The morning mist hung low as the group trekked down from the valley of the Loom. The landscape had changed—not just around them, but within them. Violet moved with a quiet steadiness, her steps no longer chased by ghosts, but driven by clarity. She wasn't just hunting monsters anymore—she was reclaiming the world, piece by piece.
Iris was the first to break the morning silence. "We're getting close to Velden. The Sanctuary."
Violet glanced at her. "Do you think they'll let us in?"
"They have to," Iris said. "They owe me."
"Still sounds ominous," Ren muttered, adjusting the blade strapped across his back.
Velden was a sanctuary city, protected by barriers woven from ancient magic. It was said to be a neutral zone, untouched by dungeon outbreaks and ruled by a council of powerful mages. Violet had read about it in old mana scrolls but never imagined she'd see it.
The road curved along the edge of a glowing forest—mana trees shimmering softly in the morning light. They followed Iris, whose pace picked up with familiarity. Echo lingered near Violet, her eyes tracing the energy lines beneath the dirt.
"You okay?" she asked softly.
Violet nodded. "Better than yesterday."
They reached a ridge overlooking Velden just as the sun broke fully over the horizon.
And there it was.
Velden.
A sprawling city encased in a dome of blue-white light. Towering spires, glinting walls, sky bridges humming with mana current. Magic was alive here in a way Violet had never felt before.
"Whoa," Echo whispered. "It's beautiful."
"It's also complicated," Iris said. "We'll need to follow protocol. They're strict about security."
As they approached the barrier, two guards stepped forward. Clad in shimmering armor, they held spears that buzzed faintly with enchantments.
"State your names and purpose," one said.
"Iris Stormborn. Mage-class Alpha. These three are with me. We seek an audience with the council."
The guards hesitated, exchanging glances. Then one nodded.
"You may enter. But the girl—" he nodded toward Violet, "—must register her wand."
Violet handed it over with mild reluctance. The guard ran it through a scanning glyph. "Highly charged. Phoenix feather core?"
"Yes," she answered.
"Rare. Dangerous. Use it wisely."
The dome parted with a soft whoosh, and they stepped through.
The air inside Velden was cooler, cleaner. The mana density higher. It felt like the city breathed with magic. Violet could feel it tingling on her skin, buzzing in her bones.
People walked in robes and enchanted garments. Floating carts moved through the air. Children chased spells that turned into butterflies. It was a different world.
They passed a large square where students practiced wand techniques in formation. Iris watched with distant eyes.
"I trained there," she said. "Years ago."
Violet saw it then—how Iris's posture stiffened as they moved deeper into the city. The strong warrior now felt like a visitor to her own past.
"Did you leave on good terms?" Violet asked.
Iris hesitated. "Not exactly."
They arrived at the Council Hall—an immense circular building with a floating sigil above the entrance. Inside, the walls pulsed with runes. Seven seats sat atop a dais. Only three were occupied.
"Stormborn," the center mage said. A woman with silver hair and a voice like wind. "We were not expecting you."
"You should've," Iris said coolly. "Monsters are evolving. The Loom woke up. And the Masked Seeker is moving."
That drew attention.
"You saw him?" another asked. "Alive?"
"He's not only alive," Iris said, "he's warning us."
The third council member leaned forward. "About what?"
They all turned to Violet.
She stepped forward, unsure at first. Then clearer.
"He said I was becoming like them. That revenge was changing me."
"And is it?"
She met their eyes. "I don't know. But I won't stop until the monsters are gone. I just want to protect people."
There was a pause. Then the council leader nodded.
"You will have sanctuary here. But you must follow our laws."
"Of course," Iris said. "But we need more than sanctuary. We need knowledge. Access to the Grand Archives."
The council looked unsettled.
"That's a sacred vault," the woman said.
"Why?"
"To find out what's causing the evolution," Iris answered. "The answers are buried. And we're running out of time."
There was a long silence.
Finally, the council leader said, "You may enter the outer vault. But go no further."
"Thank you," Iris said.
They left the chamber in silence. Outside, Violet exhaled deeply.
"Well," Ren said. "We're in. But now what?"
"Now," Iris said, "we dig."
