Aletha and Drimi sprinted through the forest, shoving stones aside and cutting down monsters in their path. Their chests burned as every step felt heavier. Footprints overlapped chaotically, and the mist grew ever thicker, pressing in around them.
As they stumbled into a tranquil pond encircled by ancient trees, Aletha crumpled to the ground, gasping for air. Though she was no stranger to travel or hardship, the relentless run had drained every ounce of her strength.
Her long white hair was disheveled, her face flushed with sweat, and her dress slightly torn.
"D-Drimi. I can't…
Her breath came in ragged, desperate bursts.
"I can't g-go any faster. Please, slow down. I… I can't. P-Please…"
Aletha wheezed, collapsing face-first into the earth. Drimi spun around, her gasp sharp with worry, but she did not hesitate. She quickly knelt beside Aletha, gripped her hand, and firmly urged her friend to rise, her determination clear even as impatience flickered in her eyes.
"Come on, Aletha, get up! We have to keep going! You're not going to let your brother down, are you?" Drimi urged, her voice straining with stubborn encouragement. Drimi urged, her tone both encouraging and impatient.
Aletha slowly raised her dirt-streaked face, exhaustion etched into every line. Drimi shook her head with a soft, knowing chuckle.
She wiped the dirt from Aletha's face and smiled, remembering her own childhood struggles.
A young girl darted endlessly through a gauntlet of obstacles, crouching, ducking, sprinting, and lifting in a relentless cycle. Each cruel punishment left her so drained that when she finally paused for breath, her body refused to move, battered by the weight of her suffering.
While the memory vanished from her mind, Drimi rubbed Aletha's head, giggled, and tilted her head to the treetops. With her deep, soothing voice, she whispered to Aletha.
"You know, Aletha... seeing you like this, I remember what I went through when I was your age. If you want, we'll rest, and maybe I'll bore you with my tragic past. Unless you want to keep running instead?" Drimi teased, a sly glint in her eyes.
Aletha breathed a sigh of relief. She never knew what Drimi meant, but if it meant a break from the constant running and fighting, Aletha would take it. She wiped the sweat off her skin and replied with a bright, genuine smile.
"O-Okay!"
Drimi let her toes slip into the crystal-clear pond, heart pounding with dread at what secrets it might hold. Here, at the heart of Dreamtoe Forest, the ever-present mist had melted away, and golden sunlight replaced it, bathing the flourishing flora in deceptive calm. It felt like a fragile paradise blooming in the eye of a nightmare, any tranquility threatened by what might come next.
Drimi suggested Aletha cool off, and she agreed, slipping off her dainty dark shoes to reveal feet as pale and unblemished as fresh snow. Drimi's cheeks flushed with a twinge of envy at their perfection, wishing her own bore so few scars.
She looked at her feet and saw the spontaneous amount of bruises and scratches on the bottom and the top of her skin. Her purple eyes lowered, and her smile faded as she remembered how she had to go barefoot during training.
While she stared at her face, which glittered on the clear surface of the pond, Drimi vividly recalled painful memories of her uncle yelling at her.
"Go faster, Drimi! GO FASTER! Don't stop with your little feet! If you stop, you will get burned!"
The young Drimi's face, blurred by exhaustion and fear, haunted the memory like a ghost in the mist. Tears streamed from her bruised eyes; unable to go any longer, she still pressed on. While Aletha hummed, Drimi, in the present, whispered to her.
"The reason why I wore this attire is to cover the burn marks I received when I was little. There were burns on my back, legs, hips, stomach, and arms; all of them slowly tore my sanity away. My mother left me when she found out my uncle had killed her parents. She never wanted me; she thought I was a mistake. My uncle unleashed pain upon me and tried to make me stronger by forcing me out of his anger. In my hometown, the king banished magic among all citizens."
Drimi slowly pulled some of her clothing away, revealing the rectangular-shaped bruises imprinted on all the places she mentioned.
Though the marks had faded, angry blisters and vivid redness still marred her skin. Aletha gasped, a sharp cry escaping her lips.
"I never knew you had these."
Drimi slowly smiled and gritted her teeth.
"Yeah, they were extremely painful when I first received one. I couldn't sleep, and whenever I touched the marks, it felt as if my skin was constantly burning. Every time my uncle used that wretched thing, my hatred for him grew even more…
Drimi shuts her mouth and closes her eyes. She pushed her dark, long, silky hair to the side and peeled the mask off her face, revealing a faint smile to Aletha, who was intrigued and eager to learn more about Drimi.
"Oh, so not only did you come from Wraileza, your uncle also abused you continuously. Where was your father?" Aletha asked softly, curiosity piercing through her exhaustion.
Drimi giggled, patted Aletha's back, and responded brightly.
