I lurched forward as Glenn Talbot grabbed ra by her slender arm, yanking her close. His greedy eyes roamed over her trembling body. Every muscle in me tensed, barely restraining the murderous rage that threatened to explode.


    "Let go of me!" ra struggled against his grip, her voice high with fear.


    Saul Holt chuckled, moving closer. "A feisty one. I like that."


    I had to do something. Now. But I couldn''t reveal my true identity—not with Sammy Ashworth watching my every move. One wrong step and we''d both be dead.


    "You know," Glenn said, running a finger down ra''s cheek as she tried to pull away, "we''ve been out here for days. A man has needs."


    ra''s eyes darted around frantically until they locked with mine. The terror in them cut through me like a de. She didn''t understand why I wasn''t helping her.


    "My friend will stop you," she spat, finding her courage. "Liam Knight is the King of Eldoria, and he''ll make you pay!"


    The circle of men fell silent. Sammy''s head snapped up, his eyes boring into ra with renewed interest.


    "What did you just say?" he asked, voice dangerously soft.


    ra lifted her chin, defiant despite her fear. "Liam Knight is my friend. He saved me once before."


    Sammy stepped forward and pped her hard across the face. The sound echoed in the silence of the battlefield. A trickle of blood appeared at the corner of her mouth.


    "Liam Knight killed my grandfather," Sammy snarled. "And now I find his little friend, all alone out here." A cruel smile spread across his face as he turned to Glenn. "Do whatever you want with her. Maybe Knight wille running when he hears her screams."


    Glenn grinned, tightening his grip on ra''s arm. "With pleasure."


    I couldn''t stand by any longer. I had to act, even if it meant risking everything.


    "Stop!" I shouted, stepping forward.


    All eyes turned to me. Sammy''s gaze was particrly cold.


    "What did you say, pathfinder?" The threat in his voice was unmistakable.


    I forced myself to bow submissively while my mind raced. I needed a lie, something to buy us time—something they would believe.


    "Masters, forgive my interruption," I said, keeping my voice humble, "but this girl—she''s not just any girl. Look at the dark energy surrounding her."


    I gestured toward ra, where wisps of purple-ck energy indeed clung to her form. The martial masters observed with narrowed eyes.


    "She possesses a pure dark energy body," I continued, the lie forming rapidly in my mind. "Extremely rare. But if she''s... defiled... that energy bes tainted and useless."


    Mr. Noble stepped forward, his ck eyes studying ra with new interest. "A pure dark energy body? Here?"


    I nodded eagerly. "Yes, master. That''s why she can sit so close to the Huge Pit without harm. Her body naturally attracts dark treasures—like those that might be hidden down there."


    This part, at least, wasn''t entirely a lie. ra''s unique constitution did have special properties, though not exactly as I was describing.


    Glenn''s grip on ra loosened slightly as greed reced lust in his eyes. "Treasures? What kind of treasures?"


    "Ancient artifacts," I said, warming to my tale. "Weapons of immense power, forged in dark energy. But only a virgin with a pure dark energy body can safely retrieve them."


    Sammy''s face showed naked calction. "Is this true?" he asked, addressing Mr. Noble.


    The mental master circled ra slowly, his ck eyes evaluating. I held my breath. If anyone could see through my deception, it would be him.


    "There is... something unusual about her energy," Mr. Noble admitted. "I''ve heard legends of such constitutions."


    I exhaled slowly. A half-truth epted.


    "Then we use her," Sammy decided, his voice cold. "She''ll retrieve whatever''s down there, then we''ll decide what to do with her."


    ra shot me a confused, frightened look. I tried to convey reassurance with my eyes: *Trust me. I''m trying to save you.*


    "We should test this theory first," Reed said, stepping forward. "How do we know the pathfinder isn''t lying?"


    All eyes turned back to me. My heart hammered in my chest.


    "Why would I lie, master?" I asked, bowing again. "I''m just sharing information that might help your quest."


    Sammy fixed me with a cold stare. "That''s exactly what I want to know. Why would cannon fodder like you volunteer useful information? What''s in it for you?"


    I felt the weight of everyone''s gaze. One wrong word now and we were finished.


    "You''re right to be suspicious," I said, thinking quickly. "The truth is, I''ve heard legends of these pits. If the girl retrieves a treasure, I hoped I might be allowed to apany your group longer." I paused, feigning nervousness. "Being a pathfinder is dangerous work. The longer I''m with powerful masters like yourselves, the safer I am."


