Chapter 7: Reflection
Vina spent the remainder of the evening cocooned within the log cabin's modest embrace, her body aching for the rest that had eluded her the previous night. Her makeshift sanctuary, nestled in a secluded corner of the room, was bathed in the protective glow of her lantern, warding off the surrounding darkness. Despite snatching a few fleeting hours of sleep, her senses remained sharpened, a sentry against the vulnerabilities of this foreign land. Thoughts of Etana, tangled with concern and worry, pervaded her restless mind. When the notification abruptly surfaced, slicing through the silence, her heart sank.
Refuge Recall Location Removed
The message ignited a storm of questions within her. "Was a refuge destroyed?" she wondered, anxiety gnawing at her insides. Her mind raced in search of answers, but none came, leaving her adrift in a sea of unease as the night stretched on.
With dawn's first light painting the horizon in hues of promise, she extinguished her lantern, its dimming light revealing the reality of its dwindling energy. "Time to hunt," she whispered to the dawn, her voice a blend of determination and reluctance. Drawing blood from herself was a last resort, especially now, with her armor persistently leeching her vitality in this hostile environment. The thought of further diminishing her life force was unbearable.
As she ventured forth into the newborn day, her path guided by the instructions Etana had provided, her mind was a whirlwind of objectives. The need to replenish her lantern's charge, to forage for sustenance, and to find the portal ring loomed large. Her mission was clear: to retrieve Ann, reunite with Etana, and, perhaps, persuade her sister to surrender Trina's necklace.
The forest near Termily revealed itself as a bountiful repository of provisions. Engaging in the act of foraging brought an unexpected solace, a connection to the stories of Trina in Palitern shared by Shan. "Trina had it right," Vina mused, hands busy with her task, "A life dedicated to foraging for one's community holds a certain charm."
Skill Level Up: Forage has reached level 11. Items foraged from the wilderness are 18% bigger and foraged items will taste 44% better. You have gained 150 experience points from leveling a skill.
Yet, this moment of tranquility was fleeting. As Vina navigated towards her destination, curious patterns etched into the forest floor caught her attention. Grooves crisscrossed her path, revealing the passage of something—or someone—heavy. These markings, though shallow grooves sliced into the forest floor, were unmistakable signs of deliberate action, barely obscured beneath a blanket of fallen leaves.
Kneeling to examine the grooves closer, Vina found her usual skills unresponsive. Only when she employed her tracking ability did the first clue emerge—a set of petite footprints accompanying the grooves. The tracks told a story of barefooted, measured steps, a painstaking journey made by someone unwilling to bear their burden, choosing instead to drag it behind them.
Vina's curiosity was piqued, yet she pressed on, her focus on her looming goal. The grooves became a constant undercurrent to her journey as she crossed them, a riddle carved into the soil itself. "Who heads into a forest barefoot while encircling the same path time and again?" she pondered.
Closer to her goal, the mystery deepened. The arcs of the grooves intertwined more densely, a labyrinthine dance around the portal ring. The realization that someone had indeed been traversing this loop, endlessly dragging their burden, settled heavily upon her.
In this world, Vina had encountered two types of portal rings: those vigilantly guarded, bustling with activity, and those deserted, shrouded in secrecy and silence. "What are the odds of this one being abandoned or concealed?" she pondered, recalling Etana's mention of its affiliation with The Watch.
Pausing, she strategized her approach, acutely aware of the potential for an encounter. Daylight stealth was fraught with challenges, and the decision to wait for night's cover lingered in her mind. Yet, her arsenal of detection skills, particularly the far-reaching Listen and the intensely revealing Blood Sense, provided a modicum of reassurance.
“It’ll have to be enough”, she told herself. Vina checked the distance to the marker and started on her way once again. The forest's once comforting embrace now seemed laden with foreboding, each groove crossed a stark reminder of the unknown dangers that roamed these woods. Something was out there walking, day after day, in circles. Vina had a hard time understanding the kind of mind that would do that.
