Under the moonless night. A huge fire threatening to devour the south and west blaze around. Some tribes people were still trying to put the fire off but it was to no avail.
On the east and south however, the fog clump together. Becoming thicker and thicker before the light back inches by inches.
In the middle, the tribe was buzzing with noise as they watched four women danced along with loud music. The priestess was praying, being guarded by Lei and Clara.
Everyone watched on the sideline as the Bonfire, the Sacred Flame danced with the music.
One of the people was a kid with a striking feature and an angry look on his youthful face. It was Klen.
He gritted his teeth, clicking his tongue as he burn with anger.
'Dammit! Fucking dammit Clay! How dare you!'
He really is burning with anger today. He had done his best and managed to steal job of guarding that weird monster from Clay. And yet… and yet Klen had allowed it to escape!
He tookly his eyes off the bastard a few minutes and when he came back. The idiot had already started a fire! Freeing himself.
'I'm fucking stupid! Why did I believe that monster wouldn't do anything catastrophic in mere minutes…'
He was blaming himself. And much more, when the monster escaped right before his eyes, he frozed in fear. Not knowing what to do. He immediately rang the bell right after but it was already then.
But that's not all. Klen is also blaming himself for the Death of their elder, Bon. It was definitely his fault after all…
"I-if I hadn't let him escape–"
"It's fine, don't think much about it."
A stern voice suddenly cut him off. Trying to comfort Klen despite his cold look and tone.
It was their Chieftain, Quin. Whose standing by his side. It was also Klen's father. But he is more of a father of the whole tribe than just Klen so what's the difference.
Klen clicked his tongue, staring up at Quin. His dad, whose also watching the event.
He gritted his teeth.
"What's fine with it Chief? Elder Bon is dead. And it's my fault." He paused for a bit. "And that bastard Clay stole my 'Chosen ceremony'!"
All because he's the one who "captured" the monster again after it escaped Klen. Even though the whole tribe knows it was through Elder Bon's effort.
Klen hissed.
"Tsk, if I had been faster than him I would've been the one inside that Shrine, using the Sacred Blade to kill that rat"
That was true as well, Klen had immediately ran to follow the monster but was left behind. It only through dumb luck that Clay managed to stumble upon them.
That's why really, really frustrating for Klen.
Beside him however, Quin differ.
"Not really. Even if you managed to capture him again first. Seeing what that monster had done to the old man, I wouldn't let you fight him."
Hearing this… Klen's anger and pride was strike once again.
"What? You think I can't defeat that rat? With the Sacred Blade, I definitely could! That guy only only has dumb lu–"
Suddenly he was cut off as a loud creaking noise resounded everywhere.
"The shrine is opening."
Said his father, Quin. Everyone gasp and held their breath, even Klen as he watched. The warriors readied their weapons as the door of the shrine slowly opened.
Soon enough, a young man wearing an old brown tunic came out of the shrine. His face and body was full of blood and the black blade of a wooden sword rest on one of his hand. Blood dripping from it.
His other hand held a sack with something inside it. It left a trail of blood whenever it was pulled.
Everyone exclaimed and erupted in cheers when they saw the youth's face.
It was Clay.
Klen gritted his teeth and then he sighed… he's still frustrated but if Clay had already done and finished the job there's nothing he can do anymore. Only swallow his jealousy.
Then he spoke, shrugging as he look up at the face of his dad.
"Now look at that. Even Clay defeated the rat. If it was me…"
Suddenly he paused. There, on his dad's stern and always serious face. He saw nothing but absolute fear written on it.
****
Gi let out a sighed of relief as she stood up from where she was praying. From how long it had taken for the kid to leave their lord's shrine, she almost believe that he had been killed.
Fortunately, that wasn't the case. If that was, then she would have to send another one of these people inside the shrine, starting the process onces again. She's afraid they'll be too late once that ended.
'hm, lucky me I supposed'
But it was to be expected, the kid held the Sacred Blade after all. One Gi herself had brought from the Kingdom of Hope. It could eradicate all that is defiled.
Finally, Gi approached the child. Her two awakened servants followed her from behind. The woman who was shaking from worry earlier was now beeming with happiness and relief. The man grinned as if proud but also with arrogance.
"Now, my child. You have successfully managed to defeat the evil. You are now one of the chosen one's, succeeding your late Elder, Bon"
Gi exclaimed, and so did the people around her. Cheering. Of course, the 'chosen' thing was just something she made up so she could control these people. All she cared about was the sacrifice being killed by the Sacred Blade inside the Shrine before being fed to the Sacred Flame after all.
Other than that, she cared little to nothing. That said, she made a rule as well that only four can be chosen by the Flame. It would lose its meaning if everyone became one would it not?
Gi stared at the kid for a while, confused that he doesn't respond. Then she sighed.
"Child… you are probably still rattled by your battle inside the shrine correct? Very well… you shall rest now. Leave the monster and the sword here."
She said, watching the unmoving kid. She felt something wrong with the kid but did not pay it much attention. She only care about the monster which she found most interesting.
It has a really potent soul, as if different beings were housing it. She also felt like the monster was somehow corrupted but cannot quite put her mind into it.
Whatever it was, the Sacred would surely grow much stronger after consuming it.
Meanwhile, the child is still wasn't paying any attention.
'What is wrong with this kid?'
She asked in her mind, the people were still loud as ever and the woman in her right, Clara was it? Became worried again. Lei on the other hand grew confused and irritated. The kid haven't let go of his sword yet after all.
Gi, sighed again. 'How troublesome…'
She was about to touch the kid when suddenly… someone approaching fast screamed loudly.
"No! Don't touch him, that's not a human anymore!"
Gi looked back, startled. 'Quin? What is this buffoon talking screaming abo… huh?'
The world suddenly spun around in Gi's vision as she wondered what's happening. She only learned what was happening when she saw her headless body and when her head itself already fell to the ground, rolling a few times until it stopped.
Then, everything went dark.
She was dead.