The leaves crunched under the heavy boots as the group quietly through the bare woodland. The desolate atmosphere surrounded them, making them feel tense as they traveled. Damp air brushed their skin and seeped into their clothes, making them sweat more. The physical discomfort bothered them significantly. However, they worried more about the watchful beasts prowling about in the distance. Although the monsters remained away from their sight, the n could sense their growing desperation and imnse hunger.
But why haven't they attacked yet?
Cerulean eyes assessed each of the n, observing the moving shadows among the trees and rocks. Ghana let the n pass by her, making sure each of them makes it across the gorge. She glanced at Lord Emlen, who led the way ahead, occasionally checking his compass and pocket watch.
It's already been three days since they left Falowright. Ghana made sure to keep count for the dark skies made it difficult to tell morning from afternoon. However, that was already a common detail since the Kron's invasion. What bothered Ghana and the n was the lack of malibreed encounters throughout the three-day journey.
During the first day, the team walked with caution, assessing their surroundings whenever they could. The bellowing sounds in the darkness increased their wariness. Their hands rarely left the hilt of their weapons. Fortunately, the day passed with no casualties. On the second day, they remained wary of their surroundings while fixing up a makeshift bridge made out of trees to cross the gorge. They were already ready to face the monsters lurking behind the rocks.
But there were no attacks...
Today, they encountered a group of large, malford lizards, eyeless and clinging to the dark, withered barks of gigantic trees. Surrounded, they drew their weapons, ready for bloodshed. But monts passed, and instead of using their long, grotesque tongues to pluck these hapless humans from the ground, the malibreeds inched away, climbing further up the trees. Ghana took advantage and led the n to escape.
No casualties...
"We were just lucky..." She heard the warriors walking before her whisper between themselves.
"The gods are watching over us..."
"Fool, they're still following us..."
"Perhaps... It's the Lynari's blessing-"
"Don't get distracted." Ghana scolded with narrowed eyes. The n silenced themselves and hurriedly scanned the area around them.
Ahead, Emlen opened a notebook, marking the areas they had crossed. Most of the ti, the lands would alter as though it was a living being trying to entrap prey. Emlen had spent almost a decade studying Corhan's terrain. However, as the Kron's influence grew, the more mysterious and dangerous the land beca.
He drew an 'x' over the gorge's location on the notebook and hid it in the secured pocket of his jacket. It won't take long to reach the river now. He tugged on his collar in discomfort. Sweat had begun to form on his skin. He sighed helplessly.
The murmurs behind him grew more coherent. Emlen shared the sa thoughts with them, for the abnormality grew into sothing too hard to ignore. But unlike them, Emlen already knew the reason behind it.
Not long after, a voice spoke. "I see it!"
Emlen and the other stopped, barely reaching the top of the hill. Already? He felt a sense of apprehension. The warrior made way for him, and the sight instantly convinced him.
"Isn't that a relief? Let's rest here for a bit." Ghana appeared by his side, clapping his shoulder.
Confusion filled Lord Emlen's face even until they approached the river. His strangeness didn't escape the n's keen gazes. What's wrong with him? Was there sothing wrong with the location? However, they were too tired to investigate. They settled themselves under the wide shade of a tree before Ghana neared Emlen in suspicion.
"Is there sothing wrong? You are acting strangely." Ghana spoke in a low voice. She had already noticed how he went around the site, staring at the water, touching the ground, and feeling the air.
Emlen turned to look at her. "Everything is wrong. The temperature... is not right."
"How is it not right? We-" Ghana abruptly paused, pondering over the master's words. She glanced at the n, where a couple of them began taking off their dark armor. Their necks dribbled with sweat.
Wariness filled her eyes, "Weren't we heading north?"
"We are," Emlen replied, snapping his compass shut. He crouched near the riverbank and dipped his hand in the water. The water was warm, like the expensive baths Falowright's castle offers to nobles, instead of the nearly freezing temperature Emlen had previously predicted. The north had always been cold.
They were on the right path, but it seed the land had shifted. This ti, he was less confident of the journey.
Ghana shared his worries and went to brief the n. Worried looks were exchanged but as long as they stay vigilant, hopefully, they will encounter lesser risks.
Before sunset, the group gathered to enchant their arcan amulets together. Half of the n stand to guard while the other half begin to enchant with their pendants in their grasp. Every day, they were required to enchant the relic flawlessly to ensure their safety. Although most of them still doubted the use of these new artifacts. Using mana in the middle of the wasteland was akin to summoning death. Malibreeds of all kinds would co and devour one whole.
