Ray woke up as Night descended. One way or another, it would end. No more lurking in the dark, no more running away, whatever he would find in the depths of the mountain, he would face it.

He was about to get up when Kei stirred awake. Relief washed over him, and with that, anger. “Are you insane? I almost killed you.”

Kei tried to focus on Ray with sleepy eyes as he answered, “But you didn’t. I had my reasons.”

“What reasons?”

“It doesn’t matter anymore…” Kei smiled sadly and turned to get up.

Ray was speechless by Kei’s attitude and remained sitting, motionless. He couldn’t understand why he was so nonchalant. He dismissed his question, just like that. It crossed Ray’s mind to force the truth out of him, but… he found himself somewhat reluctant. Why? It was so natural before, why did he not want to force his will on Kei? And since when did he start referring to him by name? Come to think of it, he even told Vorm off for calling Kei just human…

While Ray struggled with himself, Kei stopped in front of the tunnel leading outside and turning back he said, “Let’s go.”

Looking up at him, confused, Ray asked back, “Go where?”

There was a look of reminiscence in those deep green eyes as Kei softly answered, “To the depths of the Blood Mountain.” With that, he was about to start going through the tunnel, but then he stopped and made way, muttering about how he couldn’t move the blockage.

Well, that was what Ray was about to do anyway. But why would he take Kei? He did not know what awaited him there, he did not want to walk into a trap with him. He could just leave Kei behind, and there would be nothing Kei could do to stop him. But… he could feel a desperate determination from him. And something else in those eyes, it felt more familiar than before, but he couldn’t quite grasp what it was. Or maybe he just did not want to.

Ray wanted to know the reason of Kei’s determination, so he asked, “Why?”

Kei hesitated, then he finally said, “Because that is where it all started and shall end.”

That was no answer, and Ray himself did not understand why he didn’t push for more as he got up to lead the way.

Outside on the cliff wall, he couldn’t put back the blockage because he was sure his clumsy human would fall to his death. It didn’t matter anymore anyway.

Kei climbed on his back, and he considered climbing on the cliff until they arrived right above the gate leading into the depths of the Blood Mountain. Maybe he would have done that before, but now, he didn’t feel like hiding anymore. He descended, slower than he usually did.

It wasn’t late yet, there were a few people still on the streets. Whenever anyone glanced at him, they either dropped to the ground shaking, or ran away. As they approached the Left Inner Gate, it opened before Ray could command it to be opened.

He glanced at Kei as the gate opened, and on the other side of the spacious square they could see that accursed gate to the so-called “Paradise”. But Ray did not see even a flicker of emotion on his face. He found it strange, ever since Kei woke up there was only a deeply etched sadness in his eyes and a kind of… he looked away and grimaced. There was something about Kei that reminded him of his weak human self. It shouldn’t be that surprising, considering Kei was human, but… there was more to it. He didn’t want to think about it.

He passed that cursed gate, the roads were spacious here, they did not see anyone else until they arrived to the gate of the Blood Mountain. This one too, without any order, was opened for him, and he passed through with Kei by his side. The gate closing shut behind them.

But after a few steps Ray froze as realization hit him. “I forgot to bring you food.”

Kei didn’t stop as he answered “I won’t need it. I know a fast way.”

Ray didn’t like that answer. Not at all. And he had a feeling it did not mean they would return in a bit. But he didn’t ask. Again. Why did he accept answers that weren’t even answers?

They continued on. So far, it just looked like any regular tunnel in any mountain. But Ray was more concerned about something else.

Grabbing Kei by the shoulder he said, “Just stop.”

Sighing, Kei looked back at Ray with an eerie flickering in his eyes. “We need to hurry.”

Ray had enough, he wanted answers, “No. What’s wrong with you?”

“I promise I’ll tell you. But for now we need to hurry. Please?”

Ray could have pressed the issue. He could have made Kei tell him everything. Instead, he turned his back to his human and crouched to get him back on his back. Why was he going along with anything Kei wanted? Why did he care? And… why was he so afraid of learning more?

Tormented by his inner struggle, Ray hurried on with Kei on his back. They arrived into a cavern. That was when he finally understood why it was called Blood Mountain.

Ray looked on in a daze and barely heard Kei saying to him, “This is where the actual Blood Mountain starts. The rest is just the crust.”

