Chapter 42: What Is Not Said

The last seven days on the thirteenth floor had not been idle.
They had learned, trained, and searched with the same steady patience that had brought them this far. The rhythm had settled into something natural now—Aerin handling the front when needed, Mira managing herbs and supplies with growing precision, and Kael watching everything, guiding without needing to speak much.
But there was something else on this floor.
Something that didn’t belong to routine.

The investigators.

They were easy to recognize once you paid attention. Their movements were sharper, more deliberate, their paths less random. They didn’t gather herbs like the others, didn’t linger in safe areas. They moved with purpose, scanning, observing, occasionally splitting into smaller groups before regrouping again.
They were looking for something.
Or someone.

Kael noticed them from the first day.
And chose not to approach.

Not because she wasn’t curious.
But because she didn’t trust what she would hear.

If there was nothing—
She didn’t want it confirmed.

So she waited.

Days passed like that.
Watching them from a distance.
Avoiding unnecessary interaction.

Until—
They crossed paths.

It wasn’t planned.
Not on Kael’s side.

The team approached from the opposite direction as Kael and her group were moving through a narrow stretch between herb clusters. There were seven of them—well-equipped, composed, and clearly stronger than most climbers they had seen so far.
At the center stood someone who didn’t need to speak to be recognized as the leader.

A royal guard.

Not just by armor or weapon—but by presence.

Kael didn’t stop walking.
But neither did they.

Until they were close enough that ignoring each other would be deliberate.

One of the members let out a short laugh under his breath. “So this is the ‘Snail’ team everyone’s been talking about.”

Another added, more openly, “Didn’t expect them to make it this far.”

Mira’s eyes narrowed immediately.

But before she could speak—
The leader looked at them.

That was all it took.

Silence fell.

No order.
No words.

Just a look.

The others stepped back into place, their expressions neutral again.

Kael noticed that.

And didn’t comment.

Mira, however, didn’t let it pass.

“Still talking about others instead of doing your own work?” she said, her tone sharp but controlled. “Guess rank doesn’t fix everything.”

Aerin shifted slightly, glancing between both sides, but didn’t interrupt.

And for once—
Kael didn’t stop Mira.

The leader’s gaze moved to Mira briefly, then back to Kael.

He didn’t react to the words.
But he didn’t dismiss them either.

They stood there for a moment longer.

Then the team began to move again.

That’s when Kael spoke.

“Are you investigating the missing climbers?”

Her voice wasn’t loud.
But it carried.

The leader stopped.

He turned his head slightly, his gaze settling on her again.

He didn’t answer.

So she spoke again.

“I’m asking as a climber,” she said, her tone steady, firm. “I have the right to know.”

There was a pause.

Then—
He answered.

“Yes.”

Simple.
Direct.

Kael didn’t hesitate this time.

“What about Riven?” she asked. “Have you found anything? Any trace? Is he on a higher floor or—”

She stopped herself.

Not because she wanted to.
But because she realized—

She had said too much.

More than she usually did.

More than she allowed herself to.

But she didn’t take it back.

The leader watched her for a moment longer this time.

“Why are you asking about him?” he asked. “Are you family?”

The word lingered.

Kael’s answer didn’t come immediately.

She could have said no.
She could have dismissed it.

But—

“I am…” she began.
Then paused.

The word felt unfamiliar.
Unnecessary.

And yet—

She didn’t avoid it.

“He is my friend.”

It sounded different when she said it.

Not forced.
Not weak.

Just… true.

Mira went quiet.

Aerin looked at her briefly, something close to relief settling in his expression.

Because she said it.

Out loud.

The leader didn’t react immediately.

But something in his gaze shifted.

Just slightly.

Then he turned.

“No,” he said. “We don’t have information.”

He took a step forward.

“Our focus is on Tarin,” he added. “But we are searching for the other missing climber as well.”

Kael’s eyes didn’t leave him.

“Nothing from higher floors?” she asked.

He didn’t stop walking this time.

“We are not investigating beyond this floor yet.”

That was it.

No reassurance.
No explanation.

Just facts.

And then—
They were gone.

The silence they left behind felt heavier than before.

Kael didn’t look at Aerin.
Didn’t look at Mira.

Instead—
She turned.

Toward the next path.

Toward the fourteenth floor.

“We’re moving up,” she said.

Her voice was calm.
But there was something else beneath it now.

“I believe he’s above.”

She paused for half a second.

“He’s strong,” she continued. “These floors wouldn’t stop him.”

It wasn’t a guess.

It was belief.

And that—
Was new.

She started walking.

Mira and Aerin stayed still for a moment longer.

Then looked at each other.

No words.

Just understanding.

And then—
They followed.

Because whatever waited above—
They were no longer just climbing for themselves.

End of Chapter 42