Xylo had barely managed to straighten himself when his expression shifted. He stood beside the makeshift sled, one hand pressed against his side, his gaze fixed on the darkness between the pines.
The wind moved steadily through the forest, stirring the snow‑laden branches overhead and sending loose powder drifting across the ground. For several moments he said nothing. His eyes followed something Xavier could not see, moving from one gap between the trees to another, as though listening for a sound buried beneath the howl of the wind.
"Something's coming, up ahead."
Xavier turned sharply toward the sled. His hand slipped beneath the rough fabric, searching for the feather‑steel blade they had kept hidden there. The familiar weight settled into his palm as he drew it free, and he raised it slowly. His body was still aching from everything that had happened, but instinct forced the exhaustion aside. He stepped closer to Xylo, eyes narrowing into the dark.
"Where is it?"
"I don't know." Xylo's voice was low, his gaze fixed between the trunks. "I can't see it yet." His fingers tightened slightly. "But I know it's here."
The forest seemed to hold its breath. Even the wind faded for a moment, leaving only the faint rustling of branches and the soft crunch of snow beneath their boots. Xavier waited, blade raised, scanning the shadows. Then a sound emerged from somewhere ahead — a low, distorted groan. Another followed, deeper this time, carrying through the trees with a strange scraping quality that sent a chill down his spine. Something was approaching. Slowly. The sound grew louder with each passing second until a silhouette appeared between the distant trunks.
Xavier's grip tightened. Xylo remained still. The figure continued forward.
At first, there was little to make out beneath the darkness. It walked with an awkward, uneven gait, shoulders hunched as though each step demanded effort. Xavier kept his blade raised as the figure emerged from the trees. The outline became clearer. Two arms. Two legs. A head. A person.
Xavier's shoulders loosened slightly. " Oh, thank goodness is a person." He turned to Xylo to signal him, "Someone's here, is a person, a female." He lowered the blade a little and took a cautious step forward. " Umm....hi?" he called. But she didn't answer, just simply approached closer.
"Hello, Miss? Are... are you okay?" But she still didn't answer
The figure stopped. Xavier took another step closer. "Are you—"
The woman suddenly lifted her head. Xavier froze, frightened by what he'd seen.
Her eyes were red. Bloodshot unnaturally, the whites swallowed by the color. Her mouth hung open, black liquid clinging to the lips and dripping onto the snow. The skin looked pale beneath the moonlight, her body trembling as though something inside her was struggling to break free.
Xavier's grip tightened again. Something was wrong with this lady. She stared directly at him. Then screamed. "Rahhhhh ahh!!!"
The sound ripped through the forest with such force that Xavier instinctively stepped back. Immediately, it lurched forward, movements accelerating as she charged straight toward him. "Shit!" Xavier brought the feather‑steel blade up. The creature was already too close. He shifted his footing, preparing to strike, but before he could move.
Something shot past him. A metallic flash crossed his vision. A long spear out of nowhere struck the creature directly through the head.
The impact stopped its charge instantly. Its body jerked violently before collapsing into the snow, the sword buried deep in its skull. For several seconds it twitched, releasing faint, broken screeches that weakened until they vanished completely. Xavier stood motionless. Xylo did the same. Neither of them had seen where the sword had come from.
The body began to change. Flesh around the wound darkened, then softened. What had once been a woman's body collapsed into a thick black substance that spread across the snow. Steam rose faintly from the liquid as it ate into the white surface, leaving behind an ugly stain like spilled ink.
Xavier stared at it. "If that thing had reached us…" He didn't finish. There was no need. They both knew.
Xylo stepped closer, studying his face. "Are you hurt?"
Xavier shook his head. "No. I'm fine. Thank you." His gaze dropped toward the spear. "Was that you?"
Xylo followed his eyes. " What? No, I didn't see how it fell. I thought you did something."
"Wasn't me either; it was that thing," he said, pointing down.
They stared at the weapon lying in the snow. It was simple, unadorned, without markings or decoration. Yet its blade was completely red, as though forged from crimson steel. Under the moonlight, it reflected a dull sheen that made it difficult to look away.
Xavier's curiosity overcame his caution. He crouched slowly, reaching toward the shaft. Someone spoke out.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you. Ratha doesn't like it when she's about to be held by a stranger; that's just how she is ."
The voice came from behind. Xavier froze, his body stiffening. He rose slowly, blade still in hand, while Xylo turned with him. A figure stood several paces away between the trees.
A young man. His long black hair fell loosely around his shoulders, strands resting against the dark armor covering his body. The armor was stained heavily with blood, much of it fresh. A velvet cloak hung from his shoulders, its lower half torn and darkened from battles fought before finding them. Yet despite the blood, the young man wore a gentle smile. It was almost unsettling.
