"Watch your step. You mustn't step on the giant centipedes."
"What… did you just say, giant centipedes?"
Mia froze in place, her face turning pale. She and Leca were now standing at the entrance of a cave located in the outskirts of Sibareth. Its name: the Cave of Pitch. True to its name, the darkness inside was so thick, not even a sliver of light could penetrate it.
Just looking into it made Mia's legs tremble, but the mention of giant centipedes? That made her want to turn and run. Yesterday it was giant wasps, today giant centipedes? Absolutely not!
"Do we really have to train in a place like this?"
"Who says enemies always appear in bright, open places?"
"Ugh… fair point, but still."
"Becoming comfortable in the dark is a basic skill for anyone who wishes to master magic. Now, shall we begin?"
Leca carefully took a step forward and looked back at Mia. She grumbled under her breath but had no choice but to follow.
But the moment the two of them stepped fully into the cave—
KUGUGUNG! THUD!
A loud crash echoed from behind.
Startled, Mia turned around. She couldn't see a thing in the pitch darkness, but something felt wrong. She reached out with her hand, only to find a massive boulder now blocking the entrance where there had been nothing before.
"L-Leca! The entrance is blocked! How are we supposed to get out?!"
But Leca responded calmly, as if it were no big deal.
"Don't worry. This place is only the entrance, not the exit. Now then..."
Dozens of glowing fireballs appeared, lighting up the cave like torches. On top of that, Leca's flaming scarlet hair cast additional light, making the space feel much brighter.
Only then was Mia able to look around.
It looked like a fairly normal cave. Somewhere, water dripped steadily. Small pools dotted the ground. So far, no creepy creatures in sight.
"Let's begin with a light-producing spell. As a fire spirit, I conjure flames. But for you, Lady Mia, summoning a light spirit would be more efficient. Call for a will-o'-the-wisp out loud."
"Will-o'-the-wisp!"
A small, blue flame appeared in the air. Mia gasped in awe.
"You can summon up to ten will-o'-the-wisps. Though they aren't particularly bright."
With that, Leca began walking deeper into the cave. Mia carefully followed behind. Aside from the dripping of water, the cave remained silent and still.
Mia recalled what Fatima had told her the night before.
That she might soon be sent to Muria.
When asked why, Fatima had only said, "For educational purposes," and knew nothing more.
"Hey, Leca."
"Yes?"
"I heard Muria wants to train me themselves… did you know about that?"
Leca paused for a moment. So he did know.
"Yes. I've heard a bit."
"But why all of a sudden?"
Just then, something screeched beside them. A pill bug the size of a small dog latched onto Leca's leg. Without hesitation, he swung his sword and sliced it off. Blood splattered.
"Ugh! That's disgusting! What was that?!"
"A cave leech. Don't worry—it's not my blood."
"A leech?!"
No wonder it looked so bloated. It had probably gorged itself on blood. Mia gagged and barely held back her nausea.
"Well… Muria and Naizman are both considerably weaker than Sibareth."
"Really?"
Mia had suspected as much, but hearing it confirmed was another matter.
"Yes. The mana of Sibareth's twelve bloodline royals and nobles far surpasses that of the fairies. However, Muria's land is much more fertile. That makes them… uneasy."
"I see."
"So, I suspect they want to secure you as an ally. Someone with fairy abilities, but not under Sibareth's direct control. Just my theory, of course."
"Aah!"
While following Leca, Mia suddenly stepped into something soft—like a swamp. But there hadn't been anything there just a moment ago. Where had it come from?
The strange puddle began sucking her in, as if alive.
"Lady Mia?"
Leca turned around. His eyes narrowed. He muttered a low incantation, and the living swamp shriveled up instantly, drying into nothing. Mia was released.
"What the hell was that?!"
"A type of swamp creature. You could think of it like a slime."
"What am I supposed to do if I see one again?"
Leca taught her a spell for repelling dark creatures. Mia nodded and practiced it quietly several times. The cave was full of unpleasant things—she would've preferred to fly, but the ceiling was too low.
