The sky began to tint with shades of purple and gold as Enkaryon's pale sun slowly descended on the horizon. The peculiar clarity of that world started giving way to the light of the three moons, which were already beginning to shine with growing intensity. The silvery, steady glow cast long, dancing shadows between the trees.
Brana, seated near the fire that Kaldor had prepared, observed the dark elf's precise movements. The two had spent the last while discussing the possibility of working together until the trial's end. Despite his natural distrust, Brana couldn't deny that Kaldor had proven himself a valuable ally.
Even so, he kept an emotional distance. Kaldor carried a weight in his eyes, something ancient, as if he saw in Brana and Luma shadows of people he had already lost. That look of guilt made Brana uncomfortable but also gave him a strange sense of security. "If he wanted to hurt us, he would have done it by now," he thought.
His thoughts were interrupted by a familiar voice.
"Brana!"
He turned just in time to see Luma running toward him. She threw herself at him, her small arms wrapping tightly around him as tears streamed down her face.
"Are you okay? Are you really okay?" she asked through sobs, holding him as if afraid he might disappear again.
Brana sighed in relief, feeling the warmth of his sister's embrace. "It's okay, Luma. I'm here," he replied, gently stroking her curly hair. He let her cry, murmuring comforting words until she finally calmed down.
When she pulled back, her eyes frantically scanned his body. "Are you hurt? Does it still hurt? Where does it hurt?"
"Luma, I'm fine," he said with a weak smile, though his body still felt the remnants of the confrontation with the Ladron.
Across the fire, Kaldor watched the scene with a faint smile on his face. It was the first time Brana had seen any emotion from the man. The contrast was so striking that he almost couldn't believe it.
"Are you... smiling?" Brana asked, raising an eyebrow.
Kaldor noticed Brana's gaze, and the smile quickly disappeared. He coughed and returned to his serious expression. "Well, if you're done with your reunion, how about helping me prepare dinner?"
Brana couldn't help but laugh lightly at the abrupt change in behavior.
Kaldor began instructing Brana and Luma on how to dismantle the Ladron's carcass. He taught them how to drain the blood and separate the usable parts of the meat, explaining each step with surprising patience.
Brana, despite his initial disgust, forced himself to follow the instructions. He knew learning these skills was essential to surviving in that world. Meanwhile, Luma seemed more curious and excited, asking questions and observing every detail with bright eyes.
"Why do we have to drain so much blood?" Luma asked, watching Kaldor cut a thick vein of the creature.
"Excess blood can attract predators," he replied calmly. "It also helps the meat last longer without spoiling."
Luma nodded, absorbing every word like a diligent student.
"You have a knack for this, girl," Kaldor commented.
Luma smiled shyly but continued working.
After some time, the meat was prepared to be roasted over the fire. Kaldor, with the same methodical efficiency as before, skewered pieces of Ladron meat onto long sticks while Brana and Luma watched attentively. The smell of the fire mixed with the aroma of raw meat began to fill the small campsite.
Brana stared at the flames, hypnotized by their dancing movements and soft crackles. He couldn't help but be pulled away into memories of a time that felt like it belonged to another life.
He was in a sunlit garden, surrounded by the gentle warmth of the sun. Polished wooden tables were set with carefully prepared dishes, accompanied by succulent pieces of meat roasting on a barbecue. The sound of laughter filled the air, and he could hear Phil's familiar voice, always with a witty comment. Luma ran across the lawn, her laughter ringing like bells, while the maids watched her with fond smiles. Even his parents were there, seated in comfortable chairs, as if nothing could shatter the perfection of that scene.
He blinked, and the vision disappeared, replaced by the stark and raw reality of Enkaryon. The contrast was overwhelming: the serene sound of the forest had replaced the laughter. The smell of smoke and wild meat invaded his nose instead of the meticulously seasoned barbecue prepared by Phil. The people around him now were different—Kaldor, with his imposing presence and enigmatic past, and Luma, whose laughter had given way to unexpected determination and courage.
