Volume 1 - Chapter 9 – Bonds and Departures

They made their way to the cave, set up a campfire, and began cooking food while organizing supplies.

After the dinner, Karna approached Ash. “I have something very important to talk to you about.”

Ash glanced at her. “Sure. So what’s so important you came all the way out here for?”

“Not here,” Karna replied with a shake of her head. “Let’s talk in private. I don’t want the others to hear.” The two slipped into the small room Ash and Arcea had explored earlier. Arcea noticed and started to follow, but Xanathis stopped her.

“Little one,” Xanathis said, “sit with me and let’s talk. I cooked something special — want to try it with me?”

Arcea smiled. “Sure, lady.” She sat next to Jack, who was poring over a map. Quinn was busy stuffing his face , while Lana sat quietly beside Arcea. Xanathis cooked her meat over the fire, the smell unfamiliar. “Anyone else want to try?” she asked.

Jack eyed it. “What type of meat is that?”

“No idea,” Xanathis replied casually. “I’m not exactly from around here.”

“Not from around here?” Jack asked. “You from a demi-human village or something?”

Arcea perked up, curious.

Xanathis smiled. “No, I’m no demi-human. I’m a halfbreed — half human, half Zethrin.”

“Zethrin?” Jack said. “Never heard of them. Where are those people on the map?”

Xanathis laughed. “You can’t find the Zethrin on the map. To find them, you’d have to travel through the stars to a world far, far away.”

Arcea’s eyes widened. “So how did you get here?”

“That,” Xanathis said with a teasing smile, “is a secret.”

Lana spoke up. “Arcea, where are you from? You’re definitely not from Bernswick.”

Arcea pointed to Bernswick on the map, then traced her finger west past the Overlook Mountains to a forest on the other side. “We live here.”

Everyone stared at the spot. “I heard there are mutants all over that forest — no one travels there,” Quinn said.

“Oh no,” Arcea replied, “there are no mutants in the forest. It’s really peaceful, except for a few beasts.”

Xanathis finally served the meat. They each took a bite — then immediately spat it out.

“Gross,” Arcea said.

Xanathis frowned. “Wasted all that time cooking it, and it tasted no better than raw.”

Lana asked, “Were you captured by the beastman too? I didn’t see you with Ash and Arcea when they tried to rescue us.”

“No,” Xanathis replied. “We came looking for Ash. We stopped by his house, but Iris told us he’d already left.”

“So you met my mom,” Arcea said.

Xanathis smiled warmly. “Yes, your mother and I are good friends. That reminds me — I have a gift for you. Hold out your hand straight, like this.”

Arcea opened her hands, and Xanathis placed hers over them. “Now close your eyes and relax.” Arcea felt it — her mana pathways opening, power flowing through her.

“What was that?” Arcea asked after a stunned moment.

“That’s a secret,” Xanathis replied. “You’ll find out later, when you get home.” She didn’t want the others to know.

Lana, still curious, said, “You said you came from the stars far away, and you’re half human. Does that mean there are other worlds filled with humans out there?”

“Oh yes,” Xanathis replied. “My father came from a planet called Earth. There are also city-sized space stations floating through space.”

“That’s wonderful,” Lana said dreamily. “I’d love to travel through space one day. It must be beautiful up there.”

“It is,” Xanathis said. “But space is dangerous — there are space monsters that travel the stars and sometimes land on planets to feed on humans and animals. To travel safely, you need a ship with weapons. But the worst threat in space is RUIN. They have massive stations and structures in space, and if you get too close, they’ll kill you without question. Avoid them at all cost.”

Lana, Jack, and Quinn all looked saddened.

Lana asked quietly, “Is there nowhere safe from them?”

Arcea tilted her head. “Why do you all look so sad? What is RUIN?”

Jack sighed. “You’re young, so you don’t know. Didn’t you notice how many women there were in Bernswick?”

Arcea thought back and blinked. “You’re right… I don’t think I saw a single man, besides that bad guy I met.”

“That’s how the whole Shattered Lands is,” Jack said. “About nine hundred years ago, RUIN invaded. They occupied every village, took over the top layer of the Shattered Lands, and kidnapped almost every man — and sometimes women — leaving maybe a dozen men in each village. Every thirty years, they’d come back to take more. The population became extremely imbalanced.”

“I see,” Arcea said. “But I didn’t see any RUIN guards around the city — just giant golems.”

