A rare peace had settled over Inamorta. After years of war, the Order Empire had finally secured its rightful peace. The once-menacing Chaos Empire was now reduced to scattered remnants, its forces either in hiding or too weak to challenge the current Order Empire. With no immediate threats, the royal siblings gathered within the Royal Gardens of Castle Iris, relishing the fleeting moments of peace under the warm afternoon sun of Inamorta.
The garden was a place of serenity—vibrant flowers swayed gently in the breeze, the scent of fresh blossoms could be smelled all around, while golden rays of sunlight filtered through the leaves of towering trees residing in the royal gardens, dappling the ground in shifting patterns. Birds flitted between the branches, their melodies adding to the harmony of the moment.
Despite the peaceful atmosphere, not all were at ease.
Atreyos and Xiphos stood beneath the shade of a grand, towering tree near the center of the royal garden, their conversation heavy with concern.
"The Chaos Empire may have scattered, but they're not gone," Atreyos murmured as he held his dented Spearton helmet with a noticeable gash on one of its eye holes, his expression shadowed with thought.
Xiphos, standing beside him, adjusted the grip on his sword hilt. "They're too stubborn to stay hidden forever. If we grow complacent, we'll regret it," he said grimly. His sharp eyes flickered to his younger brother. "We should consider sending Kytchu archidon's scouts to track any possible movements. If there's even a hint of resurgence, we need to act before it becomes a threat."
Atreyos nodded, his gaze drifting to the castle's distant walls. "Agreed. But Father will want solid proof before taking any action. For now, we watch and wait."
A few steps away, Kytchu and Thera sat together on a stone bench near a pond, their conversation far lighter in nature.
"I still can't believe she actually confessed to him," Thera whispered excitedly, leaning closer to Kytchu as a giggle escaped her. Her yellow eyes shimmered with mischief.
Kytchu smirked, lacing her hands behind her head. "Not only confessed—she did it in front of the entire court! I swear, I thought he was going to combust on the spot."
Thera chuckled. "I almost feel bad for him. Almost."
"Almost," Kytchu echoed, grinning.
Away from the laughter, Shade stood beside their father, King Zarek, beneath the tallest tree in the garden. Unlike the others, their conversation carried a sense of unease.
"The disappearance of Uncle Zilaros isn't something we can ignore," Shade said quietly, her voice measured but laced with tension. "Ever since he deciphered that crescent moon-shaped tablet—the one the so-called Lunarclops carried before he melted it—he's been... different. Obsessed, I'd say. And now, he's just gone."
King Zarek let out a slow exhale, his dark gaze distant. "I know, daughter. But we must not act in haste—too many pieces of the puzzle remain missing." His hands, once wielding immense strength in his youth, now rested at his sides—steady, but burdened.
Shade hesitated, her mind replaying the image of their Uncle Zilaros hunched over that ancient crescent moon-shaped stone tablet, his eyes alight with something between fascination and dread.
"...Do you think the tablet is connected to his disappearance?"
Zarek studied her carefully before speaking. "Perhaps. Or perhaps his own ambitions led him astray."
Shade's jaw tightened. "I don't like the timing, Father. Not at all."
High above them all, nestled among the sturdy branches of the tallest tree, Icaron lay sprawled out in his usual carefree manner. He had picked the perfect spot—half in sunlight, half in shade—allowing him to enjoy the warmth while keeping cool. One arm dangled lazily off the branch as he flicked a stray leaf away from his face.
"Mm... You all worry too much," he mumbled, barely audible from above.
Below, Xiphos shot a glare upward. "You could at least pretend to care, Icaron."
The Albatross leader let out an exaggerated yawn. "I do care. Just not enough to ruin a perfectly good nap."
Thera smirked. "One of these days, someone's going to push you out of a tree."
Icaron cracked an eye open, a lazy grin spreading across his face. "None would dare, dear sister."
But the tranquility of the Royal Gardens was immediately shattered as a deafening roar split the air, shaking the very foundation of Castle Iris. A massive, swirling black vortex tore through the sky, distorting reality itself. The air crackled with unnatural energy, and an overwhelming force surged outward, sending shockwaves rippling through the garden.
The royal siblings and King Zarek barely had a moment to react before they felt it—the immense pull of the vortex, threatening to rip them from the ground and drag them into its gaping maw.
"What in Inamorta—?!" Atreyos shouted, his eyes widening in alarm. Instinct took over as he grabbed his spear, hastily securing his Spearton helmet.
The swirling void twisted and churned, devouring everything in its path. Trees bent unnaturally, their branches snapping like twigs. Flowers were uprooted, their petals and leaves ripped away. Even the pond water spiraled upward, vanishing into the abyss.
"Hold on!" Xiphos bellowed, driving his sword deep into the ground, his muscles straining as he resisted the pull.
Atreyos followed suit, thrusting his spear into the earth, anchoring himself with all his strength.
A few feet away, Kytchu and Thera fought desperately against the force. Kytchu, thinking quickly, nocked an arrow with a rope on her bow and fired it into the sturdy roots of a nearby tree, wrapping the tier end of the rope tightly around her wrist.
"Thera, grab on!" she yelled.
Thera slammed the butt of her staff into the ground, struggling to maintain her footing. She reached out, gripping Kytchu's other hand. "I'm trying!" she snapped, her yellow eyes flashing with determination.
Above them, Icaron, who had been lounging moments ago, was caught completely off guard. His half-asleep state left him vulnerable, and before he could even process what was happening, the vortex's pull wrenched him from the branches.
"No—!" Shade reached out, but it was too late.
"Icaron!" Thera screamed, her voice raw with terror as their brother was ripped from their sight. His terrified cry echoed before vanishing into the Vortex.
