'Where is this place?' Leon wondered, gazing up at the towering dome above. The palace was a spectacle of beauty, adorned with lavish decorations, exquisite carvings, and rich tapestries that adorned the pillars and walls. Yet, as his eyes drifted further, a dense, white mist obscured his vision, shrouding the distance in mystery.
A sudden, inexplicable urge compelled him to look forward once more. Between the grand halls, a staircase ascended toward something unseen, its apex crowned by a solemn throne. Drawn by an unknown force, Leon began his ascent, his steps echoing softly in the vast chamber.
However, no matter how long he walked, the throne seemed just as far away as when he'd started. A familiar voice then pierced the silence, chilling yet clear: "This is not the place to be. Let's go back."
Darkness swiftly enveloped him.
When Leon awoke, disoriented, the first thing he saw was the rough texture of a rock wall, its shadows dancing to the rhythm of a flickering fire. It appeared he was in a natural cave, tucked within a mountain crevice. The sounds of wind and rain beating against the rock face outside brought him momentarily back to reality.
'Had he traveled through reality again?' The thought startled him, but as the cobwebs of sleep cleared, memories of recent events flooded back, he had unleashed a powerful flash of light from his hand, injuring a mercenary, before his strength had deserted him, plunging him into darkness.
Turning his head, Leon's gaze fell upon the familiar figure of his companion, Brandon, offering a slight reassurance. Brandon lay near a simple stone-ringed bonfire, using his shield as a makeshift pillow while clutching a sheathed long dagger.
At the cave's entrance stood Liam, bare-chested beneath his chain mail, donning an iron helmet and wielding a sword that once belonged to their now-deceased adversary. He kept watch over the storm outside, eyes scanning the tumultuous rain and lightning.
Unsure of the time, Leon observed the darkened sky outside, guessing it was night. He pushed himself up to sit, feeling a residual tiredness but grateful for the relative freedom of movement. The absence of shackles allowed his limbs to relish the newfound comfort.
The sound of his movement caught Liam's attention, prompting a relieved sigh from the him "You're awake."
"How long have I been out? Where are we?" Leon asked, sitting cross-legged and removing the thick armored shirt draped over him. He rubbed his temples, easing the lingering dizziness.
"You've been asleep nearly all day," Liam replied, glancing at Brandon, who remained asleep by the fire. "As for our location, we're not just in some cave, we're in Mamor County of Kantadar now."
Mamor County? That meant little to Leon. The original owner of his body had never ventured beyond his hometown. Unfamiliar with the geography of the enemy country of Kantadar, and barely knowing his own kingdom of Serian beyond the route from his settlement to the Holy City, he felt a pang of isolation, but also a spark of curiosity about the unfamiliar land now beneath him.
"Oh, I'm not completely in the dark," Leon mused aloud, breaking the silence that had settled around them like the mist outside. "I know that Kantadar, the kingdom that launched the invasion, is west of Serian. And I've heard from merchants who've traveled extensively that to the north lies the mighty Kingdom of Orland, which fortunately maintains a cordial relationship with Serian, unlike our current hostile neighbors."
Breaking his train of thought, Leon's practical needs took precedence. "Is there any water and food?" he asked, his voice a rough whisper after the long silence.
Liam nodded and stood up, rummaging through a ragged sack beside him. "Yes, there's still some food left." He pulled out a kettle and some dry bread, which Leon noted with a grimace had likely belonged to the Kantadar mercenary they had encountered and defeated.
Taking a tentative bite, Leon's curiosity shifted back to recent events. "What happened after I fainted?" he inquired, his voice muffled by the bread.
Liam recounted the events succinctly. "We dealt with that guy, stripped him bare, and dragged him into the woods to bury him. Seemed the cleanest way to handle things, given the mud was a well-worn path frequented by mercenaries. A body found too soon could have led them straight to us."
Leon nodded in approval. "Smart thinking to avoid leaving the body in such an obvious place."
