The journey back to Devereaux has become one of the most challenging since I left the kingdom of Lacrontte. The sun shines at its highest point, and my skin burns under this infernal heat. Fatigue practically doesn't let me continue, as each step costs me like ten, but I keep going against my will, almost like a zombie.
I've been on the road for a day. A whole day where I've only stopped once or twice to rest, drink water, and go to the bathroom, but at no point have I received help from Luke or Maiara. I don't know how either of them will react when they find out that I was the one who caused that massacre in Devereaux.
"Are you sure you don't want a piece of bread?" Maiara offers.
I know she's doing it with the sole intention of helping me, but I don't want her to regret doing it when she finds out who I really am.
"No, I'm fine."
"Are you sure? You don't look well at all."
I glance over my shoulder. Luke doesn't seem to believe me or want to give in.
"Come on, Keith, don't be proud. You need some food and water."
I don't respond.
"When was the last time you found a source of fresh water to drink from?" he insists.
I know I need water, and I also know that it could be obvious from miles away that I'm about to faint from thirst, but more than that, I still think it's better if I don't receive their help, so they won't feel so betrayed when they know everything.
"Well, since you don't want to eat, then let's talk. We have plenty of time for that."
Luke joins me with an impressive ease that may be due to the fact that for the past two days, he's been hydrating and eating a little.
"Why did you stop talking to us suddenly? I know you were angry, but still..."
"It was my thing. You two aren't to blame."
Luke is quite surprised. Maybe he didn't expect an apology from me, or simply didn't expect a response.
"How much longer until we arrive? I can't feel my legs anymore," we hear Maiara complain behind us, causing Luke to laugh.
"Says the one who forced me to come."
When Maiara hears him mocking her, she quickens her pace and ends up walking on my other side. She seems annoyed.
"Well, I don't remember asking you to come with us."
"I'm the one who doesn't remember asking you to come," I retort.
"Quiet, Keith, I know deep down you hoped we'd come with you," Luke mimics Maiara's tone of voice very poorly.
"But seriously, when are we going to get there?"
"You don't have to ask that again because look what we have in front of us."
In the distance, on a tall mountain a few kilometers from the mountain we're on, where there used to be an imposing castle made of stones, which, although it was in ruins, still looked majestic, now there are only ruins and ashes. And to add a gloomy atmosphere to the matter, despite the sun, below, in the forest, there's a dense fog covering it, and from time to time whistles can be heard.
"What the hell happened here? It looks like a dragon attacked the castle mercilessly, or a whole army brought the building down."
Something inside me stirs, as if my body were unconsciously recognizing that this was caused by me. Suddenly, I feel a fleeting burning sensation on my neck, right where my mark is, so I bring my hand there to cover it.
Luke notices it, so he squints at me for a couple of seconds, but finally overlooks it and says nothing. Careful not to fall into the precipice in front of us, I gently lean over it, but not seeing a viable route to descend, I backtrack to Luke and Maiara's side.
"Let's find another way down, going down here would be practically suicide," I say, and when I turn to them, I find a surprised Maiara and a rather confused Luke.
"How long have you been traveling?" Maiara asks. She seems fascinated. "A long time? Because you speak like an experienced traveler."
"Not that long, really," I admit.
"When I found you, how long had you been traveling?"
I shrug. The truth is, I don't remember how long it's been since I left Lacrontte, let alone how long I spent traveling. But it doesn't matter now. I must reach Devereaux, and knowing how long I've been traveling won't help me.
"Let's keep moving. We need to find a safe place to stay before nightfall so we don't end up like last night."
Maiara laughs out loud when she remembers Luke fleeing from wild flying boars because, saying he knew exactly where he was going, he entered their cave and ruined their nap.
"Yeah, let's hurry,"
The three of us head down into the forest that separates us from the castle. Everything seems fine until I hear a small whistle, just like before, when we saw the forest from above. I stop. It can't be. I hadn't considered it before, but now that it comes to mind, I just want to trust the information I know about this forest and trust that there shouldn't be any of them here. Still, it's dangerous to move around such an area without being certain that they really aren't here.
"Let's go back up," I murmur.
"Why? We're almost reaching a clearing in the forest," Luke says, pointing a couple of meters ahead of us. To our misfortune, I see the orange reflection of a fire reflected among the trees.
"Why is there a fire?" Luke asks. "Do you think there are more travelers?"
I stop, and as if I had seen a premonition in which an arrow hits me in the back, I crouch down so that a millisecond later, an arrow passes over my head.
"Attack!"
No. That war cry doesn't mean anything good.