Finally, the group had arrived. It had certainly taken longer than usual as Colwyn had decided to make Azal's hunting trips a more regular occurrence.
As it would appear, the knight would often resemble a sloth in the same way he refused to do anything that requires a semblance of effort.
Previously it had been his squire, Lyra, who would do the menial tasks in his place, but now the undead who seemingly had an infinite amount of energy as long as you fed him mana cores became the new target.
As it turns out, the horned rabbit variation actually had a small mana core inside of their heart... It wasn't much, but every little bit helped, so Azal found himself consuming it all anyway.
The Enclave was surrounded by a dangerous, seemingly never-ending sea. So the only way to enter the Island was through "Gateways" scattered around the world. And even then you needed a "gate key" to start it up.
The one Colwyn and Lyra had used was in the centre of a ruined church, the murals were rubbed off with age and anything of historical significance had been looted long ago. So it was pretty hard to pin point what exactly had been worshipped.
Lyra noticed Azal's apparent fascination. "It's just a bunch of old stones now. Let's focus on getting through the Gateway."
Although their relations were a bit strained, after all they both had a pretty poor first impression, the two had slowly grown closer.
It definitely wasn't much but at least she wasn't watching his every move anymore.
The group spread out, searching the crumbling church for any signs of the gateway. After a few minutes, Lyra called out, "Over here! I think I've found something."
Colwyn and Azal joined her at the far end of the church. A large, circular stone lay embedded in the ground, it was bland in every way, save for a small hole. Colwyn knelt beside it, examining the keyhole at its centre.
"This is it," he confirmed. "Stand back. Activating these things can be unpredictable."
He inserted the key into the stone and turned it. The ground trembled, and the faint glow intensified, spreading out in a web of light that covered the floor and walls. The air crackled with energy, and a swirling vortex began to form above the stone.
Azal felt his self be pulled into it. The sensation was disorienting, a whirlwind of colours and sounds that made it impossible to focus. Azal felt as if he were being pulled apart and reassembled simultaneously.
But in the mix of all of that, hidden between the cracks of his senses all being inverted and flipped and transformed, was a new yet familiar feeling. That familiar coolness as if he was being sprayed with water on a hot day.
His body was being showered by mana, and yet it was completely different to the cores from the horned rabbits. The mana from the gate was far... older. It felt ancient and strong, if Azel's internal mana was like a river, then the source from the portal was a tidal wave.
For a moment his body lost reasoning, and Azel had to wrestle control from his undead instinct to take in as much as he could while being transported.
From what Azel understood the ancient mana stored within the circle was used as fuel to move them so far in such a quite period of time. If that was to disappear then the group would find themselves spat out halfway across the void sea.
Of course, that would mean Azel would be free of Colwyn and could attempt to make his way to those monks in the south... But he would have to survive the void sea first, and both his rational mind and the undead instinct agreed that it was practically impossible.
So Azel held back his craving hunger and allowed the ancient mana to surround him like a cocoon.
Then, as suddenly as it had begun, the whirlwind subsided, and Azel found himself standing on solid ground once more...With Colwyn.
"Hey, lend me an ear for a moment," Said Colwyn, with a level of seriousness in his voice that wasn't usually there. "Quickly, before Lyra arrives."
looking around Azel saw a forest of fern trees. each ones length stretching higher than cliffs and had trunks thicker than most houses... Colwyn had told him about it, sure, but the giant forest still felt incredible to see.
"Is everything alright, Sir?" Asked Azel, doing his best to sound loyal and shy. He thought he had gotten pretty good at playing the bumbling fool, after all, his performance had done a good job convincing Lyra and Colwyn.
"you can stop with that act, I can see through it easily," Responded Colwyn, discouraging Azel pretty ruthlessly, "There's some things you should know before we enter the city, for your own good, that is."
Azel was silent for a moment, letting his face relax back to its usual expressionless visage. He was momentarily surprised by Colwyn's sharp senses, after all Azel was confidant that he had been fooling the duo.
"What is it then" Said Azel curtly, It felt oddly relaxing to drop all the mannerisms and just speak with efficiency, even if his mind was still trying to figure out when exactly Colwyn had picked up on him.
"Well to sum a long story short, I'm currently in a bit of a disagreement with this lady called Rio, and Lyra a spy." Said Colwyn rather casually, "I imagine Lyra will explain to Rio that I have taken in a vicious zombie and she will then use it as an excuse to have the both of us executed,"
Azel didn't say anything for a moment, contemplating what Colwyn had just said, after a moment, Azel's dull crimson eyes looked back up to Colwyn, "Should we kill her?"
Immediately after saying it Azel realised the sentence was a mistake, if Colwyn's only emotion towards Lyra was wariness then he wouldn't of kept her around so long. The knight at least felt something akin to sympathy for her.
Colwyn took a step closer towards Azel, "...I almost forgot, you're a monster, huh?" His voice was quiet, confirming for Azel that he was right.
The zombie felt himself break into a cold sweat as a wave of killing intent rushed over his body just like the ancient mana had done a few moments earlier.
Colwyn then answered Azel's question anyway, "Killing her would only draw suspicion, but don't you worry, I have a plan."