The evening’s shadows began to stretch just as Vina found herself halfway to the marker, her chances of reaching it before nightfall all but eliminated. She was faced with a choice: “Find shelter and sleep, or press on while stealthed?” she mused aloud, her back against the cool purple bark of a tree. Exhaustion was pulling at her sleep-deprived body. Her bones still ached despite the full health bar, and she lacked any affliction to explain the persistent discomfort. The question hung in the air, unanswered, as night crept closer.
It was then, in the throes of decision, that her Listen skill alerted her to the distant echoes of conflict in the valley below. Instinctively, she crouched and activated Stealth. Questions raced in her mind. "Who could it be?" she pondered, curiosity piquing. A compulsion to investigate tugged at her. Surrendering to the urge, she navigated to the edge of the bluff, catching a glimpse of the commotion below.
Vina’s gaze fell upon the landscape below, where her map marker hovered over a commanding stone tower. It stood as a monolith, piercing the sky above the towering trees. To its left, a clearing clung to its base, where silhouettes clashed in a fierce ballet of combat. Though distant, their forms were distinct against the fading light, compelling Vina to focus intently to decipher the unfolding drama.
A solitary figure, clad in pristine white, commanded her attention. It wielded a colossal object with the lethal grace of a sword, each swing an act of destruction. As Vina studied its movements, a sense of unease crept over her. The figure’s motions were peculiar, unnaturally rigid in the waist and shoulders, while its head moved fluidly, scanning the surroundings with mechanical precision. It methodically struck down all of its adversaries, standing momentarily over each fallen creature, an eerie sentinel amidst the silence. Then, with a slow, deliberate pace, it retreated towards the tower, dragging its massive burden behind.
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Vina watched, mesmerized, as the figure attempted to enter the tower, only to be thwarted by the unyielding door. It paused, turning abruptly, its gaze sweeping the valley. Vina's heart raced when its gaze seemed to lock onto her position. The figure raised an arm, beckoning her with an unsettling gesture.
Rooted to the spot, Vina remained frozen, holding her breath until the figure dropped its arm, slowly crossed the expanse surrounding the tower, and disappeared into the forest, heading in her direction. "Did it see me, even while I was stealthed?" she whispered, a ripple of alarm coursing through her.
Without hesitation, she moved, employing her tracking skills and altering her footsteps to obscure her trail. The figure's ability to detect her from such a distance was disconcerting. "Could this be one of the twelve?" she pondered, bracing for a potential encounter. The thought of finding an alternative portal ring crossed her mind, but the uncertainty of their locations in this hostile territory, and the risk of drawing The Watch's attention, anchored her resolve. "I must reach this portal ring," she muttered, steeling herself.
As evening enveloped the valley, Vina skirted the tower's perimeter, navigating the valley rim before finally descending towards her target. Her plan was to follow the valley path leading up to the tower, banking on the hope that the figure would be at the valley ridge by the time she arrived. "Looks like no sleep tonight," she sighed, steeling herself for the journey ahead. Just then, her blood sense alerted her to the presence of two creatures.
In a fluid motion, she summoned a blood blade, her left hand wielding it with practiced ease. Emerging from the shadows, the creatures initially resembled Earth horses, but as they closed in, their true form revealed itself. Their heads were elongated spikes, their bodies encased in white, bony armor, exposing gaps vulnerable to attack. Assessing their life force, Vina prepared for a challenging confrontation. "Around three hundred. It’ll take a couple hits," she planned, pouring more blood into her blade.
The lead creature charged her, its spike aimed with deadly intent. Vina dodged and retaliated with a blood knife, striking its side and triggering Scarlet Dance. As the creature regrouped, its companion advanced more cautiously, its own spike poised for a lethal thrust. Vina's attempt to parry was overpowered, disarming her and leaving her vulnerable.
Reacting instinctively, she conjured a blood claw, bracing for the next attack. The creature's spike crashed down with overwhelming force, shattering her defense and piercing her armor. Pain seared through her leg as the creature's attack found its mark.
