For a moment, Lawrence seemed to hesitate, as if weighing the risks of the path Arlon was suggesting. But there was something in Arlon's gaze—an undeniable spark of determination—that stirred his own sense of adventure.
Lawrence regarded Arlon carefully, his gaze unwavering as he stepped forward, positioning himself in front of him. After a brief pause, he said, "Alright, I'll help you, but in return, you have to help find those people who were responsible for my family's losses."
Arlon understood immediately—Lawrence sought revenge, and he knew that Arlon could help him achieve it. Arlon nodded, a steely resolve in his voice. "Alright, it's a deal."
They clasped hands in agreement, sealing their alliance. Lawrence then added, "I'm Lawrence Hill," formally introducing himself.
"Arlon Throndsen," he replied simply.
With the brief negotiation complete, the two turned their focus toward the stormy mountain looming ahead. Dark clouds swirl above it, flashing with occasional bursts of lightning, and the distant rumble of thunder filled the air.
Arlon assessed the sheer cliff face and wondered how they could possibly reach the cave entrance, which lay high up the mountainside.
Just then, Lawrence approached him, holding a coil of sturdy rope in his hands. "I know where the safest path is," he said, "but we'll need to tie ourselves together with this rope to climb up."
"Oh my god…" Arlon muttered under his breath, feeling a mix of anxiety and disbelief. Am I really about to risk my life on this journey?
Lawrence quickly looped the rope around Arlon's waist, tying it securely before fastening the other end around himself. With their preparations complete, they began the steep ascent.
Arlon focused on Lawrence's every move, carefully following each of his steps to avoid slipping. One wrong move on this treacherous path could send them tumbling down the mountain.
Swoosh—
Arlon's heart pounded as the wind roared around him. Each step felt more treacherous than the last, the sheer drop below pulling at his every movement.
"Hey, Lawrence," he called out, his voice barely audible over the gale. "If you fall, how am I supposed to save you?"
Lawrence didn't even glance back. "Then don't let me fall."
"..."
As they climbed higher, the wind grew stronger, howling around them with a fierce intensity. The rope tethered between them became a lifeline, keeping Arlon anchored as they struggled against the storm.
They finally neared the other side of the mountain, the dark mouth of a cave visible just up ahead. Lawrence glanced back at Arlon, his expression unreadable. "By the way, how did you know about this place?."
Arlon gritted his teeth.Can we get to the entrance first before you ask?
Eventually, after a hard and grueling climb, they reached a narrow, rocky platform near the cave entrance. The wind here was relentless, battering them with almost supernatural force, but thanks to the rope secured around his waist and connected to Lawrence, Arlon was able to stand his ground.
Arlon looked up and saw the cave entrance just ahead, wide and dark, like a hungry mouth swallowing the raging wind from outside.
"I'll stay here to hold the rope while you go inside the cave," Lawrence said, gripping the rope firmly in his hands. "Just give me a signal if something bad happens."
Arlon nodded in agreement, bracing himself before stepping forward. The wind caught him almost immediately, pushing him towards the cave's entrance. He allowed himself to be carried by it, moving steadily until he was swept into the cave.
Inside, the air was thick with a powerful, swirling current. Arlon pressed forward, leaning against the wind that seemed to grow even stronger as he moved further inside. As he looked around, his eyes caught sight of something at the center of the cavern.
It was a mass of black wind, spiraling like a dark vortex around a pulsating, dark purple orb.
The orb floated in mid-air, exuding an ominous energy that filled the cave. Its presence seemed to generate the powerful wind that whipped around him and was likely the source of the thunderstorm raging outside.
"Could it be… the Sky Soul?" Arlon wondered, his voice barely audible against the roar of the wind. He inched closer, mesmerized by the swirling darkness.
The orb reminded him of a black hole, a void capable of swallowing everything in its path.
As he took another step, his foot landed on a loose rock, which shifted under his weight. The slight movement seemed to disturb the air, and the wind suddenly intensified, reacting violently to his approach.
It howled with a ferocity that nearly pushed him back, as though the orb was aware of his presence and was warning him to stay away.