"Could they also be here? Are they safe?" Brana wondered, his heart tightening. The thought that his parents, Phil, or the maids might be facing the same dangers unsettled him.
"Here," Kaldor said, interrupting his thoughts. He extended a skewer with a piece of roasted meat at the end, handing another to Luma shortly after.
Luma took hers with curious eyes, already ready to take a bite. Brana, however, hesitated. He looked at the meat, which didn't seem much different from what he might have seen at a barbecue back home—succulent, golden from the heat of the flames. But the fact that it came from an unknown creature tied his stomach in knots. He glanced at Kaldor, who watched his reaction with a neutral expression, clearly waiting for Brana to try it first.
"Eat it, Brana," Luma said with a mischievous grin, her eyes sparkling with playful malice. She seemed curious to see his reaction, like a scientist observing a test subject.
A vein throbbed in Brana's forehead. "That little devil," he thought, but he knew he had no choice. Kaldor could have poisoned the meat, but if that were the case, he would have had no reason to wait until now to harm them. Sighing, he decided to stop overthinking and took a big bite.
The meat melted in his mouth, surprising him. The texture was tender, and the taste, though simple, wasn't unpleasant. It was... unsalted, he realized. Something reminiscent of chicken, but milder in flavor.
"It's good," Brana said, chewing carefully. "No seasoning, but good."
Luma laughed. "So, can I eat it?" she asked, already biting into her piece before Brana could respond.
Kaldor watched them with a look of restrained satisfaction as he nibbled on his own piece of meat. For a moment, they seemed like just a normal group enjoying a meal, a small island of tranquility in a sea of uncertainties.
After the meal, Brana turned to Kaldor, wiping his hands on a piece of fabric they had improvised as a towel. "About that technique I mentioned, the one about circulating energy through the body to fill the crystal... I think we should start practicing."
Kaldor nodded. "Agreed. We need to use the time to make progress on this. Let's take turns. First you, then Luma, and finally me. Whoever isn't practicing keeps watch over the others."
They organized themselves, with Brana sitting once again in the same spot he had tried before. Luma and Kaldor stayed alert, keeping an eye on their surroundings.
Brana closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. He concentrated again on the faint warmth he felt in his chest, letting the sensation grow and expand. This time, the connection seemed more stable. The crystal in his mind appeared clearly, its red hue pulsing faintly.
As Brana remained still, Luma looked at Kaldor curiously. He sat silently, holding his spear with a vigilant yet relaxed air.
"You... don't seem so scary now," Luma commented cautiously.
Kaldor looked up, surprised by her initiative. "It wasn't my intention to scare anyone," he replied in a low voice.
Luma tilted her head, studying him. "You're... different. You seem cold, but you're nice. Why are you like that?"
The dark elf smiled faintly, but there was melancholy in his eyes. "Maybe because I've seen things children like you shouldn't have to see."
Luma was silent for a moment but then asked, "Did you have a sister?"
Kaldor averted his gaze, fixing it on the forest. "No. But there was someone I protected. Someone who trusted me."
"What happened to her?"
He hesitated, his fingers tightening slightly on the spear. "She's not here anymore," he finally said.
Luma noticed the sadness in his voice and, even without knowing what to say, reached out and lightly touched his arm. Kaldor looked at her, surprised, but didn't pull away.
"You can protect us now," Luma said with a timid smile.
For a moment, Kaldor was silent, but then he nodded. "I'll do my best," he replied sincerely.
The firelight illuminated their faces as Kaldor and Luma, despite their differences, began to form an unexpected connection. In such an unforgiving world, small moments of unity might be what kept them alive.
Meanwhile, Brana, still focused, felt the warmth growing in his chest as the crystal seemed to pulse in response to his determination. The connection was fragile but real. After some time, he exhaled deeply and opened his eyes, feeling exhausted but satisfied with the progress.
Now it was Luma's turn.