"Uh, well, that was Brandon's idea, not mine," Liam admitted, scratching his head with an awkward chuckle. "Honestly, I just wanted to grab you and run. But Brandon, he... he took the time to cover up the blood-soaked ground even without the right tools. It was tough, but he insisted it was necessary."
"Thank you for not seeing me as just a burden to leave behind," Leon said, his voice laden with gratitude.
Liam shook his head vigorously. "No way. It's because of you that we're still alive. How could I just abandon you?"
The conversation paused as a spark of curiosity lit up Liam's eyes. "Speaking of that day, what did you actually do? There was a flash of light, and next thing, the mercenary's hand was gone. How did you do that? Was it some kind of witchcraft?"
Leon smiled wryly, a bit perplexed on how to explain. "Honestly, I don't even fully understand it myself. I heard a voice, and then... just think of it as a miracle, maybe a blessing from the gods. I'm not even sure it's something I can do again."
He paused, recalling the intense sensation that had surged through him as the light arrow erupted from his hand, a spell that seemed more like he was merely the conduit rather than the caster.
"That light arrow blew his arm clean off, through chain mail and armor. It was stronger than anything I've seen before... but I paid a price. It knocked me out cold."
Liam listened intently, his eyes wide with a mix of awe and concern as he processed Leon's account of the mysterious and powerful event that had shifted the balance of their fateful encounter.
Liam stared into the storm raging outside the cave, the flashes of lightning illuminating the relentless downpour. Had his companions chosen to abandon him while he lay unconscious in the forest, fate might have been merciless. If the mercenaries didn't find him first, the wild beasts or the chill of the rain might have claimed him.
"Miracle? A voice?" Liam murmured, his voice tinged with awe and confusion. The concept of a power beyond his understanding was baffling. Accepting Leon's explanation as a divine intervention, he pondered aloud, "Ilaril, perhaps the great Holy Sun hasn't forsaken us. Leon, if you ever make it back to Serian, perhaps you're meant to be a priest."
Leon smiled lightly at Liam's interpretation, feeling a mix of relief and bemusement. As someone from a modern era, he had his doubts about the religious beliefs of this world, but he couldn't deny the strange, possibly divine force that had intervened on his behalf.
"Thank you," Leon replied, his voice soft. "It seems we've been granted a peculiar fate indeed."
Shifting the conversation towards their next steps, Leon asked while attempting to swallow the last of the dry bread, "What's our plan now, Liam?"
Liam's response was immediate and fierce. "I want to save my sister."
Leon frowned, concern etched across his face. "Do you plan to rush off right now? That seems reckless."
Liam's eyes flared with a determined fire. "I must. I can't let her suffer at the hands of those Kantadar devils. They slaughtered my family, Leon. I can't just sit by."
"But do you even know where she is?" Leon pressed, his voice calm yet firm. "How will you find her without knowing where she's been taken, or even speaking the local language?"
Liam's frustration was palpable as his brow furrowed, the realization of his ill-prepared plan dawning on him.
Leon continued, "And even if you knew, facing a Kantadar noble alone isn't feasible. We need a plan, Liam. We are still deep in enemy territory."
Just then, another voice chimed in, pulling their attention towards the campfire where Brandon had been listening intently.
"He's right," Brandon said as he stretched his shoulders, his face serious. "The man who has your sister is no ordinary citizen. He's a knight of Kantadar, at the very least. You'd be walking to your death trying to confront him now."
Liam clenched his fists, the weight of his powerlessness settling in. He lowered his head, his heart heavy with the reality of their situation.
Leon placed a reassuring hand on Liam's shoulder. "We need more than just courage to tackle this. We need a solid plan, and more allies if possible. Let's think this through and find a way to save your sister without losing ourselves in the process."
As the rain continued to pour outside, the three of them sat by the fire, the glow flickering over their determined faces, plotting their next move in the shadow of an enemy land.