Pag shook his head, pushing the thoughts and doubt from his mind as he drew himself up and squared his shoulders. He didn’t need to accept responsibility for something he had no control over but he would make sure that those truly to blame for this would pay. He took a deep breath and forced a smile to his face as he spoke with a confidence he didn’t feel. “Alright, lets do this then. Don’t worry about Aviva, she’ll get back to us as soon as she re-spawns. Don’t worry about apologizing or feeling bad about what happened. For now let’s focus on our goal and do our best to be better.”
Andromeda looked up to him in surprise, searching his gaze with furrowed brows, then chuckled and gave a short nod. “Right. Lead on.”
Maverick gave a small sniffle and Pag padded over to him offering a big grin as he patted his shoulder. “I’m sure if it weren’t for you we’d be missing your sister and Andromeda too. It’d be a shame if the world were to lose two such beautiful ladies.” he said with a wink.
Maverick snorted grinning up at Pag as he drew his sleeve over his face. Pag pretended not to notice as he turned to survey the area, comparing the landmarks to what he saw on his mini-map and debating the best path for them to proceed on.
“The Kyrbane is in that direction right?” He asked with a gesture.
Toula nodded. “Yes, just past the obsidian grasslands at the base of ash mountain range. We’re not too far from the coast now and I guess you could say this is a sort of border zone between each of the factions. To the east is the beginning of the Gloomgrasp strait that separates Soohan and Draggor. To the south is the island of the Lunar empire. To the northwest are the routes that the caravans travel.”
Pag turned to her with a questioning look. “Obsidian grasslands and ash mountain range? We’re not talking potential volcano here are we?”
“No, the grasses are literally as black as obsidian and in the seeding season they’re as sharp as an obsidian knife. The ash mountain is a mountain with nothing but ash trees.” Andromeda chuckled.
“Before you ask no, it isn’t seeding season. It’s actually the point where the stalks die off until spring when they resprout. We’ll have clear line of sight from knee up for quite a ways in every direction. The only thing we would need to worry about is the local fauna. Boars, wolves, that sort of thing. Especially now that the sun is beginning to rise.” Toula said gesturing.
Pag looked towards where she had gestured and saw the first faint fingers of dawn seeping over the horizon to push back the darkness that had blanketed the sky. Pag took a deep breath and smiled before speaking. “Dawn of the Second day, 48 hours remain.”
A system message flickered before him for a moment then disappeared without a trace.
Pag frowned and tried unsuccessfully to pull it back up.
“What?” Andromeda asked looking at him with a perplexed expression.
“Nothing.” Pag responded rubbing the back of his neck. “Lets get moving.”
Andromeda adjusted the worn leather straps of her pack, her movements precise and economical. The setting sun cast long shadows across the obsidian grasslands, painting the landscape in hues of deep purple and burnt orange. In the distance, the Ash Mountains loomed, their slopes cloaked in the skeletal silhouettes of ancient trees.
"We should make camp soon," she said, her voice barely a murmur against the wind. "even though it isnt seeding season, the obsidian blades will be sharper than usual with the night's chill."
Pag, his brow furrowed in thought, glanced back at her. "You seem to know a lot about this area," he observed, his gaze sweeping over the desolate landscape. "More than Toula, even."
Andromeda's lips curved into a wry smile. "These grasslands hold many secrets," she replied, her voice carefully neutral. "Some best left undisturbed."
"Secrets?" Pag pressed, his curiosity piqued. "What kind of secrets?"
Andromeda hesitated, her gaze drifting towards the Ash Mountains "They are of no consequence now," she said finally, her voice taking on a steely edge. "The past is gone, and I am focused on the present."
Pag studied Andromeda as she moved about the campsite, her movements fluid and silent like a predator moving through its natural habitat. The firelight danced across her features, highlighting the sharp angles of her face and the intense focus in her eyes. He couldn't shake the feeling that she was holding back, her past a tangled web of secrets she was reluctant to unravel.
"You move like a warrior," he observed, breaking the silence.
