Three Adventurers, One Historian

The constant rattle of wooden wheels on a rocky path slowly pulled him out of unconsciousness. It was a rhythmic, monotonous sound, accompanied by the soft creaking of the cart's structure with every movement. His body felt heavy, as if an invisible force was keeping him pinned down on the makeshift mattress of animal hides beneath him.

He tried to move his fingers. A faint tingling ran through his limbs. His eyelids felt like they weighed a ton, as if he hadn't slept in days, but he didn't try to open his eyes just yet.

'Regardless of how bad the situation is… it looks like I survived.'

His mind, still clouded, slowly processed his surroundings as he regained consciousness. Then, he heard voices. Human voices.

His chest filled with a strange mix of relief and anxiety.

'Finally… people.'

With renewed determination, he slowly opened his eyes. The daylight momentarily blinded him, forcing him to squint. Above him, the sky stretched in a pale blue hue, with a few scattered clouds drifting lazily. Among them, defying all logic, shone the strange stars he had seen before, stubbornly existing even in broad daylight.

His breathing steadied. His senses were slowly sharpening.

He tried to turn his neck, and though his vision was still somewhat blurry, he managed to make out human silhouettes in the back of the cart. Three of them. Two sat toward the rear, while the third figure was closer, leaning slightly toward him.

The cart they were traveling in had a makeshift roof made of animal hides, similar to the caravans of the Old West, with an opening in the middle that allowed a view of the driver. The rhythmic sound of hooves moving forward made him glance toward the front—a sturdy brown horse was pulling the vehicle.

"This is just like in the stories…" he murmured without thinking.

The faint whisper escaped his lips, and in an instant, all three heads turned in unison to look at him.

The air tensed.

Three pairs of eyes locked onto him, scrutinizing him with different expressions: curiosity, suspicion, and… hostility?

Fenix swallowed hard, feeling a pang of nerves. He didn't understand the situation, and if there was one thing he had learned in life, it was that uncertainty was never a good sign.

Finally, the tension broke with a deep yet friendly voice.

"I see you're awake. That's good."

The voice came from the young man holding the horse's reins. Now that Fenix could focus better, he examined him more closely.

He was a muscular young man, with strong, well-defined arms. His blond hair shifted slightly in the breeze, and his green eyes carried a sharp, yet non-threatening glint. However, what stood out most was the scar that ran across his right cheekbone, extending down to his neck, giving him the look of a battle-hardened warrior.

Even Fenix had to admit that the guy was attractive. 'Damn… he's making me question my tastes,' he thought for a second before shaking his head and quickly dismissing the idea.

His attention then shifted to the inside of the cart.

There was another man. Or rather, someone identical to the driver.

His surprise was evident. Not only did they have the same features, but they were dressed almost identically: chainmail covered their torsos, layered over dark leather clothing. Their leather boots were reinforced with metal at the toes, and a belt held a sword at their waists—light enough for agile combat but sharp enough to make him think twice about any misunderstanding.

Thick cloaks rested on their shoulders, each adorned with an emblem Fenix didn't recognize.

'Twins?' he wondered.

He hadn't expected to encounter two people so alike.

However, his attention was abruptly pulled away when the third figure started moving.

A girl.

She was younger than the other two, possibly around his age or a little older.

She approached with calculated steps, never breaking eye contact with him. In the blink of an eye, she leaned over him, her face dangerously close to his.

Fenix's heartbeat quickened.

Her face was sharp, her features elegant. Her short black hair fell smoothly over her shoulders, framing a pair of deep blue eyes—eyes that seemed like bottomless wells. For a brief moment, his mind went blank.

'Gods, she's beautiful.'

Heat crept up his face before he could stop it.

Then, the girl spoke. Her tone was as cold as ice.

"Don't move."

A chill ran down Fenix's spine.

It was only then that he noticed the bow she held firmly in her hands… and the arrow pointed directly at his head.

The drop of sweat rolling down his temple was the only thing that moved on his body at that moment.

'Well… this doesn't look good.'

The girl didn't break eye contact as she studied his reaction.

"I'm going to ask you a few questions. There are things that don't add up."

