LEVEL EVERYTHING UP in my Eldritch Tribe

Lyerin tightened his grip slightly around Yasira's throat, watching her wince in pain.

He could see the blood trickling from her severed arms, pooling beneath her, and her face was contorted in agony, but she still managed a twisted smile, her defiance not yet fully broken.

Lyerin stared at her for a moment, his expression unreadable. And then, out of nowhere, he burst into laughter.

It wasn't the kind of laugh that would ease tension—it was dark and mocking, filled with a sinister amusement that sent chills down Yasira's spine.

She tried to mask her fear, glaring at him through her bloodshot eyes, but Lyerin's laughter only grew louder.

"Ah, Yasira," Lyerin said, catching his breath, still chuckling as he looked down at her.

"You really thought I was serious, didn't you? About all of it—the tribe, the Asura, the threats."

He leaned in closer, his face inches from hers.

"You should have seen the look on your face! You actually believed I would be so… predictable."

Yasira's eyes narrowed, filled with a mixture of hatred and doubt. "What are you talking about?" she spat, her voice weak but defiant.

"Oh, don't be so angry," Lyerin teased, loosening his grip slightly to let her breathe, but still keeping her restrained.

"I was just having a little fun. You know, you really should learn to relax. Being so serious all the time—it'll give you wrinkles." He laughed again, reveling in her discomfort.

Yasira tried to jerk away from him, but she was too weak.

The loss of blood and the pain from her severed arms were starting to take their toll.

She gritted her teeth, trying to maintain her composure, but every time Lyerin's mocking gaze met hers, she felt a flicker of doubt.

What was he planning?

Why was he tormenting her like this?

"Calm down, Yasira," Lyerin cooed, his voice suddenly soft and soothing, but it was laced with insincerity.

"I'm not going to hurt you anymore… unless you give me a reason to."

He grinned at her, watching the uncertainty flicker across her face. "I'm just trying to have a conversation here. After all, we're both intelligent beings, aren't we?"

Yasira's lips twitched with disgust, but she remained silent, her eyes still filled with loathing.

"What? No response?"

Lyerin feigned disappointment.

"Come now, Yasira, you're better than this. Surely you can muster up more than just a glare." He released her throat, letting her fall to the ground in a crumpled heap. She gasped for breath, her body trembling from the strain.

Lyerin crouched down beside her, his expression shifting from amusement to something more serious.

"You know, I've been thinking… if I were in your shoes, I'd probably be a little more cooperative. After all, we both know what happens to people who cross the Asura, don't we?"

Yasira glared at him through her pain, her voice hoarse as she spat, "You'll never get your tribe back. They're gone, Lyerin. You'll never find them."

Lyerin smiled at her, his eyes gleaming with a dangerous light. "Oh, but that's where you're wrong, Yasira." He leaned in close to her, his breath warm against her ear. "I know where they've taken them."

Her eyes widened slightly, the fear in them unmistakable.

"Shall I tell you?" he whispered, his voice low and conspiratorial.

"I've been thinking about it. I've been piecing it together. You Asura have certain patterns, certain places you hide things. And my tribe? They're far too valuable to be thrown away carelessly."

He paused, watching the flicker of doubt in her eyes grow stronger.

"Let me guess… the first place you would take them… the only place that makes sense to start."

He chuckled darkly, his voice dropping to a whisper again.

"The Sargasso Rift. That's where you'd hide them, isn't it?"

Yasira blinked in surprise, her body tensing at the name. Lyerin could see it in her eyes—he was on to something. But then, after a moment, he shook his head and sighed, dismissing the idea with a wave of his hand.

"No, no. That can't be right. Too obvious. The Rift is too well-guarded by your kind. You wouldn't risk putting something as important as my tribe there."

Yasira's expression hardened, but Lyerin could see the fear beginning to take root. He was getting closer.

"Let me think…" Lyerin's voice trailed off as he stood up and began to pace in front of her, his mind racing with possibilities. "If not the Rift, then where? Where would the Asura hide something they didn't want anyone to find?"

He stopped suddenly, snapping his fingers as if an idea had just struck him.

"The Catacombs of Qishnara! Yes, that makes sense. Remote, nearly impossible to navigate, and filled with ancient traps that would kill anyone foolish enough to enter."

He grinned at Yasira, his eyes gleaming with triumph.

"You took them there, didn't you?"

But as soon as he said it, Lyerin shook his head again, dismissing the idea just as quickly as he'd suggested it.

"No, no. Too dangerous. Even the Asura wouldn't risk it. They're valuable to you, after all. You wouldn't want them dying before you had the chance to use them."

Yasira's breathing grew heavier, her eyes darting back and forth as she tried to make sense of what Lyerin was doing.

Was he playing with her?

Was he really figuring it out?

Or was this just another one of his twisted games?

Lyerin laughed softly, crouching down beside her again, his face close to hers once more.

"You know, it's funny," he said, his voice low and almost tender. "I've gone over this a thousand times in my head. And every time, I come to the same conclusion."

He paused for effect, watching the terror grow in her eyes.

"There's only one place you could have taken them. Only one place that makes sense."

He leaned in even closer, his lips brushing against her ear as he whispered the name of a location.

Yasira's eyes went wide with horror.

She gasped, her body going rigid as the realization of what he had said hit her.

Lyerin stepped back, a satisfied smirk spreading across his face as he watched her reaction.

"Ah, so I was right," he said softly, his voice filled with dark amusement. "You really did take them there."

Yasira stared at him, her face pale and her body trembling. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. The terror in her eyes was unmistakable.

Lyerin stood up, towering over her, his smile growing wider. "You see, Yasira," he said, his voice filled with cold confidence. "You can't hide anything from me. No matter how hard you try, I'll always find out the truth."

Yasira's breath came in short, panicked gasps as she stared up at him, her mind racing. How had he known? How had he figured it out?

Lyerin bent down once more, his eyes gleaming with cruel satisfaction as he whispered, "Now, let's see if your precious Asura can protect you from me."

With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Yasira trembling in fear, her mind reeling from the revelation.

She knew, deep down, that Lyerin would stop at nothing to get his tribe back. And now, he knew where to find them.