The next week blurred together, marked by long walks, quick kills, and the quiet exhaustion that followed.
We hunted down every last monstrosity we could find. The first three days had been productive, but by the fourth, the trail was running cold. In total, we took down eighty-nine. Seventy-nine confirmed. Ten too mangled or too far gone to count, but the gold still added up. In total, we earned two gold and thirty-seven silver.
Not bad for a week of blood and ash.
Beyond that, the city had taken in most of the survivors by then. At least, those who felt safe enough to stay.
Ella, on the other hand, had found her rhythm.
She grew sharper with every fight and more accustomed to her powers. It was almost like watching a well-choreographed dance with how seamlessly her abilities worked together.
As such, it didn't take long for her level to hit twenty-three by the end of it, and honestly, she deserved it.
Henry, too, had come a long way, though there was something strange going on. For reasons neither of us fully understood, reaching level twenty-five had been a stubborn wall for him, one he struggled against far longer than expected. But to his credit, instead of letting it frustrate him, he poured himself into training. When we weren't hunting, I spent time helping him with his footwork, steadying his movements, and working on his reaction time. His style was rough at first, all energy and no form, but he threw himself into the grind. Sparring in the dusty training grounds, over and over.
And then there was the poison.
When he first tried using it, the mist lashed out in every direction, nearly choking two trainees. But after a few days of focused effort, his control improved. But the real shift came when he unlocked the skill Poison Control. That changed everything. He could aim and now shape it, leading to fewer, if any accidents.
And lastly, there was that cursed power.
Each time I activated it, I could slow time to an incredible degree, but at a cost. I would be left completely drained for an entire day, and even then, the toll lingered long after my body recovered.
Even so, I kept training. Over and over, I forced the skill to activate, knowing full well I would end each attempt collapsed on the ground, completely unable to move.
It was during one of those training sessions that I was dragged off to the side and left to sit while Henry improved his toxic clouds that Grace started to ramble on about how good it would be to get out of this city and explore a bit. In fact, it was already decided, as she had secured guard positions on a caravan bound for the city of Galebrook to gather supplies and reinforcements for the upcoming festival.
Honestly, I was surprised that the festival was still happening.
After everything that happened, it felt off. But maybe that was the point. People needed something normal. Something to look forward to. Even if it was just for a few days.
So in total, the whole trip would take six days. Just enough time to get there and back before the festival began…
I stood near the stables with my arms crossed, weight shifted to one leg as I fought off another slow blink, watching the others pack through a fog of fatigue.
Ella, on the other hand, looked like she was powered by a thousand suns. She bounced from place to place, barely able to stand still as she rattled off questions in rapid succession.
"What's it called again? How far is it? And why is it taking so long?"
Amelia paused, closed her eyes, and drew in a slow breath before answering.
"Galebrook," she said dryly. "I don't know exactly how far. And it should be about time."
Rubbing my eyes free, I glanced around the group. "So… who's coming with us?"
"Everyone except Emily," Amelia muttered as she hefted her bag over her shoulder. "She's staying behind to focus on training. But Grace is joining us, though she mentioned she has something special to share during the trip."
Ella nodded, a grin tugging at her lips. "I can't wait to see what it is."
Once we finished our preparations, we headed for the city gate where the caravan was gathering. The moment we stepped through, I slowed to a stop.
Wagons stretched as far as I could see, packed wheel to wheel in a chaotic sprawl. There had to be hundreds of them. Some were pulled by creatures closely resembling horses, but others were… different. Giant slugs hauled towering stacks of crates, their bodies rippling as they moved. Nearby, a cluster of small insectoid creatures clicked and twitched while a few handlers patiently tried to teach them how to sit, bribing them with handfuls of treats.
I watched longer than I meant to. The scene left an uneasy knot in my stomach, though no one else seemed bothered. The creatures obeyed, tails and antennae flicking eagerly, and eventually I forced myself to relax. If they were trusted enough to be here, I supposed they couldn't be that dangerous.
Not long after, I spotted Grace near one of the carriages, deep in animated conversation with a small group, her hands moving almost as much as her mouth.
"Hey, guys!" she called out once she noticed us. "I managed to secure us a spot in one of the carriages!"
My eyebrows shot up. "How'd you pull that off?"
"I'll tell you once we're settled," Grace said, already turning toward the wagon.
The carriage was modest but well kept. A single cabin stretched just wide enough for all six of us to sit comfortably. Dark-stained wood lined the walls, polished smooth, and plush red seats wrapped around the interior. The moment I straightened and sat down, the cushions gave way beneath me, inviting in a way that made my muscles loosen despite myself. For a second, I seriously considered leaning back and closing my eyes.
