The sun no longer existed here. The tree canopies, so dense, closed over us like a suffocating shroud. Every step deeper into the forest was a farewell to clarity, a descent into a world where only Valdor's and Jannes' oil lamps held the darkness at bay. The air, thick with humidity, reeked of rotting earth and something worse—a nauseating mix of decomposing flesh and rancid oil.
A crack. Then another. Dry leaves burst under invisible weight before the creatures emerged from the gloom. Their bodies, twisted like diseased branches, dragged forward with a sound that raised my hackles—the scrape of metallic claws against soil. Short, bowed legs, disproportionately long arms ending in blade-like fingers. But it was their faces—or what hid beneath—that froze my blood. Rusted helmets, sealed except for a narrow slit from which a reddish glow seeped. Black, viscous liquid dripped from it, bubbling like acid when it hit the ground.
One jerked its head with unnatural force. The helmet tilted toward me, and behind the slit, something opened. The shriek that followed wasn't of this world—a metallic, ear-splitting wail that vibrated in my bones like a bell of agony. Before I could react, they leaped.
Shit.
I dodged the first attack by instinct, rolling on damp earth as my sword left its sheath. Just in time. The second monster's claws clashed against steel in a shower of sparks. The impact rattled me to the shoulders, and for a second, I feared the blade would shatter.
—Marl, move! —Valdor roared. His voice cut the air like his axe, which split a beast's skull with a satisfying crunch.
Another abomination lunged. This time, my thrust pierced its flank. The hide was tough as old bark, but the blade sank to the hilt. Black blood—hot, too hot—splashed my leg. The creature didn't fall. It writhed, howling, and its claws raked my arm before I shoved it away. In its death throes, it wrenched my sword from me. Panic closed my throat. Disarmed. Then a silver flash crossed my vision—Valdor beheaded the monster with a clean strike and, without looking, tossed my weapon back.
—Use that fury I saw in your fight against Jannes —he said, nodding to the dent I'd left in Jannes' armor. His words weighed heavier than the iron in my grip—. Or die a coward.
I clenched the hilt until it hurt. Behind us, Jannes laughed as he gutted two creatures with near-elegant swings. I'm not like them. The thought tasted bitter. Until I saw the shadow crawling toward me from the underbrush. A lone beast, limping, but with claws still glistening with my blood.
—No… —I whispered. The fear returned, venom in my veins. But beneath it now burned something else. Rage. No. I won't be prey.
I charged. My sword struck the helmet with a metallic clang that rang in my teeth. The creature didn't flinch. It pounced, wrapping me in a death embrace. Claws pierced my sweater, then my skin. The blade was trapped between us, useless. Can't cut… Pain blurred my vision. Until, in the shadows, I saw its belly—unprotected, pulsing.
—Think I'm helpless without a sword? —I spat, driving my fingers into its flesh. Searing pain shot up my arms like I'd plunged them into fire, but the beast howled and recoiled. The sword dropped. The monster made a sound that could only be laughter—harsh, triumphant.
I gave it no time to gloat. My fist crumpled its helmet with a crunch. I gripped its arms, feeling tendons snap under my bloodied fingers, and with a kick to its gut, tore them clean off. The severed limbs splashed into the mud.
—These fucking claws —I panted, retrieving my sword— are weaker than a cat's.
The creature staggered back. For the first time, I saw something in its red eyes: fear. My blade split it in two before it could scream.
—Finally! —Jannes clapped mockingly—. The crybaby stopped whining. —When he stopped, he turned to me with a challenge in his eyes—. The trash is becoming a warrior.
Valdor said nothing. But when our eyes met, his gaze burned worse than the monster's blood: disappointment. As if he'd expected more. Or less. I didn't know. Only that in that silence, something inside me shattered.
—Vald…
Peace lasts but a moment. The ground trembled.
From the trees, a larger silhouette rose, dragging its colossal form through the brush. The alpha. Its helmet wasn't rusted like the others—dull black, scarred by battle. Purple, reptilian hide thickened its body, and sharp bony plates jutted from its spine.
The alpha locked eyes with me. Its breath was a guttural drumbeat, chest rising and falling with lethal rhythm. It wouldn't wait.
It lunged with impossible speed.
No time to react. I barely raised my sword when a shadow intercepted.
—Get back, idiot!
