The Do-Over System:My Beloved is the Villain! - Chapter 98

Chapter 98: 03/16- Sylva
A thick, oppressive silence settled over the tunnel as Aeliana’s sharp gaze flicked toward the approaching figures emerging from the darkness. At first, their outlines were barely visible, just shifting shadows against the cold stone walls. Then, as they stepped into the dim torchlight, their forms became clearer—an armored dwarf with a massive warhammer resting on her shoulder, and a robed wizard whose staff crackled faintly with latent magic.

Aeliana instinctively tensed, her fingers tightening around the hilt of her blade. More newcomers?

Beside her, Kael, rather than showing caution, was grinning.

“Well, well,” he said, his voice laced with something between amusement and familiarity. “Didn’t think I’d be seeing you down here.”

The dwarf snorted, planting her warhammer into the ground with a resounding thud. “Aye, and I hoped I wouldn’t have to bail your reckless hide out of trouble again, but the gods have a twisted sense of humor.” Her voice was rough yet steady, carrying the weight of experience. Beneath her heavy armor, a thick silver-streaked braid rested against her back, and her sharp green eyes gleamed with both irritation and amusement.

“Ironveil Company,” Kael muttered, shaking his head. “Figures.”

Aeliana arched a brow. Ironveil Company? She had heard the name before—a band of elite mercenaries known for taking on dangerous, often suicidal contracts. Unlike many other sellswords, they had a reputation for integrity, which made them somewhat of an anomaly in the world of mercenary guilds.

The dwarf smirked. “Sylva Ironfist, in case your friends don’t know me yet.” She pounded a gauntleted fist against her chest in a casual but firm gesture of acknowledgment. “And this here,” she jerked a thumb toward the wizard, “is Markus Vaelor, our resident magic-wielding killjoy.”

The wizard sighed, rolling his eyes. “We’re not here for reunions, Sylva.” His voice was smooth and measured, but there was an unmistakable sharpness to it, like a blade hidden beneath silk. He was tall and lean, his dark robes shifting with an otherworldly grace. Wisps of arcane mist curled around his fingers before dissipating into the air, a constant reminder of the magic at his command. His presence was composed, deliberate.

Aeliana studied him carefully. She had seen many mages in her time, but there was something about Markus that set him apart—something restrained, contained, as if he held back a power far greater than what he let on.

“And you are?” she asked, keeping her voice steady.

Markus gave a curt nod. “Markus Vaelor. Arcane scholar, combat mage, and currently the only thing keeping her from charging into trouble headfirst.” He tilted his head toward Sylva.

Sylva let out a bark of laughter. “You wish you could keep up with me, mage.” She tapped her hammer against her palm. “But aye, we’ve got business here, same as you. Word has it there’s something very dangerous lurking in these depths.”

Aeliana’s expression hardened. “Voidspawn. Stronger than usual.”

Markus’s gaze darkened. “That explains the residual magic I’ve been sensing.” He flicked his eyes toward Lirian. “And judging by the unnatural silence just now, I assume you had a hand in making them flee.”

Lirian smiled, crimson eyes glinting. “They were being difficult,” she said sweetly. “I simply corrected them.”

Markus frowned, clearly unsettled by her casual demeanor. Sylva, on the other hand, chuckled. “Hells, I like this one.”

Kael sighed, shaking his head. “So, you’re here for the voidspawn too?”

“We’re here for what’s causing them,” Markus corrected. “Something is drawing them here. Something unnatural.”

Aeliana exchanged a glance with Kael before turning back to them. “Then our goals align. We move forward. If something is drawing the voidspawn, we need to find out what—and fast.”

Markus crossed his arms. “Agreed. But we should proceed carefully. Something about this place feels wrong.”

Aeliana didn’t disagree. The air itself seemed heavier now, pressing against them with every step.

Sylva rolled her shoulders. “Then what are we waiting for?”

As they ventured deeper into the dungeon, the walls became jagged, as though something had clawed at them for centuries. Markus ran a hand along the stone, brows furrowing. “These markings… they weren’t made by natural erosion.”

Kael peered closer. “Then what did make them?”

Markus’s expression darkened. “Something old. And something angry.”

Aeliana exhaled slowly, gripping her weapon tighter. “Then let’s hope it’s not waiting for us up ahead.”

Sylva grinned, adjusting her warhammer. “If it is, we’ll give it a proper greeting.”

The tunnel stretched ahead, dark and uncertain, but one thing was clear—whatever they were about to face, they would face it together.

….