But curiosity won out.
"So," I began, leaning forward instead. "How did you manage to afford this carriage?"
Grace's eyes gleamed with pride as she leaned in, her voice dropping slightly as though sharing a grand secret. "I've been working on something called a ScrapCrawler. They're tiny bots I designed for a bunch of tasks like collecting materials, assisting with construction, you name it.
"But recently, I've had them mining a metal called Pyronite, which just so happens to have the useful ability to channel heat almost effortlessly through its outer shell. That, along with its popularity, makes it especially valuable for forging weapons that use fire or explosive effects."
She gave the carriage a fond pat.
"So, as you can imagine, the ore is highly sought after. Hence the carriage."
I blinked, impressed. In the little amount of time she had spent here, she had done all that. "That's… impressive. How much are you making?"
"About seven gold per shipment," she replied casually
The carriage fell into stunned silence.
Henry's jaw nearly hit the floor. "Seven gold per shipment? How many shipments are we talking about?"
"Five so far," Grace said with a shrug. "And I'm still growing. More buyers reach out every day."
Benjamin let out a low whistle and nodded, clearly impressed.
Amelia raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at her lips. "Wow. So you're rich, rich."
Ella leaned forward. "You have to teach me how to make those bots."
Grace laughed warmly. "Don't worry, I promised to teach you, and I plan on keeping that promise."
True to her words, Ella and Grace's voices filled the carriage as they launched into an in-depth discussion about bots. Grace explained the intricacies with her usual enthusiasm, gesturing animatedly as Ella absorbed every word. Circuits, alloys, and something about power cores... I tried to follow along at first, but the technical details quickly flew over my head.
Sighing, I leaned back in my seat and reached into my pocket, pulling out the silvery rock. I idly tossed it from one hand to the other, the familiar weight and texture calming me.
Bits of their conversation still drifted into my ears.
"...The bots could handle even finer tasks if the gears were micro-sized..." Grace explained.
"Wouldn't that mean the frame would need reinforcements?" Ella countered.
I tossed the rock a bit higher, catching it lazily as I stared at the ceiling. How are they still talking? The technical jargon blurred into an indistinct hum as my interest waned further.
Eventually, even the rock-tossing lost its charm. I sighed again, tucking the stone back into my pocket and turning my gaze to the window. The caravan rattled as it rolled forward, the surrounding forest slowly giving way to open plains under the evening sky. I focused on the changing scenery, letting the muted chatter in the background fade into white noise.
That's when I noticed a figure perched on the roof of a nearby carriage. Early twenties, wearing a well-worn metal breastplate and carrying a longsword strapped to his back. His dark hair caught the fading light as he bent over a sketchbook.
Curious, I pushed myself upright, slipping out of the carriage, and into the cool night air as I climbed onto the roof of the nearest wagon, stretching as I stood. The stars above were breathtaking, scattered across the velvety darkness in a brilliant display, but my attention drifted back to the stranger.
As I approached, he glanced up, sensing my presence. "It's a nice night, isn't it?" he smiled and gestured toward the sky with his pencil.
"It really is," I replied, returning the smile.
He closed his sketchbook briefly, tucking the pencil into the spine before extending his hand. "Luke," he introduced himself.
"Atlas," I said, shaking his hand.
My eyes flicked to the sketchbook. "What are you drawing?"
Luke chuckled, flipping it open to reveal a beautifully detailed landscape. Rolling mountains stretched across the page, their peaks softened by distant clouds, while a bustling city was etched into the foreground, complete with intricate rooftops and winding streets.
"A bit of everything," he said, tapping the page with his pencil. "Those mountains caught my eye earlier, but I'm adding Galebrook from memory. Helps pass the time."
"You're from Galebrook?"
"Yeah," he said, his voice softening with fondness. "Born and raised. What about you? First time heading there?"
I nodded. "Yeah. Heard it's a lot bigger than StormWatch."
Luke chuckled softly. "It is. Busier, too. There's always something going on." Then, as if remembering something, he flipped his sketchbook open again. "Here, I'll show you a sketch of the palace."
He thumbed through a few worn pages before stopping. Spread across the paper was a sprawling city seen from high above. The buildings curved upward in an almost spiraling design, all leading toward a magnificent structure at the center. The palace rose above everything else, dominating the skyline. Beyond it, the sky was dotted with pale clouds that seemed to coil inward, drawing the eye straight to the palace itself.
"I was trying to redraw it," Luke muttered. "But I just cant get the palace quite right."
Raising an eyebrow at that, I tried to see where he was struggling, but no matter where I looked, it seemed perfect. "I don't even know where you thought it was off."
