The sun of Vailhar rose differently.
It wasn't exactly light — it was heat.
An amber glow emerged on the horizon mixed with the steam rising from the mountains, as if the morning were being forged inside a giant furnace.
I woke before the others. Maybe from anxiety, maybe because, on some level, I was still trying to understand how I survived last night's banquet.
I took a deep breath. The warm air seemed to wake my skin.
When I left the room, I found Vespera sitting on the staircase, still adjusting her boots.
"You're up early," I commented.
"My insomnia has insomnia," she replied, tying the last knot. "And you? What woke you up?"
"The fear of being burned alive by a very straightforward demi-dragon princess."
Vespera let out a short laugh. "Fair."
Soon after, Liriel and Elara appeared — Liriel adjusting her grimoire, Elara tying her hair with a leather strap.
They looked ready… but with that silent energy that usually precedes long arguments about jealousy.
Before I could say anything, Rai'kanna appeared at the top of the staircase, wearing light armor made of black scales.
A pair of small crimson wings rested folded on her back, and her eyes glowed like freshly ignited embers.
"Good morning," she said, descending the steps with exaggerated elegance. "I hope you slept well. Today we have work."
Vespera whispered: "She wakes up wearing makeup? Impressive."
Elara replied quietly: "Must be draconic genetics."
Liriel remained silent, but the way she closed her grimoire made it clear she was prepared for any territorial dispute.
Rai'kanna stopped in front of me.
"Are you ready, Takumi?"
"I am," I answered, trying to stay composed.
"Good. The village of Rûmar is waiting."
We took a moving platform — something like a giant scale descending along natural rails carved into the mountain. On the way down, Rai'kanna explained more about the territory.
"The monsters that attacked Rûmar came from the Draconic Fissures. They are deep cracks in the ground where ancient energy seeps to the surface. Normally they are stable, but lately… something changed."
"Something caused by the Demon King?" I asked.
"Probably. When corrupted-energy monsters start invading borders, it means someone is poking at the underground without permission."
"And who would do that?"
"Someone very stupid or very bold."
"Or both," Vespera added.
The princess chuckled.
"Possible."
The platform reached the ground. A long path surrounded by black rocks led us to Rûmar — a small village with houses made of darkened wood and curved roofs resembling folded wings.
There was destruction everywhere.
Burned houses, claw marks on the walls, and twisted pieces of metal on the ground.
"The attack was recent," Liriel noted, examining the floor.
Elara knelt near a deep mark. "Large claws. At least three meters tall. And the irregular shape… it's not a natural creature."
Rai'kanna looked at me. "Takumi, do you feel anything strange?"
I closed my eyes.
The flame inside me vibrated — faintly, as if it had detected something distant.
"I feel it… but very lightly. Like residue."
"Then we're close."
The villagers began to emerge from hiding once they noticed our presence.
A middle-aged man with greenish scales along his arms ran toward us.
"Are you from the human guild?" he asked, breathless.
"Yes," I replied. "We came to help."
He took a relieved breath.
"They came yesterday. Dark creatures, deformed… we couldn't keep up with the number. They tore off doors, destroyed the forges… my son was almost taken."
Rai'kanna placed a hand on his shoulder.
"We'll put an end to them. I promise."
The man nodded, trembling.
Liriel looked around. "Where did they go?"
"To the gorge," the villager said. "To the Rûmar Fissure."
The princess clenched her teeth. "They never approached the Fissure before. This isn't normal."
"Let's go then," Elara said, rising.
Vespera sighed. "I already feel like I'm going to run more than I'm going to fight."
"You always complain before a battle," I replied.
"And I'm always right."
We headed toward the gorge. The narrow path led us into an open valley, where the ground trembled slightly. In the center, there was a massive crack in the earth — wide enough to swallow an entire house.
Liriel checked the grimoire. "The energy here is distorted."
"What does that mean?" I asked.
"That monsters can climb out at any moment."
Just as she finished the sentence, the ground vibrated.
A roar echoed from inside the fissure.
And then they appeared.
Tall, skeletal creatures with dark, cracked skin.
Empty white eyes.
Claws as long as swords.
They walked with irregular movements, like broken marionettes.
"Ah, what joy," Vespera muttered. "Beautiful sight."
"Stay together," Rai'kanna ordered, her wings already half-open. "They're easy to defeat individually, but they attack in swarms."
The monsters charged.
Elara drew her bow.
Vespera pulled out her daggers.
Liriel opened her grimoire.
I took a deep breath, letting the flame inside me pulse moderately.
Rai'kanna leapt forward, and her wings opened fully.
"Let's go!"
The battle began with force.
Elara shot precise arrows that pierced straight through the creatures' foreheads.
Vespera moved quickly among them, striking and retreating.
Liriel unleashed controlled bursts of magic, clearing space.
Rai'kanna advanced like a crimson storm, crushing monsters with the golden fangs that emerged from her arms.
And every time she attacked, she shouted:
"That's how it's done, Takumi!"
"I noticed!" I replied, dodging claws that looked like scythes.
At one moment, one of the monsters jumped on me.
The flame inside me reacted on its own — my fist ignited with warm light, and the impact exploded the creature into ash.
"Great strike," Rai'kanna commented, smiling as she tore another monster in half.
Liriel shot her a dirty look.
Elara, too.
Vespera even worse.
Why did this always happen to me?
After a long fight, the last monster fell.
Its ashes scattered in the hot wind of the gorge.
"Are we done?" I asked, breathless.
"No," the princess replied, serious. "That was only the weakest group."
Liriel frowned. "There are more?"
Rai'kanna pointed toward the fissure.
"Listen."
The sound echoed from beneath the ground.
A distant rumble.
Heavy.
Repetitive.
Like footsteps.
"That…" I whispered, "is not a small creature."
"It isn't," she confirmed. "And we're going to have to face it."
Vespera took a deep breath. "Of course. Why not? We've already fought generals, mutant monsters, and flaming entities… a giant monster is just Tuesday."
"Takumi," Elara said, "what do you think?"
I looked at the deep crack.
The flame inside me reacted — stronger this time.
Something below… was waking up.
I sighed.
"I think our mission is just beginning."