Day ten

Lim opened his eyes and blinked in surprise. He was lying on the table curled up in a ball, and Rake was hanging over him, gently shaking his shoulder.

- Wake up, baby, - said Rake, his voice was quiet but persistent. - It's time to go.

Lim yawned sleepily, getting up from the table, and fragments of memories began to pop up in his head: the warmth of the fireplace, Vinor's voice, stories about gods and monsters... He realized that he had fallen asleep, listening to Vinor's stories.

He looked around and saw that the room was already full of soft light from the burned-out fireplace. Rake was already ready to travel, his sword was attached to his belt, and his backpack was thrown over his shoulder.

Lim tried to remember the details of the conversation with Vinor, but the dream, like fog, covered his memory. However, he clearly remembered one image - a tall figure in a white mantle, her dark eyes and a creepy whisper. He was shuddering, as if an ice wave swept down his back.

Rake, noticing his thoughtfulness, looked at him worriedly.

- Are you okay? - Rake asked, - Or are you still sleeping?

Lim shook his head, trying to throw away the images from his sleep. He understood that he needed to focus on the present, on the upcoming journey. He looked at Reik and nodded, making it clear that he was ready.

- Okay, - said Rake, - Then it's time for us to go.

He held out his hand to him, and Lim, taking it, followed him. Leaving the house, they saw Vinor, who was standing on the threshold and looking at them with sadness.

- Be careful, - said Vinor, his voice was quiet but full of anxiety. - Don't forget what I told you.

Rake nodded.

- Thank you for everything, - said Rake, - We won't forget it.

Lim nodded in agreement, feeling gratitude to this good man who gave them shelter and protection.

They said goodbye to Vinor and his daughters, who waved after them, and set off to meet new adventures and dangers.

Lim, walking next to Rake, felt a little anxious, but he understood that he had to be strong, and that he was not alone. He had a long journey and a meeting with the Lord ahead of him, and he knew that he had to be ready for anything.

Leaving Winor's hospitable house, Lim and Reik went deep into the forest. They walked along a path that was barely distinguishable under a layer of fallen leaves, and were surrounded by tall, crooked trees whose branches intertwined like bony fingers.

Lim followed Rake, diligently stepping along the trail. He looked around, feeling uncomfortable under the heavy look of silent trees. There was darkness everywhere, and the only source of light was the dim light that penetrated through the treetops, as if through a gray veil.

They walked for a long time, and the forest became more and more gloomy and dense. The trail looped between the roots, went into the dark ravines, and Lim felt more and more tired. But he knew that they had to move forward, that they couldn't stop.

Finally, after long hours of walking, they came out of the Forest of the Fallen.

And a completely different landscape opened before their eyes. The darkness seemed to have retreated, and in front of them there was a forest where the trees were not green, but crimson, with blood-colored leaves, and the grass underfoot was also reddish.

Lim and Rake froze, amazed by this gloomy splendor. They had never seen anything like this, and they had a feeling that they were in another world.

But their thoughts were interrupted when a huge figure appeared from behind the trees. It was a tall humanoid with long limbs and pointed fingers.

The monster moved slowly, as if tracking down its prey, and Lim felt fear bandled him.

Rake, assessing his strength, quickly realized that he would not be able to overcome this creature. He glanced at Lim and gestured to him that he needed to hide. They quickly disappeared behind large red mushrooms, trying not to make a sound.

The monster passed by, and its long limbs left deep marks on the red earth. He disappeared into the thick of the forest, and Lim and Reik remained in the shadows, afraid to move.

- We'd better wait, - Rake whispered, - We can't beat him now.

Lim nodded, his heart pounding wildly with fear. He knew that Rake was right and they had to be patient, and that they had to wait for this monster to leave.

The monster left, dissolving in the thick of the Red Forest, but Lim and Rake remained in the shadows for some time behind the big red mushrooms.

Lim felt a trembling passing through his body, he could not forget the sight of this terrible creature.

Rake, noticing his condition, put his hand on his shoulder.

- It's okay, kid, - Rake whispered, - He's gone.

Lim nodded, trying to calm down. He knew that Rake was there and that he would protect him.

Rake looked around, assessing the situation.

- We need to eat, - said Rake, - and rest. We've been going for a long time. I'll look for something edible, and we'll camp here, under the mushroom.

He looked at Lima.

- You stay here, - said Rake, - Don't go anywhere until I get back. This place seems safe enough, but be on your guard.

Lim nodded, making it clear that he agreed. He didn't want to be alone, but he understood that Reik needed to find food, and that he had to trust him. He looked at Reik with hope, knowing that he would come back soon.

