Night had come, the moon light illuminated a path for Fourth and Raion, and there was a crisp breeze wafting throught the air. Raion and Fourth had made it to Madeline Mountain. Ahead of them, just a mere three-day walk would be where Wen was located.
The two had, left there village after purchasing their supplies, ensuring they had everything theyd need for the journey. They had to stop and make camp, having to rest on the outskirts of town, Located below Madeline Mountain.
"Wake up, it's time to get a move on," Fourth nudges Raion in an attempt to wake him from his deep slumber.
Raion moans and groans, turning away from Fourth. "The sun hasn't even come out yet, it's still dark. Let me sleep a few more minutes." He says as he gives out a big yawn and stretches out his entire body.
"This is the perfect time to go. A place like this, you don't want to be when the sun comes up." Fourth says, while he extinguishes, that had just stayed lit enough for Raion and Fourth to stay warm, during the cold evening.
Raion slowly, but steadily turns his body to face Fourth. "Ahh, how come?" He says nervously with a hint of curiosity.
"Have you heard of Skin biters?" Fourth says, brushing the dirt off his sleeping pad, as he tightly rolls it up.
Fourth had caught Raion's attention, as he positions himself upright, scooting ever so slightly next to Fourth. "No, I haven't. What are they?"
The two sat there in silence for a minute, the crisp breeze rustling throughout the trees.
Raion pokes Fourth, who had got further lost in his thoughts, as if he was reminiscing the past.
"Nice weather, we're having, wouldn't you say?" A smile forms on Fourths face, but his eyes remained dull and lifeless.
Raion could sense that something wasnt right with Fourth, but he was unsure what that was.
"Fourth? You alright? You were about to explain 'skin biters' to me?"
"Ah yes, my bad, where was I? Oh yeah, let's just say you don't want to find out. Like I said, we'd better get going."
"But Fourth?
"Another time, Raion, we really should pack up."
"You constantly are saying that" he mumbles under his breath, slipping his shirt over his head.
Fourth picks up his shoe and chucks it at Raion, hitting him in the back of the head." What was that, Raion?"
"Ouch, that hurt!" He says, rubbing the spot the shoe had hit him.
"Come now, we must get going. Gather your stuff."
"Okay, okay, I am." Raion says, slipping his shoes on. "Im ready, lets do this."
They both gathered their supplies and headed straight out; this time, they were going towards Black Woods Dock.
"Fourth...Im tired, can we rest please."
"Theres no time, you already set us back a hour." He says, scornfully, grinding his teeth.
"You know thats not my fault! You're the one who threw your shoe at me, I was merely returning it back."
"Yes! And you threw it too far!" He says angrily.
"I wasnt aware, itd go that far or take you this long to find it." Said Raion
The two continue to bicker back and forth at each other, yelling and pointing their fingers at one another. This went on for three minutes straight, the other refusing to admit their wrong. The reason for the argument wasnt just about the shoe, but about the urgency of the situation. Fourth knowing all too well what the Skin biters could do, needed Raion's understanding. Yet Raion, just simply could not grasp how dire this situation had become for them.
"If youd just listened to me in the first place, this wouldn't have happened. "
"I was, listening you were just being hotheaded and ignored me, when I asked about Skin biters!" Raion throws his hands up in anger, and goes on ahead of Fourth.
"Raion!, you get back here! Dont walk off from me!"
He continues walking ahead of Fourth, until he's barely visible to him and the trees swaying in the wind, is all Fourth can see.
"Yeah yeah, whatever." Raion says, while he looks down at his shoes, kicking up the dirt.
The morning sun are starting to peak just above the top of the hightest trees, its bright rays shining through the leaves. On any day in any other given area in the country of Juniva this would have been considered a beautiful start to a morning.
In the mist of all the comotion that was caused earlier, Fourth nor Raion had noticed that they were being followed. No something had been tracking them the moment they left the campsite.
Fourth, finally caught up to Raion, whom at the time was sitting on a log; waiting for Fourth. He looks up at Fourth, and goes, "Took you long enough."
