The breathtaking effect of the forest strengthened, but it shifted from utilizing beauty and serenity to demanding one’s air with its malevolent omen. The lightning bugs went quiet and dimmed to hide amongst their land, the gust ceased blowing to avoid being heard, and the branches of the trees stopped moving to blend with the surroundings in hopes of being disregarded. All left was the bold moon, refusing to surrender to those beneath it. The darkness-shrouded figure stared at her, lifting what seemed like a silhouette of an arm to its face with some object in grasp before lowering it. “You dig yourself into deep–hell,” the dark figure gurgled. It spoke as if its throat were full of a thick, mushy liquid. “Cease your transgressions for all that awaits you is succulent misery,” Pyrei took aim at it but any attempts to expel light seemed to result in her magic being absorbed by its void–like darkness. The thing let out a watery cackle of accomplishment. “Even the mightiest of shining stars succumb to a black end. An insatiable grim reaper feeding only on corruption. Those held near and dear are especially no different, bazehahehe...” it chuckled.

Driven by desperation, Pyrei attempted to blast the figure once more, finally resulting in a successful attack that destroyed three trees behind it and partially those surrounding, leaving them very unstable. With the shine, the darkness of the night forest melted away and nature was reinvigorated; the fireflies glowed and buzzed again, the wind continued on its nomadic road, and the branches swayed. With sleepylight once again trickling the land, Zolton was revealed. He rested on the tree stump with a half eaten, freshly incinerated apple in his right hand, several other charred fruit cores beside him and his left extended outward with a Blackwater barrier summoned. “You seem surprised to find me here,” he said. Despite suffering some burns, he laughed albeit a clearly unsettled one. Her eyes were bold with anxiety, almost horrified tears. Sour, fear–sweat filled the air as the pounds of her heart became increasingly more audible to foreign ears. “Are you alright?” Zolton questioned, rubbing bringing together his hands in an attempt to lessen the pain. “Did something happen in the village?”

Frigid fright froze her feet. Her flustered mind cooled enough to form near-coherent thoughts. “No… I mean yes, but… we will discuss during our sail… I’m sorry…”

The sailboat was much easier to enter than it was to exit. The water rose quite high in the night, rendering the numerous, now submerged, rocks used to reach the land prior unnecessary. Luckily, the sailboat did not drift off since the sea wind was pushing towards the island. The two adventurers boarded it and much to Pyrei’s surprise, a spill of fruits at the far end of the sailboat sat. There were apples and pears with some citrus fruits – although very little. Sitting on the edge at the back of the sailboat, Zolton's knees reached his chest when he positioned his feet against the stone beneath the overhanging granite. With a great push, the boat and its riders were jetted far out, enough to safely maneuver without hitting stone with great force. Pyrei pulled the ropes, letting down the sail leapt down before moving over to the wheel and turning it. “Zolton— I know I already apologized, but…”

“You don’t need to say it again,” he assured, “Just tell me what happened.”

“Did… did you not see it?”

“I couldn’t see much considering how bright it was. Before that though, you did seem to be dreaming as you were strolling through the woods. You seemed pretty happy to be in your own little world so I didn’t want to bother you. Unfortunately it seems like I was already there – clearly uninvited. What is it that I missed?”

“There was a figure there… I don’t believe in ghosts but maybe they aren’t as far fetched as I thought… considering events. Are you hurting?”

“Nah, it shouldn’t amount to anything. I’ve dealt with worse. Blasted into a tree when I was a kid by Pa. Knocked me out cold. Woke up the next day after my skull damn near broke,” he chuckled with a smile. “I hope he’s doing alright.”

She became visibly confused. “He… your father sent you into a tree?” she said.

“Yeah. He wanted to see what I could do. He said he wasn’t going to hold back and, for the most part, clearly that was not a lie. Sent me flying into a tree and I woke up in my bed with a bloody head wrap around my melon. Great times… Did you say something about a ghost?”

“Yes, a spirit or something of that ‘nature’… I think. It was sitting right where you were. It uttered something harrowin in a revolting mannerism. It warned me of death and ‘darkness drinking light.’ I do not believe this is a simple coincidence. It is likely to be the work of the Penumbra. It appears they have even more power in store than considered - as I’ve learned, necromancy seems to be one of them.”

“Resurrecting the dead, huh. You don’t think that’s a bit far fetched? Maybe you were just seeing things. Why wouldn’t have I seen it? You think I would if it were literally on me, right?”

“...Perhaps,” she said and took a look back at the island for the final time. From the distance, the forest seemed to be dazzling. No doubt the fireflies were the cause of the light show. But on the ledge jutted over the sea a shadow stood. “It’s there! Look!” she cried, gawking and pointing at the cliff.

Zolton squinted at the cliff. He scratched his head, puzzled. He turned to Pyrei with an unsettled grin before taking a second look at the cliff. “I don–I don’t see it,” Zolton stuttered.