Rake, leaving Lim under the protection of a large red mushroom, went deep into the Red Forest. Lim sat down with his hands around his knees and waited for his return. He looked around, trying not to lose sight of anything.

Red trees seemed to whisper, their crimson leaves fluttered in the invisible wind, and there was a smell of wet earth and some incomprehensible sweetness in the air. Lim felt a little scared, but he knew he shouldn't lose his vigilance.

He was waiting for Rake, and his heart was pounding with anxiety. He hoped that Rake would return safe and sound, and that they would be able to rest and gain strength.

*

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*

Leaving Lim under the mushroom, Rake went deep into the Red Forest, trying not to make any noise. He carefully examined the surroundings in search of any living things. He knew that they needed to eat to gain strength, and he was determined to get food.

It took some time before luck smiled at him. He noticed a lone deer that was peacefully pinching the red grass. The deer was large, and its fur had a crimson shade, as if it itself was a product of this forest.

Rake slowly and carefully began to sneak up on the animal, trying not to make a single sound.

Having reached a close enough distance not to scare away the deer, Rake snatched his dagger from the sheath. His movements were fast and accurate, he did not give himself time to think. With one accurate throw, the dagger pierced the animal's head, and the deer instantly fell dead, without even having time to understand what had happened.

Rake, making sure that the deer was dead, approached him and, putting his carcass on his shoulder, headed back.

But it was at this moment that his intuition screamed about danger, as if warning him against something. Rake did not hesitate, he threw the deer carcass on the ground and hid behind the nearest tree, trying to merge with the environment.

And then he heard footsteps approaching. They were slow and confident, they made his heart beat faster. A figure came out of the trees.

Tall, dressed in silver armor, with fluttering white hair, and eyes burning with golden light. It wasn't a person, it was something else, something otherworldly.

The figure slowly approached the deer carcass, and then stopped abruptly, as if she felt something.

- Come out, who's hiding behind the tree, - said the figure, her voice was cold, like ice. - Otherwise, your head will fall to the ground.

Rake remained motionless, not understanding who was in front of him, but he felt that it was better for him not to test the patience of this creature. His intuition told him that there was something very dangerous in front of him.

Rake, realizing that he was left with no choice, slowly came out from behind the tree, holding his sword ready. He felt tension straining his whole body, but he tried to control himself. He knew he shouldn't show his fear.

He looked at the figure in silver armor, trying to see its features.

His skin was pale like moonlight, his hair was white like snow, and his eyes were burning with golden fire. And it was when those eyes met his gaze that Rake felt such a fear that he had never experienced before.

He felt as if there was something divine in front of him, something that surpassed his understanding. It was as if he was standing in front of one of the gods Vinor was talking about.

But the figure didn't give him time to think.

- Is this your deer? - he asked, his voice was cold, but melodic.

Rake, unable to say a word, just nodded in response.

- Aren't you a hunter by any chance? - the figure asked, and a slight smile sounded in his voice.

Rake nodded again, trying to relieve the trembling in his hands.

Suddenly, a smile appeared on the lips of the figure. It wasn't a kind smile, but rather a condescending one, as if she was watching something funny.

- Curious, - said the figure, - My name is Marcus Enz Evash from the Evash family, and I am one of the apostles.

The words of the figure struck Reik like a lightning strike. Apostles... According to legends, Apostles are those in whose veins the mixed blood of the gods flows, those who were born from the union of man and one of the gods. They were demigods, creatures endowed with incredible strength and power.

Rake never thought he would run into one of them, especially here in the Red Forest.

Rake looked at Marcus in a daze, not knowing what to say. His fear seemed to have gave way to amazement, but his intuition was still screaming about danger. He knew that he had to be careful, that he was in a very strange and dangerous situation.

Having gathered the remnants of self-control, Rake tried to pull himself together. He understood that he needed to stay calm and find out what this demigod wanted.

- What... what do you want from me? - Rake asked, trying not to make his voice tremble.

Marcus only smiled back, and his golden eyes flashed like coals.

- From you? - Marcus asked, his voice was mocking, - Nothing. I didn't come here because of you. My goal is the monster that wanders through this forest.

Rake nodded, accepting Marcus' words. He didn't understand why the apostle needed his attention, but he felt relieved that he was not the target.

- Then... can I go then? - Rake asked, trying not to show his alarm.

Marcus thoughtfully raised his head and seemed to be looking at something invisible. After a few seconds, he looked at Rake again.

- No, - said Marcus, his voice was firm and decisive.