Fsssh—
The cave's wind howled like a living beast, growing fiercer with each step Arlon took. At the cavern's center, a dark orb floated, surrounded by swirling black wind.
The wind pushed against him, almost as if alive, warning him to stay away. But Arlon pressed on, each step sending loose stones skittering across the floor.
A sudden roar filled the cavern. "WHO DARES TRESPASS ON MY DOMAIN?"
"!!?"
The shock made Arlon lose his footing, and he slipped, tumbling off the rock.
Oh crap! I'm going to get swallowed by the orb!,he thought in panic.
He braced himself for impact but was caught midair, the black wind surrounding the orb lifting him up, suspending him in an eerie float. "Huh? What's going on??"
As he hung there, bewildered, the voice spoke again, even louder and angrier. "You! The one who trespassed my territory! Who are you, and how did you get here!??" The wind around him whipped more violently with each word, its intensity mirroring the voice's fury.
This must be the Soul Sky Guardian, Arlon realized. But… Why is it speaking fluent English? Shouldn't it be using a language from this world?
The Soul Sky Guardian's voice rumbled on, like a storm threatening to break. "How dare you set foot here!? Just look at you—one strong gust would push you off this mountain, and you'd fall to your death! How did a weakling like you manage to get up here? You're not even a gifted awakener!"
Woooosh—
The winds grew fiercer, howling and shifting unpredictably, sending Arlon spinning through the air and his mask fell off unnoticed. Despite the chaos, he managed to steady himself, narrowly avoiding being slammed into the rocky walls.
Realizing the Guardian wasn't about to stop its tirade, Arlon felt his frustration boiling over.
This thing is so annoying, he thought, gritting his teeth. Then he finally snapped, shouting, "Can you stop talking and calm down!!!!"
"..!"
His voice echoed in English, cutting through the noise. A tense silence fell over the cave as the winds stilled, the Guardian seemingly stunned into quiet. Breathing heavily, Arlon dropped safely to the ground, taking a moment to calm his racing heart.
Thump— Thump—
Arlon finally landed safely on the rocky ground, clutching his chest as he steadied his breath and heartbeat. The silence felt unnaturally thick, and his pulse still raced from the close encounter with the Sky Soul's fury.
Then, from nowhere, came a voice laced with curiosity and command.
"Who are you? How can you understand my words? Are you... a lost soul?"
Arlon winced, still fighting for breath. The Sky Soul Guardian's voice, almost like a thundercloud speaking, ignored his struggles, continuing to press its questions with that curious, scrutinizing tone.
Despite lacking a true form, Arlon could somehow feel the Guardian's presence, a shadowy dragon gaze boring into him as if he could see through every layer of his soul.
As Arlon managed to regain his composure, he noticed a faint, dark, dragon-like figure in front of him, eyes gleaming red like embers in the dim cave. His mask had slipped without him realizing. The dragon spirit glared at him, eyes narrowed and posture assessing.
It gave him a slow, up-and-down look before speaking again.
"You don't look like someone who could easily learn our language."
The dragon shadow seemed to shift forward, a wave of dark energy rippling out, and Arlon's heartbeat quickened.
He could sense that the Guardian's gaze was probing into him, digging for answers he wasn't yet ready to reveal.
Arlon met the intense gaze, attempting to play it cool, but he felt a strange stirring inside his own spirit. There was something about this creature's red stare that unnerved him. The Guardian's eyes flashed, clearly sensing something unusual.
"What... are you?"
Arlon forced himself to keep a steady expression. He couldn't afford to answer that question—not here, not now. His mind raced, settling on something he hoped would satisfy the Guardian's curiosity.
"Why are you here?" The Guardian's voice was sharper this time, its words almost vibrating in the air. Arlon felt a subtle threat within that question. If he didn't respond correctly, he could feel the weight of the creature's intent pressing down on him, its gaze practically aimed at his heart.
With a deep breath, Arlon answered, "I'm here to make a deal with you... and to save you, as well." He kept his voice calm, controlled.
Inside, he couldn't shake the feeling that one wrong word might bring the Guardian's wrath crashing down.