"I asked you. What are your intentions, human?"
Even before Silvano can reply, an arrow flung from nowhere and hit the bear, making it walk backward and almost fell on its back. The loud thump of its feet echoed the cave. As soon as it regained its composure, it immediately looked at the direction the arrow came from. Its red eyes seemed to once again glow as spikes slowly emerged from its back.
"W-wait..." Silvano whispered.
Draven once again aimed his arrow at the bear, but even before launching it, he was distracted by Silvano.
"WAIT! DO NOT SHOOT THAT ARROW!" Silvano shouted as he rushed towards the bear, making it seem that he's protecting the bear from Draven.
"What are you doing?" Draven exclaimed.
"We do not intend to disturb you," then Silvano bravely faced the bear, "we're just simple tribe leaders that only want to bring resources to our members."
"And do you think you can find resources in this cave?" the bear replied which shocked both Draven and Clemente.
"T-there's a rumor about this cave. That's the reason why we're here."
The bear snickered at Silvano's response, "you humans are so pathetic. The only thing that you can get from this cave is death." then the bear roared and lunged at Clemente.
Draven pushed Clemente aside, making him the recipient of the bear's attack.
He immediately fell on the ground with the bear on top of him. As the bear tried to bite his head off, Silvano ran towards him, preparing for an attack.
But the bear suddenly stopped moving and its body slumped on Draven's unconscious figure.
"Rodolfo? You came back." Clemente whispered at the man standing before her.
Rodolfo just ignored her and walked towards the dead body of the bear. He pushed the bear's body and grabbed his ax that is shoved in the bear's head.
"Very well humans." A raspy voice echoed in the cave and a shadowy figure slowly formed in front of them.
Rodolfo slowly backed away from the bear, while Silvano ran towards Clemente.
The shadowy figure "seemed" to look at them.
"W-What are you?" Clemente asked.
"I'm going to be the one who will fulfill your heart's wishes," the figure slowly bowed its head, "that will be my reward for those who," then, the figure stopped talking and stood up straight.
"Reward for what?" Silvano asked.
"So, what are your heart's wishes? Is it for the greater good? Is it for your selfish desires?" the figure slowly walked towards the group which made them slowly back away.
"Our wishes are for the greater good!" Clemente exclaimed.
"Are you certain?"
"Yes!"
"Then, brave lady, what is your heart's wish?" the figure asked and asked for Clemente's hands.
Clemente held the figure's hand and took a deep breath, "My heart's wish is to be able to heal whoever's in pain." she uttered.
The figure bowed its head and its eyes seemed to glow. Clemente felt a light sting in her head which made her flinch and almost fell backward. Luckily, Silvano caught her in time.
"What did you do to her?" Silvano asked.
"What's your heart's wish?" the figure asked and tried to held Silvano's hand. But Silvano just nudged the figure's hand.
"Do you not want to be rewarded?" Silvano looked at the figure, then hesitantly grabbed the hand's figure.
"My heart's wish is to carry on our legacy as a cultivator." Silvano wished. Just like Clemente, Silvano felt a light sting in his head but still tried to keep his composure.
"Then how about the ax man?" the figure asked and walked towards Rodolfo.
"I wish for animals to bow before me." Rodolfo proudly said and even grabbed the figure's hand.
After that, the figure slowly walked to the unconscious bodies on the ground. The bodies slowly levitated in the air. and seconds later both Draven and Eurython woke up and gasped for air.
"Wh-what's this?" Eurython shouted.
"What's your heart's wish, young man." the figure asked him.
"What are you talking about?" he replied as he confusedly looked around him, "What's happening, Silvano?"
"Ju-just do what he said." Silvano whispered.
As Eurython is about to speak, Draven interrupted.
"M-mine is to possess a power that can make me stronger when night falls!"
The figure curiously looked at him, and then, Draven immediately fell, and as he falls he went back to his unconscious phase.
"Yours?" the figure asked as he looked at Eurython.
"I wish to possess a power that can allow me to have a superhuman size." then after that, the same thing happened to Eurython.
Then, the figure turned back to Silvano.
"I already granted your wishes. But to complete the ritual, a live human should be sacrificed. Without the sacrifice, your wishes won't be fulfilled."
Clemente gasped and looked at Silvano.
"So, our wishes won't be fulfilled? Then it'll be fine if we don't sacrifice anyone." Silvano whispered.
"Yes. And your lives will be the replacement for that one sacrifice."
"What? But we didn't ask for this!" Rodolfo angrily spat.
"Do you think a reward like that doesn't need a payment in return? Just think of it," then, the figure slowly walked towards them, "powers that can fulfill your wishes to be a good tribe leader, all for one, live, human body. Everything will change and you will embrace a new life." the figure snapped its finger then, one by one, the three last standing humans fell into a deep slumber.
Silvano slowly opened his eyes as he felt the harsh ray of sunlight in his skin. Then he saw that all of them are at the entrance of the cave. He groaned as he felt a light sting in his palm. That's when he noticed an unusual mark in his palm. Not minding it, he stood up and tried to wake up the others.
"What happened?" Eurython asked.
"I'm not actually sure." Silvano replied.
"Was that a dream?" Clemente murmured as she woke up.
Silence filled the cave as they all tried to contemplate what really happened, then they all noticed the strange mark on their hands.
"So, we really need to sacrifice someone to save ourselves, eh?" Draven asked.
"Bu-but that will be against what I truly wanted." Clemente whispered.
"Let's not think about it anymore. Let's all go back to our village. We'll figure it out on the way." Silvano commanded and all of them just nodded.
After they're done with their preparation, they all exited the cave. Not knowing that a blood-shot-eyed figure from the cave is watching them.
Silence once again fell on the group as they journeyed back home.
They walked across empty fields and thick forests with no breaks in between as they agreed that they need to return as soon as possible.
Sighs can be heard as they sighted their village's entrance.
Clemente sadly looked at Silvano, but Silvano just smiled at her.
The group's excitement and relief broke as one of their villagers ran towards them.
"Where have you all been? What took you so long?" the villager shouted. The group confusedly looked at each other.
"You've been away for a whole week! And we have a problem," the group just stared at the woman, trying to hide their confusion. "A boy with severe injuries came here the day after you left. We can't treat him as we're waiting for the herbal leaves that you'll get."