Fire flickered under a tree. Three figures sat there, wearing nothing but their undergarments.
"I never noticed this before, but you have such a big tattoo on your arm," Terren said, sitting next to the still-unconscious Kael. He was looking at Zodiac's right arm, where the tattoo scaled from his wrist to almost his brow.
Zodiac was staring right into the fire, flickering with each passing gust. The flames danced in his eyes; his body was as rigid as steel.
"I was in the military," Zodiac replied, hands closed. They had just washed themselves after the battle, and now the clothes hung on the tree, drying in the heat. "The tattoo is proof of our ethnicity. We are ranked on it." Zodiac spoke again, answering Terren's question.
The tattoo was shaped like a sword, words carved all around it, eventually reaching his neck. Zodiac looked at his palm, opening and closing it. The tattoo barely reached the palm.
Terren just nodded at the answer, not questioning further. He had only asked because he was scared and embarrassed, rubbing his arms to warm them in the cold. Nollan just sat by the fire, meditating.
Kael finally moved, and everybody's attention gathered as he opened his eyes. He was shivering, his cheeks red from the cold.
"Huff… it's cold," he said, sitting up and whining, only to look at three men sitting naked next to him. He screamed at the top of his lungs, clutching his chest with both hands. With red cheeks and hair reaching his shoulders, he really looked like a girl.
"Can you keep quiet, please?" Nollan said softly, still meditating. Terren had taken a step back because of the scream, while Zodiac just stared at Kael with his serious expression.
"Why are we naked in the middle of the jungle?" Kael asked a genuine question. Terren held a silly smile, as if afraid Kael might scream again, and just gestured upward with his fingers. Kael looked up; all the clothes were hung there, drying over the fire on the tree.
Kael sighed, lowering his gaze toward the others in embarrassment. "I-I'm sorry for screaming earlier," he said, keeping his gaze low on the flames. He looked up at the others, trying to explain his reasoning. He opened his mouth but stopped when Zodiac picked up his blades and Nollan opened his eyes, looking past him. Zodiac stood up, snatched his cloak, and covered his body.
Kael was confused by the sudden change in atmosphere, but just then he felt a vibration beneath him. Something was coming and it was strong. Kael pulled his dagger because his claymore was sitting further away near the tree trunk. Terren also unsheathed his sword.
With each passing second, the vibration became stronger, closer. The bushes rustled, but the darkness kept the shape hidden from Kael's eyes. Then it stepped out, each stride so heavy the vibrations rattled through Kael's body, setting his nerves on edge.
"Ahh… hello?" the man said, his upper body barely visible in the firelight.
"Who are you?" Zodiac asked, still on his guard.
"An adventurer, just like you," the man replied in a friendly tone. With each flicker, his structure became clearer. He was huge, even bigger than Zodiac, probably. He wore a cloak, so his equipment was not visible, but his blades sparkled in the flickering light on his left hip. An unusual blade. His face was sharp and clean, with no beard. His hair looked dark, barely visible in the surrounding darkness.
"And how do you know we were adventurers?" Zodiac asked, clenching his blade even tighter. Nollan joined his hands, and Kael and Terren pointed their blades at the man too.
He chuckled. A soft laugh that covered the lonely night. "Then, what were four men, naked, doing in the jungle?" he said, and everyone else fell silent. "No, no, I'm just kidding. I passed a mountain of corpses down the stream and saw a flickering fire here… So I figured it was you people who made that mess, right?"
Zodiac slowly lowered his blade, and the others followed. "You alone?" Zodiac asked, putting his blade back in its scabbard. The man nodded, a smile covering his face.
"Can I sit by the fire, please? It's cold," he said, gesturing toward the burning woods. Zodiac nodded, moving aside and giving him a place. He stepped forward, sitting by the flame. Nollan pulled his clothes, still damp but wearable. Zodiac sat by the man, both glaring at the fire. Now his face was clear. He looked to be in his mid-thirties, with a strong build, likely a high-ranking adventurer. He wore a metal chest plate, just like Zodiac's, and vambraces unlike any Kael had seen.
"So, who are you?" Zodiac asked, curious about his identity. The man slowly moved his hand toward the handle of his sword. Zodiac just stared at him, clenching one of his blades.
"My name is Demiurge," he replied, pulling a sigil from under his cloak by the sword. "I'm an architect. I run around places, finding jobs and all. I was moving toward Durmira city. I was resting by the stream when I heard noise; I came to investigate it and found that huge pile of corpses." He smiled apologetically. "I'm sorry if I startled you, folks."
Zodiac narrowed his eyes. He was not convinced yet. "Why does an architect carry a lunar steel sword? Something even nobles would just dream of." Zodiac pulled his blade slightly, exposing just enough that the light from the fire reflected and revealed the sign on the handle. "The royal house of Caerthal," Zodiac murmured, recognizing the sigil.
Demiurge lowered his gaze toward his sword, a smile still covering his face. He looked up, staring directly at Zodiac. "Oh, this?" he said, running his hand along the blade and drawing it fully into the firelight. He moved his hand toward the lock behind him, under the cloak where the scabbard was settled. Zodiac stared as Demiurge drew the sword entirely. His eyes widened as the sword was fully exposed.