“That’s because about nine or ten years ago, RUIN soldiers disappeared, retreating to the upper layer,” Jack explained.

Arcea yawned, rubbing her eyes, glancing toward the room where Ash and Karna had gone.

“You look tired,” Xanathis said. “Why not get some sleep?”

“I want to wait for my dad,” Arcea replied.

“Well, it might take a while,” Xanathis said. “You should sleep.”

Lana offered, “Want to sleep next to me? I’m getting tired too.”

“Sure,” Arcea said, and the two went to a corner, sharing a blanket before lying down.

Lumin’s faint glow danced across the walls as it drifted through the small side room, weaving between shadows. The light pulsed — brightening when it darted close to Ash or Karna, dimming when it spun off to inspect the corners. Its movements were restless, curious, like it was mapping every crack in the stone.

Ash bent down, setting a toppled wooden chair upright.“Here,” he said, motioning for Karna to sit.

She nodded in thanks, her armor whispering faintly as she lowered herself.

Ash crossed the room and sat on a broad, flat stone against the wall, the chill of it seeping through his clothes. He leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on his knees, his eyes fixed on her.“So… what’s so important you came all the way out here to find me?”

Karna’s gaze sharpened. “Then I’ll speak plainly — I need your help to save all of existence from ending.”

For a moment, Ash just stared at her. His brow creased. She sounded utterly serious… but the words were so absurd, his first instinct was to dismiss them.“Sorry, girl,” he said flatly, “but I don’t have time for your games. Once I finish my quest, I’m going home to my wife and child — living out a peaceful life again.”

“I’m not crazy,” Karna insisted, voice tightening. “My master sent me here because we need your help. He puts high value on you for reasons I don’t yet understand. If you go back to your peaceful life, the end will only come sooner — and you, Iris, Arcea… everyone you love… will die with it.”

Ash’s eyes narrowed. “And what proof do you have that any of this is true?”

Karna raised a hand, and one of the glowing glyphs stitched into her clothing flared to life. A metallic, egg-shaped container shimmered into existence, hovering in her palm. It split open with a hiss, flooding the dim room with a bright violet glow.

Inside, three shards pulsed with the same strange light — and at that moment, Ash felt an answering heat bloom in his chest. He glanced down. Through his shirt, a faint violet radiance was pushing through his skin, coming from just over his left heart.

“You’ve seen that glow once before,” Karna said quietly, “when my master saved your life.”

Ash’s stomach tightened. The memory struck him like a thrown spear.

Flames roared through the night. Smoke clawed at his lungs. Ward — his adoptive father — was dragging him away from the burning house, his massive hand gripping Ash’s arm in an unbreakable hold.

Through the haze, Ash saw her — Alisa, his mother — standing in front of the wreckage, blocking Bernswick and the RUIN guards from pursuing. Her stance was unyielding, her eyes locked on Ward with silent urgency.

“No!” Ash struggled, pounding his fists against Ward’s back. “Let me go! We have to save Mom!”

Ward didn’t answer. His jaw was set in grim stone, his eyes locked westward. His pace never faltered as he ran toward the hunter’s cabin deep in the forest. But the beating of boots behind them grew louder — RUIN soldiers dropping from a hovering craft, weapons glinting in the firelight.

“Shit.” Ward skidded to a stop, setting Ash down roughly. “Run to the cabin. Ellen should be there. Now go.”

Ash hesitated — just long enough to see Ward draw his weapon and turn to face the soldiers. That image — his broad back, silhouetted against the burning horizon — seared itself into Ash’s memory. Then he ran.

Until he couldn't run any further and needed to catch his breath. Then he heard it from the side of some old rubble A low, chittering growl rose ahead, and from the rubble emerged a mutant.

A Corpse Eater.

Its wormlike body uncoiled, plated segments scraping over the stone. From its gaping, flower-like mouth, a grotesque human torso clawed free, tentacles writhing from its maw. Spider-like legs unfolded from its sides, lifting the host up in a jerking, insectile motion. The human half lunged, arms snatching Ash from the ground, dragging him toward the monster’s waiting body — ready to kill and store him until rot softened the flesh.

Ash dug his fingers into a chunk of rubble, teeth gritted, legs kicking wildly. Lumin appeared in a blur of light, trying to battering the creature’s face — but liman didn't have a physical body. His grip was slipping.

