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Chapter Three

On the dawn of the next day, any light that penetrates through the clouds illuminates the environment, and the Dragonkin is the first to exit his tent. When Ashereth, Lyera, Rakiri, and Takasato leave theirs, they ingest a quick breakfast consisting of only bland slop. The loss of their two companions dampens their mood, compounding on the insipid taste. Lyera conjures water to douse any sources of heat in the campfire, and they bid Eylewene and Mojraska their final farewell in a funeral before they resume their travels. Their melancholic mood lingers throughout their journey, leaving the only sources of sound are their horses trotting on the ground and the landscape.

No matter how far the party members travel, foreboding mountain ranges never leave their sight as they enter multiple valleys. The hollow they're currently in spans across a vast area more extensive than the previous depressions and similar in size to where Elyewene and Mojraska lay dead. Among the ash-covered ground is a pattern resembling a lava flow originating from the lone mountain that towers over the cordillera with a vertical fissure and a manmade opening on the visible side. Instead of new life forming from the lava remains as usual in the rest of the world, nothing cultivates in the desolate landscape; any flora visible is barren of leaves and edible parts.

On the left side of the valley, a forsaken, circular city stands as a relic of an extinct civilization. From the heights of the spires comprising the vast majority of buildings, there are four zones to the metropolis, and from the outer district inwards, the towers increase their altitude. The tallest is the massive edifice in the center, and every single square inch that can contain a pointy top has one. Ignoring its tantalizing call for exploration, the riders continue on their current path.

After crossing the wasteland, the party encounters a hindrance first by the insalubrious, malodorous odor, and the members cover their nose and mouth for safety, and in disgust. The source of the aroma comes into their view as they crest a mound. In their sight is a field of tiny geysers that frequently release fumes and often erupts boiling water and steam. A solitary tree smolders, but remains intact and shows zero signs of ash. Several skeletal remains of unfortunate creatures in craters prove there are more hazards than the poisonous gas in the area, and the consequences are quite clear to those that don't take heed.

“You know what to do, Lyera," Krivkris said as they arrived at the edge.

Already having prior knowledge, Lyera antecedently has her grimoire in her hand as Krivkis is giving her a command. “Art of Transmutation: Light as a Feather!" From their armor, equipment, steeds, actual body, and everything else in between, the spell reduces the combined weight of the group; to do so requires depleting more of her mana to activate and maintain it.

Now that the heft is near zero, the group travels across the fragile land, but the members are incredibly cautious in their steps and consequently are dilatory in their progress. By the time they arrive on the other side, it is almost night time, but they carry onward.

In stark contrast to the previous milieus, the environment is now a forest, although the trees lack any esculent part or verdure as all the other trees in the region. The only difference these trees are vines that suspend off the branches like they desiderate for a suitable creature to stifle. The trees also contain markings that resemble terrifying faces.

Much to Ashereth's, Krivkris's, Lyera's, Rakiri's, and Takasato's dismay, the lack of light and their fatigue force them to shelter in an abandoned village in the forest. Since all the tatterdemalion domiciles leave a negative impression on them, they let fate decide their shelter by rolling a twelve-sided die. After it decides on a structure, they prepare for the night.

The dwelling is similar in appearance on the outside to the rest of the settlement with rotten wood, faded colors, no windows, and black vines growing on the sides and crawling on the roof. On the inside, there are cobwebs, dust, and vines from the outside that assume residence in the vacant space. Despite the eerie mien outside and orifices on the wooden floor, none of the standard household items aren't broken.

“I don't need to emphasize how important it is to keep watch this time," Krivkris said. “I sense the same entity from before spying on us as soon as we entered the village." Understanding what he's talking about, the other members shake their heads as they, too, detect a creature observing them from afar. “For that reason and not wanting intercourse to jeopardize our safety and mission for tonight, Ashereth and Takasato will take first watch, Lyera and Rakiri for the second, and I will maintain a lookout for the third shift. Nobody leaves the house unless it's all of us. Understand?"

Nobody refuses the terms, but Takasato has the most visible, negative expression as she contains her urge to give a piece of her mind. For convenience, Krivkris, Lyera, and Rakiri walk upstairs and seize their rooms, abandoning Ashereth and Takasato as they commence their shift of lookout. Mimicking snow, ash is slowly falling, and a portion of it drifts inside as Ashereth lounges against a wall, and Takasato inspects her fingernails.

“What's aggravating you?" Ashereth asked as he noticed her visage.

“It's about Krivkris. He's more authoritative than normal."

“I can see why it's off-putting."

“His leadership doesn't concern you?"

“I know him longer than anyone else in the group, so he behaving this way doesn't freak me out. He's trying to prove it wasn't a mistake to promote him to a leadership position to the numerous people that doubt him by completing missions with zero casualties in his squad. The recent loss of Elyewene and Mojraska, a disaster from one of the first quests as commander, and the severity of failure in our current task only magnify his stress, so he's sterner than he typically is."