Demiurge held the sword out to Zodiac. "I once worked for the king. He honored me with this gift, as I too am an adventurer," Demiurge said, smiling as his gaze lingered on Nollan. Nollan just sat still, observing the conversation.
Zodiac held out his hands, receiving the sword with honor. The sword was heavy. Its scabbard carved with shining materials, probably silver. The silver carvings covered the scabbard entirely; its beauty commanded respect.
Zodiac pulled the sword from its scabbard. The entire blade was patterned like Damascus steel. He swiped his hand over its edge, then raised it high in the air. This was the first time Kael saw excitement in Zodiac's eyes, aside from bloodlust. Demiurge's expression shifted as he observed Zodiac lost in the blade.
"You'll need to wear vambraces before swinging that," Demiurge said, rubbing his hands nervously. Zodiac came to his senses and put the blade back in its scabbard. Only then did Demiurge feel relief. That blade was a generational treasure, a sign of honor and authority.
"So, where are you headed?" Zodiac asked Demiurge, passing the blade back. Demiurge put his sword back in its place. "Didn't I tell you before? Well, anyways, I'm headed toward Durmira, then probably east," he said, explaining his position.
"Where are you headed, by the way?" Zodiac asked, moving his eyes over everyone sitting by the flame.
"We are headed toward Durmira too," Nollan cut in before Zodiac could reply. Demiurge looked at Nollan, still wearing that warm smile.
"Now tell me, who you really are," Nollan asked with a straight face. He was not convinced by Demiurge's answers.
"What do you mean?" Demiurge replied, with a questioning tone. None of them spoke. The situation became tense as they stared at each other. Demiurge's smile vanished. The soft crackling of fire sounded louder than the stream beside them. Terren's hand clung to his blade unconsciously.
"Hah," Demiurge sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I thought that would work, but I guess it wasn't enough to deceive the great sage." He looked at Nollan with a straight face. "I am a member of House Thornvale. Retainer, to be precise. I'm here on request of the headmaster." He shifted his gaze from Nollan to Kael. "To keep him safe, as the headmaster holds too much worth to our house." He stopped, staring at Kael, then he slowly looked back at Nollan. "And I will be keeping my eyes on you until I'm sure of his safety."
The message was clear and threatening. Kael's eyes opened wide after hearing Demiurge's reason for being there. He had not imagined someone from a noble family would come just for him, for a commoner.
"But why did my father not tell me anything about you?" Kael asked.
"Then, I suppose your father told you about these people you're sitting with currently," Demiurge replied with a question in return. Kael remained quiet; he had no idea who he was traveling with, and now he sat among them. Demiurge's presence pressed on him like a weight. His eyes were predator-like, a proof of hierarchy.
"Then, why did you lie?" Nollan asked, playing with chains in his hands. He was still not convinced of Demiurge. At this point, Demiurge looked clearly tired of these questions. "I am on a mission," Demiurge said, his tone deeper than usual. "Why would I expose myself before someone I do not trust?"
Nollan tensed. The atmosphere felt heavy as the staring competition continued. Terren suddenly stood. "Well, isn't this better now?" he said, smiling foolishly, trying to loosen the tension. "We now have better chances of clearing Blackwood Forest, right? Isn't that right, master Zodiac?" He extended his arms toward Zodiac, gesturing him to take over the conversation.
Zodiac raised his brows. He was enjoying the heat between Nollan and Demiurge, but it seemed he must clear the path now. He swung his neck slightly, pushing on his knees, and stood up.
"Alright, gentlemen," he said with a clap, authority in his voice. "Let's move this issue aside for now. Demiurge is from House Thornvale. I take full responsibility for that, looking at the royal sigil. We have more important issues at hand. We should treat Terren's and Kael's injuries first and rest while the sun is still low."
Zodiac made his stance clear, prioritizing the urgent issues. Terren's right shoulder still bled from a cut, and Kael's arm was broken. Demiurge grabbed a bottle from his bag. It was an antibiotic cream, specially made for wounds. He passed it to Terren. "Rub it over your wound. It will help it recover faster," he said.
"You look fit as a horse," Demiurge heard Zodiac saying. He moved his vision toward Zodiac. He was telling that to Kael.
Kael looked down at his broken hand. His plaster had broken during the battle, and now his hand was free. He moved his palm in all directions, testing whether it hurt. To his surprise, his hand was completely fine, fully recovered.
"Yeah… I think so," Kael murmured, still glaring at his palm. Zodiac stretched out, pulling all the clothes from the tree. "Wear your clothes. We will be moving out as soon as the sun rises." Zodiac threw the clothes toward them. Demiurge stood, stretching his back.
"Then, I'll see you people in the morning," he declared, staring down at Nollan. Bold words to someone who had just obliterated tens of beasts without breaking a sweat.
Demiurge turned and started leaving. Nollan stared at his back. Terren twitched; the atmosphere always tensed around them. Kael stood slowly, still confused by what had just happened.
Zodiac was ready now with his gear. "I'll be back. Nature calls." Zodiac left as well. Now only Nollan, Terren, and Kael remained by the fire.
"I have a question, Nollan," Kael said, turning towards him. "Why did we even killed those beasts?"