The last light of the twin suns of the wondrous world was about to disappear below the horizon. Ashwind Post began to be enveloped by the tranquility of nightfall. But inside the large hut of Elder Eldrin, the atmosphere was filled with an uncomfortable tension and silence. Only the flickering candlelight on the wooden table in the center of the room swayed, revealing the thoughtful faces and worried eyes of the key leaders.
Kiana, the current leader, sat silently beside Eldrin. Though his body was still weak from the loss of an arm, his worldly eyes still shone with wisdom and determination. Opposite them was Leonardo da Vinci, the young foreigner endowed with astonishing intellect. His expression was calm but held a deep-seated concern as he examined the short message on an old piece of parchment before him.
It was the message a carrier pigeon had delivered that morning. The pigeon had flown from the direction where Ryu, the young samurai who had volunteered to scout the dangerous lands of the Nebula Empire, had headed weeks ago. And the content of the message... brought no good news at all.
"This message... is not directly from Ryu," Eldrin spoke, breaking the silence, his voice hoarse but firm. "But from an 'old friend' of mine who still has connections in the shadows of Siren's Haven. He reports... unusual movements of Nebula forces in that port city recently. Surveillance has been tightened manyfold, and there are strong rumors about the appearance of 'Hunters' or special imperial operatives..."
Kiana clenched her fists so tightly her knuckles turned white. "And... and Ryu, Grandfather? Is there any news about him in the message?" Her voice trembled slightly with concern for her only brother.
Eldrin slowly shook his head. "Ryu's name is not mentioned directly... but my friend warns that a 'stranger,' fitting the description of a swordsman from a distant land, is being relentlessly hunted by 'something' extremely dangerous in that city. He couldn't provide more details, as sending out the message itself was already very risky."
The atmosphere in the room grew heavier. Da Vinci frowned slightly, analyzing the information. "'Something extremely dangerous'... Elder, can you guess what that might mean?"
Eldrin sighed deeply. "I fear it might be one of the 'Seven Hunters' whose names we've heard... or perhaps another secret imperial agency we don't know about yet. But whatever it is... it means Ryu is in mortal danger."
"We have to do something!" Kiana exclaimed, her voice filled with urgency. "I'll go find him myself! I can't just wait here anymore!"
"Calm down, Kiana!" Eldrin interjected, though his eyes were filled with no less pain. "It's too dangerous for you to rush out now. You are the leader of this village. If something happens to you too, what will our village do? And we still don't know for sure where Ryu is or what kind of help he needs."
Da Vinci nodded in agreement with Eldrin. "The Elder is right, Miss Kiana. Acting without a proper plan might only worsen the situation. The information we have now is too little, and the enemy we are about to face is stronger and more dangerous than we thought." He thought of the information Ryu had brought back about "Fenril" and "Eagle." "What we need is more accurate information and a solid plan."
"Then what should we do?" Kiana asked, her voice softer, but her eyes still full of a determination not to give up. "Are we just going to leave Ryu to face his fate alone?"
Silence fell over the meeting room again. Everyone pondered a solution, but it seemed all paths were blocked. Sending more people out was too risky, and waiting idly was too agonizing.
Finally, Eldrin looked up, a certain glint in his eyes. "I... might have a way," he said, making Kiana and Da Vinci look at him with hope. "It's a secret I've kept for a long time... about some 'friends' of mine who are not in this village... and perhaps... they can help us with this." He didn't elaborate further, but his words were enough to spark a small flicker of hope in everyone's hearts again. "But first... I have something I need you to help manage here... to prepare for any eventuality that might occur."
The meeting continued with great tension, but a clearer direction began to emerge. They had to prepare for threats that could reach the village at any moment, while also finding a way to contact Eldrin's mysterious "friends" to ask for help in finding Ryu.
Cutting back to Ryu in the dark underground tunnel...
The chilling darkness and the musty smell of old earth enveloped Ryu as soon as the stone wall silently slid shut, sealing the secret entrance. Light from the outside world was completely cut off, leaving only the faint sparks from the flint in his trembling hand to illuminate the narrow, winding passage that stretched endlessly into the oppressive darkness. It was a path not on the crude map "Shadow Fox" had given him, which meant exponentially increased uncertainty and danger.
