21 The Stoneblack Mountain

In the dark of night, bathed only under the light of the moon, two figures swiftly moved across the forest.

A strange spectral being was the first and at the front, sniffing a particular scent. The second figure, a small girl, silently followed behind it.

It had been a few hours since Kindred had last left the town.

Currently, they were following a specific trail-no, following a string.

It was hidden so well, even if one were to look at it with their bare eyes, one would not be able to see it.

An ethereal glow radiated from it. If one listens closely, he or she would hear whispers, mumbles, screams, and moans.

The thin string was disturbingly familiar, and yet not. A strange dichotomy of the two, but it matters not.

All Kindred knows, is that a worthy hunt will occur at the end of this string.

...

They arrived at the bottom of the mountain.

Looking up at the majesty of the dark mountain, Kindred moved forward without another thought.

Although they were at a distance away, they felt vibrations.

'An earthquake? No...'

Perhaps it was a monster.

Wolf seemed to have thought the same, because his eyes glinted, and he began flying up the mountain.

I followed suit.

...

I began jumping across rocks and trees, following Wolf. It was only a minute, and we barely scaled the mountain.

Before we continued any further, Wolf suddenly stopped, looking at something. Curious, I followed his stare...

Wolf seemed to have found a makeshift, patched up tent, although it appeared to be in shambles. However, the was a orange glow emanating from within, allowing them to see a shadow of a figure.

'The thread lead us here?' I pondered.

As I began thinking, a familiar mysterious, deep, yet light voice strangely echoed from it.

"I welcome the hunters to my small home."

We both looked at each other, and nodded our heads.

With that, we both entered the tent.

Stepping through the folds, I immediately spotted the occupant of the tent...and the source of voice.

He was shrouded in a cloak, covering his entire body, like a blanket over a small child, and yet...it didn't look humanoid at all.

The figure looked to be quite huge, underneat the hood oft he cloak, was a gleam. A tiny amount of scuttling and clicking was heard from it, but otherwise...there was nothing else.

However, this being looked to be very familiar...

Was her memory rusty?

'Was I even human in a first place?

However, there were other things that come first before these thoughts...

"What has brought you here, soulspinner?"

"...hmmmm..."

The soulspinner shuffled around, clicking and clacking noises echoed from each movement.

"Something called me here, and although I answered, I feel as if I am unable to stay here for long. It is because of this...anomaly...that I somehow manifest in this realm," the weaver said thoughtfully.

"..."

We were summoned here by a portal, and others by death or transportation, so this seems plausible.

That still leaves the most important question...

"Why did you leave a thread at the town?" I asked, perplexed.

"So that I could lead you both to me, and with your help, slay an abomination."

I couldn't help but think back to the conversation at an inn.

"You mean the monster awakening in the mountains?"

The soulspinner nodded his head, and before I could have the chance to ask a question, he began sitting.

"There is a tale that I wish to share with you both...a tale of of a once powerful wizard..." the soulspinner said, settling down on the ground.

Wolf eye's lighted up.

"Oh, a new story, Lamb!"

"Hush now, Wolf."

...

"Once, there was a majestic mountain, known to home of a powerful, yet old wizard."

"This powerful wizard did many experiments within this mountain, and his goal...immortality. All life fears the unknown end, which is known as death. As time passed, he began to grow more frantic than ever, as mortality is but and to those living. When one becomes impatient, one is bound to make mistakes, and death usually follows those who do...by arrow or by teeth."

Lamb, who stood at the side, eyes twitched at the implicit wording at the end. Fortunately, since a mask was worn over her, the weaver didn't seem to notice and continued.

"In his frantic wake to reach his goal, an accident happened, and he failed. As a result of this failure he has turned into a monstrous abomination. A true monster."

Wolf sniffed arrogantly, but he still listened without interrupting a story. It is sacrilegious!

"However, before this abomination of a monster made a massacre, a seal was placed on him, not by someone else...but himself! The old wizard, although addled with the futility of mortality, was wise enough to place a magical formation, made up of many spells together, to seal the mountain if something truly terrible happens..."

The soulspinner tilted his head in thought.

"In this world, this magical formation is called 'ritual magic.'"

Saying that, from the cloaks of the soulspinner, two grey hands appeared. It looked strange, the fingers pointed, and along the thin arms was a swirling pattern.

This movement allowed us to see that under the cloak, illuminated by the crackling fire...were more hands.

A total of two pairs of hands.

Kindred watched as the soulspinner suddenly plucked the air with one hand, and abrutply a glowing light blue string appeared.

A string similar to the one they saw on that tree by the lake.

The string seemed to have pierced through the tent, in a direction unbeknownst to us.

As if not noticing our stares, the soulspinner began finishing his tale, strumming the string.

"The monster slumbered, and a thousand years past peacefully on this mountain. Unfortunately, like all good things, they never last forever. The seal eventually weakened, and from it, the monster awakened..."

He looked up at us, and from within the shadows, the embers of the fire illuminated his face...no, his mask.

It appeared to be made out of stone, and although there were few cracks, they pale in comparison to the four blue glowing leafed shape symbols on his face. The color was extremely similar to the color of the strings.

"...a worthy hunt," Wolf said, grinning toothily.

Lamb remained still, deep in thought.

