Whispers from the Deep Abyss (2)
In a deep abyss.
“Haa.”
A thin, low breath rode through the cold, heavy air, spreading outward. The fading sound of that breath lingered as an echo amid the gloomy ruins—the sole trace of life in this silent space.
“……”
In the darkness, a woman’s silhouette faintly emerged. Her long hair swayed subtly even in the lightless void, and her eyes pierced the empty abyss. Yet her expression held not mere emptiness, but a swirling torrent of complex emotions. Fleeting glimmers of joy, anticipation, and desperate longing danced across her face, only to be overshadowed by anxiety, hatred, and a smoldering, suppressed rage burning like an infernal flame. A vortex of clashing feelings churned deep within her pupils.
“I can feel your presence.”
She whispered low. The words sliced through the abyss’s air, leaving a heavy reverberation in their wake. They rippled outward like waves through the void.
Soon, another faint voice echoed from the darkness.
“I see. Has the time already come?”
The sound was profoundly resonant, as if the abyss itself had spoken.
“……”
She gestured slowly with her hand. A simple motion, yet the air grew oppressively heavy, infused with the weight of ancient power. As her fingertips softly parted the emptiness, the torch statues erupted in ferocious flames. The fire danced unnaturally, writhing like living creatures in agony.
With each subsequent gesture, the other torches ignited one by one. The flames did more than banish the dark—they seemed to rouse something long dormant in this place. Each blaze crackled with a tadak-tadak, tearing through the shadows.
Hwaruk!
The final torch burst alight. A brief silence followed, then the space bathed in pale purple flames. These were no warm embers of life or vitality, but cold, alien energy—eerie and foreboding, like the lingering dregs of some otherworldly being.
“I suppose it’s time to get ready.”
She emerged from between the flames with slow, dignified steps. The fire roared as if to consume her, yet it could not touch her. Instead, it swirled in subservience around her form. The pale purple blaze whipped into a frenzy at her center, inspiring both dread and awe.
“Really, such a mischievous daughter.”
She muttered lightly, a sinister smile curling her lips. But that smile carried an ominous allure, stirring primal instincts.
“Hehe.”
What to call it? A wickedly seductive grin. Her voice was soft, yet laced with a bone-chilling coldness.
“I’ll be waiting for you here in this deep tomb~?”
The words slipped from her lips like a curse, ringing with heavy finality. Her eyes gleamed, piercing some distant point in the profound darkness. They burned with indescribable malice and madness—the gaze of one poised to unleash long-pent desires after endless waiting.
“Lucy Diotolpo—”
At the utterance of that name, the entire space trembled, the abyss’s shadows thickening further. Her single word held dominion over this void.
And her craving had only just begun.
Before Arnold could even open his mouth, Lucy’s bright laughter echoed through the quiet forest.
“Ahaha~ Arnold, you’re quite the popular guy, aren’t you?”
Lucy scratched her head with a beaming smile. Her demeanor seemed oblivious to the tension, though her eyes held a peculiar ease—as if she were enjoying every moment.
“Senior, do you know Arnold?”
Elisha’s voice cut calmly through the air. Her tone was serene, but a subtle undercurrent of restrained emotion simmered beneath.
“Hmm~? Nah, this is only our second meeting, I think.”
Lucy waved it off with an awkward chuckle. “We just bumped into each other at the equipment shop last time. Exchanged names, that’s all.”
“Really…?”
This time, Eily stepped forward. She tried to sound nonchalant, but her intense gaze pierced like a blade, refusing to let go of her suspicion. She took a step closer.
“Totally! It was just a fleeting encounter. Sure, we’ve crossed paths again, but it’s practically like meeting a stranger.”
A brief silence followed, but soon Eily, Elisha, and Melina seemed to accept it, their suspicions easing as they let out soft sighs.
“I see…”
The tension drained from them gradually.
“Sorry, I must’ve made things tense for no reason.”
“Nah~ I’m fine. I’ve never been in love myself, but I get the gist of a girl’s feelings.”
Lucy smiled nonchalantly, lightly adjusting her hat with her fingertips. The casual grace of the gesture showed she wasn’t rattled in the slightest.
“Anyway! Call me Lucy Senior. I specialize in magic—water and lightning elements.”
She snapped her fingers lightly, and static crackled with a sharp pajik, flashing brilliantly from her fingertips. The brief display of chantless magic drew admiring glances from the others.
“Huh? Can you cast spells chantless?”
Varis asked in awe, and Lucy nodded with a grin.
“Quick on the uptake, huh? Yep. I’m the only third-year who can do chantless. Guess I’ve got some real talent.”
Lucy struck a proud pose, hand on hip and chin tilted up, her confident smile melting away the lingering tension and fostering a warmer atmosphere.
“Wow, that’s amazing!”
Eily’s eyes sparkled as she continued. “A rare talent has graced us~ You’re the second after Master to do chantless!”
But at those words, Lucy’s expression stiffened slightly. Tilting her head in surprise, she asked,
“What? Second after your master? What’s that mean?”
“Oh, well…”
Eily suddenly clung to Arnold’s arm with a radiant smile. “Truth is, our master Arnold can cast chantless magic too!”
Elisha and Melina shot sharp glares on instinct, but Eily paid them no mind. Her eyes shone with pure, unadulterated pride, as if boasting a family treasure.
“For real?! Arnold, you’re one impressive guy!”
Lucy’s demeanor flipped 180 degrees. Her mouth gaped in shock before erupting into hearty laughter.
“First time meeting another chantless mage!”
Her eyes sparkled with fascination as she stared at him, her gaze so intense it nearly blurred his vision.
“Is that such a big deal?”
At Arnold’s loaded question, Lucy stepped closer and gripped his hand tightly, her eyes alight with fervent passion—like she’d found her destined partner.
“Heck yeah! Chantless means you’re either a natural-born genius or have insane magical theory knowledge. I bet we could do some killer research together!”
“……”
The more her eyes sparkled, the more something clicked in Arnold’s mind. Right… I almost forgot. Lucy’s actually a huge research nut. She got insanely excited around anyone competent or knowledgeable in magic. That made her a quirky mage with an innocent, fun charm—beloved by many as a heroine.
“Hold on a sec.”
But amid the buzz, he couldn’t help pitying her a little. Knowing all the truths as he did, he understood why Lucy Senior obsessed over magic research.
She was, after all…
“Lucy Senior? That’s enough. Arnold looks uncomfortable.”
Elisha wedged firmly between them, her voice resolute. Only then did Lucy realize her excitement had gotten the better of her, releasing his hand with an sheepish grin.
“Oops, sorry! Got carried away…”
She scratched her head and stepped back, then flashed a bright smile to change the subject.
“Anyway, we don’t know much about each other yet. Shall we finish introductions?”
But her suggestion only reignited the tension instead of easing it.
“Hmm, sure? I’ll go first then. As I said earlier, I’m Elisha.”
It was Elisha’s words that sparked it. She glanced at Arnold with a smile playing on her lips.
But behind that smile came a declaration of war.
“Arnold’s ‘fiancée.’”
In that instant, the recently thawed atmosphere froze solid once more. Eily and Melina trembled faintly, as if hearing a battle cry. A strange tension thickened the air, pregnant with the promise of explosion.