Astrid, her senses honed by years of thievery, detected a presence trailing them shortly after leaving Oakhaven. "We have a tail," she informed Iskander.
"I know," he replied calmly, his gaze fixed on the road ahead.
Ronan chuckled. "Amateurs. They're not very good at this."
"Amateurs?" Cael's eyes turned green with curiosity. "Who would follow us?"
"The King's extravagant spending likely attracted some would-be thieves," Tamsin remarked, shooting a pointed look at Iskander.
"Or maybe stalking people is Oakhaven's favorite pastime," Astrid quipped, her eyes twinkling with amusement.
"What do we do?" Cael asked Iskander, his brow furrowed with concern.
"Nothing," Iskander replied. "We'll deal with it tonight."
As they continued their journey, the initial tension eased. The group had grown accustomed to Iskander's presence, and the promise of riches fueled their determination.
Night came, and the party decided to camp, as they set an ambush for whoever was following them, which the stalker fell into easily. In the middle of the night, using the cover of darkness, they managed to knock him down from his horseback, but they were surprised to see who it was after they lit a torch to look at him; it was none other than Ilya Thorne dressed up in men's clothes.
"Look who we have here!" Ronan said, "The spoiled brat of the Thornes."
"Ilya!" Cael shouted in surprise as his eyes turned from black to green.
"Yes, it's me." She replied.
"Stupid girl. I can guess why you are here, but let's hear it anyway." Iskander said.
"I want to go with you." She bravely replied.
"My answer is no." Iskander said, "Go back home, little girl."
"I can take care of myself," Ilya said as she slightly slipped a look at Cael.
"No, you cannot," Iskander added.
"How could you possibly know where we are going?" Cael asked, but the girl did not answer him.
"She thought I did not notice, but while she hid; she eavesdropped on me and Master Elian talking." Iskander then replied as Cael's surprise grew. He was now even more curious to know what Iskander spoke with Master Elian.
Iskander and Ronan seemed to have noticed that she came because of Cael, yet he did not realize it himself. "Let's take her with us." Ronan said, "It could be interesting to watch her suffer along the way."
Iskander sighed, then looked at Cael and said, "Cael, what say you?"
Cael was surprised by his question. "Do I have a say in this?" Cael wondered.
"She is no threat to us, so if you agree to take her, we take her. Provided that you will have to care for her safety along the way." He replied. "But if you decide to leave her behind, then we do. The choice is yours." Cael and everyone there were surprised to hear that from Iskander, for they thought he would not want anyone else but them to know about their mission.
"Then, we leave her behind." Cael instantly replied, "I do not want her to come with us." He added.
"Oh! No! Please, Cael! Wait! Let me go with you to the Green Hell." Ilya begged, "I want to go with you on this journey."
"I don't want to expose you to harm."
"Then, you protect me!"
"I can't." He coldly replied.
"If you do not take me with you, then I swear I will cut my wrists and bleed to death." She screamed with a determined look; she was ready to throw a fit.
"No, you won't!" Cael added.
"Oh! I believe her. She acts all elegant and classy, but she is nuts." Ronan said to Cael as he put his right hand on his friend's left shoulder, "We should take her; it will be fun watching a spoiled brat suffer."
Cael thought about it more. He looked at her determined eyes and saw that she was serious about wanting to tag along. He knew that even if they left her there, she would try to find where they went, and stalk them again, all alone, which could expose her to harm more than if she were to go with them.
Besides, he did not want to strap her around a tree, since those parts were dangerous, so leaving her there, even for a single night, might make creeps crawl to her, which he did not want to think about what they would do to her if they found her there, defenseless.
"I hope I will not regret this!" Cael said as he looked at her, "Let's take her." He sighed.
"Done." Iskander said, "However, do not tell her anything about anything." He ordered them all.
"Thank you! Thank you; you will not regret this, Iskander." Ilya said as she jumped in joy.
"I like your girl!" Astrid said to Cael while smirking. "She's got spunk and a spine, which is more than I can say about you."
"She is not my girl!"
"You are the only one here who thinks that." Astrid replied while she looked at Ronan, who was standing beside Tamsin, "Oh! Men, they think they know it all, but they are so dense and stupid."
Weeks passed, and Ilya became a member of their party. Still, she was unaware of what Iskander really was, unaware of what they sought. No one dared to tell her about what they knew, because Iskander ordered it.
