As Zeke stepped out of the carriage, he immediately noticed the sun's position on the horizon, indicating that more time had passed than he had anticipated. However, the fading daylight became the least of his surprises as his eyes were greeted by a panorama of lush trees extending as far as the eye could see.
For a long moment, he simply stood there, marveling at the vast expanse of greenery before him, a sharp departure from the barren desert he had become familiar with. The jungle's edge met the sand in an abrupt contrast as if sketched by the hand of a giant.
Zeke turned to his companions with a broad grin, which was mirrored by both Ash and Gravitas. Their guide, however, wore an expression of worry as he gazed at the trees. Upon noticing his gaze, the man tried to compose himself, but traces of fear remained evident in his eyes.
"Something the matter?" Zeke asked.
The man shook his head and forced a smile. "It is nothing of concern, sir. I just don't like this place. It doesn't feel safe to me."
Zeke quirked an eyebrow. "Is it more dangerous than the desert?"
The man shrugged. "Maybe not, but the desert is a danger I am familiar with. This place? I don't know what to expect."
Zeke nodded, eyeing the jungle with more caution. In his elation, he had forgotten a crucial detail: they would be without a guide from tomorrow onwards. The realization was daunting. Despite the man not being much of a fighter, he had been invaluable in accurately navigating through any dangerous areas.
His eyes landed on a spot near the edge of the jungle. Some of the trees had been cut down, and a circle of stones was left behind, evidence of a deserted campsite. The guide responded to his questioning gaze with a nod, indicating that it was safe to spend the night there. Ash caught on to the signal and directed their course toward the campsite.
A short while later, they reached the forest's edge. Zeke trailed behind the Chimeroi as they entered the camp, taking in his surroundings. The trees towered much higher than they had seemed from a distance, casting the surroundings into darkness. A swift glance revealed that the forest interior was pitch black, the canopy too dense for daylight to penetrate.
Zeke swallowed hard. While he had anticipated the jungle to pose a challenge, he hadn't expected the journey to be in total darkness. Even in his most generous estimation, they would spend a week navigating through it—a considerable stretch without sunlight. It was dawning on him why their guide had regarded the trees with such evident fear in his eyes.
The sight somehow reminded him of his first foray into the forest, where he had almost been killed by a stray band of goblins…
"Are you okay?" a soft voice asked.
Zeke quickly schooled his expression when he noticed Snow looking at him with a face full of worry. For a moment, he had let his guard slip. It was unbecoming of him to show any fear.
"It's nothing," Zeke said with an easy grin. "I'm just thinking I might lose my tan in there." Snow rolled her eyes at his obvious joke, but her expression loosened as she took in his relaxed features.
"Let's get to it," Zeke ordered. "Me and Snow will take care of the fire while Vulcanos is out. The rest of you will take care of your usual tasks—you know what to do."
Ash and Gravitas nodded, getting to work. Meanwhile, Zeke struggled to start a fire while Snow darted around, gathering dry branches. After another failed attempt, he cursed their lack of a magic tool or even a fire striker. With Vulcanos out of commission, Zeke started to realize how heavily he relied on each member of their team—with no backup in place.
He hadn't even considered the possibility of one of them being incapacitated or, worse, killed on their journey. Even though some might argue that he couldn't be blamed due to this being his first time, Zeke found no solace in that thought. There were no due overs, and all their lives might rely on him not making any mistakes.
Zeke smashed the stones together, frustrated by his own failings, only to be surprised by a small spark that landed on the soft kindling. His mood lifted as the straw caught fire, casting a comforting red hue. He quickly placed the weak flame into their firepit, where it soon turned into a roaring bonfire.
"Well done," somebody whispered next to him.
Surprised by the voice, Zeke turned and found Snow looking back at him. At some point, the girl had started to watch him. Zeke had been so absorbed in his thoughts that he hadn't even noticed her presence.
Now, however, he wondered how he could have overlooked the girl. Her snow-white hair and red eyes seemed to gleam in the dark surroundings. Sometimes, it was difficult to believe she was anything other than a regular girl. Yet, at times like these, she appeared almost like a mystical creature out of place in this world.
Zeke smiled at her before taking a moment to scan his surroundings. The tents were up, and the Sandstriders were already squabbling over the last scraps of meat. A moment later, he spotted Gravitas and Ash lingering nearby. They must have completed their tasks long ago.
Zeke smiled apologetically as he waved them over. "Sorry for the delay."
Ash shook his head with a smile while Gravitas shrugged. "It's not like we could have done any better, Master."
He somehow doubted that but wasn't about to object. They each grabbed a skewer and started grilling their meat. Zeke and the Chimeroi chose a large piece, while their guide reluctantly picked a much smaller portion, cringing at the taste after every bite.
While they were enjoying their meal, their harmonious chatter was interrupted by the creaking of wood. Vulcanos head soon emerged through the carriage curtain, glaring at them. "You didn't think to wake me for dinner?"
