Taming Beasts in a Ruined World

The tricolor lizard moved swiftly down the rough flank of the giant rock turtle, its claws gripping stone and moss with practiced ease. Elara sat at the front, Alina behind her, their cloaks drawn close to hide the shimmer of their armor. When they reached the lower ledge, Elara tugged the reins, and the lizard swung in a wide arc, circling toward the side of Amestris City.

Under the faint glow of night, the city was tense but distracted. The earlier appearance of the rock tortoises had frightened half the populace, drawing soldiers and curious civilians to the outer walls. The streets of the inner city were nearly deserted—an advantage Elara had counted on.

"Invisibility on," Elara murmured. Their bodies shimmered and faded from sight, leaving only faint distortions in the air. The tricolor lizard hissed softly, confused for a moment before obeying her quiet touch.

The two women slipped through the empty streets like ghosts. Within minutes, they reached the smaller side hall near the central citadel—a place where prisoners were often held before transfer to the main dungeon. The heavy scent of damp stone and iron hung thick in the air.

"Will Yanlu really be locked here?" Alina whispered, her voice tinged with unease. "What if she's in one of those private cells under the noble quarters? We'd never find her."

Elara's silver eyes hardened. "We start here. If she's not in this dungeon, we'll search the other one. I don't intend to leave without her."

Alina nodded, her lips pressed tight. She dismounted, and Elara patted the lizard's scaled head. "Skink, wait for us outside," she ordered quietly, pointing to a shadowed corner near the wall.

The lizard flicked its forked tongue and obediently slithered toward the spot, curling up in a low crouch. Its three-colored scales shimmered faintly in the torchlight before it blended into the wall's texture.

"Can it really understand you?" Alina asked, watching in awe.

Elara's tone softened slightly. "We wear pieces of its shed scales on our armor. It recognizes the scent—enough to sense what we want."

Alina's pink eyes lit with curiosity. "That's amazing… maybe I should—"

"Don't even think about taking it for a joyride," Elara cut in, catching the thought before it formed. "We're here for Yanlu, not your next adventure."

Alina pouted. "You always ruin the fun."

"Good. Someone has to." Elara's expression barely changed, but a trace of amusement crossed her eyes before she turned serious again. "Let's move."

They slipped inside the dungeon, invisible and silent. Both had walked these halls many times before—each corridor and staircase memorized. The air grew colder the deeper they went, the walls sweating moisture, the smell of rust and damp straw thickening.

Then Elara froze. "There," she whispered, pointing ahead. In the last cell at the corridor's end, a familiar figure lay on the narrow bed, her purple hair spilling across the rough pillow.

"Yanlu," Elara breathed. Her voice was a mix of relief and disbelief.

She ran forward, pressing both hands against the iron bars. The faint clatter of her armor broke the silence.

Yanlu stirred. Feeling a sharp gaze upon her, she opened her eyes—violet, clear as amethyst—and frowned. "Who's there?"

For a moment, she saw nothing but empty air. Then a teasing voice answered her softly from nowhere.

"You don't look half as miserable as I expected," Alina said, her tone playful.

"Alina?" Yanlu's eyes widened. "Is that really you?"

The pink-haired girl dropped her invisibility. The dim torchlight caught the shine of her ghost armor, fitting tightly over her small frame. Yanlu rose and came closer to the bars, surprise and relief flickering in her expression. "When did you start dressing like this?"

"Spirit armor," Elara's voice came coolly from beside her. "High-grade ghost armor. Useful when you're sneaking into places you shouldn't."

Elara, too, dropped her invisibility. Her silver hair gleamed faintly under the torchlight.

"Both of you…" Yanlu whispered, her eyes softening. "You came for me."

"Of course we did," Elara said. "But you'll have to explain something. You were caught—but not hurt. That's not like you. What happened?"

Yanlu's gaze flickered away. "Go," she said quietly. "I'm staying."

Alina blinked. "What are you talking about?"

"I said I'm not leaving." Yanlu sat back on the wooden bed, her posture calm, almost resigned.

Alina's voice dropped to a harsh whisper. "Are you insane? We came all this way to save you!"

"I don't want to go," Yanlu repeated. Her tone was steady, but her hands trembled faintly in her lap.

"Are you being threatened?" Elara pressed. Her voice was sharp but not unkind. "If it's Ariel, she's safe. No one can use her against you."

