The morning sun rose higher, casting long shadows as Yomi, the old man, and the beast girl were roughly shoved out of the house. Milner, towering and imposing, loomed behind them, his voice a thunderous bark. "Move!" he growled, his hand resting on the hilt of his axe, daring anyone to defy him.
The trio stumbled forward, their chains clinking like a somber melody of despair. Yomi's calm demeanor contrasted starkly with his companions' evident dread. The old man shuffled, his trembling knees nearly giving way, while the beast girl's wide eyes glistened with unshed tears. Her panda-like features, streaked with dirt and fear, made her appear far younger than her years.
Ahead of them stood a sturdy, weatherworn carriage. Its wheels were caked in dried mud, and its dark wooden panels bore the scars of countless journeys. The same carriage that had brought Yomi here from the slave market loomed before them, now a vessel of uncertainty.
Milner, impatient, grabbed the old man by the arm and hoisted him into the carriage like a sack of grain. "Get in!" he barked, his voice brooking no argument. The beast girl hesitated, clutching Yomi's sleeve as if drawing strength from his presence. Milner glared at her, his patience thinning, but before he could act, Yomi stepped forward, guiding the girl into the carriage with a calm, deliberate movement. He followed, his chains dragging against the ground before settling on the carriage floor with a metallic clatter.
The Ravagers took their positions at the front. Thanir climbed onto the driver's bench, taking the reins of the horse. He adjusted his leather gloves with a practiced flick and glanced back at Raiven, awaiting the signal.
Raiven, standing tall beside the carriage, his presence commanding, gave a slight nod. "Let's move," he said, his voice steady and authoritative. Thanir cracked the whip, and the horse began to trot forward, the creaking wheels groaning under the carriage's weight.
Inside the cramped and dimly lit space, the air was thick with tension. Yomi sat with his back straight, his eyes closed, his breathing measured and steady as if the chains on his wrists and ankles didn't exist. His companions, however, were unraveling.
The old man crouched low, clutching his knees as his frail body shook uncontrollably. The rattling chains echoed his tremors, a physical manifestation of his fear. Beside him, the beast girl sat rigid, her small hands balled into fists, tears streaming silently down her cheeks. Yet, despite her fear, she found herself instinctively reaching for Yomi's hand.
Yomi opened his eyes, their steel-like hue catching the faint rays of light streaming through the carriage's cracks. He looked down at the beast girl, his expression unreadable but calm. For a moment, he regarded her with quiet curiosity. What was it that she saw in him, bound as he was, that compelled her to seek solace in his presence?
With a gentleness that belied his situation, Yomi placed a reassuring hand on her crimson hair, smoothing it down. "Do not let fear consume you," he murmured, his voice low yet steady, a soothing contrast to the chaos within the girl's mind. "Breathe."
The girl sniffled but nodded, her small chest rising and falling as she tried to follow his instructions. The old man, hearing Yomi's words, raised his head slightly, his watery eyes filled with a flicker of hope.
Up front, Lirien's sharp eyes never left the Dra'kesh. Seated beside Raiven and Aeloria, she observed him through the small window separating the carriage from the driver's bench. Her brow furrowed as she watched him calm the beast girl with such ease, his every movement deliberate and serene. It didn't fit the image of a Dra'kesh she had in her mind.
'Does he not know?' she thought, confusion and suspicion swirling in her mind. 'Does he not realize what's going to happen to him? To all of them?'
The truth of their situation hung over the slaves like a shadow. They weren't brought along for their skills or worth but for their expendability. Bait—nothing more than a shield for the Ravagers against the horrors of the Abyssal Rift. The old man seemed to know it, his trembling body a testament to his resignation. The beast girl, though young and frightened, clung to hope, fragile as it was. And then there was Yomi, calm amidst the storm, as if the chains that bound him were mere illusions.
Lirien leaned back, crossing her arms as her thoughts churned. That act of compassion—so small, yet so poignant—had unsettled her. It wasn't what she expected from someone like him. And the look in his eyes when he opened them… it was as though he knew something she didn't.
"Something's not right about him," she muttered under her breath.
Aeloria glanced at her, raising a curious brow. "What's that?"
"Nothing," Lirien replied quickly, turning her gaze forward.
The carriage jolted as it hit a bump in the road. Yomi remained motionless, his focus inward. Whatever storm brewed outside, he was readying himself for it, his calm demeanor a stark contrast to the uncertainty that gripped the rest of the group.
The road ahead stretched into the unknown, and with every creak of the wheels, the party drew closer to the Abyssal Rift—a place where their fates would be decided.
The carriage rattled and groaned as it moved along the uneven dirt, but the interior had grown eerily quiet. Unbeknownst to its occupants, a dark, invisible smoke had begun to swirl within.
It was subtle at first, curling like wisps of mist that seemed to fade into nothing. This smoke was no ordinary phenomenon—it was Yomi's Ki, an extension of his will, released to assess the strength of the Ravager party.
Sitting with his eyes closed, Yomi appeared serene, his expression unreadable. In truth, he had entered a heightened state of perception, his spiritual eye opening to the unseen world around him. To survive, he needed more than brute strength. Knowledge of his adversaries was paramount, and the insights gained through this technique often meant the difference between life and death.
The world beyond the physical unfolded before him, vibrant and alive with energy. Each member of the Ravager party was a beacon of power, their individual essences glowing like flames in the spiritual plane. Yet, to Yomi's surprise, none of them wielded Ki—the life force he had honed over years of discipline and battle. Instead, their energies were distinct, unique, and unlike anything he had encountered before.
Raiven and Milner stood out immediately. Their fighting spirits burned bright, with Raiven's aura pulsing in a deep crimson, a reflection of his commanding presence and strength. Milner's energy was equally imposing, though rougher, like a tempest contained within a fragile vessel. The two were clearly the most formidable of the group.
Lirien's energy came next, a flickering orange glow that suggested precision and ferocity, though not as overwhelming as the two men. Thanir's aura was a shade lighter, steady but unremarkable in intensity.
Then there was Aeloria. Yomi's spiritual eye lingered on her for a moment longer, intrigued by the golden radiance that enveloped her. Her energy, though not aggressive, was denser and more vibrant than the others. It didn't possess the sharp edges of a warrior's spirit but carried an undeniable weight, one that hinted at untapped potential.
"She may not be a fighter," Yomi mused internally, "but she has the makings of a sorceress."
His thoughts wandered further. "Is this what she called magic? Is that how they harness energy in this world?" The concept was foreign to him, yet intriguing. His people had no such art, relying solely on Ki to amplify their bodies and minds. If magic truly existed here, it could be a power worth exploring.
As the carriage jostled over a final bump, the vision of swirling energies faded, and Yomi's spiritual eye closed. The physical world returned, filled once again with the smell of old wood, metal, and fear. He glanced at his companions. The old man remained hunched, still trembling, while the beast girl clung to his arm, her crimson eyes staring vacantly ahead.
A sharp voice cut through his thoughts. "We're here," Thanir announced, snapping the reins as the carriage rolled to a stop.
The party stirred, and Yomi opened his eyes, his calm gaze masking the wealth of knowledge he had just gained.