Reik was surprised by such an answer, his internal tension increased again.

- But... but you said you didn't need anything from me," Rake said, his voice trembling.

Marcus tilted his head, and his smile became even wider.

- From you personally - yes, I don't need anything, - Marcus said, - But I need an audience.

Rake didn't understand his words, he looked at Marcus questioningly, waiting for explanations.

- I want you to see me killing this monster, - Marcus explained, and notes of arrogance were heard in his voice, - It will be a spectacle worthy of your attention.

Marcus grinned, his eyes were burning impatiently, and Rake realized that he was left with no choice. He didn't know why Marcus needed a spectator, but he felt that he could not refuse him. He was just a hunter, and Marcus was someone much bigger, someone who could just take his life.

Rake understood that arguing with Marcus was like trying to move a mountain.

He silently walked after the apostle, feeling the tension shackle his body like a steel chain. They moved deep into the Red Forest, where crimson trees stretched to the sky, like bony fingers of the dead, and the ground underfoot was like baked blood.

The trace left by the monster was distinct, as if a giant plow had passed through this gloomy landscape.

There was a smell of rot and something elusively sweet in the air, which made me dizzy. Rake tried to keep up, but his every step was difficult, as if his legs had become lead.

He could not get rid of the feeling that he was in the lair of some ancient and evil deity.

All the way, Rake thought about Lima, who was left alone under the mushroom. He understood that the boy must have been terribly scared, and his stomach was getting hungry.

He must bring him food as soon as possible and protect him from the dangers of this terrible place.

Deciding not to waste time, Rake turned to Marcus.

- Can you speed up this process? - Rake asked, trying to make his voice sound calm, - A companion is waiting for me. He is most likely hungry and defenseless. I need to return to him with provisions as soon as possible.

Marcus stopped abruptly, and his golden eyes seemed to pierce Reik through. Sparks of curiosity and light mockery danced in them.

- A satellite? - Marcus asked again, there was a slight surprise in his voice, - What kind of satellite?

Rake, seeing no point in hiding the truth, told about Lima, how he met him in the forest, about his muteness and his tragic history.

- The boy is about twelve, - Rake replied, - I promised to help him, accompany him to the Lord.

Marcus raised an eyebrow as if he had heard something extremely funny.

- What help? - Marcus asked, and curiosity appeared in his voice, - What help can you give to a boy who wants to meet the Lord?

Rake looked down and drawn a kind of map on the crimson earth with a stick. He briefly described the history of Lim, his purpose and the motive why they decided to go to the Lord, his way through the "Fallen Forest". He tried to find words so that Marcus would understand the tragedy of the situation.

Marcus listened silently, but when Rake finished his story, he let out a short, sharp laugh. It was as if he was choked by something invisible, and an ice fire flashed in his golden eyes.

- You'll die there," Marcus spit out, his voice cold like a winter wind, "Lord is not a joke. His henchmen are not just monsters, they are the tools of his will, and they will stop at nothing until you become just food for the worms.

Then, Marcus fell silent for a moment and his face, as if a shadow slipped over him, he took a deep breath and said:

- If I had gone with you, - Marcus said with a lens, - I would have cut out both the Lord and all his henchmen alone. But, alas, I'm not a nanny. And I'm too lazy to do all this. I'm just not interested in it.

Rake didn't know how to react to such revelations. He couldn't understand why Marcus talks so easily about death and how he could deal with Lord.

Soon, they came out to a small glade, in the very center of which grew a huge tree, whose branches were like the claws of a monster.

At the foot of this tree, Rake noticed something dark and massive. It was the monster they were looking for, he was asleep, and his breath was like thunder.

Rake involuntarily recoiled back, feeling the cold bending him from the inside. He instinctively moved away from Marcus, fearing that he would start waving his sword at any moment, but already on it.

Marcus turned to Reik, and a sly smile appeared on his face.

- Stay here, - said Marcus, and some devilish delight was heard in his voice, - Watch and learn.

With these words, Marcus made a shrill whistle, which seemed to make the whole forest tremble. The monster, disturbed by this sound, roared and got up on his clawed legs. His eyes were burning with red fire, and his mouth was burning in rage. The monster, groaring and stomping, rushed at them.

Marcus just smiled, reaching out his silver sword. Like lightning, he disappeared from his place and, in the blink of an eye, appeared behind the monster's back, putting his sword back into the sheath.

Rake didn't even have time to come to his senses, as the monster's head, still roaring and convulsing, fell right to his feet, like a rotten fruit. The blood splashed in all directions, painting the red grass in a darker, almost black color.