Ezra turned in for the night, letting the quiet of the forest lull him into a deep sleep. When morning came, the trio packed up their camp and set off early, with the sun just barely peeking over the trees. The path ahead twisted through the thick forest, the air rich with the scent of damp earth and pine. They walked at a steady pace, Ezra keeping his senses alert, even as the morning fog began to clear.
To pass the time, Ezra and Korr chatted idly, sharing stories from their pasts, the peaceful rhythm of their steps broken only by Korr's endless curiosity. He kept sneaking glances at the woman, clearly intrigued, and after a while, his curiosity got the best of him.
"So," Korr said, falling into stride beside her, "are you ever gonna tell us what your story is? Where you're from? You don't meet a lot of people wandering around with their own camping supplies ready to go for days at a time."
The woman raised an eyebrow but kept her eyes on the path. "You're quite persistent, aren't you?"
Korr grinned, undeterred. "What can I say? I'm curious by nature. Especially when it comes to mysterious clients who hire us out of the blue."
Ezra smirked, glancing back at them. He didn't expect her to open up, but watching Korr's attempts was, at the very least, amusing.
The woman sighed, clearly amused but equally reluctant. "If I told you, it wouldn't be much of a secret, would it?"
Korr huffed, giving her a playful nudge with his elbow. "Come on, just a hint! You don't have to tell me everything."
She gave him a look—half amused, half wary. "Let's just say... I have business to attend to in the nearby kingdom, and it's important that I arrive safely. That's all you need to know."
"Aw, that's hardly anything!" Korr grumbled, though he couldn't help but smile. "But alright, if you're gonna be stubborn about it."
Ezra chuckled, stepping in to ease Korr's disappointment. "Trust me, Korr, if she wants to keep it a secret, it's probably for a good reason. Let's just focus on getting her there in one piece."
They continued their journey, with Korr occasionally trying his luck with questions or playful remarks, and the woman giving away nothing but a few knowing smiles. The forest grew denser, the shadows lengthening as they traveled deeper into its heart. Ezra's unease lingered, but he kept his eyes on the road, determined to get her safely to their destination, no matter what secrets she might be hiding.
As dusk settled over the forest, shadows stretched across the path, casting the trees in an eerie glow. Ezra, Korr, and the woman moved quietly, each alert in their own way. Suddenly, a figure appeared in the distance—a towering man clad in heavy plate armor, his presence dominating the trail. Emblazoned on the chest of his armor was the grotesque visage of an ogre's head, charred as if burned into the metal. Strapped across his back was a massive sword, as tall and thick as the man himself. The weight of it would have crushed a lesser warrior.
Ezra's senses sharpened. He felt the unmistakable aura of chaotic energy emanating from the man, a wild, dark force that set his nerves on edge. He recognized the sensation immediately—it was the mark of a paladin serving one of the Six Chaotic Gods, a rare and dangerous breed of warrior that few ever faced willingly. This man was not here by coincidence.
Ezra whispered to Korr, "Stay alert. He's not just passing by."
Korr nodded, clenching his fists as his usually cheerful demeanor turned serious. The woman shifted slightly, her eyes narrowed in suspicion, clearly sensing the danger as well.
The armored man took a step closer, his face hidden behind a darkened visor. His voice boomed, low and threatening. "You, mercenaries," he said, his gaze flickering to the woman, "are carrying something... precious, I presume?"
Ezra stepped forward, placing himself protectively between the stranger and his companions. "We're simply passing through, same as anyone else," he said, his voice calm but firm. "Why don't you move along, unless you're looking for trouble?"
The man let out a dark chuckle. "Oh, I am trouble." He drew his sword with a heavy clang, the blade practically vibrating with the chaotic energy it contained.
Ezra's hand went instinctively to his own sword, his fingers curling around the hilt. The chaotic aura felt familiar, bringing him back to his days as a soldier, facing dark forces on the battlefield. He glanced at Korr, who stood ready, his fists clenched and eyes set on the approaching threat.
"Guess we don't have much choice, then," Ezra muttered, giving Korr a quick nod. "Stay focused, and don't let him close in."
The paladin's smile was hidden beneath his helm, but Ezra could practically feel it. "Let's see if you can handle the wrath of the gods."
