The Spark

The ruins of the ancient civilization lay sprawled before us, their time-worn stones whispering secrets of a forgotten era. As we navigated through the labyrinth of crumbling structures, the reality of our newfound knowledge weighed heavily on our minds. The Ritual Knight's revelations had opened a door to possibilities we had never imagined, and the journey ahead promised to test our limits.

...

The first leg of our journey through the ruins was a cautious endeavor. The air was thick with the scent of decay, and the quiet was so profound it felt like another entity accompanying us. Vines and moss clung to the stone walls, and here and there, remnants of what might have once been grand statues or carvings peeked through the greenery, their details lost to time.

"Keel, that move you pulled back there with Oleander," Gen broke the silence, his voice echoing slightly off the ancient stones. "How did you do it?"

Keel, walking slightly ahead, turned back, his eyes reflecting the lingering adrenaline from the fight. "Honestly, I'm not entirely sure. It was more of a feeling, a pull from Oleander. I sensed the beast within it stirring, guiding me. I just... focused and willed the spear to aid me, and it responded by becoming invisible."

I listened, intrigued by the idea of such a deep connection with a weapon. "So, it's like a partnership? You and the weapon working together?"

"Exactly," Keel nodded. "It's like Oleander is a part of me, their will an extension of my will. When I needed stealth, it provided."

...

We continued our trek, the sun casting long shadows through the broken arches and overgrown pathways. The ruins seemed endless, a maze of forgotten stories and lost dreams. We tread carefully, aware that the stability of these ancient structures was questionable at best.

The journey to the eastern plains took us several weeks. The landscape was a vast canvas of rolling hills and dense forests, interspersed with clearings that offered breathtaking views of the sprawling wilds. We stuck to the edges of the woods to avoid anymore unwanted tests or scrappers that might be sitting on the edge of larger territories. As we traveled we fell into a steady routine wake up, travel till sundown, hunt for dinner, and practice our group then individual techniques till we passed out. Then do it all over again. At dusk Keel kept trying to draw more from Oleander with no major breakthroughs, the voice of his ritual slayed seemed to be tougher to reach when his life wasn't on the line. Nevertheless he tried coaxing out more of its potential day by day, eventually becoming able to call upon it's innate invisibility at will- not incredibly useful but it was a start. As we neared the open waters the nights were colder, and we huddled together for warmth, sharing stories and plans for the future. 

Food scarcity was a constant companion in our travels. Days slowly became more and more consumed by the hunt for small game or the foraging of edible plants. These activities honed our survival skills, teaching us the importance of patience, stealth, and a deep understanding of our environment- but made our trek that much longer. In the forests of our home, the presence of trees provided both cover and danger, with predators lurking in the shadows forcing prey to be untraceable. We had learned to hunt by traps and experience in those conditions our whole life but the plains were different. In contrast, they demanded a different more subtle approach to survival. Here, the wildlife was seemingly everywhere but swifter, and they had adapted their survival tactics to the open landscape, requiring us to refine our hunting techniques and move with the silent grace of the wind.

...

One day, as we skirted the border territories nearer to the plains, we encountered something completely unexpected and unlike anything on our voyage so far. A village, but one unlike any we had seen before, lay before us. It was a bustling hub of activity, with people of various appearances and attires moving about. The village seemed almost overrun by the sheer number of inhabitants, each person distinct in their features and dress, suggesting a melting pot of cultures and histories. People yelled out on the streets and ran up and down trying to sell wares, while others tried to escort naive patrons into their establishments.

However, what struck us most was the heavy presence of guards. Besides marching to battle or defending boarders, there had been little to no sight of the king's army. Even back home the arrival of the army was incredibly rare as they typically were only sent to the most war torn areas. But here in the heart of our country they patrolled the perimeters and streets with a vigilance that spoke of strict control and possible unrest. The sight of these guards stirred unwelcome memories of the march we had witnessed, the cruelty and oppression still fresh in our minds weeks later.

We decided to avoid the village, not wanting to attract unwanted attention or risk being chased by the army if they found out we were hunters in training. Our experiences had taught us the value of caution, and the sight of those guards served as a grim reminder too many potential dangers. We stuck close to the bordering woods and left with the thoughts of a warm food and bed lingering in our heads.

...

Then all of the sudden, as we emerged from a particularly dense patch of forest, the sight that greeted us was awe-inspiring. The ocean lay stretched out before us, its vast expanse glistening under the sun. The horizon was a thin line where the sky met the sea, and the air was filled with the scent of salt and freedom.

"This is it," Gen breathed, his eyes wide with wonder. "The eastern ocean."

The sight of the ocean marked a significant milestone in our journey. It symbolized the end of one chapter and the beginning of another, no more were we in our home forests that were devoid of other people and hidden beasts. We had survived the ruins, learned from a Ritual Knight, and traversed the eastern plains. Now, a new adventure awaited us – one that promised action, excitement, and a true test of our group as hunters. Now was when we would have to face off with other hunting groups. The eastern wood is typically a place of pacifism with the scarcity for food and beasts being an unspoken priority, but here on the plentiful plains the villages had a good supply of food, places for rest, and competitions for the whereabouts of beasts. It was something Gen had told me and Keel about as we headed here, according to his gramps that would be one of the best ways for us to make money and find beasts worth training against or even to capture.

As we sat there, watching the waves crash against the shore, I couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment. We had come so far, grown so much, and yet, the journey was far from over. The east held many secrets, and we were determined to uncover them, to forge our paths, and to rise to the challenges that awaited us.

The setting sun painted the sky in hues of orange and purple, casting a magical glow over the landscape. In that moment, I felt a profound connection to the world around us, to the ancient ruins, the vast plains, and the endless ocean. We were part of something much larger than ourselves, and our story was just beginning.

The night fell, and with it, a blanket of stars covered the sky. We sat in silence, each lost in our thoughts, contemplating the journey ahead and taking the night to relax after our stressful journey. As the moon rose high in the sky, casting a silver light over the plains ahead, we knew what tomorrow would bring. It was time to find a duel.

...