Even Cael thought she was safer not knowing much. However, the curious Cael never had to ask the King about the other questions that haunted his mind, since Ilya never left his side. Luckily for him, the girl knew where they were heading, so she did not pry much into the matter. She felt fulfilled because she got what she wanted. She could tag along, and she could be near Cael, who was starting to open up to her little by little. She even became close to Astrid and Tamsin, for they cracked up in laughter a lot behind the men's backs.
Their path led them through diverse landscapes, eventually reaching the kingdom of Omaei, a desert oasis renowned for its capital city, Petra. Built within the crater of an ancient impact, the city had lush gardens, fed by a network of canals, and thrived amidst the surrounding desert, offering a stark contrast to the barren wasteland they had just traversed.
Iskander, gazing upon the city, mused aloud, "Now I understand why your progress was hindered. The impacts must have caused massive environmental shifts, perhaps even an ice age."
"We'll split up," he instructed as they reached the city gates. "We need supplies before crossing the Ashen Wastes. Cael, Ilya, you are with me. Ronan, you're with Tamsin, and Astrid, you go with Grave-Walker."
"Can't we admire the city for a while?" Ilya pleaded. "I bet I can find scrolls and books with secrets about Erathos."
"That's why you're here," Iskander replied with a smile. "But our time is limited. We leave at dawn."
The group dispersed, each team tasked with gathering provisions for the arduous journey ahead. Cael and Ilya, their hands intertwined, marveled at the vibrant city, its bustling markets, and stunning architecture. Cael's eyes shone blue with wonder and happiness as he explored this new world with Ilya by his side.
They reached the city center, where magnificent gardens bloomed amidst towering buildings and sparkling canals. Cael's eyes shifted between blue, green, and yellow, reflecting his awe and fascination.
"Do you like it, Cael?" Iskander asked, amused by the boy's wonder.
"I've never seen anything like it!" Cael exclaimed, his eyes sparkling blue.
"You've seen nothing yet, my friend," Iskander chuckled. "This is but a glimpse of the world that awaits you."
Their search led them to a map seller, from whom Iskander acquired maps of the Ashen Wastes and the Green Hell. As they reunited with the others, the setting sun cast long shadows over the bustling city.
They spent the evening sharing stories and enjoying the comforts of civilization before setting off at dawn. They purchased camels to carry their supplies and embarked on the next leg of their journey: the Ashen Wastes.
The Ashen Wastes lived up to their name, a desolate expanse of rock and sand stretching as far as the eye could see. The relentless sun beat down on them as they rode, their horses succumbing one by one to the harsh conditions. They slaughtered the remaining horses, their meat providing sustenance for the grueling trek ahead.
Only Iskander seemed unaffected by the harsh environment, his body sustained by the faint traces of Anima he drew from the surrounding land.
"You don't eat, drink, or sleep," Cael observed, his eyes filled with curiosity. "You don't even seem tired. What's your secret?"
"I draw Anima from the land around me," Iskander explained. "It's faint, but sufficient for now."
"I see," Cael replied, a hint of envy in his voice. "Being immortal has its perks."
"Indeed," Iskander said with a smirk.
After three weeks, they reached the edge of the Green Hell, a vast expanse of green that stretched to the horizon.
"Incredible!" Cael exclaimed, his eyes green with awe. "Look at how huge it is, Ilya!"
"And I thought the Deep Woods were big," Ronan said, impressed.
"This is the largest forest on the planet," Iskander stated.
"I don't care how big it is, I just want to rest," Astrid said with a tired laugh.
"Me too," Ilya agreed.
They made camp at the forest's edge, Ronan and Cael setting off to hunt while Grave-Walker searched for freshwater, and the women rested by the fire.
The jungle teemed with life, its dense foliage concealing a myriad of exotic creatures. They soon encountered a strange deer-like animal.
"Look at that!" Cael whispered.
"A strange deer," Ronan observed.
"It's called a SilvanHart," Iskander said with a smile.
Cael and Ronan brought down the creature with ease, their arrows finding their mark.
"Tonight, we feast!" Ronan declared, just as another SilvanHart appeared.
"This one's mine," Iskander said, firing a single arrow that pierced the animal's neck, killing it instantly.
"Amazing!" Cael exclaimed.
"He's good," Ronan grumbled, masking his jealousy with a forced smile.
"We should skin them while they're still warm," Iskander suggested. "Cael, can you climb that tree?"
"I think so," Cael replied, eyeing the tall trunk.
