CAERA DENOIR POV:
My eyes kept glancing over at the Djinn child who Grey had managed to save from the horde of creatures.
I couldn't help but do so, because, never in my wildest imaginations, had I thought I would have an opportunity such as this. But, more importantly, the reason I couldn't take my eyes off of the child was because...of the way he looked—it was very unusual.
Taking another glance at him, I noticed his—odd—features.
Purple hair and skin. He sure looked similar to the Djinn remnant—the woman—that Grey and I had met once. But, a large wound that ran from his chest to his torso, and lack of any blood seeping out from it; coupled with his obvious lack of emotions to the pain that should have been there...it was very off-putting and made me question whether he was really a human.
Ever since he was rescued, the child hasn't spoken a single word; though, he was surprised at first when he saw us, yet he seemed to trust us? Or, trust Grey?
It was odd.
What's more odd is that, he has been clinging on to Grey, seemingly ignoring my presence. I wasn't bothered by it, of-course, since he is only a child. But Grey, who had caught the child's attention, was somehow able to communicate with him. I was surprised at that, but I soon got an answer as to how.
Aether...
Minutes passed as Grey and the child, who apparently is named Ion, had a long 'mental' conversation.
We found that the "invisible" attack made on Grey was something caused by the child, Ion due to the obvious injury on his body. It was unbelievable to hear that statement given how powerful Grey is. But, he seems to accept it, so I didn't question further about it.
Soon after that, we had started moving, while Grey asked Regis to look after the child; but the wolf kept rambling and complaining about task given to him by his master.
"Hey kid, listen up. I ain't your ride, and you ain't my princess. So quit grabbing on to my horns before I burn those tiny hands of yours!" Regis grumbled at Ion, who was silently riding the shadow wolf.
My eyes turned towards Grey, who was ignoring Regis's shouts and plea's as he strolled purposely towards somewhere. He hadn't shared anything with me, though I am not sure what information he had received. I was curious.
"Grey, what was he saying? And where are we going?" I asked in anticipation, hoping he would share the information with me.
He slowed down his footsteps and slightly tilted his head to the side. Taking a moment to probably compose his thoughts, he spoke up. "Don't worry about it." He paused and turned to look at the child, Ion. "We'll be there soon."
I simply nodded at his cryptic words, hoping we would get wherever we are going, soon. To say that I was excited, would be an understatement. I have always loved going on ascents, thanks to my late brother Sevren.
Some would say that I have a taste of addiction to the Relictombs.
But, meeting Grey. And then this, I felt as if this was the most exciting moment of my life.
The ancient mages have always been an enigma, even in the lands ruled by the Gods themselves. Such was the mystery and secrecy behind the ancient mages and their Relictombs.
I must be one of the lucky few, if not one of the first two, to enter a zone that is supposedly—no, definitely—an ancient ruin, of the ancient mages.
Shaking away those thrilling thoughts, I noticed that Grey had stopped walking.
I followed his gaze to look at the lonely—building, or some sort of a cave formation—that stood at the heart of the barren lands, outside the city we had teleported into.
The entire area seemed to be devoid of any life or objects.
Suddenly, Grey turned back to look at me. "This is the place." He spoke with his usual tone. "Ion, wants us to take him back inside. But..." he paused as his eyes landed on the child, his facial expression seemed like he was holding a mental conversation with the child. So I waited for him to continue. "He says that there's a beast, taken over that place which was supposed to be his home."
My eyes opened wide at this information while a lot more questions formed inside my mind. But I kept my silence for now, as we will have to fight whatever that beast is, if we ever want to go inside.
It won't be a problem with both of us here, I thought, before looking back at Grey. "What are we waiting for then? Let's go."
He nodded back in response as we started walking towards the cave formation, while Regis and Ion followed closer behind.
The structure was huge, both in its height and its width. A large entrance greeted us as we stepped inside its shell structure, which, seemingly had no support pillars to keep the roof stable. Or maybe it could've been a natural formation, I didn't know.
My eyes studied the rocky interiors, shining in deep purple as they pulsed and swirled around its insides, as if they were alive.
The entire cave seemed to glow in a deep amethyst colour...reminding me of Grey's power.
It didn't take me long to figure out that the rocky composition of this cave-like structure must be made up of aether.
Just as we walked past the entrance, Grey stopped on his tracks. I quickly mirrored his action, as my crimson blade appeared in my hand with haste.
Looking around I tried to sense any potential danger. But there wasn't any that my Vritra-senses could catch. And I was about to ask Grey for confirmation...when a—deep rumbling noise—struck the cave we were in. It boomed throughout the rocky interiors, as the ground trembled in response.
