The Author's Viewpoint

"How much do I know? What do you mean by that?"

Tave deflected the question with a casual tone, tossing it back to Elowen as they packed up their things and resumed their hunt for the day.

They walked side by side, weaving through the dense forest undergrowth, sunlight slicing through the branches above in shifting shards.

"You seem to know too much," Elowen continued, her voice light but laced with curiosity. "It doesn't make sense. Sometimes your worries seem overblown, but then, most of the time, you're actually right. It's like you already know what's coming."

Tave didn't turn to look at her. Instead, he just kept walking, his pace steady.

"Then maybe from now on, you should just do what I say, and stop asking questions."

Elowen scoffed. "So you're not just arrogant, you're controlling too? That's not exactly the most admirable trait for a leader. Honestly, at this point, I'd say Vensalor Island was cursed the moment you got involved in royal affairs."

Tave chuckled under his breath. "Don't worry. The disaster would've come with or without me meddling."

Unfortunately, the rest of that day passed much like the ones before. Tave and Elowen continued their search, hunting and waiting for word from the shadow wolves. But no signs of the demons appeared—not even a trace.

It didn't help that the wolves were more active at night. During daylight hours, their usefulness dwindled, and with it, Tave's chances of finding something.

Even Vellion's side had turned up nothing so far. No new clues.

Was this truly the right move? Relying on such limited forces, keeping it all quiet from the rest of the kingdom? Maybe it would've been wiser to inform the court, especially since his father was one of the key commanders overseeing the threat of demonic incursion in this region.

But then again…

If Princess Baneth of Dissidia had already reported demonic movement in her own kingdom, then the demons Tave encountered couldn't have been the first to breach into Yunatea, could they?

And yet, even now, Lily had reported that there'd been no major progress from the palace. No breakthroughs. No clear direction. That could only mean one thing: the demons were exceptionally skilled at hiding.

Or worse…

Someone might be helping them. A hidden hand, shielding them from detection. A traitor within the ranks.

An entire day passed, fading into night without a single sign. No trace, no movement, no whisper of demonic presence. The forest remained still, but Tave's mind never did.

Through every step of the hunt, he couldn't shake one question: were the demons already preparing something far greater? Could they be setting the stage for a full-scale ritual, one meant to summon even more of their kind from Hell?

But a summoning ritual of that scale would demand vast resources, and more critically, the involvement of high-ranking named demons. As far as Tave could tell, none of the ones he'd encountered so far had carried the power or authority necessary to spearhead such a feat. Not yet. Not unless something, or someone, was accelerating the process from the shadows.

Then, just as midnight fell across the forest like a shroud, Fang halted abruptly, letting out a deep, low growl.

Tave felt it immediately. That subtle but unmistakable signal. Fang had sensed something. He knew.

The shadow wolves had found the demons.

Moments later, three wolves materialized from the dark, stepping out of the shadows. They paused only for a second before turning and bolting deeper into the forest.

Fang gave chase without hesitation, and Tave and Elowen held tight as the great wolf sprinted after them, weaving through trees and over tangled roots like a ghost in motion.

"Elowen. Contact Vellion and Lady Elincia," Tave ordered sharply. "Let them know we've likely located the demons' position."

The ride was swift and fierce. Fang moved like a streak of lightning between the trees, diving further into the heart of the woods, past the regions where tier-three monsters were known to roam. But none of them posed a real threat. Not at this speed, not with Fang carrying them.

Almost an hour passed.

They followed the pack deeper and deeper into the forest with no idea where they were truly heading. Until, at last, the wolves ahead came to a halt. Slowly, they lowered themselves, their bodies tense and alert.

Tave and Elowen dismounted quietly, stepping off Fang's back and moving with utmost caution, slipping between the trees. And then, from behind the veil of foliage, they saw it.

A clearing. Silent, moonlit, and at its center. Half-hidden by vines and stone, was the dark maw of a cave.

"A perfect place to hide," Elowen murmured.

