28: beginning of the journey

His defect? Is he really going to tell us something so important when we barely know each other? How detrimental does it have to be for it to affect all of us? Maybe it has to do with the fact that we forget him. That would explain why I never remembered him while at the academy or here, after the fight we had, we had forgotten him.

I looked at Isac, trying to think of everything I knew about him, realizing how little I knew about the boy in front of me. Then I looked at him again to let him continue.

"My defect makes people or any conscious being forget that I exist. This only lasts until I show myself to them or they see me again; when they do, they realize they had forgotten and remember everything." His voice carried a hint of sadness, perhaps due to the fact that no one remembers his existence unless he reminds them. What a disheartening defect for a child his age.

The revelation of the true problem with his defect was expected, but even so, it is a very problematic defect. Not merely because we forget him, but because of the possible situations where this forgetting phenomenon could occur. For example, what if his defect affects us in the middle of combat? He could easily be attacked by us without us realizing he was our companion, at least not until it's too late.

I looked at Sasha and also at Ludwin. Both had expressions of confusion, caution, and suspicion, but also something that seemed like concern. Perhaps they also realized the implications of such a defect in a fight.

Then, as I was looking at both of their faces, just seconds after his revelation, Ludwin spoke. His voice held disdain and a bit of mockery toward Isac.

"Kid, did you just reveal your biggest secret because you think we'll attack you in the middle of a battle? Excuse me for saying it this way, but no one here is dumb enough to not recognize a person and attack them just because." He said, looking at Isac, his eyes showing some annoyance at being disregarded in such a way, perhaps for thinking he would attack anyone who appears out of nowhere, like Isac does with his abilities.

"That's right, and don't call me kid. I'm very tall for being from the slums." Isac replied while looking irritated at Ludwin. The issue of his height seemed to affect him more than it should.

I looked at the three of them, who were tense at the possibility of attacking each other due to forgetting one of them. "Don't worry, I think everyone here is skilled enough to not attack Isac even after forgetting him and him appearing without warning." I said, trying to calm my companions and my friend who was worried about our survival.

"Don't be so sure about that, Jony. With his ability to hide in the middle of battle, he could appear out of nowhere and we might confuse him for an enemy," Sasha said, looking in my direction. Her voice sounded worried, as did her expression with the same sentiment.

I looked at Isac, trying to find a short-term solution in the time we had. But nothing came to mind in this place, at least nothing that could help with his defect.

"Ah, it's problematic, yes, but it's your defect; there isn't much we can do. Do you at least know how often it happens or is it random?" If it were at a set time, we could prepare, but if it were random, I'm afraid it would be even more problematic.

I looked at Isac, who seemed to be deep in thought. I waited a few seconds before he responded.

"More or less, I can sense when it will happen, but I'm not sure. The times it happened were few, but I felt something, I don't know what, but I think I could know when it occurs."

I looked at him for a few seconds, thinking of a quick solution for his defect in this hell we are in.

"Well, when you feel that or think we might forget you and we're in the middle of a battle, I want you to move away or refrain from appearing out of nowhere. At least not unless it's urgent." I said, my voice a bit firmer than usual, showing how serious this problem was and how much importance we gave it.

"You're right, but I wanted to tell you about this because it could cause misunderstandings," Isac said, with a small smile on his still small face, an expression of helplessness in the face of his devastating defect. No one knew what he was hiding in his head.

Ludwin suddenly spoke.

"Misunderstandings like what?" His voice sounded cautious and suspicious, perhaps at the idea of being betrayed by someone he knew but suddenly forgot.

"None in particular, just saying."

Isac shrugged while saying this with a bit of indifference and some sarcasm, looking at Ludwin as if mocking his thoughts. As if a moment ago, he didn't have a completely different expression, as if he wanted to hide it.

I looked at the sky, trying to calculate how much more daylight we had left. It wasn't much. Deciding that was enough on the subject, I decided to speak to change it.

"It's getting dark, I want someone to keep watch with my scavenger. It may be strong, but I know you don't trust it yet to sleep under its care." My voice sounded calm, trying to make peace between the two, so they both rest before the long journey we'll have.

***

On my tenth day in the coral labyrinth, we were running through the maze to another elevated place to continue westward.

I managed to sense a large group of scavengers at the edge of my soul sense, which currently was 190 meters.

I'll have to guide them to avoid them; there are 12 scavengers, it'll be a difficult fight if we encounter them.

