As we walked further, the stone walls were replaced by metallic ones. However, it was no ordinary metal. It was similar to the metal Aliera’s inner sanctum was made of. The shift from stone to metal was subtle at first, with veins of silvery ore glinting within the rough surface. But as we progressed, the walls became fully metallic—smooth and polished, reflecting our distorted images in their faint glow. The material felt alive, humming faintly with an energy that resonated in my chest. It wasn’t ordinary metal, but something otherworldly and ancient.

  I ran my fingers along the cool surface, the texture unyielding yet strangely warm, as if it recognized my presence.

  “What is this metal, Champion? It gives an energy similar to Aliera’s divine power.”

  Thalia as a priestess was the one who was most familiar with divine power so it wasn’t surprising she recognized it.

  “I am not sure. But it is probably a metal used by the Stars to build their inner sanctums. Aliera also had something similar.”

  Aurora stepped closer to the wall, her analytical eyes studying the intricate patterns that ran through the metal.

  “These veins...” she murmured, tracing them lightly with her fingertips. “They’re not just decorative. They’re conduits for energy. Though I can’- Uh!”

  She stumbled back while holding her head but I managed to catch her. Thalia rushed to my side to check for any wounds.

  “Are you okay?”

  She asked, her hand glowing with healing power. Aurora shook her hand dismissively before regaining her footing.

  “I am okay. It is just that when I tried to analyze it I was hit by this headache.”

  Aurora straightened her expression a mix of curiosity and unease. The veins in the metallic walls pulsed faintly as if mocking her attempt to unravel their secrets. I helped her steady herself, my eyes narrowing at the wall.

  “It is Star made. I suggest not looking at them, let alone trying to analyze them. The secrets of Gods should not be seen by mortal eyes.”

  The team continued forward, a cautious silence falling over the group. The metallic corridors twisted and turned, their labyrinthine design making it impossible to gauge the distance or direction we had traveled. The walls pulsed faintly, as if alive, and the faint hum of energy grew louder, reverberating through my chest like the rhythm of an unseen heart.

  “I have been meaning to ask you, Poyraz. Who is this Goddess of Freedom? I searched but I wasn’t able to find much about a Freedom Goddess between Archons of Antion.”

  Blanche broke the silence. Ah, shit. Well, this was a difficult question to answer. From what I understood from my own research in Quipax and deducting from Aliera’s words, most of the sign of the Goddess of Freedom was wiped by Anshar, King of the Gods, and her father. It was probably done to stop mortals from learning a Star could ditch their responsibilities and become a mortal.

  “Aliera told me that she was one of her younger sisters. She wasn’t particularly strong or had a strong following so it is normal to not find much.”

  Blanche raised an eyebrow, clearly unsatisfied with my vague explanation. Her sharp gaze lingered on me as if trying to dissect the layers of truth I was hiding.

  "Not particularly strong, yet she's powerful enough to prison a demon king for centuries?”

  Blanche's voice was edged with skepticism. I nodded.

  “Well, weak means different things between mortals and gods. Also, according to Aliera, she wasn’t interested in being worshipped since it went against her whole mantra. How can one claim to be a God of Freedom while ordering others to kneel?”

  Blanche didn’t seem convinced, but she didn't push any further. The silence stretched on, each footstep echoing in the eerie metallic corridors. The air around us seemed to thrum with an almost oppressive energy, growing stronger as we ventured deeper into the unknown. Finally, The corridor before us split open, revealing a vast chamber beyond. The walls of the chamber gleamed with the same metallic substance, but there was something different this time. Chains hang from above and below towards the center. And in that center stood a woman, wrapped in chains by her legs and arms.

  “Hello, darlings. I haven’t had visitors for a long time. How can I help you on this fine day?”

  A soft, ethereal tone licked my ears. I locked eyes with her and for a second I forgot the breathe. Her amethyst eyes shone with a mischievous glint, framed by dramatic dark makeup that enhanced their intensity.

  “I- I- We…”

  Words stuck in my mouth. I looked to my companions for help but they were in the same state as me. The woman before us, bound yet exuding an undeniable presence, smiled knowingly as if she could see right through our hesitation. I shook my head, reaching from my soul boundary to see if something had intruded on it. But no, there was nothing.

  You needn't be so shy," she purred, her voice echoing softly in the vast chamber. “Let me just tone down my glamour.”

  The moment she spoke, the air around her seemed to shift, the bind on my tongue lessening.

