This is bad...! Karlos thought. He decided to temporarily associate the mere existence of pomegranates with his frightening friend-turned-assassin, and the mere scent of the fruit made him feel a growing sense of dread, as if she was coming closer with each step.
"I know we took a break halfway through but... I never expected her to catch up to us this quickly. I threw that tusk with all I had; I thought for sure she'd have injured her leg at least..." Trying to stand up, Karlos fought through the soreness in his legs and propped his body up with a walking stick, ready to escape at a moment's notice.
Lysandra held her palm to the wall and deeply felt the vibrations within the soil.
"It seems she'll reach us in around two minutes, we'll need to leave right now."
"...Alright."
Gesturing her hands in an upward motion, Lysandra quickly erected several soil walls and obstacles, in an effort to buy them more time.
There was no moment to spare, Lysandra, the less injured of the two, supported Karlos with her arm and they quickly trudged deeper into the tunnel, the faint sound of rushing water echoing in their ears.
In just a few seconds, they reached an small, uphill stream.
"The exit should be up ahead if we follow this path." Lysandre followed her intuition and years of experience living in the caverns. "She shouldn't be able to-"
"Slango! There you are...!"
Karlos abruptly turned around and saw the dreaded assassin in question, her crimson eyes manic and her expression filled with rage.
Her leather armour was reduced to rags, stained with both blood and mud. Her stomach had a gaping wound inflicted from the Cage Boar tusk, fragments of bark were still visible on the bloodied cloth as it was packed with the cloth from her dress. In her hands, the long staff she stole from Karlos had been meticulously sharpened into a spear, in her other, she held an orb-like object that reflected a deep red, similar to that of the pomegranates she picked before.
Kassel's gaze pierced his soul. Her crimson eyes vibrant with blood lust.
"Karlos... My dear friend, I really have to thank you... That hit to my houbit finally made me remember who miss gorgon here was..." She turned her attention to Lysandra, speaking between pained gasps and breaths. Her body leaned against the wall as she advanced forward. "We... Reigaro... exterminated every last one of you scum from this area..."
She slowly broke into a wide smile.
"...Including a silver haired gorgon with bronze skin."
Lysandra tensed. Her body froze and the snakes on her head hissed wildly.
"Ha... Haha! Yes! I knew that would catch your fancy!" Kassel chuckled with a deranged smile, the orb in her hand trembling.
"Monster... When I was just a rookie... Even before befriending that runt beside you... I had the privilege for a very~ special task...
...Slaying a particular gorgon clutching a child..."
"..." Lysandra didn't react. She only calmly lowered the blindfold on her eyes, which prompted Kassel to look towards the ground.
"You understand right? Hehe... I'm sure you vividly remember that day...My friends had slaughtered an entire tribe of you damned monsters... But they left me with one weak gorgon and her child to kill as 'experience'."
"I must admit, for a gorgon to be killed by someone that hadn't even become a Neuromancer... Isn't that too pathetic? She was far too focused on trying to protect that damn thing! Haha!"
She paused.
"...But. A Triton of all things had saved her child... Can you believe that? A monster known for spending their time in the seas had suddenly appeared on dry land..."
Lysandra took a sharp breath. It was clear that Kassel had struck a nerve.
Seeing no further response, Kassel continued. "...It was thought, by a certain someone I know, that this triton was exiled from their clan and forced to stay at a small lake next to a human village. Well, I can't tell you the specifics of this theory, as per my policy... But the point of the matter is that this triton decided to settle right next to Anafang, and coincidentally, the same silver gorgon we were just talking about was living in this very cavern!
...That was your father, wasn't it?"
"..." The tunnel was overcome with a harsh silence. Even the rushing water had softened to an almost inaudible level, the only discernible sounds being the soft hissing of small snakes and the strained breaths of those present.
Karlos, who had been quietly listening to the confrontation, felt like he had come to a realisation.
That day in the market... I felt like something was odd when I talked to Kassel...
