Chapter 6: Crossing Into Espada Scene : The Forest of Shadows
The forest leading into Espada loomed like a living thing, ancient trees clawing at the dim sky, their twisted branches blotting out sunlight. A damp, cold mist clung to the ground, curling around Axel's boots as he moved cautiously.
Every step was measured. The distant cries of unseen creatures echoed through the foliage, and the air smelled of damp earth and decay. Axel's breathing was shallow, each inhalation sharp in his chest.
Suddenly, his skin prickled. A creeping blackness spread along his veins, crawling like molten ink beneath his flesh. He stumbled, staring in horror at the intricate lines snaking across his arms and chest.
AXEL(screaming, clutching his arms)Ahhhhhh!!!
Pain shot through him, sharp and unrelenting, as if his body were being rewritten from the inside out. The veins pulsed, moving almost consciously, writhing like dark serpents beneath his skin. Axel's vision blurred.
AXELNo! What's happening to me?!
His legs buckled as he staggered forward, trying to flee the invisible force torturing him. Every step intensified the agony. The forest seemed to close in around him, shadows writhing in mockery of his struggle.
Finally, his strength gave out. He collapsed, face-first into the cold soil. Darkness swallowed him.
Moments—hours—he could not tell—passed. When he awoke, the black veins were gone, replaced by his normal skin. His chest heaved as he tried to make sense of what had happened, his fingers trembling slightly as they brushed against Kinslayer at his side.
AXEL(breathing heavily, confused)What… was that?
Shaking his head, he pushed the memory aside, forcing his mind back to the mission. There was no time to dwell. The border of Espada awaited, and with it, the unknown dangers of Infernum.
Scene 6: The Encounter with the Thieves
The forest thinned, giving way to a desolate clearing. The oppressive atmosphere of Espada pressed down on Axel like a physical weight. The sky above was a muted gray, streaked with ominous clouds, and a faint, acrid scent lingered in the air. Every rustle in the underbrush, every snap of a twig, felt amplified, echoing with danger.
From the shadows emerged a small group of figures, their presence immediately unsettling. Three thieves, rough and lean, armed and ready, stepped into the clearing.
The leader, Roderick, was broad-shouldered with a sharp gaze that missed nothing. The second, Norman, wiry and agile, studied Axel's sword with greedy interest. The third, Shane, large and silent, simply watched, muscles coiled like a predator ready to strike.
RODERICK(smirking, voice low and dangerous)Well, well… what do we have here? A lost lamb wandering into the wolves' den.
The thieves laughed, a harsh, grating sound that made Axel's hand instinctively tighten around Kinslayer. He stopped a few paces away, eyes narrowed, reading the situation.
AXEL(calmly, voice measured)I'm not here for trouble. Just passing through.
NORMAN(grinning, leaning forward slightly)Passing through, huh? With a blade like that? Maybe you should let us hold it… for safekeeping.
Axel's eyes flickered dangerously, cold light reflecting in their depths.
AXELNot a chance.
RODERICK(raising a hand, feigning diplomacy)Easy there. No need to get violent. Safety in numbers, eh? Join us—no harm, just company.
Axel hesitated. The land of Espada was dangerous, and any allies could prove useful. But instinct screamed that these were opportunists, not friends. He weighed his options carefully, every muscle tense.
AXEL(warily)Fine. I join… but I keep my sword.
Roderick's grin widened, showing teeth white against the grime of his face.
RODERICKDeal. Welcome to the pack.
Axel shook Roderick's hand firmly, his grip revealing his wariness. The thieves made room around their small fire, tossing him a crude blanket and a piece of bread. The firelight flickered across their faces, highlighting hardened features and stories of survival etched into every line.
SHANE(eyes Axel up and down, curiosity laced with suspicion)So, stranger… what brings you to Espada? Not many wander into these parts without a reason.
Axel took a cautious bite of his bread, his eyes scanning the group, noting every detail—their weapons, the way their eyes flicked to each other, the subtle tension in their posture.
AXELI'm on a personal quest. Passing through, nothing more. And you? What's your business here?
NORMAN(raising a mug, taking a swig of ale)Survival. Espada's full of treasures… if you've got the guts to take them.
RODERICK(nodding, approvingly)Norman's right. Take what you need or get taken. That's the law of this land. We have our little operation… keeps us alive. Keeps us fed.
