Namara dusted off her sleeves and stretched. "Alright, gang. Take five and watch how the pros do it."

She strolled forward, calm as ever, right toward the hulking creatures.

Kale blinked. "Uh. Is she—?"

The beasts stopped. They loomed over her, their molten forms crackling with heat, but none of them struck. Instead, they circled her, their heads tilting, like they were listening.

She was talking to them.

What the hell is she doing? Kale thought. Is she crazy? They were all around her—one swipe, one blast of heat, and she'd be dead. And yet… nothing.

He turned to the others. "Is she—what is she—why aren't they attacking?"

Sadek, arms crossed, watched the scene with narrowed eyes. "Is she negotiating?"

Liliana tapped her chin. "Maybe she's talking them to death."

Kale squinted at Namara, who was still chatting away, completely at ease. "I wonder what she's talking about. What do you even say to a giant lava monster?"

"She's probably telling them how great she is," Liliana said.

Sadek shrugged. "Guess we'll find out in a second."

Namara waved to the creatures and turned, strolling back toward the group with a satisfied smile.

Kale stiffened. "Wait. What is she—?"

Behind her, the monsters moved in eerie unison. Their molten bodies cracked, fissures glowing white-hot as they reached into their own chests, sinking fiery hands into the roiling magma of their cores.

They pulled.

Blazing light spilled between their fingers as, one by one, they ripped their own cores free. The exposed orbs pulsed violently for a moment, then shattered in their grasp, bursting apart in a wave of heat.

The ground quaked as the creatures collapsed, their bodies liquefying into pools of bubbling lava, cooling almost instantly into blackened stone.

Namara didn't even look back. She stopped in front of them, winked, and struck a little one-legged pose, hands delicately folded in front of her face.

Sadek tilted his head. "Huh."

Everyone was silent.

Namara paused, then raised a hand to her ear. Nothing.

She cleared her throat, tried again, tilting her head dramatically. Hand to ear.

"You're welcome," she said. "You may applaud now."

"No," Liliana said. "Why are you even helping us? You clearly don't need us. Why are you here? What are you getting out of this?"

Namara gasped, placing a hand over her heart as if wounded. "Can't a girl just offer help to some weary travelers in need? Must you automatically assume the worst after I have single-handedly saved your lives not once, but twice now?"

Liliana crossed her arms, unimpressed.

Namara sighed dramatically. "Liliana, if you keep this up, we can no longer be besties." She pointed at Sadek. "I see the way he looks at me. Don't make me trade you."

Her eyes narrowed. "I'll do it."

Sadek didn't look amused. Kale scratched his head, glancing between them, completely lost. "What is happening?"

Liliana didn't look away from Namara. "Besties don't lie to each other."

Namara sighed, rolling her eyes. "Fine. Like I said before, I promised Kale that if he freed me, I'd help him save his friend and kill Xeroth."

Liliana's stare didn't waver. "So who trapped you? And why?"

Namara groaned. "Who caaareees? I'm free now, right? I say forgive and forget." She waved a hand dismissively. "Spilled blood flows to the sea."

Kale frowned. "Is that… an actual saying?"

Namara clapped her hands together. "Doesn't matter. What does matter is that we have a fortress to plunder!"

"One more thing," Liliana said. Why does everyone keep calling you Lirathiel?"

"Oh, that's just one of life's great mysteries. I guess demons are just bad with names." She laughed, tossing her hair over her shoulder. "I mean, haha! Innonuk also called you Emeria."

Liliana didn't blink. "Your real name wouldn't happen to be Lirathiel, would it?"

Namara batted her eyes, tilting her head with the most innocent expression she could muster. "Do I look like the kind of girl who would lie to you?"

Sadek and Liliana, in perfect unison: "Yes."

Kale shrugged. "I mean… maybe?"

Liliana crossed her arms. "So you're saying your name is not Lirathiel?"

Namara twirled a lock of hair between her fingers. "I guess I might have told them my name was Lirathiel…"

"Because your name is Lirathiel?"

