The cave swallowed their footsteps in silence, shadows stretching long against the damp walls.
William kept trying, again and again, to summon his power—lifting stray stones, scraps, anything he could—but every attempt ended in failure. His body betrayed him every time.
The silence broke when Kevin finally spoke.
"Why don't you just stop trying?"
William's eyes narrowed, but Kevin didn't stop there.
"It's not like you're suddenly going to get stronger. Why not just give up and return to your hometown? I'm sure your father will feed you for life. The Count does dote on his son, after all."
"Did I ever ask you for advice about my life?" William's voice came sharp, venom dripping from every word.
Kevin chuckled. "No, you didn't. But I can't help it—I feel sympathy for you." His tone was mocking, almost pitying. "Someone who isn't liked by anyone. Someone everyone despises."
He glanced at William over his shoulder, his smile cruel. "You live in solitude, ignored by all, don't you? I can't imagine what it's like to have people avoid me like the plague."
Kevin slid his hands into his pockets and added, almost casually, "And let's not forget—the only reason you might've stayed, Lizel… she's no longer by your side either. So why keep trying?"
William's teeth ground together. For the first time—not because of the Curse, but from his own will—he wanted to hurt Kevin.
Who was he to decide what William could or couldn't do?
Suddenly, the cave lights flickered and died, plunging them into darkness.
William felt movement around him, but his weak control over aether left him blind.
Then—
"Ugh!" He choked out as his back slammed against the cold wall, his arms pinned high above him. Kevin's burning eyes pierced through the shadows.
"What the hell are you doing, asshole?!" William snarled, struggling uselessly against his grip.
Kevin's voice came low and dangerous. "I want you to understand something, William. You've crossed a line by daring to tempt my Emma. You should thank me. I haven't plucked out those eyes that dared to look at her so vulgarly."
William thrashed, but his strength was nothing compared to Kevin's—the strongest student in the academy.
Kevin leaned closer, his growl echoing in the dark. "Be very careful about what you do and say around Emma from now on. Because my eyes…" his grip tightened, "…are always on you."
…
Emma was racing toward the mine where they were supposed to be.
She hadn't imagined Kevin would go this far just because William tried to sneak into Lizel's room or grew close to her.
Kevin, in the novel, was a different kind of man. He carried a complicated past—broken engagement, betrayal by his childhood friend, and other worn-out clichés.
Maybe that was why he treasured the women around him so fiercely.
But this feeling of protectiveness shouldn't have pushed him to harm William.
Shouldn't he be training right now? The monster ambush during the raid should have left him focused, not reckless.
Then what went wrong?
Emma didn't stop to think.
Her breathing grew ragged as she sprinted toward the mine.
At the cliff, she peered down. Several mine openings gaped at her like black maws.
She gritted her teeth, leapt, and landed hard in the clearing.
Closing her eyes, she prepared to summon a detection circle—but then,
"Agh!" A groan snapped her attention.
Her gaze darted to the source. Natalie.
Emma rushed to the girl, who was gasping for breath. "Where are the others?"
Natalie, startled to see Emma here, quickly answered, "They must be on their way out… but Kevin and William went down a different path. We didn't see them."
Emma's fist clenched. As she stepped inside the mine, Natalie's voice followed, strained and warning:
"There's a Night Demon inside."
Naturally, that didn't stop her.
Inside, Emma's eyes caught familiar figures—Lizel, limping, supported by Laila as they moved toward the exit.
Laila's eyes widened at the sight of her. "How are you—ah, forget that. Kevin took the left most route."
Emma didn't slow. Her stride carried her deeper, into the dark, where a suffocating aura pressed against her chest.
She could feel the Demon's presence lurking within.
There were only supposed to be hounds here. Yet the mine reeked of a higher threat, a sharper danger.
Of course. This world would never waste an opportunity to force the Protagonist to grow.
She was naturally sensitive towards magical presence and since the Demon was releasing such an overwhelming presence, she knew exactly where she had to go.
…
"Haah… haah…" Kevin's chest heaved as he clutched his sword, his eyes locked on the grinning monster before him. The creature wasn't attacking outright—it was toying with him, savoring the moment.
They were supposed to be fighting hounds here, not an underworld dweller.
Yet here it stood, its presence alone suffocating. Every breath Kevin took felt poisoned, his lungs tightening under the crushing weight of the Nyx it exuded.
But collapsing here meant death.
"Agh…" A groan came from behind him. Kevin didn't spare a glance. That useless wretch had lost his arm right at the start—what good was he now?
All that mattered was the demon in front of him, flexing its fingers, dark power flowing through them as naturally as breath. Nyx bent to its will, as though it were the rightful master of all things shadow.
Kevin's heartbeat quickened. He forced aether into his blade, knowing it would be useless, but if he could just create a distraction… maybe he could escape. Leave the beast with William and buy himself another day.
"Pegasus Charge!"
His form blurred, streaking into light, a desperate attempt at piercing speed.
But it wasn't enough.
"Guh!" Kevin's cry tore out as the demon snatched his head mid-charge, aether unraveling like threads under its grip. With effortless cruelty, it slammed him into the mine wall, the stone cracking on impact.
Air exploded from his lungs. He collapsed, black hair falling over his eyes as he crumpled to the dirt like a discarded doll.
The demon's grin widened. Its gaze shifted, no longer interested in the failed warrior.
Instead, its eyes found the pitiful figure trembling on the ground.
William's face was pale, blood soaking the earth as it poured from his shoulder. He clutched the mangled stump of his arm, the pain unending, his body shaking from the shock of loss.
The demon grinned, advancing towards the boy.
But then…the Nyx from the air was snuff out.
An overwhelming presence, the purest form of energy filled the space, making the demon pause.
It turned its eyes toward the source of such an overwhelming and oppressive aura.
And from the darkness, she emerged.
Holding her staff, Emma muttered, "Thank you for staying alive. Now, die."
°°°°°°°
A/N:- Thanks for reading. Drop a comment and add the book to your collection.