With a deep exhalation, I summoned forth the runes.
Flick!
The shimmering runes flickered into existence, before me.
Name: Dean
Origin name: UNKNOWN
Dark Core: Dormant
Dark Fragments: [7/1000]
Soul/ Arcane Relics: [Forgotten Blade]
Traits: [Contingency], [Scion Of Divinity And Profanity]
Aspects: [Scion Of Emotions]
Innate Ability: [Foresight.]
"..."
Indeed,
"One fragment."
It was just like I thought.
The reward gotten from absorbing soul shards certainly wasn't going to be equal to that gotten from… killing.
The realization sent a chill through me, my heart pounding in the tense silence.
It was as though, something or rather, fate itself, was trying to force me onto this cold and merciless path. My body tensed at the thought, my breath coming in short ragged gasps.
However, with a shaky exhalation:
"On the bright side of things, it's still better than nothing."
I told myself. Even if that did little to quench the plethora of dark emotions seething within me.
…With this method of absorbing soul shards, I now have one more trick up my sleeves, in face of the grim future.
It was then, that I caught sight, a glimpse of a shadow moving towards me. I raised my head up towards the approaching figure.
"Morning."
The words escaped her pale lips.
'Weird.'
I tilted my head a little. Something about her, was… off. However, I couldn't find out what it was. So,
"Morning."
I also said,
She paused for a few seconds, as though finding the right words, before stretching forth her hands.
"..."
"You want me to hold them?" I inquired with a frown.
"No!" She glared at me.
'Then what?!—'
It was then that I caught a glimpse of three glistening shards wrapped in her hands.
"Oh."
"Yeah," She nodded. "Here is your share of the soul shards."
The crimson haired lady handed over to me, the three soul shards wrapped in her hands. At that moment, however, a frown crept onto my features.
"I—"
I considered telling her, "I didn't really need the soul shards," and probably even give it to her.
After all, the stronger she was, the better our chances of surviving if we were to ever become a true cohort, or anything of remotely close design. But, on second thought, upon considering the dire circumstances surrounding the way I levelled up, I decided against it.
Mia raised a brow.
"You said something?"
"N-No, nothing."
I forced a smile.
"Um- Alright."
She nodded with the same blank expression before walking away.
"Huh…"
I let out a deep breath. Though, I felt a little bit disappointed.
After all, I could have helped out. But, unfortunately, for my own safety, I couldn't.
"Perhaps a day will come when I will be able to trust you."
I muttered under my breath as I stared at her walk away.
Until then, I had better keep these damn shards. Especially when considering the fact that the more soul shards I had for the upcoming crisis and harrowing situations we might encounter, the better our chances of surviving.
...If only barely.
With a tense expression,
Step! Step!
I walked towards the broken window, staring at the barren landscape beneath us, its ruined surface teeming with nightmarish creatures of all kinds.
As I watched them move about, a grim expression darkened my features. However, considering the fact that not all dark creatures could enter a dune structure, I allowed myself to calm down. Even if it took every little ounce of willpower within me to do so.
At this point — even if such never really happened in this cursed and wretched land — I could only hope for the best.
...Before long, Aezel also woke up. Calmly leaning the petite, blind girl against the wall, he stared at her for a few seconds or so. And then, with a light exhalation, he walked towards us, joining in the small, tense circle.
Flick!
At that moment, by making use of her strange, incandescent flame, even if I found it a little bit extravagant to do so, and indeed it was, Mia was able to roast a large portion of the strong, hardened hides of the nightmarish creatures.
I wasn't sure, but the flame also seemed to have a… purifying effect?
It was just a feeling anyway. So, I wasn't really too sure.
However, even if it didn't,
"It doesn't matter."
I muttered under my breath, as I took a small bite out of the portion of meat that had been handed over to me.
'So… delicious!'
My eyes widened at the mild, subtle, yet at the same time, heavenly texture that blended into my mouth. As though I hadn't eaten for weeks, which was honestly quite close to it, I hurriedly scavenged the barbeque, until… nothing was left.
...Nothing but bones, anyway.
With a light, comforting smile, I shifted my gaze towards the blind girl. And, it was then that I realized that she was still asleep.
'Weird.'
I tilted my head a little, then glimpsed at Mia and Aezel.
However, judging by their calm expression, it seemed to be a normal thing. Hence, it could be said that I was worried for... nothing.
Wait... why am I even worried about her?
I shook my head, a light frown marring my features.
We were barely acquaintances. Infact, we were more or less strangers! So, why should I care about her?
With a dark grimace, I rose to my feet and walked to the edge of the dune structure. I sat down there, calmly enjoying the silent comfort while it still lasted.
For some time, no one said anything, and we all instead, sat in a tense, suffocating silence.
However, after a while, we somehow came together, in order to discuss the plan for the next few days. And, the crimson haired lady seemed to have her fair share of words to say:
"With what you said about nightmarish scavengers crowding the north. The most logical step would be to move south as soon as we can. Of course, west and east are also acceptable."
Aezel nodded.
"I also explored the east a little. But, I wasn't confident enough to make it to the next dune structure before the dark mist made its next appearance. Hence, I had no choice but to back down."
He paused, as though finding the right words.
"That's why I think the next best course of action would be to spend today scouting a path to the nearest dune structure, and move there tomorrow, at the very least."
And once again, I had to give it to Aezel.
Compared to the first thoughts I had of him being an arrogant and overconfident kind of person, he was actually quite the opposite. He was shrewd, cautious, and, even if I hated admitting to it, he was actually quite… smart.
But, of course, he wasn't as smart as I was.
The thought brought a sheepish smile to my lips.
Aezel, who'd caught a glimpse of Dean's weird smile, frowned slightly.
What's going on in that fool's head? he wondered. But then, he shrugged it off and turned to face Mia, the scowl on his face deepening.
"Do you have any idea where we are?"
He paused, as though contemplating. "Would there be a Human Acropolis to the east?"
Mia shook her head with a grim expression.
"I've never heard of a region that fits the characteristics of this place."
She paused and then continued.
"In any case, we have to continue moving forward to find out."
It was then that her expression darkened. If only barely.
"We'll either find an Acropolis or well… die. Hence, the east is quite a logical path to explore. Plus, it's probably the safest. At the very least, it doesn't have a horde of nightmarish scavengers crowding it."
'Makes sense.'
I nodded. Though, I was confused about the term: Human Acropolis.
But, if I had to guess, it was probably a safe zone of sorts.
I sighed in exasperation. Being ignorant in such a wretched land, is really as damned as it can get.
…It was then, however, that the blind girl rose to her feet, or rather, her knees.
Flick!
Her face paled, while her body shivered violently, as though she had been thrown into the depths of a frozen region.
"..."
As she shivered and gnashed her teeth together, she looked as though she had seen a ghost, or rather, something far... worse.