“Know what went wrong in the other mission?"

“I do because I was part of it too. It was a rescue operation of a young, noble boy from an organization specialized in slavery that was more towards the sexual angle than manual. Bastard intel led us into an ambush, and we suffered heavy casualties, including the boy and girlfriend at the time. By forces out of our control, he and I separated, and when we reunited, I noticed a change in him that could only arise from traumatic events. I still don't know what it was to this day; I assume it involves Aezusko. It was by the grace of the gods that he kept his rank, and he vowed to never repeat another failed operation; he had a long streak of successes with zero squad member fatalities since then until now."

“When you put it into that perspective, I can see why he behaves the way he does right now though I despise his rigorous methods. Reminds me too much of my father."

“If life allows you to hang out with him as much as I have, you'll realize he's less rigid. His reaction to other people and I tease him about loving another female Dragonkin is priceless. He flusters so easily when someone nudges him to ask her out."

“I can give him tips on dating if he requests it."

“Your father must've been austere by how you mentioned him."

“He was a drill sergeant. You know how they act."

“They can be a real pain in the ass."

“Well, his methods extended to family life, and he wanted perfection in everything from training to chores. Never gave me real affection now matter how hard I tried to please him. He was either distant in his work or criticized me, and the closest he came to a genuine affection was when I nailed a nearly impossible shot. It was a simple nod though I'm positive it was empty, no verbal communication. My mother was the only one that cared for me."

“And when you saw Krivkris, you noticed a piece of your father in him. What about me? Do I represent a portion of your dad?"

“Somewhat, yes. But you obey orders more than giving them."

“Because I believe being in a leadership role has more baggage than I care to bear, plus I believe I'm incapable of being in such a position. I prefer someone else to take up the mantle."

“Even if that person is rigid like my father?"

“An individual like him would be an excellent candidate for a leader. To tame chaos requires a firm ruler."

“Why that belief?"

“I've seen chaos run rampant, and each time it birthed evil. A prime example is a disastrous mission I told you earlier. The nation of Esaal had an incompetent government, so every citizen had to fend for themselves, and multiple organizations formed, including the one that kidnapped the boy. The time I spent there, there was hardly a single day where there wasn't a massacre or skirmish between the groups. Another example is a region called the Scarred Lands, and the Dragonkin tribes constantly wage war against each other. The rest of the established nations simply avoid that area completely."

“And I've been in places where total dictatorships and rulers became vile from power and authority. I took part in a resistance movement against the ruler in Vikoya because he was an absolute tyrant. People starved to death, and some with one too many edibles died if caught by guards. Rakiri almost suffered the same fate because he wanted to provide for me and our child due to my breasts ran dry. I joined in the rebellion to free him, and succeeded just in time, and to avenge our daughter." As Takasato divulges her past, she breaks down further and further, pausing between words to regroup herself between words twice.

Memory's too sensitive to pursue further. I'll switch to a different topic. “I'm sorry to hear that." Really? That's the best I can do? I guess Lyera's right about Rakiri suffering after all. Unable to come up with a new topic to discuss, Ashereth and Takasato spend the rest of their shift in silence without any disturbances.

The creak of the wooden stairs alert Ashereth and Takasato to Lyera and Rakiri walking down, and they swap shifts. Maintaining the same initial rate, ash continues to fall, and the particles that drift in constitute a little hill.

While Lyera and Rakiri are keeping watch, Lyera inspects a doll in her hands. It is rudimentary in design that is incomplete. The shell comprises nothing more than a sack for potatoes, and the stuffing is feathers for a pillow. The missing parts are a button for its left eye, more potato sack and feathers for its right arm, and material for its mouth and hair.

“What's that you're holding?" asked Rakiri.

“It's a doll," Lyera answered. “I found it in my temporary room in a closet."

“I found old, dusty books with texts too faded to read in mine. It is well-organized for an unkempt building, and a majority of standard household items are still around. Whoever lived here must've left in a hurry."

“I coincide with your observation, surprisingly."

The fox-like vision of Rakiri catches a glimpse of a shadowy blob moving outside. “Did you see that?"

“What?"

By this time, Rakiri's at the window and sticks his head out. “I saw movement out there."

“It's probably the wind. The village is a complete ghost town, so it can't be any creature."

After perceiving no more movement, Rakiri chalks it up to his active imagination. Being in an area like the abandoned village triggers his mind to run wild. The horde of monsters from a day or two ago adds more to his fantasy. Still, he cannot thoroughly shake off the feeling that something is watching them from the penumbra. I'll feel better once we finally leave the entire region altogether. Who knows if the Soulmonger's forces are on their way right now?

