Chapter 11: Cave

A few moments later, after a soldier brought news that they had found the lost soldiers—though something was terribly wrong with them—Rudoff, Cassandra, Kael, and Milian marched toward the cave area.

"Are you alright, Milian? Sorry to force you, but you're the only one who has the ability to see and manipulate mana," Rudoff said as Milian hid at his right side, clinging to his arm.

"N-No, it's alright. I-I understand," she said, her voice shaking.

Following behind them, Cassandra and Kael walked together. Cassandra maintained her professional, dignified knight's stride, while Kael casually tagged along.

"Huh? So she has the power to see mana? That's surprising," he said offhandedly.

"A Crown's shadow is directly handpicked by a Crown, so of course they all have unique abilities," she stated in a firm voice.

"I see, but why does a Crown even need a shadow? Aren't they super strong?"

"They are, but there is no absolute rule that a Crown cannot be defeated. Shadows serve as their representatives. If something happens to a Crown, their shadow will step up to become the new one."

"Then does that mean if I killed you right now, I would become a Crown?" he asked, genuinely curious.

"Do you want to try?" Cassandra glanced at Kael with sharp, lethal eyes.

"Nah... I'm good," he muttered, averting his eyes as he walked in silence.

Soon, they reached their destination.

It was a small campsite outside the cave's entrance. A few soldiers stood guard at the dark threshold, while others paced nervously around the perimeter. One soldier noticed their arrival and ran over to them immediately.

"Sir Rudoff, please follow me... You need to see them!" he panicked.

"Calm down."

The soldier nodded nervously and led them toward the gathered crowd. The surrounding troops parted to make way.

Milian took one look at the condition of the elite soldiers and immediately felt sick to her stomach. Covering her mouth, she stumbled away to puke.

Lying on the ground were several horrific, skeleton-like corpses. Only thin, pale skin stretched over their bones, their sunken eyes were thrust deep into their skulls, their teeth protruded unnaturally, and their bare ribs were visible to the naked eye.

"That's...?" Cassandra's eyes widened in surprise.

"It seems things are worse than we thought," Rudoff said grimly.

"Hmm..." Kael narrowed his eyes, trying to study their condition.

"Please, take care of them," Rudoff ordered the medics before walking over to Milian, who was wiping her mouth.

"Milian? Do you sense something?" Rudoff asked softly as she turned around, holding her arm to stop herself from trembling.

"They're dead... Their life force... I can't trace it at all. It seems like something sucked it out completely."

"Are you sure, Milian?" Cassandra asked.

Milian nodded meekly.

"I see. Then we must stop anyone else from entering the cave. Rudoff, I will—"

Before she could finish, Rudoff interrupted her. "Don't be reckless, Cassandra. We don't even know who or what we're facing. We need a plan until—"

"No... we have to go in immediately. I sense a strange energy coming from inside, as if whatever is behind this is gathering resources."

"If what Milian says is true, then we must enter before it's too late," Cassandra urged.

Rudoff thought hard for a moment, then let out a boisterous laugh. "Okay then! But I can't let any of my men get injured, so only the four of us will enter."

"Wait? Who said I'm going with you guys?" Kael asked, his voice flat.

"What are you saying? Your Crown is walking directly into danger! Isn't this your chance to prove your loyalty to her?" Rudoff asked, bewildered.

"Why would I? I never agreed to become her shadow in the first place! She forced this title on me. And second, I don't want to die young."

"Wait... What is he talking about? Cassandra, did you... really force him?"

"No... Valerius... I mean, Captain Valerius trapped me into this."

Valerius? That blonde guy, Kael thought to himself. He already took Alicia away by manipulating her, and now even Cassandra—who is strong and cautious around everyone—got manipulated by him... I need to keep my guard way up around him if we ever meet again.

"Anyway..." Cassandra walked up to Kael and grabbed his wrist, twisting his arm behind his back.

"Hey! What are you doing?! Why are you—" Kael struggled to break free, but with her vast combat experience, Cassandra easily handcuffed her own wrist to his.

"I am just making sure... you don't escape."

"Now you're forcing me to die alongside you?! Give me a break! I don't want to go somewhere my life will be in danger! Just give me the key!" Kael raised his voice, reaching out to snatch the key from Cassandra's free hand.

Cassandra easily dodged his grasp and tossed the key deep into the dark mouth of the cave.

"Now, if you want your freedom, you'll have to help us get through there," she said calmly.

"You...! Are you—Aughh... Fine!" He sighed in sheer annoyance, then added, "But I have one condition! For self-defense, I want a weapon. Since I can't use magic, how else am I supposed to defend myself?"

In response, Cassandra reached behind her back, pulled out the rusted knife from before, and presented it to him.

"Here. I brought your lucky charm. Now you can at least save yourself," she offered.

He paused before accepting it. "This thing is a bad luck charm for me. Ever since it came into my life, I haven't been able to take a single peaceful breath." He strapped it securely around his waist.

Milian stared at the blade. That's... She felt the exact same eerie mana signature radiating from the knife as she did from Kael.

Noticing her stare, Rudoff asked, "Is something wrong? If you're worried about Cassandra's shadow, don't be. Since he's handcuffed to her, he'll die before he can ever escape."

"No... It's just..."

Maybe I shouldn't tell them about it, Milian thought nervously. But is this really alright? I'm even hiding what I saw earlier from them... Who on earth is this guy, anyway?

"I think we should enter," Cassandra said, taking her first steps forward. Kael groaned and protested against her superhuman strength as she casually dragged him along behind her.

"Milian, maybe we should go too."

"Hmm." She nodded firmly, running over to hold Rudoff's hand as they both followed close behind.

Before entering the cavern, they grabbed a large supply bag from the campsite entrance and did one final gear check.

"So, is everyone ready?" Rudoff asked.

Milian gave a resolute nod, Cassandra remained stoic and composed, while Kael—still thoroughly upset about being dragged into this—averted his eyes in annoyance.

"Rudoff asked you something. Did you not hear him?" Cassandra asked, tilting her head.

"You're doing this on purpose, aren't you?!" Kael complained, taking heavy, exaggerated steps. "Fine! I'll tag along, and this time, I'm dragging you down with me!"

Kael marched forward, pulling Cassandra along as his boots crossed the threshold. As his very first step left the sunlight and plunged into the absolute darkness of the cave, he felt a cold, sudden gust of wind strike his body.

His eyes widened in shock as he froze in place.

Cassandra stopped, looking at him with confusion. Seeing the sheer terror on his face, she immediately put her guard up, placing her hand on the hilt of her sword.

"Did you sense something? What is it?" she asked, sharply scanning their pitch-black surroundings.

Seeing her reaction, Rudoff instantly stepped in front of Milian, shielding her with his body.

But Kael didn't respond.

"Hey! Are you listening...?" Cassandra raised her voice, but her words failed to reach Kael's ears. Instead, a chilling whisper echoed directly inside his mind:

“Thanks for the food~”

Kael stared horrified into the depths of the dark cave as a violent, skull-crushing throb tore through his head, accompanied by words echoing in his mind:

GLANCE INTO THE FUTURE