THE LAST WARNING
The dawn bathed the camp in a warm glow, but the tension was palpable. Quindarion, the bearer of the Teleportation Fragment, had decided to stay a little longer with the group before continuing his solo mission. Although his presence had been a blessing over the past few days, the farewell was inevitable.
Zyrion, as always, was busy reviewing maps and planning the next stage of their journey. Meanwhile, Karion was trying in vain to make Caelithra laugh, who responded with her usual cold and distant expression. Kyrahna observed from a corner, meticulously sharpening her bow.
Quindarion, for his part, moved calmly, despite the slight paleness beginning to show on his face. No one mentioned it, but it was evident that something was not entirely right with him.
Quindarion approached Caelithra and Kyrahna while Zyrion remained distracted with his maps. He gestured for them to step aside, looking for a place where they could talk without the group leader overhearing.
"I need to talk to both of you," said Quindarion, his voice calm but serious. "It's important."
Caelithra crossed her arms, eyeing him suspiciously. "What's going on? You're not one to speak without reason."
Kyrahna nodded, setting her bow aside. "If it's something we need to know, go ahead. We don't have all day."
Quindarion smiled faintly. "Always so direct. I like that about you." He paused, his gaze softening as he looked at them. "This is about Zyrion."
Caelithra frowned. "What about him? He's fine—or at least he seems to be. Still that stubborn idealist who thinks he can save the world."
"Precisely why I want you to watch over him," Quindarion replied, his tone taking on an urgent edge. "Zyrion is more important than any of us can imagine. He doesn't know it yet, but he is destined for something far greater than he realizes. And because of that, he will be in constant danger—not only from external enemies but also from what he carries within."
Kyrahna narrowed her eyes. "What are you implying? What does he carry within?"
Quindarion sighed, lowering his gaze for a moment. "I can't tell you everything. I only know that there is something unique about him. Something that connects him directly to the fragments and to the fate of this world. That's why I decided to stay a little longer—to make sure he was okay. But now I must leave, and that duty falls to you."
Caelithra tilted her head, clearly irritated. "And why should we trust your words? We barely know enough about you, Quindarion. You could be hiding something."
Quindarion nodded, accepting their distrust. "It's true, I haven't told you everything about myself. But believe me when I say that what I do, I do for the good of Zyrion and all of us. He has a crucial role to play, and if he falls… all will be lost."
Kyrahna, though still doubtful, saw something in Quindarion's eyes that convinced her. "Alright. We'll watch over him. But if there's more we should know, you'd better tell us now."
Quindarion smiled sadly. "I trust that you'll know what to do when the time comes. And remember, no matter what happens, Zyrion must not find out. His strength lies in his ignorance of certain things. If he learns too much, it could destroy him."
Caelithra exchanged a glance with Kyrahna before nodding. "Fine. We'll keep an eye on him. But if this gets complicated, you better be nearby to help."
Quindarion chuckled lightly. "I'll do what I can. But for now, I trust you. You are his best protection, even if he doesn't know it."
When it was time to leave, Zyrion approached Quindarion with an expression of genuine gratitude.
"I don't know how to thank you, Quindarion. Your help has been invaluable. I don't know if we would have gotten this far without you."
Quindarion placed a hand on Zyrion's shoulder. "It has been an honor to fight by your side, Zyrion. But now my path takes me elsewhere. I hope that when we meet again, you have achieved all you are destined to."
Zyrion looked at him curiously. "You always speak as if you know something I don't. Is there something I should know?"
Quindarion shook his head, his smile calm, but his eyes hiding a flicker of sadness. "All in due time, my friend. All in due time."
Kyrahna and Caelithra watched from a distance as Quindarion disappeared into the horizon, leaving behind a sense of emptiness within the group. Both knew that it now fell on them to protect Zyrion, though the true weight of that secret still weighed heavily on their hearts.
Karion broke the silence, as usual.
"Well, now that our mystical friend is gone, what's next? Any monsters looking to eat us alive? Or maybe another mystery that no one wants to tell me?"
Caelithra sighed, adjusting her knife. "Just keep walking, Karion. And stop asking questions."
Kyrahna walked beside Zyrion, keeping a neutral expression.
"We have a long road ahead. Let's not waste time."
Zyrion, though still uneasy over Quindarion's departure, chose not to press. He knew the journey was far from over, and the trials they faced would only increase.
The atmosphere felt heavy after Quindarion left, as if his absence had left a void hard to fill. The group began to pack up the camp in silence, each lost in their own thoughts.
Karion, however, couldn't stand the silence. "Is it just me, or did Quindarion leave with more drama than a rejected poet? Come on, someone has to admit it."
