"Mr. Valen. Glad to see you," the man's familiar voice resonates through Valen.
Reaching behind his armor, he pulls out a long cylindrical tube, raising it toward the sky. With a firm tug on the attached string, a bright flare shoots upward, bursting into light and illuminating the entire camp in a fiery glow.
From the distance, shouts echo back. "The flare!" someone calls, their voice carrying through the trees.
The man lowers the tube, his gaze scanning the shadows before speaking again. "I heard Ms. Eska was with you."
"She's in here," Valen says, pulling back the tent flap to reveal the interior. Inside, Eska rests under the covers, her injuries evident alongside Valen's own.
The man scans the scene briefly before giving a firm nod. "I'll secure the perimeter. Stay where you are," he replies.
Without another word, he hefts his hammer and strides into the forest, disappearing into the darkness.
The sound of hurried footsteps cuts through the crackling of the campfire and moments later, Osvald and Trevent emerge from the trees, their faces taut with urgency.
Behind them, four other hunters file into the clearing, their weapons at the ready. Following them is a familiar dress, wielding her green staff.
"Valen!" Ciel calls as she rushes closer, her staff already glowing with a soft green light.
Her eyes catch the wounds on Valen, though he seems unfazed by them for the moment. Turning her attention to Eska, she quickly moves to her side, concern etched across her face.
She kneels beside Eska, her expression focused as she bathes the wounded hunter in the healing glow.
"Stop," Eska says, her voice hurried but weak. "He's way worse than me. Take care of him first." She says with urgency despite the exhaustion evident in her tone.
Ciel hesitates, glancing at Valen, who stands before her, his posture barely steady. "Eska, he's the one standing."
Valen exhales sharply, lowering himself beside Eska with visible effort. "She's been holding me together," he mutters. "I don't know how bad it is inside but she's kept me from bleeding out."
Ciel's brow furrows with slight doubt as she turns her attention to Valen, her hesitation evident.
"I'll check," she says. Her staff glows brighter as she passes it over his side, the magic revealing the extent of his injury.
Her eyes widen, shock flashing across her face. "How—this isn't—Gods above," she stammers, immediately beginning her work.
"I told you—" Valen starts, but Ciel cuts him off.
"Hush," she snaps, her disbelief evident. "I can't believe you've been moving with a wound like this."
Eska manages a faint smile, her voice barely a whisper. "Well… I'm sorry, Valen" she murmurs, her words trailing off as her eyes flutter closed.
Her body goes limp, unconsciousness overtaking her just as Valen's groan of pain rises, echoing faintly in the distance as the camp fades into chaos.
Eska's eyes snap open almost immediately after closing them.
The tent is plunged into darkness, the lamp snuffed out and the silence around her is so heavy it feels oppressive. She sits up abruptly, clutching the sleeping bag around her.
"Hello?" she calls softly, her voice echoing faintly in the stillness.
"Hi," a voice replies casually, startling Eska as she flinches and jumps in place. She turns sharply to see Marina sitting beside her.
"Ah! What are you doing?!" Eska exclaims, her heart pounding as she clutches at her chest.
"I was waiting for you," Marina replies nonchalantly, as if her sudden appearance were the most natural thing in the world.
"I—hmmm..." Eska pouts, clearly irritated but too confused to protest further.
"You're going to have to wake up soon and push through the pain and blood loss," Marina says calmly, her tone unsettlingly matter-of-fact.
Eska confusion grows. "Is... something happening?"
"The Argalia nest connects to the Hive itself," Marina explains. "You're about to face one of the most powerful creatures in Osalde. We classified the entire species as Titan Class back when I was still human."
"Titan... class?" Eska's breath catches, her eyes widening in terror as her mother's warnings echo in her mind. 'Creatures capable of destroying entire cities. If you see one of the 18 Titan Class creatures in this book, you run. No questions asked—not even if I'm left behind. You run.'
Eska trembles as the memory resurfaces, her voice shaking. "We need to run. We can't fight something like that."
"Calm down, Eska," Marina says, her tone cutting through Eska's panic. "Decisions made in fear lead to death."
"But—" Eska starts, her voice cracking.
