Chapter 29 The Path
I have been thinking... what type of character should i add, because this character is going to be a evil psychopath and also in future he/she may become Raizel Best friend or girlfriend.
So i need some ideas from your side, like the what should be the name of the character and the aspect or what powers i should give him/her, do want it to be female or male and other such things.
But remember one thing that this man/women is going to be the evil of the evil character.
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Flashback end
'I wonder what her reaction would be, if she were to see the real me.' thought Raizel, while glancing at the Nephis who seems to be sleeping.
Right now, he is using Aether to change his hair colour from dark purple to peal white, if he were to change it back to Dark purple.
He know that Nephis reaction would be priceless.
Then his gaze swiped over at the three sleepers who were sleeping peacefully, not knowing that this will be the last movements of peace they would ever get.
'At the end of the day, i will make sure to give you the ending you all deserve.'
As he was thinking about this, when he suddenly remember something.
'They didn't talk about that Odysseus story.'
He now remember that they both didn't talked much aside from introductions, and telling their abilities.
And right now all of them are sleeping, Nephis was sleeping like a rock, with her sword in her hands, Sunny was far away, but also sleeping with his blade out, and Cassie well this girl was in Raizel arms.
'Is it because of me.' thought Raizel after all one factor can change a lot of things, like one variable can change a whole timeline.
'I wonder will it effect the future or not.'
With these thought he saw the sun rising up slowly.
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In the morning, Nephis was the first to get up and soon joined by Sunny. Raizel was guarding the three of them the whole night, and the fact that they both didn't even know it.
While the sun was still rising and the sea was retreating, Raizel made a fire and began preparing a simple breakfast, from the scavengers he hunted yesterday.
Cassie was still asleep, Nephis wanted to wake her up, but Raizel stopped her, saying
"Let her sleep more."
Nephis just nodded, Sunny was sitting beside the fire, blankly looking at it and by his side sat Nephis.
Their was a silence between them which was broken by Raizel as he spoke.
"So what are we going to do today ?"
Nephis and Sunny looked at him, Then Nephis spoke, as she looked at the retreating dark sea.
"With what Sunny told us about scavengers crowding to the west, the logical step would be to start moving east as soon as we can. Of course, north and south are also acceptable, but that won't put as much space between us and the enemy."
Sunny nodded, agreeing with that logic.
"We have explored to the east a little, but not enough to confidently make it to the next high point in a day. That's why the best course of action would be to spend today scouting a path to that group of cliffs over there and move the camp tomorrow."
Soon they sat in silence which was broken by Sunny who seems to be looking at his sword.
"I think we are in a place known as Forgotten shore"
Nephis and Raizel look at him
Raizel didn't asked much, but Nephis spoke up.
"How do you know ?"
Sunny then pointed towards his sword, as he said.
"It is written on the memory description, 'On the cursed land of the forgotten shore only steel remember'"
"Well now atleast we knew where we are." said Raizel as he took a a slice of burned meat and give it to Sunny.
Sunny soon started devouring the meat, then Raizel passed some to Nephis too, as she took it, and started eating it.
Looking at them eat Raizel thought.
'Should i tell them about the vision Cassie is going to say...' Raizel wanted to see if his interference would change something, can a this small variable change the future or not.
'Well let's see.'
Then Raizel spoke his voice sounded serious.
"Sunny, Nephis last night i had a dream." his voice sounded clam and cold.
Hearing this Both Nephis and Sunny stopped eating as they looked at Raizel with a surprised look, since people usually don't dream in dream realm, then Sunny asked.
"What kind of dream ?"
Raizel paused for a bit, carefully selecting his words, then he said
"I saw a city in ruins and in the center of the city their was a tall hill, on that hill stood a large magnificent Dark castle. But this castle was, you see it was full of people and their was food, safety, and laughter among them."
As his words settle in, both Nephis and Sunny remain silent.
'A Dark Castle... in this place.' thought Nephis, she didn't find it hard to believe after all their might be a possibility of Castle in this place.
'People, food and laughter in this cursed place.' thought Sunny, to him it felt as if he has heard a cold joke 'laughter in dream realm' and the fact that they have not seen any living being in this place expect for those Cab monsters.
After that their was a long silence, which was broken by Nephis as she said.
"Did you see anything else ?"
'Anything else huh.. i may haven't seen a lot of things but i have read a lot of things, and i am going to tell you non of that.' thought Raizel as he shook his head.
Nephis sigh seeing this, just as she was about to speak up
Cassie suddenly sat up straight. Her eyes were wide open, and her face was a little pale.
She looked nervous and excited, like a child who has just gotten a candy.
Seeing this Nephis frowned.
"Cassie ? What's the matter?"
Cassie turned towards her and smiled.
"A... a vision! I had a vision!"
'A vision now!' Sunny thought as he glanced at Cassie, he felt a bit weird....even he didn't know why, it was just a bit weird, after what Raizel told them.
Meanwhile, Nephis has already stretched her hand, as though prepared to summon her sword.
"Are we in danger?"
Cassie energetically shook her head.
"No, it's not that! People... I saw a castle full of people!"