It raised its hand, waving almost mockingly. Eventually, the thing drifted backwards into the forest – unending of its farewelling gesture until it was out of sight. Her sweat glands went mad again. Her hands became weak and the hardship of sailing only increased difficulty. After pulling her hands off the wheel, Zolton took control of the steer. “You might be coming down with something” he assumed, “You’re sweating a lot and turning very pale. And you do seem to be… out of it. I’ll finish the sail back. Go chill out.”

On a makeshift bed, Pyrei sat. “I can sleep later. I will not do so until we arrive back at Yazzalo’s so the both of you are informed together.”

“It will be a little under an hour until we get there. You can rest in that time, clearly you’re str-”

She pierced him with the eyes of a preying bird and coldly ordered, “Sail.”

In silent oblige, he moved on. Rain began to pour just a bit, agitating the water some but not enough to overpower a vastus-blood’s strength. The dampened sail accelerated the boat as the stronger winds blew in the general direction of their destination. The hour-estimated trip had been cut down significantly, quicker than either had anticipated, even when Zolton had to bring the ship back around since it had gained too great of speed, resulting in mistimed deceleration point. Only one rotation was enough to slow it enough for a stop alongside the lowest leveled stone where a wooden foundation pillar was nailed into the ground. A rope was attached to it. A drifting sack developed out of hide and plant fiber tossed from the highest stone point descended, just barely missing the stone and landing in the ocean beside them. There were five pillars total, with the fifth being the peak of them and the only one with vegetation – some running plants and vines stretching about halfway down and soil scattered on top. Zolton retrieved the bag and removed any water from the bag that the simple act of shaking was able to accomplish. He then scooped most of what he could by pulling the bag through the pile and picked up whatever individuals remained aloft by hand. Pyrei connected the ship to the wood with the rope, kicking the boat a few times to test its stability. Once satisfied, the two made their way up by hopping from each pillar to the next until they arrived at the main one where the hut sat.

The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

Light flowed from standing torches outside the curtain door and those on the wall inside, giving the grass and soil a warm orange light in the night. A bit to the left of the hut was a small arena. A mix of thatch, dirt and vegetation was used as bedding and contained by a wooden exterior. Four logs at each corner held together lines of rope to enclose those within the square; a proper fighting ring. Pyrei pushed aside the curtain first and entered. She granted a beaming smile. “Hello, Yazzalo! It’s us!”

He was turned back to them, hanging upside down bare-chested. “Greetings, dear Pyrei,” he welcomed with his head dangling above the ground. Two hollow, foot-shaped wooden contraptions were built into the ceiling and one timber beam ran across just in front of them. His legs went into them, securing his feet inside and preventing his fall. He curled up a final time, utilizing his core strength to bring his upper body up to feet. Yazzalo grabbed the wooden beam with his left hand and used his right to open three metal tabs on the side of the right wooden foot, freeing his own. He then grabbed the wooden beam with his right hand, repeated the unlocking process with his left, and fell in a 180-degree motion, landing on his feet and allowing his long goatee to hang again. Zolton soon followed, ducking the frame as he pushed aside the curtain. “And, Zolton,” he nodded. “What is that smell?”

Zolton rolled his eyes. “Yo,” he responded with a swift, two finger salute. He dropped the bag beside the entrance alongside the wall and sat on a thick mat at the right side of the hut. “Wonderful, seems plenty was collected. Is that what held you two for so long at Windview?” Yazzalo dug. He took a clearer look at Pyrei with the aid of a wall torch’s light illuminating her features better. “Are you ill, Pyrei? You’re pale.”

“It was a long day, nothing much of it,”said with haste, dropping onto another mat at the left of the hut. “I tied us up. I gathered a great deal of information from Heartsoul Library, are you familiar with it?”

Yazzalo nodded. “I am, although I never went through it. I only travel to Windview if I no longer crave the taste of the sea’s life. So I take it that the library had some books that provide helpful information on the Undergrowth?”

“Not that I know of, I likely wouldn’t have the time this year to carefully analyze each one. Instead, there was a peculiar old man who had a lot to say. Fortunately, I believe it will put us on a clearer path.”

“Really? What he say?” Zolton barged, leaning in with intrigue.

Pyrei closed her eyes and used her fingers to open up greater pathways for thought. “He told me two names… Dargus and Rijuh. He also mentioned a swamp, but it was quite vague. ‘The Swamp’ is all he quite literally said when referring to it. But that one place, Dargus—he emphasized it a lot. It’s what he was able to inform me most about. He said it’s a Kingdom far beyond here. Somewhere beyond a place called the Dark Sea?”

Yazzalo’s eyes squinted with suspicion and worry. “The Dark Sea… there are places beyond it?”

“You know of it, Yazzalo?” Pyrei asked with a minor drop of her jaw.

“Yes, but I did not know that there was life beyond it, much less civilization. Who is this man you spoke to?”

