. Her gaze darted toward the edges of the battlefield, where some of the monsters were circling toward her. 'He's protecting me.'

Every time one of the creatures veered in her direction, Luca was there, his blade already intercepting its path. Even as he fought the horde head-on, his attention never wavered from her, his strikes cutting down anything that came too close.

The sheer number of monsters targeting her wasn't small.

'Ah…'

Her hand hovered near her chest as a sudden, unexpected thought bloomed in her mind.

She wasn't naive when it came to combat. As the daughter of Duke Thaddeus, one of the empire's strongest and most revered families, she had grown up surrounded by warriors and strategists. She had watched countless duels, studied the intricacies of swordsmanship and battle formations, and even sparred in her healthier days.

But this…

Luca wasn't fighting like any warrior she had ever seen. His movements weren't about brute strength or overpowering his enemies with flashy displays of magic. Every step, every swing of his blade, was precise, deliberate. It was as if he knew exactly where each monster would be before they moved, as if he were weaving through the battle with a quiet confidence that defied reason.

'It's not just skill,' she thought, her eyes following the fluid arc of his blade as it severed a monster's head cleanly from its body. 'It's something more than that.'

Despite her attempts to remain detached, Aeliana felt an undeniable pull toward him. There was a steadiness in his movements, a resolve that radiated from him even amidst the chaos.

'He fights like he's already overcome death itself,' she realized, her breath hitching at the thought.

The monsters didn't slow, but neither did Luca. He ducked under a venomous spray, his blade slicing upward to strike the creature in the throat. As it collapsed, he spun, the black energy from his weapon lashing out like a whip and cleaving another monster in two.

Every movement was efficient, no wasted energy or unnecessary flourish.

Aeliana's fists clenched at her sides as an unfamiliar ache spread through her chest. It wasn't fear or despair this time, but something sharper.

'What excuse do I have for giving up?'

The thought struck her like a blow.

She had resigned herself so easily—to her illness, her perceived helplessness, the idea that she was nothing more than a burden. And yet, here was Luca, fighting against overwhelming odds with a smirk on his face, as if the concept of failure didn't exist in his world.

"Why…?" she whispered aloud, her voice trembling.

The word was swallowed by the sounds of battle, but her own heart heard it clearly. Why did he keep going? Why did he fight so relentlessly? Why did he refuse to give up, even when the odds were against him?

Her amber eyes burned with a mixture of emotions as she watched him.

He was reckless, infuriatingly arrogant, and far too confident for his own good. But in this moment, he was also unshakable.

A monster lunged at him from the side, its massive claws poised to strike, but Luca sidestepped gracefully, his blade flashing upward in a clean arc that left the creature in pieces.

He glanced back at her briefly, his dark eyes meeting hers for a split second.

"Still breathing, princess?" he called, his smirk widening despite the ichor dripping from his blade.

Aeliana's breath hitched, her chest tightening as his words echoed in her mind.

'He doesn't doubt for a second that I'm safe. Even now.'

Her fingers trembled as they hovered near her chest, her heart pounding as she wrestled with the unfamiliar warmth spreading through her.

"Idiot," she muttered under her breath, but her voice lacked venom.

For the first time in years, something within her stirred—something she couldn't name but couldn't ignore. Watching Luca, she couldn't help but wonder if maybe, just maybe, she wasn't as powerless as she had convinced herself to be.

Because if someone like him could fight as if nothing was impossible…

'Then why can't I?'

Chapter 415: Life (2)

The cavern was smaller than the last, its jagged walls pressing inward as though the earth itself were trying to keep them hidden. Faint streaks of luminescent minerals in the stone cast an eerie, soft glow, giving just enough light for Aeliana to make out her surroundings.

"This'll do," Luca said, his tone casual as he dropped his pack to the ground. He stretched briefly, rolling his shoulders as if the day's battles had been no more than an inconvenience.

Aeliana sank down onto a flat rock near the wall, her limbs trembling slightly from the strain of the relentless pace they'd kept. The oppressive air of the strange land felt marginally lighter here, but exhaustion weighed heavily on her.