Then, a violet brilliance exploded around him, so bright it burned his vision. The monster was simply… gone. The nightstone’s shadow had lifted — it was midday now.

Confused but alive, Ash scrambled to his feet and ran, heart pounding, until the familiar forest surrounded him. He reached the cabin. Ellen was there — but older, worn, lines carved deep into her face.

She froze when she saw him. “Ash? Ash… is that you?”

“Yes, Mother Ellen, it’s me.” His voice shook. “Bernwick and RUIN burned down our house. I had to leave… Father Ward and mom behind. A Corpse Eater attacked me but… I got away somehow.”

Her expression shifted from disbelief to sorrow. “Ash… that night was fifteen years ago.”

“What…?”

She led him outside, around to the back of the cabin. a grave waited there. Ward’s name. Alisa’s name. And his own. Lumin hovered nearby, drifting above the soil as though guarding it. When it saw Ash, it shot toward him in a rush, vanishing into his chest with a familiar warmth.

“I never found yours or Alisa’s bodies,” Ellen said softly. “But I found Ward’s… and Lumin, wandering near the path we used to take to the cabin. Bernswick claimed he dealt with you both. I thought you were gone forever.”

She pulled him into a trembling embrace, tears hot against his neck. Ash clung back, mind reeling.

The vision bled away, pulling him back into the cave’s cold air.

“That… time travel,” Ash murmured. “That was your master’s doing. He saved my life.”

Karna shook her head slightly. “Yes… and no. He didn’t save you from this timeline. He brought the best version of you from a nearly identical one and placed you here. You wouldn’t have known the difference. He did the same with Iris — but she came here with a mission. Your meeting her wasn’t coincidence. And more like you will arrive… soon.”

Ash studied her in silence, his jaw tight. “And Iris’s mission? What was it?”

“I don’t know,” Karna admitted. “My master didn’t tell me much. And… my past before this mission is foggy. He did something to me — sealed away parts of my memory.”

She leaned forward slightly. “Besides you, Iris, and Xanathis, we’ve already found one more. But unlike me, he truly has amnesia. He’s wandering now, hoping to trigger his memories… or find someone who remembers him.”

Ash let out a slow breath. “I’m not sure I buy what you’re selling. But… if Iris agrees, and after I finish my quest for Toby… then maybe I’ll help.”

“In that case,” Karna said, “we’ll help you with your quest first. When it’s done, you can help us without worry.”

Ash smirked faintly. “For someone in a hurry, you’re sure accommodating.”

She shrugged. “Right now, we’re waiting for the next arrival. Before I forget…” She tapped the egg-shaped container. The violet light in Ash’s chest flared, then pulled free, a small shard drifting into the container to join the others. It sealed with a click, vanishing into a rune on her bracer.

Ash frowned. “And that was…?”

“When my master sends people here, he implants a shard in them — it anchors them to this timeline. My compass can track it. That’s how I found you.”

“And what’s so important about this timeline?”

“I don’t know,” Karna admitted again. “You’ll have to ask my master when you meet him.”

“And when will that be?”

“When we’ve found everyone. The shards will activate, and take us to him.”

Ash rubbed his temples. “I feel like I’m going insane. Let’s get some rest. Tomorrow… we track that bastard Ren.”

They stepped back into the main cave. Ash paused when he saw Arcea curled up against Lana, the two sharing a blanket. His expression softened. He hoped they’d become friends.

He slid into his bedroll. Lumin settled into the shadows nearby. And soon, the deep breathing of sleep filled the camp.

The next morning, pale rays from the core’s light filtered through the jagged cracks of Overlook Pass, tinting the dew-slick stone with a faint blue sheen. Mist clung to the ruins and broken slopes, and the faint smell of wet moss carried on the breeze. Jack had risen first, coaxing life back into the campfire; the smell of crisping bread and roasted meat drifted through the morning air.

Arcea and Lana sat cross-legged near the fire, quietly chewing while Lumin floated in lazy spirals above them, its glow flickering like a playful star. Quinn stretched with a groan, while Karna adjusted her bracer and Xanathis sat near the fire, turning a slab of strange meat over the flames — from some noisy creature that had pestered the camp all night until she rose, slew it, and decided to make use of it for breakfeast.

Ash sat apart, finishing his portion. Jack broke the chatter. “So, Ash… what are your plans now that the beastman got away?”

