The journey toward the eastern border was a slow, grueling descent. During the first days of march, Arkania's meadows began to fade behind them. By the fifth day, the terrain had turned rugged, gray, and dominated by sharp stone ravines.
The physical toll of walking beneath a leaden sky added to a constant group tension. The camping nights passed in uncomfortable silence; they ate without looking at each other, wrapped in their own thoughts and sleeping with their backs to the fire. Darian walked at the front, mute and stubborn, while Aria went several steps behind, her gaze fixed on the ground, reluctant to address him.
That lack of coordination nearly cost them their lives on the seventh day.
While crossing a rocky path flanked by high cliffs, the ground trembled. Three Summit Chelonids, enormous bipedal reptiles covered in thick stone plates, ambushed the group from the ledges above.
Darian reacted on instinct, but the crushing gravity his chest still bore made him a second slower than usual. He channeled his mana into his palms and launched a dense burst of fire at the first monster falling toward them. The flames enveloped the beast, but its thick scales withstood the heat. The Chelonid burst through the fire with a roar and charged him, forcing Darian to roll clumsily across the gravel to avoid being crushed.
Darian got to his feet and drew his black swords, expecting, as always, one of Aria's arrows to cover him while he repositioned.
But the arrow wasn't for him.
Aria had aimed toward the opposite side, completely ignoring her companion's open flank. Her white bow cracked and a wind-magic hypercompressed arrow shot out, piercing the second Chelonid's eye just before it leaped, dropping it instantly.
The third reptile seized the defensive gap and charged directly at Darian's unprotected flank.
Varkas intervened with a deep grunt. The giant planted himself in the dry earth and raised his enormous shield. The impact of the claws and stone mass against the dark armor sounded like a deafening crash. Varkas slid back from the brute force, but didn't fall.
Taking advantage of Varkas holding the creature, Darian channeled his magic through the black swords. The blades absorbed the heat, glowing with lethal intensity, and with a double crossing slash, he managed to decapitate the monster Varkas was holding. Immediately after, Aria finished off the first beast, still wrapped in flames, with two consecutive arrows to the neck.
The combat had dragged on longer than necessary. It was chaotic, disorganized, and exhausting. All three were breathing hard. Varkas shook the blood from his shield and looked at them with fury, but decided to clench his teeth and push them to keep moving.
As evening fell, they finally reached the Broken Peaks fissure.
They entered on maximum alert, expecting to find claw marks, bones, or the stench of death typical of an active dungeon. After an hour descending through damp tunnels and empty caverns, they stopped in the center of a natural vault.
The silence was absolute. There was no trace of beasts.
The return to the surface was heavy. No one said anything, but the air felt thick; the anger and frustration were palpable.
"I told you it was too suspicious. My instincts were right," Aria reproached him. "The whole trip was for nothing."
"Fine, I'm sorry. My mistake," Darian replied, tired of the criticism. "But at least I try to do something. You were very comfortable back in Arkania. After all, you have talent... why bother making an effort, right?"
Aria stopped dead and turned toward him, noticeably irritated. She got in his face, closing the distance between them.
"Shut up. Don't talk about what you don't know," she snapped at him with a cutting voice.
"Don't know? " Darian shot back, stepping forward and holding her gaze in a stance of total confrontation. "What is it I don't know? Tell me!"
Aria shoved Darian against one of the dungeon walls. But Darian shoved her back. A fight was imminent.
Aria channeled her wind magic, throwing Darian through the air. As he fell, Darian got up furious and hurled a fireball at her. The fireball closed in on Aria, but Varkas stepped in, taking the impact on his shield.
"ENOUGH!" Varkas shouted. The peaceful giant had grown tired of the fight.
"That's enough from both of you. You're not children here," Varkas continued, lowering his shield. "If you want to fight that badly, go ahead, but do it outside! Didn't you want to protect your companions, Aria? And you, Darian, don't you see them as your family? Let's go out and finish this. I'm not your babysitter," he declared.
Both looked at each other and shook off the dust. They apologized to Varkas and continued toward the surface.
Almost reaching the entrance, the atmosphere changed. Something in the air didn't feel right.
When they emerged, the red sun was setting, dyeing everything in a reddish orange, and among the rays of sunlight, dozens of long dark silhouettes stretched across the gravel.
The rocky landscape they had left behind a couple of hours ago was no longer deserted. Dozens of men blocked the narrow pass connecting the mountain to the road back.
They were spread in a wide semicircle in front of the entrance. They wore worn leathers, dirty furs, and carried swords, axes, and crossbows. Some laughed with a rough tone, others simply stood in silence. There were at least thirty heavily armed men, grouped together, completely blocking their way.
The leader of the men stepped forward, striking his sword against his shield with a cold smile.
Aria tightened her jaw and slowly moved her hand toward her quiver. Varkas drew his sword in silence. Darian pulled out his black swords, feeling the world narrow down to the enemies before them. The icy mountain wind whistled between the rocks, sweeping away any hope of a misunderstanding.
They were surrounded.