Surprisingly during the last two days, nothing happened to them.
When the last man finished, Ghana ordered a few to assess the area while they set up camp. Nothing too complicated, simple enough for them to flee if sothing big occurs.
Two sentinels glanced at Ghana's prominent figure. They settled beside the river once they made sure the surrounding area was safe.
"What is this made of?" The man with brown hair took off the pendant, examining it in his grasp.
His friend's eyes widened, "What are you doing? Put it on lest you provoke the lady's wrath."
"Settle down. I was just taking a look at it." The brown-haired man tossed the relic up and down in his hand, feeling its weight. His friend turned grim. It had the sentinel laughing. "The Lynari has been working hard. It's useful and-"
Plop!
All of a sudden, the pendant fell into the water before their eyes.
Both of them cursed before wading into the water, reaching for it before it drifted away. Fortunately, the man's friend was faster and caught it. Drenched and exhausted, he turned to the brown-haired warrior with a relieved expression. "Caught it."
"What are you to doing?!" Ghana shouted. Her blue eyes burned in fury. "Get ashore!"
Both of the n stiffened. "Y-Yes, ma'a-"
Whoosh!
Blood splattered onto the clear water. What followed was a deafening cry.
The sentinel watched as a thick, dark tree root pierced his friend's stomach. The brown-haired man coughed up blood as the root began drilling its barbed tendril further into his insides. In the next instant, the root slashed sideways, slicing the rest of the man's side.
With a splash, the river was dyed red.
"Malibreed!" One of the n shouted pointing at the large tree they were currently taking shelter under. Snapping out of their trance, the warriors surrounded the tree. Before their eyes, the tree uprooted itself, hundreds of toxic roots bursting from the ground.
While the rest took care of the malibreed, Ghana hurriedly dragged the injured Scepter sentinel ashore, snatching the pendant from the sentinel's frightened friend. When the pendant returned to the dying owner, it glowed faintly, releasing pure mana to blanket the man's body like a protective shield. It vanquished the toxin in less than a second.
Astonished, Ghana and the man's friend stared. However, the wound wasn't closing. Blood flowed freely like spilled wine, rging with the river water nearby, attracting several beasts.
"I can't believe I have to use this..." Clenching her jaw, she took out the Frost shard relic and crushed it above the wound. A brief magic fern-shaped snowflake forms in the air before the bloodied hole and disintegrates.
The brown-haired man tossed his head back, muffling a scream. Scorching pain flared from the cut, akin to the feeling of one playing his insides bloody, rearranging his guts. However, before Ghana's eyes, it was a miracle. The life-threatening wound stitched itself together, grotesquely nding flesh. The sight was sickening.
A minute later, the malibreed tree was reduced to ashes. Emlen flicked cinders from his fingers before turning to the n, who were all sweating and alive. He hurried towards Ghana, "The man?"
Ghana blinked and turned Emlen, giving him the full sight of the 'injury.' Being nearly cut in half, there was little to no survival. Emlen heaved, expecting to witness a man on his last breath, dying of blood loss and the Kron's corruption. Only... none of it happened.
The brown-haired man was perfectly fine with a sweaty and bloodless face, eyes wide in disbelief and pain. His torn, bloodied shirt was evidence of the deadly wound. But the healthy, nearly pink skin beneath showed none of it.
The n gathered, shock and fear shown on their faces.
Unable to gather his thoughts, Emlen swallowed.
He glanced at Ghana, who spoke unhurriedly, "The Frost shard..."
"..." Emlen's heart raced. The abrupt use of the relic ant it released so mana into the air.
Warily, his gaze snapped to their surroundings, and he witnessed a few shadows moving among the trees. Dark loathing beasts, eyeing them from afar. However, they refused to take another step closer as though sothing had terrified them, cowardly drooling in hiding.
This...
"It's the Lynari's blessing!" One warrior declared, fixated on their comrade's healed body.
"The Lynari's gifts... "
"Our savior!"
The n thumped their chests, almost in salute. Their eyes were scorching with passion, loyalty ever growing. Now, they truly believe in their savior's ambition and heart.
The journey across malibreed and demon-infested lands seed not too intimidating anymore.
Emlen watched these n move with passion, declaring land believing. He, too, felt overwheld with relief and emotions. However, he wondered what consequences his little brother had to pay to wield such divine miracles and defy death.
.....
Faraway, a certain silver-haired youth gazed at the window thoughtfully. His captivating silver eyes calmly peered past the glass panes. A delicate snowflake fluttered above his palm.
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