"Is this my fault again?"
Luke’s sharp remark was met only with Theo’s faint smile. Luke shot a glare at the man walking ahead, but deep down, he knew Theo’s actions weren’t entirely unreasonable.
If the culprit was indeed a magician, they likely detected Luke and Theo’s presence the moment they entered the mine. A skilled caster capable of weaving such a complex barrier spell would surely have sensed the disturbance in the ambient mana.
Under such circumstances, attempting a delicate dispelling of the barrier would’ve only wasted time. Considering they didn’t know Angela’s brother’s condition, every moment of delay could increase the risk to his life.
"But what if they all escape? Isn’t that why you abandoned that weird roleplay strategy back in Conenium?"
Luke stepped alongside Theo, voicing the question nagging at him.
"No matter how skilled the magician, this is still a mine. If they’ve nested deeper inside, creating an escape route would’ve been significantly harder. Even if there’s a way out, this mine is far from the village center, so any skirmish here won’t harm civilians," Theo replied calmly.
As the rationale spilled effortlessly from Theo’s lips, Luke could only nod in reluctant agreement. While Theo might jest about instincts or intuition, it was clear he hadn’t lost a shred of rationality, even in such a tight situation.
"There’s definitely someone else’s mana here," Luke muttered.
"Yeah," Theo agreed.
What had initially been the faint energy of Gellu was now joined by an entirely different aura emanating from the concealed inner space. One thing was certain: the new mana had a sinister quality to it.
The two quickened their pace. As they delved deeper, the mine became rougher, its natural features more chaotic, obstructing their progress. Then, something unusual caught their attention—a side passage. Unlike the rest of the rough-hewn mine, this entrance was unnaturally smooth and precise.
Without exchanging words, they immediately entered the side passage.
"Theo, over there!"
Luke’s urgent shout directed Theo’s gaze to an ominous black lattice of pillars forming a prison-like structure.
"Please... someone... help..."
The faint voice from within made both of them rush forward, crouching down in front of the bars. Responding instinctively to their presence, a man dragged his battered body to the bars, gripping them as he lifted his face.
Orange hair, freckles on both cheeks, and a faint scar near the corner of his mouth—all matched Angela’s description of her brother, Bruce.
"Don’t worry. Angela sent us to rescue you," Theo said reassuringly.
"My... my sister?"
"Theo," Luke interrupted, grabbing Theo’s sleeve before he could act further. Theo turned to him, puzzled, but Luke didn’t explain. Instead, he focused on the glowing orb of fire Theo had conjured earlier to light their way.
With a flick of his finger, Luke added his own mana to the orb, causing its flames to intensify and spread light further into the darkness. The flames illuminated not only the immediate area but also the path they’d entered from and, most chillingly, the space beyond the bars.
"..."
"..."
Behind Bruce, piles of corpses came into view.
Each body bore the same condition, as if they’d all suffered identical fates. Faces were gaunt, skin clinging tightly to bone, while arms and legs protruded grotesquely from their tattered clothing. Their flesh, dry and brittle like withered petals, showed signs of extreme dehydration. In some cases, frostbite had turned skin an unnatural blend of red and blue.
It was anything but a natural death. These people had clearly been killed through some external and cruel means. Luke’s gaze darkened as the chilling scene sank in.
"Behind you! Look out!"
Bruce’s panicked shout pierced the silence as shadows approached from behind. Two figures, likely guards, had crept up on them, swords raised high to strike.
"..."
The guards never got the chance. Before they could swing, long spears of ice erupted from the ground, stopping mere inches from their necks. The pointed shards glinted menacingly, threatening to pierce with the slightest movement.
Luke rose slowly, while Theo, who had sensed the intruders from the start, turned his cold gaze on them.
Paralyzed with fear, the two guards could do nothing but swallow hard. Their instincts screamed that they were facing enemies far beyond their league.
"Urgh...!"
Luke grabbed one of the guards by the neck, his icy eyes narrowing.
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"You’re not the mastermind, are you?"
The guard squirmed in Luke’s grip, but the silver-haired man’s hold was unyielding. The faint brown of Luke’s irises gleamed ominously, charged with a killing intent more potent than the magical firelight around them.
"You... you... what are you...?!"
The captured man struggled, clawing at Luke’s arm.
"Wrong answer. Where’s your boss?"
Luke’s voice was as cold as the frost now creeping along the guard’s neck, the temperature dropping with every second.
"If you don’t want your neck to shatter like ice, I suggest you talk."
The guard’s defiance melted into terror as frostbite began to spread. Gulping audibly, he stammered out a response.
"F-further inside! To the right... there’s another space...! P-please, that’s all I know!"
Satisfied, Luke hurled the man against the wall, the impact knocking him unconscious. His companion didn’t fare much better—Luke’s swift kick sent him flying into the opposite wall, crumpling in a heap.
As the dust settled, Theo remained focused on the black lattice imprisoning Bruce. Unfazed by the commotion behind him, Theo examined the structure with calm precision, his demeanor radiating quiet trust.
"How is it?" Luke asked, brushing his silver hair back as he approached.
"It’s another barrier spell, like the one at the entrance, but less complex," Theo replied.
"Then let’s smash it and—" Luke’s words faltered as he glanced at the delicate situation.
If they used brute force, the resulting shockwave could harm Bruce and disturb the numerous corpses. Any survivors among the missing villagers wouldn’t want their loved ones further desecrated by such reckless action.
"Theo, you’re better with barriers than I am, right?"
"That’s true, but I’m not great at dispelling them."
"Then analyze it and figure something out. I’ll deal with the mastermind."
Luke stretched his hands, flexing his fingers as if preparing for a fight. Theo frowned slightly.
"You don’t even know what you’re up against. Going alone is dangerous."
"Then what? Should we both stay here and play with the barrier while they plan their escape?"
Luke’s logic was sound. The barrier caster had likely sensed their intrusion by now. Taking the fight to them was the best way to buy time and potentially disrupt the barrier.
"Besides, we’re not just here to rescue people, remember?"
"...Fine. I’ll catch up soon."
Luke nodded and sprinted down the narrow path the guard had described. As he moved, the ominous mana thickened, like a trail leading straight to its source.
He reached the right-hand turn and found another unnaturally excavated space. It opened into a vast chamber, far larger than the one where Bruce was held, resembling an old wartime hideout.
Luke ventured cautiously forward, every sense on high alert. Then, abruptly, he stopped as he collided with something solid and unseen.