The periodic sound of dripping water on the stone floor and his own ragged, heavy breathing were the only sounds breaking the eerie, nerve-wracking silence. The severe wound on his side from his clash with Fenril, and the one on his thigh from the mysterious dagger, still sent agonizing pain shooting through his body every time he tried to move. Although Da Vinci's special healing salve, given to him by Kiana, had helped to stop the bleeding and alleviate some of the pain, his strength was dwindling with each passing moment. His consciousness began to waver at times.
"Have... have to keep going..." Ryu murmured to himself, his voice hoarse. He gritted his teeth, trying to overcome the pain and rally his fading spirit. The image of the crucial information on the paper he still clutched tightly in his tunic swirled in his head repeatedly. "Da Vinci... Artificer... target of the Nebula Empire..." The heavy responsibility he bore on his young shoulders was the final driving force keeping him alive. He had to bring this news back to warn everyone at Ashwind Post, no matter the cost.
He pushed his battered and nearly exhausted body to its feet with great difficulty. His beloved katana was held in a slightly trembling but still firm hand. His sharp eyes tried to pierce the darkness ahead, ready to face any danger that might lurk in the shadows. As Shadow Fox had warned, this tunnel held more than just darkness and eerie silence...
He began to walk forward, slowly but steadily, each step taken with extreme caution. The faint light from the flint in his hand flickered with his movements, creating terrifying, dancing shadows on the rough, damp tunnel walls. This secret passage seemed older and more abandoned than the other parts he had passed through. It was more winding and complex than he had anticipated. Sometimes it was so narrow he had to squeeze through with difficulty. At times, the floor was so dilapidated and full of potholes that he had to be careful not to stumble. And many times, he faced intersections not on the map, forcing him to stop, think, and decide which path to take based on instinct alone.
The pain from his wounds began to intensify in waves. His vision blurred occasionally, but he still forced himself to press on, refusing to give up. He had no idea how much time had passed in this oppressive darkness.
Suddenly! As he was about to turn a corner in the tunnel, he heard a faint sound from ahead! It wasn't the sound of a wild beast, or dripping water, but something like... people talking softly! And then, a faint light peeked out from a crevice in the rocks ahead!
Ryu's heart pounded harder! Was this an exit? Or a trap?
He immediately extinguished the light from his flint. Darkness enveloped the area. He slowly crept closer to the source of the sound and light, as silently and cautiously as possible. He hid behind a large boulder, trying to peek out.
The sight that met his eyes made them widen in shock! Before him was a large cavern that seemed to have been converted into a dwelling or a secret base. Torches and oil lamps were placed along the cave walls, illuminating a group of about a dozen people working or talking! They wore simple but practical clothes, and everyone was armed with swords, daggers, or even some kind of firearms Ryu had never seen before! Guards were systematically posted at various points. This was definitely no ordinary group of forest bandits!
Ryu was about to retreat and regroup, but then he accidentally stepped on a dry twig on the ground!
Snap!
The sound, though soft, was loud enough for the nearest guard to whip around!
"Who's there! Show yourself!" the guard shouted, raising the crossbow in his hand and aiming it in Ryu's direction!
Everyone in the cavern immediately stopped what they were doing. All eyes focused on Ryu's hiding spot with alertness and readiness to fight!
Ryu knew he was caught. He slowly stepped out from his hiding place, raising both hands slowly to show he had no intention of fighting (for now). "I... I didn't mean to trespass. I just got lost."
"Lost?" A man who appeared to be the leader stepped forward. He was tall and well-built, with sharp features and a scar across one eye. His gaze was cold and full of distrust. "In a complex and dangerous tunnel like this, it's not a place ordinary people 'get lost' in easily. Who are you! Are you a spy sent by the Nebula Empire!"
Before Ryu could answer, a slightly gruff but strangely familiar female voice interjected from among the group!
"Wait a minute, Kairo! I think... I've seen this kid before!"
A woman in dark, practical leather attire stepped out from the shadows. Her dark brown hair was tied back carelessly. Twin pistols were still holstered at her waist. Though her face looked slightly weary and had some abrasions from fighting, her sharp eyes still shone with determination and defiance. She looked at Ryu with an expression of surprise mixed with curiosity.
"You... Raven!" Ryu exclaimed, so shocked he could barely believe his eyes. He never thought he would meet the woman who had saved him again in such a place and under such circumstances!
[End of Chapter 21]