"Damn it!" Xiphos snarled, his grip tightening on his sword, rage and helplessness flickering in his eyes.
But the vortex only grew stronger.
As the sky above twisted unnaturally, darkening as if the world itself was being consumed. The once-pristine gardens were now a storm of debris and howling wind.
Shade positioned herself protectively in front of their father, gripping his arm tightly. "Father, hold on to me!" she urged, slamming her katana into the ground in an attempt to stabilize them.
King Zarek, though powerful in his own right, felt the weight of age pressing upon him. "Shade—!" he began, but his words were lost in the chaos.
One by one, their strength began to fail.
Kytchu's rope—her last lifeline—snapped.
"No—!" Kytchu's cry was cut short as she was hurled backward.
Thera, losing her grip, screamed as she was pulled into the abyss.
Atreyos and Xiphos, despite their weapons anchoring them, could feel the unrelenting force tearing them away, their muscles burning from the effort.
"This... isn't... right," Atreyos gritted out, his veins bulging as he fought against the impossible.
Shade clenched her teeth, arms trembling as she held onto King Zarek with everything she had. But she knew—she knew—it was inevitable.
And then—
With one final, overpowering surge, the vortex consumed them all.
Their cries of defiance and shock faded into the void.
After a few moments, the vortex, having devoured its prey, pulsed one last time. The roaring winds died down. The swirling mass condensed, shrinking into itself.
Until—
With a final whisper, it vanished.
And where the royal family once stood, where their laughter and voices had filled the air only moments ago—
Nothing remained.
The Castle Iris Royal Gardens lay in utter devastation. The trees were stripped bare. The flowers are gone. The pond is dry.
And no Royal Family of the Order Empire members in sight.
Some Unknown Amount of Time Later...
In the center of a vast circular chamber, bathed in the harsh glow of a singular light source, Marrowkai, Lord of the Undead, sat—or more accurately, slumped—on what could only be described as the closest approximation to a ground in the bizarre contraption surrounding him.
His skeletal frame, unnervingly clean save for the battle scars across his left eye, was hunched within a transparent, spherical prison. The "thing" he was trapped inside—whatever it was—rolled lazily across the cold, featureless floor, its movement guided by an unseen force. Marrowkai's glowing red pinprick eyes narrowed in disbelief, the two scars on his face crinkling in frustration.
"What... what is this nonsense?" he muttered under his breath, or at least, that's what it seemed like he was trying to do—his voice sounded like it was coming from the depths of his hollow ribcage, tinged with irritation and utter confusion.
He looked down at his skeletal hands, the glowing red remnants of his eyes flickering. His right hand brushed against the smooth surface of the "thing" around him, but he was met with nothing but a faint echo of his own touch.
"I've never... what is this? Some sort of... ball?" Marrowkai thought, struggling with the sensation of movement. It felt like he was trapped inside something, but he couldn't quite comprehend it. He shifted awkwardly, uncomfortable on the hard, unyielding floor of the orb. His form—a living skeleton with a beating heart visible in his chest, with upper jaw teeth, and a mantle with wide, protruding spikes—was certainly out of place in this confined space. The golden scythe he'd been so accustomed to wielding was... gone. The absence of it made him feel strangely naked, like a part of him had been torn away.
"Where is my scythe?!" he thought, suddenly more alarmed than ever, but then quickly turning his attention back to the chamber around him.
A single light hung from above, casting a faint, buzzing glow that seemed to illuminate everything but gave nothing back.
"What is that?" Marrowkai wondered aloud. His eyes fixed on the lightbulb—a concept completely alien to him. He had seen torches and candles, but never something like this... this buzzing, unyielding thing hanging above him, casting its artificial glow on the space. He squinted up at it.
"I don't know what this... thing is, but it's certainly not natural. A torch would've been better, but this... light doesn't even flicker."
He scoffed, frustrated. "What is this?!"
He pounded the side of the hamster ball, not realizing it was futile. His gaze shifted to the iron chamber around him—a sterile, bleak expanse with no doors, no windows, and no escape.
"No. This isn't how it was supposed to be. There's no way... this is it?" His thoughts spiraled as he tried to recall what had led him here, but all that came to mind was a vague recollection of something happening... something important. Then... nothing.
No answers. Just the feeling of isolation growing sharper with each passing second.
Is this my damnation? Am I stuck here forever?
As Marrowkai lamented his so-called damnation inside the bizarre contraption—trapped like some kind of prisoner—his silent brooding was abruptly interrupted.
In the far corner of the iron chamber, reality itself twisted and warped. Out of thin air, a black vortex spiraled into existence, its swirling darkness exuding an ominous energy.
He braced himself instinctively, expecting the usual chaotic winds or pull that such distortions often brought.
Nothing.
The sphere he was imprisoned in barely shifted.
"Of course." Marrowkai let out a humorless chuckle, tapping the surface of his prison with a skeletal finger. "Not even a vortex can grant me the dignity of movement."
His attention, however, quickly snapped back to the swirling abyss as it spewed out... bodies.
The first to emerge was a familiar figure, her unconscious form hitting the chamber's cold metallic floor with an unceremonious thud. Marrowkai's eye sockets flared slightly, recognizing her at once—Kytchu.
Once his eldest sister.
She still wore her golden helmet adorned with wing-like extensions, her brown wristbands snugly fitted around both wrists, and her signature green cape draping over her shoulders. But there was something amiss.
No bow. No quiver.
His gaze flickered, noting their absence. Strange. She was rarely seen without them, and yet... here she was, utterly defenseless.
The vortex pulsed again, disgorging another figure—a woman clad in black and gold, her long hooded cloak billowing as she tumbled to the ground.
