When the group arrived at the gates, Keen gave a firm instruction. "We'll head around to the storehouse to avoid any villagers seeing the bodies."
Brawl added without missing a beat, "Shot, Wild, go ahead and get Elder."
The two nodded and darted off, disappearing into the snow-dappled village paths. The rest of the group moved quickly and quietly, taking the back routes to the storehouse. The strangers followed closely, their voices a mixture of astonishment and confusion as they chattered in their unfamiliar language.
Once inside the main hall of the storehouse, the two strangers took a seat, their eyes scanning the room with curiosity. Serene, Grey, Brawl, and Keen immediately set to work butchering the ape creature. The air filled with the sound of slicing and chopping as they worked their way through the grotesque corpse, eventually uncovering a Central Organ. But as they reached the area near the heart, something unexpected stopped them.
A tangled network of thin, long tendrils stretched throughout the creature's body, emanating from its heart. Nestled within was something far more extraordinary—a Heart of Radiance. Its faint golden glow bathed the grisly scene in an ethereal light.
"Pretty good hunt if I say so myself," Brawl remarked, his usual gruff tone laced with satisfaction.
"We certainly found a lot," Keen replied, though his gaze lingered on the tangled tendrils with unease.
When Leora caught sight of the glowing heart, her demeanor shifted dramatically. She pointed at it and began chattering loudly to Aedric, her voice urgent and almost frantic.
"Looks like she wants it," Serene observed, tilting her head as she watched the exchange.
Aedric responded sharply, his tone cold and commanding. Leora quickly quieted down, her shoulders slumping as though reprimanded.
"I wish we could understand them," Grey muttered, his silver eyes flicking between the two strangers.
Before anyone could say more, the sound of approaching footsteps caught their attention. Shot and Wild returned, Elder trailing behind them. The moment Elder's gaze fell on the two strangers, he froze mid-step, his expression shifting to wide-eyed disbelief. In all his long years, he had only ever seen strangers' corpses—never living ones,
His form stiffened slightly before he gave a formal nod. "Greetings."
Leora and Aedric responded in kind, inclining their heads respectfully. Despite their earlier apprehension, there was no hostility in their movements—only curiosity and guarded politeness.
The bodies of their fallen companions lay in the hall, still and lifeless, the air around them growing heavy. Elder's gaze shifted to them, his expression softening into something somber. "We should prepare them for burial before they begin to rot," he said. Then, after a moment's pause, he turned to Keen and Grey. "But first, bring them with me. I will consult the First Elder on their origins."
Brawl stepped forward, gesturing for Leora and Aedric to follow. His motions were direct but not harsh, and after a moment of hesitation, they complied. There was little point in resisting now—the village had shown them no malice, and if anything, had aided them in their darkest moment.
The small group entered the room only Keen and Grey had seen before, its ancient presence filling the air with a strange, reverent weight. Elder gestured to the center of the space. "Set them there."
Brawl guided the strangers, his large hands motioning firmly but calmly. The two carried their comrades with visible care, laying them gently in the spot Elder indicated.
Once everything was in place, Elder removed the intricate necklace from around his neck. Its metal seemed to hum faintly as he fit it into the slot, the mechanism clicking into place with a sound that echoed through the chamber. Almost instantly, Elder's body sagged, his vitality visibly drained. Keen was by his side in an instant, steadying the older man with a supportive hand.
"Easy, Elder," Keen murmured, his tone unusually soft.
Elder gave a faint nod of gratitude but said nothing, his focus fixed on the revelations the First Elder might bring.
The room lit up as it had before, a radiant glow illuminating every corner with an ethereal warmth. Elder stepped forward, his voice steady but questioning. "Who are these two?"
There was a pause as the light intensified, engulfing the two strangers on the altar. Aedric and Liora stiffened, their wide eyes reflecting both awe and fear. They whispered hurriedly to each other in their foreign tongue, their tones hushed as if trying to calm one another. Moments later, the glow faded, leaving the air charged with an indescribable energy.
The First Elder's voice resonated through the chamber, calm yet commanding. "Residents of the Eastern Continent, a place far from these lands. Their garments bear the mark of the Beast of the First Flame, a clan steeped in legend. Yet, no blood of the clan flows within them."
Keen's brows furrowed as he stepped forward. "Can you understand their speech?" he asked.
"Speak," the room commanded.
Keen nudged Brawl, who let out a small grunt before raising a hand to his mouth. He moved his fingers in an exaggerated talking motion, opening and closing his hand as his mouth mimicked the gesture.
Aedric hesitated but seemed to catch on, his lips parting as he spoke a few cautious words.
The First Elder's voice returned, now laced with faint curiosity. "He speaks a dialect I do not recognize. Time has passed, and the Eastern Continent must have changed greatly since my last awareness."
Keen let out a slow sigh, his gaze shifting to Elder.
