Innonuk's grin widened as the words left Kale's mouth. "One last bargain," he echoed, savoring the phrase as if it were the sweetest nectar. Slowly, the tip of Cloudsplitter vanished back into his mouth, swallowed, leaving no trace it had ever been there.

"The one you seek," Innonuk began, pacing slowly before them, "is called Lamiath, the Weaver of Woe. A demon lord of considerable… creativity. She resides in the Obsidian Spire, deep within Runom's Departure." He stopped, tilting his head as if savoring a memory. "A fascinating place. I imagine you'll find it… enlightening."

"What's her weakness?" Liliana asked.

Innonuk chuckled, shaking his head. "Weakness? My dear daughter of Valtharion, what is it with mortals and your obsession with shortcuts?" He leaned closer. "There is no easy path. If you wish to claim victory, you'll need strength, cunning, and perhaps a touch of madness."

"So we just kill her and come back?" Kale asked.

Innonuk's laughter was low and mocking. "Sure," he said, "you just kill her and come back. Simple."

"Like Malakar, you'll need to bring me her heart. Consider it proof of your success… and of her permanent removal."

"Always the heart, huh." Kale said.

"Yes. And do be careful not to damage it too much. Lamiath has a… peculiar anatomy. I'd hate for you to ruin such an exquisite piece of work."

Liliana glared at him. "And then? You give us what we've earned?"

"Of course. I am nothing if not… fair. Our previous arrangement should be proof of that."

***

The group walked in silence, Sadek led the way, his footsteps steady but tense. Liliana's voice broke the quiet.

"This feels wrong," she said. "We're killing demon lords for him, handing over their hearts. Does no one else think this is dangerous?"

Kale looked at her, his expression thoughtful. "I've been thinking about that. He says the hearts are proof, but what if they're more than that? What if he's taking their power?"

Namara gave a soft laugh. "Oh, Kale, of course he is. Why else would he want them? Did you think he was collecting them for sentimental reasons?"

Liliana turned to Namara. "And that doesn't bother you?"

"Bother me? Not particularly. But it should bother you. You mortals are so fond of consequences, after all."

Sadek stopped, turning to face them. His expression was grim. "You think I don't know the risks? I do. But this isn't just about him. It's about my father's legacy. I can't walk away from that."

"It's not just about you, Sadek. "Liliana said. "Why does he want the demon lords dead in the first place? What's his endgame?"

"What happens if we take them all out and leave Innonuk as the last one standing?" Kale asked.

Namara smiled. "Nothing good, I'd imagine. But isn't that the thrill of it? You're playing his game, knowing full well it's rigged."

Liliana crossed her arms. "Then maybe we stop playing."

Sadek shook his head, his jaw tight. "And do what? We made the bargain. Do you really think he'd let us walk away now?"

Namara shrugged. "Oh, he'd kill you in a heartbeat. He's very particular about his agreements."

Liliana scowled, but Kale stepped forward. "Then we don't just kill Lamiath. We figure out what he's planning with these hearts. And if it's something we can't allow…" His hand tightened on the hilt of his blade. "We stop him."

Namara laughed. "Oh, you. Always so sure of yourselves. Let's hope you're ready for what that means."

As they continued, the shifting terrain gradually gave way to a distant shape piercing the horizon—a towering spire, its surface gleaming darkly like polished glass.

"Hey," Kale said, pointing. "That looks like an obsidian spire."

Namara arched a delicate brow. "Perceptive."

Kale shot her a sidelong glance. "I'm just saying, it matches the description."

"If that's where Lamiath is, we should be cautious. It's too quiet out here." Liliana said.

Sadek adjusted his grip on his spear. "Let's hope she's not expecting us."

Namara chuckled softly. "Oh, she's expecting you. They always are."

Kale shrugged. "Malakar wasn't."

The ever-present whispers swelled into a deafening chorus, pressing in from all sides, and a figure appeared before them, startling the group. The space around it seemed to bend, reality straining in ways that made it impossible to tell if it had just arrived or had always been standing there.

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It carried a plain staff, its design unremarkable, yet something about it demanded attention. Though its face was uncovered, looking at it was impossible. Every attempt to focus slipped away, as if the figure's visage defied being seen.

"Strange," Namara said.

The figure spoke with a calm, measured tone. "Runom has taken notice. He understands your intentions, but this cannot be allowed. You cannot disrupt the balance of this realm in an attempt to preserve the balance of your own."

Kale stepped forward. "Wait, we're just—"

The figure raised a hand, and Kale's voice died in his throat. "You do not belong here. You must leave. Should you return and interfere further, you will face the consequences."

It turned its gaze—though faceless, they felt its scrutiny—on each of them in turn. "I will send you back to where you came from, and you will close the portal. There will be no discussion."

"What about our deal with Innonuk?!" Kale burst out.

"There is no deal with Innonuk," the figure replied with finality. "You will leave, and you will not return."

"But—" Kale began.

The world tipped beneath them, and before he could finish his protest, they were falling. The air rushed past them in a blur, and they slammed into the cold, blood-soaked floor of the Sactum of the Veil, where they had first entered Runom's Departure.

The room was in chaos. Fallen warriors and mages lay strewn across the floor, their bodies torn apart, their blood pooling beneath them. The remaining warriors, far fewer than before, fought desperately against monstrous creatures—twisted abominations that had escaped from Runom's Departure. These beasts, unleashed and uncontrollable, tore through anything in their path with feral brutality.