Marrowkai's non-existent breath hitched.
Thera.
If there was one sibling he had always harbored a soft spot for, it was her. Even in undeath, even after everything, that sentiment remained.
Her white skin was as he remembered, her yellow eyes now hidden behind closed lids, her golden-lined cloak spread around her like fallen wings. The cut-open front of the cloak revealed no sign of her usual staff. Another missing weapon.
A small smirk ghosted across Marrowkai's bony features. Still the same regal presence, even unconscious.
He tapped his fingers against the inner surface of his prison. "This just got interesting."
One by one, more figures were spat from the vortex like discarded remnants of another life.
The next body to hit the cold metal floor was that of a woman wrapped in black.
Marrowkai's eye sockets flared slightly, but unlike the others, recognition didn't immediately spark. His memories—at least those from before this existence—were still fractured, some pieces buried, others seemingly erased.
"Shade...?"
The name surfaced, but little else. She, like Thera, had white skin, though hers was almost entirely obscured beneath layers of black fabric. Purple ribbons coiled around her waist, hands, wrists, and feet like silent bindings, their presence oddly familiar. A purple scar—or perhaps a birthmark—rested between her eyes, partially hidden beneath the deep hood of her cowl. A long, trailing ribbon extended from the back of her hood, giving her an almost spectral appearance.
But no katanas.
Just like Kytchu and Thera—unarmed.
Interesting.
Then came another. This one landed with a dull clunk—the unmistakable sound of metal hitting metal.
Marrowkai tilted his head. Icaron.
Golden helmet, gauntlets, and nothing else. No artificial wings. No crossbow. No quiver.
And just like Shade, Marrowkai had little recollection of him.
He supposed it should bother him, but he had more pressing things to be concerned about.
Another pulse of the vortex, and out tumbled a figure Marrowkai did remember.
Xiphos.
Quick to anger. Slow to think. A little arrogant , a buffoon through and through.
Even unconscious, the telltale signs of his personality remained—his usual arrogant smile frozen on his face, his body positioned as though he had been bracing for a fight even as the vortex stole him away.
No sword.
Instead, there was only his usual attire: the two vertical blue stripes running over his left eye, the single glove on his right hand, and the blue cape draped over his back. A golden pauldron, strapped to his body with leather, still gleamed faintly under the harsh artificial light.
Marrowkai hummed to himself.
"Some things never change."
And then—
His still-beating heart twisted.
The next figure to emerge made something dark and venomous coil inside him.
The old man.
The King.
Their father.
Marrowkai's hands clenched into fists, his bones creaking.
King Zarek lay motionless, his once-proud figure now hunched, weighed down by age. A small crown still perched atop his head, a relic of a past he refused to relinquish. A maroon cape, lined with white padding and dotted edges, draped over his aging form. His golden necklace caught the dim light, a cruel reminder of the power he still thought he held.
And in his grip—a gold cane, topped with a diamond.
Marrowkai could almost laugh.
A cane.
He wasn't the indomitable ruler anymore. Just an old man clinging to a throne, a father who had already buried one son—only to forget him.
"Ah, but of course."
Marrowkai's eyes glowed brighter, the hate swelling, seething.
He still remembered that moment.
The Tower.
The casual way his father spoke of his precious youngest son, the one he had praised, the one he had placed above all others. The son who had been born ten minutes later than himself.
Not him.
Never him.
And now, its like Inamorta itself had a sense of irony, there he was.
Atreyos.
Marrowkai's gaze darkened as his so-called twin lay there—his father's golden boy, the ever-loyal Daddy's boy.
His backstabber.
Marrowkai could already picture it—the satisfaction of driving his bony fingers into Atreyos's throat, of finally repaying every slight, every moment of neglect, every stolen recognition.
But he was trapped.
In this thing.
This oversized prison that he still didn't understand, a mockery of his undead form, a cage that held him back just as surely as his past had.
His fingers twitched. His bones tensed.
But all he could do was shift his weight, making the contraption roll slightly.
It wasn't enough.
Not yet.
But soon.
Very soon.
A dull ache throbbed in Thera's head as she stirred, her body heavy with exhaustion. The sensation of something striking her—lightly, yet repeatedly—forced her back to awareness.
Groaning softly, she forced her eyes open, her yellow eyes adjusting to the dim, artificial light overhead.
And then she froze.
Not because of the strange metallic walls enclosing them. Not because the air felt wrong, neither warm nor cold.
But because of him .
Directly before her, mere inches from her face, was a clear, spherical object—a thing she couldn't name, yet instinctively recognized as some sort of containment. The material wasn't quite glass, but it was more transparent than any glass or crystal she had ever seen.
And inside...
Inside sat Marrowkai.
Her breath hitched.
The Lord of the Dead.
The Successor of the Fallen Medusa.
The Ruler of the Chaos Empire—or, rather, what remained of it.
Yet here he was. Trapped. Contained.
No Golden Scythe. No aura of raw necrotic energy. Just his skeletal form, seated with an almost lazy posture, his thin, bony fingers tapping idly against the walls of his strange prison. His still-beating heart pulsed faintly within his ribcage, and his red pinprick eyes burned with a quiet, unreadable intensity.
And yet, despite her instinctual fear and caution, despite everything she knew about him, the most alarming part wasn't that he was here.
It was that he was simply watching her.
Not moving. Not attacking.
Just... watching.
Thera's pulse quickened as her mind raced.
Why is he here? Why isn't he doing anything? Why is he even inside that... thing?
Swallowing her unease, she finally forced herself to look away, taking in their surroundings.
