CHAPTER 29: CH:29 SILENCE BEFORE THE SHADOW

Dila narrowed her eyes, her fingers tightening slightly on the door frame.

"Nari," she whispered in her mind, "analyze the area. Scan for anomalies—anything that might cause harm."

☆ Understood, master. I’ll keep awareness at full sensitivity. Beginning scan now... ■•••• ☆

A soft pulse of light shimmered just behind Dila’s eyes as her system synced. Her passive skill, Eavesdrop, flickered silently into motion—stretching her sense of hearing down the corridor, across the still air.

But there was... nothing.

No footsteps.

No whispers.

No breathing.

Even the castle’s usual morning hum—the maids, the shuffling of guards, the soft clatter of breakfast trays—gone.

☆ Master... I’m not detecting any life signatures within fifty meters. It’s like this entire wing has gone silent. ☆

"...That’s not normal," Dila murmured to herself. Her voice echoed faintly through the empty hallway.

She stepped out, her bare feet brushing the cool marble floor.

The torches on the walls were still burning. The curtains were still swaying from the open windows. The castle itself looked alive...

But it sounded dead.

"Nari..."

☆ I’m here. ☆

"...No more dramatic flair, I said."

She slowly moved forward. Her eyes flicked left, then right.

The long golden carpet stretched ahead, untouched. The air smelled faintly of flowers and polished wood... but underneath it, a strange scent. Almost metallic.

Her gaze sharpened.

Something was off.

Very off.

And then—there. At the far end of the corridor.

A flicker.

A shadow, ducking around the corner.

Dila froze.

Nari’s voice rang sharp in her head:

☆ Movement detected. Unknown source. Danger level... uncertain slightly same as S class. Stay alert, master. ☆

Dila took a slow breath, raising one hand with quiet precision.

"...Here goes nothing."

She stepped forward again.

And then suddenly, a voice whispered behind her—low, smooth, and unmistakably familiar.

"We meet again."

Dila froze. Her heart jumped as a sharp chill crawled up her spine. That voice... it was him.

The same voice from the fight more than a month ago. The masked man—the elf with crimson eyes.

She spun around, eyes wide, aura flaring with instinct.

"You again?!" she shouted.

He stood just a few steps away, not hostile, but calm. Unnaturally calm. His presence felt wrong—like a shadow that moved on its own.

"Shhh," he said, raising a finger slowly.

"No one can hear us. It’s just you and me now."

His eyes burned like twin embers beneath the soft morning light that leaked through the stained glass. Cold. Regal. Cruel. His face, smooth and unwrinkled, held no warmth—only the hardened expression of a man who had seen far too much and cared too little.

He knelt suddenly, head bowed like a loyal knight.

"I was sent to scout you, my Princess." He gave a half-laugh. "Ahh, sorry about the fight. Just forget it, will you? I meant no harm."

Dila’s eye twitched.

"No harm?" Her voice cracked. "You nearly killed me—and the people around us! And now you’re here calling me some stupid Princess like I’m supposed to play nice?"

Her fists clenched. Her blood boiled.

"Who are you really? And what the hell do you want from me?"

He looked up, still grinning. "Your father. King Albedo. He sent me to find you. Scout you. Bring you back quietly—no consequences. His orders."

Dila’s face twisted with rage.

"Father, my ass! I don’t have a father, you dumbass!"

She hissed through her teeth. The hallway stayed eerily silent. Not even an echo.

Her thoughts raced.

Why can’t anyone hear us? Why hasn’t anyone come?

Nari?!

☆ He cast a sound barrier, Master, ☆ Nari’s voice whispered into her mind. ☆ No sound is escaping this place... ☆

Dila’s expression tightened.

This was bad.

And then Dila narrowed her eyes, her magic flaring as she stepped back slightly.

"Be prepared to fight."

She lifted her hand—and in a bright shimmer of light, her Arcane Wand Staff burst into existence, forming in her palm with a sharp metallic echo. The full length of it shimmered with ancient etchings, glowing faintly with her mana.

The masked elf took a quick step back again, eyes widening.