He huffed softly, studying the page a moment longer, then began flipping through again. As he went, he talked about different places he had been and faces he had tried to capture.
After a while, he moved to close the book. But just as he did, my eyes caught a glimpse of a page he flipped past, where a dark figure was sketched in charcoal. Something about its shape froze me.
"Wait," I said quickly, reaching out. "What was that?"
Luke hesitated, his brow furrowing slightly. "What's what?" He flipped through the pages till I pointed out what I'd seen.
A humanoid figure stared back at us from the paper. Its face was blank and entirely white, save for an unnerving, wide grin that seemed almost alive. The body, loosely humanoid, was draped in wisps of shadow, its long, skeletal fingers stretched out as if reaching for something.
I felt a chill crawl up my spine. "I've seen something like that before," I muttered.
Luke glanced at me. "You have?"
"In some ruins," I admitted.
Luke let out a slow breath, his fingers tapping against the edge of his book. "It might've been the same thing," he said. "Last time I saw something like that was over a month ago, on the mountain range encompassing the Barren Sea. I was on an escort job, heading toward one of the many cities down there."
He paused as if imagining it.
"And that's where I found it, though it was the strangest thing. It was just sitting among the trees, staring out at the open desert like it was waiting for something. I tried to get closer, but…" He shook his head. "It vanished before I could reach it. One blink, and it was gone."
His words hung heavy in the air, and I found myself staring at the drawing again as though it might reveal something new. Then, the reality of what he said hit me. There are cities in the Barren Sea? My mind spun for a moment, trying to piece together the details. But before I could process further, my attention shifted as I noticed movement near his bag.
I looked down just in time to see a small, black-scaled lizard crawl out. Its yellow eyes gleamed in the starlight, its tongue flicking lazily as it surveyed its surroundings.
Blinking in surprise, I looked up at Luke. "Friend of yours?"
Luke's expression softened. "Yeah, this is Smokey," he said, reaching down to scoop the lizard into his hand. Smokey clung to his fingers, tilting its head curiously at me.
"Smokey?" I repeated, amused.
"What? It suits him," Luke said defensively, though the way he said it suggested there was more to the name than he was letting on. "He's great company. Keeps pests away and has a habit of finding shiny things, which is surprisingly useful."
I chuckled and reached out cautiously, to which Smokey licked my finger.
"Shiny things, huh? Sounds like he'd get along with one of my friends. She's got an eye for anything valuable."
Luke laughed. "Maybe. Just keep an eye on your gear. Smokey's a bit of a thief sometimes."
Chuckling, I was about to ask if I could hold the little guy when a voice called out from the darkness.
"Luke!"
He glanced over his shoulder, his expression flickering with annoyance before softening. With an apologetic shrug, he stood and slipped Smokey back into his bag. "Sorry, looks like someone needs me."
Waving off his apology, I watched as he dropped from the carriage with practiced ease before disappearing into the shadows and leaving me alone with my thoughts.
I leaned back, staring up at the stars, my mind circling back to the grinning figure and the cities in the Barren Sea. Why was it there? And was it the same thing from the ruins or something different? The questions gnawed at me, refusing to be silenced.
Eventually, I climbed back down into the carriage, where Grace and Ella were still lost in their animated discussion.
Sighing, I knew they would be at this all night, so in the end I got as comfortable as I could and tried to zone out their constant chatter as the terrain slowly passed by.
The days dragged by, the rolling hills and dense forests blending together as the caravan trudged on. Ella and Grace, somehow, still hadn't run out of things to say. Their voices, a constant hum of energy, had filled the carriage for what felt like an eternity. By now, most of us had given up trying to keep up and opted to walk alongside the procession instead.
The caravan had settled into a predictable rhythm—occasional skirmishes with wildlife, a few hot-headed arguments between travelers that were quickly diffused, and the steady crunch of wheels on gravel. Nothing unexpected, though the new sights did little to stave off the creeping boredom. Luke, oddly enough, had disappeared after the first night, and I hadn't seen him since.
With nothing better to do, I adjusted the straps of my pack and sighed, stepping off the main path toward the treeline. The forest offered a quiet escape from the noise of the caravan, its cool shade a welcome reprieve from the sunlight.
The forest was alive in a way that was almost soothing, with buzzing insects, the rustle of leaves, and the occasional bird call. As I wandered along the edge, I spotted the strangest thing up ahead. On the branch of an overhanging tree sat a massive, salamander-like creature, its six eyes glinting in the dappled sunlight. Its wide, gaping mouth opened slightly before it scrambled into the underbrush and vanished.
