At dawn, Reik and his allies were ready for their adventure to the Shadow Valley, where a great battle awaited them.
"Hey Tharion, I hope you live up to the challenge in this battle," Laira said with a laugh.
"Your jokes stopped being funny before the demons arrived. I hope you don't wet yourself when you see one up close," the dwarf replied, hiding his fear of what was to come.
"Take this journey seriously and leave the jokes behind," Reik said.
It had already been thirteen long hours since they began their journey. The landscape around them had slowly changed; the first rays of sunlight had given way to a cloudy, gray sky. The path felt heavier under their feet with each step, and although no one spoke it aloud, exhaustion was evident on everyone's faces.
"Let's rest for a while. I think we all need it," Kaiser said.
"We need to get there as soon as possible. The longer we take, the less time there is left for the people of the kingdom and its surroundings," Reik said, raising his voice at Kaiser.
"We won't achieve anything if we arrive exhausted; we'll make mistakes and be much slower if any issues arise with our plan," Kaiser replied.
"He's right, Reik, be patient," Laira said, placing a hand on Reik's shoulder.
"I'm sorry… You're right. I'm being selfish. I don't mean to put you in danger," Reik said quietly, lowering his gaze.
"Don't worry, Reik, no apology is necessary. Your intention is noble; you want to save the kingdom, and not everyone would have the courage for that."
After that conversation, the group fell into a reflective silence. The tension in the air gradually dissipated, and the accumulated fatigue began to show.
One by one, they sat down, resting their backpacks against nearby rocks and logs. Despite the calm surroundings, everyone kept their guard up, alert to any sounds that might indicate danger in the darkness of the forest.
Kaiser, who had remained silent after the last words, slowly got up from where he was sitting. His steps made barely any noise as he approached Reik, who, with his gaze lost on the forest horizon, seemed deep in thought.
"Reik, can you come here for a moment?" Kaiser asked.
"Yes, of course," Reik replied with curiosity.
They walked away several meters from the group without saying a word, and suddenly stopped in front of a huge tree.
"Can I ask you a couple of questions?" Kaiser asked, his tone indicating the importance of what he was about to say.
"I don't mind answering, so go ahead," Reik replied.
Reik was very curious, as it seemed Kaiser knew him and didn't just know him by sight. It seemed like they had some kind of connection, but what kind of connection was it?
"What is your greatest desire?"
"To destroy the demons…" Reik answered.
"Are you sure about your answer?" Kaiser insisted, hoping for a more sincere response.
"Alright, my greatest desire is to be the most powerful in the kingdom and protect everyone, be they humans, elves, or any other race," Reik answered with a determined look.
"That's the answer I was hoping for, great."
"Okay, what's the other question?" Reik asked.
"Are you prepared to risk your life constantly until you become the most powerful?"
"I'm more than prepared. I'll do whatever is necessary day by day to achieve it," Reik replied with excitement and determination.
"Then I think this is the perfect day and moment. It's time to give you something that belongs to you."
"Something that belongs to me?" Reik asked, astonished.
"This belongs to you by right of blood."
Kaiser slowly pulled from his leather coat something wrapped in a velvet cloth and extended it towards Reik.
"Here, Reik," Kaiser said in a grave voice. "The time has come for you to carry it."
At that moment, Reik took the cloth and carefully uncovered what was hidden inside.
It was a sword with a very fine and sharp blade adorned with strange and ancient-looking symbols.
"I don't understand. Are you telling me it belongs to me by blood and you're giving me a sword that looks like it could break easily?" Reik asked.
"I assure you it belongs to you, trust me. It's not an ordinary sword," Kaiser replied.
"Then explain it to me. Why does it belong to me by right of blood? What do you know about me and my past that I don't even know?" Reik asked, with a mix of frustration and curiosity in his voice.
"You're prepared to fight the demons, but it's still too soon to answer those questions. You'll get the answers, but it's not the right time yet."
Reik frowned, aware that there was still much to discover.
"Alright, I'll wait, but make sure not to die without telling me everything in detail," Reik said.
"Don't worry, I don't plan on dying," Kaiser said with a smile.
"Thank you for the sword," Reik said, ending the conversation.
Reik and Kaiser returned to the group, and their conversation left Reik with more questions than answers.
They all took the opportunity to eat and rest, but they didn't have much time.
Soon after they finished eating and were resting, some were even snoring loudly, Reik, Kaiser, and a few other warriors woke up.
"Do you notice those presences?" Fain said.
Fain was a considerably tall man with a robust and strong body, surely one of the strongest among them.
The tension in his voice and the tremor in his body were unmistakable, revealing the impact that the sinister presences he sensed were having on him. Despite his impressive strength, the threat he felt was palpable, and immediately, the rest of the group became alert, understanding the gravity of the situation.
"Wake up, everyone! Grab your weapons and get into a defensive position!" Kaiser shouted.
His tone brooked no argument, and in an instant, the group went from the lethargy of rest to tense preparation. The warriors quickly got up, each one grasping their weapons with urgency.
"Tharion, Laira. Are you ready?" Reik asked.
"Yes!" both answered in unison, with palpable determination in their voices.
At that moment, Reik gripped the sword Kaiser had given him firmly.
Suddenly, without warning, a warrior who was right behind Reik vanished amid screams, dragged away by something invisible.
"AHHH, HELP!!"
"Solid! Answer me! Are you there?" Kaiser shouted, his voice filled with urgency, searching for his companion amid the growing unease.
But there was no response, only an oppressive silence that enveloped the camp. Kaiser had known Solid for several years, and understandably, he was deeply concerned for his friend.
"Calm down, Kaiser! Keep your head cool and don't lose control, or we'll all die," Reik said firmly, trying to impose control over the situation.
The tension in the air was palpable, but Reik knew that losing control at that moment would only lead them to disaster.
"Fire, we need fire!" Laira said.
At that moment, several companions quickly lit their torches. Thanks to this, they could see further than their eyes had barely managed to see moments before. When the flames illuminated much of the darkness around them, they could hardly believe what they were seeing.
"What are those things?" Tharion said.
With a slender, elongated body, this being moves like a gust of wind, almost invisible to the naked eye. Its skin is a deep black, covered with small iridescent scales that allow it to blend into the darkness of the night. Its claws are thin and razor-sharp.
"Get ready! These are the first demons we'll face; we call them Shadow Demons, and they are the weakest. If we want to reclaim the kingdom, we'll have to face things a thousand times worse than these beings," Kaiser said, encouraging the group.