Zeke grinned, holding a piece of meat in one hand while patting the spot next to him with the other. Vulcano's expression immediately softened as the giant rushed over. He looked like he had been starving for days, which might not be too far from the truth, given the man's insane metabolism. As expected, Vulcanos went through skewer after skewer, rapidly depleting their reserves.
Zeke didn't mind, freely distributing the food. Their guide had assured them they wouldn't have to worry about prey, as the jungle was teeming with life. Only after the last portion vanished down Vulcanos' throat did the Chimeroi seem satisfied.
"How are you feeling?" Ash asked after they had all settled down.
Vulcanos tilted his head before looking down at his hands. He clenched and unclenched his fists before summoning a tiny ember with an intense white glow. He stared at it for a long moment before a wide smile emerged on his face. "I am feeling better than ever, Ashen Wolf. Better than ever." He repeated that last part with a meaningful look toward Ash and Gravitas.
Then, he turned to face Zeke. "When can I fight again?"
Zeke, of course, knew what Vulcanos meant: The Chimeroi wanted to use Blood Boil again.
Zeke had been aware of Vulcanos' progress, but he hadn't considered how addictive the feeling of strength must be for him. It was one thing to see the numbers, but experiencing such quick improvements firsthand was an entirely different matter. It was something to keep an eye on. Yet, for now, there was no reason to dampen his enthusiasm.
Instead, Zeke nodded toward the forest. "I would be surprised if we didn't get into a fight tomorrow."
Vulcanos followed his gaze, his eyes widening. It seemed the Chimeroi hadn't even noticed the jungle before. Soon, however, his surprise gave way to fervor as he peered deeper into the darkness. Zeke wasn't sure whether to feel encouraged or worried by the man's eagerness to plunge into the unknown. It was better than fear, he supposed.
Not long after, their meal ended, and Zeke retreated to his tent. Vulcanos would handle guard duties for most of the night, with Ash and Gravitas taking on a shift each toward morning. Fortunately, there was no incident during the night, and Zeke found the campsite just as peaceful as the night before.
The Chimeroi, including Snow, were already awake, and the shy girl handed him an elongated fruit that Gravitas had picked during the night. Intrigued, Zeke accepted the unusual fruit, its vibrant blue skin adorned with dark spots. Peeling back the peel, he hesitated, unsure of what to expect. However, he was certain that Akasha would have warned him if it was poisonous.
Tentatively, he took a bite, and a burst of sweet, creamy flavor enveloped his senses, surprising him with its delightful taste and texture. As he savored each morsel, the unfamiliar sensation of the fruit's soft flesh against his tongue left him intrigued and eager to explore more of this newfound delicacy, oblivious to its name but captivated by its delicious allure.
After the impromptu breakfast, it was time to bid farewell to their guide. The man would return to the capital on his own, accompanied by the mounts and carriage. There was an air of nervousness about him as they shook hands—a feeling that wasn't all that unwarranted. If Zeke wanted to silence him for good, this would be the moment.
Their eyes locked in a moment of silent intensity, and Zeke found himself actually entertaining the idea. Allowing the man to go back posed a certain risk. After all, he was the sole individual who knew of their destination. Then, the moment passed, and Zeke let go of his hand.
"Safe travels," Zeke said. The man nodded in relief before practically fleeing the scene.
While he watched the man's retreating back, Zeke considered his choice. Their guide had been nothing but helpful and had by no means deserved to die. However, he didn't feel any shame for considering the idea.
Even though Maximilian might have been disappointed, Zeke found it difficult to justify taking risks that put him and his people in danger. He knew there was a line, somewhere, that he shouldn't cross. However, it wasn't readily apparent where that line was. Each risk he took carried the possibility of costing his life, complicating his decision-making process and heightening his awareness of the delicate balance between compassion and stupidity.
With a weary sigh, Zeke pivoted on his heel.
The Chimeroi stood nearby, each adorned with a backpack. Yet Zeke noticed the fleeting glint of murderous intent flickering in their eyes before swiftly dissipating. It was evident that the trio had been prepared to carry out the man's execution had Zeke issued the command.
The sight evoked a conflicting mix of pride and concern within him. While he felt a surge of pride in their unwavering loyalty and readiness to obey his command, he couldn't ignore the weighty realization that the burden of choice ultimately rested solely on his shoulders. He would need to serve as their conscience.
With a steadying breath, Zeke squared his shoulders, his gaze hardening with resolve. He had long ago decided to be the master of his own fate, to shape his own destiny. There was no point second-guessing each and every one of his decisions. Today, at this very moment, he reaffirmed his commitment to lead with integrity and make the choices that felt right, no matter the outcome.
"Let's go," he said, a smile returning to his lips.
As they ventured into the forest, Zeke stole a final glance backward. The sun's rays were already fading, swallowed by the dense canopy above, casting their surroundings into a beguiling dusk that transformed the early morning into a perpetual twilight. In this tranquil yet mysterious realm, they would dwell for the foreseeable future.