Every step Karn took up the mountain strengthened the pounding of his heart, flowing through his veins as if it wanted to burst free. Sweat trickled down Karn's skin, forming glistening beads that reflected the harsh sunlight. His face contorted in a grimace of both exhaustion and agony. Each salty droplet that rolled over his wounds sent charged jolts of pain coursing through his weary body.
He knew the trickster was far ahead, nearing the summit. Deep inside, he couldn't shake off the nagging suspicion that her intentions were dark. A foreboding feeling settled within him, convincing him that whatever she sought, it spelled nothing but trouble.
Distracted, a sharp stone caught the edge of Karn's foot, causing him to stumble and lose his balance. While struggling to keep upright, his fatigue got the better of him. He collided with the ground, his face striking dirt.
Karn gasping for breath as pain radiated through his body. As he lay silent in agony, he contemplated remaining there, just a fleeting. With the towering mountain still looming above him, Karn yearned for a brief rest to gather himself before pressing on.
Lying on the ground, Karn's mind wandered, losing himself to a flood of memories. Images of his friends and the cherished moments they shared before their lives took a chaotic turn, played in his mind like a movie. He could almost hear the echoes of their laughter after a tiring day at school, the exhilaration of victory as Charles slapped him on the back after a hard-fought football match. The warmth of Ellie's hugs. She was the closest thing he had to a sister.
And then, another face emerged, that of Uncle Theo, a figure who had been like a father to him. Theo's guidance and support had been firm, proving to be Karn’s rock. The memories of their conversations, the lessons imparted, and the wisdom shared flooded Karn's consciousness.
Five words echoed in Karn's mind. Strength, the power to endure and overcome. Gentle, the ability to approach challenges with kindness and compassion. Wise, the wisdom to make sound decisions and navigate the complexities of life. Clear, the clarity of purpose and understanding. Resolute, the unwavering determination to stay true to one's path.
These words stirred a long-forgotten lesson, a lesson imparted to him during his childhood. At that moment, as he lay there in the dirt, Karn realised he had never truly lost that lesson. It had simply been buried beneath the weight of his current battles. The memories and teachings of Uncle Theo resurfaced, reminding him of the strength, gentleness, wisdom, clarity, and resolve that he possessed deep within him.
His mind flickered with yet another memory, but this one was not his own, but a memory held within the pages of a book for generations.
Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
With renewed conviction, Karn pushed himself up from the ground, the pain in his body serving as a reminder of the severity of his task. He embraced those five words as guiding values, allowing them to infuse him with determination and purpose.
It was time to rise, to continue the ascent up the treacherous mountain, drawing upon the lessons of his past to shape his present and forge his way up the mountain.
Gritting his teeth, Karn pushed through the strain, determined to conquer each step. The path narrowed once more, but he remained composed, his hands gently tracing the rugged surface of the cliff face beside him. His fingertips explored the cracks and crevices, reading the story of the rock. The jagged lines descended from above, warning of loose fragments below. Karn had quickly found of a method to detect potential landslides. He calmed his breathing and began shuffling his feet to displace any loose rocks as he walked, safeguarding his ascent.
As he advanced, the area where he’d fallen came into view, prompting a wince of pain. Examining the divide, he faced two distinct options. One path appeared deceptively easy, with a short gap to jump, while the other required scaling the cliff face to reach the other side. Karn pondered, assessing his abilities and the risks involved.
In that moment, he recognised his own limitations and concluded that the jump, though seemingly reachable, was just beyond his grasp. Resolutely, he chose the more arduous path, climbing up the cliff face, inch by inch, before descending again to cross the divide. The process took far longer than expected, but he finally reached the other side, safe.
As he continued his ascent, the heat above increased, a blistering presence as he neared the mountaintop. And then he spotted her—the trickster. She had arrived at the pinnacle of the spire just moments before him.
His jaw clenched as he caught sight of the girl.
She had her back turned to him, kneeling over a tiny figure obscured from his view. As he approached, a wave of horror washed over him. There lay a young boy, his vacant eyes fixed on the sky, blood staining his lifeless form. In the trickster's hand, a dagger glistened with crimson. She huffed and puffed, a twisted expression of triumph etched across her face.
"You're too late," she snarled, a wicked grin stretching across her lips as she turned to face Karn. "It's all mine."
Shock coursed through Karn's veins, rendering him motionless. The weight of overwhelming uncertainty pressed down upon him, pinning him to the spot. Time seemed to stretch, each passing second filled with a paralysing indecision. It was a feeling he hated more than anything.
Summoning his inner resolve, Karn took a deep breath, steeling himself against the waves of uncertainty. With each passing moment, a glimmer of determination emerged from the depths of his being.
Karn's muscles tensed, propelling him forward. He stepped cautiously; his eyes locked on the trickster's malevolent gaze. Though fear and doubt still lingered within him, a flicker of courage ignited. It was time to confront the darkness. With each deliberate step, Karn closed the distance, his mind focused. The weight of the boy's lifeless body etched a grave promise into his heart.
As he moved closer, determination grew in Karn's eyes, a spark of resilience burning brightly. The trickster's wicked grin faltered, sensing the newfound resolve emanating from him. Karn's voice, filled with a mixture of anger and sorrow, broke through the silence.
"No more," he spoke, his words spiked with conviction. "Your bullshit ends here."