The viridian fury smiled coldly, raising her hand as the ground beneath Kale began to shift and tremble, the earth moving like something alive. He gritted his teeth, forcing himself to his feet despite the searing pain in his side. Yes, he thought, steadying his grip on his blades. Come on. Fight!

A massive vine exploded from the ground beside him, surging toward him like a coiled serpent unleashed. Kale turned too slowly, but before the strike landed, Namara appeared. She leapt onto him, shielding him with her body. The vine struck with thunderous force, but its impact was halted by a wall of crying, screaming souls that enveloped Namara. The translucent figures wailed as they absorbed the blow, the vine recoiling in frustration.

Before they could recover, a blinding flash of golden light lit the battlefield, forcing them to shield their eyes. In the next instant, Rika soared through the air, her warhammer raised high. The viridian fury was caught completely off guard as Rika's Mountain Cleaver strike crashed into the side of her head, breaking her neck. The impact cracked the vines and thorns encasing her, green light spilling from the fractures as the force sent her reeling toward the ground.

The vines coiled upward again, pulling the fury back to her feet, her head snapping back unnaturally as she recovered. But Rika was relentless. Before the fury could regain her footing, Rika was on her, slamming her warhammer into her stomach with a deafening boom. The blow sent fractures spiderwebbing across the viridian fury's form, green light pouring out like blood.

Rika didn't pause. Blow after blow rained down, each one landing with bone-shattering force, driving the fury further and further back. The sound of cracking vines and splintering wood filled the air as Rika's fury turned into a brutal rhythm. Boom, boom, boom, boom.

Finally, with a primal roar, she hurled her warhammer directly at the fury's chest. The weapon struck with devastating power, sending the towering figure tumbling backward and crashing into the ground, a shockwave rippling across the battlefield.

Namara didn't hesitate. She leapt onto the viridian fury, her sharp nails plunging into the woman's glowing green eyes. The fury twisted and squirmed beneath her, unleashing a shrill, otherworldly scream, like the death cries of a hundred tortured plants.

"Your soul is mine!" Namara hissed, her violet eyes burning with fierce intensity. With a wrenching motion, she tore the fury's soul from her body, the translucent form writhing in her grasp. The vines around the battlefield withered instantly, crumbling to ash, and the reanimated corpses collapsed lifelessly to the ground.

With their commander gone, the enemy forces faltered, their movements chaotic as they scrambled to retreat.

"Oh no you don't," Liliana said, her blood magic flaring once more.

She raised a hand, casting Thirst of the Damned again. The fleeing warriors staggered mid-step, their bodies convulsing as blood began to flow from their open wounds. Crimson streams poured from their mouths, eyes, and ears, twisting through the air toward Kale. The energy flooded into him, his wounds knitting together as his breathing grew steadier with each surge.

Meanwhile, Sadek moved like a shadow among the battlefield, his spear a blur of crackling energy as he dispatched the stragglers with ruthless efficiency. Each strike was precise, leaving no room for survival.

Rika dropped to one knee beside Kale, her warhammer resting heavily on the ground. "Are you okay?" she asked, her golden eye inspecting him for any signs of further injury.

Kale coughed, wiping a streak of blood from the corner of his mouth as he nodded. "Are you?"

Namara approached them, her eyes glinting with satisfaction as she surveyed the retreating army and the lifeless battlefield left in their wake. Her movements were calm, unhurried, as though the chaos had barely touched her.

"Well," she said. "That was fun. Though I'd appreciate a little more enthusiasm next time. You all look like you're about to fall over."

Rika glanced at Namara. "New friend?"

"Something like that," Kale said.

Namara raised an eyebrow, her expression filled with amusement. "Friend?" she repeated, her lips curling into a sly smile. "Oh, Kale, you flatter me."

"That was the last of them," Sadek said as he approached, his spear resting on his shoulder. He glanced over the group, his eyes lingering on Kale and Rika. "Everyone still breathing?"

Kale glanced at the torn armor at his side, the bloodstains already drying thanks to Liliana's magic.

The battlefield was quiet, save for the faint rustling of the dying vines retreating into the earth. The air smelled like burnt ichor. Liliana joined them, the blood of the fallen swirling into Valtharion's Measure.

Rika shifted. She caught Kale's eye, offering a faint, tired smile. "Guess I owe you one."

"I'd say we're about even now," Kale replied.

Namara leaned back, inspecting her nails. "So, are we going to stand around trading war stories, or do we want to hear what happened to our feisty warhammer queen over here?"

