The night passed smoothly with the three seniors taking turns on watch. The sun rose in the east casting soft shadows over their camp. The ground was stiff and uncomfortable, but the two acolytes slept soundly from sheer exhaustion. Over the past six months their biological clocks had grown very used to waking up in time with the sun. But that morning they woke up late, barely in time to catch the three from Burian.
"Glad to see you made it." Tobias said, the usual jovial smile made even more friendly in the warm morning sun.
Since the beginning of the journey Tobias's group constantly threatened to leave them behind if they weren't awake in time to join them.
It didn't take many times of having to catch-up for the acolytes to become accustomed to the rigid schedule.
"Sorry…" Feylin said. He really was too exhausted last night. Despite being healed after the battle, it seemed that some things couldn't be fixed through miracles.
Sarah walked alongside, quietly keeping pace with the group. Despite her exhaustion and a full night's rest, she had dark circles under her eyes.
"Did you not sleep well?" Raelith asked, seeing her dilapidated state.
"Mm. Sorry." She mumbled, her eyes were unfocused as she looked at Rae. "Bad dreams."
"You're fine." Raelith took off her pack and began rummaging through it, "Here" she said. "Have some." Rae pulled a small berry out of her pack and tossed it to Sarah who caught it curiously. It was red and smooth all the way around, like a perfect sphere. Sarah couldn't tell if it had ever been attached to a stem or not. Having no reason to decline she ate the berry in one bite.
Like instant energy she felt a heat spread from her throat to her chest and limbs. Suddenly she felt like she was perfectly rested, any muscle aches she had from the day before seemed to disappear.
"They're called good-berries. For obvious reasons." Raelith laughed with her feathery voice, taking enjoyment in the look on Sarah's face.
"Well… they certainly are that."
"Indeed."
Sarah's mood increased significantly after some banter with Raelith while Feylin and Sarah chatted. Tobias led the group. His pace was a bit hurried, but it was more a consequence of his large stature than any rushing he was doing.
Behind Tobias, the starlight cocoon was attached by a thread to his pack and dragged along the ground. Tobias seemed to have confidence in the security of the spell which held the being inside.
With the paladin in the lead the rest were left to walk alongside the cocoon.
Sarah and Feylin both had a hard time not looking at the cocoon in curiosity. The battle yesterday, for better or worse, would remain in their minds for the rest of their lives.
"It is still alive, yeah?" Feylin asked.
"I would presume so. No reason to seal it up otherwise." Sally said. "Though with an arm cut off, and all of its injuries… I don't know if it will remain so."
No one in the party was sure whether or not they were comfortable referring to 'it' as a 'him.' They weren't sure whether or not to consider it human. If it was human or some similar race… what would that imply about them? It was easier to think of it as a beast or a demon despite its almost-human appearance.
The rest of the day passed relatively easy. The party weaved their way through the boulder forest, gradually falling back into their usual rhythm. The constant grinding of the cocoon against the stone faded into the background.
Various thoughts passed through the minds of the group.
For the three from Burian, they were happy to finally complete the assignment. They have left the grand-temple for two years now and desperately missed its majesty.
Rae thought about the young man she had begun courting. By the time she returned, four years would have passed…
Sally was considering her advancement into a grand-cleric. Completing this assignment would be considered a huge achievement for the order, and she would most likely receive favor with the upper echelons.
They walked for nine hours before the sun set, and they made up camp amongst the stones. Everyone slept well, walking through the day cleared their heads of any lingering worries. Tobias stayed close to the cocoon, not even letting it out of his sight.
He had faith in the sealing ability of the spell, he knew who it came from after all. But he didn't manage to live as long as he had by being careless.
If anything untoward occurred, he would be there to see it through.
During his turn to keep watch, he removed the axe from its sheath, weighing it in his one hand. Since he only had his off-hand to work with, he would need to spend the time to get used to the weight of his own weapon.
He trained through the night, body glistening with sweat as he practiced the simplest swings repeatedly.
Ten times, he swung the axe, using his skill to keep it from impacting the ground by inches.
A hundred times. His muscles burned, protesting against this foreign usage.
A thousand times, he panted as sweat dripped off his body, pooling on the stone underneath. Finally, he stopped.
"I should be set… by the time we get back to the temple." Tobias couldn't help but look at his stumped right arm. Despite having been healed, it still hurt.
It was like this that weeks passed. If it weren't for the presence of the cocoon and the existence inside, it would have felt just like the six months before. The acolyte's trainings grew more intense every day, having experienced a real battle, they both redoubled their efforts to get stronger.
In the first week Feylin managed to summon a weapon. A modest sized glowing war-axe appeared next to him. Everyone was extremely impressed, and a new training regimen was created.
The acolytes would fight using both physical combat and their spiritual weapons. The constant usage would help them become more comfortable with balancing both skills during a real fight.
A month passed since their battle with the being at the edge of the world. They were only a few days away from regaining their cart which they left behind, along with all the food that was in it.
Tobias promised the group a feast upon reaching the cart - or the traveling equivalent of one.
During the night they would take their turns keeping watch, and Tobias would use the chance to increase his capability with his battle axe.
As he focused on rebuilding the muscles in his body to suit using the axe with one hand Tobias felt the prick of decades worth of danger intuition in the back of his mind. Suddenly, Tobias stopped his axe mid swing. All of his muscles Tensed up and his eyes shot to the cocoon. Visually there was no difference, but Tobias trusted his instincts honed over the years.
He couldn't be sure, but for a moment he thought he saw it pulse.
"Everyone wake up." His voice wasn't too loud, but it seemed to pierce through the air itself and into the ears of the rest of the group. Almost simultaneously the two clerics and the two acolytes were standing with their weapons drawn. They moved quickly and quietly to Tobias, grouping up with him in formation.
"What's going on?" Raelith took the lead, scanning the horizon for possible threats. It was then that she heard it. Her eyes shot to the coffin, and soon everyone was staring at it.
Tobias's senses had not failed him. The cocoon had begun to pulse gently against the ground, barely noticeable by sight but the dull thudding was now being broadcast clearly through the cold air.
"What's happening?" Sarah immediately looked to Tobias, hoping he had an explanation. He merely shook his head, holding his axe at the ready.
He didn't care if it was an assignment for the grand-priest or not. If it comes out, he wouldn't hesitate to end it. They couldn't afford another drawn out battle, especially in the dead of night.
Sarah saw the writing on the wall and summoned the chains on her hand, she wouldn't be caught unprepared again.
Everyone stood around the cocoon waiting. Weapons were drawn, and they were prepared to end the fight before it started.
The cocoon started to glow a dim white light, gradually unraveling itself from the person inside.