As they swam forward, leaving the dead creatures behind, Nova noticed a strange shimmer in the water ahead. The distortion hung in the water like heat waves, but there was no heat here. It pulsed with a rhythm that seemed almost alive. He slowed, raising his hand to signal caution.

(What is it?) Anny asked, tensing beside him. Her webbed fingers spread instinctively, preparing for combat.

(Not sure. Stay alert.)

The shimmer grew more pronounced as they approached. Nova squinted through the water, trying to make sense of what he was seeing. It wasn't a creature—that much was clear. But it moved with purpose, a wall of distorted water that rippled and pulsed with hidden energy.

(I think we'll be encountering magic now…) Nova kept his distance, studying the anomaly. (I'll try countering some of them to regain essence, but no guarantees.)

(It's fine, I'll tank what I can't dodge.) Anny moved closer to him, catching the blue light in the white streaks of her hair.

Nova approached the barrier more carefully now. He extended his senses, probing for weaknesses in whatever magic had created this phenomenon. The water around the shimmer felt heavier, resisting his movement as he drew near.

His fingers found the edge of the distortion. It felt solid to his touch, like pressing against thick glass. The magical construct hummed with power, sending vibrations through the water and into his bones.

(Hmm... This is surprisingly sturdy.) Nova traced the barrier's surface, searching for any cracks or flaws. (I can't sense any openings from here, meaning it might be an enclosed barrier.)

(Which means?)

(That it's been cast from the inside, and that whoever cast it is still there.) Nova pulled his hand back, studying the magical wall. (But there is a flaw.)

(...Which is?)

(I can see through it.) Nova pointed to the water beyond the barrier. A shadow danced in the blue light, shifting and moving like a living thing. (That means I can Shadow Step to that shadow down there.)

(Oh yeah? You can access the void from here?)

(...I hope?) Nova frowned, not having given it any thought before now. (You think the dungeon is separated from the surface world?)

(You're the expert.)

(...Let me just try it.)

He gathered essence around himself, creating a temporary formation in the water. It shaped into a half-circle of blackness, covering his body from the blue light on the walls. And then his Shadow Step activated, melding his body into the dark.

The void welcomed him as it always had—but something was wrong. Instead of the instantaneous journey he expected, time stretched. He stood in the endless darkness for several seconds, feeling the weight pressing down on him.

The blackness felt different here. Thicker. More alive. It seemed to watch him with invisible eyes, evaluating him with silent judgment.

'...Well, at least I got in,' he thought, forcing himself to remain calm. 'But I'd prefer not being stuck in here.'

He looked around, not seeing anything that would let him get a sense of distance. Only infinite blackness all around. Only his own body could be seen, despite the lack of any light source.

'I should have been more careful about entering the void… I have enemies here now.'

Out of nowhere, a female voice emerged from the darkness, sounding like it came from right beside his ear. "Oh, was the dungeon too much for you?"

Nova flinched despite himself. The voice held an intimacy that made his skin crawl—too close, too knowing. 'I don't recognize that voice, so it's probably not someone from my memories... Is it a void creature?'

"The little king wants me to put you back." The woman's tone shifted to something almost purring. "But if you want, I can place you out of his reach."

Heat prickled along Nova's spine. Every instinct screamed danger, yet something about the voice felt familiar. "...You mean out of the dungeon?"

"Exactly. He has very little power here, unlike me." Pride resonated in the darkness. The void seemed to ripple around her words, acknowledging her claim.

Nova's jaw tightened. The offer was kind, but he had no intention of taking it—even if he had been in the dungeon alone, which he wasn't. "I've been told that making deals with those from the void is a very bad idea."

A soft chuckle echoed from all directions. "That is normally the case. But you and I, we share a connection deeper than you can imagine." The voice moved closer, if such a thing was possible in this place without direction. "All I ask for in return is a small gift."

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'Yeah, I'm not falling for that one.'

"...Well, even if that is the case, I won't escape yet." Nova kept his voice steady, refusing to let fear bleed through. "And if I do later, I won't escape alone."

"Oh, the girl you brought along last time?" Interest sparked in the woman's tone, followed by something that might have been amusement.

Nova's eyes widened in the darkness. "...What is it with this place that makes my mind such an open book? Could you stop reading my memories?"

The laughter that followed was genuine, rich with mirth. The voice shifted to his other ear, carrying a rustic accent that hadn't been there before. "I ain't done no memory-readin, sir, I swear to ya! I know because I checked up on the two of you the last time you were here."

"You checked up on—"

The memory hit him out of nowhere, something he had completely forgotten ever since it happened. Suddenly, he was back in that first visit to the void, seeing the hooded woman through the swirling darkness. Black flames had danced around her form, and her face under the hood had been a pit of night, even darker than the void around it.