Xavier raised his blade. "Get back, don't come any closer."
The young man stopped immediately. His smile remained. "I apologize." He raised his hands slightly. "I seem to have frightened you."
"I'm not scared." The words came quickly. The young man's eyes dropped to Xavier's hands. They were shaking. He looked back at his face. "Are you sure? You're shaking."
Xavier glanced down, tightening his grip. "It's the cold, that's all."
Xylo spoke before the conversation could continue. "He's telling the truth."
The stranger gave a small nod. "Very well." He stepped forward slowly, careful not to move suddenly. "I believe I've approached this poorly. Considering one of you is pointing a weapon at me, I suppose an introduction is appropriate." He placed a hand against his chest. "My name is Faylen."
He tilted his head, long hair falling aside to reveal a pointed ear. "As you can see, I'm an elf."
Xavier's eyes lingered on the ear. An elf. He had already seen things in this world that should never have existed, yet seeing one standing calmly before him still felt strange.
Faylen continued. "And judging by the direction you're travelling, I assume you're heading toward the Black Tower."
Xavier and Xylo exchanged a glance. Faylen noticed. "I can take you there if you want."
Xylo's expression hardened. "And why should we trust you?"
"You shouldn't." The answer came so easily that Xavier almost frowned. Faylen looked toward the sky, where stars glimmered faintly behind moving clouds. "You have no reason to trust a stranger you met in the middle of a forest." His gaze returned to them. "But I can tell you this much. Those creatures grow more dangerous the closer you get to the tower. Whatever happened to that man was already beyond what the two of you should be dealing with in your condition."
Xavier glanced toward the black stain left behind by the creature. Faylen's voice carried on. "I'm one of the few capable of killing them before they become a greater problem. If you intend to reach the tower alive, my help may be useful."
Silence hung between them. In a world where survival had become desperation, strangers did not offer help without a price. Every encounter so far had carried one. Faylen seemed to understand their hesitation. He sighed quietly. "Very well."
His hand moved behind his cloak. Xavier tensed, blade rising another inch. "Easy," Faylen said. His hand emerged holding a small glass bottle filled with faintly glowing liquid. He tossed it toward Xavier. Xavier caught it against his chest, staring down at the bottle.
"What is this?"
"A healing potion." Faylen nodded toward Xavier's injuries, then toward Xylo. "Judging by the state you're both in, I imagine you could use it."
Xavier studied the potion carefully. Faylen's smile returned. "Consider it a peace offering."
Xavier stared at the small bottle resting in his hand. The liquid inside was strangely clear, catching the faint light filtering through the trees as he turned it slightly between his fingers. His eyes shifted toward Faylen. The elf had done nothing to them since appearing, and if he had wanted them dead, there had already been several opportunities to do so. Still, trusting a stranger in a place like this felt reckless. But after everything they had endured, they were hardly in a position to refuse help.
Xavier slowly pulled the cork free and brought the bottle to his lips. He took a cautious swallow.
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then warmth spread through his chest.
Xavier's eyes widened slightly as the sensation travelled through his body. The aching in his muscles began to fade first. The bruises covering his arms and ribs slowly disappeared, their darkened colors retreating beneath his skin. Small cuts sealed themselves before his eyes, leaving only faint traces behind. Even the exhaustion that had weighed heavily upon his limbs began to lift, replaced by a familiar strength.
He flexed his fingers.
The pain was gone.
Xavier looked at the bottle in surprise before turning toward Xylo. "Here. You need it more than I do."
Xylo accepted the potion without arguing. His hands were still unsteady as he raised it to his lips and drank the remainder. The effect was almost immediate. The patches of corruption that had discolored his skin began to recede, while the bruises scattered across his body gradually faded. His breathing became steadier, and some of the weakness that had plagued him since the beginning of their journey finally seemed to loosen its grip.
Xylo lowered the empty bottle and stared at his hands for a moment.
Faylen watched them both with an amused expression. "So? Has it killed you yet, or are you two still alive?"
Xavier let out a small chuckle. "We're alive. And I think we're fully healed."
"Good." Faylen glanced toward the forest ahead. "Then shall we go?"
Xylo looked at Xavier, then at the elf. Caution still lingered in his eyes, but after the potion restored the strength he had barely left, some of that suspicion had faded.
"I suppose we can trust you," he said.
With that, Faylen extended his hand.
A faint shimmer passed through the air.
His spear vibrated, then shot off the ground and flew straight toward him. Faylen caught it effortlessly and rested the weapon against his shoulder.
" Ok then, Let's go," he said, winking at the duo.