The chamber they were in was unnatural—a massive, circular expanse of smooth, iron-gray walls, featureless except for the single light hanging in the center above. The artificial glow spread evenly throughout the space, leaving no true shadows.
She caught sight of her siblings and father, all unconscious, scattered across the cold floor.
To her left, Kytchu lay sprawled out, her winged golden helmet slightly askew, her cape tangled beneath her. Her bow and quiver—gone.
A short distance away, Shade's form remained still, her black-clad body curled slightly, the purple ribbons around her wrists and waist shifting faintly with each slow breath. No katanas in sight.
Icaron, missing his artificial wings and crossbow, had landed awkwardly, one arm resting over his chest, his golden gauntlets glinting dimly in the overhead light.
Xiphos, the oaf he was, had unconsciously curled himself up, his blue cape wrapped tightly around him like a child clutching a blanket for comfort.
And then there was...
Him.
King Zarek.
Their father. Their ruler. Their once-mighty king, now aged and weary, his once-proud frame slumped upon the ground. His small crown remained perched atop his head, though slightly tilted. His golden cane lay discarded at his side, his maroon cape pooling around him. The once-commanding presence of the man who shaped their lives now seemed almost... fragile.
Her gaze flickered toward the last of their group.
Atreyos.
Her youngest brother.
He lay face-down, his Spearton helmet still secured, though his spear—his weapon—was too absent.
Her grip tightened.
A heavy silence hung over the chamber.
And still... Marrowkai watched.
Finally, Thera turned back toward the skeletal figure within the transparent sphere. Her voice came out quieter than she intended, but the words carried a sharp edge.
"...Where in Inamorta is this place?"
Marrowkai tilted his head, red pinprick eyes gleaming faintly. His fingers resumed their slow tapping against the sphere's surface.
Then, with a dry, hollow chuckle, he spoke.
"I would like to know as well."
Thera narrowed her eyes, skepticism tightening her expression.
"So you claim you're not responsible because you're as clueless as I." Her voice was laced with suspicion as she slowly sat up, muscles still aching from whatever had dragged them into this place. "That's awfully convenient."
Marrowkai merely gave another dry chuckle, the sound rattling in his hollow ribcage.
"Oh, please," he drawled, his bony fingers idly tapping against the inside of his transparent prison. "If I had brought you all here, do you really think I'd be the one trapped in this—" he gestured vaguely around himself, "—thing? "
Thera folded her arms, glancing at the strange sphere that held him. She didn't know what it was, but it was clear enough that he didn't know either.
"You tell me. Maybe you got caught in your own trap."
His red pinprick eyes gleamed faintly, amusement flickering through them.
"Oh, if only," he murmured, voice dry with sarcasm. Then, shifting slightly, he continued, "Besides, if this was my doing, you wouldn't be standing there questioning me."
Thera stiffened at the underlying venom in his words.
Marrowkai leaned forward slightly, his skeletal hands pressing against the smooth surface of the sphere. "No, dear, dear leader of Merics," he said mockingly, "if I had orchestrated this, you and the rest of your dear, precious family would be shackled in chains before me, kneeling at my feet like the defeated prisoners of war you are once I defeated you all."
His tone was casual, almost playful, but the promise behind his words was unmistakable.
Thera clenched her jaw, then she exhaled sharply, shaking her head. Now wasn't the time for emotions.
"Alright," she finally said, leveling him with a cold gaze. "If you're not responsible, then who is?"
Marrowkai's eerie grin widened slightly.
"Now that ... is a good question."
His gaze flickered briefly to the still-unconscious figures of the rest of the royal siblings and King Zarek, then back to Thera.
"And I suppose we'll find out together, won't we?"
Thera huffed at Marrowkai's words, crossing her arms as silence settled between them. The faint hum of the lone light from above cast an eerie glow over the iron chamber.
Then, with an almost lazy tone, Marrowkai broke the silence.
"If I were you, I'd wake them up before they catch a chill. Wouldn't want them getting sick in a place like this, now would we?"
Thera arched an eyebrow, her gaze flickering toward her unconscious siblings and father. Their forms still were sprawled across the cold metallic floor, some curled up, others lying motionless in various positions.
She turned back to Marrowkai, studying him. "Aren't you worried that once I wake them up, we'll gang up on you?"
Marrowkai's response was immediate—a sharp, rattling laugh that echoed through the chamber, filled with both amusement and irritation.
"Oh, if only it were that easy." His glowing red eyes gleamed as he leaned back, resting his skull against the interior of his strange, transparent prison. "But let me make one thing clear—I've been stuck in this damn thing long enough to know it's not going to break anytime soon. While you and the rest of your beloved family were lying unconscious, I took the liberty of testing my predicament."
He lifted a skeletal hand, flexing his bony fingers before slamming a fist against the inside of the sphere. A dull, hollow thud echoed through the room.
"I've rammed it into the walls, punched it, even tried clawing at it. Nothing. Not even a crack." His tone was dry, laced with mild annoyance. "So go ahead, wake them up. Try and gang up on me all you want. Unless you all managed to crack this thing that not even I could manage to do, I don't think I have much to worry about."
Thera narrowed her eyes but said nothing.
She hated to admit it, but he had a point. Whatever that thing was he was in, it was holding him inside.
For now, at least.
Slowly, Thera rose to her feet, stretching out her stiff limbs with a small groan. Whatever had brought them here had left her body aching, and the cold metal floor hadn't helped.
Her golden eyes flickered around the chamber, searching for her staff—only to find nothing. Not even a trace of it.
She frowned, blinking in mild frustration before her gaze shifted back to Marrowkai. He remained seated inside that strange, transparent sphere, watching her with an unsettling stillness. His glowing red eyes held an eerie amusement, as if enjoying her struggle to piece things together.