As the quiet settled in, the faint, metallic tang of blood filled her senses, mingling with the earthy scent of damp stone and the sharp musk of sweat. Her gaze flicked to Luca, who had propped himself against the opposite wall, his blade resting at his side.

The blood smeared across his clothing and skin stood out starkly in the dim light. Some of it was his, but most of it belonged to the creatures he had cut down earlier.

Aeliana's nose wrinkled slightly at the smell, but she said nothing.

'At this point, I'm used to it,' she thought, though the thought made her chest tighten. She longed for clean water, for a moment to scrub away the grime and filth that clung to her skin, but that was a luxury she couldn't afford.

The water they had came from Luca's spatial storage—a finite supply that he rationed carefully. It wasn't something she could waste on herself, no matter how much she craved the feeling of being clean.

Her gaze lingered on him, tracing the faint scratches on his arms and the deeper wound near his shoulder. He didn't seem to notice them—or if he did, he didn't care.

"Are you… okay?" she asked hesitantly, her voice breaking the silence.

Luca's dark eyes flicked to her, his smirk faint but present. "Yep. This is nothing."

Aeliana studied him, her amber eyes narrowing slightly. He leaned back against the wall, his posture relaxed, as if the blood staining his clothes and skin didn't bother him in the slightest.

'It must be something normal to him,' she thought, her fingers brushing absently against the fabric of her cloak. The idea unsettled her, though she couldn't quite pinpoint why.

Luca tilted his head slightly, his smirk widening as if he could read her thoughts. "What? You look like you've got something to say."

Aeliana shook her head, looking away quickly. "It's nothing," she muttered.

"Uh-huh," he said, his tone laced with amusement.

She clenched her fists in her lap, her chest tightening as her gaze drifted back to him. The sight of him—so calm, so unbothered—sparked a strange mix of emotions within her.

Frustration. Admiration. Resentment. Gratitude.

'How can he act like this is normal?' she wondered, her teeth grazing her bottom lip. 'Doesn't he ever feel it? The weight of all of this?'

But the memory of his smirk in the heat of battle, his calm assurance as he carried her through danger, answered her question.

Luca lived in a world she couldn't fully understand—a world where blood and danger were constants, where survival demanded more than just strength.

And yet, somehow, that world seemed to suit him.

Aeliana exhaled slowly, her amber eyes flicking toward the scattered supplies near Luca's pack. A faint determination stirred within her, pushing back against the fatigue that clung to her limbs. Without a word, she stood, brushing off the dust that had settled on her cloak.

Luca cracked one eye open at the movement, his dark gaze following her as she stepped purposefully toward the supplies. "What are you doing?" he asked, his tone casual but curious.

"I'm making the meal this time," Aeliana replied, her voice steady.

His brow arched, and the faint smirk on his lips deepened. "Oh? And here I thought you were enjoying the fine cuisine of yours truly."

She turned to face him, her hands on her hips. "No offense," she said dryly, "but I think I can do better."

Luca leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on his knees as he regarded her with playful amusement. "Better, huh? Bold words for someone who's been sitting back while I've been keeping us alive."

Aeliana's gaze hardened. "I don't want to stay back like this all the time," she said, her voice gaining an edge of conviction. "Let me do this. At least this."

For a moment, Luca said nothing, his dark eyes studying her with an expression that was almost thoughtful. Then, as if unable to help himself, his smirk widened into a full grin.

"Well, little missy," he said, leaning back with a lazy stretch, "what exactly do you think you can whip up in a place like this? You know how to cook, or are you just going to set something on fire and hope for the best?"

Aeliana's eyes narrowed, her mouth twitching as a spark of irritation flared in her chest.

'You bastard…' she thought, the corner of her lips curling upward in a faint, defiant smirk. 'Let me show you how it's done.'

Luca might not know it, but she wasn't just some helpless girl. Her father, the formidable Duke Thaddeus, had ensured she was prepared for survival, even in dire situations. While she may not have been trained as a warrior, she had absorbed enough lessons from her family to hold her own.

And most importantly, she was a gourmet.

