The twilight sky stretched like a canvas of red and gold, providing a bit of serenity amidst their long journey. Rai and the others continued to move eastward, following the increasingly elusive trail of the Abyss. The once misty forest began to thin, replaced by expansive grasslands. However, their mood remained tense, as if something big was waiting ahead.
Tenzai stopped abruptly, raising his hand to signal the others to stop as well. "Look at that," he said quietly, pointing to the horizon.
In the distance, they could see black smoke billowing high into the sky, indicating great chaos. It was not like regular smoke, but thicker, as if bringing destruction with it.
"That's… a city," Kaida whispered, her eyes glued to the smoke. "The energy of the Abyss feels very strong from there."
Rai clenched his fists. "We're getting close to the crux of the problem. But we can't just run there without a plan."
Kellan nodded in agreement. "If we rush, we could end up in the middle of something we can't handle."
Resting in the Middle of the Field
They decided to stop for a while under a large tree that stood alone in the middle of the field. Kaida sat cross-legged, her crystal emitting a faint glow as she began to recover her depleted energy. Kellan was busy checking his arrows, making sure everything was ready.
Rai, meanwhile, sat not far from them, looking at his nameless sword that now hung at his side. Thoughts of his journey so far swirled in his head, but there was something that kept nagging at his past.
Tenzai, usually quiet, suddenly approached. He sat next to Rai, his eyes on the darkening horizon. "Rai," he said quietly, "what really keeps you going?"
Rai shrugged, looking at his sword with a heavy gaze. "At first, I just wanted revenge. But the further I went, the more I realized that this wasn't just about me."
Tenzai nodded, as if in understanding. "Revenge can be a powerful fuel, but it's not enough to sustain a journey like this. I know, because I once tried to live on nothing but revenge."
Rai looked at Tenzai, curious. "Tell me," he asked.
Tenzai's Story
Tenzai took a deep breath before speaking. "I came from a small village near the border. My family was simple, living off farming. But when the Abyss first appeared, they attacked our village without warning. I lost everything—my father, mother, and little sister."
He paused for a moment, his eyes distant, as if recalling the bitter memories. "I survived only because I hid. But after that, I swore revenge. I trained myself relentlessly, becoming stronger, for one purpose: to kill the Abyss."
Kaida, who had heard the story, approached. "Then what changed you?"
"Time," Tenzai answered. "When I finally managed to kill enough Abyss, I realized something. No matter how many I killed, the sense of loss never went away. That grudge… it only left me empty."
Rai nodded slowly. "So what keeps you here now?"
Tenzai smiled faintly. "I found a new reason. Helping others, protecting those who cannot protect themselves. It may not bring my family back, but it makes me feel alive."
Kaida Shares Her Story
Kaida, who is usually not very open, suddenly said, "I know what it's like to lose."
All eyes were on her.
"I never knew my family," she began. "This crystal," she pointed to the crystal in her hand, "is the only thing left of my birth mother. They say she was a great sorceress who sacrificed herself to save a city from the Abyss. But I always wondered… why wasn't I important enough to her to keep alive?"
There was a heavy silence after that confession.
"You were important," Kellan said suddenly. "Her sacrifice proved that. Maybe she saw something in you, something that could bring hope to this world."
Kaida smiled faintly, though her eyes were glistening with tears. "Maybe. But I still don't know what it is."
A Strong Bond
The conversation changed the atmosphere between them. It was no longer just a group of people who happened to be fighting together, but a team that was beginning to understand each other.
Rai felt something warm in his heart. He never expected to find people like them on this perilous journey.
"Thank you," he said finally, his voice soft but sincere.
Kellan patted his shoulder. "We're all here for one reason, Rai. And that's not just to fight but to support each other."
The Light of War Ahead
Night arrived, and they decided to continue on their journey. As they drew closer to the city they were headed for, the sounds of battle began to faintly be heard.
Rai stopped on a hilltop, looking down. The city was burning, with Abyss and human forces fighting in its streets. The sound of shouts and the clanging of weapons filled the air, bringing a sense of dread that was felt even where they stood.
"This is what awaits us," Rai said, gripping his sword tightly.
"We will make a difference," Kaida replied, her crystal beginning to glow again.
With determination growing stronger, they stepped toward the battlefield.