Narrowing her eyes, she finally spoke. "Do you happen to be responsible for..."—she gestured vaguely to their surroundings, to the missing weapons, to everything—"...this?"
Marrowkai tilted his skull slightly, his exposed teeth forming something akin to a grin.
"Oh, how I wish I could take credit for this." His tone was thick with sarcasm. "But, as I told you before—if I were the mastermind behind this little gathering, do you really think I'd be the one sitting inside this ridiculous contraption?"
He gestured lazily to the sphere encasing him.
Thera folded her arms, lips pressing into a thin line. As much as she loathed to admit it, he had a point. If Marrowkai had been the one to orchestrate this, he wouldn't have trapped himself in whatever that thing was.
For a long while, the only sounds in the chamber were Thera's careful footsteps and the occasional rustle of fabric as she checked on her unconscious siblings and father. She did not waste time questioning Marrowkai any further—there was no point. Instead, she focused on waking her family.
One by one, groggy voices and startled gasps filled the chamber as the once-unconscious royals stirred back to awareness. Confusion reigned at first, but the moment their eyes landed on Marrowkai—seated within the strange, clear sphere—silence gave way to chaos.
Xiphos, ever the brash one, was the first to act. He barely took a moment to regain his bearings before letting out an enraged shout, charging forward with fists clenched.
"You bastard!"
With all the force his body could muster, Xiphos slammed his fists against the sphere, the impact ringing out like a dull chime in the chamber. The sphere didn't so much as crack. Undeterred, he continued pounding at it, frustration mounting with every failed attempt.
Atreyos, however, was a different story.
The moment his eyes locked onto Marrowkai, his expression twisted into sheer fury, and his reaction was far more unhinged. "DEADKAI! YOU DAMN MONSTER!" He roared, fists slamming against the sphere repeatedly.
The rage in his voice was not just from recognizing Marrowkai as the infamous Lord of the Dead. No, this was deeply personal. Atreyos had spent a significant amount of time in the cursed forest, leading his men through an onslaught of the undead. He had battled Marrowkai's forces firsthand, lost soldiers to his endless horde, and had come out of that experience scarred. To him, Marrowkai was nothing but a monster—an abomination that should not exist.
His fists pounded relentlessly against the smooth, impenetrable surface, his rage boiling over.
"HOW MANY MORE HAVE YOU KILLED, YOU WRETCHED LIVING PILE OF BONES?!" he shouted, voice raw with fury.
Marrowkai, meanwhile, remained entirely unbothered. He simply leaned back within his confinement, watching them with detached amusement. The dull thuds of their futile attacks echoed in the chamber, but he knew they would achieve nothing.
After all, if he couldn't break free from this damn thing, what chance did they have?
Still, he couldn't resist letting out a low chuckle, the sound deep and mocking.
"Tsk, tsk. Such hostility." He shook his head in feigned disappointment. "And here I thought you'd all be a bit more... orderly."
That only fueled Atreyos further, but Xiphos suddenly froze mid-punch, his mind catching onto something—something important. He turned to Thera with an urgent whisper.
"Where are our weapons?"
Silence fell between the siblings for a moment as realization sank in.
None of them had their weapons.
None of them had any means to fight back.
And none of them had any idea where they were—or who or what had brought them here.
Thera then let out a long, weary sigh, running a hand over her face. This was already proving to be a headache. She had a lot to explain, and even more to convince her family of—especially Xiphos and Atreyos, who were still wasting their energy attacking Marrowkai's strange, clear spherical prison of sorts.
She glanced at the skeletal figure inside the sphere. He hadn't moved, just sitting there with an almost smug air of amusement as her brothers continued their futile assault. It was clear he wasn't worried. If anything, he was bored.
She took a step forward, hands on her hips, and cleared her throat loudly.
"Enough."
Her voice, sharp and authoritative, cut through the chamber. Xiphos hesitated mid-swing, his knuckles pressing against the smooth surface of the sphere. Atreyos, however, turned to her with fire still burning in his eyes.
"Enough?!" he barked. "Thera, that thing is the reason for countless deaths, our men, our people! How in Inamorta can you tell me to stop?!"
Thera exhaled through her nose, leveling him with a firm look. "Because you're wasting your time." She gestured at the sphere. "Marrowkai has been here longer than us. He's tried breaking out. It didn't work. Do you honestly think punching it will do anything?"
Atreyos' jaw clenched, but his fists slowly lowered.
Kytchu took a step forward to Thera, her mind racing. "If he didn't bring us here, then who did?"
"That," Thera said, crossing her arms, "is exactly what we need to figure out. But we won't get any answers if those two keep acting like unarmed lunatics."
Atreyos huffed but said nothing. Xiphos, though still tense, turned his gaze back to Marrowkai, eyes narrowing.
"So what, then?" Xiphos asked. "You're suggesting we work with him?"
Thera let out another sigh. "A temporary truce," she clarified. "Until we figure out where we are and who's behind this."
Atreyos scowled. "A truce. With him." He spat the words out like they were poison.
From within his confinement, Marrowkai chuckled, watching the conversation unfold like an entertaining play. "Oh, don't sound so disgusted, Atreyos. It's quite rude, you know. Besides, it's not like I have much of a choice in the matter, being stuck in here and all."
Thera ignored his taunt and looked at her father, who had remained silent thus far. King Zarek's expression was unreadable, his sharp eyes scanning the chamber, taking in both his children and Marrowkai's bizarre imprisonment.
Finally, he exhaled. "Thera is right. We need information. If a truce is what it takes to uncover the truth, then so be it."
