The Ward Awaits

The group of twenty five women, excluding me, sat quietly at the stairs of a long staircase made of stone. It descended down into god knows what.

The ceiling was dark and the cave was barley lit. Beyond the stairs, darkness lay in wait. I was still trying to wrap my head around everything going on but the swords and axes placed in our hands told me to focus. This was real, and acting like it was not would lead to death.

"Don't tense up, Shades prefer the ones that do." Ven sat against the cold moist stone wall. Her eyes seemed dead, like she might as well have been a painting. No emotion, just yellow eyes surveying the world around you.

"Thanks, also what are Shades?" I asked as I examined the plain broadsword in my hand. Was I really just gonna play the part?

"They are tricky creatures." It was Gwen, her hands caressing a long katana, "They have a magic ability called <Link>"

I stopped focusing on everything, my mind were just to busy wondering why there was emphasis put on the word. My eyes started to burn, and after rubbing them, it dissipated.

Hmm.

"<Link>?"

I stared at my hands. What the hell? That word just seemed different.

"Kane."

I jumped again, both Gwen and Ven looking at me in confusion. I laughed softly and turned away. In a soft voice I whispered, "Azura, what the hell is going on?"

"All in due time Kane. First I need to warn you. Your -All Seeing Eye- will start to activate as time goes on."

I watched Ven twirl her daggers. "All seeing eye?"

"Kane why did you come to this world?" Azura asked through a haze.

She knew, she knew I was not of this world, my home on Earth somewhere distant.

"Because it seemed like fun, I just was in the moment and-"

"Then you have to live longer than three days. The All Seeing Eye is a man's latent ability to perceive the world as they wish."

I watched a few drops of water fall from the ceiling. Perceive it how I wish? My hands gripped the leather handle of the broadsword.

"Ven can I talk to you."

The girl's yellow eyes slowly fell on me, "What is it?"

I scooted away from Gwen who suddenly was distracted by a rodent waddling away.

"I'm a man."

Ven's eyes lit up for a moment, anger and confusion on her face, "I already knew that."

Wait what?

Ven eyed Gwen and leaned closer, "Your scent is so strong that I almost collapsed."

My scent? I took a whiff of my armpits, the faint smell of axe body spray and sweat. I guess I kept something from the other world. I weakly smiled, "Excuse me?"

The girl scoffed, "You actually know next to nothing."

I shrugged and watched as a few leather pouches of water were being handed out, "Do be blunt, I know nothing about this world, and for some reason I came here."

Ven pointed toward the stairs, "Probably to resurrect Azura, she is a Holy Divine."

I fingered my temples, "I can hear here, and I need to find her, quick or-"

Ven stared into my eyes, "Or Bellamy will have your head."

I swallowed hard, "Yeah, kind of sucks that I just got here and people are trying to kill me."

Gwen wrapped an arm around me, "What are you guys whispering about?"

Ven pointed at me, "Oh because Kane is a man..."

"..."

I glared at the white haired girl and glanced at Gwen. She was already five feet away from me, her face red and her arms wrapped around her body.

"You're joking right. No, now that I get a look at you. Ah!"

Gwen covered her face in embarrassment. I gestured to Ven, "Why did you just spill the beans like that?"

Ven spoke harshly, "Having secrets only leads to enemies."

"Okay listen up, form into groups and head out. Bellamy has given permission to enter the tomb." A knight boomed over the women.

Oh and me, still not use to that.

Ven stood up and moved away without another word. Gwen was examining me from a distance, almost like I was an infectious disease.

I strapped the broad sword around my waist and tried my best to follow Ven. She was my only physical lead to what I should do. This world was still a huge mystery and being a prisoner who was about to go dungeon diving was best not done alone.

I had no idea what I was suppose to do. No offense to myself but I have no clue. Suddenly I stopped and thought to myself.

Just survive, find Azura and understand why the hell Im suppose to achieve.

Ven looked back at me, "<Dark Step>"

Those two words ringing in my ears like the last word. For some reason I clang to them, almost like I had control.

All Seeing Eye?

But the second Ven stepped down, she vanished.

Huh?!

Gwen tapped me, "She is a magic user, you won't catch up. Just stay b- b- by my side."

I squinted at Gwen, her face still pink and her hands shaking. I couldn't help but watch were Ven once stood, the sly girl with yellow eyes and no emotion gone.

Now that I thought about it, why was I so attached to her? I get she was useful but I have only been in this world for an hour. I can't expect anything to come from us.

No fateful encounters this time around. Also Ven was pretty much a statue, no value in trying my hand at that. I yawned and dismissed the fact I was literally about to probably die.

For some reason, death did not really faze me. I already died, dying again would not be a set back.

Gwen pointed downward, the darkness still looming in wait, "Let's go, the Ward awaits."