The entire squad was second guessing accepting this job from the Golden Cloth. Halbin knew it just by looking at everyone's faces. The sense of dread that made their hearts heavy. Even Allendis—usually the most capable and level-headed—remained still atop his horse, eyes fixed on the near all-consuming darkness that ate away the land and the trees. Even the birds that flew above the Hallow Ground disappeared mid-flight.
What the hell was that? Halbin thought in panic.
He had dealt with a Hallow Ground before but it was just an artificial one that he and the Ais Citadel managed to stop in time. This was different. It was raw Chaos that tempted him to take a step forward to its layer but he knew that it was just his imagination. He hoped that it was…
"Alright folks," Slen said as he exited the carriage and went towards his crew. "Welcome to the Hallow Ground."
Halbin's hand was shaking but he couldn't let anyone see. Not when they needed him to lead them.
He got down from his horse and slowly approached the Hallow Ground. He tried to look at what they were dealing with.
"Don't go jumping now," Slen's voice came from behind him. Loud enough for everyone to hear. "Unless you want to be stuck there forever."
Halbin took a step back but paid Slen more of his attention. His hand was still trembling. He has dealt with battle since he was old enough to drink mead. He killed his first man when he was fifteen and kept on fighting dangerous threats as he got older. He thought that incident at the Lidia Citadel would prepare him for this mission.
But there was a whisper. Faint yet present in his ears. Telling him that this was not what he signed up for. Emanator or not, he was not prepared! But everything would be alright if he just…
Just jump.
"Halbin!" Someone yelled his name. Which snapped him back from his thoughts. When he finally got his senses back, he was standing at the edge of the Hallow Ground.
He took several steps back before he was stopped by Allendis. His face was devoid of emotion and yet his brow and eyes said otherwise.
"What the hell were you doing?!" Allendis asked. His voice raised as if scolding a child.
Halbin lost any words that might've come out. He tried to joke and smile but it never came out.
"Don't worry," Slen said. It was directed at Allendis as his friend glared at the seasoned commander. "That's the effect of the Hallow Ground. Fears of humanity, remember? He probably got tempted by his own self-consciousness. To feed off of heightened despair and grow bigger as a result. We, Emanators, can resist it but we're not immune, so please, stay on your guard." He said as puff out a smoke.
Bach came closer to him and rubbed Halbin's back. "Young man, if you're frightened by this then maybe you should sit this one out? Rearrange our usual formation and let Allendis and Nitha take the front line?"
Halbin shook his head and gave out a weak smile. "No. We proceed as we always have." He said as he straightened his posture.
"Allendis," Halbin called his friend who immediately gained his attention. "We'll go in together first. This is a one-way trip. So we can't get out until we find its 'heart' and rip it out."
"Slen said it was fear incarnate. Humanity's fear is given form through Chaos. If that's the case then is it also possible that this is someone's Hallow Ground? What would the 'heart' even look like?" Allendis asked.
"Good question," Slend responded from behind them. All of their attention was on the commander. "There are rare cases that a Hallow Ground can come from a specific individual. In that case, the 'heart' will look like what they deem the most important thing in their life."
"So what type of Hallow Ground are we dealing with? It doesn't make sense that a Hallow Ground would just suddenly appear out of nowhere if it's the manifestation of collective fear, given what you said." Allendis asked.
Slen smiled and removed the pipe from his mouth. "You're a sharp one. Do you know that?" He said as he placed his pipe back and exhaled a stream of smoke. "It's the Hallow Ground of a young boy. Probably died without ever getting the peace it deserved and now, that lingering emotion before death transformed this place into a Hallow Ground."
"So you just magically know all of this?" Allendis said as his eyes narrowed. Halbin has not seen Allendis this…agitated.
Slen chuckled, a low one that sent chills to Halbin's hair just as much as the darkness behind him. "Careful now, boy. I take my work as commander quite seriously. In any case, the details of the boy doesn't matter. All you need to do is get rid of the Hallow Ground and all we need to do is seal it away forever."
Allendis' eyes were practically stabbing Slen with how heated he was. Halbin saw how Allendis was still trying to make sense of everything. He might not be the warmest person he has met but his friend still cared about them. Allendis was showing no fear against even a commander of the Golden Cloth.
Halbin resolved to do the same.
"With all due respect sir Slen," Halbin chimed in which caught both Slen's and Allendis' attention. "Every detail counts. We are risking our lives to give this boy some peace. If you do know anything, please disclose the information to us."
He might not be as smart as Allendis but he was his ally and Allendis was his subordinate. A good leader would support the people that follow them.
Slen sighed as smoke came out his nose. "I don't know anything about the boy. We just got a report from our acolytes that—?!"
Slen's gaze was far beyond him or Allendis. His eyes were both wide from shock. It was the first that he'd seen the unflappable commander like that.
Halbin turned around but as he did, Allendis was already past his line of vision. He was running rapidly behind them towards the…
Hallow Ground.
When he finally saw what was happening. He froze. He couldn't move, not out of shock, but out of fear.
He saw Chelsea jump off the darkness and Allendis was the only one that followed her down.