Ezra cringed, drawing his sword with a slight shake of his head. "Really? That was a terrible comeback," he muttered. Letting his Aether flow through the blade, shadows flickered along its edge, giving it a dark, menacing glow. With a burst of speed, he closed the distance, locking blades with the paladin.
They exchanged rapid slashes, the sound of metal on metal ringing through the forest. The two were evenly matched in skill, each countering the other's attacks with precision and force. Ezra felt the weight of every swing as their weapons clashed, each of them testing the limits of the other's defenses.
But soon, the paladin grew tired of the deadlock. He took a step back, and Ezra felt a shift in the air. The man raised his hand, a low chant rumbling from within his helm. The ground trembled, and a crackling surge of chaotic energy surrounded his sword, now glowing with a sinister light.
Ezra grimaced, feeling the surge of divine power as it radiated off the man. "Of course, you'd bring the gods into it," he muttered, tightening his grip.
The paladin swung his massive sword downward, and Ezra sidestepped just in time, watching as the blade carved a deep chasm into the ground. His eyes widened. This wasn't just any paladin—this guy was powerful, a high-ranking devotee of chaos.
Ezra turned to Korr, urgency in his voice. "Korr, take the girl and go. Get her to safety. I'll hold him off, but I doubt I can take him alone."
Korr hesitated, clenching his fists, but a quick glance at Ezra's serious expression was enough to convince him. "Understood, boss. Don't do anything reckless," he growled, scooping the girl up with one arm.
"Just hurry," Ezra replied, locking his gaze back on the paladin. "And come back the moment she's safe."
Ezra held his blade low, sinking into a fighting stance as shadowy aether poured through his body. "Panther's Ambush!" he called, surging forward with shadow energy, which took the form of a panther bounding at his side. He cleaved through the paladin's guard, leaving a deep wound across his side.
Without hesitation, Ezra pivoted, his sword flashing as he conjured three shadowy aether claws that trailed his blade like the swipe of a beast's paw. He knew he couldn't give the paladin any room to recover—the man's chaotic energy would likely help him heal if Ezra relented.
But the paladin was fast, parrying each of Ezra's strikes with brutal precision. With a snarl, he retaliated, driving his sword upward in a slash that carved into the earth. As the blade ascended, it unleashed a torrent of chaotic energy, a dark beam that ripped through the sky. Ezra barely dodged, rolling to the side as the ground beneath him cracked and smoked.
The paladin smirked, tightening his grip on his weapon. "Nice moves," he sneered. "But you're out of your depth."
Ezra's gaze hardened. He adjusted his stance, feeling the aether pulse stronger within him. "You'll find I'm just getting started."
They clashed again, their blades moving in a blur too fast for the eye to follow. The exchange was fierce, each swing carrying lethal intent. Both Ezra and the paladin began to land hits—small cuts that drew blood and marked their clothes with dark streaks. But as the battle wore on, Ezra felt a creeping heaviness, the chaotic energy from the paladin's strikes seeping into him, slowing his movements and dulling his reactions.
He grit his teeth, fighting through the sluggishness that threatened to overwhelm him. The paladin's smirk widened, sensing the toll his chaos energy was taking. Ezra knew he had to act quickly; if he let this drag out, the chaos would wear him down before he had a chance to finish the fight.
Ezra leaped back, cloaking his entire form in shadowy Aether. With a concentrated effort, he expelled the chaotic energy that had started to slow him down. However, in the brief moment he took to purge it, he saw that the paladin's injuries had already begun to heal. This wasn't going as planned.
Realizing he couldn't afford to hold back any longer, Ezra allowed his Aether to envelop his body fully, focusing it around his head. The dark energy began to take form, shaping into a menacing panther's head with tendrils of shadow leaking from its edges. This was his Hybrid Form—his most powerful technique, a skill that enhanced his strength, speed, and reflexes while giving him a fierce, predatory appearance.
The paladin, eyes narrowing as he raised his sword again, took in Ezra's transformation with a wary respect. "If I didn't know better, I'd assume you were something from the Abyss," he said, a sneer edging his voice. "I've never seen Aether techniques like that. Must be that peculiar lineage of yours, Elthar."
Ezra's gaze darkened, ignoring the taunt. He'd been called an outsider before, but right now, the only thing that mattered was winning this fight.