Aki crouched inside the tunnel, scraping at the clay with her rock. She had dug far enough that light could no longer travel down the passageway from her cell, so she groped at the earth and worked in pitch black. Her fingertips were raw, her nails filed down by the rocks and caked with mud. The burns on her face continued to hurt. And she was haunted by her brother’s cruelty.

But ironically, the pain and sadness made her stronger. She was the empress, responsible to her people, in service to Sola. Aki would endure whatever Gin threw her way yet continue to fight for Kichona.

So she kept digging.

Of course, she still had doubts. There was no way to confirm she was going in the right direction. What if she was just digging deeper into these godsforsaken caves? Or what if she did make her way out—what would she do? Where would she go from there? It’s not like she could outrun the ryuu once Gin discovered she was gone.

But then she heard it. The ocean through the rocks.

It was faint but unmistakable, the rhythmic slamming of the waves against stone. Aki cried out in relief and cast aside her worries about what she’d do once she escaped. Instead, she began digging anew toward the sound, albeit slightly upward. She didn’t want to tunnel straight into the sea.

Now the pounding of the waves motivated her like the Society of Taigas’ drums, big barreled things made of wine casks and pummeled with sticks as wide as a man’s fists. With each beat, Aki heard Luna urging her on, as if she were one of the goddess’s taiga warriors, unflinchingly brave and strong.

I’m a fighter, Aki told herself. She’d clashed with her brother before during the Blood Rift and prevailed. She could do it again, no matter how weak she was or how much Gin tortured her.

The ocean beat louder. Aki dug harder, scooping out chunks instead of just scraping.

When I get out of here, I’m not going to simply run away.

I will stand against Gin. I will save my people and my kingdom.

She couldn’t do it alone, though. But who could she turn to? The League of Rogues hadn’t come to rescue her. Perhaps they were already captured and part of the ryuu army. Or dead.

Aki let out a whimper. She stopped digging and leaned against the damp tunnel wall for support.

She remembered what Fairy had said about disguising herself as the empress to walk into a trap, that it would be an honor to do it, even if it meant Fairy’s own death. But the taigas’ pride and loyalty were inadequate consolation for Aki.

However, she also recalled something else Fairy had said to her in that same conversation: “You must stay alive if Kichona is to survive.”