AXEL(raising an eyebrow, lips tight)Sounds dangerous. But I suppose… it's the way to get through another day.
SHANE(leaning in, voice low, intrigued)And what's your story? You don't carry a sword like that for show.
AXEL(eyes narrowing slightly, expression tight)Let's just say I've had to use it before. And I'd rather not have to tonight.
NORMAN(chuckles, shaking his head)Guts alone won't keep you alive. You need to know when to fight and when to retreat.
RODERICK(raising his mug, smirking)Exactly. We've survived this long by reading people, knowing when to strike, and when to step back.
Axel sipped from his own waterskin, keeping his posture relaxed but alert, Kinslayer resting against his side like a silent warning.
AXELI'll keep that in mind. But I'm not here to meddle in schemes. Just passing through.
SHANE(grinning)Fair enough. But if you ever need a guide—or tips on surviving here—you know where to find us.
RODERICK(nodding, warm but cautious)Cooperation is useful… when it benefits everyone.
The fire crackled, casting long shadows over their faces. The thieves' laughter and stories filled the clearing, but Axel remained watchful. He listened, spoke when necessary, but every nerve was alert. Espada was alive, dangerous, and indifferent. And he was just beginning to learn how to survive within it.
Scene : Nightfall in Espada
The forest around the thieves' camp grew darker as night fell, the mist thickening and curling around the trees like fingers. The moon struggled to pierce the dense canopy, leaving the clearing dimly lit. Shadows danced unnaturally around the fire, elongating and twisting with a life of their own.
Axel sat a short distance from the fire, Kinslayer resting across his lap. The thieves had grown comfortable, talking and laughing in low voices, but Axel's mind was elsewhere. He stared into the flickering flames, trying to make sense of the events from the morning and the unnerving sensation in his body during the forest crossing.
A faint pulsing began in his pocket, almost imperceptible at first. He reached down instinctively and felt the black spade card, warm against his fingers.
AXEL(whispering, confused)What…?
The card seemed to hum softly, a vibration almost like a heartbeat. His fingers tingled as he held it, and a faint black mist curled from its edges, wrapping lightly around his hand before dissipating. Axel's heart raced, and the hairs on his neck stood on end.
AXEL(thinking)This… this isn't normal.
He looked down at his arms. The veins were faintly darker than usual, like shadows just under the skin. Not painful this time—only… alive. A subtle pulse of energy moved through him, almost like a whisper, tickling the edges of his senses.
Axel's breath quickened. He had felt the black veins before, back in the forest, during the sudden agony that had left him unconscious. And now… this. The card. The veins. Something was stirring. Something beyond his control.
AXEL(to himself, tense but resolute)I… I can't let this control me. Not yet.
The thieves' voices carried across the fire, but Axel barely registered them. His eyes remained fixed on the spade card, studying its black surface as if it were alive, a silent, dangerous companion.
Suddenly, the shadows around the camp seemed to grow heavier, stretching toward him. Axel tensed, gripping Kinslayer tightly. A faint whisper brushed at the edges of his mind, soft but insistent, almost playful.
WHISPER (echoing in Axel's mind)Power… freedom… your path lies with me…
Axel's jaw tightened. He shivered, not from the cold, but from the realization of what the card could mean. He slowly withdrew his hand from the pocket, holding the spade card in front of him, almost like a shield against its call.
AXEL(firmly, defiant)Not… now. Not yet.
Despite his refusal, a subtle black shimmer lingered around his fingertips. It pulsed with each heartbeat, a quiet reminder that the Devil's Offer had already touched him. He had taken the card—but the path it offered was his choice.
The night stretched on. The thieves eventually dozed off, their snores mingling with the distant cries of unseen creatures. Axel remained awake, sitting in the shadows, watching the card, feeling the pulse beneath his skin. The forest whispered secrets he couldn't yet comprehend, and the land of Espada seemed alive, watching, waiting.
He realized then that this journey was no longer just about finding himself. It was about resisting the pull of something ancient, powerful, and dangerous, something that had already begun to entwine with his very being.
Axel pressed the card to his chest, taking a deep, steadying breath.
AXEL(whispering, determined)I'll walk this path… on my terms.
But as the shadows stretched longer and the forest deepened, a single truth became undeniable: the spade card had chosen him, whether he wanted it or not—and soon, its influence would demand more than he could ignore.