At the top of Zyroth's fortress, Princess Emilia lay curled in the corner of the cage. Her cracked lips parted as she drew in shallow breaths. When she tried to swallow, her throat tightened, and she winced. Her tongue dragged across her dry lips.
Muffled voices drifted through the corridor.
"No! Please! Don't kill me!"
Emilia's fingers dug into her knees.
Shlick!
Thud.
She flinched and clapped her hands over her ears. Her elbows pressed against her head as she squeezed her eyes shut.
"No... Please stop..."
Another desperate cry came from beyond the bars.
Emilia shook her head. Her hands trembled against her ears.
"I can't take this anymore..."
Fresh tears slipped down her face.
Footsteps echoed through the corridor, growing louder with each step.
Emilia kept her head down.
The footsteps stopped outside her cage.
Damarok crouched and placed a piece of bark on the ground. A handful of berries and grapes rested on it. Beside the food, he set down a shallow resin bowl filled with water.
Emilia shifted away from him and turned her back to the bars.
Damarok watched her for a moment.
"Here's your lunch," he said.
She didn't respond.
He leaned closer to the bars.
"You should eat before it spoils," he said.
"Did you even bother providing meals for the ants down there?"
Damarok stopped.
"What?"
"I heard them crying earlier. One of them asked for water." Emilia turned her head slightly, looking at him over her shoulder. "Did you bring them anything? Or are you going to work them to death?"
"Zyroth ordered me to keep you alive until the tribute is paid," Damarok said. "I'm carrying out those orders."
Emilia's fingers tightened around her knees.
"Then you're no different from the rest of them."
Damarok stared at her for a moment before picking up the other empty containers.
"Suit yourself."
His footsteps receded down the corridor and gradually faded.
Emilia remained still until she could no longer hear him.
She placed both hands on the ground and tried to push herself up. Her arms trembled under her weight, and she sank back onto her knees.
After a moment, she reached for the bark and pulled it toward her.
Her fingers shook as she picked up a berry. She pressed it between her teeth and chewed slowly, then reached for another. When she lifted the resin bowl, water sloshed over the rim and spilled onto her hand.
She drank in several small gulps, pausing to swallow between them.
Her shoulders began to shake.
A tear fell onto the grapes. Another followed, rolling down her cheek and landing on the bark.
"I can't take this anymore," she whispered.
She lowered the bowl and stared at the food in her lap. Her fingers curled around its edge.
"Ari..."
Her voice faltered.
"Please... hurry..."
As night fell, Lancelot pulled a hood made of stitched leaves over his head and shoulders. He adjusted the edges around his face, then crouched beside his makeshift satchel and opened it.
Inside lay a handful of dried moss and several crumbed roots.
This is all I could gather without arousing suspicion.
Lancelot closed the satchel and secured it at his side. He rose to his feet and looked toward the dark path beyond the colony's borders.
"All right..."
He clenched his fists and started walking.
Just you wait, Ari. I'll be the one to protect you this time.
"Lancelot!"
A voice called out from behind him.
He froze. He drew his mandibles halfway out of their sheaths as he turned sharply toward the sound.
A small figure emerged from the darkness.
Lancelot recognized her and released a slow breath. He turned his back to her and lowered his mandibles.
Isla smiled as she approached.
"What are you doing here?" Lancelot asked, keeping his voice low.
"Same reason as you. I'm going to help Ari save the princess."
"No. Go back to the colony."
Lancelot turned to face her.
"This isn't training. This is life and death. We're planning to take down Zyroth's fortress."
His jaw tightened.
"You'll only end up getting yourself killed or getting in our way."
Isla lowered her head, her hands curling into fists at her sides.
"Stop treating me like someone who needs to be left behind!"
"I'm not. I'm just trying to keep you alive," Lancelot said.
"I don't remember asking for your protection!"
Isla raised her head and pressed a hand against her chest.
"I'm also a soldier in Queen Celeste's army. I have a duty to protect our colony, too!"
Lancelot opened his mouth, but Isla stepped closer before he could respond.
"You and Ari keep telling me to get stronger. You tell me I can become a proper soldier if I keep training. So what was the point of all that training if I'm still supposed to hide whenever my life is on the line?"
"This isn't a game," Lancelot said.
"I know that!"
Her voice echoed across the rocks.
Isla reached for her mandibles and pulled them free. Moonlight glinted along the blades as she raised them in front of her.
She planted her feet apart and bent her knees, holding both weapons up.
"Which is exactly why I'm going to show you how much stronger I've become."
