Smoke drifted in the air as Kafin gazed up at the sky, wincing. The breeze was much lighter, and it seemed that the snow was beginning to dissipate. "
He inhaled from his roughly made blunt, then exhaled with satisfaction. He grabbed the blackened tree and hauled it over his shoulder, dragging it from the forest.
He returned home with the log and immediately noticed Kalika sitting outside, dressed in Birge's clothes. She looked as gloomy as ever, her eyes distant, gazing past him as if waiting for someone. Without a word, he set the tree trunk in place and grabbed his trusty axe.
He tightened his grip and slammed the axe down, chopping piece after piece in steady rhythm.
Before long, his sons erupted to chatter nearby.
He glanced back, watching as the two presented their prepared, separate meals for Kalika—one with fish, the other with horned rabbit. Both dishes revealed the boys' inexperience at cooking.
"
His red brother cringed. "
"
The two butted heads, but before they could go on, Birge arrived, towering over them like a beacon of pure authority. "
Her voice crackled like thunder for the two boys. Slowly, they turned their heads toward Birge, sweat visible on their faces. In an instant, the boys tried to flee, but Birge was too fast, grabbing them by the collars of their tunics.
The food clattered to the ground, and before they could retort, Birge dragged the two away, scolding them further into the house.
Kafin could only sigh. "
He turned to chop the wood into pieces.
Night fell. Fresh planks sat ready under the shed.
"
Kafin turned, seeing his red-skinned son. "
"
"
********
Kafin sat, silently eating his meal. He watched as his sons took turns feeding Kalika, who quietly accepted their offers. It was a sight that still seemed miraculous for a woman so depressed.
Finished with her meal, Kalika rose from her seat and without a word, trotted back to her room, as gloomy as ever.
The boys turned, ready to follow, but by then, her door closed, leaving the two disappointed.
"
Kafin silently agreed, nodding his head. "
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
The two boys beamed happily, excitement rushing through them.
"
Amused, Birge chuckled at the boys' excitement along with Kafin, who took another bite of his meal.
Behind her closed door, Kalika grimaced, listening to their conversation. She leered at the red dagger hearing faint whispers from it. Unwilling to approach it, she stepped to the window and stared out, watching frost slowly melt away
********
Elsewhere, a heavy pounding echoed through the ruined stone halls of the castle. In a dim chamber, rejected contracts lay scattered across the floor. Strained breaths and low gasps filled the air as Rakon gripped his half-destroyed desk, pain shooting through his arm while the blackened skin crept closer to his shoulder.
The pain finally eased, and sweat slid down his face. He clenched his teeth and curled his hand into a fist. "
A knock sounded at his door. Moments later, Gaz peeked inside. "
Rakon stood abruptly. "
"
"
"
"
"
Rakon balled his fists, his knuckles white from strain. "
"" Gaz replied.
"
"
"
"" He silently hissed. Rakon took to his feet and stormed to the door. Gaz scrambled out of his way as Rakon flung the door open and stomped into the hall.
"
"
"
Rakon stopped and shot an icy glare. "
Gax bowed to one knee. "
Rakon sneered. Looking down at Gaz. "
With a final huff, Rakon turned and continued through the hall without Gaz. "
Gaz bowed deeper. "
********
Kafin and his two sons slung bags over their shoulders and gripped their spears. Ready, Kafin glanced back. "
Birge nodded, waving goodbye to the three as they entered the forest.
Even Kalika, who sat and watched the group depart, raised her hands in solemn recognition.
Birge smiled, noticing Kalika's gesture. "
"
Birge stumbled back, surprised. Not long after, she chuckled, amused. "
Kalika looked into the forest ahead. Her gut wrenched, and a strong chill brushed in the warm air.
The morning passed by, slow and almost tense. The trees around bristled as if echoing a message Kalika couldn't comprehend. And before she knew it, four hours passed. Then eight hours, then twelve.