My body vibrated in consequence, when a light started to shimmer from the corner of my eyes.
I saw Grey reactivating his blood armour, its obsidian scales and the golden trims glimmering against the amethyst light surrounding the interiors, giving off a mystique presence. A bright—purple sword, made of aether—came into existence in his hands.
Suddenly, Grey vanished from the sight.
My eyebrows shot up as I snapped my head around to spot him. But my confusion didn't last for long as I heard a sharp *clang* in front of me, a few meters away.
That's when I saw the beast.
I felt my breathing stop, in response, and my scarlet eyes tremble in a sense of pure panic and terror at the sight before me.
More than 5 meters in height, the beast stood on its four legs. Each legs were armed with sharp dark claws that must have been as large as a grown man's torso. It's body shimmered in a midnight black, seemingly absorbing away all the visible light around its colossal body. Only light visible from it were from the hollow cavities where its eyes should've been, as they burned in purple fire.
The beast was nothing like those black creatures we had fought a few hours ago. No. This monstrosity could very well have crushed them with just its pressure and the intimidating aura radiating from those burning eyes.
It made the other creatures look like simple, cannon fodders.
My eyes peeled away from the scary beast, to where they were set on.
It was Grey. He had started his first attack, and now standing right below the mammoth beast, looking up at its burning eyes.
Battle of stares raged and intensified between the two, before the beast made its move.
Stillness broke as the beast lifted its front paws and brought it down on Grey, who might have been a small insect to those large purple eyes. And it was fast. Its paws moved at a monstrous speed that didn't match its mammoth size.
But Grey was faster.
His form shimmered as he blinked from his position and reappeared below the beast's neck. His hands crossed diagonally as he swung it open and out; the aether blades coalesced back in his hands as they slashed at the beast's neck.
When the blade touched the beast's tough hide, a purple light erupted from its skin just as the blade left its mark. The beast let out a grunt in response, that was loud enough to make my insides tremble in fear. My heightened senses screamed at me to run away when the beast's purple eyes fired ablaze in a fury at its attacker.
Grey appeared back on the ground, looking up at the beast's neck. It wasn't a surprise that it's skin barely had a scratch.
The beast lifted off its front legs once again and aimed at Grey's position, its sharp claws pointing outward as they made a B-line towards Grey's head. But, he again disappeared and reappeared, this time above the beast's head as he plunged down the aether blade into the back of its neck.
He cut and slashed at the joint at an inhumane speed as the beast writhed in what could only be meant as a pain.
Purple sparks and smokes erupted from the beast's neck as Grey's powerful aether blade worked its way in. With one swift motion, Grey plunged his blade at a square angle making the purple blade vanish inside the beast's body.
My heart thrummed against my chest in anticipation. The beast let out a desperate cry, it's purple eyes burning with much vigour that showed that it hasn't given up its fight, yet.
Grey freed his hands from the beast's neck. In a second, two aether blades coalesced into existence at his hand, but their intensity seemed much denser than the previous ones he had created.
Just looking at the bright blade made my neck tingle as a feeling of discomfort clawed at my insides.
Without any reprieve Grey lifted his hands to the side and plunged it down against the beast's bleeding neck.
But suddenly, the beast dipped down to avoid further attacks on its unguarded back and swiftly turned its upper body to swipe at its dangerous attacker.
Now the beast was facing Grey head on.
Caught off-guard by the beast's action, Grey tried to teleport away. But as soon as he reappeared on the ground, the beast slammed its front legs at the exact position Grey had appeared on.
Blood left my face and my breathing stopped in an instance.
"GREY!!" I screamed, in panic and worry, yet knowing it wouldn't be of much help. I started to sprint through the dust of clouds, before giving one last look at the shadow wolf.
He's supposed to protect the Djinn child while Grey and I fight this—monstrosity.
"Be careful. Even my aether blades isn't doing much damage to its skin." I heard Grey say when I closed in; his voice, calm despite the danger he was in, only a second ago. Clearing through the dust and debris, my eyes searched around until it locked onto his form.
He was okay.
Now standing standing a few meters away, his golden eyes fully locked onto the beast, ready to move any second.
I peeled my eyes away from the man, to look back at the beast. "You take its rear. I'll try to keep its attention on me." Grey ordered. Without any ounce of hesitation, I did as told.
Not wanting to hold anything back, I set my blade ablaze with my soul fire as it came into existence.
The beast shifted its position to its side when I heard the sounds of crashing and hacking coming from what I thought to be Grey's work.
Raging black flames leapt out of my burning blade as it made its way to the beast's back leg.
It let out a shrill cry that resonated in the air, making my blade to vibrate inside my hands.
