Raven carried Miles on his back, walking deep into the forest for minutes on end, his mind swirling with questions. No matter how flawless the plan seemed, once it was discovered the stones were missing, chaos or even war would be inevitable. Edward Hunter had explicitly mentioned that he didn’t want war or any sort of commotion, but Raven knew that was impossible.

As he wrestled with his thoughts, Miles began to stir, mumbling as he woke. In a sleepy voice, he called out to Raven, “Did you cause any trouble inside?”

Raven paused briefly, recalling the two guards he had knocked out, then replied, “Yes, there was... something. But it’s nothing you need to worry about.”

Miles chuckled and, still slung over Raven’s back, playfully punched him in the stomach.

“Ouch! What are you doing, man?” Raven growled.

Miles just giggled more. “Do you remember the day we first met? You were so short back then. You probably would’ve lost a fight to a cockroach. And now? You’re almost stronger than me.”

Raven scowled. “Hey, I’m not almost stronger—I am stronger than you!”

Miles smirked and patted Raven’s back dismissively. “Yeah, yeah, sure.”

They continued walking deeper into the forest. The cool night air brushed past them, and the moon shone perfectly through the trees. For two friends constantly embroiled in battles or consumed by thoughts of war, this moment was unusually peaceful—almost therapeutic.

“Hey, Miles,” Raven broke the silence, his voice softer than usual. “No matter what happens, let’s always trust each other. I don’t have anyone else but you. I don’t know what I am to you, but you’re my best friend.”

Miles was taken aback. Raven, typically stoic and serious, had revealed a rare glimpse of vulnerability. After a brief silence as he processed the sentiment, Miles laughed, breaking the tension. “Don’t worry, buddy. I’ll never leave you. To be honest, I used to think you were just a dumb, strong rock. Turns out, you’re a dumb, strong rock with a soft inside.”

Raven jabbed Miles in the stomach with his elbow, making him laugh even harder.

After walking through the forest for a while longer, surrounded by the sounds of owls and crickets, Raven spoke again. “You mentioned the four Originals. What else do you know about them?”

“The Originals, unlike other symbiotes, don’t demand much,” Miles replied.

Raven was quietly shocked but intrigued. It didn’t make sense for the most powerful symbiotes to want so little.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

“All their names are in Latin and way too long to remember. I’ll just use their first names; they’re what matter most,” Miles continued.

Raven’s curiosity grew. If the Originals didn’t demand much, it made them even more free. They could remain powerful without taking much from their hosts, making them freer than any symbiote he had imagined—almost as if their sole purpose was to embody freedom.

“First, there’s Mentis, the symbiote of knowledge and curiosity. It grows stronger by feeding on human curiosity and hunger for learning. It despises ignorance. Wherever it’s been, that place can never remain uneducated. If you ever met it, it’d probably kill you instantly.”

Raven clenched his teeth but said nothing.

“The second Original is Desiderium. It feeds on human desires and passions. People with intense desires—regardless of what they’re for—are easy prey for it.”

“So... its thing is killing horny people?” Raven quipped, making Miles burst into laughter.

“No, you idiot. I’m talking about any kind of passion. Every person has something they’d want at any cost,” Miles explained.

Raven fell silent, his thoughts swirling. His intense thirst for vengeance and hatred made him an easy target for Desiderium. Thankfully, he figured, the symbiote had no reason to target him specifically, given the countless other passionate beings in the universe.

“The third Original is the symbiote of pure goodness, Seraphis. It represents peace and kindness and is one of the hardest symbiotes to bond with because every living being harbors some level of evil and hatred. According to legend, it’s only ever bonded with two beings in history—one of them was an angel inhabiting a mortal body.”

As Miles talked, the sound of Raven’s footsteps echoed through the forest, accompanied by the occasional crack of twigs and the distant howls of wolves.

“Spirits can inhabit bodies?” Raven asked.

“Of course. It’s not that hard. Any demon, angel, or spirit can take over a dead body unless they’ve been sealed,” Miles replied.

“So, is the cult we raided trying to place their sealed master into a new body?” Raven asked.

Miles smacked Raven on the head. “What did you think, genius? That they’d glue the stones together and build a house?”

Raven stayed silent, uninterested in Seraphis. Acts of kindness weren’t exactly his forte.

“So, what about the last Original?” Raven asked.

“The last one is a bit different,” Miles began. “Unlike the others, who lived freely and occasionally bonded with hosts, this symbiote hasn’t been heard of in thousands of years.”

Raven raised an eyebrow. “So, it’s dead?”

Miles shook his head, and even though Raven couldn’t see it, he could feel the movement. “No. The last time it appeared, it struck terror across the entire universe. Imagine a symbiote so feared that no planet could live peacefully while its name was uttered.”

Raven’s interest piqued. A symbiote that incited universal fear? He already liked it.

“The last Original is Acrimonyx, the symbiote of pure hatred and evil. Its nickname is Acrimon. According to legend, after its host rejected hatred and sought peace, Acrimon separated from them. Whether it killed its host or not is unknown, but it hasn’t been seen since. Over time, people stopped fearing it.”

Raven was mesmerized by the tale. It felt like he’d found the symbiotic embodiment of himself—a being defined by endless hatred and rage.

“I see. Thanks for telling me, Miles,” Raven said, his voice steady.

Miles patted Raven’s back and replied with a playful tone, “No problem, buddy. Talking made this boring walk way less dull.”

“Hey! Stop hitting me!” Raven growled.

Miles just laughed louder as Raven carried him further into the forest, the sounds of laughter and crackling leaves blending into the night.