Sev stood in front of two large wooden doors. For a moment, he looked to be deep in thought as his eyes skimmed them from bottom to top.
"What are you thinking about?" Astrid asked, glancing over her shoulder.
Sev's attention drifted back to her. "It's nothing… It's just been a while."
Astrid nodded. "It sure has." With a slight grin she added, "I'm looking forward to your travel stories. Somehow, I feel like they are quite special this time around."
Sev scratched the back of his head. "I guess they are."
The smile slowly faded from Astrid's face as she returned her attention to the door. She stepped closer, pushing against the thick wooden surface. As she pushed the doors open, the stone let out a loud, gritty scratching noise.
"I never understood why you even have these giant, useless doors," Sev muttered under his breath.
Astrid ignored him, striding into the dark.
Stepping inside, Sev was surrounded by a cave-like stone interior lined with dozens, if not hundreds, of skinned animals. The inside was so large that it made anyone who stepped inside feel like an ant. A few natural-looking pillars supported the structure. The cave was lit by torches encased in bone supports that were hammered into the dark stone.
At the back of the cave was a crude table made from a single slab of white stone. As they walked, their footsteps echoed through the entire hall, only slightly muted by all the dead beasts.
Sev wasn't impressed by the sight, since this was also partially his home.
"I see you've added some more 'decorations'." He quietly remarked, walking past the featherless corpse of some flying beast.
Astrid turned her head, following Sev's gaze. "Oh, yeah. That one attacked us about two months ago. I think it was a category three, but I'm honestly not sure since it died in just a few moments."
Sev nodded, looking uninterested.
Reaching the table, Astrid sat on one side, overlooking the entire hall-like cave, while Sev sat opposite her. Staring into Sev's eyes, her expression gradually softened, which made her look less like a fierce warrior and more like a teenage girl.
She leaned forward slightly, excited. "So? What happened?"
Sev took a deep, calm breath, not rushing to give her an answer.
"The first two months went just as expected, but then out of nowhere someone snuck into the camp."
Astrid nodded along, listening intently.
"…After checking through his memories, I realized he could be the one."
Astrid gasped slightly.
"I still needed to make sure, so I let him out on the condition that he would work for me if he wanted any questions answered… Soon we became friends."
Sev paused for a moment, his expression slightly shifting at the mention of 'friends'. Seeing that Astrid didn't notice, he continued.
"As we reached the first return point, our old friend the sandworm emerged and attacked us. The kid, wanting to be a hero, ran straight toward it." A grin formed on Sev's face as he spoke more in detail. "…Somehow he appeared in our supply wagon after chasing the worm away, nearly dead."
The smile faded.
"At that point I thought it was over, that he couldn't be the one to get us out of here, but he just wouldn't give up."
Astrid was practically at the edge of her seat.
"He did something not even I knew was possible… He used an unawakened fragment. At least, I think that's what happened. I'm not sure, since we were attacked by the worm again."
The burning torches flickered, their light dimming after burning for so long, while Sev continued speaking.
"…Something felt different about him. The way he carried himself, the way he spoke. It wasn't exactly him. It didn't really matter, but I had to make sure he was still that naïve heroic kid and that my plans wouldn't change."
"So what did you do?" Astrid asked curiously.
Sev paused, thinking for a moment. "During a monster attack, I left myself vulnerable, seeing if he'd help me or not… He did. Of course." His voice sounded a little less confident. If Astrid wasn't so engrossed in the story, she would've noticed he was lying.
"Unfortunately, he realized that I was just using him and left."
Astrid frowned. "You let him just walk away? What if he dies out there?" She swiftly stood up as white sparks surrounded her hand, slowly forming the outline of something. "I'll go look for him myself."
Sev pretended to cough to get her attention and pointed back to the stone chair, looking Astrid in the eyes. "Calm down, I have a plan."
Hesitating, her eyes darted between the seat and the exit.
"Besides, that kid wouldn't die even if something were to kill him."
Astrid looked at him with an expression that seemed to say: What does that even mean? Eventually she sat back down, looking slightly impatient. The glow around her hand vanished, dissolving back into the air.
Satisfied, Sev continued speaking. "He should be looking for his sister."
"Should?" Astrid interrupted, almost aggressively.
Sev continued, ignoring her outburst. "Her name is Melody."
"And that helps us how?"
Sev sighed, calmly adding, "We will set up a trap. Spread a rumor that a young girl named Melody is here, and then we just wait for him to come to us."
Astrid rolled her eyes. "That sounds great and all, but if he left at the cliffside, then how do you suppose we get him to hear the rumor? He doesn't even know where the sanctuary is!"
Sev grew a wide grin as he thought about the lizard monster. "Don't worry. He'll hear it."
*
The sound of hammers and shouting filled the Sanctuary as Max rushed across the stone courtyard, trying to gather every Lost Soul in preparation for the funeral feast.
"Why aren't Jacob and Terry back yet? We need wood for the campfire!" he shouted at no one in particular as people covered in white robes scattered to get everything ready.
A small group of three was digging a small hole at the 'Graveyard'. The hole would be filled with white rocks symbolizing life as a small light in the darkness of existence. Burying bodies was strictly forbidden by Astrid soon after the sanctuary was established, since it attracted uninvited guests even if the bodies slowly dissolved into white sparks.
Another small group had just returned from a hunt, bringing with them a wheelbarrow full of juicy, delicious-looking meat. Another small group was in the sanctuary's common kitchen area, prepping the few vegetables they could grow.
Everywhere Max looked he saw people working, laughing, and enjoying themselves.
The sky slowly fell below the horizon, bringing night. With the glow of the twin moons, dozens of small jars of liquid surrounded by vines began glowing, lighting up the sanctuary with a beautiful blue-green glow.
Max's gaze slowly settled on the deep, dark ravine. People were already returning home from their hunts as large barricades were set up to block the opening.
He was woken from his trance by a tap on the shoulder. Turning around, he saw a small kid who nervously delivered a message.
"Mister M-Max, Terr-y sent m-me to tell you th-that they've returned and, and everything is ready."
Max smiled, listening patiently. When the kid finished, Max petted him on the head. "Good job, Pete. Thank you."
He walked toward the large gathering of people. Squeezing through the crowd, he saw a few strong-looking men carrying large logs and building a bonfire.
"Hey, Terry, how fast do you think you guys can finish?"
Terry stopped mid-swing, thinking for a moment before glancing at the others.
"Give us twenty minutes."
Max replied with a smile. "Alright. I'll go tell Sev and Astrid."
"Take your time!" Terry shouted as Max ran off toward the large wooden gates.