Beyond the Rabbit Hole

Neither Gods nor Kings

In a dark cavern deep within the dread sea's central chasm, the Point of Impact, a disgraced noble family, a young lunasent maiden, and a handful of mercenaries attempted to rest amidst the blighted darkness. Exhausted and starving, they barely even had the energy to sleep, yet could not move about either. Their provisions were long gone, and any hopes of survival slipped away with each silent hour.

Barbarossa sat with his back against the wall, the group's last remaining bandage wrapped around his forehead and covering the spot of his missing ear. His eyes flickered open as he struggled to fall asleep. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw three of his five remaining men huddled together and whispering amongst themselves. He could only make out one sentence from their conversation.

"We're going to die here, aren't we?"

Barbarossa let out a shallow sigh and watched as the mercenaries made glances at the young Valentina shivering alone in the corner of the dark cave.

Valentina's breath hitched in her throat as she heard the steady sound of footsteps creeping in the dark. Her barely conscious mind was made fully awake, yet she did not dare open her eyes.

The steps grew closer.

Valentina's breath became erratic, her body shivering from fear more than the cold. She swallowed hard and held her breath. Then she heard a light thud land close beside her. Her heart beat faster, and she opened one eye. In her hazy vision, she saw the former commander now sitting beside her, only a few feet away, as he tried to fall back asleep. Her breathing began to slow.

Alyss held her war pick firmly. The gold sheen of its blade had long since dulled, but the blade remained sharp despite its thickness. Her brow furrowed, and her eyes focused on the slender dreadknight.

The black metal plate covering the dreadknight's body shone with an almost ethereal vigor. It seemed crystalline in nature, translucent even—a window into the blackest of nights.

Tension weighed on the deathly haze as the foul, worm-like monster looked down on the dreadknight, acid drooling from its circular maw.

The dreadknight stared back at the monster. He tilted his head slightly. . . as if daring it.

The monster let out a deep groan as it raised its head and retreated into the ground. With a hefty rumble, Alyss could feel the beast slither away just beneath the surface.

"White Hare. . ." Alyss spoke into her companion's mind. "What do you think—can I beat this one?"

The White Hare paused for a moment as it examined the dreadknight. "Yes. Indeed, I think this shall make for some much-needed practice." The rabbit hovered uncannily above the battlefield, standing as if on solid ground. It scratched its ears with its back paw and with a nod it added, "Try to defeat him without relying on your defenses. Treat every blow with the caution it deserves."

The corner of Alyss's mouth slowly curled upward. She brandished her war pick, twirling it once in her hand, before taking a heavy step forward.

The dreadknight turned toward her silently, leaning forward. . . then he vanished.

Alyss's eyes widened as two sharp forces slashed across her throat. When the sound of metal scraping against metal finally reached her ears, she could tell that the dreadknight was already behind her.

The White hare let out a deep, breathy sigh. "So much for that."

The smirk disappeared from Alyss's face, her free hand moving instinctively toward her throat. A bead of sweat slid down her forehead as she felt her neck for a wound that wasn't there. There was no pain, but the feeling of the serrated blade echoed on her skin. She turned to face the dreadknight, her brows still half-arched in surprise.