Night of the tenth day

The blood had not yet cooled down on the ground, the monster's head continued to convulse at Reik's feet, and Marcus was already standing next to him, like a ghost that appeared out of nowhere. There was a vicious smile on his face, and a fire of fun danced in his golden eyes.

- Well, you're crazy, hunter? - Marcus asked, his voice was full of mockery, - Did you fall in love with me by chance?

Rake was stunned by such a question. He didn't understand whether Marcus was joking or serious. He looked into his eyes, trying to see at least some hint of truth there, but there was only undisguised fun in them. He was completely confused by such behavior of the apostle.

But Marcus didn't give him time to think.

- Okay, you've had enough performances," Marcus said, as if he didn't notice Reik's confusion, - Let's go, I'll see you off to your camp. I'll help you deliver the loot. After all, you're carrying a deer now and you won't be able to defend yourself properly. And I would like to look at the boy with one eye.

Rake didn't know what to say. He felt completely confused and tired of this strange creature. He nodded, seeing no other way out, and they moved back, Marcus with obvious pleasure, and Rake with a heavy heart and deer carcass on his shoulders.

Rake, walking through the dark forest, tried to keep up with Marcus, who seemed to be hovering above the ground. The night descended on the Red Forest, but the sky remained the same dark, and not a single star was visible. The darkness only intensified the sinister atmosphere of this place.

Rake, unable to stand the silence, decided to find out from Marcus about the gods that Vinor told him about.

- Listen, - Rake began, - you said you were one of the apostles, you should know about the three great gods, Elkar, Eide and Favlis. What do you think about them?

Marcus stopped and looked at Reik as if he had said something offensive.

- I don't want to talk about these... - Marcus paused for a moment, -... old legends. They won't tell you anything anyway. And to be honest, I'm not in the mood," he added, and they continued on their way in silence.

Rake, having received such a refusal, did not ask any more questions. He understood that Marcus was a mysterious and unpredictable creature, and it was better not to make him angry once again. He felt that he needed to be careful while he was next to this demigod.

*

*

*

Lim opened his eyes and was gripped by fear. He woke up again from a nightmare, and his chest was still knocking with horror. In the darkness that surrounded him from all sides, he sased shadows and monsters. He saw neither stars nor the moon, only endless darkness.

He reached for Rake, but he wasn't around. He was gripped by panic. He remembered that Rake went to get food, leaving him here alone. It seemed like an eternity, and Reik was still gone.

Lim began to worry even more. He couldn't imagine what could have happened to him.

His imagination painted the darkest pictures: Reik surrounded by monsters, Reik trapped, Reik no longer able to return to him. Lim was afraid for him, he didn't want to lose him, because Rake was the only one who didn't leave him.

Suddenly, Lim heard footsteps behind him. His heart froze, and he felt a cold sweat covered his skin. He held his breath and tensed up, ready for the worst. Maybe it was the monster they saw during the day? Maybe it was other creatures who came for him?

But, to his surprise, Rake came out of the darkness.

Lim felt joy and relief covering him with a wave. Rake was alive, he came back. He even brought a deer with him, taking it on his shoulder. But before Lim could be happy, he noticed that someone else was standing next to Rake.

It was a tall figure in silver armor, and at the sight of her, Lim felt the fear return to him again. It wasn't a person, it was something completely different, something powerful and dangerous. The figure looked at him with her golden eyes, and Lim felt an icy look piercing him.

Rake came closer to Lim, lowered the deer carcass to the ground and smiled, trying to calm him down. Lim felt the tension subside a little, but his gaze was still on the mysterious figure in silver armor.

- Baby, it's okay, - said Rake, his voice was quiet and soothing, - I just stayed a little. This guy... - he paused, turning to Marcus, - ... this guy helped me. He...

But before Rake could finish the phrase, Marcus interrupted him, taking a step forward.

- Marcus Enz Evash, - said Marcus, his voice was melodic, like the ringing of a bell, but ice steel was felt in it, - I'm from the Evash family, and one of...

Marcus fell silent for a moment, as if thinking about his words, and then continued:

- The kid is quite interesting, - said Marcus, looking at Lim with a slight grin, - It flows in it... - he broke off again, and the golden eyes became even brighter, - ...it doesn't matter, you'll find out everything yourself later.