She fixed her gaze on Lancelot.
"Draw your mandibles."
Lancelot stared at Isla for a moment before running a hand through his hair.
I'm going to regret this...
He released a slow breath.
"Fine. You can tag along."
"What?"
Isla's eyes widened, and her mandibles lowered slightly.
"But on one condition," Lancelot continued. "If the situation gets dangerous, you run as fast as you can. No arguing, no trying to prove yourself. You get out of there. Understood?"
Isla sheathed her mandibles.
"Right."
Lancelot turned toward the narrow path leading away from the colony.
"Now let's move before a patrol unit discovers us. You were shouting loud enough for half the forest to hear."
Isla's cheeks reddened. She lowered her gaze and rubbed the back of her neck.
"Sorry."
Lancelot and Isla followed the narrow path beyond the colony's outskirts. Trees lined both sides of the trail, their branches blocking most of the moonlight.
A group of hooded figures emerged between the trees ahead, spreading out to block their way.
Lancelot stopped.
His mandibles unsheathed as he held it into position and lowered his body into a guarded stance.
"Who's there?!"
One of the hooded figures muffled a laugh.
"And here I thought Lance-Lance was all talk."
Lancelot's eyes narrowed.
That voice...
Isla leaned forward, squinting beneath the hoods. Her eyes widened, and a smile spread across her face.
"Wait! Those are... Corporal Lily and Beatrice!"
Lily pulled back her hood, a wide grin spreading across her face.
"In the flesh."
She looked between Lancelot and Isla, then let out a short laugh.
"Though I still can't believe you two actually found the nerve to head for the fortress."
"I guess the training paid off," Lily said with a smile.
Beatrice nodded.
"It's good to see that both of you have the resolve to fight. But are you prepared to face the Queen's judgment if this mission goes wrong?"
"Quit trying to discourage them, Betty. We need more soldiers, not fewer."
Lily poked Beatrice in the shoulder.
Beatrice's temple twitched.
"I thought I told you to stop calling me that."
Lily tilted her head.
"Huh? Did you? I must've forgotten."
"You did not forget."
"Anyway!"
Before Beatrice could respond, another hooded figure stepped forward and lowered his hood.
Lancelot's mouth fell open slightly.
"Lieutenant Brooks? You're coming, too? But I thought you had no intention of going to the fortress."
"I didn't," Brooks replied calmly.
He crossed his arms, his gaze shifting toward the dark forest ahead.
"I'm simply following our Captain's orders."
Lancelot frowned.
"Then why didn't you say anything earlier?"
"Because if you'd known I was coming, you might have convinced yourself that you had no reason to worry. And if you believed someone else would bear that burden, you might never have found the courage to take that first step."
He paused.
"Besides, a soldier who never ventures beyond the protection of others will never learn what he's capable of."
Lancelot glanced away.
Brooks's expression softened.
"Don't misunderstand me. Sometimes, the wisest thing a soldier can do is recognize when he can't win a battle alone."
"So, you two are just as reckless as that fool."
Isla and Lancelot turned as Valeria stepped forward, her hood falling back from her face.
Valeria looked between them and shook her head.
"But I suppose it can't be helped. Seems his impulsiveness has rubbed off on both of you."
"Don't take it personally."
Lily placed her hands behind her head.
"That's just the Captain's way of saying you've both gotten stronger and all that."
"I see," Lancelot replied.
Valeria's expression grew serious as she faced the group.
"The Queen has no knowledge of this expedition. Our objective is to defeat Zyroth and retrieve the princess. We put an end to the suffering our colony has endured for over a decade."
Her gaze moved from one soldier to the next, meeting each of their eyes.
"But understand this. No reinforcements are coming. No one will be sent to rescue us if things go wrong. Once we leave, we'll have to see this through on our own."
She paused.
"This mission could be our first step toward freedom... or our last. If any of you want to back out, now is your chance."
No one moved.
"We all want the same thing," Lily said, lowering her hands. "We want to set our colony free."
Isla looked around the group, her eyes widening.
"Whoa... Even Captain Valeria is coming with us?"
She swallowed.
We might actually stand a chance...
Her gaze drifted toward the distant fortress. The walls rose above the surrounding forest.
But then again... Apart from Ari, there's only six of us. A captain, a lieutenant, two corporals, and two lance corporals.
What can six soldiers possibly hope to accomplish against Zyroth's entire army?
A hand settled on her shoulder.
Isla turned to find Lancelot beside her.
"Don't overthink it."
He lifted his gaze toward the stars visible between the branches.
Right...Ari.