A roar echoed throughout the land as Bell's foot touched the ground. The heavens trembled and split apart as if struck by a mighty blow. A shower of glass-like shards rained down upon the earth, glinting ominously in the fading light.
As Bell gazed upon the distant fissure, a masked figure emerged from within, cloaked in an ominous aura. The figure soared through the air, hurtling towards Bell with incredible speed before halting suddenly mere inches from his face.
"Thine appearance and might ... doth seem to suggest that we have nary aught to discuss."
Countless fragments twinkled in the moonlight, cascading towards the earth like a shower of stars. Amidst the chaos, two of the shards parted ways, granting a glimpse of the eyes concealed behind a mysterious mask.
"The chief of Exacta, the hunters of the divine, Sayzneva."
The two stood locked in a tense standoff amidst the relentless downpour of shimmering glass shards. Not a word was uttered as they stared into each other's eyes, their expressions set in grim determination.
"No ... We have something to talk about. About the responsibility of all of you, who have brought my friend and me to this place. I just want you to return everything to the way it was."
Bell shut his eyes, already sensing the words that would spill forth from the lips of Sayzneva. A futile effort thought Bell. He reopened his eyes, their void dark depths flashing with intense grim.
As Bell's aura flared, a flurry of obsidian specks erupted from his being, akin to a violent tempest unleashed upon the land. The onyx motes billowed and swirled with a ferocity that matched the howling gusts that swept across the realm. It was as though the very fabric of reality trembled at the might of Bell's power.
"Thou speakest of a power beyond this realm, stranger," Bell declared, his voice booming with an otherworldly timbre. "But such power doth not exist in this world, nor any other."
Sayzneva stood stoic amidst the raging particles of Bell's force, his countenance unmoved and steadfast. Though the tempest roared and thrashed around him, threatening to rend him asunder, he remained unyielding in his stance. It was as if he were rooted to the very earth itself, impervious to the fury of Bell's power.
"Nor any other, eh? You, gods, are all the same. Let me put your power to good use."
The glittering strands danced towards the toppled timber, slicing it into tiny fragments with ease.
Tobias perched beside the roaring flames, his mind lost in thought. Suddenly, the crackling of twigs and the scent of fresh wood reached his senses. It was Inietta who had come with a bundle of freshly cut logs.
Inietta carefully placed the logs into the fire, stoking the flames so they would burn long into the night. As she finished, exhaustion washed over her and she collapsed onto the ground, overcome by weariness.
Tobias' long locks were neatly tied up, a sign that someone skilled in the art of hair braiding had been the one to do it. The intricate knots and weaves held together flawlessly, indicating a level of expertise that was not easily found.
Trapped in the depths of the forest, Tobias and Inietta found themselves at an impasse, as a wide chasm loomed before them, impossible to cross. Despite Inietta's attempts to find a way across, her strings could not reach the other side. Yet, a glimmer of hope shone in the distance, as a point of light could be seen on the other side, possibly a village. Uncertain of which direction to take, they opted to follow the edge of the cliff, in search of a path or bridge. With nightfall approaching, they decided to rest and gather their strength before continuing their journey.
Observing the furrowed brows and troubled expression on Tobias' face, Inietta spoke in a matter-of-fact tone, as if to offer some advice. "Worrying won't solve anything. Rest is what you need right now," she said.
"Maybe you're right, Inietta. Just thinking won't change anything." Tobias responded in a slightly desperate tone, keeping his gaze fixed on the flickering flames before him and not turning to face Inietta, who lay in his shadow. Her vantage point prevented her from seeing the full extent of Tobias' expression.
"I know what you mean," replied Tobias, his voice heavy with emotion as he looked down and buried his face in his hands. Inietta felt a sense of unease wash over her. After striking a deal with Bell, Inietta couldn't help but feel a sense of detachment toward Tobias. "My duty is only to protect Ephi, isn't it?" she thought to herself.
Tobias continued to remain silent, his face still buried in his arms before the crackling bonfire. He appeared so lost in thought that he seemed unaware of his nearby bag, which lay perilously close to the flames.
A gentle hand reached out to touch the braid on Tobias' head, and Inietta spoke softly. "Lift your head, Tobias," she said, gently coaxing him to look up. With a gentle nudge from behind, Tobias' face was exposed to the warm glow of the firelight.
Inietta's nimble fingers deftly worked through Tobias' hair, skillfully undoing the intricate braid. As she worked, her hands moved quickly and purposefully, undoing the hair bands and unraveling the strands.
"Long hair can be beautiful, but it can also be a bit of a hassle," Inietta commented, her fingers gently brushing through Tobias' unraveled locks. "If it's not properly tended to, it can become quite a nuisance." Inietta appeared to take pleasure in styling Tobias' hair, and it was surprising to see how skilled she was at it, given her typically stoic demeanor.
The air was filled with the sounds of insects, their chirping and buzzing filling the space between the dark trees of the forest. The night was alive with activity, the rustling of leaves and the occasional hooting of an owl adding to the natural symphony of the forest.
Inietta continued to work through Tobias' hair, her hands moving smoothly as she styled it into a more manageable state. "You see, Tobias," she explained, "if I style your hair properly, it won't get in the way of your activities and will feel much more comfortable. You know, Tobias," she said, "shaving your head completely might get rid of the discomfort, but it's not an option, is it? But simply keeping your hair neat and tidy, won't make it any shorter, but it will make you much more comfortable. Plus, people will compliment you on how beautiful it looks."
