The Eccentric Entomologist is Now a Queen's Consort

"Let's go," he muttered, forcing his eyes away from the monstrous thing. He wanted to forget the connection he'd felt. He wanted to deny it was real. The only thing that mattered now was surviving, saving the people who mattered, and figuring out the rest once they weren't standing in a war zone.

They made their way through the rubble, trying to stay low. The city was filled with shifting shapes in the darkness—crumbling arches, ruined storefronts, half-collapsed towers. Everywhere they turned, they heard distant screams or the clash of metal echoing from unseen streets. Now and then, an enforcer squad would pass in the distance, the faint glow of their gear giving them away. The group would freeze, heartbeats pounding, until the squad was gone. Mikhailis felt an odd dread settling in his stomach. He was used to facing danger, but there was something about the chaos tonight that felt different, more final.

At one point, they ducked behind a fallen statue, the noble figure's head missing, only a shattered torso remaining. The clang of heavy boots sounded in the square beyond. Mikhailis steadied his breathing, pressed close against the broken stone, his shoulder lightly touching Lira's. She was so quiet he wondered if she was even breathing at all.

As soon as the enforcers' footsteps faded, Rhea gestured for them to move on. They crept through another alley, stepping over broken tiles and torn bits of cloth that might have been someone's cloak. The stench of burning wood and something more acrid filled Mikhailis's nose, making his stomach turn. This city used to be alive—bustling with workers, street vendors calling out prices, children running through narrow lanes. Now it felt like a graveyard that hadn't realized it was dead yet.

"Here," Lira said softly, guiding them past a collapsed wooden fence. She pointed to a narrow path flanked by walls that were still intact. They could slip through there, avoiding any main streets where the Technomancers would likely tighten their grip.

Mikhailis could hear the low humming of those containment pylons behind them, followed by a distant crackling—like lightning trapped in a bottle. He wondered how long the devices would hold the Mistborn Entity at bay. Judging by the roars still echoing through the city, not long.

His mind circled back to the earlier vision. The memory of that chained figure, bound in golden links. The sense of deep sorrow that radiated from it, almost like a living presence. What if it's connected to that monstrous thing rampaging now? The thought lodged in his chest like a thorn. He tried to push it aside, focusing on staying alive, but the questions wouldn't go away: What did Eldris mean, calling me a key? And why do I feel like my own body's changing because of that blasted mist?

A faint clang made him jump. Rhea shot him a look that silently demanded he keep it together. He grimaced in apology. What I wouldn't give for a hot bath and a normal night's sleep, he thought sourly, though he couldn't deny the thrill of adrenaline coursing through him. He was scared, sure, but a part of him was also strangely alive in moments like this, when everything was on the line. Stay updated through My Virtual Library Empire

Lira slowed her pace, making sure he could keep up. He appreciated that, more than he could say out loud right now. "We can rest once we're clear of this mess," she whispered, almost reading his mind. The gentle concern in her eyes reminded him that even in chaos, there were reasons to keep fighting.

They kept moving, weaving through alleys and past the remains of half-demolished buildings, until the roars of the Mistborn Entity started to fade into the distance. At last, they reached a quieter area, though quiet in this context just meant fewer immediate screams or blasts of magic. The tension still hung in the air. Every step crunched over debris, sounding too loud in the hush.

"We need to find a real place to hide," Rhea muttered, scanning the surroundings. "The Technomancers will probably expand their search radius soon."

Before Mikhailis could answer, Lira pulled on his sleeve, guiding him into the meager shelter of a doorway. Another explosion echoed from behind them, closer than before. This time, the ground trembled. A new swirl of dust rose up, coating everything in a fine, choking cloud. The three of them covered their faces, coughing.

Finally, Mikhailis managed to stand upright again, though his muscles still felt weak. He stared at Lira and Rhea in turn, eyes determined but weary. His voice came out raspier than he intended. "Let's just find somewhere safe for now. Anywhere but here."

Lira gave a single, firm nod. "We will."

Rhea exhaled slowly, glancing at the dim shapes of enforcers in the distance. "Lead the way," she said, tension still tight in her shoulders.

They slipped off into the shadows, half crouching, half running. Mikhailis was aware of the weight of unasked questions pressing on him like a physical burden. Each step sent a twinge of pain through his body, and yet, a deeper part of him felt a strange pull, like the mist was calling him back to something big and terrible. He couldn't explain it, and he definitely didn't want to face it yet.

He clenched his jaw. He had questions, but now wasn't the time. "Agreed."

_____

Elsewhere, deep in the Technomancer Spire, Cerys and Vyrelda sprinted down a broad, metallic corridor bathed in the flicker of crimson emergency lights. A shrill alarm rang nonstop, drilling into their ears as they raced past doors sealed tight by magical locks. The air smelled of ozone, heated metal, and fear.@@novelbin@@

Heavy boots pounded behind them. The hum of suppressed energy crackled like static, telling them the enforcers were close. Cerys could practically feel the tension radiating off Vyrelda. Even though they had worked together many times, this mission felt different. Failure was not an option; they had come too far and discovered too much.

"There!" Vyrelda said in a clipped whisper. She pointed toward a narrow side passage partially hidden behind a column of piping. The corridor was lined with heavy cables running the length of the ceiling, pulsing with a faint blue glow.

Cerys nodded, breathing hard. "Let's go."

She led the way, sword ready in her hand. Her weapon was a long, single-edged blade that gleamed under the flickering lights, designed for swift, precise strikes. Blood stained its steel from the last few guards she'd cut down in the lower levels. She grimaced, forcing herself not to think about how many more might lie ahead.

An enforcer stumbled into view from a cross-hall and immediately aimed his arcane rifle. A flash of blue energy crackled at the weapon's muzzle. Cerys lunged without hesitation, her movements honed by years of rigorous training. She slashed through the air, the blade slicing the enforcer's weapon in half before he could fire. Sparks flew, dancing like tiny stars around her feet.

"Move," she barked over her shoulder, and Vyrelda darted past her, clutching the data crystal like it was her life's only purpose.

They hurried through the side passage. It was narrower than the main corridor, but the alarm was just as loud here, echoing off the walls in a high-pitched wail. At the end of the hall, another pair of enforcers blocked their path, each wearing dark armor reinforced with metal plates engraved by runes. Cerys braced herself. She could see the grim determination on their faces, though part of her also caught a flicker of fear in their eyes.

Vyrelda slowed, raising one hand. Thin arcs of greenish energy crackled around her fingers. She was more tactician than sorcerer, but she knew enough simple spells to make a difference in a tight spot. She flicked her wrist, and a burst of shimmering force jolted the enforcers backward, sending them stumbling into the wall. Cerys seized the opening, rushing in with her sword at the ready.

One of the enforcers managed to raise his gauntlet, and a brief shimmer of protective magic flared. But Cerys's blade cut through it with a screech of metal on metal. She went low, sweeping his legs out from under him. He hit the floor with a thud. The second enforcer tried to grab her arm, but she twisted gracefully, elbowing him hard in the ribs. He doubled over with a pained grunt. A second later, Vyrelda finished him off with a heavy blow from the butt of a short staff she carried strapped to her back.

"Clear," Cerys muttered. She wiped a drop of sweat from her brow with the back of her glove. "But we can't stick around."