With these words, Marcus turned around and silently examined their camp, as if he was evaluating it. Lim, holding his breath, was waiting for further events. He didn't understand what Marcus was talking about, and why he suddenly talked about his blood.

Rake, ignoring Marcus' strange statement, got down to business. He began to cut the deer, his movements were fast and confident, and the knife sparkled in the dim light of the burnt fire. Soon the smell of roasted meat filled the air, and Lim felt hunger waking up in his stomach.

Marcus, watching this process, suddenly said:

- I don't usually eat such food, - Marcus said, his voice was with hints of disgust, but he immediately grinned, - But, perhaps, this time I'll make an exception.

He went to the fire and gestured that he would also eat meat. Lim looked at him in surprise, not understanding why such a powerful creature agreed to join them.

When the meat was ready, they sat down around the fire, and there was silence. Lim, eating meat with appetite, without looking up.

Rake also ate, sometimes looking at Marcus. Marcus slowly savored the meat, it seemed that he studied them more than enjoyed the food.

Suddenly, Marcus spoke, addressing Lima.

- Baby, - said Marcus, his voice was soft, almost affectionate, - Why do you need this trip to the Lord? Are you sure you want to continue on this path, knowing that a certain death awaits you there?

Lim froze, staring at Marcus. He didn't expect such a question, and his heart beat faster. He looked at Reik, trying to figure out what to do.

Marcus, catching his eye, continued:

- I offer you something else. Give up this crazy idea and become my student. I'll teach you what mortals don't teach. You will live in luxury and security, you will forget about your past.

Lim, stunned by such a proposal, looked at Reik again, realizing that he could not answer with words.

Rake, putting down a piece of meat, looked at Lima.

- The choice is yours, baby, - said Rake, his voice was soft but firm, - I promised to help you, but I can't decide your fate for you. Marcus is right, you will be safe, full and dressed with him. If you agree to become his student, I will be calm for you. As for Kiki and the rest of the children," Rake continued, looking into the fire, "I'll still go to the Lord to save them.

Lim, thought for a moment. He was scared and uncomfortable, and Marcus' proposal sounded very tempting. But then he remembered his past, Kiki, who suffered in captivity by Lord. And his heart tightened with determination.

Looking into Marcus' golden eyes, Lim shook his head, showing his refusal.

After Lim's refusal, Marcus only stretched his lips in a smile, and his golden eyes flashed with some strange light.

- Well, - said Marcus, and there was a slight disappointment in his voice, - it's a pity to lose such potential... though, wait...

With these words, Marcus slowly reached into one of the pockets of his silver armor, and took out a ring from there. It was made of dark, like obsidian, metal, with thin, elegant golden veins that intertwined with each other, creating a pattern. In the center of the ring there was a spherical black stone with white inclusions, resembling a distant galaxy.

Marcus held out the ring to Lim, and it seemed to be hanging in the air, waiting for a touch.

- This ring, - Marcus began, his voice became more serious, - was created when the sun was shining. It is an artifact of the past, created with the help of technologies that have long been lost. There are only three such rings in the world. And this is one of them.

He paused and looked at Lim with his golden eyes.

- It has several properties, - Marcus continued, - First, it can be adjusted to the size of the owner's hand. And secondly... - Marcus grinned, - ... it has a binding.

Marcus fell silent again for a moment, as if gathering his thoughts, and then began to explain:

- Binding is... - Marcus circled the air with his hands, as if trying to find words, - ... a way of moving. When this ring is put on someone's hand, at a certain point the blood of two different creatures is connected into one whole, then... the one who owns the ring can move its owner to himself, wherever he is. To do this, it is enough to say a certain command out loud. Or, in your case," he looked at Lima, "to think about her.

Rake, listening to Marcus' story, frowned. He understood that this thing was very strong and probably very dangerous. But he couldn't refuse to find out why Marcus gives this ring to Lim.

- I'm giving this ring to you, - Marcus continued, - not because I care about you. If you are in danger and your companion can't protect you," he looked at Reik, "then you should think about this team, and then I'll move to you to save you.

Rake tensed up, and Lim held his breath, realizing the seriousness of these words.

- But, - Marcus paused, and his smile became even more vicious, - if you do it, I will take you to my place at the cost of your salvation. Whether you want it or not. You will become mine, and you will have to forget about your friends and your goals.

Marcus finished his speech and looked at Lim again, waiting for his reaction. His gaze seemed to hypnotize Lim, who couldn't take his eyes off him.