Andromeda paused, her hand hovering over the quiver of arrows slung across her back. "It was a necessity, where I come from," she replied, her voice low and guarded.
"Soohan," Pag prompted, remembering her evasiveness earlier. He was determined to break through her walls, to understand the experiences that had shaped her into the formidable woman she was.
Andromeda stiffened, her gaze hardening. "It's not a subject I care to discuss," she said curtly, turning away from him to set up the fire.
Pag, however, refused to back down. "You said it was a necessity," he pressed gently. "To be a warrior, in Soohan. What did you have to fight for?"
Andromeda remained silent for a long moment, the only sound the crackling of the fire as it sprung to life and the mournful cry of a night bird in the distance. Pag wondered if he had pushed too far, if her silence was a sign that he should abandon his inquiries. he then mentally groaned at his failure to offer to make the fire for her.
Finally, she spoke, her voice barely a whisper. "Soohan is a land of shadows and whispers," she began, her gaze distant, as if lost in memories. "Where loyalty is a fickle thing, and power is a dangerous game."
She continued, her voice gaining strength as she spoke. "I fought for my family, for my people. For a future free from the tyranny that had gripped our land for generations."
Pag listened intently, captivated by the raw emotion in her voice. Her words painted a picture of a land teetering on the brink of chaos, a land where survival depended on strength, cunning, and unwavering loyalty to one's own. It was a world away from the sheltered life he had known before Ludere Online.
"What happened?" he asked softly, his curiosity tempered by the hardships she had endured.
Andromeda's gaze snapped back to his, her eyes flashing with a mixture of pain and defiance. "Some battles," she said, her voice tight, "are best left unfought. Some memories, best left buried."
And with that, she turned away from him, her silence a clear indication that shewas done for the time being. Pag, bit his lip asnd did the smart thing, respecting her boundaries. He leaned back against a moss-covered boulder, its lichen the color of muddy ashes, his mind racing with unanswered questions, and a suspicion building. As he watched her silhouette outlined against the dying embers of the fire, he couldn't shake the feeling that Andromeda's story was far from over, that the secrets she guarded held the key to unlocking not only her own past but also the mysteries surrounding the game and the strange events that had drawn them all together. Someone wanted him to take a very specific path. the question was why and where did the path end?
He understood the instinct to protect one's past, to shield the heart from old wounds. But he also knew that secrets had a way of festering, of poisoning the present with their unspoken weight. He wanted to know her story, not just for the sake of his own curiosity but because he sensed that her past held clues to the mysteries surrounding them all.
"I won't pry," he said finally, his voice soft against the backdrop of the night. "But if you ever feel like talking, I'm here to listen. No judgment, just..." He hesitated, searching for the right words. "Just someone who understands the weight of secrets."
Andromeda turned her head slightly, her gaze meeting his for a fleeting moment. In the firelight, he thought he saw a flicker of gratitude in her eyes, a silent acknowledgment of his understanding. But her expression quickly shifted, her walls rising once more.
"The road ahead is long, and fraught with danger," she said, her voice regaining its usual stoicism. "We should rest while we can. The obsidian blades will be waiting for us come morning."
Pag nodded, accepting her retreat for now. He knew that trust was not earned overnight, especially not for someone like Andromeda, who carried the scars of past battles on both her body and soul. He settled back against the boulder, the warmth of the fire a welcome contrast to the growing chill in the air.
As he closed his eyes, he couldn't help but replay Andromeda's words in his mind. "Soohan is a land of shadows and whispers," she had said. He thought of the whispers he had heard in the game, the rumors of conspiracies and hidden agendas that seemed to follow them like phantoms. He couldn't shake the feeling that her past, her connection to Soohan, was somehow intertwined with the very fabric of the game, its secrets woven into the very code that gave it life. He knew he would have to tread carefully, respect her boundaries, but he was more determined than ever to uncover the truth, not just for the sake of the game, but for Andromeda herself, who deserved to be free from the shadows of her past.