Atreyos opened his mouth to protest but shut it at his father's tone. Xiphos sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose.
"Fine. But the moment he tries anything—"
Marrowkai smirked. "Yes, yes, you'll try to kill me. How original." He waved a skeletal hand. "Now, if we're all done throwing tantrums, how about we actually start thinking? We have bigger problems than your grudges."
A brief silence settled over the chamber before Shade stepped forward, her arms crossed as she cast a sharp gaze over her siblings, father, and Marrowkai.
"Well? What are we waiting for?" she said, her voice cutting through the tension. "Standing around won't get us anywhere. Let's start figuring out where we are."
She turned to Marrowkai, her violet eyes scrutinizing him through the clear prison that held him.
"Thera mentioned you were here before us. Is that true?"
Inside the transparent sphere, Marrowkai gave a slow nod, his skeletal features unreadable.
"Indeed," he said smoothly. "I've been here for quite some time before you all so... graciously arrived."
Icaron, who had been silent up until now, raised an eyebrow as he sat down on the cold iron floor, his golden gauntlet tapping against his knee.
"Oh?" he mused. "So you saw how we got here? We were unconscious when we woke up, but you were awake the whole time?"
Marrowkai's skeletal fingers tapped idly against the smooth interior of his strange prison as he nodded. "Indeed, I did."
The room fell into silence as all eyes turned to him.
Icaron leaned forward slightly, his golden gauntlet now resting on his knee. "And? Care to enlighten us on what exactly happened?"
Marrowkai exhaled, the sound oddly hollow. "A vortex. A large, swirling abyss of darkness formed out of thin air." He gestured lazily with one hand. "It spat you all out like discarded leftovers, unconscious and defenseless. Quite the sight, really."
Xiphos frowned, rubbing his chin in thought. "A vortex... Wait, you mean like the one that dragged us in before we blacked out?"
Marrowkai arched a bony brow, his glowing red eyes narrowing with intrigue. "Oh? A black vortex swallowed you all unconscious?" He let out a low chuckle. "How curious."
Then, a smirk curled across his half-intact jaw. "It's most likely the same one as you've mentioned." He leaned back against the interior of his prison, crossing his arms lazily. "But if you're expecting me to have all the answers, I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you." His gaze flicked between them with amusement. "All I know is that you arrived the same way I did—dumped here without explanation, just another collection of unfortunate souls."
Kytchu narrowed her eyes. "And you've been here all this time? Just... trapped?"
Marrowkai let out an exaggerated sigh. "Oh yes, it's been absolutely riveting. Rolling around like a caged beast, talking to myself for entertainment for quite some time, and oh—" he gave them a deadpan look "—let's not forget my many failed attempts at breaking free. Truly a grand experience."
Atreyos crossed his arms, glaring. "You're surprisingly calm for someone imprisoned."
Marrowkai let out a low chuckle, his skeletal form barely shifting inside his transparent prison. "Once you've experienced death firsthand, Atreyos, fear loses its edge. Panic and terror? Useless emotions. They serve no purpose but to cloud the mind." His glowing red eyes flickered with amusement. "You'd do well to remember that."
Atreyos' jaw tightened, his fists clenching, but before he could retort, Kytchu stepped forward, raising a hand. "Enough, both of you." Her sharp tone carried the authority of the eldest sibling. "We've barely agreed on a temporary truce, and already you're bickering like children."
Both Marrowkai and Atreyos let out identical huffs of irritation but said nothing further.
Shade, who had been silently observing, exhaled through her nose and ran a finger along her temple. "Arguing won't get us anywhere." She turned her gaze to the others, her purple ribbons swaying as she moved. "Instead of standing here trading insults, how about we actually do something? Exploring this iron chamber seems like a good place to start."
Icaron, still seated on the cold metal floor, stretched his arms with a sigh. "Well, we're certainly not getting answers by standing around."
Kytchu narrowed her eyes as she scanned their surroundings.
The chamber was vast, circular, and constructed entirely of smooth, unyielding metal. Its surface was cold and featureless, offering no indication of doors, windows, or any visible exits. The only source of illumination came from a single dim light hanging from the center of the ceiling. Encased in a small glass fixture, it emitted a steady glow—strange and unfamiliar, yet clearly not fire. It flickered slightly, casting long shadows that stretched across the cold floor.
She crossed her arms, discomfort gnawing at her. It felt unnatural to be without her quiver and bow—tools that had accompanied her since childhood. "We need to find a way out," she said firmly. "If there's no visible exit, then we search for hidden mechanisms."
Shade nodded, stepping forward. "Agreed. I'll check the walls."
Icaron pushed himself up from the floor, stretching his arms. "I'll help. Maybe there's a seam or something we're not seeing."
As they began their search, Xiphos, who had been eerily silent, finally spoke. His voice was tight with restrained anger. "And what about him?" His glare was fixed on Marrowkai, who remained lounging inside his transparent prison.
Shade hesitated. "For now... we leave him be."
Xiphos immediately tensed, his posture stiffening. His hands clenched into fists at his sides, but before he could voice his protest, Thera raised a hand to cut him off. "Listen. He's trapped. He's been here longer than us and hasn't escaped. That means either he can't or there's something bigger at play."
She turned her gaze to Marrowkai, her golden eyes sharp and calculating. "And if he wanted us dead, he wouldn't have bothered waking me up earlier. We don't have to trust him—but treating him like an immediate threat accomplishes nothing."
Marrowkai's skeletal grin widened, his red pinprick eyes gleaming with amusement. "Ah, how refreshing. A voice of good reason. I was beginning to wonder if any of you still had one." He leaned back against the interior of his sphere, resting his chin on his bony hand. "By all means, carry on with your investigation. I'll just sit here and enjoy the show."