A gourmet that can't cook….What kind of gourmet would that be?

She knelt down near the supplies, her movements deliberate as she began sorting through the ingredients Luca had stored in his spatial storage. Most of it was simple—dried meats, hard bread, and a few preserved herbs. Nothing luxurious, but more than enough for her to work with.

"You just sit there and watch," Aeliana said, her voice calm but laced with a quiet challenge. "I'll show you what someone who knows what they're doing can make."

Luca chuckled, folding his arms as he leaned back against the wall. "This I've gotta see," he said, his tone brimming with amusement.

Aeliana's amber eyes flicked over the ingredients spread before her, her mind already dissecting the possibilities. Her gaze lingered on the dried meats, but it wasn't them she was truly focused on—it was the memory of the monster meat Luca had prepared earlier.

'Monster meat,' she thought, her lips pressing into a thin line. The texture, the complexity of its flavor—it was unlike anything she'd eaten before. She hadn't wanted to admit it at the time, but it was profound, bursting with a richness she hadn't expected.

Stewing it would bring out the best of those flavors, she concluded. Raw seared meat is fine in a pinch, but I'd rather make something that doesn't remind me we're in a place like this.

She glanced briefly at Luca, who was still leaning back against the cavern wall, his smirk firmly in place as he watched her. His dark eyes gleamed with curiosity, but she ignored him, focusing instead on the task at hand.

Thankfully, Luca seemed to have thought ahead when stocking his spatial storage. Among the supplies was a small pot—something she hadn't seen him use but was now silently grateful for.

'What kind of man carries a pot and doesn't use it?' she mused, a faint twitch of amusement crossing her lips before she pushed the thought aside.

She placed the pot carefully over the small fire she had built, pouring a measured amount of water from one of Luca's canteens. The liquid bubbled faintly as it began to heat, and Aeliana set to work preparing the rest of the ingredients.

The monster meat came first, its unusual marbled texture catching the flickering light. Aeliana handled it with precision, her movements deliberate as she cut it into even chunks.

She reached for the preserved herbs next, her fingers brushing against the dried leaves and spices as she considered her options. While it was tempting to use a generous amount to elevate the flavor, she knew better than to waste their limited supply.

Just enough to enhance the taste, she thought, carefully pinching a few dried sprigs of thyme-like herbs and sprinkling them into the pot.

The scent of the bubbling water began to shift, taking on the faint aroma of herbs mingling with the air. Aeliana added the meat next, watching as the chunks began to soften and release their juices into the broth.

'Slow and steady,' she thought, her gaze steady as she stirred the mixture with a careful rhythm. Cooking like this required patience and precision—qualities she prided herself on, even now.

Behind her, Luca's voice broke through the quiet. "You're taking this pretty seriously," he said, the teasing edge in his tone unmistakable. "Didn't think you'd be so... methodical."

Aeliana didn't bother looking at him, her focus fixed on the pot. "That's because you don't know what real cooking looks like," she retorted smoothly, her voice calm but laced with subtle challenge.

Luca chuckled, unfazed. "Fair point. Still, I can't help but wonder—what's got you so motivated? Trying to impress me?"

Her hand stilled briefly, and she glanced at him from the corner of her eye. "Hardly," she said, her tone clipped. "I just refuse to eat something as... uninspired as what you made earlier."

"Ouch." Luca placed a hand over his chest in mock offense, though his smirk never wavered.

Aeliana turned back to the pot, the faintest hint of a smile tugging at her lips. The stew was coming together nicely, the rich scent of the monster meat blending with the subtle notes of herbs and spices.

'This will do,' she thought, her chest swelling faintly with satisfaction.

For the first time since she had entered this twisted, oppressive land, she felt a small spark of normalcy—a reminder that even in the bleakest of places, there were still moments she could claim as her own.

And as the stew simmered, Aeliana resolved to show Luca exactly what it meant to do something properly.

Chapter 416: Life (3)

The rich, savory aroma of the stew filled the cavern as Aeliana carefully ladled the finished meal into two small cups. She straightened up, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face as a small, satisfied smile tugged at her lips.

