But you will rise again

Story 2 March 2679 A.D.E (After Devine Era)

"Are you sure, you are all right? " Asks Ludwig to Raphael.

"I have told you 20 times already ...

I am Fine" Says Raphael.

"I don't know.... that thing looks pretty serious " Says Ludwig, refers to Raphael's Right hand which has completely turned black, and is emanating a strange aura.

"Ohh ... this I feel a strange power ... within this mark" Says Raphael.

"If you say so" Says Ludwig.

It's been a day since Eric, Sophie, Raphael and Ludwig departed from Aescamyr. From the funds received by helping the hunters guild, the group bought 4 horses, the journey has been swift, Raphael has recovered enough,

they are slowly approaching cities in East Carthus, which is plagued by the wrath of Scarlet Thorn.

Currently they are crossing a forest which is called by the locals as "Forest of Gollums". It is said that long ago a wandering mage went through this forest, he saw how humans were hurting the wildlife and ever expanding towards the forest, that mage had a particular distaste for humans so, to protect the life nurtured in the bosom of this forest, he erected thousands of

stone Gollums to protect this forest from the hands of man, now eons later, many Gollums have withered away, many are still around and even few have become corrupted over time. These Gollums are said to be sentient and passive, if one doesn't harm mother nature, they would not harm said person.

There have even been folk tales about these beings helping people.

The only way to kill a Gollum of any kind is to destroy powerful ornaments, scattered around its body, most Gollums have only three, destroy all and these things will cease to function.

As they approach near the next settlement, the air is becoming hotter little by little.

"I don't know... If I am the only sensible one or not.... but fighting that thing head on sounds pretty stupid" Says Ludwig.

"You may not know... maybe it's weakened by now... all these years sealed inside". Says Sophie.

"It is one of the deadliest Wraiths recorded in that era.... It can't be that simple" Says Ludwig.

"We need a plan .... a plan to slay that thing.... and speaking of which... we need reinforcements" Says Ludwig.

"I thought you were just tagging along" Says Raphael to Ludwig.

"I was just trying not to get bored That's it ... planning is as good a timepass as any...." Says Ludwig.

Eric is silently riding his horse.

"Hey Eric.... have you thought of a way... to defeat this Wraith" Asks Sophie.

"Look at him ... he hasn't" Says Ludwig.

Eric is hardly looking at Sophie, he is thinking about the night of the fireworks.

"Let him speak" Says Sophie to Eric.

"Eric.... tell me have you thought of a plan" Asks Sophie.

Eric has done his fair share of research of Scarlet Thorn from the previous records of its battle from the Church's records. Scarlet Thorn is an Arch Wraith. It can manipulate other Wraiths around it, to heed its call.

Scarlet Thorn carries a sword which has it's own different aura, there have been records of Watchers getting insane during the last battle, just because that sword scratched them. But he can't tell Sophie that, he is even having trouble speaking with her after the fireworks festival.

"Hey Eric,.... So you haven't thought of anything..... you think you can defeat that thing without breaking a sweat.... that's my Eric for you" Says Sophie as she misunderstoods.

Eric knows, Eric is terrified of facing such a monstrosity that they have only heard tales about, but right now Eric is struggling with a different kind of problem. Eric's face occasionally turns red as he envisions, images of Sophie when the Fireworks lit up the sky, her majestic look, Eric knows this is not the time for such petty things to bother him, but he can't help it. Eric needs to get over it soon.

"How many Watchers faced this thing last time" Asks Sophie.

"The record says 14 but only 3 returned not by slaying it.... by sealing it" Says Raphael.

"I am sure Eric can face it right Eric.... " Asks Sophie as she is beginning to doubt.

Eric nods, by turning the other side.

The horses stopped. When they looked, they stood at the precipice of an open chasm, the way continued to the other end of that chasm.

Out of nowhere the Earth started shaking, the pile of boulders that were scattered around the right side of the road. Started moving, as a blue light glowed and the rocks formed around it. A big humanoid figure rose from the ground, it was a rock Gollum.

The Gollum picked up a huge rock pillar from the ground and placed it across the Chasm, making a bridge for Eric and others to cross through. Eric, Sophie, Raphael and Ludwig crossed the bridge one at a time with their horses.

"Look at that thing... it looks so massive" Sophie is thrilled to see a Gollum.

"Ahh... It's nothing, I have seen that were made of fire ... and I have also seen that were made of ice" Ludwig brags.

Sophie is stoked. Eric on the other hand noticed every meticulous detail on that Gollums body, the pattern and Ornaments sticking in it's head and back. Eric is dazzled by the mere sight of such a creature.

"Let's hope we don't need to fight one" Says Raphael.

"Yup those stoney hands will crush us in an instant" Says Ludwig.

"It's odd that I have never asked this... but how do we die?... like Ludwig said if it's hands crushed us... will we die? " Asks Sophie.

Eric too seems interested.

"I don't know myself.... I haven't heard of a Watcher ever dying... only getting insane " Says Raphael.

"Do you know anything about it Ludwig?" Raphael asks Ludwig.

"Yes I do... Indeed... are you sure you want to hear it" Asks Ludwig.

"Yes tell us" Sophie says.

"I have heard that a Watcher never dies..." Says Ludwig.

"What do you mean ... What happens to us if ... we ... you know ... ever got crushed or blown to bits" Asks Sophie.

"That's a nice question.... you won't die... your body will slowly heal ... little by little .... for example.... say you were to get crushed by that Gollum... Even if your whole body turns into mush ... you will recover slowly... slowly ... and while you recover ... as your body forms again .... you will feel pain, excruciating pain through the whole process... you will feel your internals shifting, bending, forming... you will feel every part of that process.... it will take days , months, years, centuries, ages even eons but you will rise again... but as I said I have only heard from someone... it can be false... maybe you can die... who knows" Says Ludwig.

After hearing that the atmosphere changed, from being cheerful, it went totally dark.

"Who did you hear it from?" Asks Sophie.

"What" Says Ludwig.

"I asked who did you heard it from?". Asks Sophie.

"Ohh... It was a dear friend of mine" Says Ludwig.

"How did you know... He wasn't lying?" Asks Sophie.

"Let's just say... he had some personal experience... and he wouldn't lie about these things " Says Ludwig as his expression changes.

Sophie is still not sure, but she decides not to pry any further.

As they pass that Chasm, then they proceed through a big crevice in the mountain which leads them to the other side of that mountain. Then they crossed a waterfall. Entering back into a forest.

The air had been getting warmer and warmer as they travelled towards the east.

Inside the forest, through a way full of closely packed trees they, they encountered a dead end. The way ahead was clear, but it was blocked by giant eggs of some bird. The path was thin, the only way they could proceed was by removing those eggs, but it was better said than done, near those eggs one could notice certain patterns sticking out of the wall of rocks around it, the egg was so conveniently placed that if someone were to say that they were the one who did that, it would be believable. Surrounded by a wall of rocks, the only entrance was blocked by giant eggs, and sleeping Gollums around it.

"Maybe we could try manoeuvre around it" Says Sophie.

"Let's try" Says Raphael.

As they went near those eggs, two Gollums detached themselves from the wall.

Eric and others were not prepared for this, they were caught off guard as one Gollum jumped towards Raphael

to be continued....