Guided by Gregald, Belamus and his companions made their way across the rugged wilds, steadily advancing toward the remote Gagagamoor hideout. The journey had already taken over a day and a half since they’d left the archive, but the destination still lay far ahead. From the sheer distance and isolation of their route, Belamus could guess why the hideout had been built so deep in the wilderness. Whoever designed it clearly intended it to remain hidden and difficult to locate, even for those who knew what they were looking for.
Along the way, they’d faced several monster attacks, which was no surprise, given the region’s untamed nature. The creatures in these parts were far more dangerous than the ones roaming near Beresdral, tougher and more aggressive. But to Belamus and his party, they were little more than a warm-up. With their current strength, not even the fiercest beasts posed a serious threat.
Gregald had been stunned at first, watching them dispatch enemies with ease. “I didn’t realize you were this strong,” he muttered, unable to hide his amazement.
Mimi, meanwhile, wore a smug grin. “Told you, didn’t I? Belamus and the others are really strong.”
As dusk approached, the group pressed on until nightfall before finally stopping to rest. With no inns or towns for miles, they resorted to camping, but yet again, “camping” was hardly the right word. Thanks to Belamus’s magic, a fully formed shelter now stood at their campsite: sturdy walls, a roof, even a cozy interior. It wasn’t exactly a mansion, but it was leagues above sleeping under the stars.
Gregald stared in quiet awe. “Magic really is something else…”
Rugen, ever the skeptic, folded his arms and scowled at the conjured structure. “I always figured technology was all anyone needed. Thought magic was just a crutch for the lazy. But maybe I was wrong…”
The two dwarves, usually so confident in their engineering prowess, couldn’t help but be impressed. It was one thing to hear tales of magic. Seeing it reshape the world before their eyes was something else entirely.
As the others settled down for the night, Belamus sat near the magical hearth, thoughts turning inward. “There’s something I’ve been wondering,” he said, glancing toward the dwarves. “Why can’t your people use magic? Halflings could use it perfectly well. If dwarves share the same ancestry… shouldn’t it be possible?”
It was a genuine question, not an accusation. He remembered those encounters clearly—halflings wielding magic with confidence and skill. If dwarves had truly descended from the same lineage, their inability to use magic didn’t quite add up. At the very least, it shouldn’t have been impossible. There had to be more to the story, some reason lost to time or hidden by history.
“How do you even know that halflings could use magic?” Rugen narrowed his eyes at Belamus, suspicion flickering behind his thick brows. “Just how many of my books did you read back in the archive?”
He didn’t sound angry, just genuinely curious, and perhaps a little unsettled.
“In fairness,” he went on, stroking his beard, “the old records do mention halflings using magic. But dwarves… well, we developed along a very different path. We never built a culture around magic. Living underground as we do, cut off from the surface and other races, we had little reason to. And honestly, most dwarves are like me: we believe that with enough engineering, magic is just unnecessary.”
Rugen glanced at the conjured shelter again, his tone softening.
“That said… If dwarves could use magic the way you do, there’s no telling how much further our society might’ve progressed,” he admitted, folding his arms as if to shield his pride, even while wonder crept into his voice.
Belamus nodded slowly, absorbing the logic. “I see. Living in isolation beneath the earth would certainly limit cross-cultural influence.”
It made sense. Cultural divergence could explain the absence of magical traditions, even if the potential had once existed.
Mimi tilted her head. “Wait, so… does that mean dwarves can’t use magic because no one ever taught them how?”
The idea hung in the air for a moment.
“It’s hard to say,” Rugen said. “From what I’ve heard, even among humans, there are those who are talented with magic and those who simply can’t use it at all. Just because one dwarf couldn’t use magic doesn’t mean none can. But it’s not something easily proven either way.”
“So, it’s still a mystery, huh…” Mimi grinned, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Hey, Belamus, will you teach me how to use magic?”
He blinked at her, mildly surprised by the sudden request. “I don’t mind… but not now. Let’s wait until we’ve dealt with the hideout and returned safely.”
“Okay!” She gave him a firm nod. “You promise, though?”