Tave sharpened his focus, tuning his ears to the subtle echoes drifting out from the cave's dark mouth. Slowly, faint and distant, he began to make out the sound of voices reverberating through the stone chamber.

They were muffled, warped by the tunnel, but unmistakable. Demons. A few of them, at least, speak among themselves. Not loudly, but with enough clarity that it confirmed their presence.

"Should we just go in and strike?" Elowen whispered.

"What a brilliant idea," Tave replied.

Truthfully, he had no clue how deep the cave went or how many demons had taken refuge within it. That uncertainty made any direct attack an enormous gamble.

"You forget how strong they really are, don't you?" he added. "Especially if there are Elite Demons in there. Or worse. Named Demons."

"We could seal the entrance with your fire," Elowen suggested, her tone almost casual. "Starve them of the air to breathe. Eventually, they'll suffocate."

Tave turned to look at her, his brows furrowing as he studied her face. Was she joking? Or terrifyingly serious?

"Don't be ridiculous. What about Elincia? Is she on her way?"

"What?" Elowen snapped her head toward him. "What do you mean, 'what about Elincia'?"

"You know," he replied dryly. "Lady Elincia. Is she coming or not?"

"You just. Did you just call her by name?" she hissed in disbelief. "Are you insane? Calling Lady Elincia by name so casually? Are you tired of living, Tave?"

Oh. Right. That had slipped out. Old habits. He tended to refer to everyone in his stories by name. It was second nature.

"Sorry. I meant Lady Elincia," he corrected quickly. "Have you contacted her?"

"She's on her way. Should we wait?"

Tave exhaled sharply and rubbed his temples. "Sometimes, I wonder if you rehearse your questions just to test my patience. How did you get this clever, Elowen? Must've spent your long, elegant elf life sharpening that brilliant mind of yours, huh?"

"Shut up," she snapped. "Do I look that old to you? I'm only thirty-three!"

"Oh, of course," Tave said with a faint grin. "My sincerest apologies… Lady Elowen, aged thirty-three."

They settled into the underbrush, choosing positions that allowed them to observe the cave while remaining hidden. Their posture relaxed, but their senses stayed sharp.

For now, all they had to do was wait. For the arrival of the strongest warrior they could hope to summon. The one who would deal with these demons swiftly and decisively.

And truly, why struggle through a drawn-out battle when there was a quicker solution?

Bringing Elincia here had been the right call. Without a doubt.

All Tave wanted now was to end this demon hunt cleanly, because by tomorrow, he would need to depart for Vensalor Island. The floating island, an ancient marvel suspended in the sky.

The thought of it made him swallow hard.

He hadn't yet devised all the scenarios he might face there, nor fully mapped out what actions to take to ensure this visit wasn't just a matter of going along with the forest elves' agenda.

He needed to carve out his own advantages. His own leverage. And Vensalor Island, with all its resources and hidden truths, was the perfect place to do it.

Tave knew the island well. At least, on paper.

And then, a shift in the air.

Wings beat above them. Not the flutter of a bird. Something faster, heavier. Tave instinctively focused, his eyes narrowing. When he turned toward the sound, the treetops above burst into motion, and a thunderous crash followed as a figure slammed into the forest floor with astonishing force.

A woman stood at the center of the impact, her short, rose-pink hair unmistakable beneath the moonlight.

Elowen rose to her feet immediately, grabbing Tave's wrist and pulling him up beside her. She dipped into a respectful bow, speaking quickly, almost breathlessly.

"Lady Elincia, we've located the demons."

Tave simply turned his gaze toward Elincia, saying nothing. Her expression was as composed, and as severe, as always. Without Vanya around, there was no softness in her presence. Just cold precision.

The Imperial Knight stepped forward, closing the distance, her eyes locking onto Tave with deliberate intensity.

"So, what do you want?" she asked.

"Kill every demon," Tave answered, firm and direct. "Except the Named Demon. Leave it wounded. Enough for us to interrogate."

"The level?"

"Fifty-two," he replied curtly.