It was an interrogation.

The knot in his throat grew heavier.

Fenix immediately realized that his fate depended on what came out of his mouth. He had no doubt that if his answer wasn't the right one, that arrow would pierce through his skull in the blink of an eye.

And after everything he had been through… he wanted to live.

Fenix coughed, trying to clear his throat, but it was useless. It felt as dry as a desert, as if every word he tried to speak crumbled into dust before it could leave his mouth.

The tension still hung in the air like a storm about to break.

His gaze remained fixed on the tip of the arrow, gleaming with a lethal edge, but even so, he dared to speak.

"Before that… would you happen to have some water?" he asked, his voice hoarse, his tone reflecting more need than courtesy.

"Please…"

The girl, still leaning over him, seemed to ponder his request. Her deep blue eyes scrutinized him coldly, as if trying to determine whether this simple plea was actually a trap in disguise.

After a few seconds of silence, she gave a slight nod. The man inside the cart—the one identical to the driver—moved without complaint and pulled out a glass bottle filled with water before handing it over.

Fenix didn't hesitate for even a moment. With trembling fingers, he grabbed the bottle and brought it to his lips with urgency.

The first sip was pure relief—he felt the refreshing liquid slide down his parched throat, bringing him back to life.

He drank so desperately that some of the water spilled over the corners of his mouth, dampening his chin and neck.

When he finally lowered the bottle, he let out a long sigh of relief.

"Thank you… really, thank you."

Vanya, without changing her serious expression, spoke in her usual icy tone.

"That's enough. Now that you're in better shape, let's begin."

Fenix swallowed hard, trying to compose himself. He forced himself to adopt a more serious demeanor, but the girl's proximity made it difficult.

Her eyes remained locked on his, expectant, unwavering.

The first question came without delay.

"What were you doing so deep inside the Beast Forest… and alone?"

Her tone was firm, carrying a hint of suspicion.

Fenix took a moment to think about his answer.

This wasn't just any question.

Depending on what he said, it could mean his death or his survival.

'Think fast.'

Finally, he spoke in a measured voice.

"I'm a historian. I love ancient legends, and I had heard fascinating stories about this place…"

Vanya narrowed her eyes. She didn't seem entirely convinced.

'Damn it, that's not enough.'

Fenix felt his heartbeat pound as he tried to refine his story.

"I was traveling with a caravan of eight people. We were explorers searching for ancient ruins in this region," he continued, his voice firmer. "But after a week of travel, we went in too deep… we wandered into the territory of some beasts. They attacked us. One by one, they fell… and in the end, I was the only one left."

His mind screamed inside: 'I hope this works.'

Vanya remained silent, evaluating him with her cold blue eyes. The tension thickened, as if the very air had been sucked out of the space between them.

Finally, after a few seconds that felt like an eternity, the girl slightly relaxed her shoulders.

"For now, that answer will do."

Before she could continue her interrogation, another voice interrupted the conversation.

"Vanya, don't be so hard on him. I think his answer is enough to satisfy your curiosity."

Fenix turned his head toward the man inside the cart, the driver's twin, who was looking at him with a faint smile.

"Look at the state he's in. He's probably starving and exhausted. Let him eat something first, and if you want, continue your questions while he fills his stomach," he paused briefly before adding, "Who knows what kind of monsters he had to face alone out there…"

The man shifted slightly and introduced himself with a relaxed gesture.

"By the way, I'm Rhen. The one holding the reins is Ron, my twin brother, and she's Vanya," he leaned in slightly toward Fenix and lowered his voice as if sharing a secret, "She may seem cold now, but don't worry… she's got a good heart."

Fenix glanced at Vanya, who was still watching him with the same serious expression.

However, when Rhen said that, she shot him a sharp glare, as if trying to stab him with her eyes alone.

"That's how you describe me now?" Vanya snapped incredulously, crossing her arms.

Rhen simply shrugged with an amused smile.

Vanya exhaled sharply and cleared her throat before addressing Fenix again.

"Try to sit up," she ordered. "I'll bring you something warm to eat… and then we'll continue our conversation."

