Chapter 34: The Summit's Omen

Abel and Sena found themselves in the grand hall of the Stone Tower’s first floor, adjusting the straps of their baskets and bags, their faces tense with anticipation. Around them, non-gifted recruits—like themselves—were preparing for their respective tasks. Abel glanced around, noticing the differences in robes. The gifted had intricate, embroidered details that distinguished them, their auras filled with confidence. Meanwhile, those like Abel and Sena seemed more subdued, their plain robes marking them as ordinary amidst the exceptional.

Among the non-gifted, Lorne spotted Abel and made his way over, giving a brief wave. “Abel! Didn't expect to see you on this task.”

Abel gave a slight smile, though his nerves made it hard to relax. "Yeah, thought it’d be worth it."

Lorne turned to Sena, introducing himself with a firm handshake. "Lorne. Nice to meet you."

"Sena," came the reply. His voice was steady, but the tension was palpable.

The three of them stood in silent expectation, their eyes shifting to Cloudbreaker, the leader of their mission. The young man stood near the towering stone pillars, idly spinning an umbrella in his hand. His rectangular glasses reflected the dim light, hiding the subtle intensity behind them. Cloudbreaker was an enigma—not as famous as the returning Apostles like Gravedigger or Salamander, but there was something unsettling about the quiet air around him. The umbrella, odd as it seemed, felt more like a weapon than a prop in his grasp.

Soon, the final member of their group arrived—a girl named Alisa. Abel recognized her from the library, while Sena greeted her with a nod of familiarity. She moved quietly, her footsteps barely a whisper as she took her place beside the others. Three more recruits joined them, their faces pale and somber.

Cloudbreaker stepped forward, his voice smooth yet strangely hollow. “We’re heading west today, toward the highlands. My goal is simple—to reach the summit of a hill and attempt my breakthrough during the coming storm.” He paused, letting the silence sink in before continuing. “Your role is to ensure I remain undisturbed. Protect me from any threats—be they beasts or… other forces.”

The words “other forces” lingered in the air, sending a shiver through Abel. He glanced around at the others, all nodding in agreement despite the tension that weighed heavily on the group.

“And remember,” Cloudbreaker added, his tone softening, “this experience is as much for your growth as it is for mine. Witnessing a breakthrough could change everything for you.”

Abel thought back to Gravedigger’s breakthrough, the chaos of it still fresh in his mind. That night had been filled with strange occurrences, and the atmosphere surrounding this mission felt eerily similar. Yet this time, the darkness ahead seemed more foreboding, more dangerous.

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With a final word, the group set off, passing through the colossal stone gates that led out from the safety of the Tower. The familiar path into the forest was dimly lit, the last traces of sunlight fading beneath the thick canopy. The towering trees, ancient and twisted, cast long shadows across their path, stretching like skeletal fingers that clawed at the ground. The statues that lined the perimeter of the Tower’s grounds emitted a faint, pale glow, their features distorted in the fading light.

As they ventured deeper into the woods, the light from the statues disappeared, replaced by the suffocating darkness of the forest. The wind howled through the twisted branches above, carrying with it strange, distant whispers. Abel tightened his grip on the straps of his bag, his heart beating a little faster with each step.

Every now and then, a rustling sound would break the eerie silence—too far to be seen, yet close enough to keep the group on edge. Abel’s eyes darted from shadow to shadow, unsure of what lurked just out of sight. The trees seemed to bend inward, their gnarled branches swaying ominously, as if they were leaning in to listen to the whispers of the wind.

Sena walked beside him, his face grim. "This forest feels alive today," he muttered under his breath.

Abel nodded silently. There was something wrong with the air—it was thick with something… unnatural. He felt watched, the sensation of eyes constantly peering at them from just beyond the trees. Each creak of the forest floor beneath their feet felt amplified, as though the woods themselves were listening to their every move.

The deeper they went, the colder it became. The wind cut through the trees like icy blades, and the deeper shadows seemed to swallow the light entirely. Faint glimmers of light danced in the distance—small orbs, glowing in soft greens and blues, flickering for brief moments before vanishing. Abel’s breath hitched as he caught sight of one floating between the trees, its glow pulsing rhythmically like a heartbeat.

"What is that?" Lorne whispered, his eyes wide as he stared at the flickering lights.

Cloudbreaker glanced back, his face expressionless. “Forest spirits,” he said softly. “They linger in the darkness, watching… waiting.”

The way Cloudbreaker spoke sent a chill down Abel’s spine. The lights, once mesmerizing, now seemed far more sinister, like eyes watching from the void. None of them spoke further, the forest’s eerie stillness forcing them into a tense silence.

After what felt like hours of walking, they finally emerged from the dense forest into a clearing at the foot of the highlands. Before them, the landscape sloped sharply upward, jagged rocks and thorny bushes dotting the terrain. Above, the sky had turned an ominous shade of gray, dark clouds rolling in from the east. Thunder rumbled in the distance, and the wind carried with it the scent of rain.

Cloudbreaker stopped, gazing up at the darkening sky with a calm expression. "This is the place. We climb to the summit, and there, we begin the ritual."

The recruits spread out at Cloudbreaker’s command, taking their positions around the clearing. Abel and Sena exchanged glances, their nerves frayed from the eerie atmosphere of the journey. The storm was approaching fast, and the highlands, with their jagged rocks and barren hills, felt even more hostile than the forest. The wind was picking up, howling through the rocks and carrying strange whispers that seemed to echo from every direction.

The ground beneath their feet felt alive with tension, as though the land itself was preparing for what was to come.