"Still, since it's daytime, there aren't too many dark creatures."
"This isn't too many?"
"Correct. On nights of the full moon, the cave overflows with monsters and dark beasts."
"Sounds like hell."
"For someone skilled in both magic and swordsmanship, it's manageable."
Mia sighed.
"As if I'm anywhere near that level."
They reached a fork in the cave. Leca turned to her.
"Which path would you like to take?"
"Which one? So you're saying we're doing both?"
"Naturally."
"If it's just for training, can't we split up and each take one?"
The words slipped from Mia's lips before she realized.
Had she grown more confident after spending days with Leca?
Or did she simply want to finish training as quickly as possible?
Even she wasn't sure.
Leca looked stunned, his eyes wide even in the dim light.
"Are you sure you'll be alright?"
"If anything happens, you'll come save me, right?"
"Of course, but still—"
"Then it's fine. I think I'll be okay."
"...Very well. I'll take the right path. If you need help, summon the fire lizard, Salamander."
"All I have to do is call it?"
"Salamanders normally only communicate with fire spirits. But by the pact of the spirits, you are my master—so it will obey your command."
"Perfect. No problem then."
Still, the thought of separating from Leca made her nervous. But Mia puffed out her chest bravely.
"Alright. Let's do this."
"The two paths eventually converge into a single exit. Even if we split up, we'll meet there."
"How long will that take?"
"Less than thirty minutes."
"Okay. See you soon."
Mia spoke extra cheerfully and strode into the left path. A few of the fireballs Leca had given her followed behind. She also summoned all ten of her will-o'-the-wisps and continued walking.
Drip. Drip. Drip.
The farther she went, the louder the sound of dripping water grew. Was it this loud before? She didn't think so… Ugh. The whole place gave her the creeps.
Shhh… shhh…
It hadn't even been long since she parted from Leca, and already strange sounds whispered past her ears. Maybe it was just the wind. Just her imagination.
Shaaa… sha…
A slithering sound encircled her. The cave walls and floor were surprisingly clean, with nothing in sight. And yet… an ominous presence lingered.
Thirty minutes had never felt so long in her life.
It felt like she'd been walking for three hours—though barely ten minutes had passed.
The strange sounds faded. Mia relaxed slightly and picked up her pace.
And then—
Something horrid wrapped around her from behind. No—embraced her. A mysterious being had crept up and hugged her from behind.
Mia was so shocked, she couldn't even scream.
Her mouth froze in terror.
"Shh. Quiet now."
The voice whispered directly into her ear.
It was human speech—but the smell…It reeked of mold, of rot, of something ancient and foul.
Mia looked at the arm wrapped around her.
Tattered clothing. Blue skin. Definitely a human-shaped arm, but blue.
Mia tried to summon Salamander. But as if sensing her intent, the fiend clamped a foul-smelling hand over her mouth.
"Sa—mmpf—!"
"Please don't call the salamander. I don't want to hurt you."
Mia struggled, trying to draw her sword from her waist. But the fiend held her too tightly—she couldn't move her arms.
Worse still, her thoughts grew foggy. She couldn't focus enough to cast a spell. Her eyelids drooped.
"Promise me. Don't try to kill me. Don't call for help. Swear it, and I'll let you go."
"Okay… okay, I swear…"
"Truly?"
"Yes, really."
"If you lie… I won't forgive you."
Finally, the fiend loosened its grip. The moment she was freed, Mia tried to run—
—but she couldn't move forward.
It felt like space itself had closed in. She turned to face the thing.
It wore a sailor's uniform and a captain's hat. But its skin was blue. And where its eyes should have been… only gaping holes, like a skull.
Parts of its body were decayed, revealing bone.
The sailor-like fiend slowly opened its mouth.
"Would you do me a favor?"
"A favor?"
"Yes."
Mia hesitated.
Her mouth was free. She could summon Salamander now. But this fiend had begged her not to.
What should she do?