Author's Preface
As Naren and Cairo stood frozen in front of the looming gateway of the ancient city that laid in ruins before them, the ground suddenly began to rumble once more. The same type of rumble that brought about this endless night.
Naren took off the earclogs, grimacing as the howling wind cut through his eardrums like a sharp blade Naren fell to one knee in a mix of both pain and exhaustion.
But he persisted through the pain, trying his best to listen for the noise that existed beyond the howls.
And there it was.
Naren flicked his head back, to which Cairo followed. His eyes straining as he looked deep in the maze of the demonic flora and stone pillars. Deep in the nestled forest of Gaia Naren heard movement.
Swift and erratic movement cutting padded by the snow.
Beside him, Cairo's eyes widened as he noticed the first figure come into view in the dark of night. It's body like a slender horse, ribs of bones fortifying it's torso.
Hooves digging into the snow, as the embers clicked out of it's pincer like mouth, like a flint and steal that produced a moment of heat.
Similarly, Naren noticed as well, just a moment after Cairo. At that point, his head was already looking around for reflections. Yet, at the dead of night, nothing came to view.
So Naren did all he could.
"H-hold...this...f-for...a...sec..."
Naren heaved the princess on Cairo's back and made a dash for the ancient city. Diving into a stone building that seemed to be in shape, more or less.
Sure there was only one beast in sight, but Naren knew that wasn't the end of it. The noises he heard through the wind, the rummaging and stomping. Banging and whistling that persisted. There were hundreds of them.
Hundreds of different beasts prowling around them.
Why they came out now, Naren couldn't answer. Though he didn't really care to answer. Sure, he was throwing away his only guide to Atlas, but what good is that if he was dead.
Naren tumbled inside building, slamming the wooden door behind him as he finally received a little more respite from both the cold and wind.
Inside here, it was a bit warmer, but more than anything, the stone did well in dampening the outside noise. At least he could take a breather in here.
But just a moment later, the wooden door swung wide again, the howling wind cutting in along with the erratic squeal and stampeding hooves of a beast in peril.
A one-eyed man heaved inside, dropping all their supplies at the door while he laid the princess down.
"Buddy! You made it."
Naren sheepishly approached Cairo, grabbing the various equipment that had spilled out of the sacks as he pretended to organize them for the team's sake.
"I was getting-"
Cairo grabbed Naren by the collar, pulling him up as he stared daggers into his golden eyes.
"Do that again, I'll feed you to the ravens."
With that, Cairo dropped the red-haired boy.
Naren quivering with the bloodlust that Cairo had oozing out of him.
Naren watched as Cairo wiped his back off, where the princess had been carried just moments ago. His clothes slightly bright from the heat he used.
He couldn't quite get a read on the man. He wanted to wipe out a clan of nobles, but he decided to come down to the Tomb of Atlas to find a witch. Surely, there must've been simpler methods. Methods that Naren had unfortunately not been aware of.
On top of that, he seemed to hold a deep disdain for Yuna. Refusing to hold her, and now even vigorously wiping himself like he'd been sullied.
Naren didn't have much interest in things beside himself. It was natural for him in a world where his existence was void. Yet, when the red-haired boy found something that interested him, he often became overly obsessed with it. To the point where he would do anything to quench his thirst.
Naren gripped his scarf as he titled his head, his golden eyes wide in a cat-like posture. Like one carefully observing every little detail of the specimen in front of it.
"Say, pal. What's keeping you going in this place?"
Cairo looked over at Naren, his face dull and unamused.
"Shit's for me to know."
Naren edged closer his vibrant eyes grabbing Cairo's grey eye into an alluring tale.
Cairo backed up a little, furrowing his brows before he eventually sighed.
"Heard one of Hephaestus' sins was here."
Naren backed up, leaning back on his arms.
"Hmm...But aren't you afraid you won't find a witch?...I heard there were no more witches left at the Tomb of Atlas."
Cairo scoffed.
"You believe that shit? Shaman's takin over a city of witches? That's bull! Ten shaman would get their ass handed to them by a singular witch."
Suddenly, Yuna began a rough coughing fit. The first acknowledgement of her survival in all these hours.
Naren crawled over at the princess who's eyes squinted open slightly. Her cough becoming more and more aggressive.
"You good?"
Yuna's coughing grew more and more concerning as the princess tried pushing herself up, to which Naren help her sit up.
She leaned in on her hands before coughing up a stream of blood.
Naren looked over at Cairo who was watching with only mild interest, though Naren could swear he noticed even the slightest sliver of annoyance.
He didn't know what to do in this situation. He had never cared for anyone, so he was hoping Cairo could take the lead. Though it seemed that was a pointless ask.
Then Yuna's voice finally escaped the coughs. A small meek hoarse whisper that barely made it out.
"Ambrosia...poisoning..."
With that the princess fell on Naren's lap, her face flush and looking even more pale than before. Her breathing became more erratic and Naren could hear it more clearly now. Her elevated heartbeat, beating like a wild beast.
Naren looked over at Cairo. Though he still wasn't completely satisfied on Cairo's answer, he was now holding a more precious problem on his lap. The well-being of their guide to Atlas.
"uh, Cairo...You don't happen to know what ambrosia poisoning is do you?"