Visiting Kalum

Happy Halloween. To those who celebrate the pumpkin holiday, trick or treat the hell out today.

Kalum lay in the hospital bed, his body still aching from his frantic escape through the shadows, and his mind haunted by the petrified faces of his friends. The sterile white walls of the hospital room offered little comfort, and he found himself staring blankly at the ceiling, replaying the last moments in Crisanto Forest over and over again, the twisted fog, the acid pools, and the basilisk's unblinking, cruel gaze.

A gentle knock at the door snapped him from his thoughts. He turned to see a tall figure enter, flanked by a healer who murmured a reminder: "Please, be mindful of his condition. He's been through a lot."

Kalum's gaze settled on the man standing at the door. He was built like a fortress—broad-shouldered, powerful, and wearing the insignia of the Crimson Lions, a crest in the shape of a lion's head set against a dark red background. His armor was pristine yet worn, polished to a metallic gleam but with visible marks of battle that spoke of his experience. The man's face was stern, marked by years of hard decisions and battle scars, but his eyes were sharp, observant. Kalum recognized him immediately: Ryker Lios, guild master of the Crimson Lions, the major guild under which Red Wolfgang operated.

"Kalum," Ryker said, his voice low but resonant, respectful of the quiet tension in the room. He took a step closer, his posture calm yet exuding the presence of someone accustomed to command. "I've been waiting to speak with you. I'm glad to see you're awake."

Kalum tried to sit up straighter, wincing slightly as he adjusted himself. "Guild Master Lios… I didn't expect to see you here."

Ryker offered a nod, pulling a chair closer to the bed and sitting, his gaze never leaving Kalum. "I wanted to hear what happened directly from you." He paused, glancing at the healer, then lowered his voice. "I know you've been through a nightmare, Kalum. I'll keep this brief."

Kalum clenched his fists, the memory of Rowan, Alys, Erin, and Oliver's petrified forms still fresh in his mind. He took a shaky breath, but nodded, willing himself to be steady. "Thank you."

Ryker watched him, his expression unreadable but softening slightly as he waited for Kalum to gather himself. The healer hovered near the door, her face a mixture of worry and curiosity, watching their exchange with a quiet intensity.

Kalum took a deep breath, speaking slowly, his voice raw. "The forest… it was worse than we'd imagined. It was filled with this purplish fog—so thick you could barely see your own hand in front of you. It clung to everything, made it hard to breathe. And then… there were the signs. Pools of acid, claw marks as deep as tree trunks."

Ryker's brow furrowed, his expression grim. "Signs of basilisks."

Kalum nodded. "We thought it was one basilisk at first, but… there were at least two. They moved faster than we could anticipate, and…" His voice cracked, and he looked down, unable to meet Ryker's gaze as he continued, barely above a whisper. "It turned them into stone. All of them. Rowan, Alys, Oliver, Erin… I tried to help, but it was like they were… frozen, just gone. Their faces… they looked terrified."

He closed his eyes, his fists clenching tighter as he struggled against the wave of grief threatening to overwhelm him.

Ryker's face hardened, his mouth a thin line as he absorbed the details. He remained silent, allowing Kalum a moment to collect himself, then placed a heavy hand on his shoulder. "Kalum," he said, his tone firm but gentle, "you did everything you could. Rowan and the others—" He hesitated, letting out a slow breath. "They were brave Hunters. They faced a creature far beyond what anyone expected. They wouldn't want you to carry that weight alone."

Kalum nodded, swallowing hard, but the guilt lingered, his gaze still distant. "If I had just… been faster… maybe—"

"Listen to me," Ryker interrupted, his voice gentle but commanding, his grip firm on Kalum's shoulder. "This was no ordinary mission. The Crimson Lions underestimated the forest's danger. None of this was on you. And that's why I'm here—to ensure no one else meets the same fate."

Kalum looked up, a glimmer of hope and uncertainty in his eyes. "You believe me? About the basilisk? The forest?"

Ryker's expression was unwavering, his eyes filled with determination. "Every word. News of a basilisk in Crisanto Forest has already begun to spread. It's not something the guilds can ignore, and it's not something I'll let stand. We owe it to Rowan, to Alys, to Erin and Oliver, to make sure this doesn't happen again."

Kalum took a shaky breath, relief flooding him. To be believed, to know that the Crimson Lions would act on his account—his friends' sacrifice wouldn't be in vain. "Thank you, Guild Master."

Ryker nodded, his gaze softening slightly. "You're not alone, Kalum. The Crimson Lions will see to it that Crisanto Forest is cleared, and the basilisks eradicated. We'll send our strongest to ensure nothing like this ever happens again." He gave Kalum's shoulder a reassuring squeeze before standing, his expression resolute. "Rest for now. And if you feel up to it, once you're ready, the Crimson Lions would welcome you to join us on the mission."

Kalum's eyes widened, the offer filling him with a renewed sense of purpose, even amid his exhaustion. "I… I'd be honored."

Ryker nodded once more, a glint of respect in his gaze. "Then rest, Kalum. And when you're ready, we'll return to Crisanto Forest together."

With a final nod to the healer, who watched their exchange with quiet approval, Ryker left the room, his footsteps echoing down the hallway as he prepared to marshal the Crimson Lions. In that moment, Kalum felt a weight lift, replaced by a fierce resolve. His friends deserved justice, and he would stand with Ryker and the Crimson Lions to ensure that Crisanto Forest, with its lurking basilisks and cursed fog, would finally be brought to light.