...Were... My instincts trying to tell me what she had done...?
He had his suspicions, but they were unverifiable; he didn't even know why he questioned his instincts of all things. He decided to just quietly watch the two and gauge what to do next, it was unlikely he could escape Kassel on his own with his injuries, after all.
Kassel, her face a static frown, lost her patience."...Hmph, If only I could see your expression right now, gorgon. I'm sure it would be very interesting.
I'll just tell you right now... The screams of your mother were quite pleasant to the ears, you know?"
Karlos knew Kassel was trying to provoke them. She was just as injured as they were, it only made sense she would try to catch Lysandra off-guard. Though, despite his worry... He felt reassured by the gorgon's reaction, which was resolute.
Kassel took a breath and sneered.
"Speaking as a member of Reigaro, I hope your voice-"
Kassel didn't get to finish her spiel. In the next moment, Lysandra swept her tail across the ground and sent a flurry of mud and soil towards Kassel. Immediately after, she closed her eyes and erected multiple barriers of earth.
"Let's go!" She grabbed Karlos's good shoulder. He flinched, but didn't object, and they both dashed uphill, following the stream.
'PITTER' 'PATTER'
Footsteps and slithering filled the cavern tunnel. Behind them, Karlos and Lysandra heard the collapsing of dirt and the faint voice of Kassel.
They didn't look back. Moving forward, they ascended the slope until a wall made of soft dirt appeared before them. Putting her hand on the wall, Lysandra lowered the pile of earth and gathered a sizable amount of mud and dirt, shifting it behind them and essentially flooding the tunnel.
"That might hold her back, but I doubt it's enough to stop her."
"It's alright... We're almost at the entrance." Karlos found himself at the familiar branching crossroads of the cavern. Looking around, he quickly identified the sweet smell of pomegranates coming from one of the tunnels, the pieces of the fruit strewn across the floor and smeared onto the walls.
"That one should be the correct path."
Nothing else had to be said. Rushing into the tunnel, they saw the light of the surface shining down the path, illuminating the first instance of natural light they had seen for who knows how long.
They could finally see the natural forests of the surface, a the warm breeze twirling the vibrant leaves in the air and the small animals that chirped with delight softened their nerves.
'CREAK'
Karlos suddenly felt goosebumps erupt on his back. Looking back, he saw a thin object rapidly approaching his face.
Oh...Isn't that...?
'SHIK'
There was no time to react, Karlos narrowly turned his head and dodged the spear that sliced at his face, leaving a deep cut that began from his cheek to his lower left lip.
Lysandra was one step ahead. She caught the spear with her tail and turned to face their attacker, who walked out of the shadows with insanity in her crimson eyes and dishevelled silver hair that was stained with mud.
"You're-"
Lysandra wasn't about to waste time talking. At the same moment Kassel tried to speak, Lysandra moved herself and Karlos outside and repeatedly struck at the tunnel entrance, shifting the soft rock.
"What?! You crazy...!" Kassel ignored the pain from her abdomen and sprinted directly at the two, pointing the red orb in their direction.
"[Fiur]!" With a shout, the orb instantly glowed a deep red and shattered, sweeping up the air beneath it and spewing a great amount of flames towards the duo.
It was too late, however. Lysandra struck the ceiling one final time and caused a cave in, blocking the whirlwind of flames and sealing the cavern.
Rocks tumbled and they visibly saw the small hill shorten just a bit, the clouds of dust puffing through the cracks in the stone. Heat emanated from within, but it wasn't enough to break the natural barrier.
One heartbeat later, they heard the agonizing screams of Kassel.
"..."
Karlos grimaced with anguish.
He didn't dare think of her fate, of what was happening behind the rubble.
He only turned to face the forest once more, taking in a deep breath.
It's finally over...
'Ack!'
He nearly forgot about his broken ribs as the adrenaline left his body, his entire body ached with soreness and pain.
Lysandra put her blindfold back on and threw the spear aside.