King Zarek, who had remained quiet for quite some time, finally exhaled, rubbing his temple. His voice carried the weight of exhaustion and authority. "Enough. We have more pressing concerns. Let's move."
After speaking, King Zarek turned slightly and gestured for Atreyos to step forward. "We have things to discuss, boy." His voice, though calm, carried a weight of authority that left little room for argument.
Atreyos hesitated for only a moment before obeying, stepping closer to his father with a guarded expression.
Meanwhile, the others wasted no time in scouring the chamber for any potential escape routes or hidden mechanisms. Shade ran her hands along the cold metal walls, searching for any seams or irregularities. Icaron joined her, tapping against the surface at different points, listening for any hollow sounds. Kytchu, still unarmed, examined the strange light fixture above, trying to determine its nature.
Xiphos, however, made no move to assist. His piercing gaze remained locked on Marrowkai, watching the skeletal figure inside the transparent sphere with suspicion and barely restrained hostility.
Marrowkai, for his part, remained still, yet beneath his motionless exterior, bitterness gnawed at him like a relentless specter. His glowing red eyes flickered with something unreadable as he observed King Zarek and Atreyos while his bony fingers curled slightly, but he said nothing. He simply watched.
Thera quietly observed, watching as her siblings searched the chamber, while she idly brushed dust from her Meric robe. She took note of every movement—King Zarek and Atreyos in their private conversation, Xiphos brooding over Marrowkai, and the others inspecting the strange metallic walls.
Then, Shade's voice rang out, sharp and urgent. "Everyone, come here!"
The command cut through the tense atmosphere. One by one, the royal siblings and their father abandoned their tasks and made their way toward her. Marrowkai, lacking the ability to simply walk over, shifted within the transparent sphere, making it roll forward in an almost lazy manner. He still had no idea how the accursed thing transmitted his voice outside, but he suspected the thin, slit-like openings scattered across its surface played a role.
Shade, standing against one of the chamber walls, placed a hand flat against the metal. "This part of the wall, listen to it." She rapped her knuckles against the surface, and a distinct hollow sound echoed back, louder than anywhere else in the room.
Kytchu narrowed her eyes. "A chamber beyond this wall?"
Icaron crossed his arms. "Possibly a door... or a weak point."
Xiphos smirked slightly. "Well, what are we waiting for? Let's break it down."
Thera, however, frowned. "Hold on. If there's something on the other side, we don't know if breaking through is the best option. There could be a mechanism to open it."
Marrowkai, still rolling idly in his containment, let out an amused chuckle. "By all means, do try brute force. I'd love to see how that works out for you."
Shade ignored him, instead looking at King Zarek for a final decision. "What's the plan?"
Without warning, Xiphos lunged forward and slammed his shoulder into the weakened section of the wall with all his strength. The sudden impact sent a deep metallic clang echoing through the chamber.
Thera and Kytchu both let out an exasperated groan, their hands flying to their faces in unison. "By the gods, Xiphos—" Thera muttered, already regretting everything.
Before anyone could stop him, Atreyos followed suit, stepping up beside Xiphos and driving his fist into the weakened metal. Another loud boom resounded, and this time, the thin panel finally gave way—but instead of revealing a doorway, passage, or anything remotely useful, it simply exposed a single lever.
A beat of silence followed.
Everyone just stared at the lever, processing what had just happened.
Except for Icaron. He simply folded his arms and let out a casual remark, "Damn, that part of the wall must've been really weak if it didn't even need some secret mechanism and just crumbled from brute force."
Slowly, the entire group turned to him, wearing identical expressions of deadpan disbelief.
Kytchu was the first to break the silence, voice dripping with sarcasm. "That's what you're focusing on?"
Icaron blinked, looking around at their unimpressed faces. "...What?"
A collective groan rippled through the chamber, even from Marrowkai inside his strange transparent prison.
That alone was enough to catch Kytchu's attention. She flicked her gaze toward the skeletal lord, narrowing her eyes slightly. Did... did he just groan? The very thought of it was bizarre—what kind of undead being groaned in exasperation like the rest of them? But after a moment, she shrugged it off, chalking it up to him getting caught in the moment.
Focusing back on the task at hand, she turned her attention to the lever embedded in the exposed section of the wall. It was made of the same dark, cold metal as the rest of the chamber, slightly rusted at the base but still intact.
"So... do we pull it?" she asked, crossing her arms.
The royal siblings exchanged glances, the weight of the decision settling between them.
Shade was the first to speak. "We don't know what it does. It could open a way out, or it could make things worse."
Thera nodded, her fingers tapping against her arm as she considered. "If this place was designed to trap us, then there's a chance pulling that lever triggers something dangerous."
Xiphos, already impatient, rolled his shoulders. "Or it does nothing, and we waste time standing here debating over a lever."
Atreyos, arms crossed, let out a huff. "Considering where we are and who's with us, I'd rather not activate some hidden death trap." His sharp gaze flicked toward Marrowkai, who merely tilted his head in amusement at the growing debate.
King Zarek, who had been listening quietly, finally exhaled and spoke. "Then we put it to a vote." His tone was decisive. "Majority rules."
The group nodded in agreement, tension thick in the air as they prepared to make their choice.
The group then gathered around the rusted lever, their expressions tense as they prepared to cast their votes. Despite their distrust, they begrudgingly allowed Marrowkai to participate—if only because, like it or not, he was stuck in this situation with them.
The skeletal lord leaned back within his transparent prison, an amused glint in his glowing red eyes. "Oh, I vote yes, of course." His voice carried an easy nonchalance, despite the glares sent his way. He tapped a bony finger against the interior of his strange enclosure. "After all, I'm in no danger here. No starvation, no dehydration... just eternal boredom if we sit around doing nothing."