While Fourth was explaining to Raion, why he shouldn't have gone off alone and the dangerous of the woods. "Raion, please I already told you this before. We dont have the time to mess around."
In the distance, lurking in the darkness of the woods, stood a figure. Was it a skin biter or something else entirely? It moved quietly throughout the trees, being sure to not be seen by Fourth or Raion.
"So, do you understand now the gravity of the situation?"
"I do, now. I mean... we could lead with all that at top of the mountain." Raion grumbles
Fourth glares at Raion, then pushes him off the log, Raion stumbles backwards. "Why'd you do that?!" Raion stands and brushes the mud off his clothing.
"Felt like it, now lets just get going. We got places to be, we can't be late. " Says Fourth.
"Yeah, youre right. Im ready."
A little bit later.
"Fourth Im getting hungry!" He wallows and groans, shuffling his feet, and trailing behind Fourth.
"We will eat when we get out of these woods, theres only roughly two hours left before the sun completely rises.. though, we're still in danger. "
"Danger? From what?"
"Skin Biters."
"Skin Biters? But didnt you say something about them coming out when the suns fully anove the sky?" Raion stops dead in his tracks, hes too scared to move.
"That is correct, but if you havent noticed, there are sparce parts in the woods. Areas where the trees dont hide the suns rays. " Fourth grabs Raions arm and pulls him forward. "Come, Now, Raion"
"But Fourth..." The fear in Raions voice is immense, he can barelt form the words to say . "Im... I'm scared, Im actually scared. " Tears slowly trickle down Raions cheeks. Fourth is shocked, seeing Raion crying, wasnt something hes seen in years. He places his hand on Raions shoulder, smiling he says "No need to cry, Raion, I'll protect you, just like Ive always have."
Raions tears stopped, and he shook himself out of his self wallowing, wiping the tears from his cheeks. "I.. yeah, Im good now. Im not sure whats gotten into me there, I think this whole shadow things really setting in. Its scary to think about this."
With Fourth's hand still placed on Raion "Like I said, Im here and what type of mentor would I be if I wasnt"
Raion under his breath "A good one."
"Huh? You say something?"
Raion chuckles a little, "Nope, nothing."
Raion and Fourth walked for a little while longer, now reaching the town of Hurth and Black Woods Dock. There they will meet an formidable Ally.
Fourth and Raion had reached the edge of the Black woods dock, where a town called Hurth was.
"You need to wear this cloak; we can't have people seeing that you're a shadow. If they realize that you can't turn back. Panic will spread." He hands Raion a dark burgundy cloak, with a golden trim.
Raion takes the cloak throwing it over himself. "But don't they realize people can turn each other into shadows?"
"Yes, they do, but there's only a certain amount of time they're allowed to turn someone into a shadow."
"Why is that?" Raion asks, while tying up the hood of his cloak.
"Because of The Sorcerers Society, they dictate the laws and rules of magic throughout Juniva. And within that the villages and towns have their own smaller version of The Sorcerers Society; thats called the Magic chambers.
They are able to make their own laws within reason and in this part, it's punishable by exile to be a shadow for more than ten minutes a day. Additionally, no one has ever been able to remain a shadow for that long."
Raion tightens the draw strings on his cloak, ensuring its tightly secured."But why's that?"
"Story for another time."He walks ahead of Raion, motioning to follow.
"That's what you said the last time." He sighed loudly, running to catch up with Fourth. "How long till we reach Wen?"
"Well, once we board the boat across Dusty River. Then it's about another day and a half walk. Mainly flat surfaces, with a hike up a mountain at the end. Should be quite simple."
"That's what I like to hear! Now let's get some grub, I'm hungry. The boat doesn't leave for another hour or two. What do you say?" Raion playful shoves Fourth, then rubs his stomach. It makes a ever so slightly faint grumbling noise.
" I suppose so, I guess we can stop for a small meal." Fourths stomach begins to grumble obnoxiously.
