The abyss was a terrifying place. An underground world hidden below the surface filled with black mist. It was said that down there, the strangest and most dangerous creatures existed. Many that had not yet been discovered.
In that abyss, was the Rokura, a gray-shelled crustacean with pointed taunts. Elian explained to Yaima and Nahuel that the meat of the Rokura produced a juice that served as a cure for the poisonous spores.
"I need you to help me find that monster," Elian told them, under the starry sky, "you are marked ones like me. If we unite our powers, we can hunt down the Rokura."
Yaima lowered her head. She wasn't too sure. She was not a fighter. Nahuel, and surely Elian, would be much better warriors. She felt the cold wind brush against her skin. They were talking outside the tents, in the open.
"Count me in," said Nahuel, determined, then looked at his friend, "but Yaima doesn't seem to be very sure."
'Thanks for noticing,' thought the girl.
"Why?" Elian pointed out, "you have the powers of the eon, do you not? You are more powerful than any other human."
Nahuel interceded for her.
"Um... I think she's just taking it all in."
Elian approached Yaima.
"Why do you let them speak for you? You must have your own voice if you want to survive in this world."
Yaima grabbed her skirt and squeezed it. All of that was too much. She didn't even want to be there. She was forced. If it was up to her, she would return to her world and continue living in peace. She alone. Working as a waitress in a maid cafe.
"How about you think about it tonight?" Nahuel told Yaima, "You don't have to come with us if you don't want to."
She was staring at the ground.
"Yaima, look at me," Nahuel requested.
She looked up. She met those kind eyes of her new friend.
"You don't have to do anything you don't want to."
Yaima smiled and felt a comforting warmth on her chest.
Elian guided the girl and Nahuel to a small tent that would shelter them for the night. Yaima blushed at the thought that she would sleep close to a boy. She never imagined that this would happen one day.
She wrapped a thick sheet around her and arranged a small pillow under her head.
"I understand that you are afraid," Nahuel said, lying down next to her, "I am afraid too."
"H-how? Ho…how do you do it?"
Nathan shrugged.
"Since I was little I got used to facing guys bigger and stronger than me. I never stopped feeling afraid. And many told me 'you are very brave. You don't scare easily'. But the truth... is that I understood that being brave is not stop being afraid, but acting despite it."
Yaima's eyes widened. She had never thought about it. ¡
'To be brave is not stop being afraid, but to act despite it.'
Of course! It made sense! To be brave, you must first be afraid.
Such wise words. That helped her reflect. She thought of those beast children. She remembered those yellow rashes on their skin. Their pained faces… their moans.
"I'm going to…," Yaima mused.
Nahuel turned to look at her.
"What?"
"I'm going to do it," she repeated, determined, "I'm going to go down with you to the abyss. Let's go hunt down that monster."
Nahuel smiled and nodded excitedly.
***
Elian observed the night landscape from the edge of a hill. Black mists stirred between the mountains bathed in moonlight. It was a scene that conveyed peace. A silence only broken by the whisper of the wind.
He thought about how much he loved the Yaruma Islands, south of Duniya. He was born and raised in that land. And he had dedicated his life to defending it from humans. The dirty, violent, and cruel humans. And their armies. Those huge and destructive armies.
Elian felt responsible for all the 'demons' that lived on the islands. After all, he had been marked. He now had the power of the eon.
He pulled the treasure out and moved it between his fingers. He detailed it.
'It is my mission to protect those children,' he thought.
He heard footsteps behind. Katan appeared and stood next to him. He accompanied him in the contemplation of the clouds brushed by the black mist.
"Do you trust them?"
"I don't trust anyone," Elian answered, looking at the landscape, "only myself."
"Then? Why did you ask them for help?"
"Do not get confused. Just because I need them to defeat the Rokura doesn't mean I trust them."
Katan nodded thoughtfully.
"What will you do with those two when we cure the children?"
"I don't know yet," Elian shrugged, "maybe they'll go their way and I'll go mine. Each one on separate sides."
Katan snorted.
"Maybe… we can use them."
Elian turned to see his friend.
"What are you talking about?"
"I mean... having other marked ones doesn't sound like a bad idea."
"Wow, what a surprise. I didn't think you wanted more humans in our caravan."
"It's not that! Not at all! It's just…oh, hell, it's just that we need to defeat those humans once and for all. We will never be safe if we don't defeat them. It doesn't matter how far we run. They will always chase us."
Elian could not deny that. Katan had a good point. Maybe Elian should consider adding them to the caravan. Ask them to help them defeat the humans. Would they accept? Maybe the boy would, but the blue-haired girl…no. She looked weak. Undecided. She would be more of a liability than support.
"Take me with you," Katan said.
"What?"
"Take me with you into the abyss."
Elian shook his head.
"No, not even mention it. It's dangerous."
"I am strong!"
"Not as much as a marked one."
Katan took Elian's hand, gently.
"I couldn't bear to lose you."
Elian squeezed his friend's hand
"And do you think I could bear to lose you?"
"We will die together."
"Nope. I will go with the other two humans. You will stay with the children. That is my decision."
Katan nodded and stared at the scenery, holding and stroking his friend's hand.
***
The morning came. Yaima woke up rested. Rarely had she had such a restful sleep. She felt safe waking up next to Nahuel. He was still sleeping, his mouth open, drooling.
Yaima found it funny how Nahuel slept.
"No, mom… no…," stammered the boy, "I don't like soup… no…"
Yaima let out a small giggle. What was her new friend dreaming about?
"Wake up!" someone yelled outside.
Nahuel jumped abruptly.
"Oh! oh! What's happening?" He screamed in fear.
Yaima let out another giggle.
Nahuel wiped away the drool that had run down his neck.
"Huh?" He looked from side to side, "Is it time yet?
"Wake up already!" That was Katan's voice. Then he hit the tent, "Wake up!"
"We're awake! Stop screaming!" Nahuel reproached.
Yaima and her friend stood up, and went out to wash their faces and have breakfast. Fried eggs and hard bread. The girl felt that she nearly broke her teeth trying to bite into a small slice of bread.
Despite that, any food tasted delicious. Effects of hunger.
"Are you ready now?" Elian approached them, carrying a sack on his back, "We leave in five minutes."
Yaima and Nahuel looked at each other's faces as if wondering 'so soon?'
'At least let us digest our breakfast,' thought the girl.
Elian was a very punctual person. Five minutes later they marched into the abyss. They went down the hill and crossed over a ledge of barren rock. The dark mist covered them. Despite the poor visibility, Elian was able to move. It was as if he knew the place with his eyes closed.
They emerged from the mist, and before them appeared a huge, pronounced crack in the ground, the interior of which extended into the depths.
"We'll go down this way," Elian indicated.
Yaima swallowed hard.
"Last chance to repent," the masked boy looked at Yaima. She shook her head.
"I'm ready…"
"Good."
The three jumped into the darkness.