Lucian stood in the middle of the road as everyone else was settling down on the small field next to it, setting up their tents and having their horses graze. He looked around, scanning his surroundings.
"Hm..." he said, "Lunaris wasn't wrong. This whole place is large and full of nothing but countryside....fields and woods....."
The field that they were setting camp on stretched out for at least a hundred meters before reaching a tree line. Lucian assumed that the woods would spread out for miles upon miles, something that he'd expect.
He looked to the other side of the road, seeing nothing but massive trees and hills that stretch out as far as the eyes can see.
"This is the Bull Kingdom, huh?" He said to himself as he placed his hands on the pockets of his coat, walking over to the bridge
He noticed that several men wearing the same attire as him were on the bridge, in front of the massive crystal construct, holding their staves in front of them, emitting a white light from it. Lucian could only assume that they were using their own Sorcery to try and get rid of it.
He stopped right at the bridge's entrance, looking over to the right and seeing a slope lead down to a massive river that ran right under the bridge. Lunaris was also right about the river, it looked deep and the rapids were too hard for their horses to cross safely.
All in all, they were stuck there, at least until the crystals were removed.
He walked over to one of the Sorcerers, "Yo."
One of them looked over, "Stand back. You might interfere with our spells." He said
Lucian nodded, "What are you doing?"
"Using barriers to contain the ether." the sorcerer said as he turned back around, "And extracting it to examine it. After examining it, we'll alter our barriers to try to dissipate the crystal."
"Will that work?" Lucian asked
"It depends on the properties of the Ether." He responded, "And if it does, it might take a while."
"Can't I just punch it? It doesn't look that tough." Lucian crossed his arms
"You'll risk collapsing the bridge itself." the man replied, "The bottom of it has fused with the bridge, any attempt to damage it might compromise its integrity."
"Hm...." Lucian looked up at the top of the crystal, "Who would've done something like this?"
"Not sure." He said, "If you don't mind, we need to concentrate."
"Sure." Lucian said as he turned around and walked away, making his way to the camp
As he walked, he got the same chill running down his spine.
"Hm?" He said as he stopped and looked up at the sky
Something told him that whatever was around, it would be above them. But it was odd; his newly attained super senses weren't picking up anything out of the ordinary.
"If my Calamity is attracting Demonic forces, could a new creature be stalking us from the skies? Another attempt at me from this General?" Lucian thought to himself, "From the moment I ended up here, it's been nothing but a pain in my ass..."
He sighed and kept walking, making his way to the camp.
As he walked past the grazing horses and avoided the other sorcerers, he noticed that Lunaris was exiting the largest of the tents, her wings fluttering behind her. Brodin followed her from inside as they both made their way to Lucian, to meet him.
"Lucian." Lunaris called, "What are you up to?"
Lucian shrugged, "Nothing." He said as he patted his stomach, "I'm famished."
"The cook will have food ready in an hour, just wait." She said, "I'll be back, I'll fly over the river to scout ahead. I've sent some riders to check the woods on both sides, to see if we're safe. In the meantime, I want you and Brodin to stay put."
Lucian tilted his head, "Okay then."
"Don't think of running off." Lunaris said as she flapped her wings and launched herself into the air
He watched as she flew off into the air, swiftly going over the river and past the bridge.
"Now would be our chance to escape." Lucian told Brodin
"There's no point." Brodin told him, "I've made a deal with them. If I don't do my part, I'd risk my family."
Lucian looked at him, "So you've started a Family in this world?" He asked
"What I do here is none of your business." the old man said
"Hey, we're both Traversed." Lucian said with a frown, "I'm surprised that you'd make such a decision. Didn't you want to go back?"
"Once." Brodin said as he walked past him, "But that was a long time ago. You'll be the same, you'll want to stay here."
Lucian watched as he made his way towards a table that was set up a few meters away from them. He then followed Brodin who sat down and began to rub his hair as he let out a sigh.
"Unlike you, I've been Cursed." Lucian said as he sat in front of him, "What makes you so sure that I'll end up wanting to stay?"
"Everyone does." Brodin said, "Because there is no way back. I've told you already, so has Lunaris. You heard her, she descends from a Traversed herself."
"That means nothing to me." Lucian said, "I need to go back home. This isn't a place for me. Look what has happened to me, I've been forced to take part in a conflict that doesn't interest me!"
"Valkren has breached Infernis, his generals are through." Brodin said, "Tryke is in the Bull Kingdom, in the shadows somewhere. He hasn't made his move yet, well, he sent one of his Demons to try to get you. Whether you like it or not, this conflict should interest anyone who values their life."
Lucian scowled, "How is that any of my fault?"
"It's not." Brodin said, "But you're a Traversed Cursed One. You're going to be on the run for as long as you breathe in this world. Your best bet is to stick with these guys; who will do their best to keep you safe."
"They want to use me as a weapon." Lucian said
"The least you can do is fight for them. They're helping you control your unstable power." Brodin said, "I understand you wouldn't want this, but I'm sorry, it's quite the situation you're in. Your choices aren't pretty."
"What about you? You didn't want to be here either." Lucian told him, "What did they tell you?"
"That is my-" Brodin said
"Business, yes, I got that." Lucian said, "Unlike you, I don't plan on being used. I will find a way back home, no matter what it takes."
Brodin let out another sigh and looked at him, "Tell me, Lucian." He said, "What do you remember of your life? Do you even know what you want to go back to?"
Lucian's expression softened, taken aback by what Brodin asked him, "I...." He started, "Well....."
"Your memories are still jumbled, aren't they?" Brodin said, "Well, until you fully remember your life, Lucian, I recommend you don't get too determined to go back. Some Traversed have unfortunate lives, they consider this place a second chance, no matter how bad it could get here. The difference is that in here, we have the power to change our fates. The only question is, Lucian, What would you use your power for? For yourself? To go back to a life that may not be worth it? Or to build a new life for yourself?"
"Is that the question you asked yourself?" Lucian asked him as he leaned back, "When you were first thrown here? You made a choice, I see."
"I did." Brodin said, "And I've made another one. It's up to you to make your own."
Lucian frowned, "To be used as weapons....that's the choice you want us to make?" He said, "We're nothing but assets to these people. They'll sweet-talk us and promise us goods when in the end, they'll just want to point us at something to go and destroy. In this case, a bunch of demons!"
"Some men are meant to be weapons, whether here or Earth, it's the same." Brodin said as he pulled out a cigarette and lit it up, "It's the cruel reality."
"Tch...." Lucian said as he stood up, "To allow yourself to be used around like a puppet...It's quite pathetic....."
"Sooner or later, you'll come to realize that this is best for you. And everyone in this world." Brodin said as he took a puff of his cigarette and exhaled some smoke, "You're a Cursed One, Lucian. Either you stay here, regulate your power, and control it, or you end up rampaging about and harming innocents. Either way, you will not be left alone."
Lucian smacked his lips, "Whatever." He said as he walked away, "I'll determine my own fate."
"Just you watch."