A New Dawn

Evryn kept staring at the sword. He wanted to drop it, to leave it behind after everything he had witnessed. This weapon was different—something beyond his understanding.

And yet, he couldn't shake the feeling that it was connected to him in some way. He couldn't explain it, but it felt… his. As if the sword wasn't just an object but something familiar—something almost like a friend.

Still shaken by what he had seen, Evryn slowly closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to steady himself, to make sense of everything. The images replayed in his mind—battle after battle, wondered how many had carried this blade, and now, after who knows how long, it had been left here. Waiting. Calling to him.

What is it with things calling to me? First that girl, now this sword… what's next, an animal? He let out a sigh.

"I guess I don't have much of a choice… but I wish I had a scabbard for it," he muttered to himself.

Then a realization struck him—where was he even going to put the sword? He glanced at his coat, considering his options. If he just placed it behind his back, it would probably slip out.

Evryn put his right hand to his chin, thinking. Then, an idea came to him.

Lifting the sword with his left hand, he carefully slid it beneath his coat, angling it so the tip rested inside his pants. It wasn't ideal, but as long as he didn't move too fast or fall, he figured he could avoid cutting himself. He'd have to be careful.

With that settled, he turned his attention back to his surroundings. He still needed to find a way out of this place.

Across the room from where Evryn stood, there was a hallway, though it had caved in on itself. To his left, however, a different hallway remained—untouched, though it seemed to lead deeper into the place.

Without hesitation, Evryn made his way toward the left hallway. The smooth walls here were cracked, barely able to hold themselves up. Green moss clung to the surface, and veins of something dark and unsettling grew over the once-white stone, giving the corridor an eerie, forgotten feel.

***

Meanwhile, Garran and the others had returned to the village, Thorne's body draped in leaves. They carried him on a makeshift stretcher made of thick, sturdy sticks that were just strong enough to bear his weight.

Garran walked silently, his gaze fixed on the ground, his feet moving without purpose. He was troubled, consumed by the weight of his failure. Not only had he lost a comrade, one he would soon have to explain to Thorne's family, but Evryn was still missing, and Garran had no idea where he was.

He couldn't shake the feeling that he had failed—failed as a warrior, unable to protect his people, and failed as a leader, unable to shield those who trusted him.

Ronan and Dorian, carrying the stretcher, came to a halt as Garran stopped them.

"What's the—" Dorian began, but he was cut off by Garran.

"Let me take his body. I'll deliver it to his family. You three need to rest."

The others exchanged looks, understanding without needing to argue. They nodded silently and continued into the village, leaving Garran with the burden of what was left to do.

"Garran, what happened?" Cyrus called out, his face etched with concern as he passed by Dorian, Ronan, and Eryk. 

"Where's the kid? He didn't die, did he?" Cyrus asked, his voice turning serious.

Garran met his gaze, his expression unreadable. "He's not dead, as far as I know."

"Then where is he?" Cyrus pressed, his tone sharp.

"I'm not sure. We followed his trail, but it ended near the river," Garran paused, his mind racing. He thought for a moment, eyes distant as he considered where the river led. "If he jumped in, it flows south from here. Dangerous waters. But… I have a feeling he's alright. He was different, that boy. Far from the others I've seen."

"I see," Cyrus said, tapping his boot against the ground as he mulled over his options.

"Don't worry. I'll search for him. You entrusted him to me, and it's my responsibility now," Garran said, his voice steady and determined.

A small smirk tugged at the corner of Cyrus' lips. "You know, I've always loved that stubborn fighting spirit of yours," he chuckled, giving Garran a playful smack on the arm.

Garran smiled softly, his tone unwavering. "I'm a man of my word. I don't back down from what I say. I see it through to the end."

***

Evryn stood at the edge of a narrow pathway, precariously clinging to the side of the cave wall. Below him, a deep chasm stretched down to a seemingly bottomless fall, with faint rays of light trickling in from above. The sight made his stomach turn, but he couldn't afford to let fear take hold—not now, not after everything he'd already endured.

Taking a steady breath, Evryn carefully edged his way forward, one hand gripping the cave wall for support as each step felt like a gamble with his life. The path was barely wide enough for him to stand, and the drop was a constant reminder of the danger lurking beneath.

After what felt like an eternity, Evryn finally reached a broader, more open area. He exhaled in relief, his lungs grateful for the fresh air as he stretched his stiff muscles before continuing onward.

After hours that felt like an eternity of wandering through the labyrinthine cave, Evryn finally began to make his way upwards. A faint glimmer of hope stirred in him as the incline grew steeper. The thought of fresh air, the warmth of the sun, and the sight of the outside world pulled him forward.

He quickened his pace, his muscles aching but his mind determined. "Freedom, at last!" he muttered, arms outstretched as if to embrace the outside world. Just as his foot caught on a rock, he stumbled, barely catching himself.

But then his smile faltered as he looked around. The first light of dawn was breaking, and it dawned on him just how long he'd been trapped in the cave.

You've got to be kidding me… how long was I down there for?

He scanned the landscape that stretched endlessly before him—a massive forest that sprawled out in every direction. Below the thick canopy, glowing blue light illuminated the underbrush from plants and fungi, their soft glow punctuated by the sounds of animals stirring, some growling or roaring in the distance.

So this place comes alive at night, huh?

Looking up, Evryn's breath caught in his throat as he took in the starry sky. It was unlike anything he had ever seen—brilliant, scattered with countless stars, and the moon shone bright above, casting a silver glow over the strange, vibrant world.

His eyes narrowed, and he spotted something even more astonishing. Other planets. They hovered in the sky, faint and far off. One planet, almost directly overhead, was bathed in a golden hue—it seemed to be a desert world, its surface burning bright even from this distance.

Evryn squinted, feeling incredibly small, as if he were but a speck in the vastness of the galaxy. His sense of place felt insignificant compared to the enormity of everything around him.

Then, a strange noise—a soft blop—startled him. He looked up and couldn't believe his eyes. Floating above him were bioluminescent blobs, glowing with a soft blue hue, their tentacles lazily drifting through the air like jellyfish in a sky-turned-ocean.

"Wow," Evryn whispered in awe, his eyes wide as he took it all in.

There was so much to see here, so much to discover, and it was all so… different. His heart swelled with wonder and a burning curiosity. This place—this world—was alive in ways Sythar never was. It was beautiful, full of life and possibilities. He couldn't help but long to explore it all.