In the middle of dead trees, a young man stood, carrying a katana in his hand. In front of him, Thorn, his shield held upright. A smirk found itself on his face. The sun shone strongly over both of them. The wind pushed the young man's raven hair.
Val gripped the katana tightly. His mind resounded.
I remember training like this, don't I?
I remember the cold...
White flakes falling from above...
He raised his katana in front of him. Black hilt and silver blade.
I don't know how I have these memories. It's like they're trying to get out.
His eyes were determined in a frown.
This sword was with the people that were killed by Izanami.
I need to train to help them.
Thorn smiled in front, his voice taunting and strong.
"You seem more determined than ever…"
Val nodded.
"Your reflexes are sharp… ever since the first day of this mission."
"Prove to me that you can use that."
Val smirked, a small bead of sweat rolling down his face.
"Come at me."
Thorn gave a small laugh and charged through with his shield. His aura, green and powerful. His steps pushed dirt off the ground. A split second later, he was right in front of Jack. Jack pressed himself against the side of his blade, his teeth grinding.
Damn it...
Lineages are a lot more powerful.
Thorn pushed his shield into the ground, blocking Val's view.
Val stared down.
Roots!
He jumped up slightly, expecting vines to grab his feet. Yet none came. Above him, Thorn had abandoned his shield, leaping forward through it. His right hand still on the shield, both of his legs pointing towards Val. He pushed himself off his shield, hitting Val with both legs and sending him crashing into the ground. Dirt lifted around Val's surroundings.
Val slowly stood up, grabbing his torso. The katana now meters away from him. Thorn willed roots to grab him by his feet. Val's eyes went wide.
He shook.
"You got me…"
Thorn smiled, walking slowly towards Val.
"Yes, I did…"
Now Thorn stood right in front of him, the roots grabbing Val's hands behind his back.
Val gave a small smirk.
"Do you know?"
Thorn crossed his arms, raising one eyebrow.
"Know what?"
Val grabbed a small knife placed in his back pocket, unbeknownst to Thorn, cutting off the roots tied behind his back.
"The cruelty of the wilderness…"
Suddenly, he slashed forward, aiming for Thorn, stopping a second before hitting.
Thorn's eyes went wide, his arms still crossed. Val's mind resounded.
These words... they seem familiar.
What do I know about the wilderness anyway?!
It's what Nichol—
Interrupting his thoughts, Thorn spoke.
"I am impressed. You trained well, Winter."
"These past days, you've become stronger."
"For now, you may be able to face a Daunter head-on."
"At least a small one like the Head of Flames."
A small sweat rolled down Val's face. He retrieved his knife, cutting the roots below.
Thorn clapped slowly.
Val sighed.
"Thank you."
Thorn turned around, going to grab the shield he had left behind.
Val spoke.
"It's not quite motivating though."
"That after all that, I could only take one out…"
Thorn shook his head, still facing the other direction, stopping for a second.
"You know those with lineages are stronger. It doesn't mean you have to face them head-on. Leave that to us."
"Just promise me one thing."
For a second, only the wind could be heard. The atmosphere grew heavier.
"That with this, at least you survive."
"That's why I trained you these couple of days."
"For you to be able to live."
Thorn grabbed his shield and placed it behind his back once again. His posture firm.
Jack grabbed his katana slowly, staring at his reflection within it. His eyes blue and deep. His face pale. He spoke, determined and with will.
"I promise."
Suddenly, the whole floor shuddered, making both of them shiver. The mountain of Dontenslav held high, its structure crumbling lightly. Crows cawed nearby. A red hue began to appear from cracks beneath the gray rock. Above the mountain, far away—a figure of a slender woman with blue eyes, her blond hair fluttering in the wind.
Thorn looked at Val with a wary face.
"Regroup."
Both of them sprinted towards the camp. Val's face filled with worry.
Izanami… what are you...
I have to stop you. You are not taking anyone away!
Not this time...
They ran towards the camp. Kyle, Phes, and Indra were already outside, staring above at Dontenslav. Val and Thorn's faces filled with worry.
Kyle broke the silence, tension rising.
"They will emerge."
"And a lot more of them…"
A sweat fell down Indra's face.