Before she knew it, the dark had claimed the skies. And the table sat ready for a group of five.
The air felt wrong. Alien and desolate.
Worried, Birge poked her head out the door, her eyes puffed as she stared straight into the forest. She bit her lips, but pushed her worries aside and shakily called out. "
A cold doubt flickered in Kalika's mind.
She kept quiet and relented to Birge's call, entering and sitting with her as Birge ate. Kalika watched as sudden tears welled in Birge's eyes, leaving even the karnal woman unsure why she felt a distinct sadness.
"
Kalika remained silent, letting Birge wallow at the table.
With a quiet sigh, Kalika lifted the spoon for the first time in a long time and took a bite of the meal. "
Birge smiled slightly, thankful for the subtle comment.
"
The shout boomed, breaking the moment of quiet. A voice unfamiliar to them spoke louder.
"
Birge shuddered. Hurriedly, she pushed off the table, broke into a sprint, and opened the door.
Kalika turned, her eyes widening as demons barged into the home, a knife at Birge's throat. She wailed in horror, watching as one of the demons dragged the half-conscious red-skinned boy inside and forced his gaze toward Birge.
"
"
Kalika flinched as he groped at her chest, smiling devilishly.
"
She turned her gaze past the demon, watching as the tearful boy crawled towards her, his breathing more strained.
She bit her lips. "Why… Why is it always like this."
"
In a blur, Kalika's hand shot forward. Her red-stained knife buried itself deep in the demon's skull. Blood splattered across her face as she yanked the blade free, letting the corpse collapse at her feet with a heavy thud.
The boy stared, frozen in shock, as Kalika rose. Without breaking stride, she slowly crossed to the front door, slammed it shut, then burst into her room, where demons pinned Birge down.
She hurled her knife in a single, fluid arc. The blade swept across the room, slashing through the throats of the demons crowded around Birge. They collapsed almost as one, gurgling and clutching at their wounds.
But more demons crashed through the front door, almost flooding the hall and bedroom door. Kalika snatched a second dagger from atop the chest and drove it deep into the neck of the nearest attacker. Without pausing, she flicked her crimson blade, spinning it through the air to strike down two more before they could react.
As the room filled with chaos, Kalika shoved aside the last remaining demons. With a powerful throw, she sent her dagger flying, burying it deep in the final demon's skull. Suddenly, the chaos ebbed into silence, broken only by bodies hitting the floor.
Birge stared in complete and utter shock and horror at Kalika as she stood, bloodied and unfazed. She watched as Kalika left her view, only for her to return with the dying child in hand.
She approached Birge and calmly handed the boy to her. "
Unexpectedly, Kalika turned from the two, beginning to depart the home.
"
Kalika stopped. Her eyes, more distant than they were before. "
Without another word, Kalika left the home, trailed by corpses. She entered the forest, and before she knew it, her dagger appeared in her hand. She stared at it grimly as the echoes of a familiar voice entered her mind.
"[A wise choice, Champion. With the growing season's arrival, my brother is bound to send more demons to break you.]"
"Shut up, Zorbian. Don't pretend you wouldn't have done the same thing."
"[To my followers. No. It's a shame your stay had to end so abruptly. But then again, there is no real escape for you. That is, unless…]"
With trembling hands, Kalika tossed her dagger aside. "Sh- shut up!"
Soon she slowed and stumbled to her knees, her head falling to the ground as she clutched dirt in her grasp. She clenched her teeth, feeling a deepening numbness as she tried to bear her aching heart.
Desperate, she pushed up and marched deeper into the forest, leaving her dagger beneath the branching black tree.
Slowly, the dagger sank into the ground, echoing his inescapable message. "[You can't run forever. My body can only protect you for so long before Cassell's creations come for you. And when that happens, even I won't be able to stop them.]"
As Kalika disappeared into the shadowed wood, the hush behind her felt neither relief nor sorrow. Only the quiet persistence of footsteps with nowhere left to lead.