I watched with bated breath as Mr. Noble''s fingers hovered just inches from ra''s forehead. Every muscle in my body tensed, ready to spring into action if he touched her. My disguise be damned—I wouldn''t let him invade her mind.


    "Wait," Mr. Noble said suddenly, pulling back his hand. His eyes narrowed as he studied ra''s face. "There''s something unusual about this child."


    Soren Ashworth stepped forward, impatience etched across his aristocratic features. "What is it? Is she lying or not?"


    Mr. Noble frowned, his gaze never leaving ra. "Her energy signature... it''s unlike anything I''ve encountered. The darkness within her distorts my perception."


    "Can you read her mind or not?" Glenn Talbot demanded.


    Mr. Noble closed his eyes, concentrating harder. The air around his fingers shimmered with psychic energy as he extended his hand once more toward ra, careful not to touch her skin. After a tense moment, he opened his eyes.


    "She''s telling the truth," he announced, surprising everyone—including me. "She has indeed been in the pit before."


    Wait, what? I nced at ra, whose face remained impressively neutral despite this unexpected turn.


    "Impossible!" Soren eximed. "No one survives the Huge Pit unprotected!"


    Mr. Noble shrugged. "I can only report what I sense. The memories are there, fragmented but real."


    ra lifted her chin defiantly. "I told you I''ve been down there. The dark energy doesn''t hurt me."


    Soren''s expression shifted from disbelief to calcting interest. His gaze darted between ra and the pit, wheels clearly turning in his mind. "If she can navigate the pit..."


    "Then we''ve found our guide," Glenn finished, an ugly smile spreading across his face.


    I felt my stomach drop. This wasn''t part of our n at all. ra was supposed to create a distraction for us to escape—not position herself as a guide into that death trap.


    "What about him?" Saul Holt asked, jabbing a finger in my direction. "Is he Knight or not?"


    All eyes turned to me. I maintained my pathetic disguise, hunching my shoulders and avoiding direct eye contact.


    Mr. Noble''s gaze swept over me dismissively. "The girl believes he is Knight, but her memories of him are clouded with emotion. I would need to examine him directly to be certain."


    Before he could approach me again, Soren raised his hand. "It doesn''t matter who he is. If the girl can navigate the pit and he knows something about dark energy bodies, they''re both useful to us."


    He turned to ra, his voice suddenly honey-sweet. "Little one, would you be willing to guide us? There would be a handsome reward for you."


    ra''s eyes flickered briefly to mine before she answered. "I''ll go down, but not with all of you. Too many people make noise. The things in the pit don''t like noise."


    Clever girl. I had to fight to keep my expression neutral.


    "Things?" Glenn echoed, his confidence wavering slightly.


    ra nodded solemnly. "Shadows that move on their own. I can avoid them, but only if I''m careful."


    Soren considered this information, then nodded decisively. "Very well. You''ll go down with..." he pointed at me, "...this man. If he truly knows about dark energy bodies, he might be of some use."


    "Master!" Saul protested. "We can''t trust either of them alone!"


    "They won''t be alone," Soren replied coolly. "Glenn, prepare to follow them at a distance."


    My mind raced. This could work. If ra and I entered first, we might find an escape route before Glenn could catch up.


    "What about Knight?" Saul persisted. "If this is him—"


    "Then he''s walking into the deadliest trap in Havenwood," Soren interrupted. "The Huge Pit has imed countless martial masters greater than Knight. If he wishes tomit suicide, who am I to stop him?"


    I bowed my head to hide my smirk. If only they knew what I''d already survived.


    "Go," Soren ordered, gesturing toward the pit. "Find the Dharma Treasure the rumors speak of. Return with it, and you''ll both be rewarded beyond your wildest dreams."


    ra stepped toward the edge of the pit, her small frame suddenly looking even smaller against the yawning darkness. I moved to join her, keeping my head down.


    "One more thing," Soren added, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "If you are Knight, understand this: the pit may not kill you, but I will—the moment you emerge with what I seek."


    I nodded meekly, ying my role. "I''m not who she thinks I am, master. I swear it."


    Glenn grabbed my shoulder roughly, shoving me toward the edge. "Enough talk. Jump."


    ra looked up at me, genuine fear flickering in her eyes now. I gave her the smallest nod of reassurance.