"He abandoned my mother when he found out she was cheating with his brother. My father became a far superior adventurer than my mother could ever be when he abandoned her. He changed the world because of his unique ways, personality, and traditions. No one denied him, not even his opponents."
Her eyelids parted, her face looked up to the glittering sun, and she rested her head on her hands. Drimi took a long, relaxed breath.
"Aletha, lie down. The grass feels comfy."
Aletha found no reason to resist Drimi's gentle command and settled onto the plush grass. Her white hair fanned out beneath her, a silken cushion warming her back.
While they relaxed and stared at the towering treetops, Drimi continued.
Drimi continued, recounting, 'One day, my father told me he had a plan to rescue me from my uncle. The attempt was dangerous—many guards and defenses destroyed part of his group, but he survived by using his Hand magic. My father found me hidden in a room, saved me, and took me away from Wraileza on his ship. From then on, we traveled constantly, moving from one nation to another, always seeking resources and adventure. He proved to be far more sympathetic than my mother ever was.'
Drimi touched Aletha's soft face and smiled.
"That's when I realized that this world wasn't like Wraileza. It was a nation far more welcoming and bright. I gathered more people to travel around the world with me."
While the cold morning breeze blew on both Drimi's long dark hair and Aletha's white hair, Drimi made an offer to Aletha.
"My ship is located in the docking ports of Pladtioa, far at the right side of where The Great Fountain is. If you need to go to Linuxinia, situated on the other side of the world, I can get you and Asahi after retrieving our weapons.
"There's no fee, Buttons. Just help me get our weapons, then we move closer to finding your sister's fragments. Simple as that—unless you want to haggle?" Drimi smirked.
Drimi closes her eyes. Her long, dark eyelashes glitter under the rays of the warm light.
"So, do you want a nickname? My friends get nicknames, just like my dad used to. Be-Be for Belial, Frekin for Akwan, Sweet for Sally—the best friend who could out-snark the world. Since we're friends now—truce for earlier—what fits you?"
Aletha took a long moment to decide on which nickname would fit her. She always adored the beautiful, radiant name of Aletha. Her mother gave it to her because, even when she was young, she would always tell the truth.
Even if the truth would lead to problems, Aletha would always speak the truth because she had a particular saying that guided her. "Both give pain, but in different ways. One has temporary pain, but eventually leads to forgiveness; while the other has temporary relief and leads to absolute suffering."
Aletha lied when they convinced Aiyana to leave the world, yet even one white lie eventually led to consequences. That was the first and last time she ever lied.
Aletha turns her head down to her chest and sees the four white buttons that stretch over her dark attire. Immediately, she made an answer with just one word.
"Buttons."
Drimi squinted at Aletha and raised her eyebrow.
"Buttons? That's adorable... but are you sure? You realize I'll actually call you that, right? Last chance to change your mind." Drimi waggled her eyebrows.
Aletha silently nodded with a determined smile. Her crystal dark gray eyes peer through Drimi.
"Yes."
Drimi replied with a skeptical tone.
"Well, okay... Buttons. Whatever works for you. Now, let's get moving. We need to find Asahi, pronto. Hell, I feel like I'm probably lost."
Aletha giggled, then pushed herself up and replied with lightness.
"Yes, I bet we are both lost. I hope my brother isn't in any danger."
Drimi patted Aletha's back and smiled.
"He's probably fine...but we aren't, Buttons. If we want to see daylight again, we've got to move! Chop chop!"
Drimi hastily pulled Aletha up and dragged her through the bushes. While they began to dash through the logs, stones, and mist, Drimi lent Aletha her mask and gave her a thumbs-up.
"Buttons, put that on! You need that mask more than I do!"
"But Drimi--"
She raised her voice.
"Just do what I say, now!"
Aletha replies while slowly putting it over her face.
"O...Okay…"
. . .
They raced through the forest, plunging into thick fog and crushing the brittle remains of Dreamtoe's once-lush flora beneath their feet.
A surge of adrenaline electrified Aletha's every nerve.
Neither Drimi nor Aletha could see far ahead at their speed. Poisonous air stung Aletha's guts as their feet flew over stones and leaves, the heat burning through the atmosphere.
As they scrambled up a rocky cliff, waves of sweltering heat closed in around them. Fire snapped and crackled, devouring the forest like a ravenous plague. Thick, toxic black smoke ruled the air. Drimi clamped a hand over her mouth, and as they ran, Aletha shouted to her.
"What's going on? Why is everything burning?"
Drimi shrugged her shoulders and grabbed Aletha's hand. She never wanted Aletha to flee from her, especially after the impact she had on her. While the hot winds blew through their faces, Drimi shrieked out.