As Inietta finished tying the last knot on Tobias' hair, she continued her patient explanation. "You know, Tobias, sometimes your problems are like your hair. You can't just get rid of them completely, but you can learn, now there's nothing you can do besides manage them and make them more comfortable to deal with. Trying to erase a problem is just an attempt to escape because deleting something is different from solving it." Her words seemed to finally sink in, and Tobias began to truly listen to her.
Tobias spoke with a tone of uncertainty and confusion as he asked Inietta, "Even if I take a break now, what should I do next when I'm finished resting? I don't have any ideas."
"Is it not obvious? We must seek out Ephi," replied Inietta as she strode towards the bonfire and settled herself opposite it.
Inietta sat quietly, observing Tobias's face which was now consumed by a cloud of sorrow and doubt. Tobias appeared lost in thought, staring off into the dancing flames of the fire. Inietta didn't want to interrupt Tobias's train of thought, she knew that he needed to process his emotions in his own time.
The crackling of the fire was the only sound in the forest clearing, except for Tobias' frustrated muttering.
"I should have known better. I should have seen the signs. But I was too focused on my desires to notice what was happening to Ephi." Tobias spoke to himself, his voice filled with regret and frustration.
He looked up to the dark sky, feeling a sense of guilt that weighed heavily on his heart. "Master Bell said that I was the cause of Ephi's current state," Tobias said, the memory of the conversation still fresh in his mind. "And he's right. I'm the reason Ephi is suffering."
Tobias clenched his fists, feeling helpless and useless. "I just wanted to be useful to others. But instead, I've caused her pain and hardship. I'm the reason she's had to face danger and fight for her life."
His head felt heavy with the weight of his mistakes, and he held it in his hands. "If I hadn't gone to Antemur, maybe Ephi would be fine by now," he said, his voice trembling with regret. "I should have been more responsible, more aware. But instead, I let my desires blind me to what was happening around me."
Tobias sighed deeply, feeling overwhelmed by his guilt. "How can I show my face before Ephi now? After all that I've done, how can I ever make it up to her?"
Inietta's slender hand reached for a charred wood perched on the edge of the blazing bonfire. With a flick of her wrist, she tossed it into the center of the flames, causing sparks to dance and flicker in the air. "It's your fault, Tobias," she stated plainly, her voice cutting through the stillness like a blade. The crackle of the fire and the chirping of crickets provided the only other sounds in the forest clearing.
As the sparks flew and the flames roared, Inietta carefully placed the piece of half-burnt wood into the fire. She shook her hands to rid them of the dust and looked up at Tobias, who was still lost in thought.
"Look at me," Inietta commanded, her gaze piercing through the dancing flames. Her eyes seemed to glow with a fierce intensity as she spoke. Tobias slowly lifted his head to meet her gaze, his eyes meeting hers in the flickering light.
Inietta's words rang out with cold finality, cutting through the crackling of the fire as she spoke to Tobias with a tone of the utmost seriousness.
"Tobias," she said, her voice low and stern. "You are the most worthless being I have ever encountered, Tobias," Inietta continued, her voice serious and stern. "Even the good-for-nothings have some purpose in this world, but you? You bring nothing but trouble and pain to those around you."
"Useless people don't do anything," Inietta continued, her voice unwavering. "But you ... you burden others and make things worse."
Inietta's eyes narrowed as she looked at Tobias, her expression filled with disdain and contempt. "You are nothing but a useless burden, Tobias," she spat out, her voice dripping with venom. "I cannot believe I wasted my time trying to help you."
Tobias hung his head low, unable to meet her gaze. Inietta's words were like poison, seeping into his soul and suffocating him.
"You have caused nothing but trouble and pain for everyone around you," Inietta continued, her voice rising with each word. "You are a worthless piece of filth that doesn't deserve to be here."
Tobias felt a lump in his throat as he listened to Inietta's words. He had never felt so small and insignificant before.
"You need to stop running away from your problems and face them head-on," Inietta sneered, her lip curling in disgust. "But I know you won't do that because you are a coward. You are too weak to handle anything."
Inietta stepped in closer to him, her breath hot on his face. "You are a disgrace, Tobias," she hissed. "A waste of space and air. If I were you, I would crawl back into the hole I came from and never show my face again."
With a fierce grip, Inietta seized Tobias' lapels. "Look at me!" Inietta's voice boomed like thunder as she barked out the command to Tobias, her eyes blazing with fury.
Tobias reluctantly lifted his head, his eyes meeting Inietta's fierce gaze. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest, fear and apprehension coursing through his veins.
"Ephi nearly died saving your sorry ass, and what do you do? You don't even have the decency to show a shred of gratitude! You are nothing but a spineless, ungrateful wretch," she hissed through gritted teeth. "Speak up, you despicable excuse for a human being. I dare you to defend your pitiful existence."
In a pressured yet calm tone, Tobias spoke with doubt and sadness in his voice. "Gratitude, Inietta? Am I owe her my soul as well?" He spoke softly but with a hint of emotion. "But you see, I'm just an empty shell, a mere waste of space and air, void of any soul to give."
Inietta's rage boiled over, and her words dripped with pure malice as she lashed out at Tobias. With a ferocious kick to his mouth, she watched with satisfaction as his face hit the ground. "You are nothing but a worthless husk," she spat. "Even emptiness has more value than you, for it requires no space or air to exist. You, on the other hand, are a blight on existence itself and would be better off not existing at all."
Tobias remained quiet, his head resting heavily on the ground as he gazed wearily at the flickering flames nearby. "If I had a soul to give," he said in a pressured yet calm tone, his voice tinged with doubt and sadness. "I would—"
"You're soulless."
Tobias' eyes welled up with tears as he watched Inietta's strides against the backdrop of the dancing flames.