James moved towards the different paths that led to different areas in the cavern. However, his expression was morphed into a deep frown, his attention not on the paths in the slightest.
Thalia had noticed something earlier to which he brushed it off as nothing. But he felt, no, he knew it was something.
The feeling came earlier when he assaulted the Adder. And in that moment, he felt something within come alive, urging him to kill.
The feeling it instilled inside him was exhilarating; something that honestly scared him. He looked back slightly, watching the women pick the herbs with carefulness so as not to ruin them.
Feeling a gaze on her body, Thalia raised her head and flashed a smile at James. He simply nodded and turned around again.
'Maybe she was onto something.'
His mind went back to what Thalia said about his red eyes and how it felt like someone was staring back at her and not he himself.
He had brushed it off as the woman's rumbling, but recent events were telling him that something was different.
'Something has changed within me.'
He placed his right hand on his chest where he could feel a burning heat there that fueled his hatred and anger towards his betrayals.
Don't get him wrong. He was all for vengeance, however, this feeling he began to feel made him feel cold and detached.
'There will be no mercy to my enemies. But that shouldn't mean I must involve the innocent in my vengeance and completely ignore them.
'I only need to deal with those who were actually involved. Their families…'
He couldn't complete that thought as his stomach churned at the thought of hurting sisters, mothers and brothers who had no part in it.
Then it happened again; a cold feeling throwing cold water on the bit of kindness and empathy he had.
"…."
'Red dreadful eyes, sinister and overbearing aura, intent to kill, the thrill of the kill…'
The last part was what he felt when he killed the monster. But…
"There's no use thinking about it now. Something has indeed changed and until I truly understand what, I'll keep on moving."
He muttered with a clenched fist and resolute eyes. As he continued to move past the different paths, he felt something coming from a particular path.
It was akin to being drawn towards something. He narrowed his eyes at that path, yet there was no dangerous feeling to it.
Just… The feeling of being drawn there.
Looking back at the women who were now comfortable enough to have small conversations, James pondered if he should leave them behind and find out what was inducing such feelings in him.
"Thalia?"
He called out, prompting her to look in his direction.
"Yes?"
"Stay here with the elves, I'll be back soon."
James instructed. However, before he could turn around to go, he noticed Thalia's expression change to that of fear of abandonment.
He chuckled at her cute expression.
"Relax… I'll be back for you. You're mine, after all."
The last part briefly changed his eyes to red before disappearing. Though brief, Thalia and Sylvara saw it, invoking different emotions.
Thalia because she felt accepted and desired, Sylvara because it shook her to her core making her shrink back slightly; an act that James did not miss but ignored.
"Be careful!"
"Always…"
With that, he turned around and walked in the direction of the feeling.
"Is he your lover?"
Sylvara asked after regaining a bit of her composure. The way the two acted was very clear to even a blind person. However, she had to hear it from the person herself before jumping to a conclusion.
Thalia blushed a little but remained silent.
"Let's continue with the harvesting. I'm sure he'll be back soon."
She brazenly brushed off the topic.
"Right…"
She had more to ask; mostly about the change in eye colour. Then again, it wasn't really her place to ask people who just saved her life.
Taking a last glance at the path he took, she returned to her harvesting.
...….
Alaric, Caelum, Varek, Maelis and Selene moved together to explore the inheritance ground. And due to their large party size, most people they came across just changed lanes or simply made themselves scarce.
Unlike other people and adventurers who were exploring the other regions first, the group made a bee-line for the main building in the distance and while it was due to open after most people gathered around, it didn't stop them.
They had subordinates for exploring, after all. Right now, they stood in front of a monolith that was a few hundred meters in front of the main inheritance ground.
The building itself looked ancient and cathedral-shaped with grey stones with gold and silver details. It was a massive structure that inspired awe at the same time, fear.
However, the group were focused on the monolith and the words carved into it.
[Beyond this monolith lies the legacy of gods and devils, a treasure sought by many but claimed by few. Those who dare enter must wield courage like a blade, wisdom like a shield, and ambition like a flame. Beware: the path is fraught with illusions and truth alike—only the cunning shall discern which is which.]
"That's disconcerting."
Selene muttered with dark brows. She didn't like the mystery surrounding the place. She could feel that something was going to happen here. And it wasn't the dangers everyone knew they would be facing on inheritance grounds.
It came from her gut, yet she did little to talk about it. After all, only Alaric gave her attention. The others did not bother to talk to her nor did she bother to do the same.
"I know. But when had an inheritance ground not been dangerous. Though I wonder whose inheritance ground this is."
Alaric replied with eyes locked on the monolith, trying to see if there was something they had missed.
"Doesn't matter. We came here to claim it and get rid of James. That should be our only concern." Maelis didn't have time to bullshit about who or what entity left this here to appear on Veloria after some time.
"He's right." Varek agreed and looked at the others.
"In a few hours, the others should arrive. From there, you know what to do."
"You heard the man, let's move!"
Caelum commandeered the men as they continued their match, unaware of the lurking shadows underneath.
....
James walked through the path that glowed in an ethereal light. The cavern expanded deeper as he walked forward, being guided by what appeared to draw him.
After several minutes of walking through the winding path and coming across several natural treasures he ignored, he arrived at a crack in the walls of the cave.
Fortunately for him, he did not encounter any other monsters.
The crack was barely noticeable as nothing suggested anything special, yet that was where James sensed the attraction was coming from.
He stared at the wall for something, trying to see if there was some kind of mechanism that would open up the crack. He moved his hands around to no avail.
"Hmm… Nothing."
He stepped back to gain some distance from the crack in the cave wall. If there was no keyhole or anything as such, he would make his own.
*CRACKLE!*
Lightning tendrils gathered in his right fist. A deep breath later, he stormed the wall and he raised his fist into a powerful blow.
*BOOOM!*
The wall shattered into rubbles as the tendrils of lightning sizzled through and faded.
What was left behind was a wonder of nature. Something he had never seen nor heard of before.
He slowly walked forward, ignoring everything else as he was drawn towards wat looked like a small lake.
However, unlike a normal water body, what James saw was a beautiful pool of black and white water that split the lake into two. The entire space glowed in an ethereal white light and was filled with celestial energy, so much so that, he could almost taste it.
The pool gave off such a profound feeling that made him feel a burning sensation in his chest, and it wasn't the hatred and anger kind, but pure desire to jump in.
"What is that…?"
The wonder in his voice couldn't be hidden as he wondered what the pool was. Obviously, it wasn't water.
*Gulp*
He swallowed his rising desire trying to push him forward but he held back. Still, he slowly walked towards the lake with a profound gaze.
But something else caught his attention when he covered some distance.
To his left was a tablet planted in the ground and glowing leaves everywhere, almost covering it. He narrowed his eyes and moved towards it.
'Some kind of inscription.'
When he arrived by the tablet, he cleared the leaves and noticed the bottom part of it was eroded, leaving only a hint of its words.
However, the rest above were all clear to read. He took another glance at the pool before turning to read what the inscription said.
[Light and darkness…]