The Vice Captain of the Crimson Lions

Shallow

Shallow landed in the fortress, her dark aura dissipating as she stepped forward. The shadowy energy surrounding her seemed to pulse like a heartbeat, faint traces of magical energy lingering in her wake. Yagos, perched on a stone ledge overlooking the fortress's main chamber, observed her approach with narrowed eyes. She strode forward confidently, the remnants of her fight still visible in her fatigued but steady gait. She took a knee before him,

"Mission report?"

"The capital city is in disarray. The full list of casualties is yet to be determined. I engaged a Clover Kingdom mage and defeated him. However, I felt a strange pain in my chest after the battle. I need to see Dr. Morris to investigate. Before I left, I overheard that a group called the Midnight Suns organized the attack. They've killed the Captain of the Crimson Lions. That concludes my report."

Yagos nodded with a smirk,

"Impressive work, Shallow. I'll make sure your efforts are rewarded. Go see Dr. Morris immediately."

Shallow bowed her head before rising to her feet. As she left, another mage intercepted her, his easygoing expression contrasting starkly with her cold demeanor.

"Hey, Shallow!"

Shallow glanced at him,

"Hello."

Aphi shrugged off her coldness and nudged her,

"Do you want to spar?"

Shallow shook her head,

"No. I must see Dr. Morris,"

Aphi nodded,

"Alright, see you later,"

"Bye,"

Entering the dimly lit laboratory, she found Dr. Morris hunched over his workstation, examining a glistening gemstone with a peculiar device that emitted occasional sparks. When she addressed him, he looked up and grinned widely, as if greeting his prized creation.

"Ah there is my pride. How are you feeling, Shallow?"

As the shadows retreated, her features emerged in the low light. Her expression was as vacant as her dull blue eyes, which held an unsettling depth of emptiness. A thin scar ran under her left eye, and her straight black hair framed her face in a stark, lifeless contrast.

"I believe I was injured during a fight with a mage in the Clover Kingdom. After I defeated him, I felt pain in my chest,"

Morris frowned and nodded,

"Take a seat,"

She did not hesitate when she sat down and was strapped to the chair,

"I will examine your body. Rest,"

Without hesitation, Shallow lowered herself into the chair. Morris strapped her in securely, and she barely blinked as the restraints clicked into place. He injected her with a strong dose of anesthesia, designed to sedate even the most resilient of beings, and her eyes slowly fluttered shut, her body slackening as she slipped into unconsciousness. Just as Morris began his examination, Yagos entered the room, folding his arms and watching intently.

"What happened?"

Morris rolled his eyes,

"I just sedated her, give me a moment,"

He activated a scanning device, which emitted a low hum as he ran it carefully along Shallow's body. Suddenly, a loud beep echoed through the room, causing Morris to pause. He peered at the device with a deepening frown.

"It seems that her counterpart came back for a moment. Did anything happen?"

"The Captain of the Crimson Lions was killed,"