Tension fills the air inside the cave as we pack for the journey ahead. I can feel it in the way everyone moves—Rebecca and Talia, silently packing food and medicinal herbs from the cooking area, while IG-22 and Apollo load the other blasters, grenades, and other weapons into the Crucible. Every movement is deliberate, the atmosphere heavy with the weight of what lies ahead.

  I stand before Nikko, her small frame trembling as she sniffles, trying to hold back her tears. Her cat-like ears twitch slightly, and her tail flicks anxiously behind her. "I said no, Nikko," I say, my voice firm but full of concern. "You cannot come with us."

  Her blue eyes brim with tears as she clings to me, wrapping her arms around my waist. "But, Papa, I can fight too! I don't want you to leave me again," she pleads, her voice quivering as she presses herself closer.

  I kneel down to her level, placing my hands gently on her shoulders. "I don't want to leave you behind either, sweetheart," I say softly. "But the Shadowfell is far too dangerous. I fear it might try to influence you, and I can't let that happen. Not to you or Rebecca."

  Nikko sniffles again, her eyes wide and pleading, but I know this is the right choice. "There's a high probability that the Shadowfell will send its forces here while we're gone," Apollo suddenly says from across the room, placing a crate into the bag of holding with his precise mechanical movements.

  I freeze and glance at him. "Say that again," I demand, standing up slowly, and Nikko looks over at Apollo with wide eyes.

  "It would be a logical move," Apollo continues, turning his head toward me with an eerie precision. "The Shadowfell may attempt to strike here while we are gone, seeking to eliminate any who may pose a threat. Miss Nikko and Miss Rebecca would be prime targets. It is what I would do if I were the Shadowfell."

  The cold logic of Apollo's statement hits me like a punch in the gut. I can feel my heart rate quicken as I process his words. He's right. The Shadowfell has attacked us here before, and it knows the location of the cave. Leaving Nikko and Rebecca behind would make them vulnerable.

  I take a deep breath, feeling a knot tighten in my chest as I glance down at Nikko. The thought of her being in danger makes my skin crawl. But as much as it scares me to bring her along, the idea of her being attacked without me here to protect her is worse.

  "Fine," I say reluctantly, and Nikko's face lights up as she wipes her tears away, her tail flicking with renewed excitement. "But," I add, kneeling before her again, "you do exactly as I say. When I say run, you run. When I tell you to hide, you hide. Understood?"

  Nikko nods eagerly. "I'll be very careful, Papa. You have trained me well after all" she says, her voice filled with determination.

  I can't help but smirk a little. She's right—I've trained her well. "That I did," I mutter under my breath. "Now go help Talia and Rebecca pack."

  Nikko rushes off, her energy instantly revitalized, and I watch her join Talia and Rebecca, her small hands busy as she helps them pack supplies. A deep sigh escapes me as I make my way to the cave entrance, needing a moment to collect myself.

  I pull up my mask and retrieve my pipe, carefully packing in a pinch of medicinal herbs and lighting it. The familiar scent fills the air as I take a deep puff, trying to push aside the doubts that gnaw at the edges of my mind. I stare out at the forest, the trees swaying gently in the breeze, and try to center myself.

  "Mind if I join you?" I hear Talia's voice behind me.

  I turn slightly and see her standing a few steps away, her eyes soft but filled with concern. I nod, and she steps up beside me. The silence between us is comfortable, but the tension still hangs heavy in the air.

  "Nervous?" she asks quietly.

  I take another puff from the pipe and exhale deeply. "Of course," I admit, my eyes scanning the forest. "I have a bad feeling about this."

  "You think it's a trap?" Talia's voice is calm, but I can sense her unease.

  "I know it's a trap," I reply, feeling the weight of the truth in my words. "The Shadowfell is waiting for us... and I'm scared."

  She steps closer to me, and I wrap my arm around her, pulling her gently to my side. Her warmth grounds me, offering some comfort amidst the uncertainty.

  "I'm scared for all of you," I continue, my voice quieter now. "But I feel a lot better with you by my side."

  She smiles up at me, her eyes filled with a mixture of love and worry. We share a kiss—brief but tender—and for a moment, I forget about the dangers ahead. But I can sense her fear too, the same fear that gnaws at me. We all feel it, except for Apollo and IG-22, who seem unbothered by the concept of fear.

  The moment is interrupted by Rebecca stepping out of the cave, looking a little flustered. We immediately pull away. "Everything is ready," she says, but then her gaze falls on us, and she blushes, quickly turning away. "Sorry... I didn't mean to interrupt," she mumbles, stepping back toward the cave.

  Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

  I tap out the ashes from my pipe and quickly put it away. "Rebecca, wait," I call after her, jogging to catch up.

  She stops and turns back to me, her expression a mixture of embarrassment and uncertainty. "You don't have to come with us," I say, my tone gentle but firm. "Bjorn and Alduin have reconciled. It would be safer for you to go to either Elaria or Eldoria."

  She hesitates for a moment, her gaze flicking between me and the ground. "You're right," she admits, her voice soft. "I could go to either kingdom... but I think I'd regret it if I didn't help you." She looks up, her eyes meeting mine, and I can see the determination there. "All my life, I ran from my problems. But now... I want to help. I owe you that much."

  Her words catch me off guard, but I nod, respect for her growing.

  ?????