Elder retrieved the necklace from its slot, visibly straining as he placed it back around his neck. Keen stepped closer to steady him, but Elder waved him off gently. "Enough for now," he said, his tone weary. "Let us make use of the Heart."
The group straightened at his words. Shot was the first to react, springing to her feet with unrestrained excitement. "It's my turn, right?" she asked, nearly bouncing in place like a child. "I know I'll be able to advance—I've been feeling different recently!"
"Yeah, calm down," Brawl said, his gruff voice tinged with humor. "You're acting like a kid."
"He's just jealous he's too old to make it look normal to act like that," Wild chimed in, smirking.
"Don't be jealous, Brawl," Shot teased back, her grin wide.
Brawl let out a huff but didn't retort, instead turning and motioning for her to follow. The group made their way to the room with the cauldron, its heavy presence as imposing as ever.
As Elder began preparing the brew, his movements slow and deliberate, Aedric and Liora stood near the doorway, their eyes locked on him. Their expressions reflected deep awe, as if mesmerized by the ancient ritual unfolding before them.
Elder reached for the Heart of Radiance, lifting it with both hands, its golden glow illuminating the space with almost blinding brilliance. But before he could add it to the brew, a sharp cry broke the silence. Aedric and Liora shouted in unison, their voices filled with urgency.
Elder froze, the Heart still in his grasp. His brow furrowed as he turned toward them, curiosity sparking in his weary eyes. "Why do they protest?" he asked aloud, glancing toward the group.
The strangers moved forward slightly, their hands raised in what seemed like a gesture of warning. Their tones softened, but their words came quickly, their urgency unmistakable.
The group exchanged confused glances, unsure of the meaning behind the outburst.
"They seem… protective?" Serene ventured cautiously, her gaze flitting between the strangers and the glowing Heart of Radiance.
"What's wrong with them?" Wild asked, her voice laced with skepticism.
"Maybe they want it?" Shot suggested, raising an eyebrow.
The two strangers seemed to feel the weight of the hunters' attention. Liora hesitated, then pointed at the Heart, gesturing toward herself. "Come," she said haltingly before crossing her arms in an unmistakable gesture.
Brawl mirrored her motion, crossing his arms firmly. "No," he said flatly.
Liora nodded, as if processing his response. She repeated, "Come, no," but then pointed again at the Heart and then at the cauldron. "Come, no."
Brawl exhaled through his nose, his brows furrowing in thought. "My guess," he said slowly, "they're not asking for it—they just don't want us to use it."
"But…" Shot stammered, her earlier excitement visibly deflating. Her shoulders sagged as she glanced longingly at the Heart.
"We have plenty of Central Cores," Elder interjected calmly. "Grey said it himself—it should be enough for one person, at least." He turned his gaze to Grey, his eyes sharp.
"Uh—yeah," Grey stammered, snapping out of his thoughts. "Based on the energy I got from one before, Shot should be able to break through. Maybe even one more person, depending."
Elder nodded thoughtfully, stroking his chin. "The ingredients are not so different from before—just more potent. Keen, grab three Central Organs."
Keen moved swiftly, returning moments later with the requested Cores. He handed them to Elder, who began his preparation, while Aedric and Liora visibly relaxed, their tense postures easing.
"Better be enough," Shot muttered, her disappointment still evident.
Serene giggled quietly, watching the usually composed Shot pout like a child.
With the brew completed, Elder gestured for Shot to step forward. She took a deep breath, her earlier sulkiness replaced by determination. Grey followed, preparing himself to assist her in entering her inner space.
As the room filled with the faint hum of energy radiating from the brew, the strangers looked on, their expressions a mix of curiosity and awe. Aedric murmured something softly to Liora, who nodded, their gazes fixated on the cauldron as Shot and Grey stepped into the glowing liquid.
The moment Grey submerged himself, the world around him faded away. All sound, sight, and sensation dissolved into a weightless silence, and he found himself once again in his familiar mental space.
The golden pool shimmered beneath him, filling slowly but steadily. Grey exhaled, calming himself, when a deep, ancient voice echoed through the void, strained and fragmented. "En–e-mies?"
Grey's brow furrowed. The voice felt weaker than before, its struggle to communicate palpable. "No," he replied firmly, his voice steady. "I don't think they are. They're from the Eastern Continent."
There was a long pause, the stillness stretching into what felt like an eternity. Then, haltingly, the voice returned, each syllable broken and labored. "Co–nnec-tion."
The words sent a shiver down Grey's spine. Connection? What did it mean? The voice fell silent once more, leaving him alone with his thoughts and the quiet ripple of the golden pool beneath him.
"Did it mean… with them?" he murmured, his gaze fixed on the shimmering surface below. The question lingered in his mind, heavy and unanswered.
He paused, hesitation tightening in his chest before he finally spoke aloud, his voice tentative but steady. "Leora… Aedric."