    "We jump together," I told her softly. "I''ll hold onto you."


    She nodded, reaching for my hand. The moment our fingers touched, I felt her trembling.


    "On three," I whispered. "One... two..."


    Before I could say "three," Glenn''s massive hand mmed into my back, sending us both tumbling into the darkness. ra''s scream echoed off the walls of the pit as we plummeted. I quickly pulled her against my chest, wrapping my arms protectively around her small body. My cultivation energy surged as I focused on controlling our descent.


    The darkness swallowed uspletely. The air grew thick with malevolent energy that seemed to press against my skin like countless tiny needles. I channeled my power downward, creating resistance to slow our fall. After what felt like an eternity, my feet touched solid ground.


    I set ra down gently. "Are you alright?"


    She nodded, her eyes adjusting to the gloom faster than mine. "I knew you wouldn''t let us get hurt."


    Above us, I heard Glenn''s voice calling down. "Are you alive down there?"


    I pitched my voice to sound frightened. "Yes, master! We made it!"


    "Good. I''ming down!"


    I heard the scrape of boots at the edge of the pit, then a heavy figure plummeted into the darkness. A scream—not of fear but of agony—split the air. It ended as abruptly as it began.


    ra clutched my arm as something heavy crashed to the ground nearby. Even in the dim light, I could make out what remained of the man who had followed us: a skeleton, picked clean of flesh in mere seconds. The dark energy had devoured him instantly.


    "By the gods," I whispered, genuinely shocked. Even knowing the pit was dangerous, I hadn''t expected this.


    Soren''s voice echoed from above. "What happened? Report!"


    I swallowed hard before answering. "Your man... he''s dead, master! The dark energy consumed him instantly!"


    A long silence followed. Then Soren''s voice, tight with frustration: "How are you two still alive?"


    "It''s the girl," I called back. "Her dark energy body must be protecting us both!"


    Another silence. I could almost hear Soren''s mind working, reassessing the situation.


    "Find the Dharma Treasure!" he finally ordered. "Bring it to me, and you''ll be richly rewarded!"


    I nced at ra, who was staring at the skeleton with wide, horrified eyes. "What if we refuse?" I called up.


    This chapter first appeared on *.


    Soren''sugh was cold. "Then stay down there forever. The pit will be your tomb."


    "And if we seed?" I pressed, letting a hint of my true voice emerge. "What exactly would this reward be?"


    "Whatever you desire," Soren answered smoothly. "Gold, positions, women—name it."


    I took a calcted risk. "I want to be recognized as the leader of the Northern martial world."


    Gasps and angry murmurs echoed from above. I''d deliberately asked for something outrageous—something no ordinary pathfinder would dare request. I needed to gauge Soren''s reaction.


    "You dare!" Saul''s voice rang out.


    But Soren''s response was more measured. "Ambitious for a mere pathfinder. Very well—bring me the treasure, and I''ll make you a man of importance in the Ashworth Family. From there, who knows how far you might rise?"


    A hollow promise, easily broken. But it told me everything I needed to know about Soren''s intentions. He nned to kill me regardless of what I brought back.


    "Thank you, master," I called back, feigning gratitude. "We''ll find your treasure!"


    When their voices faded, suggesting they''d moved away from the pit''s edge to discuss matters privately, I turned to ra.


    "Are you really alright?" I asked softly.


    She nodded, her eyes troubled. "I''m sorry about what happened up there. I had to y along when I saw what was happening."


    "You did well," I assured her. "But I''m confused—why did Mr. Noble say you were telling the truth about being in the pit before?"


    ra''s expression turned sheepish. "Because I wasn''t lying. I''ve been down here before."


    I stared at her in disbelief. "When? How?"


    "Remember when I disappeared for those three days in Eldoria? I was here." She gestured at the cavernous darkness surrounding us. "The dark energy... it calls to me. I can feel it even miles away."


    I shook my head, amazed. "And it doesn''t harm you at all?"


    "No. It''s like... like swimming in warm water." She spread her small hands. "I can''t exin it."


    I nced at the skeleton nearby. "Well, it certainly doesn''t feel like warm water to the rest of us."


    ra''s face suddenly brightened with excitement. "I found something while I was down herest time! Something amazing!" She tugged at my sleeve. "I found a treasure here and never dared to take it! Come on, I''ll take you to see it!"