Corrupted Throne

Inside the war tent, the map of Hollowveil lay spread across the table. Miss Violet stood at the center, arms crossed, eyes sharp.

"How was the observation of the villagers?" she asked without looking up.

"They don't know much," Lysa replied, standing at attention. "Some said the soldiers might've gotten lost in the mist… nothing solid."

"Alright," Violet said quietly. "Anything else?"

"How did they behave?" she asked, this time looking at Lysa. "Like they were hiding something?"

"They were friendly. Kind, even," Lysa said thoughtfully. "Doesn't seem like they were hiding anything."

Violet nodded slowly. "Hmm."

"They all looked tired, though," Derius chimed in from behind, arms folded. "Like they'd been working hard all day."

"Oh, right!" Lysa added. "Now that I think about it, many were hauling sacks of grain, or fixing buildings. Heavy work."

"Hmmm," Violet muttered, narrowing her eyes. "That's something… A shared pattern, maybe. Too tired. Too quiet. We'll observe more closely—what they do, where they go, and why they're exhausted."

She turned to the map.

"We've got two mountains flanking the village," she said. "In the center, near the old fountain, there's enough space to position one squad."

She pointed to the gate on the left. "Scout squads will be stationed on both mountain ridges—hidden. One squad guards the main gate. Another guards the rear exit."

"What if it's bandits?" asked one soldier nearby.

Violet didn't hesitate.

"That's still possible. And if it is, they'll try to sneak in through the rear or during the mist."

She looked up at the gathered soldiers and recruits.

"We move before they do."

Miss Violet stood by the edge of the table, eyes scanning the village map again. Her voice was calm, but sharp.

"There might be a chance the bandits are targeting the mines," she said.

"Or maybe the villagers themselves are involved," she added after a pause. "According to Squad Glass Fang's report, the villagers seemed… unusually tired. Repeatedly."

"You think the villagers are the culprits?" a young soldier asked, surprised.

"It's possible," Violet muttered. "Their exhaustion wasn't ordinary. And something about their behavior felt off."

"No ma'am," said another soldier, stepping forward. "We checked the mines already. They're the same as before—collapsed, damaged. No one's been working there for a long time. Not possible."

"Tch…" Violet clicked her tongue. "Then they're not after the mines? That doesn't add up. So what are they doing here?"

She narrowed her eyes.

"I sensed something earlier. A spark of Kendra energy. Subtle. Faint… but creepy. Definitely unnatural."

Derius yawned quietly behind them, arms folded.

Man… I just want to sleep already, he thought, rubbing his eyes.

Violet didn't notice—or chose to ignore it.

"Alright," she said, her voice firm again. "We'll wait and watch. Monitor everything at night—movement, behavior, anything strange. During the day, we'll split and search thoroughly."

Her gaze swept over the room, ending on the village sketch laid out before her.

"This place isn't what it seems," she said coldly.

"And I intend to find out why."

8:00 PM — Nightfall in Hollowveil

The moon hung low behind drifting clouds, casting dim silver light across the rooftops. The wind had grown colder—sharper—as if the village itself was holding its breath.

As instructed by Miss Violet, the squads readied themselves. One by one, boots crunched over gravel and snow as the recruits silently moved into their assigned positions around the village.

By the old fountain at the center, Squad Three gathered to set up a watch camp.

Scout squads quietly began climbing the forested ridges on either side of the village, their cloaks blending into the dark. Another squad moved toward the front gates, while the last positioned themselves at the rear exit—just as the map had planned.

Near the central well, Samaira turned to Touka, who was heading toward the eastern watch post.

"Hey, Touka," she called softly, pulling her cloak tighter. "Take care, alright? We'll meet again in the morning."

Touka paused, glancing back over her shoulder. Her expression was calm, but something flickered behind her eyes.

"You too, Samaira," she said. "Don't do anything reckless."

Samaira gave a small grin. "No promises."

With that, the two parted ways, disappearing into the night with their squads.

Above them, the wind howled faintly through the trees.

And the village… fell into silence.

🌑 Squad 1 – Storm Division

Location: Hollowveil Village — Main Gate (8:40 PM)

The cold wind whispered through the skeletal trees lining the perimeter. The same rusted gate stood tall in the shadows, silent and unmoving—the very gate where the mysterious incident had happened days ago.

A small campfire flickered just beside the path, its embers casting dancing shadows on the snow-covered stones.

Samaira sat cross-legged, her glaive resting beside her, eyes locked on the flame. Across from her, Duke quietly warmed his hands, lost in thought. His breath came out in faint white wisps.

Drex lounged with his arms folded behind his head, using a log as a backrest. He looked relaxed—but anyone who knew him could see the slight tension in his shoulders.

Miss Violet sat apart from them, on a stone near the fire, sharpening her Chained gloves blade with long, smooth strokes. The rhythmic scrape of steel against stone was the only real sound besides the crackling fire.

In the background, the faint crunch of boots in the snow marked the patrol paths of the two soldiers guarding the gate.

Inside the tent behind them, Jack slept lightly. His turn on watch would come soon.

Duke broke the silence. "This is the same gate… isn't it?"

Samaira nodded. "Where the last soldiers vanished."

Their campfire was right here," Violet said flatly, not looking up from her Chained gloves. "One second they were resting. Next second, gone. No blood. No signs of struggle."

A long silence followed her words.

The wind had grown colder. The trees whispered like voices in the dark, and the mist thickened near the ground, curling around boots and firewood like grasping fingers.

Earlier, everything felt normal. Almost peaceful.