    Glenn snorted in disbelief. "Self-preservation. At least that makes sense."


    But Sammy wasn''t convinced. He took a step toward me, his eyes searching mine for deception.


    "There''s something off about you," he said slowly. "You know too much for a simple pathfinder."


    I lowered my gaze, mind racing for a usible exnation. "Before bing a pathfinder, I worked as an assistant to a schr studying ancient battlefields. I heard many stories."


    "A schr''s assistant?" Saul Holtughed. "With those calloused hands?"


    I was losing them. Their suspicion was growing with each passing moment.


    ra, perhaps sensing my struggle, suddenly spoke up. "He''s right about me. I can feel the treasures calling from below." Her small voice sounded surprisingly confident. "There''s something powerful down there. Something dark and ancient."


    All attention shifted to her. I silently thanked her for her quick thinking.


    "If you want it," she continued, lifting her chin, "I''m the only one who can get it for you. But I won''t help if you hurt me or my friend."


    Sammy''s eyes narrowed, but greed won out over suspicion. "Fine. You''ll retrieve whatever''s down there. Then we talk."


    He nodded to Glenn, who reluctantly released ra''s arm. She rubbed the red marks his fingers had left, shooting him a defiant re.


    "How does she get down there?" Reed asked, peering into the seemingly bottomless pit.


    "I can climb," ra said before I could answer. "The dark energy will support me."


    I watched in amazement as she approached the edge without fear. Had she somehow intuited my n, or did she actually know what she was doing?


    "Wait," I called out, needing to buy more time. "She needs to prepare first. A ritual to align her energy with the pit''s."


    "Another dy?" Sammy''s voice was dangerous. "My patience grows thin, pathfinder."


    "It''s necessary," I insisted. "Otherwise, the pit might reject her."


    I moved to ra''s side, kneeling beside her as if instructing her in some ancient ritual. In reality, I needed to whisper instructions.


    "When you get down there," I murmured, keeping my voice low, "stay hidden as long as possible. I''ll create a distraction up here, then follow you down."


    ra nodded imperceptibly, her eyes showing understanding beyond her years.


    "What''s he saying to her?" Glenn demanded, taking a step forward.


    "Instructions for the ritual," I answered smoothly, standing up. "She''s ready now."


    ra approached the edge of the pit again, this time closing her eyes and holding her arms out to her sides. Dark energy swirled around her, responding to her natural constitution. It was an impressive sight—one that held our captors transfixed.


    "Amazing," Mr. Noble whispered. "Her control is instinctive."


    While they watched ra, I discreetly surveyed our surroundings, nning our escape. The pit was our best option—unknown and feared by the others. If we could get down there and hide among whatever ruinsy below, we might stand a chance.


    ra stepped off the edge, and instead of falling, she descended slowly, carried by currents of dark energy that wrapped around her like protective tendrils. Even I was impressed by her natural affinity for this power.


    As she disappeared into the darkness below, Sammy turned back to me, suspicion returning to his eyes.


    "Now we wait for her to return with our treasure," he said. "And while we wait, you can exin something to me."


    I kept my expression neutral. "Yes, master?" <kbd ss="frag-206958">Please<i ss="node-sep"></i>read<i ss="node-sep"></i>this<i ss="node-sep"></i>chapter<i ss="node-sep"></i>on<i ss="node-sep"></i>its<i ss="node-sep"></i>original<i ss="node-sep"></i>tform—*.</kbd>


    "Why are you telling us all this?" His gaze was prating, searching for truth. "What does cannon fodder like you gain by helping us find treasure?"


    Behind him, Glenn nodded. "Yeah, doesn''t make sense. Unless you''re plotting something."


    I opened my mouth to respond, but Reed cut me off.


    "Or unless he knows the girl," he said, eyes narrowing. "She mentioned Liam Knight. Called him her friend."


    The atmosphere shifted instantly. I could feel their suspicion crystallizing into certainty.


    Mr. Noble''s ck eyes fixed on me with renewed intensity. "Remove your hat," hemanded.


    My cover was unraveling fast. I needed to act now.


    "Masters, I—"


    "Remove it!" Sammy barked.


    I reached up slowly, mind calcting furiously. ra was safely below. The moment I revealed myself, chaos would erupt. I needed that chaos to cover my escape into the pit.


    Just as my fingers touched the brim of my hat, a piercing scream echoed from the depths of the pit. ra''s scream.