"A small meal."He says laughing.
Raion and Fourth headed towards a local restaurant that's main specialty is... soup. The restaurants name is "Smiling Soup".
"Smiling soup, it's the slurpiest soup for you." Said earnestly.
"You didn't have to act so casual about that slogan. You know."
" I like a good slogan now and again. Keeps me on my toes."
They enter into the restaurant as the waiter leads them to the table and begins to take the order. While that was happening inside the restaurant, outside there was a mysterious gentleman walking through the towns streets. Covered from head to toe in all black, the only thing that wasnt black was his, golden blonde hair; the sun shining on it made appear even blonder than it actually was.
Back at the restaurant, Fourth and Raion were ordering their food.
Fourth reads through the menu. "There's a lot of soup options."
Raion looks at Fourth, with a dumbfounded expression. "The restaurant is called 'Smiling Soup' of course there's a lot of soup options." I forgot how childish he himself can become.
Just as Fourth and Raion were finishing up their orders, the door slam open, and in walk the mysterious man from earlier.
"Give me the usual and this time add extra onions."
"Yes, sir, and would you like that with a side salad or bread?" Asks the waiter.
Baskia throws his hand in the air and says, "Make it both, I'm feeling a tad hungry."
"Will that be all?"
"Yes, thank you." He says looking back at the waiter with a grin.
Meanwhile at the table where Fourth and Raion were sat.
"Fourth who's that guy?"
"I'm assuming a local around this place. That guy seems to know everyone." Fourth says while slurping up his soup.
Baskia drags over a chair to their tables and sits backwards on it, drapping his arms across the top.
"Nope, no local, just passing through. Like the two of you." He says munching on some bread.
"Look, Raion, he has bread." Fourth nudges Raion and points over at the mysterious guy, whose mouth is full of bread.
Raion ignored Fourth. "How did you know we were passing through? And wait, but they knew your usual order, you must have gone here before." Wait why am I the one asking these questions, has this soup really gotten to Fourth that much.
He glances at Fourth, who is peacfully listening and sipping his soup.
"Not a day in my life, the first time here. I can make people believe what I want them to. It's a little ability of mine. Just like you, my friend." He says smirking at Raion.
"Ability? Of what kind, and you never mentioned how you knew we were passing by!"
The guy moves his chair closer to Fourth and places his arm around Fourths shoulder. "I can tell that you've been in shadow form for about three days now. You both came from Redbird City. And you're going to go see a woman by the name of Wen."
"Unbelievable."Fourth says astonished
"Believe it,the names Baskia, and yes, I am one of 'The Five'."
"What's going on? Who is one of the five?! Who are you?!" Asked Raion.
"Raion, 'The Five' are a group of people sworn to protect the rock of Angfel. They were chosen one by one just by their abilities alone. Only these five know the truth behind Angfel."
"Yes, that is correct."
"Wait, though, shouldn't you be keeping all of this a secret. Why tell us?"
The air in the room had gone still, not a whisper was said, all the customers stopped dead in their tracks. This had lasted only a fraction of a second, but in this time fram Baskia had used his Magic abilities Mind control: Forgotten thoughts.
"Tell you guys what?" Baskia says.
The restaurant had gone back to its normal busy place it was moments ago. Waiters taking orders, the sizzling of the stoves and customers, slurping their soups up.
"I'm not sure what it was we're discussing again?"
" I think I remember us talking about the new store that is opening up down the street from us."
"Ahh, yes, we were. I must say I do like a big grand opening." Says Fourth.
The waiter comes along finally bringing upin Baskia soup to him. He sets it down on the table.
"Sir, your food is served. If there's anything I can help you with. I'll be right over there."
"No, that will be all. Well, you two, we must get going, we don't want to miss our boat. Off to Wen to fix your shadow problem!" Baskia gets up from the table and pushes his chair in, Fourth and Raion follow behind.
The two, had now become three, little to Raion and Fourths own memories, they qere now traveling with one of 'The Five'. All three headed towards Black Woods Dock.