Caelithra shot him a sharp look as she secured her sword at her waist. "Do you always talk this much, or just when it doesn't matter?"
Karion placed a hand on his chest, pretending to be wounded. "Ouch! How cruel. Here I am, trying to lighten the mood, and you stab me with your words."
Kyrahna sighed, adjusting her bow over her shoulder. "Karion, please, just five minutes of silence. That's all I ask."
Karion raised his hands in surrender. "Fine, fine. But let it be known, I'm just trying to keep the group's spirits up. I don't want us to become those gloomy heroes who never smile."
Zyrion, who had remained quiet for most of the conversation, finally spoke. "Karion has a point, even if he doesn't say it well. Quindarion may not be here, but we can't let that stop us. Too much is at stake."
Caelithra glanced at him while adjusting her cloak. "Your optimism is exhausting, Zyrion. But I suppose it's necessary for this group to keep moving forward."
Later, as the group advanced along a narrow path surrounded by tall pines, Kyrahna approached Caelithra, keeping her voice low so Zyrion and Karion wouldn't hear. "Do you think Quindarion was exaggerating about what he said? About Zyrion, I mean."
Caelithra, who always seemed to have an answer for everything, took longer than usual to respond. Finally, she sighed. "I don't think he was exaggerating. Quindarion isn't the type to speak without reason. But that doesn't make it easy to accept. If Zyrion really is that important, our lives are going to get even more complicated."
Kyrahna nodded, her expression hardening. "That's true. But if what Quindarion said is true… then we must be ready for what's coming. And we can't fail."
The sound of a nearby river interrupted their conversation. When they reached the edge of the forest, they found a destroyed suspension bridge barely hanging over a deep gorge. The current below roared, throwing white foam against the rocks.
"What is this?" Karion asked, examining the remains of the bridge. "Did someone try to cross it with a herd of elephants or what?"
Zyrion stepped forward, assessing the situation."We can try to repair it, but it will take time. Or we can find another way across, though it will slow us down."
Caelithra inspected the surroundings. "Something's not right. This bridge doesn't look like it fell by accident. It seems… forced."
Kyrahna nodded, her gaze scanning the nearby trees. "I agree. This smells like a trap. We must stay alert."
Suddenly, a sharp whistle cut through the air, and an arrow struck the ground in front of them. From the shadows, a group of hooded figures emerged, quickly surrounding them.
One of the hooded figures stepped forward, holding a bow with an arrow aimed directly at Zyrion. "Reckless travelers. This territory belongs to the Black River Clan. If you wish to cross, you must pay the price."
Zyrion raised his hands in a peaceful gesture. "We seek no trouble. We are only passing through. Perhaps we can negotiate."
The leader of the group laughed scornfully."Negotiate? There is nothing to negotiate. Leave your weapons and all your belongings, and perhaps we will let you pass."
Karion stepped forward, with his usual cheeky grin. "Really? That's your big strategy? Rob tired travelers instead of finding an honest job. How sad."
The leader aimed his arrow at Karion."Watch your words, fool, or they will be the last you speak."
Caelithra slowly drew her sword, her gaze icy."I don't like being threatened with arrows. Consider this free advice: lower that weapon before you regret it."
Kyrahna, for her part, already had an arrow nocked on her bow, aimed at the leader."If you lower your weapon, we can talk. But if you make the wrong move, I will not hesitate to shoot."
The tension grew as both sides stared each other down, waiting for someone to make the first move.
Before the situation escalated, Zyrion raised his voice. "Wait! This doesn't have to end in blood. There's a better way. Perhaps we can help you."
The leader hesitated for a moment, clearly thrown off by Zyrion's calmness. Finally, he lowered the bow, though not completely. "Speak quickly, traveler. My patience is limited."
Zyrion stepped forward, ignoring the worried looks from his group. "We are seeking allies, not enemies. If the Black River Clan is willing to help us, we can ensure your lands are protected. But if you choose to confront us, it will only bring more trouble to you."
The leader stared at him before laughing. "Brave or foolish. I haven't decided which. But for now, I will consider your proposal. Cross the bridge, but don't let your guard down. We will be watching."
The group carefully crossed the damaged bridge, feeling the clan's eyes upon them. When they finally reached the other side, Zyrion sighed in relief. "Well, that was… something."
Karion let out a laugh. "Something, he says. I think I was one word away from becoming a human skewer. But hey, we made it out alive, right?"
Caelithra shook her head. "You're an idiot, Karion. But yes, we survived. For now."
Kyrahna, however, was less relaxed. "This isn't over. That leader didn't seem like the type to forget easily. We need to be prepared."
Zyrion nodded, feeling the weight of responsibility once more. "Let's keep moving. We still have a long road ahead."
TO BE CONTINUED…