"Careful, we'll take a few more turns."

I warned them. They looked confused, but said nothing, Sasha just followed me.

After passing those scavengers, I could still feel several more groups around, but since we wouldn't encounter them, I noted their locations and moved on.

It didn't take long to find a group of six scavengers, which we faced and killed; I took two more.

Even with everything and the relatively easy fights, Sasha still asked to rest a few seconds or a full minute before continuing.

Maybe it's her defect? I won't ask.

...

It had already been a few hours since we entered the labyrinth and left the tall coral behind, we still hadn't found another high place to stay, which worried me a bit, as there were only a few hours left until nightfall.

We had already killed several more groups of scavengers, of which I took five more kills. And also, in which we rested a bit at Sasha's request.

I could now feel the souls within a radius of 253 meters from me.

Before I continued worrying, I felt two souls, or rather, two soul cores. It was an awakened monster, and I felt it far above us, at the limit of my senses.

"I think I know where a high place is, but it has an awakened monster at its peak, prepare for a tough fight."

The three of them looked at me confused as they followed, and I noticed a hint of hesitation on their faces.

Even so, I followed the path to the high area where that monster resided.

...

It didn't take long until we saw it; it was a very wide and tall rock, as I assumed by the monster's height, the rock rose at least 200 meters high.

"Okay, remember that as soon as we climb, that monster will attack us. Prepare yourselves."

Everyone nodded and we started climbing, it was difficult as it was very tall, but we reached the top in a few minutes.

While climbing, I controlled that the monster didn't notice us. It remained in its place, near the center of the rock.

When we were a meter from the top, I felt a soul movement. It was approaching our position.

"Hurry up the climb, that thing knows we're here."

I shouted for them to hear, and immediately they sped up their ascent.

We arrived a few moments before the centurion reached our position.

"Sasha, Ludwin, up front, hold off the centurion as long as you can. Isac, hide, wait for the right moment and try to deal a big blow or kill it if you can."

Everyone got into position in a second and I summoned the scavenger.

***

{POV of Isac}

I turned invisible and saw Jony create a sword with his armor and hand it to Sasha. She took it and ran to stop the centurion.

Ludwin and Sasha advanced and clashed with the centurion, stopping its charge. It wasn't easy; both were pushed back by its force, but they managed to halt it.

Jony summoned his scavenger out of nowhere and advanced a few moments later, two daggers in his hands and his scavenger at his side.

For my part, I summoned my sword [Grace of the Dark Night] and ran behind the three of them, waiting for an opportunity to help.

I saw how Sasha was pushed aside and Ludwin almost lost his head to one of the centurion's scythes.

Jonathan dodged the centurion's attacks with agility and cut part of its legs, but it was just a superficial wound.

Cursing, he ran to the side to avoid the monster's legs and its scythe falling from the sky.

Sasha appeared to block the attack before it hit Jony. Her shield rang out and a crack appeared on its surface.

Sasha yielded under the centurion's power and fell to her knees, still holding the blow.

Ludwin appeared to cut an exposed area of its shell, causing the monster to stop attacking Sasha and focus on him.

Jonathan was already moving while his scavenger contained the other scythe and was getting wounded all over its large body.

Sasha recovered and ran to block the scythe that was closing in on Ludwin.

Jony was already near the centurion's thorax when he struck hard at its chest, making a large wound on the centurion.

I saw the opportunity and ran behind the monster, reaching its exposed spot.

I made a strong leap and landed on its back.

The monster noticed my presence when I touched its shell and tried to bring its scythe to its back to cut me.

At that moment, Sasha appeared and grabbed its arm, stopping its scythe.

Ludwin jumped and restrained the scythe with Sasha, preventing it from moving.

Jony cut off a front leg, causing the centurion to lose balance.

That was my moment. I raised the transcendent sword I wielded above my head and plunged it into the monster's back.

It easily pierced through its armor and sliced its torso in two.

[You have killed an awakened monster, shell centurion]

[Your soul becomes more elusive]

I waited a few seconds and the spell didn't seem to want to give me a new memory. Disappointing.

I looked at my companions and they all seemed exhausted. Perhaps the fight didn't last long, but the mental strain from the tension and explosive effort took a toll on their minds and bodies.

We all gathered and they lay down in the center of the rock platform.

"I'll keep watch, you can rest."

Jony's scavenger appeared again and both of us kept watch while the other three slept. After a while, I also lay down next to them and fell asleep.