Veil Of Stars: Fragments of Time

The flames licked hungrily at the wooden box, consuming it entirely within moments. Aron watched intently, his breath held as the remains of Victor Thornhill burned. The fire crackled, spitting embers into the night sky, but the oppressive weight in the air didn't lift.

Something was wrong.

"I don't feel any different," Zane whispered, glancing nervously at the others.

"Neither do I," Livia said, her voice tight with unease. She turned toward the mansion, her gaze searching the looming structure as if expecting it to change. "Why isn't anything happening?"

Zander's eyes narrowed, his hand gripping the hilt of his knife. "Stay alert."

The faint, bone-chilling wail that had accompanied Thornhill's appearances grew louder, echoing through the garden. Aron felt a sharp pang of dread as the air around them grew colder.

"He's still here," Zane said, his voice trembling. "Why is he still here?"

The wailing coalesced into a deafening roar as Thornhill's spirit appeared, larger and more monstrous than before. His glowing eyes burned with fury as his voice boomed across the garden.

"You think you can destroy me so easily?" he snarled, his form pulsating with raw energy. "You burn my bones, but you cannot burn my rage. I am eternal, bound to this place, and you will never escape!"

A translucent wave of force surged from Thornhill's form, slamming into the group like a shockwave. A shimmering barrier appeared just in time, shielding them from the full brunt of the attack.

Mirka, her expression grim, stood at the center of the group with her hands outstretched. A faint golden glow surrounded her, the barrier rippling as Thornhill's attack struck it repeatedly.

"Shield magic," Zander said, his voice steady despite the chaos.

"Don't thank me yet," Mirka growled through gritted teeth. "This isn't going to hold forever."

Aron's mind raced as Thornhill's words echoed in his head. "I am eternal, bound to this place..." He turned toward the mansion, its dark, towering form looming against the night sky.

"It's the mansion," Aron said suddenly, his voice cutting through the tension.

"What?" Livia asked, her gaze snapping to him.

"The mansion is the problem," Aron explained, his thoughts clicking into place. "His spirit isn't bound to his body—it's bound to this place. This mansion is his true body."

Zander's eyes narrowed as he considered Aron's words. "That's why burning the bones didn't work. It wasn't enough."

Livia's expression hardened. "Then we burn the mansion."

"Easier said than done," Zane muttered, his eyes darting nervously between Thornhill and the mansion.

"We don't have much time," Aron said, glancing at the barrier that was already beginning to flicker under Thornhill's relentless assault. "If we're going to do this, we need to act fast."

Zander nodded. "What's the plan?"

"We split up," Aron said, his voice firm despite the pounding of his heart. "Zane and Zander, you keep Thornhill busy. Distract him, buy us as much time as you can."

"And the rest of us?" Livia asked.

Aron's gaze shifted to the mansion. "We set it on fire. From the inside. We'll need to target the structural supports—anything that will make it burn faster."

Livia winced as she adjusted her injured side but nodded. "I can use my powers to weaken the mansion's foundation. It'll make it easier to collapse."

Mirka, still maintaining the barrier, let out a bitter laugh. "And what about the guests? We're supposed to protect them, remember?"

Aron's expression hardened. "We keep them in the garden, as far from the mansion as possible. Once the fire starts, it's going to spread fast."

Zander looked at Aron suddenly, "Be careful."

Aron was startled by the sudden words but then he realized that both he and Livia were injured, and they needed to be careful. 

"We will be, don't worry."

Zander and Zane charged toward Thornhill's spirit, their movements precise and coordinated.

"Over here, you overgrown shadow!" Zane shouted, his voice trembling but defiant. He picked up a loose rock and hurled it at Thornhill, the projectile passing harmlessly through the apparition but drawing its attention.

"You dare mock me?" Thornhill roared, surging toward them with terrifying speed.

Zander intercepted, his knife flashing as he struck at the spirit. The blade disrupted Thornhill's form, forcing him to pause and reform.

"Keep moving!" Zander barked, leading Thornhill in a wide arc away from the mansion.

Aron and Livia entered the mansion, the darkness inside feeling heavier than ever. The once-opulent halls now seemed twisted, the walls almost pulsing as if alive.

"We don't have much time," Aron said, his flashlight cutting through the gloom. "Start with the dining hall. The tables and chairs should burn easily."

Livia nodded, summoning a stream of water from a nearby vase. Instead of extinguishing the fire, she focused her energy, sharpening the water into razor-like blades that sliced through the wooden beams supporting the walls.

"This should make it collapse faster," she said, her voice strained.

Aron moved quickly, piling flammable materials in the center of the room. His mind worked furiously, cataloging every weak point in the mansion he had observed during their investigation.

"The kitchen," he said suddenly. "There's oil stored there. If we can ignite it, it'll spread through the house like wildfire."

Livia's eyes widened. "That's risky. We'll barely have time to get out."

"We don't have a choice," Aron replied.

Outside, Zander and Zane continued their desperate fight to keep Thornhill distracted. The spirit's attacks were growing more violent, each strike shaking the ground and sending shockwaves through the air.

"You can't win!" Thornhill snarled, his form swelling with dark energy. "You think fire can destroy me? I am this mansion. I am eternal!"

