As morning began to draw in, Rafe still remained on watch, sitting on a large stone, staring into the rising sun, thinking. Jed was supposed to take over watch hours ago, Rafe didn’t care. Right now, he was too focused on the future.

‘I’m not supposed to have this, am I?’ he let out a light laugh, ‘And more importantly, what would a creation strong enough to kill a Lord be doing on that deserted path? Had it been abandoned? I doubt it’

Perhaps there was something on that path, something dangerous; something that creature had been sent to stop. However, how could such a weak creature kill whoever the ‘Lord of Faces’ was?

And why couldn’t it fly with such large wings?

‘I should try get whatever sleep I can get’

Rafe shook Jed awake.

“Arghh…Rafe? Ah, that time is it? Morning”

“Night. See you when I wake up”

Jed nodded, slowly waking up.

With that, Rafe laid down and attempted to sleep. He had around two hours left until Jed was supposed to wake them up. Of course, it was all guess work since they didn’t have proper watches and whatnot. But by then, Twilight would wake up naturally, and they couldn’t wait around all day.

While laying down, Rafe was still in thought. Thinking back on the pain still caused him to wince. It was hell after all. But why wouldn’t it be? That item was likely Deific.

Rafe’s eyes flew open with shock. Rank. What was it’s rank?

With a thought, his status opened.

‘As I thought…’

Item: [Korgin Eye]

Item Description: Created to kill the Lord of Faces, the Korgin was a terrible beast. It's eye could see behind any mask. The eye could see one's true face. With that, it defeated the Lord of Faces.

Abilities: [Lost Façade]

‘It doesn’t display a rank’

What did that mean? What kind of item didn’t have a rank? Perhaps it was independent to the system? No…then how would he have even gotten it? Unless the system was simply a tool for observing, and all stranded were mistaken in the thought it gave you the item. Perhaps whatever world the Land of the Stranded existed on simply operated like that, and the system was simply an aid in understanding things within the world.

Or perhaps he was rambling about nothing. Perhaps this item was simply different.

But if that was the case…who created the system? Who caused the stranded to appear? Or perhaps…what did?

No, it couldn’t be. The system knows all about the item, therefore it couldn’t be independent to it. Otherwise, he’d not even have a description, perhaps the item wouldn’t even appear on his status. If that were the case, he’d never even know that he had it.

‘Perhaps items like that existed, though? Haha, imagine. All of us could have insane items and never know it. Even items to escape, on us at all times without our knowledge. Only a sick person could think of doing that’

As he continued to ramble and theorise in his head, he eventually passed out from exhaustion.

The sun seemed to beam that day. It was quiet due to the lack of morning birds.

“Morning, kid” she said, warmly.

“Morning”

The stunning woman seemed to be attempting to start a fire. In the radiant warmth of the sun, it was much easier.

“Are you not addressing me as master anymore, kid?”

Rafe shook his head.

“Not until you drop the kid. I’m fourteen”

Master chuckled.

“Exactly, you’re only a child. Though, I suppose I thought like you when I was younger. People like us have to grow up quickly; too quickly”

Rafe seemed expressionless.

“Fire should be good in ten minutes or so, just let it gather for now” Master said.

Rafe looked around at the scenery, a few forests surrounded them. They seemed incredibly vague, as though they were but a bad recollection, an unimportant background detail. Rafe pondered about it, then found himself looking elsewhere, as though he had transitioned to a different gaze.

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After thinking for a moment, he turned back to look at Master.

His eyes widened in shock.

She was being devoured by a foul monster, he body ripped apart by it’s sharp teeth. Blood dripped down from the upper part of Master’s body, pooling onto the dead grass.

Blood dripped from her blood-soaken armour down to the lifeless ground. Was it life that caressed the dead grass? Or was it simply more vile death? Soaking into the grass, a red field seemed to grow, getting deeper and deeper.

Soon the soil was warped into a red colouring, receiving it’s first hydration in years. What a strange thought; death bring life. Well…was it beautiful? Or was it utterly revolting?

As the crisp, hard soil absorbed the Master’s innocent blood, it seemed to soften, smoothen down. It was such a strange sight, watching innocent blood pour down onto the lifeless ground. Life was being drained from the beautiful woman, being gifted to the surroundings.

Death brought life.

Tightly gripped by the creatures teeth, Master’s eyes seemed empty, devoid of life. As though she had already died inside. Now, she was simply waiting to die in this world, ready to move on to whatever was next, even if it was simply nothing; even if it was simply the end of everything.

Suddenly, a slow river of blood drifted down from the pool of blood dripping from Master. Holding it’s meal in it’s large gob, the monster didn’t seem to notice Rafe, or perhaps it simply ignored the weak boy, it wasn’t like that lowly creature could defeat it. There was more chance of the weakling killing himself before he could kill it.