“I’m not exactly sure. He seemed… odd. He told me that I may have seen portrayals of him around. Something about it being based on ‘preternatural events…’ and how it was ‘uncanny.’ Instead he wanted me to refer to him as ‘Mister K’. He said he could not give me a name because people were ‘looking to pester’ him, whatever that could mean. Perhaps considering the bombshell he dropped, he must have been referring to others that are part of the Penumbra Undergrowth seeking to avenge Klazza. He told me a story with quite some implications. Allegedly, Glorho Klazza was not always a mad man. He only gained his animalistic tendencies after an encounter with Mr. K.”

“Oh, shit…” Zolton exclaimed, “Did this ‘Mister K’ guy drag him that bad?”

“I guess so – he didn’t go into much detail other than that he was not proud of it. But from what he told me, I can only infer that Glorho didn’t put up much of a fight… or maybe he wasn’t even allowed to do so. But inadvertently, Mr. K saved many people. That is why I believe what he says is true. Can you guess why the prison for a lightning wielder was barren?”

“I’m guessing Klazza didn’t find one?”

“ Ah, but he did find a lightning wizard. To his grand misfortune, that lightning user was Mr. K. He scarred Klazza – in more ways than one. So much so that Klazza refused to ever look for another, at least not on his own. By his lonesome, Klazza would’ve stood no chance against those three back then, which is why he had subjugated so many into slavery to overrun them. And in such a tight area, using their attacks to their fullest would put each other in danger – which is what happened to the little boy, taking him out.”

“Right… Tthe fire kid and the scrawny guy that got buff after you freed us— Yujo and Hielo I think are their names,” Zolton replied.

“And Kali, the wind one. She was always… off. Both before and after the conversion she acted the same; independent, antisocial. I’m not sure if she even was ever under their mind control. Maybe she was resistant and played along until she found a good time to act, as I did. But then she just vanished when Klazza was killed and the other Undergrowth members escaped. She shared no words with us.”

“Perhaps she is part of their group?” Yazzalo guessed. He walked to the curtain and lifted it, tying the cloth on wood above to allow easier flow of the sea’s wind.”

“I don’t believe so. When the orb was destroyed she would’ve aided Klazza and had a two on one against me if she were on his side, right? Yujo and Hielo were still down and out, and Zolton here had just been infused. I would’ve simply been outnumbered; there were no deterrents.”

“What does this have to do with that ‘K’ individual?” Yazzalo asked from outside the hut.

“That’s what I’m getting at. I believe that Klazza was preparing for a confrontation with a lightning wizard. It is unrealistic for him to know the strength of a stranger in a first-time encounter, so I’m thinking he wanted to gather some puppets to fight them for him due to his Mister K–invoked trauma. Those puppets he had in mind happened to be me, Zolton and the other three. Unfortunately for him, he was struck down early.”

“So he gathered us to fight Mister K because he’s a bitch?” Zolton grunted. “It feels even more shameful to have been tossed around like a damn doll by Glorho now. Your bud doesn’t sound like he should be taken lightly, Pyrei.”

“Your strength, especially considering how far back that was, should not be used to gauge the power of this individual,” Yazzalo said. “But if he isn’t spitting out a bunch of lies, considering his crossing the Dark Sea is a far more accurate way to estimate where he stands. Whether his crossing of those waters was driven by arrogance or rightful boldness is unclear. In either case, Glorho most definitely stood no chance as a leaf before a mighty storm.”

“A mighty storm…” Zolton puzzled in a mutter.

“Let’s not speak as if we’re confronting him,” Pyrei advised, “I believe me and him are on good terms. He seemed like an otherwise peace-seeking individual.”

Zolton appeared puzzled for a moment. “Preternatural events… preternatural... What is that? That’s like weather, right?”

“Not specifically,” Pyrei said, “It applies but is not exclusive to such. In other words, he said unordinary events but I’m not sure what he is referring to.”

Zolton stroked his chin. “Something is ringing—I know that I know it. Damn it, Zolton… Hold on, Pyrei – you said that he has lightning magic?”

“It is what he confirmed. Oddly enough, he did not utter the word, but when I referenced lightning wizards, he did say, ‘those with magic similar to mine.’ He seems quite paranoid if he is not willing to even state the name of his magic or really anything else. Perhaps I had seemed like that too, now that I reflect on it.”

“The sky! Fayeign! Back at Fayeign! The boards!” Zolton exclaimed, gleaming with excitement in the eyes.

“Elaborate,” Yazzalo inquired. Shortly after his request, Yazzalo gagged. “We’re going to have to find the source of that awful stench soon, I can’t tolerate this…”

“You both know! The random blue flashes that happen randomly during a clear night! They probably happen during the day too but we just can’t see them! The ‘storms’ people have been calling them! I remember back in Fayeign when I was looking at a bounty board there were three names emboldened so it was impossible to miss! ‘Mr. K’ isn’t being ‘pestered’ by the Undergrowth, Pyrei. He’s running from the Grand Navy! He’s th—”

“Enough!” Yazzalo raged, “Get out here and wash yourselves! This stench is horrendous!”