Refuge

Perspective: Conrad Garnier

It had been a one and a half day total, since, we embarked on this expedition. And that was enough to alter our perception of it.

Upon this small period of one and a half day, gruesome events have occurred, we saw beasts that were only seen in fairy tales, lost allies, had to leave behind our rides, and most of all our minds now, it's shattered.

No one was speaking to each other, nothing but eerily silence of the forest followed by crisp and crunching sound as each foot lands on the snow, creating a satisfying yet silently haunting rhythmic pattern.

As if the snow itself was whispering to us,

"Go away.... go away".

accompanied by the soft brushing of my feet gliding through the chilly air.

I don't know how many hours we walked aimlessly, in a specific direction, without knowing what it would lead us to, until we found something.

It was an archway, reminiscent of an cavern, seemingly formed in the middle of nowhere, as if someone or something made it.

What made it even more auspicious was that the evidence of recent activities.

We spotted enormous footprints on the snow, suggesting that colossal creatures with six legs frequented in and out of this cavern on the daily.

It was decided that,

Whatever resided inside, it ought to be better than the relentless coldness of the snow.

Or Maybe we were enticed by the allure of that cavern.

But no one cared nor any one questioned.

we just followed Kyle Inside the Archway.

Inside it was clean and warm, whatever lived there, it meticulously cleared away all the snow, leaving behind a warm and cozy sanctuary.

As he rested Yuna down on the ground, Kyle said,

"Let's rest here for a bit".

Everyone sat down, I was leaning on the wall as I rested my sore muscles.

No one was speaking a word. Everyone sat down looking at the ground.

And when no one's there to distract you, your mind itself starts to self reflect.

A flurry of thoughts rushed through my mind.

First of them was,

"What is this place?".

"Is it a natural formation or an artificial formation?".

"And those footprints what were they from?".

My mind was anxious, as a result I wasn't able to relax like others.

I had this sense of impending danger, a threat, as if someone or something was surveying us.

"Sir Conrad might I offer you some water".

Asked Ikbal while extending a bag of water.

"Now that I think of it ... my throat is rather sore".

"Maybe drinking some water would calm me down".

So, I accepted his offer and thanked him.

After that, I poured few drinks down my throat.

But,

"It isn't helping".

"This uneasiness I am feeling in my chest ain't going no where".

"Maybe If I distract myself, I could relax a bit".

(What should I do?)

"Yes ... my sword... I should sharpen it ... yes, that will take my mind off stuff".

To distract myself from all those anxious thoughts, I decided to focus on cleaning my sword, as I carefully wiped away the grim, I can't help but wander how many years this blade had been by my side.

Each stroke of the cloth brought back memories of the clashes I had faced, the souls I have severed and the hollow sensation of victories I had celebrated.

(The hell)

(What was I talking about?)

They were dead because they chose to rise against our family, their fate was inevitable, and I had nothing to do with that.

(But is it really.... I couldn't have done anything?).

"No ... I don't give a crap".

"Ohh shit ... I am really losing my mind".

"Focus on the cleaning... try to relax... and calm your nurves".

(It ain't working).

Yet, despite trying to distract myself, the uneasiness lingered.

The cavern's dimly lit interior casted eerie shadows in the walls, It kept making me feel like I am being watched.

But by who?

"Or is it only me ... who is feeling this?".

"What about the others".

So, I spared a glance at everyone, from the corner of my eyes, while pretending not to look.

Brandon and Marcus were out cold, Regina was dozing off, Thor Gild and Sheela were tending to ron, Patrick was healing Elkdrack, Ikbal was eating his meal quietly, But Emilia and Kyle were ominously looking at the ceiling.

While I observed them, I was constantly hearing the distant noise of dropping water, which only added to that unsettling ambiance.

"Is it something that's here ?.... or is it just my imagination?".

"Is this place truly what it seems".

I didn't know.

"Maybe its the darkness".

So, I cast my spell "Fire orb". to light up the place a bit.

I tried to find Solace in the glow of that orb, hoping It will dispell my uneasiness.

But no matter how hard I tried to relax the feeling of doubt persisted.

I couldn't shake the feeling that there was something hidden on those Cavern walls.

Waiting to be unveiled.

"This is stupid".

"If something is there ... I can dispatch it with my blade .... can't I?".

(I can right?)

"Yes, I ... I ... I ... can".

But my uneasiness continued to grow,

"Maybe I should explore the cavern further".

"Sure .... that might alleviate my doubt".

As I looked on to the never ending darkness that followed deeper into the cavern, it beckoned me.

"I don't know what might be lurking around the corner".

That was when,

As I looked up in the ceiling, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.

Ever heard of words or phrases such as "too comfortable", "too silent", "too good", that you begin to doubt, that is it real or not?.

If it is, it's too convenient.

Yes, that was exactly how I was feeling.

That's when I noticed it, I had been hearing distant strange rythmic dripping sound, but now It felt closer.

The sound was coming from above, curiosity got the better of me, and I cautiously tracked the sound, and approached the liquid dripping to the ground. As I woke up, Emilia and Kyle stared at me, their vigilant eyes following my actions. But they didn't say a word.

With a mixture of hesitation and intrigue, I brought a finger to my lips and tasted it.

The flavour was unexpectedly sweet and sticky, instantly filling my mouth.

It was at that moment that I glanced up again, and my eyes widened in shock, the cavern walls which seemed ordinary at first were now covered with eerie sight.

Human sized ants clung to the walls, perfectly blending in with their surroundings, Their bodies were translucent, their strange beauty almost ethereal.

I couldn't help but feel a chill run down my spine as the realisation dawned on me - we had stumbled upon a hidden colony of this ancient creatures.

I struggled to put into words the unsettling nature of those ants, Their limbs seem impossibly elongated, moving with an unsettling grace.

Their bloated abdomens were like sags of honey,

glistening and pulsating with each moment.

Their dark, multiple eyes staring at me, as if peering into the depths of my soul, harbouring secrets of ages gone by.

Just as I tried to process the strangeness of it all, a rustling sound broke the silence from behind.

In a split second I spun around, my heart pounding in my chest.

And there it was, one of those ants silently creeping closer, it's antennae twitching with anticipation, I instinctively jumped back in alarm.

As I jumped, and the sound of me landing, echoed through the cave, the suddennes of its presence caught me off guard.

The sound of me jumping woke the others up.

In that heart- stopping moment fear and fascination intertwined within me.

My thoughts were,

"What are these ants?".

"Are they a threat or are they simply misunderstood?".

(And why should I care?)

I found myself grappling with a mix of emotions - the fear of the unknown, but also an undeniable curiosity that urged me to uncover the secrets of this cavern, I was an adventurer after all.

It once again lashed out at me, to incapacitate me in a single strike, the ant tried to deliver a concentrated dose of it's venom through a precise and swift bite.

I was caught off-guard,

In a split second as I looked for my sword in my hands.

I remembered.

"My sword is still tucked inside my scabbard".

{Draw my sword}.

"No ... it's too close.... too late".

In that very moment, had I attempted to draw my sword, it would have struck me already, that's how incredibly close it was.