Hearing the term of Castle and People both Nephis and Sunny eyes widen in shocked as they both turned their heard in Raizel direction.
Meanwhile Raizel still maintain his emotionless look, he looked at Cassie who was pointing her finger in the east.
"I don't know how far it is, but I'm sure that it's in that direction!"
Sunny and Nephis looked at each other, not knowing whether to be glad or petrified.
Hearing the silence the smile slowly disappeared from Cassie's face, replaced by confusion.
Feeling the sudden tension, she asked:
"Uh... what's wrong?"
Sunny sighed as he decided to explain.
"Nothing really, it's just that Raizel also has the same dream about the castle you saw in your vision..."
He paused for a bit as he saw a shocked expression on Cassie face, then continue.
".... and the direction your are pointing too, Is the one we wish to avoid the most."
Hearing this the Cassie face fell.
Nephis, who was quietly listening to them, gave Sunny an indecipherable look and finally spoke:
"Tell us more about the castle."
A shadow of the previous excitement returned to Cassie's eyes. With a serious nod, she began describing her vision.
"I dreamt of a vast, ruined city built of weathered stone. It was surrounded by tall, impregnable walls. Various monsters were wandering its narrow streets. In the center of the city, the was a hill, and on that hill stood a magnificent castle."
She smiled.
"But there were no monsters in the castle! Instead, it was full of people. I think... no, I'm sure that they were Awakened. Some were guarding the walls, some were going about their lives without a care in the world. There was food, safety, and laughter!"
'It is mostly the same' thought Sunny as he looked at Raizel.
'Cassie can see the future, so that would explain why she can see that vision but...'
'....did Raizel also has the same ability like Cassie to see the future.' thought Sunny as he looked at Raizel who seems to be asking Cassie some questions.
And at the same time Nephis was also thinking the same thing.
'But Raizel said that he had a dream not a vison..' thought Nephis, as she recall what Raizel said.
'But Cassie said her visons come in a from of dream... so it may be a vision too and Raizel might not know about it.'
Nephis thinks that this might be the possible.
'And this dream/Vision if both of them saw it than it has to be true.'
Thought Both Nephis and Sunny, and for a while both of them glanced at each other, but didn't said anything, but they both know one thing.
People don't dream in dream realm, so what they saw must be from the future or from the past. If this castle really existed, then all of their problems would be solved.
Then Sunny cleared his throat as he looked at Cassie but not before briefly glancing at Raizel trying to mask his suspicions, he spoke.
"Did you see anything else?"
Cassie frowned, trying to remember. Then, her face cleared.
"Yes! I saw Sunny and Nephis leading me through the gates of the castle! That means we will make it! but i didn't see Raizel in it."
At the end of sentence Cassie voice held a tone of confusion in it.
Hearing this both Sunny and Nephis cast a glance at Raizel.
Meanwhile Raizel still has his emotionless face.
'Now it has conform my suspicion that Cassie can't see my me nor anything related to me.'
He then notice the glances Sunny and Nephis were giving him concerned gazes, specially Nephis who seems to be looking at him with a.... worried glance.
'Interesting'
Then he said with a shrugged.
"Well it can only mean two thing, i died or i never make it to that castle."
Hearing him taking about his death with such a causal attitude made the three sleeper shocked.
"NO don't say thing like that Raizel"
Cassie said as she tightly hold him, she doesn't want one of her only friends to die.
Nephis also climb in.
"Raizel don't worry...i will protect you."
Raizel raised an eyebrow as he heard the last part. Sunny and Cassie were also looking at Nephis with a raised eye brow, but Nephis just tilted her head not knowing what she has just said.
Sunny seeing all this didn't anything as he kept his silence, their was a lot going in his mind right now.
Raizel also didn't said anything as he just look at the dark sea.
'But it not that easy Changing star.'
Because Raizel remember that from the book he read, it was written that "Sunny was the one leading Cassie to the castle not Nephis too, but it seems like the fate has started to intervene.
'I didn't expect fate to start intervening this early, but oh well i was prepared for a situation like this.'
Raizel shifted his gaze at both Nephis and Sunny then said.
"We will discuses this some other time but right now we need to make a decision, should we head to east like we planned earlier or should we trust my dream and Cassie vision and head towards west"
Silence hung in the air which was broken by Changing star.
"We will go west."
Raizel just nodded his head, while Sunny and Cassie didn't said anything.
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After they has their breakfast, they spend the rest of their time planning about the journey ahead. They had already prepared to abandon the temporary camp.
Sunny decided to give his bag to Raizel (who store it in his ring), so it won't hinder his movement in fight.
Soon they set off to the labyrinth.
Raizel and Nephis were at front while Sunny at the middle and Cassie at last.
Sunny shadow was scouting the rout ahead which will alert them if their any danger ahead.
The labyrinth was just as it was before, confusing and seemingly endless. Crimson blades of coral protruded from the black mud, creating a vast, tangled forest.
"Stop! Scavengers"
Said Sunny his face paled a little.
Raizel look ahead, he could also sense some presence of a monster.
"How many ?"
