The Stranger

As Kael and Liora made their way through the jungle, the forest was silent. Long shadows covered their route as the moon hung low in the sky. The only sound was the distant echo of a wolf howling, but even it felt a long way from their gloomy trek.

The curse that bound him, Umbra, seemed to have tainted everything that was around him. It was a force that only Kael could perceive, but no one else could, a crushing weight that held on to him like another layer of flesh.

The blade; no, the curse itself was part of him, a dark and twisted entity that developed on hatred, despair, and every sorrow that carried within him. He had been surrounded by it for so long that he had forgotten what it was like to be alone.

Kael’s hand lay on the hilt of Umbra, that had been his companion through countless battles, an ongoing symbol of the darkness that followed him wherever he went. The black mist writhed and shifted with its own life, coiling around the blade like a ravenous beast. Kael felt the blade's expectancy, as if it knew something was coming, something that was certain, yet it didn't push against his thoughts; at least not yet. It waited for a perfect opportunity to strike.

Liora had asked him about the sword earlier, her voice containing an odd mix of interest and sympathy. Unlike him, she had no idea what it meant to be cursed. She was unaware of the cost he had to pay in gaining that sort of power.

"We need to move," Kael said in a strained, low voice as he tried to get rid of the sense that the curse was dragging. It served as a reminder that it would never let go, no matter how far he went or how hard he tried to get away. Kael continued in a low voice,"The longer we stay around, the more dangerous it becomes."

With her eyes focused on the dark blade on his shoulder, Liora nodded. The sword, its black steel gleaming in the moonlight, pulsing with evil force, a thing she had seen before, of course. When she had enquired about it earlier, Kael had remained silent.

Suddenly, Cloaks melding into the darkness, a dozen men emerged from the shadows. Like the ones that had attacked the community, they were bounty hunters, but they had a lot more experience.

They had been hunting for longer than Kael had expected, as evidenced by the bloody scent that pervaded the air around them. 

Kael didn’t respond immediately, his expression unreadable in the moonlight. He didn't want to fight. He was only concerned with Umbra and its hunger for blood.

Liora gripped her pendant tighter. "We can’t fight them all. We have to move quickly."

But Kael remained still. He looked around the group of men, his eyes narrowing. Despite their preparation and heavy weaponry, none of them had the same level of authority as Kael. They were merely prey, ready to be killed.

"Let them come," Kael said in a chilly voice. 

The bounty hunters spread out in an unorganised formation, encircling them. With a twisted smirk on his lips, their leader—a tall, haggard guy with a terrible scar along his cheek, stepped forward.

"Kael Ashera," said the leader with a demeanour. "The notorious monster. A king's ransom is reportedly less valuable than your bounty. It would be a pleasure to collect."
Kael remained silent. The dark mist swirled around the blade , ravenous for the blood that would soon be spilt, as his hold on Umbra grew tighter. The men surrounding him raised their weapons making a sign for a battle.

With his sword shining in the moonlight, the first hunter rushed. Kael moved faster than the eye could follow, his body a haze of movement. With a single strike, Umbra cleaved through the man’s sword and then his body, sending him crashing to the ground in a heap of mangled flesh. The mist around the blade grew larger.

The rest of the hunters paused, briefly taken aback by Kael's attack's. Fear briefly flashed in the leader's eyes, but he soon recovered from the shock.

"Take him down! Surround him!" the leader shouted.

With their weapons gleaming in the little light, the hunters charged. But Kael was already in move, his strikes fast and precise. Umbra moved like an extension of his power, cutting through armor and flesh with ease.

Every swing was evidence of the years of anger and guilt that had made him the monster he was. One by one, the hunters collapsed to the ground, their cries drowned out by the night air.

As Kael ripped through the hunters with an almost demonic ruthlessness, Liora watched from a safe distance. She had never seen anything like it; there was no hesitation, no mercy, only the cold, calculated efficiency of a predator.

Kael killed the last of the bounty hunters. With its thirst temporarily satisfied, the mist surrounding Umbra gradually dissipated. Kael's face was emotionless as he wiped the blood from his blade.

Liora steped forward, her eyes wide with a mixture of dread and confusion. "You didn't hesitate at all. You slaughtered them all."

Kael's eyes were far away and his mind was racing with sorrow and rage. "They were in my way. I don’t hesitate when it comes to surviving."