The first rays of dawn painted the eastern sky in hues of fiery orange and blood red, casting long shadows across the obsidian plains. Pag stirred from a restless sleep, the chill of the night air seeping through his cloak. Around him, the campsite was silent, the embers of the fire reduced to a pile of glowing ash.
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He glanced around, his gaze settling on the empty space where Andromeda had been sitting. A knot of unease tightened in his chest. Her words from the previous night echoed in his mind: “Soohan is a land of shadows and whispers.” Had she slipped away during the night, disappearing back into the shadows that seemed to cling to her?
He rose to his feet, brushing the dust from his robes, and approached the spot where Toula and Maverick slept, their forms huddled together for warmth.
"Toula," he whispered, gently shaking her shoulder. "Maverick, wake up."
Toula stirred, her eyes fluttering open. She glanced around, her gaze lingering on the empty space where Andromeda had been.
"Where's Andromeda?" she asked, her voice thick with sleep.
"I don't know," Pag admitted, a flicker of worry crossing his face. "I just woke up, and…"
Before he could finish the sentence, a soft chuckle echoed from behind him.
"Looking for me?"
He turned, relief washing over him as he saw Andromeda standing a short distance away, her silhouette outlined against the rising sun. She held a small, clay mug in her hand, steam curling from its rim.
"Thought you might enjoy a warm drink before we set out," she said, her voice softened by the morning light. "Soohan blend. Strong enough to wake the dead."
Pag accepted the mug gratefully, the warmth spreading through his hands. The gesture, small though it was, spoke volumes.
"Thanks," he said, meeting her gaze. "And for last night, for…" He hesitated, unsure how to articulate the gratitude he felt.
"No need for thanks," Andromeda interrupted, her voice regaining its usual stoicism. "It's a harsh land, this. We watch out for our own."
"Obsidian grasslands? Ash Mountain range?" Pag repeated, his brow furrowed. "Those don't sound like particularly friendly landmarks." He pulled up his map, tracing the suggested route with a finger. The names alone conjured images of desolate landscapes and hidden dangers. "And we're sure there's no actual volcano involved here, right?" He glanced at Toula, searching for any hint of reassurance in her expression.
Toula shook her head, a wry smile touching her lips. "Not a volcano, no. But the Ash Mountains are aptly named." She gestured towards the distant peaks, their jagged silhouettes stark against the crimson sky. "Volcanic activity from centuries past left the soil rich in minerals, but also prone to… unpredictable bursts of energy."
Andromeda, who had been silently observing the exchange, stepped forward, her gaze fixed on the distant mountains. "The obsidian blades are drawn to these energy bursts," she said, her voice low. "They feed on the chaotic energy, grow stronger."
"Obsidian blades?" Pag questioned, his apprehension growing. "Seems kind og confusing to have the area, the flora and some mobs sharing such similar names. Also, you make them sound like—"
"They are not mere creatures or mobs, Pag," Andromeda interrupted, her gaze hardening. "They are spirits of shadow and anger, given form by the land itself." She paused, her gaze turning distant, as if lost in a memory. "They are relentless, unforgiving. And they guard the passage to Kyrbane with a ferocity born of ancient grudges."
"Wonderful," Pag muttered under his breath, his earlier bravado fading in the face of this new threat. "Just what I wanted to hear."
"We'll need to be swift and cautious," andromedas voice cut through Pag's thoughts. He turned to see her approaching, Morena trotting gracefully beside her. "The longer we linger in the obsidian grasslands, the more likely we are to attract unwanted attention."
"Let's move," Andromeda said, her gaze sweeping over the desolate landscape. "We've lost enough time already."
With that, they set off towards the Ash Mountains and the obsidian grasslands that lay at their feet, the fate of a kingdom hanging in the balance, and the mystery of the crown prince's assassination pulling Pag towards the heart of the Lunar Empire.
The obsidian plains stretched before them like a sea of frozen shadows, the ground beneath their feet crunching with every step. The air hung heavy, thick with the scent of sulfur and something else—a faint, metallic tang that pricked at the back of Pag's throat. The rising sun, a bloody smear on the horizon, cast long, distorted shadows that danced and twisted around them.