"Done," she announced, her tone calm but laced with quiet pride.

Luca glanced up from where he sat, his previously bloodstained hands now cleaned as much as possible, though faint smudges lingered. The scratches on his arms were bandaged, and his face bore no trace of the earlier carnage, save for a faint sheen of weariness.

"Let's see it, then," he said, his dark eyes gleaming with curiosity as he accepted the cup she handed him.

Aeliana settled beside him, the warmth of her own cup radiating through her fingers as she inhaled the fragrant steam. The stew's earthy aroma carried a depth she hadn't expected to achieve with such meager ingredients, but it was there—a testament to her skill.

As she took her first cautious sip, her eyes widened slightly.

'Ah…'

The flavors were rich and harmonious, the tender monster meat infused with the subtle notes of the herbs she had added. It wasn't just good—it was delicious.

Beside her, Luca took a sip as well, his expression unreadable at first. But then, his dark eyes flicked to her, and a slow, amused smirk spread across his face.

"Well, I'll be damned," he said, his tone laced with both surprise and admiration. "Didn't think a little sheltered missy like you had something like this in you."

Aeliana's lips twitched, her pride warring with her irritation at the way he phrased it. "You really can't help yourself, can you?" she muttered, her voice sharp but lacking any real bite.

Luca chuckled, taking another sip. "What can I say? You keep proving me wrong. It's entertaining."

She rolled her eyes, though the faint flush of satisfaction warming her cheeks betrayed her true feelings. "Just eat," she said curtly, turning her attention back to her own cup.

The two ate in relative silence after that, the quiet punctuated only by the occasional sound of their spoons scraping against the cups.

Aeliana allowed herself a rare moment of calm, her thoughts drifting as the warmth of the stew spread through her chest. For the first time in what felt like days, the oppressive weight of the strange land felt just a little lighter.

The quiet between them stretched on, the occasional scrape of a spoon against the cup mingling with the faint crackle of the fire. Aeliana's gaze lingered on the stew, though her thoughts were far from the meal.

The day's events played over and over in her mind—the oppressive terrain, the monsters, the adventurers. Her grip on the cup tightened slightly as she thought of their distorted faces, their glowing purple eyes.

"Those adventurers…" she began hesitantly, her voice quiet but laced with unease.

Luca glanced at her, his dark eyes calm and steady as he finished the last of his stew. He set the cup down beside him, leaning back against the cavern wall with a faint sigh. "They're dead," he said simply. "Whatever turned them into that… they're not human anymore."

Aeliana nodded slowly, her chest tightening. "I see…" she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

Her gaze dropped to her lap, her thoughts spiraling. Dead. They're all dead. The words felt heavy, final, but there was no denying the truth in them.

Her mind shifted to the battles they'd faced, to the way Luca had fought so effortlessly, cutting down wave after wave of monsters without hesitation. She thought of his smirk in the face of danger, his sharp words laced with unshakable confidence.

And then, the realization settled over her like a weight.

'I wouldn't have survived a single day in this place without him.'

It was an unsettling thought, one that made her chest tighten further. She clenched her fists, her nails biting into her palms as she remembered the countless times he had placed himself between her and danger, fighting as if his life were nothing more than a tool for their survival.

The memory of his wild grin as he stood surrounded by monsters flashed in her mind.

'How can he smile like that?' she wondered, her amber eyes flicking toward him. He looked so relaxed now, leaning casually against the wall as if the chaos outside the cavern didn't exist.

"Why do you do it?" she asked suddenly, the words escaping her before she could stop them.

Luca raised a brow, tilting his head slightly as he regarded her with mild curiosity. "Do what?"

"…..Nothing…"

Aeliana hesitated, the words caught in her throat. She glanced at Luca, the question lingering on her lips but refusing to form. How could she even ask him? How could she articulate the confusion, the unease, the strange mix of admiration and frustration his actions stirred in her?

Her amber eyes dropped to her lap, her hands clenched tightly as she tried to push the thoughts aside.

Luca, however, seemed to sense the tension. He exhaled softly, his smirk fading into something quieter as he tilted his head back against the cavern wall.