  “A status effect? But I didn’t feel anything?”

  I asked after swallowing hard.

  “A status effect? Oh, darling. I don’t have the power to charm the Champion of Aliera. It is just the effect of my Charisma stat.”

  Her smile widened, a mischievous glint never leaving her eyes.

  …

  So that’s what Charisma stat was for.

  I tightened my grip on my sword, grounding myself. Calm down. Focus. Straightening my back, I examined her carefully. Maybe taking in all of her features would make it easier. Or harder but I should at least try to meaningfully communicate.

  Her skin was pale and smooth, looking so fragile that I was surprised the chains she was bound to didn’t bruise her. Her hair contrasted her skin greatly, dark and short with its tips curling slightly, adding an effortless, wild flair. Her wings, resting gracefully at her hip level, fluttered faintly, their feathers an iridescent black that shifted into deep violet under the glow of the room. Each feather looked impossibly soft yet razor-sharp, a reflection of her duality—both freedom and restraint personified.

  “I can feel your eyes,” she teased, her lips curving into a playful smirk that sent an unsettling thrill down my spine. “But do you have words to go with that gaze, Champion?”

  “I am Poyraz Karabulut, the Champion of Aliera. I am the leader of this expedition. We are here to find a clue about how to defeat Demon King Moloch. Aliera instructed me to come here.”

  Her attire was equally striking—a blend of elegance and rebellion. A fitted, obsidian-black corset hugged her figure, its intricate lace designs resembling chains fracturing under strain. Around her hips hung a skirt of torn silk, uneven and jagged, swaying with every subtle shift of her body. Beneath, knee-high boots adorned with silver buckles gave her an edge of defiance. Yet it was her posture—composed, relaxed, almost mocking—that spoke volumes.

  Despite the chains tethering her to the ground and ceiling, she looked completely at ease, as if the restraints were nothing more than decorative accessories.

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  The woman's smile deepened at my introduction, her chained wings fluttering faintly. She tilted her head, the chains clinking softly with her movement. Her amethyst eyes bore into mine, exuding a mixture of amusement and something deeper—perhaps curiosity or recognition.

  “Champion of Aliera,” she repeated slowly, savoring the title as if it were a fine delicacy. “You’ve come a long way, haven’t you? And all to defeat Moloch, the Demon King. How noble.” Her voice dripped with honeyed sarcasm, yet there was a tinge of genuine intrigue beneath it.

  Aurora, regaining some composure, stepped forward, her analytical gaze fixed on the woman. “Who are you? And why are you imprisoned here?”

  The woman’s smile didn’t waver. Instead, she leaned slightly forward, the chains creaking faintly under the motion. “Ah, where are my manners? My name is Nyxara, but you might find my title more intriguing: The Fallen Star of Liberation.”

  “Fallen Star…” Thalia whispered, her face pale.”Are you claiming you are-you were a Star?”

  Oh, shit. Okay, this is not going well. While I could somehow close the mouths of Thalia and others, Blanche was something else. Time to bullshit my way out of this.

  “I see. You are like me.”

  Nyxara’s amethyst eyes widened, a flicker of amusement and curiosity flashing across her face. “Oh?” she said, her voice lilting. “Like you, Champion? Do elaborate. I’m quite intrigued.”

  I straightened my posture, doing my best to channel the confidence I wasn’t entirely feeling. “You are a chosen representative,” I began, gesturing to her bound form, “a priestess or perhaps a champion of the Goddess of Freedom, just as I am Aliera’s Champion.”

  The room went eerily silent for a moment before Nyxara’s laughter echoed through the chamber, musical and tinged with mockery. “A priestess? A champion?” She leaned forward as much as her chains allowed, her smirk downright predatory. “Darling, you have quite the imagination.”

  Aurora and Thalia shot me questioning looks, clearly uncertain about where I was going with this. Blanche, to her credit, remained composed, her sharp gaze fixed on Nyxara as if trying to pierce through her very essence.

  “I understand your skepticism,” I pressed on, holding Nyxara’s gaze. “But it makes sense. The power you exude, the aura of divine charisma—it’s similar to Aliera’s, but not quite the same. You carry her essence, not as a goddess, but as her chosen. Perhaps the Goddess of Freedom found herself in a precarious position, and you were entrusted to bear her will.”