Liliana turned to Rika. "She's right. What happened, Rika? When Voss took you?"

Rika exhaled slowly as she looked away. She took a moment to find her voice. "It wasn't about information," she said finally. "He didn't ask me anything. Didn't try to interrogate me. He just…" She brushed the empty space where her left eye had been. "He just cut out my eye."

Kale frowned. "For no reason?"

Rika's jaw tensed. She shook her head, struggling to put it into words.

"I thought he'd be angry. After I pushed him back during our fight... I thought maybe I'd hurt his pride." She paused, biting the inside of her cheek. "But the whole time, he was calm. Weirdly calm. He just... cut my eye out. That was it. No torture, no threats."

She shook her head again.

"He was almost... kind. Besides, you know... cutting my eye out." She gave a bitter, humorless laugh. "It was strange. He even apologized. Said it had to be done. That I'd understand when the time was right."

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She swallowed hard.

"He stopped the other two—the shadowfang and the viridian fury—from hurting me. Ordered them to leave me alone. But then... he got called away. I think to a place called Xandria. That's what they called it. And once he was gone..."

Her voice faltered. She didn't finish the sentence.

Kale stepped forward and pulled Rika into his arms, holding her tightly, like he could shield her from everything that had already happened.

"I'm so sorry, Rika," he said quietly. His voice was rough. "If we'd known... if we could've gotten to you sooner..." He pressed his forehead lightly to the side of her head. "We came as fast as we could."

Rika stiffened for a heartbeat, then sagged against him, burying her face in his chest.

Liliana came to stand beside them. She reached out, resting a hand lightly on Rika's shoulder. "I'm so sorry, Rika. We're here now. You're safe."

For a long moment, they just stayed like that, holding on to each other.

No words. Just warmth, steady and real, anchoring them after everything that had tried to break them.

Rika's hands clutched lightly at Kale's damaged armor before she finally pulled back, wiping her face quickly with the heel of her palm.

She gave them both a small, grateful smile.

"I'm okay now," she said, her voice still rough but steadier. "Thank you."

Kale squeezed her shoulder gently, making sure she was really ready before letting her go.

He gave her a small, encouraging nod.

Then he glanced toward Liliana, then back to Rika, his expression softening but turning serious.

"So... Voss got called to Xandria?" he asked. "Do you know what's there?"

Liliana stiffened at the name, her expression immediately sharpening. She crouched and unrolled Velanna's map, her eyes scanning it frantically. "Shit!" she said, jabbing a finger at a marked location. "Xandria—one of Aeloria's temples is there!"

"We'll go there first thing in the morning," Kale said. "I think we all need a little rest."

"Yeah," Rika agreed. "Rest sounds good."

"Rest?" Namara echoed. "How quaint. Surely, you don't mean—"

"Shut up," Liliana cut in.

"Fine," Namara said. "But only because I'm curious how you mortals handle exhaustion."

"You're not immortal," Liliana said. "Not really."

Namara tilted her head. "Well, if you want to get all technical about it, then sure. If you kill me, I just get sent back to Halderon. Still kind of immortal though!"

"Halderon?" Kale asked.

"One of the hells," Namara replied.

"I thought there was only one hell."

Namara chuckled. "Oh, Kale, you're so cute I could just kiss you."

Liliana shot her a sidelong glance. Namara caught it and her grin widened. "Jealous, darling?" she teased, earning a pointed glare in response.

"How many hells are there?" Kale asked, clearly eager to redirect the conversation.

Namara shrugged. "No idea."

He looked to Liliana, hoping for clarity. She shook her head. "No one knows," she said simply.

Kale frowned. Strange, he thought. How come no one knows these things?

"So, Halderon," he said, trying to piece it together.

"Yes," Namara said, leaning in slightly, like she was letting him in on a secret. "A succubus returns to her birthplace when she dies outside of it."

"What happens when you die inside of it?"

"Well, I guess then you really die."

"No afterlife?"

"Not for my kind," she replied. When it's over, it's over."

"So how do you get out?" Kale asked.

"Out of Halderon?"

"Yeah."

Namara tapped a finger against her lips, her violet eyes glinting playfully. "Well, I guess I could give you a little lesson on succubi. You know, since you seem so fascinated." She flipped her hair with a flourish, winking at him. "First, let's get the basics out of the way. The females are called succubus—plural, succubi. The males? Incubus, plural, incubi. Got it?"

Kale nodded, though his expression remained serious.

