𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧

57 - the apocalypse

A week had passed in a blur of clashing swords and strategic maneuvers, with neither Y/n nor Skirk willing to yield. Finally, panting and equally matched, they called a truce, ending in a tie.

"That was... intense," Y/n gasped, leaning on her scythe for support. "I haven't had a workout like that since... well, ever."

Skirk, equally winded, managed a wry smile. "You're not bad, for a synthetic."

Just as Y/n was about to retort with a witty comeback, a sudden realization hit her. She looked around, her eyes searching. "Wait, where are Albedo and Rubedo?"

The humor swiftly drained from the atmosphere, replaced by a heavy sense of urgency. Skirk straightened up, her expression turning serious. "They were just here, training with us. Did something happen?"

Y/n's mind raced. The twins were more than capable of taking care of themselves, but their disappearance was unsettling. "We need to find them," she said, the joviality of their duel forgotten as they set off to search for the missing twins.

As they wandered through the vast expanse of the Abyss, Y/n's eyes were drawn to a peculiar sight—a trail of glaze lilies, their delicate petals glowing softly in the dim light.

"Skirk, look at this," Y/n called out, pointing at the trail. Her voice carried a mix of curiosity and caution.

Skirk peered at the flowers, her brow furrowing. "Glaze lilies here? These flowers... they don't just grow randomly in the Abyss."

Y/n paused, her eyes following the trail of glaze lilies that seemed to stretch endlessly into the depths of the Abyss. She frowned, deep in thought. "Last time I followed these, they led me back to Rhinedottir's lab. Maybe they're guiding us to Albedo and Rubedo?"

Skirk examined the trail closely, a look of recognition crossing her face. "When I was younger, lost and wandering in the Abyss, these flowers appeared. They guided me back to safety. Could it be a sign?"

Y/n nodded slowly, considering the possibility. "In my experience, these flowers don't appear without a reason. They're connected to my past... Let's follow them; they might lead us to the twins."

With cautious steps and heightened senses, they began to follow the trail, each glaze lily seeming to glow with a purposeful light, beckoning them deeper into the unknown.

As they followed the trail, the glaze lilies abruptly ceased, leaving Y/n and Skirk at a dead end in the abyssal labyrinth. They halted, scanning their surroundings for any sign of the twins.

"It just...ends here," Y/n observed, her voice laced with confusion and concern. She turned in circles, searching for any clue that might explain the abrupt conclusion of the trail.

Before Skirk could respond, a sudden cacophony shattered the stillness. The air rippled violently as if reality itself were tearing at the seams. A portal burst open before them, and through it tumbled a figure Y/n recognized instantly.

"FUCK!" Lumine's voice cut through the chaos. She hit the ground rolling, instantly on her feet, sword in hand.

An onslaught of riftwolves, their forms twisted with abyssal corruption, poured out of the portal. They lunged at Lumine, who met them with swift, precise strikes. Each wolf dissipated into dust as her blade found its mark.

Panting, Lumine glanced around, her expression a mixture of bewilderment and alertness. "Where am I..." she muttered, her gaze falling on Y/n and Skirk.

Y/n stepped forward, her surprise giving way to a more immediate concern. "Lumine! You're in the Abyss. But what are you doing here? And what was that with the riftwolves?"