“I promise,” he said with a faint smile.
As the sun dipped beneath the horizon and shadows stretched across the forest floor, the group began preparing their evening meal. Belamus had just begun to gather his thoughts for the night when something, an eerie twinge at the back of his mind, made him pause.
That feeling again. Like eyes in the dark. Watching.
Delarosa noticed his sudden change in expression and stepped toward him, concern etched across her face. “What’s wrong?”
The sensation vanished as quickly as it had come, like a whisper carried off by the wind.
“It’s nothing,” Belamus replied, though a faint furrow remained between his brows.
They ate in silence after that, then slept and resumed their journey at dawn. But even as the morning sun bathed the trees in golden light, Belamus couldn’t shake the unease gnawing at the edge of his thoughts.
Was it really just my imagination? he wondered, eyes scanning the horizon. His instincts rarely betrayed him. And Belamus was not the kind of man to mistake a breeze for a predator.
If that presence I felt last night wasn’t just my imagination… then whoever it was managed to let their gaze brush over me for only a second. No more than a flicker. That kind of precision doesn’t come by accident.
They’re good—experienced. A professional.
Could be one of those dwarven assassins I’ve heard about…
Belamus weighed the situation carefully. If someone really was watching me last night and is still tailing us now, then this could become a serious problem. Acting quickly would be ideal, but without knowing the watcher’s exact location, he was essentially grasping at shadows.
Still… maybe there’s another way.
What if I lure them out?
A plan began to form in his mind. If someone was keeping the group under surveillance, they were waiting for a moment of weakness to reveal itself. Belamus suspected their target was likely Mimi. That made sense. She was powerful yet emotionally open, perhaps the least guarded. But with so many allies around her, the enemy couldn’t make a move. Not without risking exposure. That told Belamus something crucial: they were cautious, calculating. Not the reckless type.
To draw someone like that out, isolation would be key.
If just one person broke off from the group, alone and vulnerable, it might be enough to tempt the watcher into striking. Then, once their cover was blown, the rest of the enemy network could be flushed out. That lone figure would be attacked, captured, and interrogated. They’d be forced to reveal where Mimi and the others were headed, who the strongest combatants were, and what defenses they could expect. With that intel, it wouldn’t be hard to set up an ambush and finish what they’d come to do.
Of course, the bait would have to be Belamus himself.
He was the only one equipped to survive the risk, and the only one capable of controlling the encounter if things went sideways. But there were complications. Their enemy wasn’t impulsive. There was every chance they might ignore the bait entirely and go straight for Mimi the moment Belamus was out of sight.
That, he couldn’t allow. But then again… Delarosa had grown significantly stronger. Her spell work had reached a high level, more than high enough to construct durable magical barriers and protect the others in his absence. Even if the worst came to pass, she could likely buy enough time for Belamus to return and turn the tide.
There’s always the chance this won’t work, he admitted to himself. But even then, there’s no real downside. It’s still worth the attempt.
He’d made up his mind.
Belamus decided not to share the plan's details with the others. If they knew, someone might give it away with a glance or a word, however innocent. And if the enemy was watching, any break in their natural behavior could tip them off. No… this was something he had to carry out alone.
“I think I left something back at the last campsite,” Belamus said casually, already rising to his feet. “I’ll go retrieve it. Wait here for me.”
“You forgot something? I’ll come with you,” Mimi offered, already moving to stand.
“No need. I’ll be fine on my own,” he replied, firm but still calm. “Delarosa, put up a barrier in my absence, just in case.”
“On it!” she chimed, cheerful as ever.
“Wait, hold on. It’s too dangerous to go alone,” Gregald objected, stepping forward with a furrowed brow. “What if it’s a trap?”
“I’ll be fine,” Belamus reassured him. “It’s not far, and there’s no reason for all of us to go. The mistake was mine, so I’ll handle it. I’d rather not trouble the rest of you for something so minor.”
Gregald hesitated. He wasn’t convinced, but he also knew exactly how strong Belamus was. After a moment’s silence, he grunted. “Tch… fine. But don’t let your guard down.”