The oppressive air thickened as they ventured deeper into the dungeon, the jagged walls closing in like the maw of some ancient beast. Every footstep echoed ominously, swallowed quickly by the unnatural silence that clung to the cavern. Aeliana kept her grip firm on her sword, scanning the tunnel ahead for any sign of movement.

Kael moved in beside her, his sharp eyes flickering to their new companions. Sylva walked with the solid confidence of a seasoned warrior, her warhammer resting easily in her grip as if it weighed nothing at all. Markus, in contrast, strode with an effortless grace, his robes swaying as faint arcs of energy crackled around his staff.

“Alright,” Kael finally said, breaking the silence. “I know Ironveil has some of the best fighters around, but I don’t recall seeing you before, Sylva.”

Sylva snorted. “That’s because I don’t waste my time making a name for myself like some glory-seeking fools. I joined Ironveil to get the job done, not to be famous.”

Aeliana glanced at her. “Then what led you there? Ironveil doesn’t just take in anyone.”

Sylva smirked, her green eyes glinting. “Oh, now there’s a story.” She hefted her warhammer, running a gauntleted hand along the ancient dwarven engravings. “You see this weapon? It’s called Stonebreaker. A relic passed down in my clan for generations.”

Kael raised an eyebrow. “Looks well-kept for an old relic.”

Sylva chuckled. “That’s because it’s more than just steel and stone—it’s living history.” She gave the weapon a testing swing, the weight shifting effortlessly in her grasp. “Back in my clan, weapons like this are earned, not given. And I had to fight damn hard to prove I was worthy of it.”

Aeliana tilted her head. “What clan?”

“The Ironfist Clan. Smiths, warriors, and stubborn bastards, all of us.” Sylva’s expression turned nostalgic. “We weren’t the biggest clan, nor the richest, but we prided ourselves on our craft and our strength in battle.” She exhaled slowly. “I was born into a long line of warriors, but my father? He was one of the best.”

Markus sighed. “Oh, here we go.”

Sylva shot him a glare but continued. “He wielded Stonebreaker before me. Carried it into countless battles. He taught me everything I know about combat—how to read an opponent, how to adjust my stance, and how to strike where it hurts most.” She grinned. “Most importantly, he taught me to never back down from a fight.”

Kael smirked. “Sounds like a good mentor.”

“He was.” Sylva’s grin faltered for a brief moment. “Until he wasn’t.”

Aeliana caught the shift in her tone. “What happened?”

Sylva’s expression darkened. “War happened.” She tightened her grip on Stonebreaker. “Our clan got caught in a conflict between two human kingdoms. One side wanted our smiths to forge weapons for them, the other wanted us dead so we couldn’t.” Her voice turned bitter. “We chose neither. We weren’t anyone’s pawns.”

Kael frowned. “But that didn’t stop them from attacking you.”

Sylva nodded. “Aye. My father led our warriors into battle, wielding Stonebreaker at the front lines. He fought like a damned legend, holding them back long enough for most of our people to escape. But in the end…” She hesitated, then sighed. “He fell.”

A heavy silence followed. Even Markus, normally sarcastic and detached, remained quiet.

Aeliana finally spoke. “And you took up his weapon.”

Sylva nodded. “Aye. I swore I’d never let anyone take from me what they took from him. I hunted down the bastards who ordered the attack. One by one, I made them pay.” Her voice was cold now, edged with steel. “When it was done, I realized I had no home left to return to. So, I wandered. Fought in mercenary bands, proved myself in every battle I could.”

Kael crossed his arms. “And that’s when Ironveil found you.”

“More like I found them.” Sylva smirked. “They were on a job clearing out a fortress infested with darkspawn. I was already inside, taking care of the problem my way when they showed up. Their leader at the time—big orc by the name of Varok—offered me a place in their ranks. Said I had the right spirit for Ironveil.”

Aeliana raised an eyebrow. “And you accepted?”

“Damn right, I did.” Sylva smacked Stonebreaker against her palm. “Ironveil doesn’t fight for kings or nobles. We take jobs we believe in. We protect people who can’t protect themselves. That’s a cause I can get behind.”

Markus scoffed. “You mean you just like breaking things.”

Sylva grinned. “That too.”

Kael chuckled. “Well, can’t say I don’t respect that.”

Aeliana exhaled, looking ahead. “If that’s the case, then let’s put that strength to use. We have a mission to complete.”

Sylva nodded. “Aye. And if anything’s foolish enough to get in our way, I’ll introduce them to Stonebreaker personally.”

Markus sighed. “Gods help us all.”

The group pressed forward, but now, they did so with a newfound respect for the warrior who had joined them. The weight of her past only made her presence all the more formidable, and Aeliana had no doubt that Sylva Ironfist was a force to be reckoned with.