"I meaaaan…"

Sadek exhaled through his nose. "Look, lady, I don't understand why you have to be so weird about this."

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Namara huffed. "I prefer Namara, okay?"

Liliana raised an eyebrow. "Why didn't you just say that from the start?"

Namara gestured vaguely. "I did tell you my name was Namara, didn't I?"

Liliana shook her head. "You know what? Whatever. Forget about it. Let's go plunder that damn fortress."

"Great!" Namara clapped her hands together. "Let's go, gang!"

Then it hit them—a familiar warmth spreading through their bodies, sharp and exhilarating. Kale straightened slightly, the exhaustion ebbing away as his strength renewed. Another level gained.

"Huh, I guess time does move differently here," Kale said.

Liliana exhaled. "About time."

Namara looked them over with a knowing grin. "Ah, the sweet glow of progress."

Sadek hefted his spear, his stance subtly shifting as if testing new strength. He gave a small nod.

Kale closed his eyes briefly, focusing inward. The skills were there, clear as ever, waiting to be explored.

You have gained three levels. You are now level thirteen. The words rang in his mind. His new skills felt like they had been influenced by the creativity he'd shown in battle. Was he starting to carve his own path?

The first was Bladewind Barrage. The chaotic storm of blades he had conjured before now felt refined, no longer a wild tempest but a weapon of precision and control. He could unleash it as a devastating wave, shredding everything in its path, or focus its fury on a single target, carving through even the toughest defenses with surgical efficiency. He could also call the swirling storm around him like a protective shield, intercepting incoming attacks and keeping both himself and his allies safe.

The second was Aerial Edge, a skill that activated the moment his feet left the ground. It sharpened his reflexes, making the world feel just a fraction slower. Movements became smoother, more precise, his body flowing with effortless control. Every strike, every dodge, every shift of momentum instinctive, as if the air itself carried him, turning the sky into his battleground.

And the third skill, Blade Mastery, felt like the culmination of everything he had worked toward. It wasn't just about summoning blades or wielding them, it was about seamlessly weaving them into a single, fluid expression of his will. No longer mere weapons, they became platforms to lift him higher, shields to defend him, and keys to unlock paths others couldn't traverse.

They were no longer separate from him, they were an extension of his being, bound to his purpose and intent. His attacks hit harder, his movements were faster, and he handled every blade instinctively, no matter its shape or size. What had once been chaotic steel was now a symphony of precision, every swing and slash guided by an unshakable harmony between him and the blades he commanded.

But what would he do with all this? He flexed his hand, and for a moment, a blade shimmered into being before dissolving into nothing. The answer came to him with startling clarity: Everything. Anything.

Liliana looked at Kale briefly, studying him as he seemed lost in thought. Her own power pulsed beneath the surface. The skills she'd unlocked felt like they were surging forward, eager to be unleashed. The towering construct of blood she'd created during the fight now felt like the seed of something far greater—Bloodbound Sentinel. She could now summon an autonomous blood golem, one that could act as a protector or a devastating force on the battlefield.

Her magic had also evolved in another way. Scalding Vitae, the new manifestation of her blood magic, was a dangerous refinement of her Blood Boil. She could now superheat her blood, turning it into explosive steam clouds or causing debilitating burns.

The last skill, Vampiric Mantle, settled in her mind. Surrounding herself with a barrier of shimmering blood, she could siphon vitality from her enemies with every strike, reinforcing the shield's strength. It was a powerful ability, though demanding. It would drain her stamina quickly, requiring careful control and timing.

Liliana studied the skills she had gained, realizing they felt different this time. Before she met Kale, before being reset back to level one, she had been able to choose skills, yes, but now it seemed as though her skills were shaping themselves, evolving based on how she used the ones she already had.

Was that possible? Could Valtharion be responsible, watching her from afar, granting these new powers because he believed this was the path she was choosing? Or was she forging it herself somehow? Could Kale be part of the reason? Was the way she wielded her skills actually guiding her own development?