You have been hit with 62 points of piercing damage. Armor reduces piercing damage by 14% and absorbs 20 damage. You have suffered 33 points of piercing damage.
Your right leg has been damaged. Your evasion is reduced by 10%, your movement speed is reduced by 25%.
You are afflicted with moderate bleeding.
Ignoring the pain, and feeling the first creature charging her once again, Vina evaded both of their attacks, her movement hampered by her injury. The charging creature did not stop, however, as it ran through where she once stood, it slammed into the second creature. As the creatures collided, she seized the moment to reassess her strategy.
A barrage of blood-knives rained down upon the entangled creatures, her desperation fueling her attacks. The creature atop bore the brunt, receiving a flurry of knives before freeing itself. In its frenzy, the second creature inadvertently wounded its companion. "Perhaps it will bleed out," Vina hoped, as she observed its rapidly declining health.
She focused her assault on the second creature, but it deftly evaded her next knife. Summoning the blade back with Blood Call, she struck it from behind. Despite the hit, the creature charged, its spike raised for another devastating blow.
Vina’s agility, though hampered, remained superior. As the creature lunged at her, she jumped back. Seizing the moment when it missed, she leapt forward, grabbed its neck, and used all her strength to swing herself onto its back. A surge of triumph filled her as she drove a knife between its armor plates, the skill Improved Stab proving more effective than anticipated.
The creature bolted, tearing across the valley at a pace Vina had never experienced in this world. She clung on, her Climbing skill activating instinctively. As she adjusted her sitting position to prevent herself from sliding off, she recognized the sensation. "There's a new skill to learn here!" she realized. Her high Dexterity, Agility, and several skills were the only things keeping her on the creature's back as it struggled to dislodge her. She held on, determined to unlock the potential skill. When the notification window popped up, she didn't even read it, satisfied with her newfound ease in riding the creature.
Once again, she conjured a blood knife, stabbing the creature repeatedly, trying to stack as many Scarlet Dance effects as possible. The following two stabs dealt substantial damage, causing large, gushing wounds. As she continued her onslaught, the creature gradually slowed. Her Blood Sense informed her of the creature's rapidly diminishing life force.
Despite the predicament, a twinge of sorrow washed over her. She didn't want the creature to suffer a slow death. Just as she was wrestling with this sentiment, a realization struck her. She placed her hand against the creature's skin and activated Blood Stained Hands. The immediate effect, combined with the creature's multiple wounds, was far more potent than she had anticipated. Soon, the creature collapsed under her, its life force extinguished.
You have slain 2 Misshapen of various levels. You have gained 14300 experience points
Having defeated the creatures, a surge of experience points awarded her efforts. Yet, her victory left her shaking. She set her lantern down and started fueling it with the creature's blood. As she did so, she used Blood Aid on her injured leg and consumed a health mixture. Looking around, she saw that the tower loomed closer now, an ominous presence in the encroaching darkness.
The thickening darkness only served heightened her paranoia, and the trauma of her journey through The Gloom came rushing back. She picked up her lantern, still unsure of her next move. "I guess I'm still heading into the tower," she resolved, her determination wavering slightly.
"May I accompany you?" A disembodied voice broke the silence, startling her.
Whirling around, blade at the ready, Vina faced the source of the voice. A woman, half-concealed by a tree and just beyond the reach of her Blood Sense, stepped forward. Her vibrance was unlike any Vina had ever sensed – a myriad of signatures crammed into one body, the strongest akin to her own, the others reminiscent of creatures. Most strangely, Vina could feel the woman’s body was definitely not like her own. While she had two arms, legs, and a head, the similarities ended there.
"I asked, may I accompany you?" the woman repeated, emerging fully from her hiding place.
She was a vision of otherworldly elegance, her attire resembling a pencil dress crafted from hardened white bone. Two curved bones extended from her back, wrapping around her torso and meeting at an angle, creating a seam from her left ankle to her right shoulder. A bone mask shielded her head and face, exposing a single blood-red iris fixating intently on Vina.