Asked Nephis while holding her sword in both of her hands.
"...Atleast a 5 and they're slowly moving in our direction." said Sunny after a bit pause. Cassie trembled a little hearing the number.
Nephis got frozen on spot, her eyes got a calculating glint.
'Their weren't supposed to be this many at the start.'
Though Raizel as he narrow his eyes, then he said.
"Can we take another route."
Sunny paused for a bit, before saying.
"No i don't think we can."
Their was a silence, then Nephis spoke up.
"Are those Scavengers done with the carcass?"
Sunny thought for a moment and then shook his head.
"No, I don't think so. But maybe there's not enough meat for everyone anymore, so some stragglers had no choice but to leave with an empty stomach."
Nephis didn't said anything, as she just tighten her hold of her sword.
'Well i am strong enough to take care of them.'
Thought Raizel nodded his head, then said.
"Don't worry i will take care of them."
After saying that he slowly started walking in the direction of the Scavenger.
"Wait!"
"Raizel!!"
Raizel didn't care about the shouts he heard from the three Sleeper.
He simply dashes ahead.
When he reach upon, he quickly hide behind a rock, as he saw a 5 scavenger just like Sunny said, they were moving in his direction, and sometime their bodies would also crash onto each other.
He summoned his sword, as he glanced at the red ring on his finger.
'Let's test the power of this ring and this weapon.'
He then suddenly disappeared from his position as he appeared on the top of the scavenger, he stab the monster on it's head.
SPAT!
The scavenger struggle for a bit before it's body fell to the ground.
THUD!
{You have slain an awakened beast, Carapace Scavenger]
{The darkness inside you grows stronger}
The spell remained Raizel of his kill, Raizel could feel the pain of the stab, almost like someone has put a cold iron rod in his heard, but he didn't have the time to duel on it as all the scavenger stop in their track, they saw their companion dead, and their gazes shifted to Raizel who was standing in the middle of them.
GROWLL!!
They all charged at him, but Raizel has disappear from his place, only leaving tail of violet flash.
He appear behind one of the scavenger and quickly cut two of it's legs making it lose the balance, the scavenger large body crashes on the other scavenger, making the other two fall too.
He then started his massacre and killing all the scavenger from left to right. He would cut their legs and stab them in their face, for a one shot kill, his movement were like a skilled warrior.
He was jumping from one scavenger to another stabbing on their weak point.
His sword was cutting the Scavenger body with ease, their large body were covered in tough dark armor, but it seems that it was not enough to stopped Raizel sword from cutting them like vegetable's.
Scavengers were having a hard time to hit him because Raizel was disappearing and reappearing making it hard for them to locate his location.
{You have slain an awakened beast, Carapace Scavenger}
{The darkness inside you grows stronger}
{You have revived a memory}
{You have slain an awakened beast, Carapace Scavenger}
{The darkness inside you grows stronger}
{You have revived a memory}
{You have slain an awakened beast, Carapace Scavenger}
{The darkness inside you grows stronger}
{You have slain an awaken..
Raizel look at the endless reminder of spell, but his gaze shifted towards the last scavenger whose whole body was filled with deep cut and slashes, two of it legs were missing and one of his pincers too.
The scavenger had a blood thirsty look on it ugly face, well if you can it a face in the first place.
Raizel didn't even bother with the last scavenger as he just raised his right arm and pointing in the scavenger direction.
Then suddenly a small black lighting started appearing on his hands, which he quickly shot it towards the scavenger. The scavenger didn't even has time to react as the lighting bolt directly priced it's face killing it on spot.
{You have slain an awakened beast, Carapace Scavenger}
{The darkness inside you grows stronger}
{You have revived a memory}
Raizel didn't even look at the ruins as he suddenly got on his knees, he has been trying to hold back the pain, but it seems like it the pain was too much for Raizel bear, his face went ghostly pale as he gritted his teeth.
After while he calmed himself down as he stood up.
'This flaw is starting to get out of hand.'
Raizel now was seriously thinking, should he stopped using powerful abilities or should he increase his pain tolerance.
After getting torture for like 13 years, his pain tolerance should have went up high, but the opposite happened as his body become quit sensitive to pain, that why Amaris also stopped beating him up 2 years ago.
At most she would do is to just sleep with him, but that was not the point.
He needs to do something about this flaw of his....
As he was thinking about this when he heard some sounds of steps, shifting his gaze towards the three sleepers, who seems to have just reach here now.
Nephis and Sunny has a expression of shock plastid in their faces, but in their eyes Raizel could also see a bit fear, well it was quit normal in their position after all, they seems to be struggling against one scavenger, then their is Raizel who single handily took out five of them without a sweat.
Their eyes moves towards the dead bodies of 5 scavengers, their limbs were cut and parts of their bodies were brutally disabled, Raizel looked at Sunny who wanted to puke but he control himself as he just looked away.
Nephis eyes were fixed on Raizel as she seems to want to ask some question but didn't know where to start.
Cassie who was unknown to the scene in front of her, she was worried about Raizel, not knowing whether he survived or not.
"What just happen....." said Sunny as he cover his mouth and nose.