ONE YEAR AGO
Dripping with sweat and exhaustion, the ragged hunter pushed through the dense foliage. Hunger gnawed at his hollow stomach, a constant reminder of the dwindling prey in this unforgiving jungle. Yet, his desperation for a cure kept him pushing, his wife's pale face fuelling his resolve.
The air grew heavy, cloying with a fetid stench that choked the verdant life around him. A sickening crunch underfoot sent a tremor of fear through him. Don't look down. Don't look down. He forced his gaze forward, the putrid remains of an unfortunate soul clinging to his boot soles.
The foliage thinned abruptly, revealing a chilling tableau. Emerald leaves morphed into a chilling ash-gray, the stench of death intensifying with each step. He brushed a black leaf, and it crumbled to dust, sending a coughing fit through him. His vision blurred, his lungs burning with each raspy breath.
Then, a figure emerged from the swirling ash. Panic propelled him forward, only to slam headfirst into a stone wall. Disoriented, he scrambled to his feet, hands searching for a purchase. The air grew thick, his world fading into a suffocating fog. He collapsed against the stone, tears streaming down his soot-stained face. His failure was a bitter pill to swallow.
In those final moments, a prayer escaped his lips, a plea to the wind god for forgiveness. And the wind god answered. Hewar's cry echoed through the fog, a beacon of hope. He strained to see his raven companion, but the world remained shrouded in mist.
With a final surge of will, his fingers found a handhold. He pulled himself up, his feet landing on something solid. Was it his mind playing tricks, or were there steps he had missed? He didn't care. He climbed, each step purging the ash from his lungs, the burning sensation slowly fading.
Emerging from the mist, he found himself on a platform bathed in an ethereal glow. A silhouette materialized in the distance, drawing him closer. As he approached, the mist swirled, revealing a being with an ancient face and the body of a youth. Its voice boomed like a thunderclap, "Not all who seek me find me. Many perish in the quest, but few impress me with their resolve. Speak."
The man fell to his knees, his voice raw with desperation. "Save my wife. Please, save her."
A long pause filled the air. The creature tilted its head, its metal circlet shimmering through the mist. "I will," it finally spoke, its voice echoing with power.
With each step towards the kneeling man, the metal of the circlet transformed, first to iron, then to steel. Finally, it extended a hand, a long knife materializing in its palm. "Your wife and the unborn child will live. But a sacrifice is required."
The man flinched. A life for a life? He had killed animals before, but taking a human life...
"I see your doubt," the creature spoke, its voice dropping to a chilling whisper. "But you have no choice. Fifteen months. Seek out a woman named Sera and silence her. Then, you and your wife will be free."
The man's stomach churned. He had stolen, lied, even begged, all to save his wife. But murder? Yet, this wasn't just a myth anymore. It was his only hope.
"I will do it," he rasped, his voice heavy with resolve.
"But be warned," the creature continued, its circlet morphing into rusted iron. "One life for two lives. Only kill Sera. Any other death will be reflected back upon you, a life for a life. You will feel their pain, lose your own loved ones."
The man nodded, his heart heavy with the weight of his decision.
The creature smiled, its circlet now gleaming gold. "You may choose one companion for your quest."
"Hewar," the man said without hesitation.
The creature's smile faltered, its circlet flickering through various metals before settling on silver. "So be it." With a snap of its fingers, the mist dissolved, engulfing them both in a swirling vortex.
The man awoke with a gasp, the image of a woman's face burned into his memory. He opened his eyes to see Hewar perched on his hand, pecking at his palm. "I'm up," he croaked, a grimace twisting his face.
Hewar cawed in response, its dark eyes seemingly knowing.
He sat up, his head throbbing. The woman's face refused to fade. Sera. The woman he was meant to kill. As he took in his surroundings, a clearing bathed in sunlight, the creature and the chilling pact felt like a fever dream.
But a strange marking on his wrist confirmed the reality. "Creation" and "Destruction," he finished reading the inscription, a shiver running down his spine. The dream, or memory, or whatever it was, was real. He glanced at the long knife lying beside him, its polished surface gleaming ominously in the morning light. Hewar hopped around him, cawing incessantly, its obsidian eyes reflecting an intelligence that unsettled him.
The weight of his decision pressed down on him. A life for two lives. The thought of taking an innocent woman's life churned his stomach. Yet, the desperation that drove him to the creature's domain, the image of his wife's frail form, her fading smile, fuelled a conflicting ember within him.
He rose, his muscles feeling surprisingly strong, revitalized. Could it be the creature's doing? He flexed his arm, a grim reminder of the price he had bargained. Creation and Destruction. Each word held the potential for salvation and obliteration.
A caw brought him back to the present. Hewar landed on his shoulder, nudging his cheek with its beak. The bird seemed different too, its gaze sharper, its movements purposeful. Did it share his burden, did it too glimpse the woman named Sera, the life meant to be snuffed out?
He stood tall, a decision forming in his heart. He wouldn't be a pawn in this twisted game. He wouldn't blindly follow orders. He would find Sera, yes, but not to kill her. He would find another way, appeal to her, find some other solution, some other sacrifice. The creature hadn't specified how she had to die, only that she did. Could there be a loophole, a hidden meaning he had missed?
He looked at Hewar, a sliver of hope igniting within him. "We find Sera," he declared, his voice gaining strength, "but we find a way to save everyone. Do you understand, friend?"
Hewar cawed once, a long, resonating sound that seemed to echo his determination.