"You see, little missy," he began, his voice low but steady, "this thing we call life… if you put too much value into it, it becomes a shackle itself."

Aeliana's head snapped up, her gaze locking onto him. "What?" she asked, her tone sharp.

Luca's dark eyes flicked toward her, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "If you obsess over it, if you cling to it so tightly that it controls every decision you make… then it stops being yours. It becomes a cage."

Her chest tightened as his words sank in, stirring something she couldn't quite name. But before she could stop herself, she retorted, "If you don't put any value into it, then how can you even live?"

Luca chuckled softly, the sound low and almost amused. "Who said anything about not valuing it?" he asked, his tone light but edged with an undercurrent of something deeper. He leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on his knees as his dark eyes met hers.

"Not putting too much value doesn't mean putting none," he said. "I just don't let it weigh me down. I like to experience the dance of life… between death."

Aeliana stared at him, her mind reeling as she tried to make sense of his words. "The… dance?" she repeated, her voice tinged with disbelief.

Luca grinned, the expression wild and unrestrained. "Exactly. That moment when everything hangs in the balance, when you're not sure if you'll take the next step or fall. That's where life is most vivid. That's where you really feel it."

Her chest tightened further, her thoughts spiraling. "That's…" She hesitated, searching for the right words. "That's reckless."

"Maybe," Luca replied with a shrug. "But it's real. In those moments, there's no room for doubt, for fear, for anything but the pure experience of being alive."

Aeliana's fists clenched in her lap, her gaze dropping once more. His words unsettled her, not because they were foreign but because they struck a chord she wasn't ready to acknowledge.

'Is that why he smiles like that?' she wondered, her thoughts swirling. 'Because he's not afraid? Because he's… free?'

The idea was both infuriating and fascinating. She couldn't understand it, but a part of her—deep down—envied it.

Aeliana sat quietly, her thoughts a tangled web of confusion and reluctant understanding. Luca's words lingered in her mind, pulling at threads she wasn't ready to unravel. She didn't respond further, and Luca, true to form, didn't press the matter.

Instead, he stretched and stood up, brushing off his coat with casual ease. He glanced down at her, his smirk softening into something more playful.

"Well," he said, setting his empty cup aside, "since you made the meal, I guess it's only fair I take over the next part. I'll prepare the tea."

Aeliana blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift in topic.

"It wasn't bad, right?" he asked, his tone light as he raised a brow.

She hesitated, the memory of his tea from before flashing in her mind. Despite everything, she had to admit—quietly, at least—that it wasn't bad at all.

"Yeah," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

Luca's smirk widened. "Thought so."

With that, he turned and retrieved a small kettle from his spatial storage, the polished metal glinting faintly in the dim light of the cavern. Aeliana watched as he carefully poured water from a canteen into the kettle, his movements unhurried but deliberate.

He crouched by the fire, adjusting the embers with a practiced hand before setting the kettle atop them. The faint hiss of water heating filled the silence, and Luca leaned back slightly, resting his hands on his knees as he waited.

"You seem to enjoy this," Aeliana said quietly, her amber eyes studying him as he worked.

Luca glanced at her, his expression amused. "What, making tea?"

She shook her head, her gaze lingering on his face. "Being… normal," she said after a moment, her tone uncertain.

For a moment, Luca didn't respond. His dark eyes flicked back to the kettle, his smirk fading into something softer. "It's a nice change of pace," he said finally, his voice quieter now.

Aeliana tilted her head, surprised by the sincerity in his tone. But before she could press further, the faint aroma of tea began to waft through the air, its earthy scent mingling with the fading aroma of the stew.

Luca glanced at her again, his smirk returning. "Hope you're ready," he said, pulling a small tin of tea leaves from his spatial storage. "This time, I might even impress you."

Aeliana's lips twitched, a faint smile threatening to surface despite herself. "We'll see about that," she said, her voice carrying a hint of challenge.

Luca chuckled, the sound low and easy as he added the leaves to the kettle. The quiet moments that followed felt strangely calm, the tension of the day giving way to a brief reprieve.