Feeling the weight of his words, Liora scowled. Although she was aware that Kael was a violent guy, the extreme cruelty he demonstrated served as a reminder of how deep he turned into evil. Still, she refused to let that deter her.

"We need to keep moving," Liora said softly, her voice trembling with the weight of the situation.

They had been out of the village for three days. Though each step felt heavier than the last, Kael had blindly followed Liora. 
Just across the horizon, they were travelling to a town where Liora hoped to meet someone who could provide insight into the disappearing spirits. The world's equilibrium teetered perilously without the spirits, beings that had once coexisted peacefully with it, but were strangely departed.

"How do you bear it?" Liora enquired in a quiet but determined tone. Having sensed the tension inside him, she had avoided him. "I mean, this... this curse."

Kael laughed briefly, but it was a sarcastic laugh. He said, "Bear it?" "I can't stand it. It carries me. He tightened his grip on his sword's hilt, the dark metal almost buzzing with the energy that had been his lifelong buddy. "It’s always with me. Always watching. Waiting."

Liora stopped talking. She hadn't anticipated a response, but after listening to him talk about it, she understood how much pain he was really going through. The curse was more than just an item; that moulded, dominated, and controlled him.

Suddenly, from the trees ahead, there was a rustle, a movement too quick for the eye to notice. Kael felt a surge of instinct. His hand moved to his sword's hilt, the dark blade prepared to strike back at the menace. He was constantly on guard and and his eyes seems like he was ready for anything.

But Liora was the first to react, her hand raised as if to stop him. "Wait," she said in a whisper. There was caution in her voice, and Kael hesitated grudgingly. "I sense something."

Kael stared but waited. Even though he wasn't entirely sure about it, but he have a soft corner of respect towards Liora's link to the spirits.

In the shadows, a figure moved into the clearing. The light from the moon revealed little, but Kael’s sharp eyes could make out enough. A tall man wearing dark robes with symbol, Kael didn't recognise, his face hidden behind a Raven mask. Being a shadow himself, the visitor blended in with the night as if he is a part of it.

"Travellers," the man with the mask stated in a calm, low voice. "You seek the spirits, don’t you?"

Kael remained silent. Already, his eyes were looking for danger. In this isolated area, it was uncommon for someone to come so daringly, and the man's presence was creepy as if he had a purpose for being there.

But then Liora moved forward. She had a certain bravery because she believed that the world could be rebuilt by trusting the spirits. She gave a nod. "Yes, we do. We are looking for the reason behind their disappearance."

Beneath his mask, the man's eyes shone brightly. "When you discover it, what will you do? What if you are unable to change the truth?"

Liora scowled. "We have no choice but to find out." She spoke with more conviction than Kael had anticipated. Maybe she genuinely thought that she could bring spirits and humans back into harmony.

stranger glanced at her, closely, his voice laced with doubt. "And what if you're wrong? What if the cost is greater than we can pay?"

stranger looked for a while and continued, "Spirits are ok but.... What about the curses?" glanced at her, his voice laced with doubt.

Her amber eyes blazed with determination as she glared at his eyes that were behind he mask. "If we do nothing, the cost will be even greater."

With the mask covering his face. His tone was mocking yet estimated as he stated, "Then you are brave, or perhaps foolish," Like a shadow, he moved closer, his steps smooth and silent. "But remember this: not all spirits wish to be freed."

Liora's eyes squinted. "That doesn't mean they deserve to be trapped. We can't judge them all by the actions of a few."

Thinking about what she had said, the stranger cocked his head. "However, those who oppose you will put your determination to the test. Little saviour, tell me what you'll do if they attack. When they demand blood for their suffering?"

Kael tensed, his fingers automatically reaching for his blade's hilt. He moved ahead of Liora and remarked, "If they want blood, they’ll have theirs before they get mine."

The man smirked, turned and vanished back into the shadows. Kael only stared at the blank area where the stranger had been vanished into the shadows.

"Who was that?" Kael's voice was rough as he asked.

Liora gave a headshake. "I'm not sure. However, I'm afraid we have to be concerned about more than just the spirits throughout our trip."

Kael kept feeling that the road ahead would only become hazardous as they proceeded on their journey. Regardless of what that man had said, Kael was certain that they were on the verge of something much more terrible than they could have ever imagined.