"You need medical attention, you've lost too much blood."
Karlos wheezed as he acknowledged her worry.
"It's alright... My home isn't too far from here… I'll be able to make it."
Lysandra nodded. Looking at the rubble behind her, she stared at the hill for a brief moment.
"Home..." She muttered.
"...Karlos Lippe, would you mind... If I followed you?"
Karlos, who had sat down near a tree, was visibly surprised. "To my village? Why?"
Lysandra sat next to the tree opposite of him, the snakes on her head drooping with fatigue.
"I've been living in this cavern for as long as I can remember... But not only is it too close to your people, it's also likely to be attacked by the group that red-eyed woman belonged to.
...Reigaro... Was it? They're probably going to seek vengeance for her death, so it would be too dangerous for me to stay here."
That... Makes a lot of sense, but still... Karlos was justifiably concerned. He trusted Lysandra, but also highly wary of her identity as a gorgon. He was sure she wouldn't attack Anafang, but he was more concerned with how the villagers might react to the news of Kassel's death, especially with how absurd the situation all seemed.
Me and Kassel went to explore a cavern, but we were attacked by a boar and she tried to kill me suddenly? And I was saved by a gorgon that's 'curious' about humans? Even Sêlafrien wouldn't believe that...
"...Alright, but you wont be able to enter the village. It's too dangerous for both you and the villagers."
"Mm, that's fine."
Look overhead, Karlos saw the sun approaching the horizon.
"...Looks like we still have around 3 hours before dusk. We should move before it gets dark."
"Why would that be an issue?"
"..."
Karlos and Lysandra stared at each other confused, the surrounding noises from the forest cutting through the silence.
"...Because it would be hard to see?" Karlos didn't know what to say.
"Oh, by the way... Why are you wearing a blindfold?"
"Because I am a gorgon." Lysandra tugged on the blindfold made of cave grass.
"If I look at any living creature in the eyes, they will turn to stone."
That... Sounds terrifying. Do all monsters have powers like that? Wait, thinking back on it...
"How were you able to navigate through the caverns with a blindfold on? And how come you didn't need any light to see?"
Lysandra tugged on her blindfold once more. "As half-human half-snake monsters, we gorgons have the ability to switch between human and serpent sight at will. In particular... We can see in the dark by observing heat in living creatures... But as beings with natural Psyche, we can also enhance our perception of our surroundings to an extent. Right now, I can sense your presence and vaguely see the outline of my surroundings."
Karlos was out of his element. He got lost near the first half of her explanation.
"...Well, we should still get moving." He slowly stood up and grabbed a nearby stick. "Follow me, my village is in this direction."
"Alright."
As he spoke, Karlos's eyes wandered back to the pile of rubble. His thoughts swirled with emotion, but underneath a few large rocks, he noticed a shimmering object.
"...Wait a moment." He walked back to the collapsed entrance of the cavern and moved the rubble aside, exposing the object underneath.
It was Kassel's dagger. Despite everything that happened, it seemed so perfectly untouched and exquisite. The edge of the metal seemed to have no damage whatsoever. Karlos didn't know how many lives were claimed with such a blade, nor did he know why it was decorated so vehemently.
But, something in the back of his mind told him to take it with him.
Remorse? Something to remind him of a friendship he could never go back to?
Fear? Was he scared of what might come next? Did he really need such a thing to defend himself with?
Perhaps even greed? Such a thing could even captivate its victims. How could he not have it?
Whatever it was, it was no longer important to Karlos. He put the knife away and sheathed it with several large leaves, making sure it wouldn't cut him on accident. He tucked it into a hidden pocket on his hip, normally used to store money, but also just large enough to house the full length of the dagger.
Lysandra watched the scene in silence.
...
'Thud' 'Slither...' 'Thud'
The strange sounds of walking and slithering filled the air as the two walked through the forest path.
Ten... Twenty... Thirty...
Once again, Karlos saw the gates to his village after sixty steps and... Huh?
Is that... Smoke?