Mist began appearing on the borders of Dontenslav like waves of water. Small speckles of red hue appearing from within the mist. Kyle shouted,
"Everyone, grab everything you need—we need shelter!"
A cave is our best shot…
Although the drawbacks are strong…
He gazed at the group.
I trust in them too.
Val stared, his hand shaking slightly.
"Shelter where?"
Kyle stared at him fiercely.
"Inside the mountain."
Indra stuttered.
"What about the horse?"
Kyle looked the other way, evading her eyes.
"Leave it."
Indra hesitated for a second. Phes and Thorn were already going and grabbing essentials. Val and Indra joined.
Everyone gathered everything and departed on foot. The ground shaking, more mist covering the sides of Dontenslav. The mountain of the dead. The earth beneath them slightly cracked. Far away, between rocks, there was an entrance to a cave.
Night began to fall, the trees more ominous than ever. Mysterious sounds echoed in the mist. Val took each step hurriedly next to Kyle, entering the darkness of the refuge. Phes turned her missing hand into a hand of red flames, illuminating slightly around them—enough for them to watch their step.
His mind puzzled.
These are scratches...?
The dim light revealed small marks, intertwined with one another.
All of them entered deep within the cave. The sound of outside now shut off. Thorn lowered some logs brought for them to see within the cave. They didn't reach an end, just far enough for the outside light not to reach them any longer. Away from the mist.
Kyle spoke softly.
"This must be it…"
"We'll rest here."
"Me and Thorn will take night watch."
Phes nodded and lit the logs placed by Thorn, her hand making them burn. Light now spread in the surroundings.
Suddenly, a small rustle spread through the ground, the walls of the narrow cave now visible.
Val stared blankly at the walls.
They aren't scratches…
These are symbols.
Kyle stared, his eyes wide. His hand slightly twitching.
They were symbols of…
Kyle spoke, slightly nervous.
"Netherfall."
Each symbol was a rune, similar to the ones in the armor from before. Although not the same. All of them seemed to be carved with another rock, each one on top of another. Kyle stared at the other side of the cave, toward the inside. Symbols as far as the eye could see.
Indra spoke behind,
"It's just like that armor, Kyle…"
Kyle nodded.
He approached the wall slowly, touching it with his bare hand. He grabbed a shard of armor from his pocket, shattered with red hue.
He brought it close to the wall—and suddenly, the runes began to shine around the armor. Dim, but enough to light up Kyle's face.
He stared for a second, then looked down in horror. A small rock underneath was shaking on its own.
"It's here…"
A small silence followed.
"The entrance."
Everyone froze, their faces pale.
Val spoke, his voice low with a hint of nervousness.
"Shouldn't we leave?"
Kyle stared at him with a determined gaze, his legs still slightly twitching. His voice, though confident.
"It's okay."
"It's where she least expects us to be."
"I have a plan."
"Since we couldn't reach the city before…"
"We have to stop it before…"
"She makes this land her own."
Phes interrupted.
"Damn it! Then the rustles—are they just because of outside?"
"If this is the entrance, shouldn't we get out from here?!"
She stared into the darkness.
Kyle gritted his teeth.
"Outside, the mist was spreading throughout."
"This won't be their only entrance."
"It's better to face some and catch them off guard…"
"Than to foolishly try to stop them all outside."
Phes crossed her arms, nodding hesitantly.
Suddenly, the atmosphere grew darker. The flames from the logs flickered frantically.
All of them stared into the cave. A roar—beastly and strong—echoed as if it were rushing toward them. Far away, a light flew with the roar, making the runes light up in sequence, passing through them until the exit of the cave.
Like the roar of a hungry wolf hunting its prey.
Everyone froze.
Thorn spoke, his eyes and tone determined and indifferent, drawing his wooden shield.
"Or it's the entrance for something even worse…"
Kyle took out his artifacts quickly. Val drew his katana. Indra gripped her wand even tighter. Phes's eyes shone red—all of them standing on guard.
Kyle muttered.
"Be ready."
Val gripped his katana tightly, his eyes determined.
I need to stop that woman. Death won't be the only thing following you anymore, Izanami.