Yanlu shook her head. "No. I stayed voluntarily."

"Why?" Elara demanded.

Yanlu bit her lip and said nothing. Her silence only deepened the tension.

"Wait…" Alina's pink eyes widened with sudden realization. "Is this about becoming a ghost? About lifespan?"

Yanlu didn't respond, but the flicker of emotion in her eyes was answer enough.

"You don't need to do that anymore," Alina said quickly. "We found the Angel Wings, Yanlu. You don't have to turn yourself into a ghost."

For the first time, Yanlu looked up sharply. "You found it? Truly?"

"Truly," Alina said with a bright, earnest smile. "Ariel is working on the cure even now—the secret medicine to heal the infection of the virtual ghosts."

Relief washed across Yanlu's face like sunlight breaking through storm clouds. "That's… incredible. Then everyone can be saved." Her voice trembled with a fragile joy.

But Elara wasn't satisfied. She could still see something else behind those violet eyes—fear, guilt, or something darker. "Then what are you still worried about?" she asked.

Yanlu lowered her head. "You wouldn't understand."

"Try me," Elara said flatly.

Yanlu sighed. "If I tell you, you must promise to leave after."

"Speak first," Elara replied, arms crossed.

Yanlu hesitated, then said, "Nijisha and the others have a plan."

At once, Alina's eyes went wide. "You can't mean—"

"They intend to use me as bait," Yanlu admitted quietly. "To get close to the flying corpse."

Alina's voice cracked. "You've lost your mind! You're talking about sacrificing yourself!"

"It's the only chance," Yanlu said, looking away. "If we want revenge, someone has to take it."

Elara exhaled slowly, her expression darkening. "So this is your brilliant plan. A fifth-order warrior going after a seventh-order corpse king." Her tone was laced with disdain. "Tell me, Yanlu—do you actually believe that will work?"

Yanlu didn't answer. Her silence said everything. She knew the odds. She just didn't care.

"You've always been the clever one," Elara said, her voice low, cold. "And now you're the fool."

Yanlu's hands clenched. "If we don't try—"

"Then you die for nothing," Elara interrupted sharply. "And for what? Pride? Guilt?"

Yanlu met her gaze, trembling. "Then what do you want me to do? Wait? Hide? Pretend none of this happened?"

Elara stepped closer, her voice fierce and steady. "I want you to live. To get stronger. To take your revenge with your own hands, not die hoping someone else succeeds."

Yanlu stared at her. The words hit something deep inside—a buried truth she didn't want to face.

"We have time now," Elara said, her tone hard but her eyes softening. "With the Angel Wings, our lives aren't short anymore. We can grow stronger. Strong enough to kill him for real."

For a long moment, no one spoke. The dungeon was silent except for the slow drip of water.

"I…" Yanlu whispered, stepping back. "I just… wanted it to end."

"Then make it end with your blade, not your death," Elara said.

Yanlu looked up. Her eyes, once dulled by resignation, flickered with a faint spark. Elara nodded toward Alina. "Break the door."

Alina grinned, relief and determination flashing across her face. "Gladly."

She stepped back, flexed her armored leg, and kicked hard.

The iron door shuddered under the impact, a sharp metallic clang echoing through the corridor.

"Don't!" Yanlu hissed. "You'll alert the guards—"

Too late. The second kick snapped the lock clean off, the iron chain falling in a clatter of noise.

From down the hall, voices shouted. "What was that? Check it!"

"Move!" Elara drew her longbow in one smooth motion. She melted back into invisibility, her form dissolving into the air. "Alina, take the left flank."

"Got it," Alina said, fading from sight.

Yanlu stood frozen, torn between fear and awe. These two—once her juniors, the ones she used to protect—were now moving like seasoned hunters.

The sound of boots thundered from the corridor above.

Elara's whisper drifted close to Yanlu's ear, unseen. "We'll clear the way. Stay behind us, and don't hesitate."

Then they were gone—shadows in motion, silent as wind.

Yanlu pressed her lips together, staring at the broken door. For the first time, she didn't see two reckless girls risking their lives for her. She saw warriors—strong, confident, unafraid. The realization struck her hard.

They had grown.

She took a deep breath, stepped over the shattered lock, and followed.

Outside, the lizard lifted its head from the corner, tongue flicking as it sensed their approach. Somewhere in the distance, the alarm bells of Amestris began to ring.

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