"I don't know, Buttons! We have to keep advancing!"
Aletha clung to Drimi's hand, trusting her to lead them through the chaos. The sight of the forest consumed by flames unsettled them both, the unnatural speed of the inferno gnawing at their nerves.
They vaulted over a crumbling, moss-clad wall ablaze with fire, only to find themselves encircled by molten structures streaked with dark brown residue. All around, obsidian, stone, and charred plants formed a nightmarish labyrinth. A tree crashed down before them, and Drimi shrieked at Aletha.
"Buttons, grab your blade!"
"Huh?"
Suddenly, a loud, distorted feminine voice sounded out from the crackling wall of flames.
"You dare trespass upon my territory? Haven't you and your tribe learned your lesson for the millionth time?! Stop trying to challenge me; it will only lead to more suffering."
Aletha perked her head up and saw a silhouette swiftly encircling the perimeter of the smoldering structures. The outline was shaped like a massive fox with thirty-five tails that swerved left and right.
Before they could react, torrents of spiraling flame exploded toward them, forcing an instant, desperate defense.
Drimi swiftly cast her shield ability using her magic.
A transparent purple shield appeared before Drimi, repelling the fire and driving the flames back into the forest. Drimi, who had ended up outside the wall of fire, thrust her arms through the flames to grasp Aletha's hand, trying to pull her out. Suddenly, the fox-like silhouette broke their grip, forcing Aletha back into the burning circle.
"You can't flee a challenge once it has begun. You are the one who destroyed and cursed Dreamtoe!"
Suddenly, three glowing brown marks formed in the air. Drimi blocked the attack and was knocked into the air; then, she formed four dark orbs and unleashed them toward the beast. Explosions stung the air, and rocks got blasted from one direction to the next.
As the Kitsune charged toward Aletha, it let out a yell.
"Finally, after all this time, we can finally have our vengeance!"
While Aletha sprinted away from the Kitsune, she screamed at Drimi.
"What is it saying?!"
"I... don't know. I never heard it say that before. Be careful, Buttons! Get out of there as soon as you can! I will find some assistance!"
Aletha gripped her blade, nerves buzzing with urgency. As the red glow flickered along its metal, mocking laughter ricocheted through the flames, spiking her adrenaline.
The beast taunted Aletha.
"Are you challenging me? Indeed, if you had the power to curse Dreamtoe, you must have some plan to defeat me? No matter, after thousands of years, I can finally get my vengeance! Face the Wrath of the Envious Kitsune, you monster who calls themself a ruler!"
A massive beast leaped through the wall of flames, revealing its long, brown fur. A colossal beast burst through the fiery barrier, its long brown fur rippling, its face unreadable, and its thirty-five glowing tails lashing behind it. In a heartbeat, Aletha dodged the attack and sprang away. The kitsune's menacing yellow eyes peered straight through Aletha's soul. It summoned eight cyclones filled with flames, and they were ordered to dart toward Aletha.
While Aletha dodged one cyclone after another, the beast shouted at her.
"These poor children... they don't deserve to be held here! They need to be free! They need to see the heavens and feel happiness! It was the fault of YOU for this tragedy to happen!"
Aletha skidded across the scorched earth, then backflipped away from another searing burst of flame. Her movements were a blur of agility and confidence. The air was thick with the acrid scent of fire and ash as she swept her blade, dispelling four cyclones in a single motion.
"No, it wasn't! I don't know what you're saying!"
In a surge of adrenaline, Aletha lunged at the Kitsune, swinging her blade at its leg. Steel met fur with a resounding clang. Her gray eyes widened as the sword was knocked from her grasp, spinning end over end toward the ground.
Aletha narrowed her eyes and dove for her blade, snatching it up and unleashing four rapid slashes to parry Kitsune's assault. But the beast's tail whipped out, hurling her into the air. She crashed to the ground,stunned and motionless for a moment.
"Why? What did I ever do to you?"
The beast replied while it struck her hands.
"Absolutely pitiful. Just like your past actions."
The Kitsune prowled around Aletha on all fours, then lashed out, striking her across the face. Thirty-five tails whipped her through the air like a rag doll. Pain exploded through her body, leaving her battered and gasping in agony. She still could not comprehend the beast's words.
As her face was smothered in charcoal, flames, and bruises, a massive orange beam of light suddenly pierced through the fire and knocked the massive Kitsune into the air.
In an instant, the raging inferno faded, replaced by a sudden, almost eerie calm.
Aletha, bruised and streaked with charcoal, lifted her head to see a striking man with long, dark brown hair and deep skin, a black scarf trailing behind him as he strode toward the beast.
When she saw the orange eyes of that man, Aletha knew who he was.
Phthonus.