Tides Of Eternity

Episode 7: Whispers in the Dark

The forest was a maze of towering trees and tangled undergrowth, the faint light of dawn struggling to pierce the canopy. Kaiza led the way, his movements deliberate and cautious. Mina followed close behind, her eyes darting nervously at every rustle and shadow.

“Do you think they’ll come after us?”Mina asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Kaiza’s hand rested on the hilt of his sword. “If they know what we carry, they won’t stop. The blade’s power is too great a temptation.”

Mina shivered. The memory of the mermaid queen’s voice in her dream still lingered, a chilling reminder of the dangers they faced. “What if she finds us again? What if she…”

“She won’t,” Kaiza interrupted, his tone firm. “Not if we stay ahead of her. The queen’s reach has limits, even if her power doesn’t.”

They pressed on in silence, the forest growing denser with each step. The air was thick with the scent of moss and damp earth, and the distant call of birds added an eerie undertone to their journey. Mina tried to focus on the path ahead, but her mind kept drifting to the trials they had yet to face.

By midday, they reached a clearing where a stream wound its way through the forest. Kaiza knelt by the water, filling their canteens while Mina sat on a fallen log, her legs aching from the long trek.

“How much farther until we’re safe?”She asked.

Kaiza didn’t look up. “Safe isn’t a place. It’s a moment. And it’s fleeting.”

Mina frowned. “That’s not very reassuring.”

He stood, handing her a canteen. “It’s the truth. But we’ll rest here for a bit. You need your strength.”

As they sat in the clearing, Mina’s thoughts drifted to the hermit’s words. The blade’s trials would test every part of them, and she couldn’t shake the feeling that her own trial was drawing closer. She glanced at Kaiza, his expression distant and unreadable.

“Kaiza,” she said softly. “Do you ever wonder what life would be like if none of this had happened? If you hadn’t eaten the mermaid flesh?”

He didn’t answer immediately. When he finally spoke, his voice was low. “I’ve thought about it. But it doesn’t matter. What’s done is done. All I can do now is try to make things right.”

Mina nodded, though her heart ached for him. She wanted to say something comforting, but the words wouldn’t come. Instead, she reached out and placed a hand on his arm. He didn’t pull away.

Their rest was short-lived. As they prepared to move on, a sound broke the stillness of the forest. It was faint at first, like the rustling of leaves, but it grew steadily louder. Kaiza’s hand went to his sword, and Mina’s heart raced.

“Stay behind me,” Kaiza said, his voice tense.

The sound resolved into footsteps, and moments later, a figure emerged from the trees. It was a man, his clothes tattered and his face gaunt. He raised his hands in a gesture of peace.

“Please,” he said, his voice hoarse. “I mean you no harm.”

Kaiza didn’t lower his guard. “Who are you?”

The man hesitated. “My name is Oran. I’ve been wandering these woods for days. I… I was part of a group, but we were attacked. I’m the only one left.”

Mina’s heart softened at the man’s plight, but Kaiza’s eyes narrowed. “Attacked by what?”

Oran’s expression darkened. “Creatures. They came out of nowhere, their eyes glowing like embers. They tore through us like we were nothing.”

Kaiza exchanged a glance with Mina. “You’re lucky to be alive.”

Oran nodded. “I barely escaped. Please, if you have food or water… anything to spare.”

Mina stepped forward, reaching into her pack. “Here,” she said, handing him a piece of bread and a canteen.

Kaiza’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t stop her. Oran accepted the offerings gratefully, his hands trembling.

“Thank you,” he said. “I don’t know how much longer I would’ve lasted.”

As they continued through the forest, Oran walked with them, his steps unsteady. He spoke little, but Mina’s curiosity got the better of her.

“What were you doing in the forest?”She asked.

Oran hesitated. “We were searching for something. An artifact said to be hidden here. It was supposed to bring… great power.”

Kaiza’s eyes flicked to Oran. “What kind of artifact?”

Oran shook his head. “I don’t know. I was just following orders. But whatever it was, it wasn’t worth the cost.”

Mina frowned. “Do you think it’s connected to the blade?”She asked Kaiza.

“Possibly,” he said. “But we can’t afford to get distracted. Our priority is surviving the next trial.”

Oran’s gaze lingered on Kaiza for a moment. “You’re searching for something too, aren’t you?”

Kaiza didn’t answer, his expression hard. Oran didn’t press the issue.

As night fell, they made camp in a small clearing. The fire crackled softly, casting flickering shadows on the trees. Mina sat close to the flames, her thoughts restless.

“Do you think we’ll find what we’re looking for?”She asked Kaiza.

He looked at her, his expression unreadable. “We have to.”

Oran’s voice broke the silence. “Whatever you’re seeking, I hope it’s worth it. The forest doesn’t give up its secrets easily.”

Kaiza’s eyes narrowed. “And neither do I.”

The tension in the air was palpable, but Mina’s exhaustion eventually pulled her into sleep. As she dreamed, the voice of the mermaid queen echoed in her mind once more.

“You cannot escape the abyss, child. It is a part of you now.”

She woke with a start, the fire reduced to embers. Kaiza sat nearby, his sword resting across his lap. He glanced at her, his gaze steady.

“Another dream?”he asked.

Mina nodded. “She’s not going to stop, is she?”

Kaiza’s grip on his sword tightened. “No. But neither will we.”

The forest loomed around them, silent and watchful, as they prepared to face whatever trials lay ahead.