His eyes widened, barely comprehending what had just happened.
Aren wasn't thinking even before that, leaving him in an unexplainable daze.
"I feel a sense of danger rising," said Faye, her tone calm.
Aren looked at her in surprise. She had just repeated the same words as before, which meant he truly went back in time.
What about that dragon? Was it a part of his Aberration? Or a high monster?
To be looking face to face with a dragon is considered an achievement that not many can do.
Remembering the Lord Ravagers and Wretched Glutton, Aren quickly bolted upwards, standing on both his legs.
"We need to leave. Now!" His voice was loud, emphasizing the importance of leaving.
Faye stared, an unusual smile on her face. Then, she simply nodded.
Aren sensed something suspicious about her. She tried to help him before his body was split in half, but there was something about her that felt off.
Kellen also nodded, having no say in this.
***
They were back outside in the Pale Verge, and the cold winds bit their necks harshly as they walked along the snowy ground.
"Are you not gonna tell us why you wanted us to suddenly leave?" Kellen asked, hugging his cloak for warmth.
"No."
He would have told them, but it could have left them shocked. He wasn't willing to take the risk. If they weren't in full concentration the entire time, how would they reach the Nameless Necropolis?
Kellen clicked his tongue. "You are quite annoying, even for a child."
'Well, I'm doing it for your sake, old man!'
Having thought that, the cold winds grew stronger and persisted in blowing at the crew, leaving them cold. If only there were an Aberration that could bring that warm sensation again.
The gloomy world lacked a sun for the people to enjoy and bathe in its sunlight. With the Long Night still in its early days, they had a long time before being able to see the sunrise once more… or never.
Kellen suddenly stopped, catching Faye and Aren by surprise.
"I believe I've had enough of being out here."
Aren raised an eyebrow. "What are you talking about? It's either this or permanent exile."
"You don't understand. You won't. I don't know how you're used to this, but I am not. I'd rather go to prison than risk my life for no meaning out in this horrid place."
Aren was confused. Why was Kellen suddenly saying this? He barely even talked before, so why would he ever open up to him, out of all people?
However, he was more agitated at the nonsense Kellen spat out.
Furrowing his eyebrows slightly, he replied, "Do you think I want to be here too? I never had a choice to begin with. But you have one, all you need is to wait, and you'll go back like nothing happened. As for me, even if the sun came back up, I had lost that luxury."
Kellen went silent and started thinking about his choice of words carefully, until finally saying, "I can't wait, knowing I'm in the middle of nowhere, risking my life for nothing!"
"Risking your life? Don't make me laugh. Ever since we found you, you've been of no help in any way. All you ever brought is your wimpiness and cowardice!"
Kellen gritted his teeth.
'Damn it. I hate that look in his eyes. Don't look at me like that, damn it!'
Aren turned his head away, avoiding Kellen's gaze as silence lingered and the winds grew stronger.
What they didn't realize is that they had something bigger to worry about. Everything they've done up to this moment was pointless.
The fog rolled in, and a stillness hung in the air — it felt wrong and intentional. Snow blew sideways in the wind, but one shape remained steady. A faint light caught the moon's rays, shining like cold steel.
Her flowing ocean-blue hair cascaded down her back, her face shielded by a helmet, and her body reinforced at key points.
She gripped her sword tightly and held it so that the blade was in front of her face, reflecting the light of the moon.
Faye tapped on Aren's back, then pointed to the distance where the strange woman was, not a very accurate point, but Aren caught a glimpse of her.
'Who is—'
As the fog thinned, the emblem on her chestplate came into view — the seal of the Order of Helmond City.
His jaw tightened, "No—"
She was already moving quickly, a flash of light and metal, closing the distance before the thought could finish.
Aren grasped the dagger tightly, feeling its weight in his hand, and lunged forward to clash with a blade that pulsated with an otherworldly energy, hinting at secrets far beyond mere metal.
His hand shook, strained by the force of the woman. Her blade slowly started digging through his dagger as if it were water.
Doing anything to distract her, Faye used her Spectral Rings to attack the woman.
The mysterious woman from the Order quickly dodged, leaping backward with powerful momentum.
She radiated a powerful presence that emitted throughout the entire area. Slowly, she opened her mouth to speak under her helmet.
"I will be the one to end your suffering."
On the other hand, Aren was trying whatever he could to envelop himself in that dark substance once more.
Not in his head, but only in his hands, so he could try to fight back.
'Come on! Work!'
His arms tightened, but to no avail; nothing worked. He quickly dismissed the thought after it failed, then raised his head to look at the woman.
She was nowhere in sight. Turning his head left and right, he saw nothing. But she was above him, her sword tightly gripped in her hands.
Aren quickly raised his dagger, deflecting her off the air and back to the ground.
The dagger shattered into pieces, the iron fragments fell to the ground, leaving only the hilt.
He threw the hilt into the distance, then curled his fists. "Faye!"
Aren lunged forward at the woman, as Faye prepared to use her Spectral Rings.
All he could do was distract the lady by dodging her attacks, and let Faye do the blow that'll end her.
He threw a fist at her and then slightly turned his body backward to dodge another slash.
Her blade hissed past his cheek, close enough for the cold edge to cut his skin. He pivoted into the snow, boots slipping as the next swing came low.
Using built-up momentum, she swung, but he struck her leg, causing her to stumble backwards slightly.
The woman was taken by surprise. Aren slipped back, giving Faye the space she needed.
Rings formed around her wrists once more, then formed the starting point of a beam in front of her open palm.
Distorting the space around it and its light burning away shadow and fog, the beam moved at a terrifying speed.
They thought their synchronization and teamwork were perfect… What they hadn't anticipated was the woman raising her sword toward the incoming beam, as if ready to cut it.
'It should be impossible. That beam could disintegrate anything it hits.'
Her sword began to shimmer like moonlight dancing on the surface of the ocean, each ripple radiating powerfully.
The beam finally reached closer, until it was absorbed by the sword rather than disintegrating it, and the girl.
Faye raised both her eyebrows, surprised. Aren froze.
They were unable to do a thing. They couldn't escape, and they can't fight back either.
The woman kept exhaling and inhaling under her breath, somewhat exhausted by using that ability of hers. But it was practically unrecognizable under her helmet.
Only one person saw through her.
Kellen lunged forward, speeding by Aren, then jumped at the woman with both his hands high in the air.
He wrapped himself around her, then screamed, "Go! Run!"
Aren looked at him for a mere moment, and a weird sense surfaced within him. He felt… thankful.
"I'm sorry," Kellen muttered.
Quickly, he grabbed Faye's hand and ran into the nearby forest, without looking back.