The tension in the cavern lingered as the group sat in a loose circle, reflecting on the diary's revelations. The air felt heavier, not just with the weight of the unknown, but with something more personal—their own transformations.
Chris broke the silence first, leaning back against the cold rock. "Elijah's changed the most, hasn't he?"
Ava, still nursing her wound, glanced toward the tunnel where he had disappeared with Yusuf. "He used to be so clueless. Always second-guessing himself."
"Yeah," Chloe agreed, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "And now he just… adapts. Like all of this is natural for him."
Jasmine folded her arms, her brows furrowing. "It's creepy how fast he adjusted. But maybe that's just his way of coping."
"We all cope differently," Isla murmured. "I just hope he's still… him."
The conversation shifted when Lumien carefully peeled away his makeshift bandage. The gash on his side, though still visible, had closed far more than it should have in such a short time. Ava, too, examined her injury, finding the bleeding had almost completely stopped.
Allen exhaled, rubbing a hand over his face. "So it's real. The whole regeneration thing."
"It's slow," Mia pointed out. "But it's there."
"That means we don't have to worry about infections as much, right?" Chloe asked hopefully.
"We still shouldn't take chances," Merry said firmly. "Clean and bandage them anyway."
As the group settled into quiet contemplation, their heads snapped up at the sound of approaching footsteps. Heavy, measured. For a moment, relief flickered in their chests—Elijah and Yusuf were back. But as the figure stepped into the dim light, their relief turned to shock.
A man stood at the entrance, tall and well-built, with sharp features and short brown hair tinged with a near-blond hue. His bronze skin set him apart from normal humans they knew. He wore a uniform of dark, reinforced fabric beneath polished armor, a short sword resting on his waist. His wary eyes scanned them, suspicion etched deep into his face.
"Identify yourselves." His voice was firm, authoritative. "What are you doing here?"
For a split second, no one spoke. The air was thick with tension as the group stood before the man, his sharp gaze scanning each of them with suspicion. His hand remained firm on the hilt of his short sword, ready to draw it at the slightest provocation. The sight of him—bronze-skinned, clad in an unfamiliar yet undeniably military outfit—was both a relief and a threat. He resembled a human, but the reality of their situation reminded them that appearances alone meant nothing in this unknown world. And they were painfully aware that this man could very well see them as threats. And if he did, they wouldn't stand a chance.
The soldier's patience was wearing thin, his gaze sharpened. "Durnhart and all of Vaharos are in chaos, and then this thing just emerged from nowhere." He gestured to the cavern. "What is this place, and what are you doing here?"
Still, silence. His frustration grew visible, but there was something else beneath it-a sense of urgency, as if time were slipping through his fingers.
Lumien, still wounded, forced himself to his feet, mustering the most unconvincing smile he had ever worn. "Forgive our silence, good sir. We were just… surprised to see someone like you in this darkness."
Mia caught on quickly, her voice light but firm. "Yes, you see, we're just a group of friends who went on a trip for a few days. Out of nowhere, the ground started shaking, and when we woke up… we found ourselves here."
The soldier's posture eased slightly, but his guard remained intact. He was about to ask another question when another set of footsteps echoed from the tunnel. His head snapped toward the sound, and in an instant, he drew his sword.
Yusuf and Elijah halted in their tracks, the sudden threat freezing them in place. Yusuf's mind raced, analyzing the situation. This was bad. Very bad.
Elijah, on the other hand, met the soldier's gaze with a calculating stare, already considering the most efficient way to take him down.
The soldier kept his stance but turned slightly to Lumien. "Are they with you?"
Lumien, still playing the role of the harmless traveler, nodded with another forced smile. "Yes, good sir, they are. We were trapped here for some time, and they went to hunt our meal."
The soldier studied the two newcomers before slowly lowering his blade, though he did not fully relax. "I see," he muttered, slipping his sword back into its sheath, though his right hand returned to rest on a hidden dagger at his waist.
Turning his attention back to Yusuf, he asked, "Where are you from?"
Before they could answer, Mia stepped in hastily. "Same as you, sir. From Durnhart. And just like we told you, we found ourselves here and don't know how."
The soldier remained silent for a moment, processing her words and fast response. Then, slowly, he exhaled, his grip on his weapon easing—but not completely relaxing. Whatever urgency had pressed him before, it hadn't faded.
The soldier sighed, rubbing a hand across his face. The exhaustion in his posture became evident, the earlier edge in his tone giving way to something heavier. "I see. Then perhaps you're as lost as I am. I owe you an apology for my hostility." He straightened slightly, taking on a more formal demeanor. "I am Sergeant Aldric Vael of Durnhart's expeditionary forces. The entirety of Vaharos was suddenly sealed inside a mysterious barrier. None of us could get in or out. Then... something else happened."
His expression darkened as he continued, "An enormous, heart-shaped rock erupted from the land itself-twisted with giant tree trunks and earth veins wrapping around it like something alive. My team and I were dispatched and ordered to investigate. But then..." His jaw clenched. "My team vanished. One by one inside this place, without a sound. No traces left behind. I've been searching for them and a way out for what feels like hours now."
A heavy silence settled over the group as they absorbed his words. A barrier sealing what he called Vaharos? A grotesque rock formation emerging from nowhere? People disappearing without a trace? It was too much to process.
Chloe was the first to break the silence, her voice hesitant yet filled with sympathy. "That... sounds terrifying."
Aldric let out a dry chuckle, though it lacked any real humor. "You don't know the half of it."
A thought crossed Chris's mind, and he voiced it cautiously. "If there's a barrier trapping everyone, does that mean we're completely cut off from the outside world? No way to call for help?"
Aldric gave a solemn nod. "As far as I can tell, yes. No messages can be sent, no supplies can be received. We're on our own, but it's not like we need those freaks now do we? The whole continent is sealed so we can self-sustain ourselves"
The group absorbed the new Information without alerting the Sergeant to their anomaly.
After a moment, Aldric exhaled and glanced at their makeshift fire, his eyes falling on the fresh hunt resting beside Yusuf and Elijah. "I hate to impose further," he said, his voice carrying an air of reluctant humility, "but would you mind sharing your meal? It's been some time since I last ate."
A brief look was exchanged among the group before they all nodded, their smiles-though small-genuine. "Of course," Lumien answered. "It's the least we can do."
Aldric gave a grateful nod, finally easing his stance. The tension in the air began to dissipate, and for a brief moment, the group felt as though they had narrowly escaped an unseen danger. Yet, even as the others settled in, a quiet intensity lingered in Elijah's gaze, his thoughts unreadable as he watched Aldric closely, as though still expecting something to happen.