CHAPTER 190: CHAPTER 190 – STILLNESS BEHIND THE MIST

The sky above the black castle where Sylvia now resided was gray that day, with a silent overcast pressing down upon the surrounding land like a weight of eternal stillness. A thin mist blanketed the castle grounds and the training fields, making the movements of the patrolling zombies appear as vague shadows in a never-ending nightmare.

Inside the castle, the atmosphere was no brighter. The faint magical glow from black crystals embedded in the ceiling spread like weary breath, casting long shadows along the stone walls. Sylvia’s main study once used only occasionally had now become the place where she spent most of her time.

Stacks of reports, maps, field notes, and magic seal schematics filled the large obsidian desk. The only constant rhythm in the room was the sound of a quill pen dancing swiftly across parchment.

Celes stood nearby, holding several new scrolls, and let out a quiet sigh. Her silver hair was neatly tied up today, but the faint circles beneath her eyes revealed how little rest she’d had lately.

"The demon world gate that appeared in the eastern region vanished before it could fully open," she reported while handing over one of the scrolls. "But two other locations are showing increased magical pressure. This one’s the latest from the scout outposts."

Sylvia took the scroll without a word. Her eyes scanned it quickly, her brow furrowing in silence. Her expression radiated tension and a nearly chilling focus.

"I’ll need three more days to reinforce the outer wall’s seals," Celes continued quietly. "But I’ll have to reconfigure the formation first. Some of the zones are too old, and haven’t even been checked since we first arrived in this world."

"Prioritize the northwest," Sylvia replied, her voice flat but firm. "The nearest magic fracture is there."

Celes nodded and began copying the formation diagrams onto fresh parchment.

Even with Celes assisting her, Sylvia knew it wouldn’t be enough.

She looked up for a moment and stared at the wall covered in maps and notes. Most of the zombies here were still... empty. They were loyal and obedient, but lacked the intelligence and initiative that her Nocture forces had developed under her leadership. In Nocture, she had Zark a commander, administrator, and elite undead leader all in one.

But here?

Valnark might be the strongest, but his mind was built only for battle. He stood like a loyal statue outside the study, always awaiting orders, but useless for diplomacy, analysis, or complex tactical decisions.

And Aurelia, the only other human aside from Celes who was both intelligent and strong, wasn’t here either.

Sylvia shifted her gaze to the small window facing the castle gate. It was narrow, barely the size of a palm, but enough to see the mist rolling outside, like the tired breath of a weary world.

"Aurelia still hasn’t returned from the human lands," she murmured to herself.

"Correct," Celes replied softly. "Her last message said she was tracking the movements of some groups. But nothing since then."

Thinking about Nocture.

"Nocture’s status has changed," Sylvia said quietly. "Zark just sent the official seal. Nocture is now recognized as a nation... with a royal system."

Celes looked at her. "And you’re the queen."

"Yes. But I’m not there." Sylvia gave a bitter smile. "Zark runs the military. Sofia leads the government. I... am just a name."

But beneath that cold tone, Celes knew Sylvia was hurting.

She wanted to go back. She wanted to lead directly. But this world wouldn’t allow it yet. The threat of the gods, the demon gates, and the unresolved mysteries of this place weighed on her too heavily to be abandoned.

"If only... the zombies here could evolve like they did in Nocture," Sylvia continued. "If only... I had even just one Zark here..."

Her voice trailed off. In the distance, a faint lightning flash lit up behind the mist. No sound followed, only a flicker of purple light across the unyielding sky.

Celes stepped forward and placed her hand on Sylvia’s shoulder.

"Then... let’s help them evolve. Maybe not today. But we can begin outlining a training framework. Rebuild their awareness from the ground up. Just like you did in Nocture."

Sylvia closed her eyes. "With who?"

"You. And me. And time."

Silence filled the room for a moment.

Then Sylvia opened her eyes once more. "Then all we can do... is wait for the day they find their minds again."

