Eryth exhaled deeply as he climbed out of the well. His eyes involuntarily squinted as the bright sun once again slapped him hard against the face.
"You need not tell us no tales, we know you have successfully exorcised the witch that hunted us for years." Eryth veered around to find the speaker, Sven and the other villagers.
Sven had a wide smile on his face and held a cup in his left hand. "Are you certain you are not a god?" He questioned.
Eryth walked forward and collected the cup from the chief's hand, a slight frown on his face. "If I were one, I wouldn't have stayed as long as I did, would I?" He said before gulping down his drink.
Sven smiled. "Indeed, but you're an extremely powerful being," he stated. "I can tell you try to suppress your energy but your superiority still shines."
"Okay, enough… why don't you just tell me where the mountain is? I am running out of time."
The head of the village held his hand behind his back. "Yes of course, but I still have to look for the map, locations in my head are all rusted up. You should rest for a few hours, I'll summon you once I find it."
Eryth narrowed his eyes at the man before nodding. "Fine."
He turned and started toward the house he was given to stay for the time being.
.
.
.
"Monk Zumma." The said name who was walking through the thick forest stopped and veered around to see Blutox approaching him. The latter wore his usual attire but with the right shoulder sewn completely closed.
The Monk turned back and continued, forcing the Blue Kanrei to quicken his pace to catch up to him.
"If you are going to ask about my relationship with Hex, I'll advise you to drop it, because I've spoken about it enough for one day."
"Well I didn't hear any of it, and knowing that you trained the man who is making my life a living hell completely changes everything."
The Monk sighed and held his hands behind his back. "Hex chose his part, he chose to be who he is now despite all my training and words, what else is there to tell?"
"What made Hex choose that part?"
The monk stopped and turned to face Blutox. "I found him during one of my many expeditions, he was a remarkable Mage. A Black coloured Rune Act User who knew too little about his abilities, so I wanted to make sure his abilities didn't take over him like most Mages with that ability, but I showed him too much of the possibilities of his kind."
Zumma turned his back to Blutox. "I couldn't stop him. When he told me he was leaving to find his purpose, I had thought it would be something else, perhaps hone his skills for a better good, but." He paused.
"You knew Hex on a personal level but told us nothing about it," Blutox argued.
Zumma raised his head to look at Blutox. "Would telling you that I once mentored Hex change the outcome of the battle?"
He let Blutox ponder the question and walked away.
.
.
.
Eryth stood up on his feet as he noticed a shadow pass swiftly across the room. "Who's there?" He called out.
He outstretched his hand to where his sword was and it flew into his hand before slowly walking towards that direction.
The being zipped past, again and again, causing Eryth to turn in several directions. It was trying to be subtle, it was here for one thing and it made its intentions clear.
"Fine," Eryth said before sheathing his sword into his belt.
He shot his eyes and stood still as if waiting for the being to arrive. Just as the being made a move, Black Rune markings appeared on the ground and a strong wind blew all around, shattering the entire house while also throwing the hidden individuals to the ground.
The man groaned and dragged himself up. The clothes which he used to cover his face fell off, revealing his face.
"Sven, I knew it!" Eryth said, his voice turning into a higher pitch like that of a female, not just any female.
"Wendy?" Sven's eyes widened. "You damn manipulative bitch."
She smiled. "It was his idea."
● A Few Hours Earlier, inside the well.
"How about you bind your soul to me instead?" Eryth queried.
Wendy raised her eyebrows. "I don't follow."
"Understand you this, if you bind your soul to me, I'll be able to see your memories and verify if what you are saying is true, and if it is true, I'll allow you to use my body to get your revenge on the clowns above, not the gods, your former fellow village mate."
There was a slight twinkle in her eyes but it disappeared quickly.
"I'm not sure."
"The Spectre could come at me the second I unbind from this well," she revealed. "At this point, I've more than abused the Life and Death Act."
"It's fine, I'll protect you… Plus I doubt that old man could withstand my attacks."
Wendy smiled softly. "I don't think he's that old."
"He goes by Elder the Spectre, I can bet half my lifespan that he's a wrinkled old being."
"Be careful what you say, the gods do get angry at words we say."
Eryth nodded understandably. "Speaking of, do you happen to know where the Inshik Mountain is? Sven was going to lead me there once I'm done exorcising you but I guess that's not happening anymore."
"I do, I can show you the place."
"Great, well let's do this."
"Wait, what would you have done if I didn't know the location?"
Eryth placed his hands on his waist and looked up at her. "I would have figured something out."
She shook her head. "Is this how you do things?"
"You'll be with me for a long time, you'll get to see how I do things."
Wendy frowned. "I don't like the sound of that."
----
Wendy's grin mirrored through Eryth, showing the joy and heartfelt excitement she held.
"I've waited years for this day." Eryth extended his hand and the sky suddenly turned dark. "I'm going to enjoy every moment of this."
"Shit," the head of the village said before turning to run. But just before he could take any more steps, a phantom appeared and swiftly struck him down with a single swing of its claws.
More of the phantom beings emerged from the split ground and charged at the other villagers swiftly striking them down before they could make a run for it.
….
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