The camp was still a mess.
People everywhere.
Shouting.
Arguing.
Trying to figure out what just happened and why half the world just got dumped into one place.
Zael didn't care.
Not his problem.
He and the others were already heading back toward their villa, slipping through the chaos.
Auralis was still grinning.
"I'm still saying it—you dragged everyone out."
"…Wasn't on purpose," Zael muttered.
"Sure."
Zane stayed quiet beside him.
Aurelia's gaze moved once—
Then stopped.
"…Someone's coming."
Zael turned.
And saw her.
Lily
Running.
Not just fast—
Urgent.
Her eyes were locked on them, wide, unsteady.
"…Zael!"
That alone made him stop.
Before he could react—
She was already there.
And then—
She slammed into them.
Arms around both him and Zane.
Tight.
Like she wasn't letting go anytime soon.
Zael blinked.
"…Hey—"
Zane stiffened slightly—
Then just stood there.
Lily's voice came out low.
"…You idiots…"
Her grip tightened.
"…Do you have any idea—"
She cut herself off.
Didn't finish it.
Zael glanced at Zane.
Zane didn't move.
Didn't pull away.
After a moment—
Lily pulled back slightly.
Still close.
Still holding onto them.
Her eyes moved between both of them quickly—
Checking.
Making sure.
"…You're okay."
Not a question.
Zael nodded.
"…Yeah."
Zane gave a small nod too.
"…We're fine."
She exhaled.
Tension leaving her shoulders little by little.
"…I felt it."
Her gaze sharpened.
"…That distortion… space folding like that…"
She looked straight at Zael.
"…That was you, wasn't it?"
Zael paused for a second.
Then shrugged.
"…Something like that."
She stared at him.
Clearly not buying the casual answer.
But she didn't push.
Not now.
Not after this.
She finally let go.
Stepped back.
And that's when—
It clicked.
She noticed them.
Auralis.
Aurelia.
Two unfamiliar faces standing way too comfortably close to Zael and Zane.
Auralis raised a brow.
"…You gonna keep staring or—?"
Lily blinked.
"…Who are they?"
Auralis looked at Zael.
Then at Zane.
Then back at Lily.
"…Oh wow."
A slow smirk spread across her face.
"…So this is what you guys were doing while disappearing?"
Zael frowned.
"…What?"
Auralis leaned slightly toward Aurelia, voice just loud enough.
"…No wonder they didn't come back early."
Aurelia didn't react much—but there was the faintest shift in her eyes.
Auralis continued, muttering under her breath—
"…Running around with girls in some hidden place… perverts."
Zael's expression went flat.
"…That's not what happened."
"Yeah yeah."
Zane just sighed.
Lily looked between all of them again.
Confused.
Slightly suspicious now.
"…Zane?"
Zane glanced at her.
Then spoke calmly.
"…Teammates."
Short.
To the point.
Zael added,
"…We met them inside."
Auralis crossed her arms.
"…Saved your lives too, by the way."
"Multiple times," she added with a grin.
Aurelia finally spoke, voice calm.
"…Aurelia."
Auralis pointed at herself.
"Auralis."
Lily hesitated for a second—
Then nodded.
"…Lily."
A brief pause.
Then Auralis smirked again.
"…Yeah I figured."
Zael rubbed his temple.
"…Can we not do this here?"
No one disagreed.
Because the camp was still chaos.
And standing around wasn't helping.
Zael turned.
"…Let's just go back."
Zane followed immediately.
Aurelia walked with them.
Auralis stretched once before moving too.
Lily stayed close this time.
Not clinging—
But not drifting away either.
As they walked toward the villa—
The noise of the camp faded behind them.
Not completely.
But enough.
For now—
This was enough.
-----
The door shut.
And just like that—
Everything outside became… distant.
Still loud.
Still chaotic.
But not here.
Zael dropped into a chair.
"…I'm not moving for a bit."
Auralis looked around, hands on her hips.
"…Nice place."
Aurelia didn't say anything, just took a quiet seat.
Zane leaned against the wall like usual.
Lily stood there.
Looking at all of them.
Then she turned and walked straight into the kitchen.
"…Sit. I'm making something."
Zael blinked.
"…You don't have to—"
"You're eating," she cut in. "Then you're explaining."
Auralis grinned.
"…Yeah, I like her."
Zael sighed.
"…Figures."
—
A few minutes later—
Food hit the table.
Simple.
Hot.
Enough.
Nobody talked at first.
They just ate.
