Several hours earlier…
✦ Varric ✦
This guy—definitely is not the lightweight type.
Still couldn't believe they fell from that high up and survived.
I glanced over my shoulder at the two strangers I'd pulled from the dark. One unconscious on my back, the other trying to keep it together, holding the only fire I brought that is giving us barely enough light.
"Sniff sniff. Th-thank you so much for your help."
"That's the hundredth time you've thanked me, you know."
"I know, but… I really thought we'd be stuck in darkness forever."
Yeah. It does that to people.
"What's your name?" I asked
"I'm Yumi."
"Varric. Nice to meet you, Yumi."
Awkward silence.
She walked beside me, arms shaking a little, eyes darting to every unfamiliar noise.
"So… um. Where are you taking us?" she asked
"To my village."
"A village? In this dark hole?"
"Yep. You heard right."
"You're kidding."
I shook my head, the faintest grin tugging at my lips. "I get that a lot."
"So other people fall into this black hole? Goshh "
I was joking, is she serious with her question ?
"This whole thing is weird," she muttered. Then cracked a smile. "Pfft. Whole hole. Get it?"
Deadpan silence.
Then we both burst into laughter. I wasn't ready for that one.
"But seriously," she said, brushing away a tear. "How can people live down here?"
"Do you really think it's safer out there? With those things roaming the forest?"
"Things…?"
"You wouldn't have made it here if you hadn't met one already."
She paled. "You mean that—creature that came for us on the bridge?"
"Exactly. That wasn't even the worst of them."
Her voice came out low, shaky. "Then I guess… a village in a dark hole sounds better than being eaten by some nightmare monster."
"You're funny." I offered a small, reassuring smile. "Don't worry. You and your friend are safe now."
She looked over at the unconscious boy I was carrying on my back. Worry clouded her features. Her pace slowed.
"Hey, Varric…"
"Yeah?"
"Do you think… we'll be able to get out of here? I mean, we kind of have a mission to finish."
"A mission?"
"Yeah. The blue spirit gave it to us."
I raised a brow. "A blue spirit?"
"I swear I'm not crazy! It's true."
I gave her a sidelong glance. Her eyes were serious. Honest.
"What kind of mission?"
"We're here to save Ikiryo's mom. There's… something called the Stone of Blood. It's tied to that spirit somehow, and it's hidden somewhere in the ancient forest. That's all we know. It's been really hard figuring anything out since then."
The Stone of Blood… the blue spirit…
"I see," I murmured.
I shifted the boy's weight on my shoulders and glanced down at his arm—something had caught my eye earlier, but now I was sure.
Tattoos. Markings I've seen before.
Symbols from the prophecy.
Could it really be happening?
"Is the prophecy of Kaeryn… finally beginning?" I whispered under my breath.
The hairs on the back of my neck stood up. A chill rolled through me that had nothing to do with the cold.
If that prophecy was true…
Then maybe—just maybe—our freedom was finally approaching.