Ash swallowed, brushing his fingers clean. “Ren left us a gift — fresh wagon tracks. With last night’s rain, they should be clear. We’ll follow them.”

Quinn frowned, his voice cutting in. “But now that we’re safe, shouldn’t you guide us back to Bernswick first? That was your quest, wasn’t it? You can’t just quit.”

Ash shook his head. “No. I won’t take you back. Jack will.”

Jack looked stunned. “Me? I can’t. I need to go with you, get my cart back.”

“This is the perfect task for you,” Ash replied firmly. “When I find Ren, I’ll find your cart too — or what’s left of it. I’ll let you know. But I can’t give him more of a lead. After we eat, we part ways. I’m trusting you to guide them back.”

Jack hesitated, then sighed. “Fine… but you two”—he glanced at Lana and Quinn—“don’t think this’ll be an easy stroll.” He jabbed a thumb toward four stuffed bags near the wall, bulging with shards. “You’ll both help carry them.”

The pair nodded in silence.

By the time breakfast ended, the camp was cleared. At the mouth of the pass, Arcea bounced on her feet, waving enthusiastically. “See you later! Lana — let’s meet again!”

Lana’s smile was quiet but warm. She lifted a hand in return.

Jack smirked. “Thanks for saving my ass back there. Next time I hit a big city, I’ll bring you something nice.”

Arcea’s eyes sparkled. “Really?”

“You bet,” Jack said with a grin, before turning to the others. “Alright, freeloaders. Let’s go.” The three began their trek back toward Bernswick village.

Arcea glanced back to find Ash standing tall, scope pressed to his eye as he scanned the muddy ground for tracks that lay in the distance. She hurried to his side, joining him, Karna, and Xanathis. Ash lowered the scope, sliding it away. “Tracks lead southwest, toward the Fallen Forest. We’ll push hard to make up ground.”

They set out, their path winding between fractured stone and patches of grass and scattered remnants of old civilizations, now reduced to piles of rubble. As the small nightstone drifted overhead, shadows lengthened, but they pressed on, boots splashing through shallow pools left by the rain. Ruins began to dot the horizon — half-buried walls and shattered towers, silent reminders of a civilization long dead.

Among the rubble, they found it: a wagon lying on its side, wheels broken. Ash raised a hand. “There. Stay alert.”

Weapons drawn, they advanced cautiously. Ash approached first, crouching by the shattered movement orb — a massive treaded sphere powered by core shards, fixed where beasts would normally be harnessed, rolling forward to pull the wagon, shards of glowing crystal littering the ground like frozen tears. “He was pushing it too fast,” Ash muttered. “Crashed against rubble. The orb’s destroyed. He won’t get far.” He straightened. “Spread out. Look for tracks. Arcea — stick close to someone.”

“I’ll go with the lady,” Arcea said brightly, pointing to Xanathis.

Xanathis smirked. “Just call me Xanathis, little one.”

“Then call me Arcea,” she replied. The two split off together.

As they searched, Arcea asked, “So… what was that secret you wouldn’t tell me last night? Ever since you did that thing, I’ve been feeling strange. I even asked Mr. Sword, but he didn’t know.”

Xanathis arched a brow. Mr. Sword? An imaginary friend, no doubt. Poor child, locked in the forest her whole life. Aloud, she said, “I unlocked your mana pathways. You’ll be able to use magic one day. But you’ll need to discover your affinities yourself.”

Arcea’s eyes widened. “How do I do that? Is there something special I need to—”

Her question broke off when she noticed Xanathis kneeling, fingers brushing the dirt. Deep beastman tracks marred the ground, leading toward a patch of cover near collapsed ruins. Beside them lay Jack’s empty food box. The trail ended abruptly.

Xanathis stood, frowning. “He started leaping across the rubble to hide his prints. Clever. Let’s report back. I’ll explain more about magic on the way.”

The groups reconvened at the wagon. “Anything?” Ash asked.

Xanathis relayed their findings. Ash thought a moment, then nodded. “He’s masking his tracks. Keep to the perimeter — no need to search inside.”

Before they could move, Karna’s voice cut in. “I found more prints. Heading north.”

“Show me,” Ash said. She led him to faint tracks. He crouched, studying them, then shook his head. “No. These are beast prints. Look—back legs larger than the front, slight curve here. Ren’s tracks are uniform. These aren’t his.”