"Too bad I didn't get to identify it," shaking my head, I pulled a small notebook from my pocket. I jotted down a few messy notes about its appearance, wishing I had identified it. "Six eyes, wide mouth... maybe poisonous?" I tapped the pencil against the page, frowning. Probably won't see that one again.
By the next day, I'd resigned myself to carrying my sketchbook. If I'm going to run into strange creatures, I might as well try to remember what they look like. Flipping through a few rough attempts at drawing various creatures i frowned at how bad my sketches were, but compared to the monotony of the caravan, this helped pass the time.
The caravan rolled on in the distance, visible through gaps in the trees, as I wandered further into the woods. A peculiar buzz caught my attention. Turning, I caught sight of the strangest thing. It looked like a bizarre cross between a dragonfly and a crab, its translucent wings beating furiously as its clawed limbs grasped at the air as if unaccustomed to gravity.
Stopping in place, I raised a hand as if to invite it to land, but it seemed content to just hover around. Undeterred, I leaned in closer. "Let's see what you are," I murmured, activating identify. But strangely enough, nothing showed up. Frowning, I tried again, but the same thing happened.
Narrowing my eyes, I lowered my hand as it zipped away into the trees. "That's weird," I muttered, tapping my temple lightly with my pencil as if that would reset my skill. Great. Is my core broken?
The thought seemed idiotic, but I hadn't found a single creature I wasn't able to identify yet, even bugs. Intrigued, I moved further in, but, strangely enough, the farther I got, the heavier the air grew. Soon enough, it became thick with an almost imperceptible humidity that clung to my skin. The ground softened underfoot, damp and spongy. My boots squelched slightly with each step.
The surroundings seemed off. You'd expect a change in terrain or plant life given how humid the surrounding area was, but everything seemed unchanged from the forest I had been accustomed to for the last couple of days.
That was until I caught sight of something strange. At first, I thought it was a simple pond, but as I approached, the sight stopped me in my tracks.
The "pond" wasn't like anything I'd ever seen. There was no discernible deep spot, no gradual slope where the water pooled naturally. Instead, it was a thin layer of crystal-clear water that had gathered over the grass and vegetation, submerging them completely.
I crouched near the edge, frowning as I scanned the area. There was no spring, or bubbling source, nothing to explain where the water had come from. It was as if the water had appeared out of nowhere, spilling into this part of the forest like someone had left a faucet running.
Reaching into the water, I found it oddly warm, given the chilly weather we had grown accustomed to over the past couple of weeks. I glanced around, half-expecting some obvious explanation, but there was nothing.
I dragged my fingers through the surface. The ripples that followed felt wrong. They formed, but not the way water should, as if something resisted the motion, bending it out of shape. I couldn't name what I was seeing, only that it moved by rules I didn't recognize.
Frowning, I stood and circled the pond. That's when I noticed it.
At the center, the air shimmered faintly, like heat rising off sun-baked stone. I leaned closer, eyes narrowing as the distortion thickened and took shape. Through it, I caught glimpses of another place entirely. Twisted trees crowded the far side, their branches sagging under curtains of vines. The vegetation was dense and swamp-choked, and even from here the air beyond looked heavy, humming with something strange.
I circled the pond, studying it from every angle. From the back, the shimmer vanished. Leaving nothing but the ordinary forest still reflected in the still water. It was as if the thing only existed when seen head-on.
"Alright," I muttered, glancing back at the vision, "that's definitely not normal."
I moved to the front again and crouched at the pond's edge. Slowly, I reached toward the distortion. A faint hum brushed against my fingers as they passed through the boundary, like static crawling along my skin. On the other side, the air felt different. Like the kind of warmth you'd expect in a swamp, but slightly off.
I wiggled my fingers experimentally, half expecting something to grab me, but nothing did. Just the faint sensation of dampness and warmth, completely at odds with the crisp coolness of the forest. I withdrew my hand and wiped it on my pants, shaking off the lingering sensation.
Walking around to the back again, I decided to test something. This time, I stepped fully through the area where the portal should have been, expecting to be transported to the swamp. But nothing happened. Turning in a slow circle, the forest around me remained unchanged, yet the portal was now visible from this side.
I took a soft, uncertain breath, my mind scrambling to understand. Part of me wanted to step through it entirely, to see what lay on the other side, but I hesitated. Something about it didn't sit right. Would it close behind me? If so, I had no way back.
Glancing back toward the caravan, I inwardly cursed as I realized I had fallen far behind. Acting quickly, I pulled out my sketchbook and began scribbling down what I'd seen. My drawings were rough, but they captured enough detail to remind me of the experience later.
With one last glance at the strange pond, I stuffed the sketchbook into my bag and turned back toward the caravan. My mind buzzed with questions as I hurried to catch up.