High in the heavens, the moon cast faint light across the thick woodland canopy. Kael walked stealthily, his senses acute and every stride deliberate. Arin, the pupil Shen had selected to go with him, kept pace with almost unsettling ease next to him. Arin's dark eyes sparkled in the meager light, his face as unreadable as the shadows all around them.
"Do you see the relevance of this mission?" Arin asked, his voice a quiet murmur almost breaking the silence.
Kael set his eyes straight ahead. He was determined to obtain the formula and eliminate the healer. Nothing further.
Arin softly laughed, the sound lacking any warmth. "You believe it to be that basic? Shen only sends two of us unless there is more at risk than he is ready to acknowledge.
Kael answered none. He had no desire to speculate about Shen's intentions. His attention was on the current work, the actions he would do, and the steps he would follow. Here emotions and uncertainty had no place.
The jungle started to thin, exposing a little clearing under moonlight. In its middle stood a small cabin, its wooden walls aged. Rising from the chimney, a weak column of smoke curled sloppily into the nighttime sky.
"That's it," Arin murmured, his voice tinged with expectancy. "The healing's house."
Kael nodded; his hand reached for the hilt of his blade automatically. His footsteps were silent on the soft ground as he moved forward. Arin followed, his motions erratic and his presence a continual reminder of Shen's wary stare.
Kael indicated for Arin to circle around to the rear as they neared the hut. Arin grinned and vanished into the darkness, leaving Kels by the front door alone. Breathing deeply, Kael pushed his ear to the wooden surface and listened for any movement within.
He heard the faint sound of rustling, then sighed softly. The healer awoke.
With his blade drawn, Kael opened the door and looked about the dimly illuminated inside. The room was little equipped; a single table and chair dominated the middle, and shelves along the walls were filled with jars and bundles of dried herbs. A man slumped over a little fire in the corner, facing away from the door.
The man remarked without turning around, his voice calm but firm, "You shouldn't have come here." "Whatever you're searching for, you won't find it."
Kael entered, his blade flashing in the firelight. The formula. Its location is...
The healer turned slowly and fixed Kael's eyes steadily. His face marked years of effort and suffering, far older than Kael had anticipated. Still, Kael hesitated because of a strength in his demeanor—a calm resolve.
"You don't know what you're asking for," the healer added. "The soul rebirth formula is not just a recipe." That is a weight and an obligation. It should never fall into the wrong hands.
"That's not your decision to make," Kael said, his grip tightening on his blade. "Where is it?"
A piercing cry came from the rear of the hut before the healer could reply. Kael whirled, his heart pounding as Arin staggered into the room clutching his side. Blood stained his garments as it dripped through his fingers.
Arin gasped. "Ambush," his voice strained. They knew we were on our way.
As Kael moved to assist Arin, his mind spun. The healer observed them, his face expression unreadable, but he moved neither to attack nor run.
The physician said, his voice calm but firm, "If you want to survive, you will listen to me." "More than you might think is involved here. We all shall fall from Shen's avarice.
Kael hesitated, caught between his mission and the pressing necessity of their circumstances. From outside, the sound of approaching footfall reflected the movement of invisible adversaries in the forest.
"We don't have time for this," Arin said, his hold on Kael's arm getting stronger. Kill him and grab the formula.
Kael's gaze locked with the healer's, a whirl of feelings inside of him. For the first time in years, he felt the weight of choice. The Dark Sect taught detachment, ruthlessness, and obedience as well as detachment. But something about the healer's words—his presence—touched Kael's fractured spirit profoundly.
The door exploded open, and Kael whirled to confront the invaders, his sword poised. The battle that ensued was savage and disorganized; the chamber spun with blood and steel. Kael moved precisely; his training took over as he defended Arin against the attacks.
The hut was in disarray, and the floor was covered in the bodies of their adversaries when the dust fell. Over them, Kael stood with his chest heaving and his blade covered with blood. Arin slumped against the wall, his face pallid but resolved.
The healer stayed where he was, staring steadily at Kael. "You have shown your strength," he replied. "But strength devoid of direction is useless. If you really want the formula, you have to realize how expensive what you are demanding is.
Kels lowered his blade, and his fingers shook. The weight of the healer's words combined with the memories starting to surface left him whirling. Glancing at Arin, who nodded faintly, he urged him to do the task.
Kael, however, couldn't. Not right yet.
Kael remarked, his voice steady, "We're leaving." He turned to Arin to get him upright. "This isn't over," he said, staring hard at the healer. But tonight, you live.
Watching them go, the healer's face was unreadable. The man sighed tiredly as Kael and Arin vanished into the wilderness, staring down the concealed compartment under the floorboards. For now, the formula stays safe.
But the struggle over its secrets had only barely started.