...

"How long must be wait!?"

"For as long as it takes, dear Wolf."

"I'm tired of waiting!"

"It is temporary, as a promie lies in store."

Saying that, I glanced pointedly at the soul spinner, who was standing near us.

It was early in the morning, when the sun barely touches the horizon. From their height, they could see a small purple, reddist-orange glow from a distance.

The sky was still dark, and the birds have not yet chirped.

It had been a few hours, after our meeting, that we have stood here, watching the sun finally beginning to rise over the horizon.

Wolf, after waiting for not even ten seconds, spoke up again. He looked to me, and asked-

"What is waiting?"

"Death..." I answered, then stopped, tilting my head slightly.

"...on a smaller scale."

The soulspinner twitched at the side, and I felt an achievement popped up in my head.

Our plan all along was to make this soulspinner get annoyed, and its working. He knows that I'll always answer Wolf, and Wolf is usually impatient.

It couldn't be helped that I have to answer his questions everytime.

I nodded my head mentally. Yes, that's right. There was no other reason.

Our usual banter continued, and after a few minutes, the soulspinner seemed have finally had enough.

"...K-"

"Is it time yet?" Wolf immediately said, interrupting him, being naturally moody and crabby.

"Not yet, as we must be patient," I said serenely.

"I'm hungry!" he whined.

"I know."

"..." the soulspinner stopped, and seemed to have decided to keep to himself.

Wolf, seeing this, sniggered and guffawed, and I couldn't help but wear a smile.

A small one, but still a smile nonetheless.

Not that anyone would know. The advantages of wearing a mask is phenomenal.

I shook my head. Enough of that.

Moving on.

The reason we were here waiting is because we were waiting for reinforcements. Last night, the soulspinner told us although we were strong, we were not enough, and so he decided to call for...'reinforcements.'

Wolf, at time, naturally became angry, but I calmed him down.

Although I was confused, I didn't question him. After all, the soulspinner knows many things, some even unknown to even us.

Especially in a foreign world.

Wolf finally settled down, and it remained quiet.

Many minutes passed, and before Wolf had a chance to even complain, there was a rustle.

We all stood on attention...well just me and Wolf. The soulspinner remained motionless, and a tiny suspicion grew.

Wolf and I watched as the rustling grew louder, and a tense moment passed...

Staring intently at the bush, I shook my bow and readied my arrow...

"..."

Someone then stepped into the opening from a bush.

'...L'Arc? Therese as well? Hmm...'

I then turned to stare deeply into the soulspinner.

We were no novices, and so we made sure to cover our tracks. If they appeared here...who else can it be? It could also be a coincidence, but the chances are low.

Even Wolf also glared at him.

''This guy...'' we both thought at the same time.

We only looked at the soulspinner secretly with a modicum of irritation, and he seemed to be pleased, even if I couldn't even tell his facial expression from his glowing blue mask.

"On his web he descends, but I wait on the other end," he whispered, but it echoed, and we both heard it.

Suddenly, a term from my old, old world came up in my mind at that moment.

'Truly the older the ginger, the spicier they are,' I started nodding, then stopped.

'If were were to continue this analysis and logic, since we are old...aren't we also spicier?' I stopped nodding my head, and started stroking one of the braided strands of my hair.

Lately it's seems as if I have gotten in the habit of stroking my hair unconciously.

While I was in thought, the two woefully and regretabbly noticed us.

"Hey, girlie! How could you leave us in the dirt? You could've asked us for help ya' know..." L'Arc smiled, relieved.

Therese, following behind him, also wore a small, soft smile as she saw us.

My reaction was contrary to their emotions.

"...how did you find us?"

"Well, when we woke up really early, and we didn't see you. We kind of panicked, but then we noticed a glowing string near us!"

"..."

"I picked it up, and suddenly the moment i touched it, I heard whispers, telling us where you were at! In no time, we ran, and now we found you guys here!"

"...have you thought it could've been a trap?" I asked emotionlessly.

"Well, yeah, Therese did warn me, but we were worried ya know. You should've told us if you were leaving..." L'Arc scratched the back of his head, chuckling, while Therese only shook her head with a smile.

"..."

Before I could mentally sigh, L'Arc spoke up again.

"Anyways, who are these two?" he asked, pointed his sickle at the two obviously unique strangers next to me.

"..."

"..."

"..."

"...umm..."

"..."

Awkwardness infused the area around them, and L'Arc began shuffling his feet. Wolf began getting agitated, Therese silently looking into the unknown distance, while the soulspinner seemed to just be content with staying silent.

I. of course, remained silent.

It couldn't be helped. Four out of the five people here were naturally silent introverts. L'Arc was the only extrovert here.

After a few seconds, I finally had enough, as the target of the question was sadly...me.

"...a partner and...the one who tricked you," I answered nonchalantly and reluctantly.

"If they're friends of yours, then they're friends of mine!"

Instantly grinning, L'Arc had forgotten the previous awkwardness and moved forward until he stood in front of Wolf, who was looking down at him with disdain.

"What's this big guy's name?"

Wolf only growled in response, and turned to us.

"These two are weak! Why must we wait for them?"

"What the-! This guy can speak?" L'Arc freaked out, and began backpedaling furiously while Therese only shook her head, sighing.