"Keep talking," Zander said, his voice calm despite the chaos. "Makes it easier to hit you."

Zane let out a nervous laugh as he dodged another attack. "Easy for you to say. I'm not exactly built for this!"

"You're doing fine," Zander said, his knife flashing as he struck again. "Just stay alive."

In the kitchen, Aron and Livia worked quickly, dousing the room with oil and piling flammable materials near the stove. Aron struck a match, the small flame dancing in the dark.

"Once we light this, we run," he said.

Livia nodded, her face pale but determined. "Do it."

Aron dropped the match, and the fire caught instantly, flames spreading across the floor and climbing the walls. The heat was intense, forcing them to retreat as the fire roared to life.

The fire spread quickly, consuming the mansion with terrifying speed. Aron and Livia stumbled out into the garden, the heat at their backs as the flames engulfed the structure.

Thornhill's spirit let out an ear-piercing wail, his form flickering wildly as the mansion burned.

"No!" he screamed, his voice filled with rage and despair. "You cannot destroy me! I am eternal!"

But his form began to dissolve, the connection to his anchor severed.

"It's working!" Zane shouted, his face alight with hope.

Thornhill's final roar echoed into silence as his form dissipated completely. The mansion collapsed in on itself, the flames consuming everything.

The once-menacing mansion was now a smoldering ruin, its ashes scattered by the faint night breeze. Aron, Zander, Zane, and Livia stood with the remaining guests, their faces illuminated by the dying embers. The silence was broken by a soft chime, followed by the familiar, mechanical voice of the System.

"Congratulations, Players. You have successfully completed this dungeon."

The tension in the air eased slightly, but no one relaxed completely.

"Mystery Solved: Victor Thornhill's vengeance was neutralized. Objective Complete: Five guests were successfully protected. Reward: Access to main city teleportation and customization options."

A timer appeared in glowing text before them:

Time to Teleport: 00:01:00

The announcement should have brought comfort, but Aron's mind raced with unresolved thoughts. He turned to Zander, his sharp eyes scanning the area.

"Did you see the butler?" Aron asked suddenly.

Zander paused, his hand resting on the hilt of his knife. His brow furrowed as he considered the question. "No. Not since before the fire started."

Aron's jaw tightened. "He wasn't with the guests during the attack, and I didn't see him when we were inside the mansion."

"That's not like him," Zander said quietly. "He was always... present."

The two exchanged a glance, their unspoken suspicions simmering between them.

"Hey, you two!" Zane's voice broke through their thoughts. He jogged over, his face still pale from the ordeal but his energy unrelenting. Livia followed more slowly, leaning slightly on Zane for support.

"The System said we're getting teleported soon," Zane said. "Do you know how this works?"

"Not really," Aron admitted.

"It's simple," Livia said, brushing a strand of pink hair from her face. "The System gives you a choice of nine regions. Each region has its own challenges, resources, and population. We're in the 5th Region—Sun City. It's one of the bigger hubs."

Zane grinned. "If you're coming to Sun City, we could show you around. Livia and I know the place pretty well."

"Why would you do that?" Zander asked, his tone measured.

Livia smirked. "Let's just say we've seen enough new players get chewed up by the System. Besides, you two aren't half bad."

Zane nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah! And trust me, Sun City's got its quirks. You'll want someone who knows the ropes."

Aron hesitated, exchanging a glance with Zander. Despite his suspicions about the butler and the lingering mysteries, the offer was tempting.

"We'll think about it," Aron said finally.

"Better decide fast," Livia replied, gesturing to the timer, which now read: 00:00:20.

The group shared a moment of quiet as the timer counted down. Zane offered Aron and Zander a bright smile. "Wherever you end up, good luck. Maybe we'll see you around."

When the timer reached zero, the world around Aron dissolved into a shimmering void. The sensation was disorienting, like being caught in a wave of static electricity. He blinked, and the next thing he knew, he was standing in a vast, empty subspace.

The ground beneath him was an endless expanse of smooth, reflective material, and the sky above was a swirling mix of colors.

"Choose Your Destination."

The System's voice resonated through the space, and nine glowing orbs appeared before him, each representing a different region.

Aron approached the orbs, his gaze lingering on the one labeled 5th Region: Sun City. He could almost hear Zane's enthusiastic pitch and see Livia's smirk. They had been helpful—and decent people, considering the chaos they had all just survived.

"I'll see what Sun City has to offer," Aron murmured, reaching out to touch the orb.

The moment his fingers connected with the glowing surface, the subspace pulsed with light. The System's voice returned:

"Confirmed: Region 5th—Sun City. Teleportation initiating."

In another subspace, Zander stood with his arms crossed, his sharp gaze fixed on the glowing orbs. The 5th Region orb pulsed faintly, its golden hue drawing his attention.

Sun City.

Zander thought back to Zane and Livia's offer, to their camaraderie during the dungeon. Despite their quirks, they had proven themselves trustworthy. And Aron...

Zander shook his head. Something about Aron intrigued him—his intellect, his calm under pressure. The man had a way of seeing things others missed.

Zander reached out, his fingers brushing the glowing surface of the orb.

"Confirmed: Region 5th—Sun City. Teleportation initiating."