Xiphos and Atreyos immediately scowled, their gazes sharpening as they both shot fiery glares in his direction.
"Of course you'd say that," Atreyos muttered, crossing his arms.
"Convenient, isn't it?" Xiphos added, his tone biting.
Meanwhile, King Zarek merely sighed, watching the exchange with tired eyes. "I suppose that is a valid point," he admitted. Then, after a moment's thought, he added, "As the arbiter of this vote, I will refrain from casting mine. The decision lies with the rest of you."
Icaron wasted no time in stepping forward. "Well, I vote yes."
Thera shot him an incredulous look. "And your reasoning?"
A grin tugged at Icaron's lips as he shrugged. "What's life without a little danger?"
A heavy silence followed.
Several of his siblings turned to look at him—deadpan, unimpressed.
Even Shade, who was usually calm and neutral, pinched the bridge of her nose. "That's seriously your reasoning?"
Icaron only smirked, undeterred. "Absolutely."
As the discussion continued, the rest of the royal siblings took their turns casting their votes, the tension in the room palpable.
Kytchu stepped forward next, arms crossed, her golden helmet gleaming faintly under the dim light. She exhaled sharply. "I'm not a fan of pulling unknown levers in strange, locked chambers, but..." She shot a glance at the cold, iron walls surrounding them, then at the ceiling, which loomed above with no apparent means of escape. "We don't exactly have many options. Sitting here isn't going to get us anywhere."
She finally nodded. "I vote yes. If it's a trap, we'll deal with it like we always have."
Xiphos scoffed. "Like we always have? In case you haven't noticed, we don't have our weapons. Or any idea where we are."
Kytchu gave him a sideways glance. "And yet here you are, without a better suggestion."
Xiphos gritted his teeth but said nothing.
Thera sighed, rubbing her temple. "I vote yes as well," she finally said, "but under the condition that we all stay alert the moment it's pulled. I don't trust this place, and I trust whoever put us here even less."
Shade nodded in agreement. "Same here. Whatever's on the other side of this... I'd rather face it than sit here waiting for something worse to happen."
Atreyos, on the other hand, visibly bristled. He turned to Thera with a scowl. "Are you all seriously agreeing with him?" He pointed an accusatory finger at Marrowkai, who simply watched the exchange with amused detachment.
Thera shot him a firm look. "I'm agreeing with our reality, Atreyos. Like it or not, he's stuck here too, and he has no reason to lie. We need to be smart about this."
Atreyos clenched his fists, his jaw tightening. "Fine." His voice was laced with frustration. "But don't come crying to me when this turns out to be a massive mistake."
King Zarek, who had been watching quietly, let out a slow breath. "That makes it decided, then." He turned his gaze to the lever. "Now... let's see what fate has in store for us."
A heavy silence fell over them.
Then, Kytchu reached out—and pulled the lever.
For a few moments, nothing happened at all.
The silence in the chamber stretched, thick and expectant. Icaron, ever the one to lighten the mood—or worsen it, depending on the situation—tilted his head and smirked.
"Well, that was underwhelming. Maybe it's just decoration?"
Before anyone could respond, the entire iron chamber lurched.
The walls vibrated with an eerie hum, and the floor beneath them trembled. A deep, mechanical groan echoed through the space, the kind of sound that suggested something ancient and long dormant was suddenly awakening.
"Get down!" Shade shouted instinctively.
"Brace yourselves!" Thera barked as she spread her stance to stay steady.
Xiphos, in true Xiphos fashion, dug his feet in and squared his shoulders. "Brace? Ha! I'll take whatever this place throws at me head-on!"
Meanwhile, Marrowkai simply leaned back within his spherical prison, entirely unbothered. He observed the chaos with a bemused expression, almost as if he were watching a play unfold before him, uninterested in the panic of his former family.
Then, the floor at the center of the chamber sank down, smoothly lowering like a hidden platform revealing its true function.
For a brief moment, that was all that happened. No doors opened, no enemies emerged, and no grand revelation was given. Just a sunken portion of the floor.
Confusion flickered across everyone's faces, but before anyone could react further, something stirred.
A massive, unseen mechanism rumbled behind the walls. The air grew thick with a faint charge, like a storm waiting to break. Slowly, something began to move—a massive object shifting forward, emerging from the shadows beyond the chamber's confines.
And then they saw it.
An oversized crystal ball, nearly as massive as the chamber itself, was being gently lowered into the sunken center, guided by unseen forces. Its surface was almost as clear as Marrowkai's strange spherical prison, but unlike his transparent confines, this orb seemed to hold something within.
Xiphos's eyes immediately narrowed. His lips curled into a sharp scowl, and in a rare slip of control, he let out a vulgar curse.
Shade, standing nearby, gave him a disapproving glance. "Language, dear brother."
But Xiphos ignored her, his attention locked onto the massive crystal ball.
Meanwhile, King Zarek stood frozen, his sharp eyes widening ever so slightly.
He had seen such things before.
Not of this size, certainly, but crystal balls of prophetic significance were not unfamiliar to him. His brother, Zilaros, or Zily, as he and his wife called his brother, had once possessed one, a powerful artifact that had shown visions of the past, present, and future. The memories of those cryptic glimpses, the unsettling truths they revealed, came rushing back to him.
But this?
This was no ordinary fortune-teller's or powerful magikill tool.
This thing had a presence.
Some kind of purpose.
And he intended to find out what that was.
"Be on your guard," Zarek finally said, his voice carrying the weight of experience. "I don't believe this is merely for show."