She smiled at Rafe. Then her eyes sharpened as though trying to say something. Her lips moved, and an inaudible raspy whisper left her mouth.

“Run…”

However, that was only a figment of Rafe’s imagination. In reality, she was long dead, being chewed by the monster. It seemed his mind had simply warped the memory to comfort him.

Of course, he knew the truth. He knew this recollection was a lie. He never got to say goodbye. He never got to thank his Master for her help. He simply ran, like a coward. He couldn’t save her.

He was weak.

Twilight yawned as she slowly began to wake up. As she turned over, she spotted Rafe laying on the grass, still sleeping. She stared for a moment in confusion, half asleep.

Then it hit her. His face was covered in blood, all slowly drooping from his new eye.

‘Must be part of the item. Nothing comes for free’ she thought.

Slowly, she turned her gaze to the strange white ring that spiralled around her pinky then seemed to pierce it, locking the ring in place and bonding it to the pinky itself. It seemed to have been formed from some creature’s horn.

‘Indeed, nothing comes for free’

She swept that thought away. It was a new day, and time to continue on North.

“Morning, Twilight”

Jed was resting his head on the rock, somehow comfortable doing so, seemingly bored. He’d done nothing during his watch, simply stared at nothing, deep in his thoughts.

“Morning”

Twilight seemed to be stuck between asleep and awake. Noticing this, she summoned her waterskin and poured it on her face.

“Better” she said, water dripping from her delicate face.

Jed was suddenly jerked from his thoughts, hearing Twilight’s voice jump out from nowhere.

After witnessing Rafe suffering last night, he’d been thinking a lot.

“I’ll wake Rafe up” he said.

Now that the sun’s rays were attacking with full force, it was time to go. Jed hadn’t realised what little sleep Rafe had had, since he was so deep in thought, with no way to tell how much time had passed, he assumed it was simply time to wake up, and that Rafe had bathed in his four hours of sleep already.

“Huh” he groaned, “Wh…time is it?”

Jed looked confused. How would he know the time?

“It’s morning. Wake up”

Rafe glared at Jed. Two hours sleep was a terrible idea. Right now, he felt like he’d be ran through a meat grinder and had to go straight back to work as if nothing happened.

‘Oh hell’ he cursed inwardly.

Gradually, bit by bit he managed to wake up. Twilight and Jed didn’t mind the wait, they understood he’d just had his eye popped and replaced last night so a bit of lee way was earned.

A little bit later, they were all ready to continue this long, endless walk North to anything at this point. Their only hope now was to at least find something, or someone. All they wanted; all they desired was a sign of life; a sign of human life.

As time passed, there was more hunting, eating, more sleeping. Days flew by at an incredible pace. They struggled with a monster every now and again, Twilight being forced to use her ability, blinding the foul creature of hell, causing her to feel a little fatigued. On those occasions, they let Twilight rest for longer.

Her ability didn’t take up too much energy, but she also expended a great amount helping to fight the creature after, pushing herself, exhausting a lot of stamina in the end.

It was more of an appreciation of her help than her truly needing it.

Soon, the passing of days turned to a week, and then another, and another. Now, a whole month had passed in what felt like no time at all.

Though, they were stronger now, used to their current lifestyle of walking, hunting, and sleeping. As they got used to the long walks, they were able to walk further each day, and soon enough they were covering almost double what they had done in a day at the very beginning.

Progressing. They were progressing. As the steady wheels of the journey began to turn, they had gained momentum. Now, the long and dreadful walks were commonplace. To the group, they were no longer hell, they were simply part of routine.

Now, after a month of this movement, this anything but lavish lifestyle they’d become so accustomed to…there it was. Hope.

Before them, in the distance, perhaps an hour’s walk away, stood a large, elegant structure, surrounded by tall, sturdy walls that seemed even more impenetrable than the abandoned fortress. Anything behind these behemoths was hidden, out of sight for any onlookers.

Now, they’d found what they were looking for; the journey North didn’t seem insane and pointless anymore. Well...that was if it wasn’t abandoned. It was hard to tell with all the activity hidden behind the titan walls.

But even then, would they be let inside? What if the inhabitants were just like the rider? What if they were simply pure evil; hell spawn?

But to the group, that didn’t matter. Hope was before them and they’d be stupid to turn away now.

It was either attempt to enter now…or die a pointless death elsewhere.

As they finished staring in disbelief, pinching at their skin to ensure this wasn’t a dream, a glimmer of joy appeared in their eyes.

“We made it” Twilight spoke, excitement wrapped around her words.

Indeed. They had made it.