As the dawn arrived, the world below remained calm and peaceful. The wind blows gently, lulling every living creature back to sleep. While the leaves sway along with the flow of the breeze, as glittering dews moistened the grass.
'Darius~' Ravana called from inside the young man's head. "Wake up" she ordered.
And just like old times, Darius opened his eyes. The color of purple glowing in the darkness, glistening like an expensive jewel.
'Dawn has come, you need to start your training,' the witch said.
Darius knitted his brows, "But I don't have any training planned yet, Oraculi has not given me one."
The woman sigh at his response, 'Fool, you can't keep on depending on that man. You need to learn what must be done. Now, you must maintain your usual physical training.'
"Ravana, there's no hill around here." The young man reasoned.
'Yes, but there's the forest. I'm sure there will be some obstacle in there.'
"You heard it yesterday, it's dangerous to go inside the forest. An unknown monster lives inside it." Darius shook his head.
'That's true but that will be a good opportunity to find out, how strong you have become ever since you killed me. If that monster has a special ability the sword can steal its power after you killed it, as your so-called mentor said. The subterranean is also known to be the devouring sword. Do as I say… if you truly wish to save your little brother.' Without another word, Ravana's voice disappeared among the shadows of Darius's mind.
Darius sighed once again, before deciding to do as Ravana had told him. Sitting at the edge of the bed, he started wearing his boots.
As he finished tidying himself up, the young man took his sword from the foot of the bed. Strapping the scabbard in the side of his waist.
Scratching the back of his head, Darius left the room.
In the darkness, he managed to find the room where the weapons are kept. The tiniest light illuminates the room, while the weapons lined up along with each other- glittering under the faint rays of the rising sun.
Long fingers traced the cold metal of the shields. Each one is neatly placed in the display, from the smallest to the larges. Such a fine armory, Darius thought.
Reaching the end of the row, Darius took the largest shield. It was heavy, to say the least, about the weight of a young adult.
"This should be enough," he mumbled to himself before lifting the shield. The young man grunted as he put the shield on his back. His body tilted back a little due to the weight.
Darius left the house as silently as he could which was easier said than done. Especially with the weight in his back.
His skin ached as soon as the cold wind blew, the chill biting on the skin of his nose and cheeks. While a thin mist formed from his mouth each time he releases air. The surrounding was still dark, only the faint golden ray of sun is lightning the land as it peeks through the horizon.
Walking his way through the all too familiar field, the sound of crickets, the croaking of the frogs, and the sound of his boots as they crash the lush and moistened grass could be heard.
His back ached due to the weight, the marching training requires a person to carry heavy items while hiking or marching. It was supposed to strengthen the muscles in the lower body and shoulders. And was believed to be introduced by the Romans, but of course, Darius doesn't know if the last bit was true. All that he knows is that Ravana had been forcing him to do the training ever since he was a child. And each year the weight increases.
As the distance between him and the forest grow smaller, the thumping of his chest grew louder. He couldn't help but be scared, Brennan already warned him. About the monster that dwells inside the forest, the creature that they believed to be so strong they had to ask for help.
The sound of mischievous giggling echoed in his ears, making him grow warier. "Ravana, if I ended up dying here so will you" he threatened.
'Oh calm down, I know what I'm doing. That old man was naturally scared because he do not have any idea what's inside the forest. The fear for the unknown is one of the greatest kinds of fear. Because one can never know what to expect and their imagination grows wild. But there is nothing for you to worry about, I already have a guess what's inside.' She explained with absolute confidence, each word was so well said Darius was compelled to listen.
"Fine, if you're that certain" he agreed.
'Now I want you to cut yourself. A small wound in the side of your leg should be fine' Ravana ordered.
"With the sword?" Darius asked with knitted brows.
'Of course not! Do you want to die? Ah! Your idiocy makes my head hurt!' the witch shouted.
"But I don't have anything else," Darius complained.
The two of them are acting almost like an old couple. And for some reason, Darius was fine with Ravana being his company. They speak to each other like old friends, as if he does not have any grudge against her. For everything that she had done, all the pain she caused him, all the hardship he had to go through.
Why is it so difficult to stay angry? Why is it so difficult to keep a grudge? He asked himself.
But without knowing it, the answer is…
Because he is a truly kind person.
Besides, what is the point of keeping a grudge against the person you already killed?
Ravana groaned, 'Then find something else, Brennan caused an explosion yesterday. There has to be some debris that you can use.' she said he voice laced with annoyance.
The Darius walk away from the forest, "No… don't go…please" the voice called him. Begging him to return.
But he still went further away, to the lone tree standing in the middle of the field. In the small crate the explosion created, Darius saw a small glint of light. Which he quickly approached, it was an arrowhead. Still intact and attached to a small piece of wood.
The young man observed the small metal, wiping it in the side of his pants to clean it.
'Wonderful now make a cut in your leg, make sure it's slightly deep,' Ravana instructed.
"Why do I even have to do this anyway?" Darius asked.
'To remain sensible,' she said.
"What?" Darius furrowed his brows.
'Just do it! Dammit.' Ravana was never a patient person, and she have no intention of changing that.
Darius hissed as he stabbed the arrowhead in his left tight, dragging it across creating a horizontal wound in his own flesh. He cringed as the pain spread in his leg, while the blood drip to the side, soaking his pants at the same time.
"Is this enough?" he asked the witch inside his head.
Chuckling lightly, Ravana replied a simple 'Yes.'
Darius managed to reach the edge of the forest, his footsteps becoming more painful than the last. While the blood continues to drip from his now swollen wound.
Maybe it wasn't a good idea to use a random arrowhead from the ground, after all, the young man thought to himself.
"Come closer~" the lulling voice echoed in his head, as thin mist appeared in front of him, sipping from the forest.
When Darius finally stepped inside the forest, the cold increased ten folds. The chill sent shivers down his spine, making his knees grow weak and shaky.
"Darius~" the voice called once again. "Come~ come closer… why don't you?"
"I've missed you~" the more the voice talks the more horrified he was, the voice is far too familiar for comfort.
It was a voice he had only heard just a few times, yet his mind, body, and soul remembered it. As if it was a hymn sung close to his ears ever since he was conceived.
He walked forward, the weight of the shield weighing him down. Almost like the piece of metal knew what was going on, and is demanding the young man to turn back.
But unfortunately, it was now far too late. Because the mist thickened, taking away Darius's vision. Forcing him to walk blindly into the forest, going deeper as if digging his own grave.
"Darius~" his name was once again spoken. "Come to me~ and I will welcome you with open arms~" the voice promised.
In front of him, a person he never expected to see greeted him, with the purest smile and the kindest eyes he had ever laid his eyes upon. So warm and welcoming, she's just like the sun that takes away the chills during the cold autumn days.
Her eyes are as black as the night sky, but were twinkling with a million brilliant stars. Her jet black hair, flowing gently like most expensive silk. Her pure white skin is as perfect as porcelain. Her pink lips are as soft as fresh rose petals.
"Oh, how I long for you my darling~" she said as she opened her arm, welcoming the young man into her embrace.
"Rachelle" Darius mumbled in a trance-like state. Not knowing the danger that lies ahead.