Let’s Hurry

With urgency, they made their way out of the grand hall.

 Sin lay still on Karyan's back, and the manager's body dragged behind them, his feet left a trail on the dusty ground. 

The atmosphere was thick and it seemed to be filled with tension, each step they took was heavy.

As they emerged into the open, the sky greeted them with an otherworldly display. Strokes of purple and pink painted the heavens.

"It's like the sky's mocking us," Karyan muttered, glancing up at the vibrant colors. "All pretty and peaceful while the world's about to turn to chaos."

Reverie couldn't help but look up as well. "It's beautiful, isn't it? In a twisted sort of way."

Karyan grunted in response, his eyes scanned the horizon for any sign of the sorcerer or Nedeira. "We don't have time for sightseeing. We need to find where they're hiding."

"Right," Reverie agreed, her eyes narrowed as she focused on the task at hand. "The manager mentioned a ritual. Any idea where they could be performing it?"

Karyan thought for a moment. "It has to be somewhere significant, somewhere with power."

"As in a ley line intersection, or a place of old magic?" she suggested.

"Exactly. We'll need to find the most potent place in this area. That's where he'll be."

The manager, catching his breath from being dragged, piped up, "There's...an ancient altar. North of here. In the heart of the forest. It's been there since...before the kingdom was founded."

Reverie shot the manager a suspicious look. "And you're sure that's where they'll be?"

The manager nodded fervently. "Yes, yes, it's been guarded, kept secret for a reason. It's the only place powerful enough for what the sorcerer intends to do."

Without wasting another moment, Karyan set off in the direction the manager had indicated, and Reverie followed closely. The air was still, the odd beauty of the sky forming a stark contrast to the urgency of their steps.

As they walked, Reverie couldn't shake off the conversation they had just moments ago. "Karyan," she began tentatively, "about what you said earlier... about not caring..."

Karyan didn't stop walking, but he sighed. "Look, Reverie, I've been through a lot. Seen a lot. After a while, you just...you stop caring about the same things you used to."

"But these people... they haven't done anything to you," she pressed on.

"And I haven't done anything to them," Karyan retorted sharply. "My past, my choices...they're mine. I'm not looking for redemption or a cause. I'm just trying to stop the king because...well, because it's necessary to save Nedeira."

Reverie fell silent, the weight of his words settled between them. 

After a few moments, she spoke, "I understand. But sometimes, Karyan, caring isn't about what's been done to you. It's about what you can do for others, despite your past."

Karyan didn't respond, and they continued their trek through the twilight. 

"I see…"he muttered, "Reverie, drop the manager on the ground." 

Without needing him to say another word, she did it. 

Karyan squatted down to the manager's level, "so this is what will do," he looked at his right hand, "Sera?" He commanded and a white snake came out of his sleeve. 

"You see, I need to feed my little pet from time to time, and do you know what she likes to eat the most?" 

"N-no," the manager trembled. 

"Humans," he said calmly as if it meant nothing to him. 

"The audacity of you to think that I would not notice that you were trying to buy time is beyond my understanding of fear." 

"It's not-"

"Silence," Karyan commanded. 

"This son of a bitch!" Reverie hit his stomach with her fist. 

"Weeegh!" 

"See?! What did I tell you about lying to me before?" She asked him, "didn't I warn you?" She continued her punches. 

"Relax, Reverie," Karyan interrupted as he looked around, "far away from the entertainment house, aren't we?" 

"Yes…" the manager nodded his head. 

"So, why are you doing this, tell me," Karyan's tone sounded welcoming and friendly. 

"The sorcerer will kill me otherwise…" 

"You know, I know the sweet taste of revenge and how amazing it should make one feel. I wanted to give this feeling to Nedeira, but I can't anymore. You're pissing me off." 

"No! No! I swear, I will tell the truth now only! Give me another cha-" 

"Sera." 

In his command, Sera immediately bit the manager's face and let the venom from her fangs into his face. 

The red blood changed colour and it appeared dark blue, like bruises on his face. 

The manager fell to the ground, gasping for air, but with a paralyzed body. 

"She did not kill you, but let's just say, she slowed down your body system." 

Karyan looked at the manager and then around the forest, "the owner of this place will be here soon, and let's say she's not a very happy and lovely person." 

"Owner?" Reverie raised a brow. 

"Goodluck surviving her. I'd say, try running, but oops! You can't anymore." 

They both walked away, leaving the frozen body of the man alive on the wet ground. 

His sound eye swept over the surroundings as a tear rolled down his cheek. 

The crisp rustling of the aged leaves tickled his ears, and a sinuous, whispering sound, like a serpent's flickering tongue, grew louder and more menacing with each passing moment.

"Aaaah!" He tried to shout, but couldn't due to his dead tongue, "aaaah!" The manager tried to call for help but no one seemed to hear him. 

In just moments, a snake as huge as an anaconda appeared before him. Its large face, with golden eyes full of intelligence, and green scales that shimmered in the sunlight, opened its mouth wide and swallowed the manager whole.

"Ugly bastard," Karyan muttered under his breath.

"How did he know he was buying time?" Reverie was curious. 

"Because he was forcing us to walk more futher from the city and especially the entertainment house. Let's hurry."