Chapter 13: A web of thorns

Pools of tears welled up in Orion's eyes as he gazed upon the breathtaking sight before him.

"Beautiful!" he whispered, his voice trembling with emotion.

The vines, like gentle arms, carried Jaxon's limp form over the ancient tree, its gnarled branches stretching towards the sky like withered fingers. The vines lowered Jaxon's body down slowly, as if laying a precious treasure to rest.

Orion's expression shifted from wonder to concern as he beheld Jaxon's pale, still face. He had never seen his friend like this – so fragile, so vulnerable. Jaxon, the fiery and fearless, lay motionless, his body almost lifeless.

Orion's heart raced with anxiety, his mind racing with the possibility of losing his dear friend.

"I don't wanna lose him," Orion murmured, his voice cracking with emotion.

Haze, sensing his distress, placed a reassuring hand on Orion's back.

"You won't! He will be okay," she said softly.

As if sensing Jaxon's unconscious presence, the ancient tree stirred to life. Tendrils of vines reached out, enveloping Jaxon's body in a gentle, ethereal glow.

The vines levitated his form, cradling him in a cocoon-like capsule that seemed to pulse with a soft, blue light. The cocoon came to rest on a sturdy branch, suspended high above the ground.

The young man, his face serene and confident, turned to the team.

"He should be fine with time," he said, his voice filled with a quiet assurance.

***

The young man sat beside them with a fluid, graceful motion.

"Water?" he offered, holding out a delicate, vine-woven cup.

Haze and Sapphire quickly declined, but Orion's hand hesitated as he reached for it.

"I'll take w-wat…"

Haze smacked his arm, silencing him before he could finish.

The young man sighed, his posture easing.

"Look, I realize my initial actions might have seemed aggressive, but it's a matter of survival in this world.

I was only trying to protect what's important to me. I'm sorry if I came on too strong."

Haze gave him a warm smile. "You're pretty chill. Got a girlfriend?"

Sapphire nudged her playfully.

"Seriously, he's hot, loves nature, and apologizes when he's wrong. What more could a girl want?"

The young man chuckled, a blush creeping onto his cheeks. Sapphire's eyes sparkled with curiosity.

"Ummm," she prompted , waiting for his response.

The young man's smile widened. "Thorne….just Thorne."

Sapphire's gaze narrowed, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I wish I could say nice to meet you, but I'd be lying."

Haze palmed her face, shaking her head in amusement.

Sapphire continued, her tone softening slightly as she looked around at the serene surroundings.

"What you have here is lovely. And I guess we owe you one for saving Jaxon."

Her smile vanished, replaced by a stern expression. "But….but…but, you see the thing is, I am not gonna forget about your little welcome party because you decided to play Mr. Nice guy."

Thorne coughed, a hint of astonishment in his voice. "Mr. Nice guy?"

Sapphire relaxed, exhaling deeply, her words dripping with intensity.

"Lemme put it in words you're familiar with. I Do Not Trust You!

The reason we are here right now is because we need all the help we can get. Our friend needs help. But don't think for one second that our gratitude after this, means I'm ready to overlook our first greetings, and that you are a complete stranger."

Thorne held up his hands, a gesture of surrender.

"I get it, okay... I do. It's a fucked up world out there. But I am not the enemy! I apologize for trying to kill you."

He sniffed, scrunching his nose.

"I don't need you to trust me. And hell, I have my doubts about you, but the only way I can be of help is if you tell me your plans.

I've lived in this twisted world for as long as I can remember, I've seen and faced a lot of things. And I promise to render my services in whatever way I can.

Consider it an apology for almost killing you!"

Sapphire laid back, her eyes narrowed in a dilemma, weighing her options.

Haze broke the silence, her voice filled with determination. "We are here to rid the world of evil."

Thorne sighed, his expression skeptical.

"And how do you plan on doing that?"

Sapphire replied, her voice firm. "Killing the one behind all of this…. Once and for all."

Thorne smiled, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Do you happen to know who that person is?"

Sapphire cleared her throat, a hint of uncertainty creeping into her voice. "What?"

Thorne leaned forward, his eyes locked on hers. "Do you know the one behind all of this?"

Sapphire cocked her head, her confidence returning. "Clarion or whoever he is? He should be ready for us!"

Thorne laughed, a low, husky sound. "You clearly have no idea who he is?"

Thorne's eyes seemed to display fear, " the never-ending tale, harbinger of dread, the monarch, the eater of worlds, the nightbane. He goes by many names.

But one seems to capture what he is, who he is... He is the One Above All."

Orion swallowed his saliva, his hands shaking with fear.

Thorne continued, "Ready for us? He never gets ready for anyone! He stays ready. It's not that simple.

Clarion isn't someone you just 'face.' He excels in dismantling his enemies piece by piece. He knows how to turn your greatest strengths into fatal flaws. He will exploit every doubt and fear you have.

He will tear apart every part of your sanity, leaving you questioning what's real and what's not! He's not going to wait for you to come to him, he'll make sure that coming to him feels like a trap you set for yourself.

Clarion isn't just a name to fear; he's beyond power. If you're truly set on ending his reign, you need to prepare for more than just a fight you need to prepare for a being beyond power. You need to be ready to face things you can't even imagine."

Sapphire coughed, ruffling her hand through her hair. "What exactly makes him reach such insurmountable power?"

Thorne replied, his voice laced with a hint of dread. "His ability to thrive on chaos and feed off darkness. It's like the world bends to suit his will."

Haze asked, her eyes narrowing. "Does he have a weakness, and can it be exploited? Can we use it against him?"

Thorne's mind seemed to cut to pictures and scenes, flooding his head with memories. He gained control, his expression grim.

"He doesn't have many, but there is one.

I do know of the Obsidian Shard. An artifact known for its ancient forces. He uses it to amplify his powers, to distort reality on an unprecedented scale and be nearly omnipotent."

The team nodded, determination etched on their faces. "I guess we know now what we're dealing with and what we're going to do next," haze replied.

Sapphire asked, curiosity visible in her eyes.

"How do you know all of this? Have you, by any chance encountered him before?"

Thorne's gaze dropped, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Let's just say... I've had my share of close calls. I've seen the devastation he leaves behind. And I've learned to recognize the signs of his presence," his fingers fidgeting.

###

Clarion reclined on his throne, a monstrous construct of blackened bone and twisted metal, jagged and uneven as if forged in the depths of nightmares.

The air around him crackled with malevolent energy, the shadows seeming to pulse in time with his heartbeat. His eyes, cold and unfeeling, narrowed as he watched the group, through the swirling mists of his foresight, the scene unfolding before him like a grotesque play.

Clarion's laughter echoed through the iron fort. "I must admit, I have a certain fondness for them. They're so...eager to sacrifice everything.

Let us amuse ourselves with a little entertainment." he spoke to his servant who was shivered with fear.

"A feast I propose! With their screams as the music!

That is, if they happen to survive long enough."