"First," Marina interrupts with a commanding voice, "don't panic. Second, think of a plan."
Eska falters, the weight of the situation pressing down on her. "I—"
"You don't want your boyfriend caught up in this mess with those wounds, do you?" Marina asks, teasingly.
Eska's face reddens instantly as her panic gives way to embarrassment.
She lowers her head onto her knees, her arms wrapping tightly around herself. "He's not my boyfriend," she mutters, her voice muffled.
"Right, then think of something," Marina says, her tone softening slightly. "Ark and his team are powerful hunters—they might prove invaluable."
Eska's eyes suddenly flutter open as the soft light filtering through the tent washes over her face.
In an instant, she sits upright, a sharp jolt of pain shooting through her shoulder and back but she grits her teeth and brushes it aside.
Her gaze darts around the tent, realizing she's alone. Without hesitation, she pushes herself to her feet and strides to the tent's flap, pulling it open.
Outside, the group of hunters is gathered by the fire—some busy cooking while others chat quietly, their relaxed demeanor a stark contrast to her own unease.
Eska stumbles out of the tent, her breath quickening and visible through the cold.
"The nest!" Eska shouts, her voice breaking through the chatter and drawing the attention of the hunters.
"Ms. Eska, you can't move like that—you'll start bleeding again!" the burly man exclaims as he hurries to her side, steadying her as she stumbles.
"The nest is—" she begins, but the man cuts her off with a confident grin.
"We're holding the camp for now. The Hivebreakers will handle the nest when they arrive. You don't need to worry; everyone here is safe," he assures her, his voice cheerful and punctuated by a hearty laugh.
Eska's frustration boils over and she shoves the man aside with surprising strength. "The argalia nest is on top of the Hive!" she yells, her voice laced with urgency. "Thaxil are under the nest!"
The camp falls silent, the hunters frozen in place as her words sink in. The burly man lowers his arms, his tone shifting. "Ms. Eska… how do you know this?"
She locks eyes with him, her mind racing for something to say that doesn't involve Marina.
"I saw it," she says. "That's why the Argalias are here—they're fleeing from the Thaxil! We need to act quickly before it's too late!"
The man studies her for a moment before nodding solemnly.
"We'll discuss it," he says, his voice serious now. "But first, let's get you back to the tent. There's not much else we can do right this moment."
Eska's eyes dart around the camp, her voice rising again. "Where—where is Valen?" she asks, panic creeping into her tone.
"Ms. Eska!" the man barks sharply, snapping her attention back to him. Her eyes widen as she stares at him, startled by the sudden command.
"Valen is with Ms. Ciel. She's taking care of him and if you don't want her focus divided, you need to take care of yourself as well," he says firmly.
Eska's shoulders slump, the fight draining from her. "I—yes," she murmurs, her voice faint and defeated.
"We'll handle the emergency. You need to rest now. "He says, finality clear in his voice.
He guides her gently back to the tent and helps her settle into the sleeping bag, ensuring she's comfortable.
"The name's Ark," he adds with a cheerful smile, the brightness in his tone returning. "Now rest while we figure out what to do next."
"Thanks… Mr. Ark," Eska replies softly, her exhaustion finally overtaking her.
Ark returns to the campfire, lowering himself onto the log with a heavy sigh.
"Mr. Argos," he calls out with a calm tone. "Fly through the forest and deliver what you've heard. It's speculation for now but if it's true, we'll need every available hand at the frontlines. Even a small group of those things could tear through the gates like butter."
Without a word, the man rises and bolts into the trees, his movements unnaturally swift.
The air hums with the sound of wind trailing his steps as he vanishes into the shadows of the forest.
The hunters around the fire exchange uneasy glances, their expressions grim as Ark leans forward.
"What do we do if it's true, Ark?" a woman asks, her voice trembling slightly. "I doubt anyone here but you can handle even one Thaxil, let alone an entire nest of them."
Ark turns toward her. "The best we can, Mrs. Nen," he replies simply. "That's all we've ever done, isn't it?"
She lowers her gaze, the weight of the mission settling over her. The reality of what they might face looms heavy with the rest of the team.