The smell of roasting meat hung in the air, so rich and tantalizing that it made my stomach growl in anticipation. It was like an animal waking from a long, cold sleep, craving its next meal.
As we walked toward the camp, Drake shot a glance at me, a glint of amusement still in his eyes. I could tell he was remembering my mud-covered face, and I shot him a warning look, narrowing my eyes into slits. He only chuckled softly, the sound like a breeze rustling through the leaves.
My mind, though, wasn't focused on our easy pace. It wandered back to the Phobian I had encountered earlier—the strange encounter that was now woven into the fabric of my thoughts. I couldn't forget the stone Zarak had made me eat, or the burning sensation that had coursed through me, like liquid fire racing through my veins.
Then his voice, desperate and frantic, echoed in my mind again, tugging at my memory like a powerful current.
"I don't have much time... you must promise me that you'll conquer the Aetherstone… Aries!! Awaken the power of the Almighty Great Ancient stone."
My hand instinctively rose, and I stared at it, frustration building like a storm inside me. What the hell happened there? What is the Aetherstone, and what did Zarak meant? I couldn't shake the feeling that I had missed something—something important.
Drake's voice pulled me from my thoughts, low and concerned. "Is something the matter, Aries?" His eyes locked onto mine, probing.
I quickly dropped my hand, trying to appear unfazed. "Nah, it's nothing, Gramps." I forced a smile, hoping he didn't see the storm brewing behind my eyes. But I knew he saw right through it.
We arrived at the camp, where the soft crackle of the fire greeted us. The night had settled in, its darkness only pierced by the warm glow of the flames—like a golden beacon in the wilderness. I sank onto a nearby stone, eagerly taking a bite of the roasted meat.
"Mhhh… it's delicious, Gramps," I said, the rich flavors igniting a brief, comforting moment of peace.
Drake beamed with pride, eyes half-closed in satisfaction. "Just who do you think I am?" he said, his voice dripping with playful arrogance. "I'm the one who can conjure up a feast fit for the gods, that's who I am…" His laugh boomed in the air, filling the space around us. "Muhahahaa!"
I narrowed my eyes, silently thinking, I shouldn't have said that. But before he could get too full of himself, I shifted my focus. I needed to know more about the Phobians.
Leaning forward, I caught Drake's gaze. "Hey, Gramps, you know something about Phobians, right? Can you tell me something about them?" The question had been burning at the back of my mind all day, and now I couldn't ignore it.
Drake's eyes snapped up from his meal, suddenly serious. He set his utensils down, his hands resting heavily on his knees. "How did you come to know about them? Who told a child like you about them?" His voice dropped into something darker.
I shrugged, trying to downplay my curiosity, but I couldn't hide the keen interest in my eyes. "I just read about them in a book," I said, not backing down.
Drake sighed, his gaze shifting to the fire. The dancing flames cast shadows on his face as his expression softened. "Okay... well, as you know, there are many races in this world. Elves, sprites, fairies... but Phobians and humans are the two main ones."
His voice dipped into something cold. "Phobians... they're merciless. They don't care about lives. They're devoid of feelings. Cold-hearted. Pure evil, Aries."
He clenched his fist, his tone rising with intensity. "All they crave is power. They want to imprison us, see us as toys, puppets to manipulate. They never cooperated with humans. They're like killing machines!"
There was a sudden pause, a silence that thickened the air around us. I could sense the weight of something terrible in Drake's voice. His gaze turned distant, his eyes clouded with something—something painful. I watched as his expression darkened, his mind drifting away to a place I couldn't follow.
Suddenly, I felt a ripple of fear stir inside me. Wait—he's not going to kill me, is he? by thinking I'm a Phobian? The thought caused a small knot to form in my stomach. I quickly forced a grin, trying to hide the growing unease. Man, I'm in trouble.
Drake took a deep breath, shaking his head slightly, as if pushing away the past. He refocused on me. "Sorry, Aries. Lost my cool there."
I raised my hands, palms up, smiling softly. "No, Gramps. Don't apologize. It's not your fault." I wasn't sure what he was remembering, but I understood. Some things—some memories—were too heavy to carry alone.
Drake continued, his voice now quieter. "I forgot to mention... their mana arcane is incredibly powerful. They can summon mana beasts—creatures that resemble humans but with monstrous differences. Their eyes, their horns…" He paused, his face grim. "That's how you'll know them. Their power is not to be underestimated."
A chill ran through me as I thought back to the creatures I had seen. Could they have been...?
Drake caught my look, and his eyes softened. "That's all I can tell you for now, Aries. When you grow older, you'll understand more about the world... and its complexities."
I wanted to ask more, but I could tell this was a subject he didn't want to dwell on any longer. Instead, I pushed it aside, along with my lingering questions. "Alright, Gramps. I'm gonna sleep. Good night," I said, trying to keep my tone light, despite the weight of everything swirling in my mind.
Drake nodded, already half-asleep, his head dipping forward slightly. "Good night, Aries."
As I lay down, the world around me began to fade. But in the darkness, I found myself in a strange, desolate place. The air was thick, heavy with an eerie silence, and the darkness seemed to press in on me. I sat up, disoriented, my senses sharp and alert.
What is this place? Where am I? My voice trembled as I spoke into the void. The emptiness swallowed my words, leaving me alone in the suffocating dark.