  Nyxara tilted her head, her chains rattling softly. A sly smile crept across her face, her expression an infuriating mixture of amusement and condescension. “Fascinating theory, Champion. I must admit, it’s been quite some time since someone dared to assign me such a humble role.”

  “Am I wrong?” I asked, daring to take a step closer. My hand brushed the hilt of my sword, a subtle reminder that I wasn’t entirely defenseless here.

  Her eyes narrowed slightly, but her smile didn’t falter.

  “But it is not entirely wrong. Yes, you are correct. I am a herald of the Goddess of Freedom given her divine power, aid, and knowledge. Bound here until the Stars decides otherwise.”

  She shot me a knowing smirk.

  Nyxara's smirk lingered, her amethyst eyes glinting with mischief as if enjoying some private joke at my expense. Her words carried an air of theatricality, as though she were indulging in a game only she understood fully.

  “Well then, Champion Poyraz,” she continued, her voice dropping to a silky purr, “what brings Aliera’s chosen to disturb my humble confinement?”

  “Because Stars decided otherwise. Aliera herself instructed me to free you and get your help to slay Moloch.”

  Nyxara’s wings twitched, the faint clinking of her chains echoing through the chamber. Her playful demeanor faltered for the briefest of moments, replaced by a flicker of surprise that she quickly masked.

  “Stars decided that? Even Anshar, King of Gods?”

  The very god who decided to imprison her. Her father. Her question wasn’t just rhetorical—it carried the weight of disbelief and bitter memories.

  “I have been told that Aliera and other Stars would convince him.”

  I answered firmly. She locked eyes with me once again.

  “Do you realize what are you doing, human?”

  A silky voice whispered in my head. It was Nyxara’s voice. Telephatic communication. Huh. Better for me.

  “Are you asking if I am realizing I could draw the anger of Anshar by freeing you? Yes, I am. But in the end, I am Aliera’s Champion. She ordered me to free you and you are the key to defeat Moloch. The question is whatever you would comply with.”

  Nyxara’s gaze held mine, the glimmer of amusement replaced by something deeper—an undercurrent of contemplation mixed with faint traces of bitterness. Her wings, still tethered by gleaming chains, twitched faintly as if they too shared her unease. Her lips curved into a smirk, but it lacked the playful sharpness from earlier.

  “You’re bold, Champion. I’ll give you that,” she said aloud, her tone honeyed but carrying an edge.

  “So I have been told,” I replied out loud.

  Nyxara’s smirk deepened, but there was something more measured in her expression now like she was testing the waters of this newfound dynamic between us. She tilted her head slightly, observing me with a mixture of curiosity and wariness.

  “So, what do you offer, Champion? You’ll free me and what do you get?”

  She asked once again telepathically. Okay, that’s it. I got her on the hook. Just need to reel her in without snapping the line.

  I took a steady breath, feeling the weight of Nyxara’s gaze as it bore into me. Her amethyst eyes gleamed with an intensity that made my pulse quicken, but I refused to falter. There was no turning back now. The stakes were too high, and I needed her—whether she was willing to help or not.

  “I had a home I could call my own once. It is gone now. Every day I think about how I could have saved it. But I decided to stop looking back. Stop living with all the regrets and the burdens so that I could focus fully on saving this new home. What I want, what I need to get is simple, Nyxara. I need your help to protect this world and its people.”

  Nyxara’s expression shifted slightly as I spoke, the faint flicker of something unreadable passing across her face. Her amethyst eyes, usually filled with playfulness or mockery, softened just enough for me to notice. The chains around her body rattled softly, an almost imperceptible sound that echoed through the chamber as she processed my words.

  “Hmpft. So dramatic. Honestly, I kind of expected you to make me join your concubines behind you.”

  …

  There was a heavy silence for a second.

  “They are not my concubines.”

  My voice was cold as ice. She let out a loud laugh.

  Nyxara’s laughter echoed through the chamber, sharp and biting, yet tinged with an underlying warmth that made it impossible to dismiss completely. Her wings fluttered again, the chains clinking like the sound of a secret being whispered into the void.

  “Oh, I know. I’m only teasing, Champion,” she purred, her tone returning to its usual playful sharpness. The moment of tension slipped away, but there was still something lingering in her gaze. She was watching me closely, measuring me—testing how far she could push, how much she could provoke without pushing me too far.

  “Very well, Poyraz Karabulut. I think I am going to have a lot of fun with you. Free me and I’ll help you protect the world. Do we have a deal?”

  “Yes, we do.”