"Stay close," andromeda warned, her voice barely a whisper above the wind. "And watch your step. The ground here… it doesn't like to be disturbed."
Pag heeded her warning, his gaze scanning the ground ahead. He could understand why the obsidian blades would thrive in this desolate landscape. It felt steeped in a raw, primal energy that hummed beneath his skin—an energy that was both exhilarating and unnerving.
"Morena seems uneasy," Toula said, her voice tight with concern. She stroked the leprin's sleek neck, her gaze fixed on the creature's twitching ears. "She senses something."
Andromeda, who had been walking ahead, paused, her head tilted slightly as if listening to some distant sound. "We're being watched," she said, her voice barely audible. "Eyes on us, but keeping their distance… for now."
Pag felt a shiver run down his spine, and it wasn’t from the chill wind that whipped across the plains. He trusted Andromeda's instincts, honed from a lifetime spent navigating the treacherous landscapes of Ludere Online. If she said they were being watched, then they were being watched.
"Can you tell what it is?" Pag asked, keeping his voice low. He glanced around, his eyes scanning the desolate landscape for any sign of movement, any flicker of shadow that seemed out of place. The obsidian plains seemed to swallow sound, leaving only the crunch of their footsteps and the whisper of the wind.
"Not yet," Andromeda replied, her voice barely a murmur. "But they move like shadows, swift and silent. They're waiting for us to make a mistake."
A low growl rumbled from Morena, her body tensing beneath Aviva's touch. The leprin's ears were flattened against her head, her gaze darting nervously across the plains.
"She senses them too," Toula said, her voice strained. "They're close."
As if on cue, the ground before them erupted in a shower of obsidian shards, a chorus of guttural snarls splitting the silence. Three figures, wreathed in shadows and bristling with obsidian blades, rose from the heart of the disturbance. They moved with an unnatural fluidity, their bodies seeming to shift and distort in the flickering light of the rising sun."Obsidian blades!" Maverick breathed, his voice a mix of awe and terror. "I've only heard stories…"
"Now's not the time for stories, Mav," Andromeda snapped, drawing her sword in a swift, fluid motion. "Now's the time for fighting! Pag, we need a wall."
The obsidian blades wasted no time in introductions. They charged towards the group, their movements a blur of obsidian and shadow. The ground seemed to crack and groan beneath their feet, as if the very land itself echoed their fury.
"Pag!" andromeda shouted, her voice sharp with urgency. "We need that wall—now!"
Pag didn't need to be told again. He threw himself to the ground, his hands slamming against the obsidian plain. He could feel the raw energy of the land surging around him, responding to his touch. He poured every ounce of his will into the spell, focusing on the image of a blazing inferno, a wall of fire and fury that would hold back the shadows.
The obsidian plain beneath Pag's hands crackled with a sudden, intense heat. Fissures, glowing with an infernal red light, snaked outwards from his palms, splitting the earth in jagged lines. The air itself seemed to thicken, heavy with the stench of sulfur and ozone. Through the haze, Pag could see the flames of his spell taking shape – but these were not the familiar, comforting flames he knew. These burned with a cold, almost hungry light, fueled by the raw, chaotic energy of the obsidian plains. They roared to life, a wall of black fire shot through with veins of molten gold and streaks of ghostly green, mirroring the mineral striations that laced the surrounding stone. The heat was intense, but it carried a strange, chilling undercurrent, as if the flames themselves were drawing the warmth from the air around them.
A wave of nausea slammed into Pag as he poured his will into the spell. This wasn't just the familiar drain on his mana; this felt different, like the land itself was pushing back, testing his limits. He gritted his teeth, ignoring the throbbing in his head and the metallic tang that flooded his mouth, refusing to relinquish control.