Karna watched closely, committing the knowledge. Ash rose. “Back to the wagon.”

Xanathis added, “Not sure if this helps, but I found boot prints leading southwest, toward the Fallen Forest. The scent of the beastman lingered, faintly.”

Ash’s eyes narrowed. “Boots?” He rummaged through the wagon, noting at once how thoroughly it had been rifled through — blankets tossed aside, supplies shifted, and empty containers left haphazardly. Clearly Ren had searched every corner for anything useful. Ash pulled out Jack’s spare clothes. Torn packaging. Boots missing. “He’s wearing these. Trying to throw us off.” He straightened. “Let’s follow the boot tracks. We need to gain ground on him. I doubt he’s gotten too far ahead — he was wounded and weak. Hopefully he doesn’t recover too fast.”

The trail carried them through battered plains and patches of leaning trees, their shadows stretching under the core’s light. They neared the woods by Ash’s cabin when he halted. “This is where it ends.”

Karna frowned. “Did we lose him?”

Ash shook his head. “No. The nightstone’s approaching. And this… this is where Arcea’s adventure ends.” He turned to her. “You go home now. Leave the rest to us.”

Arcea’s shoulders sagged, but she nodded. “I understand.”

They stopped briefly at the cabin. The garden lay green and untamed, Iris already there tending to the soil. Arcea ran ahead. “Mommy!”

Iris turned — and swatted her daughter’s head lightly. “Ouch!” Arcea yelped.

“You’ll be helping me in the garden for the next month,” Iris said sharply, though surprise flickered in her eyes when Arcea didn’t argue or try to run away. This adventure must have changed her, she thought.

Ash approached with the others. Iris’s gaze softened. “Looks like you found him.”

Xanathis approached Iris and leaned close to whisper in Iris’s ear, smirking. “Didn’t tell me you had such a handsome husband. I might take a bite myself.”

Iris’s glare could have cut stone. She turned back to Ash, embracing him. “Welcome home. Is it done?”

Ash shook his head. “No. I just came to drop Arcea off, resupply, then return. I can’t lose the trail.” His tone was colder than usual. Iris noticed, suspicion gnawing at her. Did Karna tell him something? She decided to ask later.

“Go gather your things,” she said. “Go gather your things,” she said firmly. “I’ll cook a proper meal and pack it so you have food for the journey ahead.”

Inside the cabin, she worked quickly, while Karna lingered near the door and Xanathis prowled with playful eyes. Ash moved through the cabin first, gathering spare cloaks, dried herbs, and tools, tucking them into his pack before stepping back outside. Only then did he slip into the shed, beginning to sort through orbs and rations, when Iris entered quietly.

“You seemed distant earlier,” she said softly. “Did they tell you something about me?”

Ash didn’t look up. “Yes. Are you with me because of that mission karnas so called master gave you? Karna said our meeting was planned. I thought you were a deserter from RUIN. Was I wrong?”

Iris froze, then exhaled. “No… you weren’t wrong. I am a deserter. But I’m not with you because of the mission. I’m with you because I love you. The mission was only to guard you. At first, that was all I intended. I accepted it because I thought it would bring me back to someone I once believed I loved. I fought for him, bled for him… and he never looked my way. I was just a pawn, a weapon. In the end, it was only my misplaced gratefulness toward him that bound me, not true love. But you—” Her voice broke slightly. “That night, you changed me. You gave me something real. You and Arcea… you’re my life now. My love.”

Ash studied her eyes, then stepped closer. “Thank you. After this is done, I’ll come back. To you. To her. and enjoy a peaceful life.”

They kissed, long and unguarded, before stepping out together. The others waited. Xanathis raised a brow. “Ready?”

“Yeah.” Ash turned to Arcea, patting her head. “Train hard while I’m gone.”

Arcea puffed out her cheeks playfully and challenged, “Let’s see who learns magic first — me or you!”

Arcea grinned. “Me and Mr. Sword will be stronger than you when you get back!”

Ash chuckled, though his mind lingered on her odd words. Mr. Sword…? Did she really give her weapon a name? Figures she would. “We’ll see. Be good, and train hard.”

With farewells spoken, Ash, Karna, and Xanathis set off again. Lumin floated above them, its glow fading as the forest swallowed their path. Behind them, Iris and Arcea stood side by side, watching until their figures vanish into the shadows of the forest, their journey resuming into danger and unknown horizons.