I narrowed my eyes when I saw the soul fire biting it's way into the beast's hide. It's leg shifted to the front in pain when the fire burned its black-void surface.
A light of hope lit inside me as I moved with determination. The world around me seemed to slow and the sounds made by the beast became indistinct, as I performed a series of slashes all aimed at the beast's leg.
My lifelong training from my mentor, the great Scythe Seris Vritra kicked in, as my speed increased and the burning soul fire raged in fury as it fought its own battle of domination against the black hide of the beast.
A sharp crunching noise hit my eardrums just as my blade made its final slash.
Finally, one of the beast's legs cut off from its body.
I breathed out a sigh of relief and my confidence rose at the sight. Ignoring the beast's wailing, that could crumble a house with its deep rumble, I turned my focus to its other leg.
Just as I started to move, a small figure came running towards the bloody battlefield. My confusion rose up and I snapped my head to look.
My eyes widened in horror at the view.
It was the Djinn child, Ion, and he was running towards Grey.
My focus shifted towards Grey for a slight second as I saw him crumbled against the purple rocky wall of the cave. His armour pierced at multiple points as blood seeped out. His face a sweaty mess, grime of blood painting his cheeks.
My heart fluttered.
Letting my instincts kick in, I ran forward. Towards the child. As much as I wanted to go to Grey, I knew he would be alright and this is what he would've wanted.
From the corner of my eyes I noticed the beast turning its attention to the child—to me. Ignoring the senses of impending doom I hurled past the broken and charred grounds to reach the child.
My eyes locked onto his, as I ignored his oddly expressionless face to the situation we were in...and took him into my arms. Without turning back, I ran with all my life in the line, with the hope of getting away from the clutches of the colossal monster behind me.
But, a sudden feeling of dread took over me, my instincts screaming at me to run faster; to run for my life...when a large black claw the size of a grown man pierced the ground just a step in front of me.
All air left my lungs and my hold around the Djinn child tightened. Adrenaline pumped in, making my senses go rapid and haywire. Dodging what's left of the sharp claws from the beast, my eyes locked on the person—or the wolf—who was responsible for all this.
Damn you, Regis! I thought inwardly as I sprinted out of the debris to reach a safe position.
The shadow wolf looked at me and the Djinn child, with his vulpine eyes wide and his jaws slack.
"Regis! You had one job!" I glared at the shadow wolf, making him visibly shrunk. "I'm sorry ma'am! Please don't hurt me ma'am!" He said in a sarcastic tone, making me glare at him even more.
Grey teleported next to us, making me shift my gaze towards him. His armour was back to being pristine, his face a little tired but other than that he looked to be in a good condition.
I breathed out a sigh of relief as several tons of weight disappeared from me instantly.
Grey narrowed his eyes when his gaze landed on me. I didn't understand what he was thinking, but...he looked angry.
"Grey? Are you o—" before I could even finish my question, the air around the cave started to change.
Suddenly a sharp chill ran down my spine as a thick palpable pressure of dread and gloom settled down, making it harder to breath.
I staggered on my legs unable to keep myself upright. My heart started beating so fast that I was afraid it would break out of my rib cage.
My eyes struggled to look at the source of this oppressive feeling.
It was Grey. His all-familiar bloodlust—his aetheric intent—was let loose; it wasn't even aimed at me, but I couldn't help but cower in fear and awe.
With all of my mental fortitude, I stood my ground, knowing that he is only trying to protect us. With the sudden surge of power came in the unmistakable silence, as the beast fearfully moved back to save its hide.
"Regis!" Grey called out, his voice a low-rumbling thunder, as it shattered away the ethereal silence.
The shadow wolf ran towards his master, leaping up and disappearing inside his body. Just as that happened, Grey's hand lit up with a purple flame.
I gasped. It was always overwhelming to see the familiar purple flames.
My body shuddered at the sight; all the bad memories associated with it started to pour inside my mind, eating away the sense of calmness I had found only a few moments ago.
The very air around the flame warped and scattered away in fear of getting eaten. The mana in the atmosphere started to burn and disintegrate, under the might of the burning—purple—fire.
I knew—even my black fire wouldn't stand a chance against that hellish flame as my soul fire filled veins begged at me to get away, run far away from that destructive flame.
Gritting my teeth, I watched my companion disappear from his position.
The deathly aura suffocating the atmosphere vanished for an instance along with Grey, before it reappeared. Along with it came the sound of ground trembling.
I snapped my head to watch the monstrosity...it's colossal body—shaking in fear—as it looked frozen in place. The before predatory eyes, now looked like they belonged to a prey, as they dimmed—almost ready to extinguish itself.