And even then, it had sparked a sense of familiarity.

"I even winked at you," the voice spoke softer now, letting him sink into his memories. "I'm surprised you don't remember."

Nova's throat went dry. The memory felt different now, charged with new meaning. "...Maybe I do. You're not related to The Fool, are you?"

The change was immediate. The void itself seemed to flinch, pressing inward as the voice let out a sharp, urgent hiss. "Such a reckless thing, saying his name here. If you know who he is, he's probably searching for you."

'Searching for me? It wouldn't surprise me... And this is his domain. I was reckless.'

"Don't use the Shadow Step again, okay?" The woman's voice carried real concern now, the playful tone replaced by urgency. "I won't be here to shield you every time. And never open the door for him."

Nova felt sweat beading on his forehead despite the void's timeless nature. "I still don't trust you, but nothing bad will come from listening to your advice. Right?"

"Trust is earned, I know that, little one." Warmth returned to her voice, along with something that might have been maternal affection. "Now, get back to the dungeon. And if you do get desperate, call my name."

"...Which is?"

"Lady Silveria."

Nova blinked in the darkness. "Is the Lady part important?"

"Of course. Plenty of people are called Silveria, and it would get really annoying if that meant I was called all the time." The amusement was back, threading through her words like silver wire. "There was a Silveria born to a lord once, but I made sure she didn't get that title."

Nova swallowed, not eager to hear the rest of that particular story. "Hmm, I'll remember it. But don't expect any calls anytime soon."

"That's okay, I'll go bother one of my sisters while I wait. I'm sure I'll see you again, Nova." The voice was already fading, moving away through dimensions Nova couldn't comprehend.

"Okay? Bye."

He gathered his essence, pulling at the shadows that had brought him here. The darkness responded differently this time, almost eagerly. Reality twisted, compressed, and then he was back in the underwater dungeon, stumbling slightly as the cold water rushed past his face.

'...That was unexpected. But at least I'm on the other side of the barrier now.'

(Finally! Where were you?!)

Nova could sense Anny's anxiety rippling through their mental connection. She had moved closer to the barrier, pressing her webbed hands against its shimmering surface.

(Oh, sorry. I got stuck in the void for a little bit.)

(WHAT?!)

Nova winced at the mental shout. (Yeah, it seems the void isn't as connected to this dungeon as the outside world, so problems may arise. I'll tell you about it later. Now I'll have to look around and see if I can deactivate this barrier for you.)

(...Do you see anything peculiar?)

Nova swam in a slow circle, taking in his surroundings with new eyes. The water here was clearer than outside, almost crystalline. Strange geometric patterns were etched into the coral floor beneath him, glowing faintly with their own inner light.

(Yeah, actually… Seems to be some kind of mansion here. Could this be where one of the king's children is hidden?)

The structure rose before him like something from a dream. Walls of living coral twisted upward in spirals, studded with pearls that pulsed in rhythm, reminiscent of the sky-wyrm. Gardens of sea anemones swayed between columns that might once have been giant bones, now encrusted with barnacles and draped with ribbons of kelp.

(Don't do anything drastic! You're too weak to handle them alone!)

(...You're probably right, but I don't like hearing you say that… Let me look at the barrier again.)

He swam up to the inside of the barrier, placing his palms against its surface. The magic hummed against his skin, complex patterns of energy weaving through layers he could barely comprehend. He waved to Anny through the translucent wall, watching her anxious face as she followed his movements.

'Mmh, okay… It's powered by a device that controls the barrier. I could cut the connection, but that would alert whoever is holding the device… It wouldn't make the barrier go away instantly, though. And judging by the energy, someone strong is powering it.'

The magical construct pulsed beneath his touch, each pulse sending information up his arms. Someone—or something—was actively maintaining this barrier, feeding it power through what felt like an ornate staff or wand. The energy signature was elegant, refined, nothing like the raw power of the beasts they'd been fighting.

(Anything?) Anny asked, turning to look at her surroundings. They were both vulnerable in this situation, so she had to stay alert.

(It's connected to someone, so I can't remove it without alerting them. And even if I do, you wouldn't be able to help me before the barrier breaks, which would take a while.)

(Then what are our options?)

Nova pulled his hands back from the barrier, causing small sparks of residual essence to dance between his fingers.

(Either I break the connection, and we both try breaking the barrier down fast enough to fight together, or I sneak in and search this place for more info. I'm leaning toward the latter.)

(...Okay. But be damn careful. Your amulet can still teleport you to me in case you get discovered, right?)

Nova's hand moved instinctively to the displacement amulet at his throat. The metal felt warm against his skin, charged with potential energy. (Yeah, if it gets that far… Wish me luck!)

She smiled and put her hand against the barrier. (Good luck. Keep your blood safe for me.)

'...That's so sweet.'

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