My body felt heavy, as if submerged in thick, suffocating darkness. I couldn't move. A dull ache throbbed through every limb, my mind fighting to break free from the murky fog clouding my thoughts. Slowly, sounds began to filter in—the crackle of fire, the soft rustle of movement, and the faint hum of voices I didn't recognize.
With a sharp inhale, I blinked against the harsh light. The pain from my wounds was immediate, burning and relentless. I winced, trying to sit up, but my body protested, every muscle stiff and battered as if I had been dragged through the depths of the underworld. The memories came flooding back in flashes—the ruins, the demons, the beast, and then… someone saving me. But who?
I forced my eyes to focus on my surroundings. I wasn't in the ruins anymore. The room was small, made of old stone walls that felt as ancient as the ruins themselves. The air was cool, thick with the scent of damp earth and herbs that hung from the ceiling in neat bundles. A small fire flickered in the corner, casting long shadows across the narrow space. I shifted slightly, my hand brushing against the rune hanging from my chest. Its pulse was faint but steady, as though it, too, was recovering.
"You're awake," a calm, steady voice broke through the silence. I turned my head slowly, my vision clearing enough to make out the figure seated across the room.
It was the stranger—the one who had saved me. They sat quietly, their form draped in dark, worn clothing that blended with the dim light. Though partially obscured by shadow, I could feel the weight of their gaze. There was an unmistakable sense of control and quiet strength about them. Whoever they were, they didn't feel like a savior—more like someone who intervened out of necessity.
"Who... are you?" I rasped, my throat dry and raw from the battle and lingering pain.
The figure didn't answer immediately. Instead, they stood and walked toward me with a silent grace that was unnerving. Their footsteps barely made a sound against the stone floor, and the firelight flickered as they passed, momentarily illuminating their face. Dark eyes, sharp features, and a serious expression that revealed nothing of their thoughts. They knelt beside me, examining me closely, as though deciding what to do next.
"I should ask you the same," they finally said, their voice calm, though there was an undercurrent of curiosity there. "That rune you're carrying… it's not something you should be holding onto. Yet, here you are, with demons and beasts hunting you for it."
I opened my mouth to respond, but nothing came out at first. My mind was racing, trying to make sense of everything. What could I say? I didn't even know what the rune truly was, let alone why it seemed to draw danger to me like a moth to flame.
"I don't know what it is," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper, though I could hear the tremor in it. "It… it appeared in the ruins, and ever since, things have been—"
"Worse," they finished for me, their tone even. Their dark eyes locked onto mine, the weight of their words sinking in deeper than I cared to admit. "That's because you don't understand what you're carrying."
I winced as I shifted again, trying to sit up more fully. Every movement sent waves of pain radiating through my body, but I couldn't lie there, helpless. Not when I didn't even know who this person was, or what they wanted. "And what exactly am I carrying?" I asked, trying to sound more confident than I felt.
The stranger's gaze flickered down to the rune hanging from my chest, glowing faintly against the firelight. Their expression darkened, and they let out a slow breath. "This isn't just some relic or trinket you happened to stumble upon. It has power. And power like that always attracts those who seek to control it."
My heart pounded in my chest. Power? I had sensed something strange about the rune, but I never imagined it was anything more than an ancient artifact. Yet, the way the demons had been drawn to me… it made sense. I swallowed hard, suddenly feeling the weight of the rune against my chest. "Then why did you save me?" I asked, my voice quieter now, unsure if I truly wanted the answer.
The stranger's eyes flicked toward the door, as if they were listening for something beyond the room. Silence stretched between us for a moment before they finally spoke. "Because, for now, you're more useful alive."
The words hung in the air, chilling me more than the cold stone beneath me. More useful alive. There was no sympathy in their voice, no sense of concern for my well-being—only a calculated choice. I was a piece in a game I didn't understand, and for now, keeping me alive served some purpose I couldn't yet see.
I shifted uncomfortably under their gaze, a million questions swirling in my mind. "What do you want from me?"
The stranger stood, moving back to their seat with the same silent grace. They didn't answer right away, their eyes fixed on the flickering flames as if lost in thought. Finally, they spoke, their voice soft but firm. "Survival—for both of us. And you… may hold the key to something far greater than either of us realizes."
The cryptic answer left me more confused than before, but I was too exhausted to press further. My eyelids felt heavy, my body succumbing to the exhaustion of the battle and the pain of my injuries. As I drifted back toward unconsciousness, the last thing I saw was the stranger's shadowed form, watching me with that same, unreadable intensity.
Whatever I had stumbled upon in those ruins was far more dangerous than I had realized. And now, I was caught in something far beyond my control.