Uneasy Alliances

A moment of awkward and tense silence followed. Will this be another fight? 

Feng Ye noticed a warrior gripping his sword with his eyes locked on him. The nearby cleric glanced at his injuries. Her lips parted slightly as though she wanted to comment, but she averted her gaze.

Anne, the mage, was watching Lucas who was nearby carefully. A three-way silent confrontation formed between Feng Ye, Lucas, and the adventurers. 

Feng Ye remained still. Lucas continued leaning against the tree but glanced between Anne and Feng Ye. 

Anne turned her gaze to Feng Ye's sword. Her expression changed subtly. This did not go unnoticed. Feng Ye and Lucas both saw her expression change.

Recognition? Concern? It was hard to tell. 

Regardless, now was not the time for this. They had to move further away. 

Lucas who was leaning against the tree breaks the three-way silent confrontation. 

"We need to leave before they regroup." 

The tank nodded while hinting at Anne. "Agreed."

Anne hesitated for a second before commenting. 

"The nearest town is two days away. If we push through the night, we can reach a safe spot by morning."

No disagreement. The adventurer group was okay with Anne's judgment.

"We should stick together for now. We have a common enemy." Lucas comments. His intentions were clear. The enemy of an enemy can be a temporary ally. It was in their best interest to stick together as everyone was wounded and exhausted.

Feng Ye said nothing. He also knew this too. This was the best approach for now.

Lucas and Feng Ye instinctively kept some distance from each other and the adventurer party. The cleric walked near the center of the formation. On each side of her were the tanks. Anne and a warrior led the way. The remaining warrior followed at the end while keeping a sharp lookout for any threats behind.

Feng Ye could feel Anne's eyes occasionally glance at his sword.

The real problems have just begun. 

--

Somewhere far from the battlefield, in a dimly lit basement…

A small gathering was in progress. Shrouded figures kneeled in a circular formation. The gathering seemed to take place in a dimly lit chapel of sorts. At the center, there was a small relic. It was a massive thick stone slab that was covered with ancient carvings. Each rune was pulsing with a faint crimson light. This glow had been steady for decades. Quiet and inactive. Without the runes carved on it, anyone would mistake it for a roadside piece of rock or rubble. 

The piece of rock suddenly vibrated. A small tremor could be felt by all those in the chapel. A small crimson glow appeared and spread on the runes. It had a pulse similar to a heartbeat.

One of the robed figures was shocked. "Something has changed…"

Someone else raised his head and commented with a voice filled with reverence. "There's been an awakening. Possibly a fragment."

The others were shocked. The shock turned into excitement.

"We must find it. Trace it immediately." 

For decades, the relic has been dormant. Many generations spend their lives monitoring the relic for changes. Many have lived and died hoping to witness a change. Occasional whispers were recorded in the books handed down by previous generations, however, none have experienced a true awakening. It was said that fragments were left behind by an incredibly powerful being beyond the confines of this world.

One of the hooded figures stepped forward and placed his fingers over the slab. He could feel the inscriptions pulsate with energy. Suddenly, a red vein of energy wrapped around his fingers and climbed up his arm. "?!" he flinched.

A voice suddenly echoed throughout the chapel. It was heard by all at the scene.

A voice that was not of this world. Ancient. Timeless. Authoritative. 

The voice seemed to radiate power that was beyond their comprehension. 

"Find me." 

All those at the scene heard the voice. With excitement and reverence, they knew that this was the change they had been waiting for. 

In a hurry, a nearby cultist ran off and returned with a collection of brittle records. He sorted through and stopped at an old record that was preserved to this day. 

It read. 

A blade carved from countless sovereigns beyond the heavens. A fragment of will seeks resurrection. A vessel required for a world to be claimed. 

The bloodbound blade has resurfaced. 

A more elegantly dressed cultist spoke. His robes indicate authority and a higher rank than the others on the scene. He confirmed with reverence. 

"The Bloodbound blade has resurfaced."

Silence followed. Everyone present knew what had to be done. If the blade were to fall into the hands of outsiders, it must be retrieved. The alternative was that it must consume its wielder and seek a suitable vessel to awaken fully.

One of the cultists took a nearby dagger and sliced it deeply into his palm. He splashed his blood onto the stone slab and recited an incantation. 

The stab shivered and trembled. Candles flickered. Inscriptions on the alter changed at this moment. A pattern emerged on the inscriptions. Two overlapping symbols appeared similar to a Venn diagram. 

"What is this?!" one of the cultists asked. 

The highest-ranked cultist on the scene thought for some time. 

"The boundary." 

"Boundary? Would it be the boundary between Westwind and Radiant?"

"The relic is urging us with a general direction. It is referring towards the southeast."

He continued. "It is moving towards the Radiant kingdom. We must act fast."

Another cultist hesitated. "If he reaches a city, we will lose direct access."

The highest-ranked cultist sneers. "Contact all informants in Radiant. We must intercept. If we cannot, we must submerge and if there's a conflict with Radiant, so be it." 

--

The sky darkened very quickly. Feng Ye, Lucas, and the party of adventurers continued southeast. The group moved through the forest. No one spoke. 

There were no unexpected encounters thus far. Besides the calm sounds of the forest and the sounds of their footsteps, it was uneventful. 

The adventurers maintained their formation. Feng Ye kept a steady pace. He was able to stop the bleeding some time ago. Lucas still kept to himself and followed near the rear. 

There was still distrust among the newly formed allies. Feng Ye could notice the warrior at the rear stealing glances at him. The cleric would occasionally gaze at him as well as though she were assessing his condition. 

Lucas was also watching from afar. He kept a careful distance. 

This was expected. You can't put your life on the line for strangers. Feng Ye didn't blame them. He would do the same if he were in their position. 

A few hours later, the group was exhausted. The cleric's face was very pale. 

One of the tanks stopped. "We need to rest." 

Anne nodded in agreement. "Let's set up camp here."

The adventurers found a clearing nearby. A small fire was lit. The adventurers discussed among themselves who took the first-night watch and would rotate to ensure everyone had a chance to get some rest. 

The cleric began tending to the wounded in more detail. She prioritized her party. She glanced at Feng Ye and hesitated before walking over. 

"I can offer some minor healing." 

Feng Ye knew that she wasn't offering out of kindness. She wanted to keep him at a functional level to not slow the group down but also had to ensure that she could safeguard her party against him and ensure he was not a threat. 

"I'll take what I can get." Feng Ye nods. 

The cleric muttered an incantation. A green glow wrapped gently around Feng Ye's injuries. Some of the pain and soreness had been reduced, but it was obviously just relief rather than a full recovery. 

Good enough.

After her incantation, the cleric walked up to Lucas offering the same. After providing the same treatment to Lucas, she rejoined her party.