She looked anxious but determined. Brana and Kaldor remained attentive as she sat on the ground, mimicking her brother's posture. She closed her eyes, her small hands resting on her knees, and took a deep breath, trying to do what he had described.
For a moment, nothing happened. The forest's silence seemed to expand around them. Then, Luma's shoulders relaxed, and a subtle expression of surprise appeared on her face. A faint aura seemed to surround her, almost imperceptible but enough for Brana to notice.
"She did it..." Brana murmured, a mix of relief and pride in his voice.
Luma suddenly opened her eyes, her expression filled with astonishment. "I saw... something. It was like... warmth, and then a purple light. And then something shiny appeared, like a window!" she exclaimed, looking at Brana and Kaldor with wide eyes.
Brana held her hand gently. "What appeared? Tell me."
Luma took a deep breath and began reciting what she had seen:
[Congratulations on establishing a small connection with the world.]
[Side Quest – Fragment of Enkaryon]
A small fragment of Enkaryon is within you, but it does not yet belong to you. Fill the crystal with your essence and make it yours before the connection is severed.
Time remaining: 37 days.
Reward: Access to Enkaryon's natural power.
Failure penalty: Loss of connection with Enkaryon.
Brana was silent for a moment, processing the words. "It's the same as mine," he finally said. He looked at the sky, where the moons shone brightly. "But that means... you have the same amount of time as me."
Luma frowned. "So it's not time that starts when we connect?"
Kaldor, who had been observing everything attentively, interjected. "No. It seems the time started when all of us arrived in this place. Which means that, regardless of when you connect, the deadline remains the same." He pointed to the moons. "The trial was designed that way. A single countdown for everyone."
Luma pondered this, but Brana gave her hand a reassuring squeeze.
Kaldor stood up, adjusting his posture. "Now it's my turn."
He sat with his legs crossed, closing his visible eye and resting his hands on his knees. Unlike Brana and Luma, he didn't need much time. Almost immediately, a gray aura began to manifest around him, glowing with intensity.
Brana and Luma were impressed by Kaldor's ease. When he opened his eyes, the message had already appeared before him.
Kaldor read it silently before saying, "It's the same as yours. But the difference lies in the color of my crystal. It's gray, and that's no coincidence. It must be tied to Nielv." He looked at the imaginary crystal in his chest, reflecting. "My affinity with mana must have made this connection easier. It's as natural to me as breathing."
Luma tilted her head, curious. "Do you think it'll be easier for you to fill the crystal too?"
Kaldor gave a small smile. "Possibly. But that doesn't mean it will be easy. This trial was created for all of us, regardless of our origins. The difficulties will be proportional to our strengths."
Exhaustion finally began to manifest in the group. The day had been long and full of emotions, and it was time to rest. Kaldor suggested that he and Brana take turns keeping watch while Luma slept.
Luma, however, hesitated before lying down. "What if something happens while I'm asleep?"
Brana knelt beside her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Kaldor and I are here. You're safe. You can sleep peacefully, okay?"
Reluctantly, Luma lay down near the fire, covering herself with an improvised blanket. Brana and Kaldor exchanged glances before Brana stood to take the first watch.
When it was Kaldor's turn to keep watch, Brana lay down beside Luma. Although still alert, he let his eyes close, trusting the dark elf for that night.
Kaldor remained seated near the fire, his spear resting at his side. He looked up at the three moons in the sky, his thoughts wandering as the silvery light bathed his face.
"A different world," he murmured to himself. "But the challenges remain the same."
He watched the peaceful faces of Brana and Luma as they slept. Something within him seemed to soften, though the weight of his memories never fully left him.
"Maybe..." he began to say, but didn't finish. With one last glance at the moons, Kaldor adjusted his posture, keeping his focus on the shadows of the forest that surrounded them.
The night crept on, the silence broken only by the soft wind and the rustling leaves that danced around the small group. Danger was still present, but, for now, they had one rare thing in Enkaryon: a moment of peace.