"Hey, Ami," Van muttered, lying back on the grass, his gaze fixed on the stars above.
"Yeah?" she replied, leaning slightly from her spot on the opposite side of the campfire.
"How old are you?" he asked, his tone casual but curious.
"Hmm... I'll be 19 soon!" she said with a soft smile. "Why do you ask?"
"No reason. You're all grown up now, huh?" he murmured.
Her smile faded as she flipped over, her voice quieter. "What's that supposed to mean? I'm not a kid anymore, so stop treating me like one..."
"Sure, sure..." Van sighed, a faint chuckle escaping as he closed his eyes.
--- THE NEXT MORNING ---
"Alright, you lot," Unicus began, his voice cutting through the morning stillness. The party of eight stood before the cavern entrance, the dim light of dawn casting long shadows over their figures.
The Dragonkin rested his hand on the curved khukris at his waist, their gleaming edges ready for action. Beside him, the Dwarf stood near Unicus, surveying the group with a discerning eye.
The elves, Sylva and Vaelthir, positioned themselves together off to the side, their silent composure contrasting with the tension in the air.
But all eyes were drawn to Ami, who stood unusually close to Van. Any nearer, and she might as well have been in his arms, an intimacy that hadn't gone unnoticed.
'Heh... So, the brat got some action last night...?' Arnolt chuckled to himself.
Unicus's tone shifted, drawing their attention back. His voice grew serious, commanding focus. "I'll be honest with you," he said, his expression darkening as he scanned the group. "I have no idea what's in there. None at all."
He clenched his fist, his frustration palpable. "I don't know what caused everyone to suddenly... erupt into flames and become animated corpses." His words hung heavy in the air, drawing a concerned glance from Sylva. The others exchanged wary looks, except for Vaelthir and Savathon, who stood with arms crossed, scrutinizing Unicus's every syllable.
"But I do know where it began," Unicus continued, his voice steady but grim. "There's a large cavern further in—abandoned buildings, a ceiling so high it looks like a starless sky. That's where it started. That's where everything went wrong."
He paused, his jaw tightening. "We've had theories. Many of them. None panned out. But one remains plausible—a mage. Someone orchestrating this madness."
He turned his gaze to the elves, nodding to Sylva and Vaelthir. "That's where you two come in. Sylva, we'll need your summons and your connection to the spiritual world. Vaelthir, your sixth sense for traps and danger will be invaluable. We'll rely on both of you to lead the way through this."
Unicus's instructions were clear and deliberate, outlining the path forward with a firm resolve.
Meanwhile, Ami glanced sideways at Van. His posture was tense, his hand hovering near his helmet as his eyes locked on the cavern entrance. The faintest furrow lined his brow.
"Van?" Ami whispered, concern softening her voice. "Is something wrong?"
"No... I'm fine," he replied quickly, though his gaze didn't waver from the cavern. Despite his assurance, there was a strain in his voice, something unspoken weighing heavily on him.
Van clenched his jaw, swallowing back the unease gnawing at him.
'Doesn't anyone else see this?' he thought, his stomach churning as a quiet groan escaped him. 'That black flame... It's pouring out of the cave. Even standing here, it's making me feel like shit. Nauseous. Is this because of my new passive?'
YOU ARE READING
Betrayed, I Met The Demon Lord
FantasíaVan and his friend Magus had reincarnated in another world with magic. Tasked to kill the demon lord, they set forth. Van was granted very rough skills that made life for him in that world a living hell, yet he muscled through. Magus however, was be...