The first of the obsidian blades, a creature of shifting shadows and jagged blades, slammed into the pyroclasmic wall with a screech of tortured stone. The flames roared and hissed, their colors flaring as they fought to consume the creature of darkness. But the obsidian blade was no mere beast; it was a spirit of the land, as much a part of this desolate expanse as the obsidian beneath their feet. It twisted within the inferno, its form flickering and reforming, the obsidian blades that sprouted from its body leaving glowing trails as it moved, as if it were drawing strength from the flames themselves.
The second obsidian blade, its form wreathed in shadows so dense it seemed to absorb even the light of the flames, darted around the edge of the wall, its obsidian blades leaving glowing trails in the air. It moved with an unnerving speed, its form blurring, making it almost impossible to track.
"Andromeda!" Pag shouted, his voice hoarse. "Behind you!"
Andromeda, her gaze locked on the first obsidian blade, spun just in time to deflect a blow that would have cleaved her in two. The impact sent a jolt of pain up her arm, but she didn't falter. Her sword, infused with a pale blue light, met the obsidian blade in a shower of sparks. "Go!" she shouted back, her voice strained with the effort of the fight. "I'll hold them off!"
But even as she spoke, the third obsidian blade, a hulking monstrosity with blades longer than Pag was tall, emerged from the dissipating flames. It charged towards Toula and the others, its roar a physical force that seemed to shake the very ground beneath their feet.
The ground buckled beneath Pag's feet as a geyser of molten rock erupted from a newly formed fissure, spraying a wave of heat across the battlefield. Instinctively, Pag threw up a hand, channeling a stream of black fire to deflect the molten shrapnel. The flames, now shot through with streaks of crimson and silver, reflected the mineral composition of the earth itself, their intensity amplified by the volatile energy of the obsidian plains.
Toula and Maverick, their faces pale with fear, huddled behind the remnants of Pag's pyroclasmic wall, which flickered and waned as he poured more and more of his energy into deflecting the geysers. The air grew thick with the suffocating stench of sulfur, making it difficult to breathe.
Andromeda, her movements a whirlwind of ice and steel, danced around the first obsidian blade, her form a stark contrast to the creature's chaotic darkness. Her sword, its blade a shimmering reflection of the moon, moved with a precision that belied its deadly grace. Each parry, each strike was perfectly timed, exploiting the briefest flicker in the obsidian blade's defenses.
But the obsidian blades were relentless. Like shadows given form, they seemed to flow around every obstacle, their movements unpredictable, their attacks fueled by the very chaos they embodied. The second blade, a blur of obsidian and shadow, harried Andromeda, forcing her to remain on the defensive. Each near miss left a trail of frost on the ground, a testament to her chilling touch.
Meanwhile, the third obsidian blade, its massive form momentarily slowed by the geyser of molten rock, lumbered towards the remnants of Pag's wall, its obsidian blades leaving deep furrows in the ground. Toula, her voice trembling, began to chant, her hands glowing with a faint green light as she called upon her healing magic.
"We can't hold them off forever!" Maverick shouted, his voice barely audible above the roar of the flames and the hiss of escaping steam. "We need to get out of here!"
Pag, his vision blurring at the edges, felt a wave of dizziness wash over him. He'd poured too much into the wall, into deflecting the geysers. His mana was dangerously low, and the land itself seemed to be feeding on his exhaustion. He knew they couldn't stay here, but where could they go?
And then, through the haze of fatigue and fear, he saw it: a shimmering distortion in the air, a faint outline of trees and foliage just beyond the reach of the obsidian blades. It was a portal, a rift in the fabric of this desolate expanse—and their only chance of escape. Surely wherever it led was better than here.
"Andromeda!" he roared, his voice hoarse. "The portal! We need to reach the portal!"
Andromeda, her face streaked with sweat and ash, spared a glance over her shoulder. She saw the portal, saw the desperation in Pag's eyes, and she knew what she had to do. With a cry of defiance, she launched herself at the obsidian blade that had been hounding her, her sword flashing in the dim light. The blade met its mark, cleaving through the creature's shadowy form, and for a brief, heart-stopping moment, time seemed to stand still.