Later that day, Lukas decided to explore some of the surrounding region, across the river. He couldn't explore much, or very quickly. But he couldn't stand doing nothing for so long, he had to do something. So he crossed the river via a bridge and began to explore the woodlands.
It was dense, far more than anywhere he had been before. Everything twisted and curled in on itself in a disturbing fashion. It was like the forest was built to confound and beguile those who ventured within it.
But Lukas was not so easily lost, he had been taught how to remember his path. His mind too was very adept at remembering where he had been, and when.
But as he explored, he couldn't ignore the suffocating presence of the towering canopy above him. Eventually, he grew to discard it from his mind.
As the hours ticked by, and the day turned to dusk, Lukas eventually decided to return to Mistfell. However, out of the blue, he heard a sound. A loud whistle screeched through the forest and Lukas rushed towards the source of the sound as fast as he could, assuming it to be a call for help.
His legs were still as limp as a dead rabbit, but he could not ignore his innate urge to at least try and help. He manically rushed over in an off-kilter awkward stride aided by his crutches. But as he dragged himself forward, something was... off.
It was too quiet...
The birds had left their nests within the canopy of the trees at the sound of the ringing whistle. But even without their songs nature should still be bustling with the vibrant sounds of life.
Suddenly, however, his ears were drowned in a horrid cacophony. A deafening clash of blows erupted nearby. Lukas snapped his eyes over and saw something impossible.
A flash of lightning tore through the forest, ripping the dense woodland to nothing but splinters and ash. In its wake is what could only be described as the remnants of a ghast. Whatever was there was now nothing but charred remains, a few mangled piles of flesh and soot.
Then, there was a person. He stood there with his arms shaking and a hand clutching his chest. Yet, his eyes were dead and soulless, without a single light or fire inside their bright white eyes.
His hair was a strained white, and his body was young and strong. The back of his uniform had the character for "Storm" written boldly.
It was Kai. Tempest, as Wels would call him.
But the fact that the person before him was Kai, was not what flashed through Lukas' mind. Instead, his mind was flooded in shock by what he had just witnessed.
He watched a bolt of lightning soar through the dense woodlands before it completely and utterly desecrated a ghast. Instantaneously killing it where it stood.
Then there was a person at the end of the lightning's scorched trail. The only assumption that made sense in Lukas' mind was that Kai was the bolt of lightning. Somehow being able to transform into lightning, and with enough raw power that he can instantaneously kill a ghast.
This was the person Skyla was worried about? This was the person Karve described as distant and calm? Who the hell is Kai, and why are people worried for him?
As Lukas stood there, frozen in shock and awe, Kai turned to him.
"Hello."
His tone was flat and monotone, just like the lack of meaning in his short greeting.
"Are you Kai? People are looking for you!"
By now, Kai's hand had slowly drifted from his clutching his chest to limb by his side.
"Oh... okay."
Then he pointed at Lukas' legs.
"Your legs don't work?"
"No, I'm fine, they just need time to recover."
Kai began to walk away, in no particular direction and without any meaning in his step. Lukas, however, knew where Mistfell was and so he followed Kai.
"I can take you to Mistfell, Skyla's waiting there for you."
"Skyla?"
Kai's eyes had a flicker of a remnant of a spark. The echo of a whisper of understanding and remembrance.
"Yes, come on, follow me!"
Kai said nothing in response. Instead, he silently followed Lukas as they made their way back to Mistfell.
He never once got ahead of Lukas, always staying right behind him and just slower than him. The way he walked too, it was like his body walked because it had to. Kai had no meaning in his step, nor any ambition.
'Who the hell are you Kai?'