He approached the rocky wall for a closer look. It was a dark red, almost black. But vivid, scarlet veins ran through all around, the wall, the ceiling, the ground, shimmering with blood red light.

He whispered, “What is this place?” How could there be such a place? Because Ray was very well aware. It wasn’t just rock. Not just some magical ore with light. No. It was blood. Old blood, dead blood. And yet, some magic still remained in it. The smells talked about ancient times, ancient powers that he could not comprehend. He was nothing in this place.

Weakly slumped on Ray’s back, Kei whispered with hidden pain in his voice. “His remains.”

“Dragon remains. You need to get out of here.” Ray was taken aback by Vorm’s sudden interjection, but not as much as he was startled by the alarm in its voice. It also didn’t make sense.

Dragon remains? Didn’t you keep calling this a backwater world? How would a dragon be here.

“Not just a dragon, but Dragon. He’s clearly long dead. His remains might have even spawned this whole world. Better stay away.”

And go where? Do what?

Stolen novel; please report.

“Just chill in the city, enjoy its luxuries, stop hiding in a hole.”

Kei wants to go down.

“Now you would trust a random stranger over me?”

He isn’t a random stranger. He is… my human.

“You have barely interacted with him, only met a few days ago. Don’t you find it suspicious how awfully attached you are to him?”

Of course he found it suspicious, how could he not? It’s been eating away at him, but he would never admit that to Vorm. Are you not telling me something?

“I’m not telling you a lot o things.”

I mean about Kei.

“Just… don’t trust him and get out of here.”

That decided it for Ray. He had a feeling about Kei he couldn’t dismiss even if he was a human. It defiled logic to trust a stranger he had just met, he knew that, yet… Kei wanted to go down, so he would take him. And he sure as hell did not trust Vorm at all.

Resolving himself, he looked around he asked Kei, “Which way?”

There were many tunnel openings.

But instead of directing Ray into one of them, Kei guided him towards a solid stretch of wall. He reached out in front of Ray, and placed a palm on the rock, then said, “Go ahead, just walk straight through and keep going until I tell you to stop.”

Ray had his doubts, the wall seemed just as solid. But when he reached out with a hand, instead of touching hard rock, he felt there was something rubbery that gave way. Bracing himself and without asking questions, he walked into what still looked like solid rock to him.

He couldn’t help but close his eyes. It felt like a rubbery membrane that resisted him at first, then gave way and let him through. It felt like he was walking in some thick liquid, and when he opened his eyes, he saw Kei’s hand still in front of him, and incomprehensible swirling reds and blacks. He swayed as intense dizziness and nausea hit him, but the next moment a hand covered his eyes and he regained his balance. His heart was pounding, he couldn’t make sense of the brief glance he saw.

Ray hesitated, he didn’t like this at all. Kei encouraged him on, “Don’t stop, just keep walking. It will be over soon.”

Ray was… afraid. He felt he was stuck in thick honey, his senses going haywire. Nothing made sense. Not what he saw, not the smells, not what he felt on his skin, and not even what he heard. He seemed to hear quiet murmurs just on the edge of comprehension. Feel as if somethings were brushing against his skin. Smell… he didn’t know what.

He had thought before that he was nothing in this place, but now, he understood he was less than nothing. He—

A quiet humming broke through Ray’s growing dread. It was Kei, he focused on it. On the weight he felt on his back, on Kei’s comforting smell. His presence reassured Ray and the strange sensations withdrew. He kept walking while Vorm watched in satisfaction as Ray descended.

He didn’t know how long he walked or on what he walked. He just kept on, listening to Kei’s humming, focusing on his soothing presence. Time and direction lost all meaning. There were only the two of them in the whole world.

Ray felt as if he was in a trance. He had long left behind his anxiety. He had learnt to ignore the murmurs, the things he felt brushing against him, the smells that told too much for him to understand.

Only Kei and him. Step after step. Moment after moment. Like a never-ending dream.

Then suddenly, after days, weeks, months, years or maybe just a few second, the dream was shattered and he was violently shaken out of his trance like state.

He crumpled to the ground with Kei still on his back, gulping for air, soaked in sweat and shaking uncontrollably as his brain tried to understand what had just happened. But as it couldn’t, an unknown terror descended on him, pushing him towards madness and insanity.