But now…

"In the evening, it felt fine," Samaira said softly, her eyes scanning the dark woods beyond the gate. "But now… the village feels different. Off. Like it's not the same place anymore."

Her voice dropped. "Like someone's watching."

Drex smirked, cracking his knuckles.

"Heh. Good. Let them watch. I'll crush whatever shows up."

Miss Violet, still sharpening her chain-blades with slow, deliberate strokes, looked up.

"Don't take it lightly," she warned. "The soldiers who vanished… they weren't rookies. They were Elites. Experienced. Trained. And they disappeared without a trace."

Her eyes shifted to Duke.

"You look nervous."

Duke rubbed his arms, looking into the fire.

"Yeah… a little bit, ma'am."

"He's scared of ghosts," came a groggy voice from the tent. Jack had just woken up, rubbing his eyes. "Always was, ever since we were kids."

"That bastard," Duke muttered, face reddening.

Violet stood slowly, letting the firelight catch the glint of her chains.

"This isn't good," she said sharply. "In places like this… being too scared or too cocky will get you killed."

Her gaze fell on Drex.

"Drex—overconfidence is your weakness. You charge first, ask questions later. One wrong move, and you're done."

Then she turned to Duke and Samaira.

"And you two… fear clouds your focus. Fear makes you hesitate. In a place like Hollowveil… hesitation is fatal."

She stepped closer to the fire, her voice low but firm.

"Stay alert. Stay calm. Use your fear—but never let it control you."

Duke's eyes shifted from the fire to the glinting metal wrapped around Miss Violet's gloves.

The long, coiled chains shimmered faintly under the moonlight—almost… breathing.

"That weapon of yours," Duke muttered. "Those chains… they don't feel normal to me."

Miss Violet paused, just for a moment. Then she met his gaze.

"They aren't," she said coolly. "This weapon is called The Soulbind Chain."

She held one hand up, the chain lazily unraveling with a metallic whisper, dancing slightly in the air as if alive.

"Forged with Kendra-infused steel and enchanted with ancient rites… it doesn't just cut or bind."

Her voice lowered, almost like a warning.

"It drains Kendra energy. Slowly. Silently. The more you struggle… the faster it takes everything."

Drex leaned forward, interested. "You mean it feeds off the enemy?"

"Yes," Violet replied. "Most don't realize it until their energy's already gone. It binds body… and soul."

Duke swallowed.

"Remind me never to spar with you," Jack muttered, now fully awake.

Violet smiled faintly—just barely.

"Good. That means you're learning."

She let the chain retract with a sharp snap, the air humming faintly with residual energy.

The wind shifted.

Just a whisper at first—then a deeper chill.

And then...

a sound.

Faint. Fragile.

A child's cry.

Duke stiffened.

It came from just beyond the firelight—the same place the last patrol heard it before they vanished.

A soft, wavering sob.

A young boy.

Crying.

"…Did you hear that?" Samaira whispered, already standing.

The fire crackled louder now, as if reacting to the sound.

Drex slowly sat up, all humor drained from his face.

"That's… the house in front of us."

Miss Violet didn't speak.

She turned—slowly, sharply—toward the direction of the noise.

Miss Violet's gaze remained fixed ahead, toward the darkened house in front of them. The same house from the reports. The same place the last patrol heard the crying… before they vanished.

She spoke calmly, almost too calmly.

"It's just a child crying."

Drex exhaled and nodded, brushing a hand through his hair. "I think so as well."

But Duke wasn't so sure.

His eyes drifted down—to Violet's hand.

It was subtle, but clear:

Her fingers had coiled tightly around her chained gloves.

The steel links were perfectly still, yet tension thrummed through them like pulled thread.

She was ready.

More than ready.

"She says it's just a child…" Duke whispered under his breath, his eyes still on her.

"…but her body thinks otherwise."

Violet's stance hadn't changed. But something about her posture—her balance, her focus—it all screamed preparation.

"Ma'am?" Duke said carefully. "Should we… check the house?"

Violet glanced at him, her voice cool.

"It's just a child crying. No need."

"Haha, I think he's scared," Jack muttered, just loud enough to earn a scowl.

"Hey—bastard!" Duke shot back, embarrassed.

"Quiet. Focus," Samaira said, her voice sharp now.

Violet's eyes flicked toward her, approving.

"Samaira… you're doing well as student captain."

That caught everyone off-guard.

Even Drex let out a short laugh.

Duke chuckled, nudging her.

Samaira flushed red. "Aww—shut up, all of you."

And then—

It came.

Not the boy's cry this time.

A voice.

A woman's.

Singing.

Faint. Soft. Too calm.

"Sleep, my child, the night is near,

Fog will hush what you may hear.

Eyes like stars, so wide and bright,

Close them now… no need for fright."

"Mother's here, the mist won't stay,

It only comes to take away…

All the ones who disobey—

So hush, my child… hush and pray."

Silence.

No one moved.

Even the fire seemed to dim.

Chills shot down Duke's spine. He glanced at Jack—and saw the fear mirrored in his friend's wide eyes.

Samaira took a step back, voice shaking.

"That's… that's not any lullaby I've ever heard."

Drex slowly stood, his smirk gone.

"...That's not a lullaby," he said flatly. "That's a warning."

The wind shifted again.

Colder now. And heavy.

Miss Violet exhaled once. Calm. Composed. Deadly.

"Stay calm," she said, her fingers tightening on her chains.

"If it wanted to attack, it already would have."

But her tone had changed.