But Grey didn't let that happen. Just as he reappeared in front of the beast, unguarded and uncaring, to any potential attack, he floated in the air.
With his feline eyes set on his prey, he uttered a single word—that started a chain of wailing and sorrow-filled screams from the colossal beast.
"Burn."
The—destructive—purple flames, leapt up from Grey's hand and danced on the beast's body, slowly eating away its existence from the reality.
Grey's body shivered ever-so-slightly, a consequence of using this godly-power. My worry crept up as I moved closer to him, despite his warning that I shouldn't get closer while he uses his Destruction God-Rune.
But suddenly, my eyes opened wide when the beast moved its withering body in a last ditch attempt to hurt its reaper. Grey being in an unstable state, was caught off-guard by this, as the beast's sharp claws dug against his upper body.
"GREY!!!" I screamed as I ran with all my might. Just as I neared him, I noticed he was pushed to the ground and now kneeling and struggling to get back up.
Destruction flames in his hand started to go back to its slumber.
The beast's final wail came to an end just as Grey stood up from the ground, and finally turned towards me.
All the tension and the suffocating pressure in the air, vanished, giving way to a sense of silent calm.
I stopped, a few feet away from Grey's.
My brows furrowed when my eyes landed on his figure. His armour has been deactivated, thus showing his body's condition. There was a—bloody gash—running deep across from his shoulder to his chest, I noticed.
He was injured.
The blood was gushing out, seeping into his torn clothes as they stained red and clung onto his skin.
His figure closed in on me, as he spoke out loud something, but, all of my focus was still on his injury.
My hand lifted up and reached out to him; to reach his injury. I felt my heart ache looking at him this way. Bloody and bruised.
But just as my hand was about to reach his chest...purple light came into view and washed over his wounds, slowly cleaning it away as if it was never there.
A smile appeared on my face. Though, a sad smile.
I placed my hand and brushed my fingers against his—now flawless—skin. His body flinched ever-so-slightly to my soft touch.
It was very ironical to see that reaction from the man, while he didn't even bat an eye, or flinch, while the monsters clawed at him—giving him his injury.
But just my touch...
I snapped out of that thought when I felt something brush my skin.
That's when I noticed that Grey's hand was not on his side—but, were on me.
I followed his trail to see him holding my body; my arm, to be precise.
That's when I realised that I was bleeding too. That I was injured in my left arm. Blood seems to have already covered my entire arm, dripping from my finger tips as they formed a small puddle beneath my feet.
How did I not see that?
How did I not feel the pain?
I questioned myself in a mixture of shock and confusion. But my eyes and hand never left Grey's chest.
Suddenly I felt his hand softly caress my arm, my shoulder. His voice came out.
"You worry..." He said cryptically, with a soft tone filled with concern. His eyes now on mine, looking with an emotion that I hadn't ever seen—or thought he would have—or show me ever.
It was...love and care, filled with warmth.
I felt my heart skipping a few beats. I was afraid—even sure—that it might stop beating then and there...and he spoke again. "Sorry."
Just one word.
And his hands lifted up to the side of my face...as he gently stroked my hair.
That one action.
That one action, was all it needed to break the dam—the tension, the everything, that I had built up all my life protecting me—to crumble down instantly.
I felt vulnerable. I felt my guard lower as an endless emotions flooded out to fill my insides.
My lifelong sorrows were pushed back by an intense hope and yearning. While joy and happiness bloomed all over me. Everything felt anew and foreign, yet oddly warming and welcoming.
I felt safer in his hand, despite the situation we were in.
This was the moment...
I wanted nothing more than this moment to go on. To blossom into something more...
Maybe a kiss?
I looked up at him. With my face full of intent. I wasn't hiding how much I loved this moment. To make him understand what he means to me.
But, his eyes were on my injury.
His worried eyes...
And. I let my selfish thoughts fade away. For now. As I dug my face deeper. My cheek into his palms. Letting him stroke my face.
I'll savour this short moment for now. I thought in a wistful acceptance.
His hands moved to the back of my head, as he slowly pulled me closer to his chest!
But just as I was reaching the—safe place—I felt a tug at my legs.
Breaking out of the sweet reverie, I saw the child looking up—at us—expectantly.
What now?
Is this how it's going to be when I—we—have kids? I thought as my eyes pulled themselves towards Grey's.
I noticed, that his attention was now shifted down to the child. His face switched back to being neutral; no traces of any previous emotions.
I sighed. This little critter. You just ruined my moment. I thought in defeat.
Shaking my head I turned to the side and knelt down to meet the child's level. "What's he saying now? Shall we go inside?"