Fenix took the warm cup that Vanya handed him and felt the comforting heat seep into his fingers. As he brought it to his lips, the rich aroma of spiced broth filled his nostrils, making his stomach grumble even louder. He didn't bother hiding his hunger—he drank eagerly, feeling the hot liquid spread through his body, reviving him from the inside out.

Vanya, sitting across from him with her arms crossed, didn't take her eyes off him.

"Alright, now that you're eating, let's continue," she said bluntly.

Fenix swallowed another mouthful of broth before cautiously looking at her.

"And now what do you want to know?" he asked, attempting a joke to lighten the atmosphere, though the girl's expression remained as serious as ever.

"Earlier, you said you were with a caravan," Vanya leaned her elbow on her knee, tilting slightly forward. "What exactly were you looking for?"

Fenix kept his breathing steady, careful not to let his reaction give him away. It was a delicate question. If he said something that sounded suspicious, they might see him as a threat… or a burden.

"Treasures, knowledge, ancient ruins… what any explorer would look for," he answered with a shrug. "We had heard rumors that deep within the Beast Forest, there were remnants of ancient civilizations, and we wanted to see if we could find anything valuable."

Vanya observed him in silence for a few seconds. She seemed to be evaluating every word, every expression, every gesture.

"Did you find anything?"

Fenix shook his head.

"We never got that far. The beasts attacked us first."

"Speaking of that…" Rhen interjected, resting an arm on his knee.

"You said you were the only survivor, which means a beast must have chased you."

Fenix felt a shiver run down his spine as the memory resurfaced.

"Yeah."

"What kind of beast was it? And how did you get away?"

"It was huge," he said slowly. "A creature about two meters tall and nearly four meters long. Its mouth had massive tusks, at least half a meter each, sharp enough to skewer anything in their path. A large, flat nose sat between them, and its eyes… they burned with fury and bloodlust."

Ron, who had been silent until now, nodded thoughtfully.

"Sounds like a Dusktusk. They're relentless predators. If one of them hunts you, you rarely escape alive," he paused briefly before adding, "From your description, it must've been a male. The females are usually twice as big since they protect the young. You were lucky."

"I was lucky," Fenix murmured. "I found a crack in a tree trunk and slipped inside just before it could reach me. The creature tried to get in, but it got stuck. In the end, it died trying to reach me."

That wasn't entirely a lie. There had been a crack, and the beast had indeed ended up destroyed… but not due to its own clumsiness. It had died later, devoured by something even bigger.

Vanya narrowed her eyes slightly, as if still doubting his story, but didn't press further.

Fenix took advantage of the momentary silence to ask his own question.

"And you? Who exactly are you?"

Ron was the first to respond.

"We're a group of adventurers. We're heading toward the Great Central Mountain."

Fenix set his cup aside, his senses

sharpening immediately.

"The Dark Mountain?"

A shiver ran down his spine. He still remembered the feeling that had washed over him when he first saw it—the inexplicable pull, like an invisible force calling out to him.

Maybe it was just intuition. Maybe it was something more. But one thing was certain: he needed to get there.

He pressed his lips together for a brief moment before making his decision.

"Can I go with you?"

Silence fell over the group.

The three adventurers exchanged glances. Vanya narrowed her eyes slightly, while Rhen smirked with an amused expression. Ron, on the other hand, folded his arms across his chest, his expression thoughtful.

Finally, Vanya broke the silence.

"Why would we take you with us?"

Fenix had expected this question.

"Because I can be useful," he answered without hesitation. "I know how to move through difficult terrain, I know how to hide, and most importantly… I know stories. Many stories."

Vanya gave him a skeptical look.

"Stories? And what good are those?"

Fenix met her gaze and allowed himself a small, confident smile.

"Stories contain information. And information is worth more than any weapon."

The adventurers exchanged glances once again. They weren't fully convinced, but they also hadn't outright rejected him.

Vanya exhaled and, with a small wave of her hand, made it clear that the decision was still pending.

"Finish eating. We'll talk about this later."

Fenix nodded.

He wasn't in a rush. He knew this conversation wasn't over yet.