"Good. Climb up and report what you see."
As Cael ascended the tree, the others began skinning the SilvanHarts. From his vantage point, he marveled at the vastness of the jungle, its vibrant ecosystem teeming with life. Then, his gaze fell upon something that made him question his sanity. In the distance, atop one of the mountains, lay the skeletal remains of a colossal serpent, its size rivaling that of the Sun-Serpent.
He scrambled down the tree, his eyes wide with disbelief. "Ronan! Iskander! I see something unbelievable!"
"What is it?" they asked in unison.
"You won't believe me!" Cael exclaimed. "I saw giant snake bones!"
"Huh?" Ronan scoffed.
"I'm telling the truth! You can see for yourself!"
"No need," Iskander said calmly. "I believe you. It must have been an aberration. A mutation caused by the Anima residue from the impact that created the crater in Petra. It likely didn't live long."
"The world is bigger than I ever imagined," Cael said, his voice filled with awe.
"You've seen nothing yet," Iskander replied with a knowing smile. "Now finish up, and let's return to camp. The others must be hungry."
As they gathered their spoils and headed back, they were unaware that they were being watched. The jungle had guardians, native people who had seen the smoke from their campfire and were now preparing to confront the intruders.
That night, as the group feasted on SilvanHart's meat, Cael recounted his discovery. The others listened with fascination, their fatigue forgotten in the face of this new wonder. They slept soundly, unaware of the danger lurking in the shadows.
"Cael, you said the remains were east of here, on a mountaintop?" Iskander asked the next morning.
"Yes."
"Good. We head there."
They journeyed deeper into the jungle, cutting a path through the dense undergrowth, encountering strange creatures and marveling at the diversity of life. Finally, they reached the mountains and the site of the colossal serpent fossil.
"Amazing!" Astrid exclaimed. "It's huge!"
"I can't believe something this big once lived!" Ronan said, shaking his head in wonder.
"I'm glad it's not alive!" Ilya said, her voice laced with a hint of fear.
Ronan suddenly tensed, his instincts flaring. "Iskander, I think we have company," he whispered.
"We're surrounded," Iskander confirmed, his voice low and urgent. "Prepare to fight."
The natives emerged from their hiding places, their bodies painted green and brown, blending seamlessly with the jungle. They had been watching, waiting for the opportune moment to strike.
"Back to back!" Ronan yelled as Iskander charged towards the largest group of attackers.
With lightning speed, Iskander drew his sword, cutting down two men with a single swing. He dodged an arrow and used the body of a fallen enemy as a shield, dispatching the remaining attackers with ruthless efficiency.
The others, following Ronan's instructions, formed a defensive circle, their backs pressed against each other. Cael, with Ilya behind him, fired arrows with a newfound precision, his brown eyes focused and determined. The Grave-Walker fought alongside him, his knives flashing in the dappled sunlight. Ronan, Astrid, and Tamsin held their own against the remaining attackers, their movements fluid and deadly.
Within moments, the attackers lay dead, their bodies littering the forest floor. Iskander, his clothes stained with blood, approached the last remaining native, who lay dying from a chest wound. He knelt beside the man, dipping his finger in his blood and tasting it, his eyes locked on the man's fading gaze.
"Is everyone unharmed?" he asked, turning back to his companions.
They confirmed their safety, their voices trembling slightly from the adrenaline of the fight.
"How about you, Cael?" Iskander asked, his gaze searching.
"I'm...fine," Cael stammered, his eyes glowing indigo with a mixture of disgust and self-loathing. He had killed for the first time, and the weight of his actions overwhelmed him. He retched, his stomach emptying its contents onto the forest floor.
"The feeling will pass," Iskander said, his voice gentle. "You did what you had to do. They would have killed you or Ilya. Remember those you killed, let them guide you away from the path of death."
"It doesn't feel right," Cael choked out, tears streaming down his face.
"Iskander, more could be coming. We should leave," Ronan urged, his instincts still on high alert.
"No. This was all of them. They will not attack again. The place we're going is considered cursed land," Iskander assured them.
"How can you be so sure?" Ronan pressed.
"A shame," Iskander said, his expression somber. "They were only trying to protect their home."
They continued deeper into the jungle, the weight of the encounter casting a shadow over their spirits. As they reached the heart, they came upon a great river flowing through a series of caves that cut deep into the mountainside.
"Soon," Iskander said, a look of anticipation lighting up his face.