And just beneath her voice, Violet heard something else.
Fear.
Not of failure—but of the truths they might uncover.
---
The Grand Archives of Velden stood like a slumbering beast beneath the Council Hall. Runes laced every step, wall, and ceiling tile, glowing softly with ancient wisdom. The outer vault—where they were allowed—was still massive, a spiraling chamber of books, glyph scrolls, mana tomes, and floating memory crystals.
Violet's boots echoed softly on the crystal floors as she walked behind Iris, who moved with a familiarity that only raised more questions. Echo trailed beside Violet, her wide eyes drinking in the sights, while Ren had taken it upon himself to study any combat-related manuscripts stacked along the walls.
"This place is insane," Echo whispered, clutching a glowing sphere labeled 'Records of Dungeon Genesis'.
"It feels like the books are alive."
"They are," Iris replied without turning. "Some of them bite back."
Violet smiled faintly, then paused near a row of scrolls marked: Evolutions of Rift Creatures.
She gently pulled one down and began reading.
---
"While low-level creatures may appear as random mutations, there is growing evidence that monster evolution is a response to mana saturation in highly populated zones…"
---
Her brow furrowed. It wasn't just about magic. It was about balance. The monsters weren't just evolving randomly—they were adapting to human expansion. The deeper she read, the clearer it became.
"They're not just mindless beasts," Violet murmured. "They're reacting."
"To us?" Echo asked, peeking over her shoulder.
"To mana," Violet replied. "To how we use it. Maybe even to how we think."
Iris approached silently, holding a heavy black-bound tome. "This might help. It's about the First Breach."
Violet took it carefully. It was old—older than anything she'd touched. The edges were lined with protective runes, pulsing faintly.
Together, they sat and read.
The First Breach had occurred centuries ago, before mana had been widely understood. A massive tear had opened in the fabric of space, and from it, the first monsters poured. But something strange stood out.
"The Breach was not natural. It was created. Deliberately."
Violet looked up sharply. "Someone opened it?"
"Yes," Iris said. "But the records never say who."
Ren leaned in, eyes narrowing. "You think the Masked Seeker knows?"
"He must," Violet said. "He's too precise. He wants us to follow him."
"But why?" Echo asked.
Violet sat back, letting the heavy tome rest in her lap. Her mind spun with possibilities.
Maybe this wasn't just a fight against monsters. Maybe it was a war between philosophies. Between those who wanted to conquer mana—and those who wanted to protect balance.
Suddenly, the walls shook slightly. Books toppled. Crystals dimmed.
Ren was up in an instant. "What was that?"
A voice echoed through the chamber. "This is Sanctuary Guard. All outer city residents remain indoors. We have a containment breach."
Violet stood, wand in hand. "A monster got inside?"
"No," Iris said grimly. "Something worse."
They rushed upstairs. The city square was in chaos. Mages scrambled, barriers flickering as smoke coiled near the east gate.
And in the center of it all—stood a figure cloaked in black.
The Masked Seeker.
Violet's breath caught. But something was different. His mask was cracked—revealing part of his face. Young. Maybe only a few years older than her.
He raised his hand. "I come not as your enemy," he called. "But as your warning."
Mages circled him, staffs and wands drawn.
Violet stepped forward. "Wait."
He turned to her.
"You've read the First Breach," he said. "You know what they hide."
"You opened it?"
"No," he said. "But I saw the one who did."
Silence fell.
Violet's hand gripped her wand tighter. "Why show yourself now?"
"Because they're preparing to open another."
Gasps rippled through the watching crowd.
"And unless you understand the truth," the Seeker said, "this time, there will be no survivors."
A flash of light erupted—blinding.
When Violet's vision returned, he was gone.
Guards scrambled. Iris cursed under her breath. "He's always one step ahead."
Violet stared at the spot where he stood, heart pounding.
This was bigger than revenge. Bigger than monsters.
It was about control.
And someone—something—was pulling the strings.
She turned to her friends. "We need to go deeper. The inner vault. That's where the real answers are."
"But the council—" Echo began.
"They won't approve," Ren added.
Violet lifted her chin. "Then we don't ask."