Chapter 28: The Song of The Cricket

The Grimknights finally emerged from the ravine, their bodies slightly covered in dried mud, sweat, and the remnants of Badu's foul blood. The air in the ravine had been thick and suffocating, but as they stepped into the open, a refreshing breeze greeted them. Ahead of them lay another dense forest, its towering trees shrouded in mist. Unlike the previous leg of their journey, there were no signs of enemies lurking within the shadows of the trees. Still, they kept their guard up.

As they walked, Henry took the opportunity to address their last battle. "That fight with Badu was sloppy," he said, his tone firm. "We made too many mistakes. We were caught off guard, and that thing almost choked the life out of Elric and Bjorn."

Elric, walking beside him, sighed. "We weren't prepared for a creature like that. It was intelligent, resilient, and it had abilities we didn't anticipate. My attacks barely scratched it."

Kaiser nodded. "I should have done more. My strikes weren't deep enough."

Espada scoffed, flipping her hair. "And let's not forget that thing was downright disgusting. The way it crawled, its slimy worms—ugh." She shuddered. "I almost lost my dinner."

Henry folded his arms. "We need to be more coordinated. Bjorn, you charged in too recklessly."

Bjorn, as expected, remained silent, merely grunting in response.

Mariposa, still holding Nyx close to her chest, spoke up. "If we had fought as one, we could've taken it down sooner. We need to trust each other's strengths."

Henry nodded. "That's exactly what I mean. We're strong, but we fight like individuals rather than a unit."

They pressed on through the thickening forest, their boots crunching against fallen leaves. The sky darkened as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows that stretched across their path. The sound of a nearby river trickled through the trees, its presence a welcome sign of a good place to set camp.

Then, out of the silence of the woods, a voice rang through the trees—a melodic, soothing tune accompanied by the light strumming of a lute. The group tensed, hands moving toward their weapons.

"Relax, friends," came a cheerful voice from the darkness. A figure emerged, stepping into the dim glow of the setting sun. He was dressed in a patchwork cloak of deep green and brown, his long hair tied in a loose ponytail. A feathered cap sat atop his head, and his fingers expertly danced along the strings of his lute.

"I am the Cricket, a simple wandering bard," he introduced himself with a bow. "And you, my weary travelers, look like you could use a song."

Elric grinned. "That would be lovely, and it's already getting dark."

Henry exhaled and nodded. "We'll camp by the river."

They set up their camp near the water's edge, where the river flowed gently over smooth stones. Bjorn, as usual, wordlessly took on the task of catching fish, wading into the shallows with his axe slung over his shoulder. The others gathered wood for the fire, their movements relaxed but still vigilant. Once the fire crackled to life, everyone settled around its warmth.

Cricket, sitting on a log, tuned his lute. "A song, then?"

Espada smirked. "Bard, why don't you start singing already?"

Cricket chuckled and strummed his lute. His voice was smooth, deep, and captivating as he began:

Do you know, that the world was bound to an ancient power?Power that only few knew,That includes me and now you…

(Cricket's voice dropped to a haunting whisper, the fire crackling in the silence.)

This ancient power was lost for eternity,Buried deep where no soul should tread.No one should seek it,Lest they wake the silent dead.

(He grinned, eyes glinting as he leaned forward, his tone growing sharper.)

You might not seek it—You might not dare—But heed this warning,For it knows you're there.

(He paused dramatically, letting the weight of his words settle before his voice took on a chilling, melodic lilt.)

It lingers in whispers, it watches in dreams,It slips through the cracks and tears at the seams.The deeper you run, the tighter it coils,Its hunger is patient, its grip never spoils.

(He let the last note hang in the air before his lips curled into a knowing smile. Then, with eerie slowness, he raised his hand, pointing at them all.)

—but it will seek you.

The fire crackled as silence fell over the group.

Then, Bjorn returned, carrying several freshly caught fish. He remained silent, but there was an odd glint in his eye—a rare hint of amusement. He sat down, skewered the fish onto sticks, and held them over the fire.

Mariposa, still holding Nyx, turned to Cricket. "That was... ominous."

Cricket simply smiled. "Songs often carry truths wrapped in melody."

Nyx hissed again, his small body trembling. Cricket raised an eyebrow. "Your little companion seems to have taken a disliking to me."

Kaiser patted Nyx's head. "He doesn't trust strangers."

"Wise little creature," Cricket mused. Then, grinning, he added, "Now, I do believe my performance deserves a reward. Perhaps a few genny?"

Espada rolled her eyes. "Of course. Nothing's free in this world."

Elric tossed a few coins toward the bard, who caught them effortlessly and tucked them into his pocket. "A pleasure doing business."

As the fish cooked and the night deepened, Henry pulled Elric aside.

"Do you think what the bard said was about Quas blood?" Henry asked, his voice low so the others wouldn't overhear.

Elric sighed, glancing toward Cricket, who was now humming a different tune to himself. "There's nothing else it could be. The ancient power he spoke of... it sounds like the kind of thing tied to Quas blood."

Mariposa, who had been quietly listening nearby, frowned. "If that's true, then why warn us? He made it sound like we were already involved."

Henry rubbed his chin. "That's what concerns me."

They exchanged uneasy looks but said nothing more. Nearby, Espada yawned and stretched. "I'm getting some sleep. That fight with old fat Badu drained me."

Henry nodded. "We'll take shifts for watch. Stay alert."

One by one, the Grimknights settled in for the night, the steady flow of the river lulling them into rest. But even as they drifted off, the haunting words of the bard's song lingered in their minds. Somewhere out there, something was seeking them.

And soon, it would find them.