A pair of eyes entered his vision, Ray tried to focus on them. They were beautiful, shifting with otherworldly colors in their depths. He slowly realized they belonged to Kei, but different from before. He felt a comforting hand on top of his head, and the words that entered his ears slowly made sense, “It was rough on you, wasn’t it? I’m sorry, but it was the only way, this place runs deeper, and further than you would imagine. But look, we are almost there.”

Starting to calm down, he briefly glanced around, and he froze. He couldn’t understand what he was seeing at first. It was like… a whole different world.

A vast, sprawling city in the distance. Many times the size of the one above. Mountains and valley, rivers and lakes.

“It used to be beautiful. The rivers and lakes were clear, fishes frolicking around in them. The mountains green, populated by all kinds of beasts. The vast city surrounded by grain fields, green pastures, and villages as far as the eye could see. The city prospered in abundance, its people peaceful and generous… the sun warm and gentle, the moon a clear blue.”

The land before Ray was… sick. Twisted, corrupted beyond recognition. The lakes foul-smelling black sludges, the rivers stank of rotten blood as they trickled by. The mountains crumbling, the city in ruins, the villages gone. Fields of dead lands.

Looking up, Ray wondered how could there have been a sun and moon. Up above, there were broken pieces of light shimmering with a dim, fading violet light, barely providing some illumination.

It wasn’t all dead. There was still life, if life it could be called. Masses of red abominations were wriggling everywhere.

“Are those the Blothcraad?” Ray asked.

After a short pause, Kei answered, “Yes. The people of this land did not die, they were perverted into these abominations.”

Noticing the strange tone Kei talked about this place, Ray looked at him, and what he saw was reminiscence. It didn’t make sense. “You are talking as if you had seen it yourself.”

Kei smiled sadly and starting down the slope he said “Let’s go.”

Ray increasingly felt he was just a bystander tagging along. Secrets ran deep in this place and… he wasn’t sure he wanted to uncover them. He had a bad feeling, as if they were marching into their demise, and now he wished he had never come down here.

But it was too late to turn back now. He couldn’t leave Kei behind, and he wouldn’t want to forcefully drag him away either. Ray wasn’t even sure if he could. He had no idea how to leave. But he at least wanted Kei back on his back where he felt it was safer for him.

“Get back on my back.”

Kei tried to dismiss it, “I’m fine now.”

But Ray didn’t relent this time, and Kei had no choice but to give in.

Feeling slightly relieved, Ray’s gaze fell back on their surroundings. “What happened here?”

“The Founder twisted this place for his own purpose.”

Ray stopped short. “Is he that powerful?”

Kei tried to dismiss the issue, “You don’t need to worry about him.”

Shaking his head, Ray was unconvinced. “If he could do all of this… what are we even doing here?”

“I have a plan. Trust me.”

Ray just stood there silently for a while. Then he felt like a fool as he continued on without saying anything more.

He sighed. Why was he so worried anyway? Worst case he’d just die and move on to the next life.

He trembled, almost stumbling. Kei wouldn’t be there. Why and how had he grown so attached to his human? How did he become his human? He was just any another human before, food. Was it something he did unknowingly? He still couldn’t fully grasp his powers.

The oppressing landscape swallowed them. It felt suffocating. Yet again, he felt so small and ignorant. The familiar weight of Kei on his back comforted him. Ray, who had felt he was above all just a day ago, was now just a scared lonely soul who found a brief reprieve that was slipping through his fingers.

“Don’t leave me,” he blurted out pleadingly before he could stop himself, and felt Kei stiffen briefly. Then he relaxed and comfortingly patted Ray’s head.

“Don’t worry.”

Ray’s heart sank. The world became blurry, but he went on as Kei wished. Why did he keep going? Why not stop?

He knew why. He did not have the right to stand in Kei’s way. It was a strange feeling. He had realized Kei had an inner strength he could not understand, and Ray himself was just pulled along.

Why did he care?

They traveled on. Down the mountain, through valleys, and around fields of rotting sludge, jumping across foul rivers. The Blothcraad parted whenever Ray approached them. He didn’t even wonder why.

Ray did not hurry, and Kei did not urge him on. He wanted this time to last forever, yet he kept on. Days passed by. But with each step, each mile left behind, Ray’s anger grew. Anger at his helplessness, his cowardice. By the time they neared the city, and with that the center of this land, Ray became resolute. No matter what, he would keep Kei safe, and they would stay together. Whatever it took.