CHAPTER 60: CAELGORR THE HOLLOW

"What exactly is the Hollow?" Lucy asked, curiosity gnawing at him.

Before Bruma could answer, a soft rustling came from the center of the room.

Gindu was stirring.

"Let’s wait until everyone’s awake," Bruma said, still wedged awkwardly into the undersized chair, arms crossed over her chest. "I’m not repeating myself five times. It’s exhausting."

A smile tugged at Lucy’s lips as Gindu sat up slowly, one hand pressed to his temple, eyes squinting against the firelight. Relief bloomed in Lucy’s chest—his friend was alive. Still breathing. Still loud, probably.

"What happened, wyrmling?" Gindu asked, voice hoarse and dazed.

Lucy shrugged, deadpan. "Oh, you know. We fought an immortal fog army, nearly died, and got rescued by a giant toad. Just your average Tuesday."

Gindu blinked, then turned toward Bruma. His gaze took in her massive frame, horned brow, and the slight smirk tugging at her lips.

"Greetings. You must be the toad, wyrmling?"

"Wyrmling?" Bruma echoed, raising a thick brow. She didn’t seem offended by "toad"—more puzzled by the insult’s mechanics.

Gindu groaned suddenly, clutching his head. "Ah, the pain! Those pathetic foglings were beneath me... and yet they’ve left me with a grievous wound! The shame!"

Bruma chuckled. "It’s the antidote. The poison’s gone, but the treatment’s rough. You’ll have headaches. And for the love of the gods, try staying quiet until the others wake."

Gindu glanced at Lucy, pride bruised. Lucy nodded quietly and said gently, "Glad you’re okay, big wyrm."

One by one, the others began to stir.

Fenric blinked awake first, groaning as he sat up. Eri followed soon after, stretching her arms with a wince. Llarm was last—his movements sluggish, skin still pale.

Lucy noted the order and frowned.

Of course. They woke up in order of magical power. Gindu first. Llarm last.

’No wonder he got hit the hardest,’ Lucy thought. ’He’s smart—gifted, even, but he doesn’t have the raw magic the others do.’

As they gathered around the hearth, Lucy explained how they’d made it to Bruma’s hideout. The fog. The ambush. Their narrow escape. He didn’t dramatize it. He didn’t need to.

When he finished, Bruma leaned forward, her tusks catching firelight like twin blades.

"Now that you’re all conscious," she said, voice like gravel underfoot, "we can talk about what matters."

Her eyes locked with Lucy’s.

"The Hollow."

The fire crackled. No one spoke. Even Gindu, for once, remained quiet.

Everyone leaned in as Bruma began.

"Seraph’s Hollow wasn’t always like this," she said. "Once, it was a thriving realm—lush, alive. Home to all five races: Ogres, Giants, Beastkin, Elves, Dragonkin. And above all, they worshipped Seraphine."

Lucy watched her closely. The way her gaze flickered—not just recounting history, but reliving it.

"Their love for her was absolute. And Seraphine returned it. She adopted the world into her divine system and blessed it. She visited often, not just in visions, but in flesh. She smiled with them. Laughed with them."

Bruma’s voice dipped lower. "But then she gave an order."

Lucy felt a knot twist in his chest.

"She told them to build a temple on a remote island. Sacred. Isolated. At its heart, they sealed away a black tome—the Obsidian Chronicle."

The name seemed to darken the room.

"It’s not just a book," Bruma continued. "It’s a vault of forbidden truths. Knowledge about the gods themselves. Secrets no mortal should possess."

A chill ran through the room. Eri’s face tensed. Llarm leaned forward. Even Fenric looked unusually thoughtful.

"That’s why I came here," Bruma said. Her tone had shifted—hungry now, driven. "I’ve spent years trying to reach it. I want that knowledge. I need it."

Lucy’s brow creased. "So what’s stopping you?"

Bruma’s expression hardened.

"Caelgorr."

The fire flared at the name, as if reacting.

"A magical beast. It wasn’t always this powerful. But it fed on corrupted magic—centuries of it. Now, it’s... something else. Twisted, deadly, and stronger than most generals."

She cracked her knuckles, the chair creaking beneath her.

"It conquered the world. The races failed to protect the Chronicle, and Caelgorr took everything. Now it nests in the temple. Waiting. Guarding."

There was silence, heavy and full.

Bruma broke it with a calm finality. "That’s where you come in."

Lucy blinked. "You want us to fight it?"

"I’ll help," she said. "But if you help me reach the Chronicle—help me unlock the truth—I’ll join your team."

Her gaze gleamed with purpose.

"Deal?"

It was a lot.

Lucy’s thoughts churned. ’Why didn’t Seraphine intervene when Caelgorr destroyed this place? Did she abandon it? Was she powerless—or unwilling?’

He didn’t have answers—only more questions. But now wasn’t the time.

He looked to his team. This was bigger than him.

Llarm’s face was tight, jaw clenched with frustration.

Eri’s fingers twitched—whether from nerves or anticipation, Lucy couldn’t tell.

Fenric looked practically giddy.

And Gindu stood tall, expression cool but fierce.

Lucy cleared his throat. "I’d like to talk it over with my team first, if that’s okay."

Bruma nodded. "Of course. I’ll disappear into the kitchen and prepare supper."She rose from the too-small chair with a groan and stomped off, each footfall rumbling through the floor.

As soon as she was out of sight, Lucy turned to the others.

"First, I want to say I’m sorry for dragging you into this. As your captain, it was irresponsibl—"

"Don’t apologize." Llarm’s voice was sharp, unwavering. "You’re the captain. We follow your lead. We were too weak—nothing more. We’re entering the War Games, Lucy. If we can’t handle Seraph’s Hollow, what are we even doing?"

Lucy blinked. It was the first time he’d seen Llarm genuinely angry. No fear. No hesitation. Just raw conviction.

And he was right.

’I can’t second-guess every call I make. I’m the captain. I need to act like it.’

He let out a breath and smiled. "Okay. I’m not sorry, then."

That earned a few smirks.

"What about the rest of you?" Lucy asked. "You in?"

Fenric cracked his knuckles, grinning. "A beast stronger than a general? Sounds fun. Let’s kill it."

"That wyrmling won’t stand a chance," Gindu added, voice full of steel.

Eri rolled her eyes. "For once, I agree with the mutt."

Lucy chuckled. "Alright then."

He turned toward the kitchen and raised his voice. "Bruma—we’re in!"

Bruma immediately peeked around the corner, pretending badly that she hadn’t been listening.

"Excellent," she beamed. "Oh, right—I forgot to mention: the journey will take just under five months, and don’t worry about the teleportation pod, I have a pocket-sized one. So, rest up. We leave at dawn."

She vanished again.

"And dinner’s ready!"

Lucy’s eye twitched.

"Five months?" he groaned. "You’ve got to be kidding me. That’s cutting it real close."