This way of growing was completely new to her, and it demanded serious thought. She decided she would pay attention to every change, hoping to figure out why she was advancing like this and who, or what, might be guiding her path.

Namara broke the stillness, stepping closer to Kale. She brushed her fingers lightly against his arm, her touch drawing his focus back to the present. "Not bad," she said. "You're starting to figure it out. Imagination is the key."

Kale gave her a smile. "I guess you were right."

"I'm always right." Namara winked, her hand lingering on his arm for just a moment longer before stepping back.

Liliana crossed her arms, her gaze flicking between the two. "Are we done now? Or should I give you two some privacy?"

Namara laughed lightly, brushing her hair back. "Oh, Liliana, don't be jealous. I'm just trying to help."

"Jealous?" Liliana scoffed. "Please."

"Liliana, dear, even Handsome Billy No-Eyes, who once tried to resurrect a chair, can see you've got the hots for our little bladeweaver."

"Who is Handsome Billy No-Eyes?" Kale asked. He turned to Liliana. "Wait, the hots is a good thing, right?"

Sadek shook his head. "Guys, please."

Namara turned her playful grin toward Sadek. "Don't tell me you're feeling left out now, Sadek. I'd be happy to give you some attention."

"Pass," Sadek replied. "I'd rather wrestle lava monsters."

Liliana laughed. "Smart choice."

Namara feigned a dramatic sigh. "No appreciation for my efforts. You'd think saving your lives would earn me some gratitude."

"I think we're all grateful… in our own ways," Kale said.

"See?" Namara said, shooting Liliana a triumphant look. "Kale gets it. He's sweet."

Liliana rolled her eyes. "He's too polite to call you exhausting."

Namara gasped in mock offense. "Exhausting? I'm delightful."

"Right, delightful," Sadek said. "Can we delightfully move on?"

"Fine, fine," Namara said with a wave of her hand, then leaned slightly closer to Kale. "But you're still my favorite."

Kale took a step back, his face getting red. "Thanks…"

Liliana scowled at Namara. Namara winked at her, grinning. "Aww, young love. So magical. Don't worry, Liliana—I'm rooting for you."

Sadek groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "That castle isn't going to loot itself."

"Sadek's right," Kale said quickly, desperate to steer the conversation away. "We've got a job to do."

Namara pouted. "Fine, fine. Spoil all my fun. Let's go find some goodies, shall we?"

Liliana stormed ahead without another word, her fists clenched at her sides.

Sadek followed with a shake of his head, muttering something about bullshit.

Kale sighed, glancing at Namara, who merely shrugged and strolled after them. "Don't worry, hero," she said over her shoulder. "I'll behave. For now."

He wasn't sure if he believed that.

Namara was chaos in human form, or succubus form, really. She had a way of making everything feel unpredictable, turning even the simplest moments into something theatrical. One second she was effortlessly saving their lives, the next she was dodging direct answers like it was a sport.

And for what? There was no reason to be so difficult about the simple questions she'd been asked. It wasn't like they were prying into some deep, forbidden knowledge. Half the time, she could have just given them a straight answer and moved on.

So why didn't she?

Was she doing it just to mess with them? Keeping them off balance for her own amusement? Or was there something else, something she wasn't saying?

She was weird. Interesting, but weird.

Kale couldn't decide if she was charming or annoying, and that was part of the problem. She had this magnetic, almost effortless confidence, the kind that made you want to watch her just to see what she'd do next. But at the same time, she never stopped talking, never stopped stirring things up.

Liliana was right, though.

She was kind of exhausting.

The group approached the castle, its once-intimidating presence now dimmed. Without Malakar's magic fueling its fire, the structure appeared to be decaying. The flowing lava had hardened into smooth, rippled stone, its surface resembling frozen rivers caught mid-motion. Cracks spread across the surface, faint pulses of dim light flickering deep within like the castle's dying heartbeat. Where the molten glow once radiated menace, only darkened scars of heat remained.

Liliana abruptly stopped. "Did you hear that?"

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