Jannes blocked the strike, but the force was monstrous. He was thrown meters back, skidding before slamming into a tree with a sickening crack.
—Jannes! —I yelled, but he was already rising, his left arm dripping blood.
He touched the wound, clicking his tongue in annoyance.
—Tsk… now I really want to kill you.
The alpha roared, and the remaining monsters circled it, readying another assault. But this time, I wasn't alone.
—Marl, together! —Valdor took position beside me, sword ready.
Jannes, still bleeding, grinned with pure madness.
—Heh. Let's wreck these bastards.
And then we attacked.
Valdor cleaved through the first monster, his blade gleaming in the lamplight. Jannes moved like a whirlwind despite his injury, obliterating two in one strike. I surged forward, adrenaline scorching my veins, dodging claws and countering every opening.
But the alpha beast still stood, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
Jannes knew it. He grinned, raising his bloodied sword in challenge.
—Come at me, sewer lizard.
The alpha roared and charged.
At that exact moment, all three of us moved as one.
Valdor pivoted to its right, severing a hind leg and making it stagger. Jannes leaped onto its back, driving his blade into the shoulder joint. I slid beneath it, thrusting my sword deep into its abdomen with all my strength.
The beast thrashed, howling in agony—but it was finished. With one final effort, Jannes twisted his sword and plunged it into the nape.
A beat of silence. Then the alpha collapsed.
I stood there, chest heaving, breath ragged. We'd done it.
Jannes slumped onto a nearby rock, pressing his wound.
—Fucking shitbeast… nearly took my arm off.
Valdor exhaled through his nose, wiping his blade.
—But it didn't.
I just stared at the corpse, adrenaline still singing in my veins.
The battle was over. Yet the forest remained silent. And something told me the worst was still ahead.
Jannes approached the alpha's carcass, his breathing still uneven. With his good arm, he plunged his hand into the beast's flesh and—with a grunt—wrenched free a massive purple stone, still slick with gore. The kio stone.
—Tsk… Always stinking. —He shook it off before tossing it to me without warning—. Here, trash. Your sword hit it, so it's yours.
The weight nearly yanked me down when I caught it. Denser than it looked. I straightened with effort, cradling it in both hands as I examined it in the dawn's weak light.
—Incredible… this size could fetch fifty silver coins.
Valdor clicked his tongue, almost smiling.
—Not just for size. Pure kio from an alpha… merchants will pay dearly.
Jannes dropped onto a rock, inspecting his wounded arm with disinterest.
—Don't give a shit about coin. Just want a bed and a drink.
I huffed, passing the stone between my hands. Exhaustion weighed my bones, but this moment felt… right.
—We made a good team.
Jannes side-eyed me before barking a laugh.
—Don't get used to it.
With that, he stood with a groan, swaying slightly before steadying himself. Every step left dark smears on the earth, blood dripping from his wound in a steady rhythm.
—So, who keeps the alpha?
—Don't care. The carcass is yours. Do what you want with it.
Jannes snorted before flashing a satisfied grin. His gaze swept over the beast's corpse like a hunter appraising his trophy, measuring its weight in this tale of survival.
None of us spoke further. No need. The silence wasn't awkward—just shared. An unspoken pact between survivors.
We climbed back onto the cart. The alpha's hide still radiated battle-heat, its lifeless body a stark witness to the fight. Jannes slumped against the side with a rough sigh, eyes closed, his arm wrapped in makeshift bandages. Valdor took the reins with his usual calm, as if we hadn't just cheated death.
Dawn broke over the horizon, painting the sky amber and crimson—a fleeting spectacle above a field of bloodstains and ash. The dew-laden grass glittered gold in the newborn light.
In my lap, the kio stone caught the sun, glinting violet. Its weight still anchored me to this strange world I didn't fully understand, yet had somehow survived.
In the distance, Narnest's walls emerged from the morning mist, imposing against the skyline. The sight felt surreal, as if the world itself refused to acknowledge how close we'd come to never returning.
Battered, exhausted, covered in blood and soot… but alive.
I smiled, just for a second.
Despite everything, it was a good glimpse of this world.
—Valdor. Thanks for showing me this world.
He merely nodded. No emotion.
—Marl… —His voice was sharp. Different.
—What's wrong?
—If you want to be a warrior, fine… but don't be a hero.
Those words etched into me. Don't be a hero.