Zeo's silent steps descended the mist-shrouded slope of the valley. Night had fallen completely, leaving only faint stars flickering beyond the thin veil of clouds. The damp air bit into his skin, and the wind slipping through the valley trees sounded like whispers of ancient spirits watching from the darkness.
Below, a wide river flowed slowly—a massive, shadowed mirror swallowing the moonlight. The valley was still, accompanied only by the murmur of the current and the soft rumble of nature. But it wasn't the solemn beauty that made Zeo stop.
The symbol on his back began to react.
A faint golden glow shimmered beneath his cloak, pulsing gently as if responding to the heartbeat of the land. Zeo narrowed his eyes. That light… it felt like a call. Like a whisper from something that had been waiting—something long hidden.
His gaze turned to the river.
And there—in the middle of the calm current, faint and alluring—was a flicker of golden light, pulsing under the surface as if it were breathing.
Without hesitation, Zeo stepped forward. He removed his outer cloak, took a deep breath, and dove in.
The river water was cold, biting at his body like a thousand tiny needles, but Zeo kept swimming deeper. The further he went, the stronger the resonance from the symbol on his back became. Its vibration echoed through his bones and veins like sacred notes only the soul could feel.
The golden light grew brighter.
Then he saw it. A core of light, spinning slowly like a shard of sunlight trapped at the riverbed. He reached out.
And the moment his fingers touched it—the golden light erupted, engulfing Zeo entirely.
In an instant, the riverbed lit up like daylight. Golden flashes shot in all directions, illuminating the rocks and the trees surrounding the valley. The symbol on Zeo's back flared brightly, then merged with the light—forming a soft wave that rose through the water's surface.
---
Meanwhile, inside the cave where his group was resting, things slowly began to stir.
Ravyn shifted slightly. Her eyelids fluttered open, revealing dark eyes still hazy with sleep. Her breath caught, her body heavy, as if waking from a nightmare. But the effects of the poison had faded.
"Ugh… Where… am I…?"
The soft rustling made Alice turn. She had been sitting, tending to Miza's wounded arm, now wrapped with soft roots infused with healing energy. Fael was nearby, giving light care to help speed up Guillard tissue regeneration. On the other side, Guillard—with his leg supported by wooden braces—tried to smile despite his pale face.
"Ravyn! You're awake." Alice let out a relieved voice.
Ravyn looked at them in confusion, then tried to sit up. "What happened…? Where are we?"
"Don't know. But we're safe," Fael answered calmly. "For now."
Ravyn looked around the cave. A small campfire flickered faintly before them, offering a bit of warmth. But one thing made her uneasy.
"Master Zeo?" she asked quickly. "Where is he?"
Alice smiled gently. "He went out to find food. Don't worry."
Ravyn bit her lower lip. For some reason, her heart remained restless. But before she could ask anything more—footsteps echoed from outside the cave.
TAP. TAP. TAP.
Everyone instantly became alert.
Alice and Fael stood. Ravyn pushed herself upright. Guillard tried to sit more firmly despite the pain. Even Miza, still weak, raised one hand, ready for a surprise strike.
A large shadow appeared at the cave's entrance.
One second that felt like forever.
And then—Zeo appeared, standing with wet hair dripping river water, carrying a large deer on his shoulder.
"Sorry it took so long. Catching one of these at night was a pain," he said casually.
Silence turned into small laughs and sighs of relief.
Ravyn stared at him in disbelief. Her eyes welled up. Then, without saying a word, she stood and rushed to hug Zeo tightly.
"Master Zeo!! Are you alright?! Are you hurt?"
Zeo was surprised but let her hug him.
"Everything's fine. What matters now is that we're all safe. I'm sorry for putting you all through this."
"No, Master," Ravyn said. "We're a team. Whatever you command, we will follow."
Zeo looked at Ravyn with a hint of pride, then glanced at everyone.
They all nodded. He could only smile at their support.
And Ravyn hugged him tighter, like a child who had just found her parent after getting lost in a crowd.
Zeo gently stroked her head, still clinging to him like a lost child reunited with family. "I'm here," he whispered softly, just enough to calm Ravyn's heart once more.
That night, in the quiet cave sheltering them, a warm feeling grew between wounds and exhaustion. And without them realizing it, within Zeo's body, a new light had awakened—something that would change everything.
---
Night slowly deepened again. The mist outside the cave still hung lightly in the air, leaving a chill that even the fire could not fully chase away. Around that small flame, the scent of roasted venison began to fill the air, slowly easing the tension that had weighed on them.
Guillard sat leaning against the stone wall, his leg neatly bandaged and propped up with a stack of rocks. Beside him, Miza sipped hot soup with one hand—the other still tightly wrapped.
Alice and Fael sat a bit apart, both quiet, gazing into the fire as if lost in their own thoughts. Ravyn now sat near Zeo, occasionally glancing at him, wanting to lift the mood, but sensing it wasn't the right time yet.
Zeo finally spoke, his voice steady but unrushed, explaining what had happened earlier—especially to those still unaware of the full story.
He told them about the last battle—how they were ambushed, how they faced power beyond their expectations. How Erik had betrayed them. And how Kozmo saved them in the end.
Miza and Guillard nodded—they were conscious and had fought in the chaos. Ravyn knew parts of it, while Alice had been told some details earlier by Zeo. Fael remained the one in the dark. Even so, the more they heard, the more somber Alice and Ravyn's expressions became.
Zeo then held the necklace around his neck—the one that briefly glowed when he brought the deer into the cave. "Kozmo's okay," he said, voice soft, explaining Kozmo's condition. "He just needs full recovery."
At that moment, the fire crackled softly as if responding to his words. But the silence that followed was broken by Fael's low voice.
"If only Erik hadn't come with us," Fael muttered bitterly. "We wouldn't be in this mess." He glared at Alice, tension in his face, barely able to believe it.
Alice didn't respond. Her head hung low, eyes fixed on the dying embers. Her shoulders trembled slightly, but she didn't argue. She knew. Deep down, she knew it was her fault.
Zeo slowly stood and walked to Alice. He gently patted her shoulder, just enough to startle her.
"This… is my responsibility. I'm the leader of this group. If anyone should be blamed, it's me."
Alice looked up at Zeo—her usually sharp blue eyes now glistening. "Mr. Zeo, I…"
But before she could finish, Zeo raised a hand to stop her.
"What's your plan for returning home?" he asked directly, shifting to practical matters.
Alice took a breath. She seemed about to offer something. "I can go alone. You're all too wounded to keep getting involved with me. Besides, you've helped me enough—"
"No," Zeo cut in. Firm. Final.
Alice fell silent.
"We stay together. Our condition isn't perfect, but Guillard is the only one who truly can't walk. I'll carry him. We can still move forward."
Guillard jolted. "M-Master Zeo… No, I'm not worthy of being carried—"
"I decide that," Zeo replied, his voice calm but commanding. He looked at Guillard with a gaze that allowed no room for protest.
Fael stood for a moment, wanting to volunteer, but he knew… Zeo's decision was absolute. He only nodded slowly.
Guillard lowered his head, face flushed—somewhere between shame and respect. "Thank you, Master…"
Zeo gave a faint smile.
And so, their night came to a close. The fire began to fade. The mist outside thickened once more, but within that cave, warmth quietly returned.
They didn't yet know… that the person they would meet tomorrow—would change the direction of their journey, and perhaps, even their fate.
---