Eclipsed

Chapter 11

Chapter 11: A Vow Renewed

Ren groaned softly as his eyes adjusted to the dim lighting of the room. The walls around him were carved from rough stone, faintly glowing veins of an unknown mineral lining their surface, bathing the space in a cool, bluish light. Flickering lanterns hung from iron hooks, casting uneven shadows. The air smelled faintly of damp earth and metal, a mixture that hinted at how deep underground they were.

The room itself wasn’t large, but it was clearly more than a temporary hideout. A wooden table covered in scattered maps and scrolls stood near the corner, alongside shelves filled with vials, daggers, and books bound in cracked leather. A small cot was pushed against one wall, its blankets rumpled as though hastily thrown aside. The faint hum of distant machinery echoed, hinting at larger systems hidden beyond this small chamber.

Valen, his dark cloak catching the dim light, worked deftly at the chains binding Ren to the chair. His expression was thoughtful, even wary. He muttered under his breath, “Well, I hope I’m making the right decision here.”

As the chains clattered to the ground, Ren rubbed his wrists and stood unsteadily, wincing at the pain that flared with each movement. “I want them all dead,” he said, his voice low but firm. “For what they did to my village.”

Valen leaned back against the table, crossing his arms and studying Ren with a faint smirk. “Oh, I see… What village did you grow up in?”

Ren straightened slightly, his brow furrowing. “Haruka Valley.”

Valen’s expression shifted, curiosity flickering in his eyes. “Oh, that village. Famous for having an old, retired mercenary. Can’t remember his name exactly…”

Ren froze, a flicker of recognition crossing his face. “Old… retired? Wait. Was this mercenary’s name Jiro?”

Valen snapped his fingers as though the memory clicked into place. “Yes! That’s it—Jiro.”

Ren’s hands clenched at his sides. “The old man never told me he was a mercenary,” he muttered, his voice tinged with disbelief.

Valen’s smirk deepened slightly. “Wait. You knew him?”

Ren nodded slowly, his expression hardening. “Of course I did. He raised me.”

Valen’s posture stiffened slightly. “Well, that explains it. No wonder you were able to take out one of the Twelve Mal’gorath on your own.”

The room fell silent for a moment, save for the faint dripping of water somewhere in the distance. Valen broke the silence, his tone softening. “Anyway... is Jiro still alive?”

Ren hesitated. His lips pressed into a thin line as he avoided Valen’s gaze. His shoulders sagged slightly, and his expression darkened.

Valen frowned, then sighed as realization struck. “I see...”

Ren sat down on the edge of the cot, staring at the glowing veins in the stone wall. The faint luminescence reflected off his tired eyes.

Valen cleared his throat and leaned forward slightly. “So... can you tell me exactly how your village fell apart?”

Ren’s jaw tightened, but he nodded. “It was attacked by a group of savage beasts called the Nihroz. They came out of nowhere—tearing through everything, killing everyone...” His voice faltered briefly, but he continued. “Even Jiro couldn’t stop them.”

Valen’s brow furrowed. “The Nihroz…” he murmured. “They’re certainly minions of one of the Twelve Mal’gorath.”

Ren’s head snapped up, his eyes narrowing. “Who? Which one? Tell me.”