"We are exceptionally beautiful, as you've probably noticed." She tossed her hair again with exaggerated flair. "I suppose you could call us demons of temptation and desire, but honestly, demon just sounds so crude, don't you think? We're far more refined than that."

Liliana rolled her eyes but said nothing.

"And how do we get out of our hells?" Namara continued, leaning in with a sly smile. "Oh, it's simple, really. You find a dream—a random one, just floating around as dreams tend to do. You slip inside, charm the dreamer, consume them—him or her, we're equal opportunists—and poof! You're back in the land of the living."

Kale blinked. "Consume the dreamer?"

"Don't look so scandalized," Namara said, her smile turning mischievous. "It's not like they're using their soul for anything important. And besides"—she spread her arms dramatically—"what's the point of existence if it's not spiced up by someone like me?"

Kale blinked again. "So… you eat people's dreams to escape hell?"

Namara laughed lightly, tilting her head. "More like their souls, darling. The dream is just the gateway. But yes, if you want to be all grim about it."

Kale's expression didn't shift. "And the dreamer? What happens to them?"

"Oh, Kale," she said with a dramatic sigh, "do you really want to know? Let's just say they're left blissfully unaware… forever." Her grin widened, a flicker of something darker flashing in her violet eyes. "Does that bother you?"

He crossed his arms. "A little."

Namara chuckled, shrugging as if his answer was expected. "Well, good thing I'm not in the business of your dreams, isn't it?"

Kale held her gaze for a moment before shrugging. "Guess so."

Namara's laugh grew louder, rich with amusement. "Ah, you're adorable. But don't worry. I have no plans to haunt your dreams. Not yet, anyway."

Kale's expression tightened, his unease clear for all to see. His gaze lingered on Namara for a moment before shifting to the battlefield around them, as if searching for something to ground him.

Namara noticed, her grin softening ever so slightly. She stepped closer, folding her hands behind her back. "Oh, Kale, I can practically feel you squirming. Are you worried I'm going to sneak into your dreams?"

Kale took a step back. "It's not that. I just… don't understand you yet."

Namara tilted her head, studying him for a moment. Then, with an exaggerated flourish, she dropped to one knee, placing a hand over her chest. "Kale, noble bladeweaver, I solemnly swear not to devour your precious soul or dreams." She looked up at him, her eyes gleaming. "Unless, of course, you ask nicely."

Despite himself, Kale snorted, the tension in his shoulders easing just slightly. "You're something else."

"And you're predictable," she countered, standing back up. "But don't worry, Kale. I've decided to keep you alive for a while. You're far too entertaining to lose."

"You're not making it easy to trust you, you know," Kale said.

"Trust is overrated anyway," she said with a wink. "But don't worry, darling—I'll grow on you."

"Unlikely," Liliana said.

Namara turned to her, feigning a look of mock hurt. "Oh, Liliana, you wound me. I thought we were bonding."

Liliana's expression didn't shift. "I don't bond with leeches."

Namara laughed, the sound light and unbothered. "Leech? That's new. I think I like it." She gave Liliana a lingering once-over. "You know, you'd be a lot more fun if you'd stop glaring at me for five minutes."

Liliana ignored the remark, turning to Kale instead. "Are you ready to move on, or do you need her to swear another ridiculous oath?"

"I think I'm good," Kale said. "Let's get some rest."

Namara stretched her arms above her head. "Rest sounds boring, but I suppose even heroes need beauty sleep." She gave Kale a look. "Not that you need it, of course."

Liliana rolled her eyes. "Keep talking, and I'll find a way to make you need it."

Namara chuckled softly, clearly unbothered, as the group began to move toward the edges of the battlefield.

Kale glanced around, his gaze settling on the remnants of the enemy camp. Torn canvas and splintered wood littered the area, but a few tents still stood, battered but intact. "Let's see if there are any tents still in decent shape," he said. "We'll rest there for the night. Take turns keeping guard, in case more of them show up."

Sadek nodded. "Good plan. I'll take the first watch."

"I'll join you," Kale said.

Liliana shot a look at Namara. "You'd better not try anything while we're asleep."

Namara pressed a hand to her chest with mock indignation. "What kind of succubus do you take me for? I'm not completely heartless." Her grin widened. "Though I might watch your dreams for entertainment. You know, just to pass the time."

"Try it, and you won't live to see the morning."

Namara laughed lightly, spinning on her heel. "Fine, fine. I'll behave—for tonight, at least."

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