The crystal lights on the ceiling began to glow a bit brighter as the day moved toward afternoon. Sylvia let out a long breath, then slowly leaned back into the large black leather chair that had supported her body since morning. Her muscles were tense from sitting too long, and with a slow motion, she began to stretch letting out a small yawn as she raised her arms high above her head, her back arching.

Creek...

The sound of joints popping echoed clearly in the silent room. Her bare arms stretched from shoulder to elbow, and her slim waist and figure subtly stood out in that pose.

Celes, who was standing not far away checking the defense map again, glanced over briefly. But her gaze lingered longer than it should have. Her eyes traced the curve of Sylvia’s smooth neck, down to her slightly arched hips as she stretched slowly... and just as quickly, Celes looked away, a faint blush coloring her cheeks despite her effort to remain composed.

"...Better I focus on this formation instead," she muttered softly, more to herself than as a report.

Meanwhile, Sylvia was completely unaware of Celes’s shift in expression. She merely lowered her arms, then stood from her chair with a soft motion, her black ceremonial robe swaying lightly around her legs. Her eyes swept the room full of reports, papers, ink, and the endless presence of dust.

"I’m getting bored here," she finally said. "This room is starting to smell like damp ink and paper."

Celes turned, a bit surprised. "You want to go out?"

Sylvia nodded. "Just a walk around the castle. I need air that isn’t trapped behind stone walls."

Celes gave a small smile, her fatigue seemingly lifting slightly just from hearing Sylvia ask for fresh air. "Alright. I’ll accompany you."

With little preparation, the two of them left the study, walking through the long corridor paved with black obsidian stone. The walls were lit by dim blue magical candles, casting faint shadows on the floor.

Their footsteps echoed along the corridor.

Tok... tok... tok...

Though the castle was vast, its atmosphere was always quiet. Only the occasional sound of clinking chains from patrolling zombie guards or the creak of old doors swinging in the cold breeze broke the silence.

When they reached the inner courtyard, the mist still hung low, though not as thick as before. From the small balcony where Sylvia and Celes stood, they could see part of the castle grounds, where several zombies were practicing basic movements slowly and stiffly, led by Valnark who stood like a living statue, barking orders in a deep, heavy voice.

"He’s taking it very seriously," Sylvia said, tilting her head.

"He’s extremely obedient. But... yeah, still like a pure killing machine," Celes replied, resting her hand on the stone railing.

They stood there for a moment, letting the thin wind brush against their faces and hair. Sylvia’s robe fluttered gently, and Celes’s neatly tied hair began to loosen slightly, but neither of them complained.

In the distance, the sharp cry of a wyvern echoed above the eastern tower, a call like that of a wild beast that had lost its way.

"Sometimes I envy them," Sylvia murmured. "Creatures that only know how to fly, hunt, and sleep. No reports to read, no strategies to plan, no interdimensional diplomacy to handle."

Celes turned to her, smiling. "But they have no minds to love or be cared for. No one waits for them to return."

Sylvia looked up at the sky. "Maybe that’s what makes us strong... and weak at the same time."

They continued walking toward the abandoned castle garden. Wild grass had grown tall, and unfamiliar black flowers bloomed among the ruins of stone benches and a dry fountain. A few servant zombies were attempting to clean the area, albeit without any clear coordination.

"I once imagined this garden filled with red and purple flowers. Stone benches we could sit on in the afternoon while sipping tea, and a clean path to walk," Sylvia said, walking along a mossy trail.

"We’ll make it real. Someday," Celes replied softly.

They stopped in the middle of the garden, beneath an old tree whose leaves were a dark greenish-black. Sylvia sat on a stone bench, touching its cold, rough surface.

"This world is too quiet," she finally said. "Even with you here, Celes... it still feels like a place that hasn’t truly come alive."

Celes sat beside her, a little closer than usual.

"Because this place doesn’t know you yet like Nocture does. They haven’t grown from your hands."

"Yeah..." Sylvia exhaled gently. "But I’ll start from the beginning. From the first stone. Just like before."

And in the midst of the slowly rolling mist in the garden, the two figures sat in silence. Accompanying each other, looking toward a future that was still uncertain but no longer felt impossible.