  We gather by the Crucible, my heart racing as I prepare us for what lies ahead. I call over the Eye-Bots, watching as they zip through the air, settling into their designated slots within the ship's rear compartment.

  "Everyone, get inside and buckle up," I instruct, heading to the cockpit. Talia follows, settling into the co-pilot's seat beside me, with Nikko climbing onto her lap. Rebecca sits in the passenger seat behind us and IG-22 and Apollo stand in the back.

  I start the sequence to power up the ship, flipping switches and pressing buttons. The hum of the Crucible's engines fills the cabin, but the tightness in my chest persists, a reminder of the challenges awaiting us. Suddenly, I feel two hands reach out—Talia's and Nikko's. They each squeeze my hand gently, offering silent reassurance. I look over, meeting their eyes as they give me encouraging smiles. I return their smiles, lowering my mask as the Crucible lifts off, leaving the cave behind.

  We're heading into the heart of danger. The Shadowfell will throw everything it has at us. Yet, as I glance back at my companions—my family—I find a sense of calm.

  Once the Crucible is in the air, I plug in the coordinates for the Shodo Desert Dungeon. The control panel lights up as I set our destination, then I turn to DP-8, hovering beside the console, and nod.

  "Take over, DP-8," I instruct.

  The droid beeps in acknowledgment, its familiar tone echoing through the cockpit. It extends its hacking appendage and inserts it into the ship's control interface, locking into place with a click. A faint hum emanates from the connection, and the screens light up, indicating DP-8 has taken command.

  With DP-8 in control, I release the controls and spin my chair around to face everyone. Talia, seated in the co-pilot's seat with Nikko perched on her lap, meets my gaze with a look of calm determination. In the back, Rebecca sits between Apollo and IG-22, her fingers tapping anxiously against her thigh, though she tries to keep her face steady.

  "We're about an hour out," I inform them. "I want to use this time to study the dungeon."

  As I speak, I activate the ship's hologram projector. A light-blue image flickers to life in the center of the cabin, displaying a three-dimensional rendering of the dungeon in intricate detail. The ancient stone walls, labyrinthine passages, and desolate corridors appear, casting an eerie light across everyone's faces as they lean in to observe.

  The hologram rotates slowly, and I zoom in on the surrounding town. The buildings appear worn down, lifeless, like they were abandoned in haste. Shadows cling to the empty streets, and there's an unsettling quietness to the entire scene.

  I cycle through different visual filters on the hologram, starting with a lens that allows me to see inside the structures. Empty rooms, overturned furniture, dust coating every surface—there's no sign of recent activity. Next, I toggle to the thermal lens, hoping to catch any lingering heat signatures. The display glows briefly, but the streets and buildings remain as cold as the stones themselves.

  Talia leans forward, her eyes fixed on the hologram, studying the projection alongside me. Rebecca, equally focused, can't hide a slight tremor in her fingers as she watches the deserted city. Eventually, she speaks, her voice soft, trying to sound confident. "Maybe the Shadowfell hasn't arrived yet?"

  "Maybe," I mutter, though doubt clouds my voice. I zoom in on the dungeon itself, revealing the structure's underground passages, twisting and winding deeper into the earth like the coils of a serpent. The layout is a labyrinth, a place designed to trap and disorient. I switch to the biosensor, scanning for any traces of life. Still, nothing. "This dungeon should have monsters on every level," I say, frowning at the blank display. "Yet I don't see any."

  Talia's brows furrow as she watches the hologram. "So... the Shadowfell could've cleared it out?"

  I nod, though unease knots in my chest. "Or it's waiting for us."

  Talia is quiet for a moment, then speaks, her tone thoughtful. "His followers," she says.

  I look over at her. "What about them?" I ask, curiosity piqued.

  "They can appear out of thin air, right? Like they're being transported somehow. What if... What if there actually is no one at the dungeon until we arrive?" Talia suggests, her voice quiet but firm.

  Her insight strikes me like a bolt of clarity. She's right. That's why I'm not picking anything up. "The Shadowfell is already there," I say, nodding in agreement. "It's just waiting for us to arrive. That's when they'll show themselves." I glance over at Talia. "Good thinking."

  Talia blushes slightly, her cheeks tinting pink as she looks away. "It's nothing," she says modestly. But I can tell she's proud of her deduction.

  Nikko gives me a confident nod. Even though her usual energy is subdued, I can see the fierce determination in her eyes. I smile at her, grateful for her unwavering belief in me. When I turn to Rebecca, I see the nerves still there, but something has shifted. She's not as scared as she once was. There's a newfound resolve in her that wasn't there when we first met.

  I take a deep breath, feeling a mix of pride and concern for the people around me. They're ready to face whatever lies ahead, and that fills me with a sense of purpose. I takeback control of the Crucible from DP-8, my hand steady on the controls as I increase our speed. The scenery blurs beneath us, vast forests giving way to the shimmering expanse of the ocean. The sky is a blend of oranges and blues as the sun rises higher, casting golden light over the water. The air grows warmer as we speed across the endless waves, the sound of the speeder's engines humming in the cabin.

  After a short while, the ocean gives way to the first glimpses of the Shodo Desert, a vast expanse of sand dunes stretching out in every direction. Far off in the distance, the jagged peaks of enormous mountains rise against the horizon, like ancient sentinels guarding the land.

  "Almost there," I murmur to myself.