Because yeah—
They needed it.
—
Then Lily put her hand down on the table.
Light.
But firm.
"…Alright."
Everyone looked at her.
Her eyes moved from Zael—
To Zane—
Then back again.
"…What happened?"
No jokes.
No messing around.
Just straight.
Zael scratched the side of his head.
"…We went in."
Auralis snorted.
"…Great explanation."
Lily didn't smile.
"…I felt it."
That made things quiet again.
"…When you activated that thing—whatever it was—space didn't just move."
She frowned slightly.
"…It twisted."
Her eyes locked onto Zael.
"…That was you."
Zael paused.
Then—
"…Yeah."
A short silence.
"…Explain properly."
He exhaled.
"…It's the abyss."
Auralis leaned back in her chair.
"…That place is messed up."
Zane added quietly,
"…It doesn't behave like normal zones."
Lily frowned.
"…In what way?"
Zael thought for a second.
"…It adapts."
That landed.
"…Adapts how?" she asked.
Auralis tapped the table.
"…You hit something—it changes."
Zane nodded.
"…Faster than it should."
Zael added,
"…And the more you fight, the worse it gets."
Lily's brows pulled together.
"…That's not normal."
"…Yeah," Auralis said. "No kidding."
A short pause.
Then Lily asked,
"…And the creatures?"
Zael's expression shifted slightly.
"…They weren't just attacking."
"…They were being pushed," Zane said.
Auralis nodded.
"…Yeah. Like someone was herding them."
Lily looked between them.
"…Someone?"
Zael shrugged lightly.
"…We don't know who."
Aurelia spoke quietly for the first time.
"…But it wasn't random."
Silence.
Lily leaned back slightly.
Processing.
"…So let me get this straight…"
She counted lightly on her fingers.
"…A place that adapts…"
"…Creatures that don't act on instinct…"
"…And something controlling them…"
A pause.
"…And you don't know what."
Zael shook his head.
"…No."
Auralis added,
"…But we met the ones giving orders."
That got Lily's attention again.
"…Who?"
Zael's tone stayed flat.
"…Royals."
Zane continued,
"…Three of them."
Auralis shrugged.
"…Two now."
Lily blinked.
"…You killed them?"
Zael didn't react.
"…They tried to kill us first."
Fair.
"…And the third?" she asked.
Auralis leaned back.
"…Ran."
Zael added,
"…Back into the abyss."
Lily didn't like that.
You could tell.
"…So one of them is still out there."
No one disagreed.
Because yeah—
That was the problem.
A small silence settled.
Then Lily looked at Zael again.
"…And you."
A pause.
"…what was that.."
Zael shrugged slightly.
"…what."
Lily wasn't amused....
"Just a little thing called the abyss power"
Auralis smirked.
"…What!!!. Do you know what that thing is. It corrupts, devours. For many years a lot of experiments has been carried out by the top brass trying to control the power of the abyss. Without fail anyone who tried it ended up corrupted..."
Lily didn't find it funny.
"…Its not something you just 'use'."
Zael didn't argue.
"…It worked."
That wasn't reassuring.
Not to her.
She exhaled slowly.
"…Just don't lose yourself doing it."
Zane spoke calmly,
"…He won't."
Lily looked at him.
Then nodded slightly.
"…He better not."
A pause.
Then she spoke again.
"…The dungeon."
That shifted things.
Zael frowned.
"…Yeah…"
Lily tapped the table lightly.
"…It's still opening soon."
Auralis groaned.
"… That, we don't know.."
Zane added,
"…but now we know it won't be normal."
Aurelia nodded once.
"…Not after this."
Lily's expression tightened.
"…If that abyss is connected to it…"
She didn't finish the sentence.
Didn't need to.
Zael leaned back.
"…Then we go in ready."
Auralis grinned.
"…Finally something fun."
Lily shot her a look.
"…You're way too excited."
Auralis shrugged.
"…You're not excited enough."
Zael stood up slowly.
"…We rest first."
Zane nodded.
"…Then we find answers"
Aurelia stood too.
"…Agreed."
Lily didn't argue.
"…Yeah."
A small pause.
Then she added quietly—
"…Just don't disappear again without saying anything."
Zael rubbed the back of his neck.
"…I'll try."
Auralis laughed.
"…He won't."
Zael gave her a look.
"…I said I'll try."
For now—
That was enough.
Food.
Answers.
Half-answers.
And more questions waiting.
But at least—
They were all here.
To be continued…