At the center of the hall, the Lord of the Scarlet Veil finished destroying one of the monstrous beings, his blood magic flaring brilliantly. His crimson tentacles slashed through the creatures, reducing them to writhing masses before they dissolved into nothingness.

The Lord turned, his piercing eyes locking onto the group as they scrambled to their feet. Relief flickered briefly across his face, though his expression remained grim.

"Close the portal!" Liliana shouted.

The Lord hesitated, glancing at the battered warriors around him, but then extended his hands. A surge of blood magic erupted from his fingers, enveloping the portal's shimmering frame. The air warped and twisted as the portal began to collapse in on itself.

Runom's whispers screamed in their ears as the gateway closed, cutting off the connection to the otherworldly realm. The hall fell silent, save for the labored breathing of the survivors.

Liliana looked at her father. "We need to talk."

"Did you find what you were looking for?" he asked.

Liliana held out the small vial Innonuk had given her. "I found what Emeria was looking for."

"And what is that?" he asked, gesturing toward Namara.

"She helped us," Kale said.

The Lord's eyes lingered on Kale before narrowing on Namara. "You know her kind is not to be trusted, don't you?"

"She's proven herself useful," Liliana replied. "For now."

Namara's lips curved into a sly smile. "Aww, I knew you'd warm up to me."

Liliana glared. "Starting to cool rapidly."

The Lord's expression remained stern, but he gave a curt nod. "Very well. Let us speak in private. I assume there is much we need to discuss."

The Lord led them through the Bastion's corridors to his private chambers. He seated himself behind his desk, the same desk Rika had sat on, what now seemed like a lifetime ago.

"You have questions, I suppose?"

Liliana nodded. "We encountered Innonuk."

The Lord's expression didn't change. "And what did the Lord of Bartered Power demand in return for your lives?"

"Malakar's heart," she said.

The Lord leaned back slightly. "The heart of another demon lord. A steep price. Besides your lives, did he offer anything else?"

Liliana hesitated for a fraction of a second. "Valtharion's Measure."

The Lord's hand paused on the desk, his fingers tapping lightly against the wood. "That is what Emeria sought."

Liliana's eyes widened. "You knew?"

"I suspected. She sought power, determined to help Serassa. I warned her, but she was like you, stubborn. Innonuk has a way of finding those who are looking for power in Runom's Departure."

Liliana clenched her fists. "You knew what she was planning, and you didn't stop her?"

The Lord's expression darkened. "She was no child, Liliana. I do not hold hands. I gave her the freedom to choose, just as I have always done for you."

The room fell silent.

Namara let out a soft chuckle. "Such a lovely family dynamic."

The Lord shot her a cold look. "Speak again at your own peril, succubus."

Namara smiled, put up her hands in mock surrender and took a step back.

"What did she bargain for?" Liliana asked.

"That," the Lord said, "is a question only Emeria can answer."

"But—"

"No," he interrupted, leaning forward. "You've dealt with Innonuk, and you've survived. That is no small feat. But remember this, Liliana: answers often cost more than they're worth."

Liliana pressed on. "Innonuk also said you sent Valeria to him."

For the first time, the Lord's expression cracked, his calm facade giving way to a flash of anger. His fingers curled against the desk, and the room seemed to darken subtly.

"He called you Sandor," Liliana continued. "Said you came to bargain as well. I didn't know you were on a first-name basis with demons."

The Lord's eyes locked on hers. "Watch your tongue, daughter. You know nothing of what I've done."

"Then tell me," she said. "If you expect me to trust you, tell me why you were dealing with him. Why you sent Valeria."

The Lord leaned back in his chair, the anger in his eyes giving way to something more guarded. "There are things you do not understand, and I do not answer to you."

Liliana stepped forward, her voice rising. "Valeria was my sister. My blood. If you sent her to Innonuk—"

"I protected her," the Lord snapped, the force of his words reverberating through the chamber. "You think I sent her to Innonuk lightly? That it was without cost? Everything I've done has been for the Scarlet Veil. For you."

Silence fell again, heavy and suffocating.

Namara, standing near the door, gave a slow, deliberate clap. "Family drama and demonic bargains. Riveting."

Blood tentacles shot from the Lord's hand, slamming her into the wall. The tentacles curled tightly around her throat, choking off her words.

"You test my patience, succubus," the Lord growled.

Namara clawed at the tentacles, her hands scrabbling uselessly against the constricting force. Her veins began to darken and bulge unnaturally, bubbling as though boiling from within.

Liliana's eyes widened. Blood Boil? Had her father cast the spell without uttering a word? Without moving? The precision and sheer power it would take to wield blood magic so effortlessly… it was terrifying.

"Speak again," the Lord said, his tone chillingly calm, "and I will send you back to the hell you crawled out of."

Namara's lips moved as if to answer, but no sound came.

The Lord slammed her into the ground, the floor cracking beneath the force. Namara let out a choked gasp as the tentacles retracted, releasing her. She lay there for a moment, coughing and clutching her throat, her usually confident smile replaced with a shaken expression.

Kale stepped forward hesitantly. "Uh… maybe we should all just… take a minute?"

The Lord didn't even look at him. His eyes remained fixed on Namara, unyielding and unforgiving.

Namara slowly pushed herself up, her hands trembling slightly. She met his glare, her smile returning, though weaker than before. "Noted," she croaked, her voice hoarse. "You've made your point."

"Good," the Lord said.

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