"Woah, woah, woah! Princess!" he yelped, throwing his hands up like she just pointed a crossbow at his face. His fingers flailed in surrender.

"Chill! I’m not here to fight. Seriously, put that little sparkly candy cane of death down." he chuckled.

Dila didn’t budge.

"You said you came to scout me. But now you’re talking about retrieving me—how is that scouting?! That’s kidnapping!" she snapped.

The masked elf let out a long, dramatic sigh and casually wiped one of his ears with his pinky finger.

"Please, Princess... We’re standing three feet apart. There’s no need to shout. I can hear your rage perfectly fine, right here."

He paused and looked up at her with a tired expression.

"Besides, you scream like a warhorn. I’m pretty sure even the birds outside flinched."

Dila tightened her grip on the staff.

This guy... was clearly not taking her seriously. And that made it worse.

And then Dila shouted while trembling, "Enough of the jokes! I’ll kill you now—I will kill you this time, be prepared!"

She raised her hand, her magic pulsing.

"I summon my earth underling! Earthrea!"

She paused—nothing.

Again she shouted, louder this time, "Earthrea!"

Still, nothing.

Her heart sank.

"Nari! What’s happening? Is my magic malfunctioning? I can’t use any skills!"

☆ Yes, Master... all your skills are suddenly blocked. They’re unavailable. He canceled out everything. ☆

Dila’s eyes widened in disbelief.

"You mean... he blocked my magic—without even moving? Without a chant?"

☆ Yes... very possible. ☆

She gulped, a cold sweat trailing down her back.

"I’m... dead meat now..."

Meanwhile, the masked elf, still standing casually, finished combing his hair with a small wooden comb from his pouch. He looked at her with a calm expression and said dryly,

"Are you done?"

Dila’s grip tightened on her staff.

"If I can’t use magic—then I’ll slam this magic wand up your ass! Be prepared!"

The elf burst into laughter.

"Hahaha! You’re so funny, Princess. Not gonna lie, you think you can fight like a warrior with that candy cane stick of yours? Hahaha!"

"Yes, I can!" Dila shouted defiantly. "Watch me!"

Then, to Nari in her mind:

"Nari, how do I fight again?"

☆ I... don’t know, Master... ☆

☆ I’m sweating bullets over here! This is bad! You’re a support mage—you have no close combat skills! ☆

Finally, the masked elf sighed. He looked at her with a mix of amusement and pity.

"Alright, alright. I won’t force you to come with me. Not now. But eventually... you will return with me to the Elf Kingdom—Eldor."

Dila’s eyes narrowed.

"Eldor? What’s that?"

The elf raised a brow.

"Understandable. You were kidnapped by the Berserker... your memory’s probably scrambled."

Dila’s cheek twitched. Her voice lowered into a venomous grumble.

"Ehsshhhhd..."

"Shut up!! I’m not kidnapped!!, it’s you the kidnapper!! " she shouted angrily.

The elf held up his hands quickly.

"Okay, okay! I’m going now. No need to curse. I’ll be back..."

And just like that, his form dissolved into swirling black energy—vanishing completely.

As the dark mist faded, the sound barrier around the area collapsed. Her mana stirred back to life. Her skills became accessible once more.

Dila stood still, heart racing.

"That elf... he must be powerful. He just waltzed into this castle like it was nothing."

☆ Yeah... and Master, I think you seriously need to level up and unlock new skills. ☆

☆ That elf will definitely come back. And next time, he might not be so friendly... ☆

Dila bit her lip, thinking.

"I don’t know what to do yet, Nari. But I’ll prepare. I won’t let myself feel that helpless again."

She looked at her palm as the glow from her staff flickered and gently retracted into a soft orb of light—then vanished into her hand.

"But for now... I’ll try exploring this castle."

☆ Alright, Master! Hehe, let’s pretend you weren’t just nearly kidnapped again and have a nice walk! Yay! ☆

Dila let out a quiet laugh. "Ahhhh.. hahaha.. yeah...."

But her other hand clutched tightly to her chest.

The fear... it was still there. And she didn’t want to feel it again.