The dawn arrived with a pale light that filtered through the small cracks in the walls of the hut. Ethan rubbed the sleep from his eyes, the events of the previous day crashing back into his mind like a wave. He could hear the distant sounds of the village coming to life—people talking, the crackle of fires being rekindled, and the clatter of tools being used.
He sat up, glancing at Aria, who was still asleep on the cot opposite him. She looked peaceful, her face relaxed for the first time since they'd arrived in the High Continent. Ethan couldn't help but feel a surge of gratitude for her. They had been thrown into this nightmare together, and her strength had helped keep him grounded.
Aria stirred, her eyes fluttering open, and she gave Ethan a tired smile. "Morning," she said, her voice still groggy. "Sleep well?"
Ethan shrugged. "As well as I could, considering." He stood, stretching, and walked over to the door of the hut, peering out at the village. Garrick had said they could rest for a while, but Ethan knew they couldn't stay here forever. The Conquest was a constant pressure at the back of his mind—a reminder that they needed to keep moving, to grow stronger if they were going to survive.
Aria joined him at the door, her gaze sweeping over the villagers. "We should talk to Garrick again. See if there's anything we can do to help, or maybe learn more about this place."
Ethan nodded, and they stepped out of the hut, the crisp morning air filling his lungs. The village seemed more lively now, with people moving about, tending to tasks that spoke of a simple, albeit harsh, existence. Garrick was near the fire pit, talking to a younger man, his expression serious. When he saw Ethan and Aria, he gave them a nod and motioned for them to come over.
"Good morning," Garrick said, his voice gruff but not unkind. "I trust you rested well?"
"As well as we could," Aria replied, giving him a small smile. "We wanted to thank you for your hospitality. We know you didn't have to help us."
Garrick waved her words away. "We're all in this together. Helping each other is the only way we survive." He paused, glancing between them. "I've been thinking. You two have power—those marks on your arms make you different from the rest of us. If you're willing, there's something you could do to help the village."
Ethan's interest was piqued. "What do you need?"
Garrick gestured towards the edge of the village, where the forest loomed like a dark barrier. "There's a place not far from here—a small cave in the forest. We've used it in the past to gather certain herbs that are useful for treating wounds and illness. Lately, though, something's taken up residence there. A creature of some kind. We haven't been able to get close enough to see what it is, but it's dangerous."
Aria's eyes narrowed, and she exchanged a glance with Ethan. "You want us to clear it out?"
Garrick nodded. "If you can. We're not fighters—we don't have the power you do. If you can deal with whatever's in that cave, it would mean a lot to the village. And... it might help you grow stronger. I've heard rumors that the more you use the power of those marks, the more it grows."
Ethan felt a mix of fear and determination. The thought of facing another creature was daunting, but he knew Garrick was right. They needed to grow stronger, and they couldn't afford to let fear hold them back. He looked at Aria, and she gave him a nod, her expression resolute.
"We'll do it," Ethan said, turning back to Garrick. "Just point us in the right direction."
Garrick's face softened with gratitude. "Thank you. I'll have someone show you the way. Be careful—the forest is full of dangers, and we don't know exactly what's in that cave."
---
A short while later, Ethan and Aria stood at the edge of the forest, a young villager named Finn beside them. He was no more than sixteen, his face still holding the softness of youth, though his eyes were hardened by the harsh reality of the High Continent.
"It's about a mile into the forest," Finn said, pointing along a narrow path that disappeared into the thick trees. "You'll know the cave when you see it—it's got a big boulder in front of the entrance, but there's enough space to get inside."
Ethan nodded, giving Finn a reassuring smile. "Thanks for showing us the way. We'll take it from here."
Finn gave them a nod, his eyes lingering on the glowing marks on their arms. "Good luck. I hope you make it back."
With that, he turned and headed back towards the village, leaving Ethan and Aria alone at the forest's edge. Ethan took a deep breath, his eyes following the path that led into the dark, twisted woods. He could feel the energy of the Ascendant's Gift thrumming beneath his skin, the warmth a comforting presence.
"You ready for this?" Aria asked, her voice steady but her eyes betraying a hint of nervousness.
Ethan looked at her, his expression determined. "Not really. But we have to do it anyway."
Aria smiled, her eyes softening. "That's the spirit."
They stepped onto the path, the forest swallowing them in its shadow. The air grew cooler as they moved deeper, the sounds of the village fading away, replaced by the rustle of leaves and the distant calls of unseen creatures. The trees seemed to close in around them, their branches twisted and gnarled, their leaves shimmering with an eerie blue light.
Ethan kept his senses on high alert, his eyes scanning the forest for any sign of movement. He could feel the tension building in his chest, the anticipation of a fight making his heart race. The system panel flickered into view before his eyes, displaying his attributes, and he focused on the warmth of the Ascendant's Gift, willing himself to be ready for whatever lay ahead.
After what felt like an eternity, they reached the cave. The entrance was partially obscured by a large boulder, just as Finn had described, and the air around it felt heavy, thick with an unnatural energy. Ethan could feel the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end, the sense of danger palpable.
Aria drew her dagger, her eyes scanning the dark entrance. "Stay close. We don't know what we're dealing with yet."
Ethan nodded, raising his hand, the mark on his arm glowing faintly as he called upon the energy within him. They moved cautiously towards the cave, the shadows growing deeper as they approached. The scent of damp earth filled the air, and Ethan could hear the faint sound of something moving within the darkness.
They stepped inside, the light from the twin suns barely penetrating the gloom. Ethan's eyes adjusted slowly, and he could make out the rough stone walls, the ceiling low and covered in jagged rocks. The sound grew louder—a shuffling, scraping noise that echoed off the walls.
Suddenly, a shape lunged from the shadows—a creature covered in matted fur, its eyes glowing with a feral light. It moved with startling speed, its claws slashing towards Aria. She dodged to the side, her dagger flashing as she struck at the creature, her movements fluid and precise.
Ethan focused, the warmth of the Ascendant's Gift surging through him. He raised his hand, a burst of light shooting forth and striking the creature in the side. It let out a guttural snarl, stumbling back, its eyes locking onto Ethan. The creature's gaze was filled with rage, and it charged towards him, its claws extended.
Ethan felt a surge of fear, but he stood his ground, focusing on the energy within him. He raised his hand again, the mark glowing brighter, and a shield of light formed in front of him just as the creature reached him. The beast's claws struck the shield, the force of the impact sending vibrations through Ethan's arm, but the shield held.
Aria moved in, her dagger finding its mark as she drove it into the creature's side. The beast let out a final, pained roar before collapsing to the ground, its body twitching once before going still.
Ethan let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding, the shield dissipating as he lowered his arm. He looked at Aria, who was breathing heavily but unharmed, a grin spreading across her face.
"Nice work," she said, her voice filled with relief. "That shield... that's new, isn't it?"
Ethan nodded, a smile tugging at his lips. "Yeah. I think I'm starting to get the hang of this."
Aria clapped him on the shoulder, her eyes filled with pride. "Good. Because we're going to need every bit of power we can get."
They stood there for a moment, the adrenaline slowly fading, and Ethan felt a sense of accomplishment. They had faced the danger, fought, and come out victorious. It was a small victory, but it was a step forward—a step towards surviving the Conquest and growing stronger.
Together, they turned and made their way out of the cave, the light of the twin suns welcoming them as they emerged. The path back to the village lay before them, and with each step, Ethan felt his resolve growing stronger.
The High Continent was a place of trials, but it was also a place of opportunities. And with Aria by his side, Ethan knew they could face whatever challenges lay ahead—together.