Throughout the part of the shift, Rakiri glances out the window whenever his sixth sense detects an entity spying on them. As he focuses closer around the general vicinity of the first sighting, he perceives a figure right adjacent to a tree. He rubs his eyes in disbelief, thinking it would simply vanish when he opens them. To his horror, the silhouette is real, and it's now closer to the house. Each time he opens his eyes from his rapid blinking, it's in a different location, yet he's inept at discerning any features except for its size; a child is the best descriptor of its height.

“Lyera," Rakiri said to obtain her attention.

“What?" Before she continues further in her speech, her eyes follow Rakiri's finger, and she catches her breath as she discerns the figure attempts to climb over the window.

Now that it's close enough, the figure is a humanoid child though Lyera's and Rakiri's unfamiliarity with the race renders them unable to determine gender. The first characteristic they notice is its eyes that are double the standard size, and they're void of every color. The next trait is its lack of a nose and instead has two holes in its face. The back of its head extends and curves downward as it tapers off, and the ears are higher on the head for a typical humanoid; their movement mimics a wolf. Each of its two hands contains five long fingers. Despite the absence of moonlight, its skin has the color of it.

“Hi there, little one," Lyera greeted the creature after she believed it posed no serious threat, and her urge to study it increases. “What's your name?" Its response is it pivoting its head between her and Rakiri, confused. “What's your name?" she asked at a slower speed. Again, it doesn't reply. “Doesn't know the common tongue. Interesting."

“Kosun ikawaki?" asked Rakiri in his Ki'Tsun language. “Ukato sinnen kottun? Doesn't know Tsuni," he responded as it stared at him and blinked its eyes. “Iel cowyst ni? Lletwy gai choeff?" The new language results in the same reaction from the creature. “And not Sylvan."

“Thaara arkst fiir? Užassu asg? Rules out Draconic and Infernal also," Lyera replied.

“Cïkon asórko nud' de?" it asked in its native tongue.

Heeding his logic, Rakiri points to himself. “Rakiri. Ra-ki-ri."

“Lyera. Ly-er-a," she answered in the same pattern as Rakiri's.

“Asórko Berál id' de. Wánïk poledra nud' de? Gyarcaša sistasté nud' de? Nališvawe sistaste fïvku." Since they aren't fluent in the foreign language by the creature, a female they judge by its vocals, Lyera and Rakiri, rubberneck at each other in confusion at how to respond. Their lack of action forces the girl to reiterate herself and point at the doll after. “Berinïwe sistaste."

A lightbulb then pops into Lyera's head, and she hands her the doll. Her expression when she obtains it confirms her suspicion that some of the languages are about the toy, and she proceeds to write any amount of the unknown language down and attempt to decipher it. The sound of footsteps and the floorboards creaking above Lyera, Rakiri, and the creature alert them to someone who is currently conscious and is walking towards the stairs that turn out to be the Dragonkin armed with his sword.

“You two need to learn how to speak quietly," Krivkris complained as he yawned.

“Sorry," Lyera apologized. “Rakiri and I are in communication with a creature that speaks an unknown language."

“And where is it?" asked Krivkris. His eyes not descrying her.

“She's…" Lyera and Rakiri freeze as they realize the girl is nowhere in sight without a trace of her disappearance. “She was just here a moment ago," Lyera finally spoke.

“From now on, keep the interaction with the environment to the bare minimum. At one point ages ago, it would've been fine. But now it isn't. Get some sleep, and I'll stay up for the remaining time for your shift and mine."

“Krivkris," Rakiri spoke nervously as he stared through the window.

“What is it?"

“When did the trees have their leaves back?"

To see what the Ki'Tsun's staring at, Krivkris walks towards him and looks outside also. He thought this place couldn't get any darker than it is currently, but it's blacker to the point that his hand vanishes when he extends it.

“Art of Conjuration: Dancing Lights!" Several spheres of bright light appear near Krivkris, and he sends them outside only to reveal numerous pairs of light reflecting at him from the trees and chatter. The fluorescences disappear, and he, Lyera, and Rakiri hear footsteps, countless footsteps. All are charging towards them in the house, and their horses evanesce. “Alert the others!"

Rakiri bolts up the stairs towards Ashereth first and then Takasato to alert them. The second she wakes up is the second when the horde outside arrives and swarm the edifice. It even ascends the walls onto the rooftop. The holes emerge in the ceiling as the hands tear through the wood. Bodies drop through to the floor as the apertures grow wide enough for them to do so when the Ki'Tsuns escape and run downstairs. They, Ashereth, Krivkris, and Lyera, evacuate from the house as the horde envelopes it only to find themselves surrounded by creatures similar to the girl from earlier. Knowing there is no way out, they surrender, and the creatures escort them away.

If you enjoy this chapter, please vote, favorite, comment, and spread the word. I'll post the next chapter next Sunday