Hollow Feeling in the Quiet

Elysia and the others now stood at the edge of the third floor. A row of ascending steps stretched before them. Those steps would later lead them back to the previous level.

Syrene stepped first. The others followed.

The cavern walls echoed the sound of their shoes tapping against stone. It was the only sound accompanying them along the way.

It seemed everyone shared the same thought. They wanted to leave this irritating place as soon as possible.

The staircase was slightly longer than they expected. Imaria’s face beside her had begun to redden. The heavy air, combined with her long church robe, must have made the heat cling to her body.

“Sister, let us rest for a moment.” Elysia glanced at Imaria, who was already breathless.

“N-no. Please... I am fine.”

Mireya lifted the elf girl’s veil. Only then did the sheen of sweat around her neck become visible.

“Eh?”

“Look. Your body is covered in sweat.” Mireya reached into her pocket and retrieved a handkerchief. She wiped the sweat continuously gathering at Imaria’s skin. “You will faint if you keep forcing yourself.”

“A-alright.”

Syrene then instructed everyone to take a short break.

They all sat down on the ground, loosening the buttons of their uniforms. For nobles, clothing was intentionally tailored to be slightly tighter than comfortable.

Even Elysia, who did not seem bothered by such matters, could not escape that noble etiquette. Her uniform was also designed to fit close to her figure.

“Sometimes... I hate these clothes.”

“Look at the bright side, Ely. These outfits indirectly help us maintain our figures, do they not?”

Elysia only rolled her eyes in response to Celina’s remark.

“Let me help you a little.”

Mireya flicked her fingers. A faint breeze brushed against their porcelain like skin, bringing soft relief from the lingering heat.

Meanwhile, Elysia formed several small blocks of ice and handed them out to the others, asking them to press the chilled surfaces against their skin to ease the flushed warmth.

“Thank you, Lady Elysia,” Arabella whispered while clutching the fabric of her skirt.

“You are welcome.”

“Does anyone have water. This girl is dehydrated.” Mireya asked while continuing to care for Imaria.

Everyone exchanged glances before shaking their heads.

Mireya turned to Syrene, but she also shook her head.

“I understand. This is partly our fault for not preparing well enough.” She glanced at Imaria. “Wait for a moment, sweet girl.”

She then took another handkerchief and placed it against the tip of a stalactite. Using ice magic, she sealed it to the base.

After waiting for a while, Mireya removed the cloth. A small amount of water had gathered within it. The handkerchief seemed waterproof, allowing it to hold the liquid.

The water was immediately given to Imaria. She drank all of it, though it was clearly not enough. Mireya repeated the process.

“I apologize, but we have no choice.”

“I understand, Senior.”

They could not drink magically created water. There were two reasons.

The first was that it damaged the flow of mana from within. Mana altered into magic was no longer natural. Drinking it without a proper filter would disrupt their magic veins. Healing damage to magic veins was incredibly difficult.

The second reason was simple. It was taboo. No matter how much magically created water one drank, it would never quench thirst. Much like sea water, it only made the throat drier.

After several small sips, Imaria finally looked better.

Syrene rose the moment she confirmed it. Without needing a command, everyone stood and continued climbing.

Suddenly, a chill clawed along the back of Elysia’s neck. She flinched and quickly rubbed it.

“What’s wrong, Ely.” Irine asked.

“Did you not feel something, Irine.”

Irine looked left and right, then shook her head. “Not at all.”

Elysia glanced behind her. Mireya still looked calm.

As beastman, their instincts were sharper than anyone’s, especially when danger approached.

“Perhaps it was only my imagination.”

Irine tilted her head with mild confusion.

On the way up, Elysia could not shake the unease in her chest. It worsened with every step, as though each stone stair added weight to her thoughts.

Mireya seemed to notice the shift in her younger sister and moved beside her to ask quietly what was wrong.

Elysia explained the discomfort she felt.

“I do not sense anything either, Ely.”

“So it’s just my imagination.”

“If you want, I can check with magic.”

Elysia shook her head softly. It felt excessive to use magic just to soothe nameless anxiety.

If her sister’s foresight magic had detected danger, she would have warned them already. The only misfortune today belonged to Arabella, and they had already overcome it.

“All right, I will not force you. Ah, we are only halfway. Tell me if you change your mind, okay?”

“What?! Halfway?! We walked this far, yet it is only halfway? Who designed this ridiculous floor?”

Before Elysia could respond, Irine interrupted loudly. She began ranting about how unfairly long the staircase was. Fortunately, her outburst lifted the mood. Conversations slowly returned after a long silence caused by exhaustion.

The relaxed atmosphere managed to draw a faint smile from Elysia. Enough to lighten the heaviness she carried.

After one more turn in the staircase, only a third remained. But with the next step, the unease returned. This time it was stronger.

And something else followed. Not mere dread. Not a vague chill.

Her chest tightened, as if a thin blade pressed from within. A buried emotion slipped free from where she had hidden it. The pressure rose higher with every heartbeat.

Her smile faded.

Her heartbeat turned uneven.

Elysia bit her lower lip, breath trembling. Why now? In a place like this, at a moment like this. Why did the longing return so sharply.

What is happening to me.