Bond of the mind - part one - chapter 2

She sobbed alone for a while longer. Then she finally rubbed her eyes and calmed her mind with deep breaths. She knew she still had to get out. But her clothes were unusable. They lay there torn to shreds. She thoroughly searched the entire lair and looked through the things the trolls had left behind. She managed to find some bandages, which she used to bind her chest again. She also found a T-shirt and shorts. They were smaller than her size, but she squeezed into them for the time being. She even managed to find her sword, which she took back into her hands with satisfaction. Finally, she arranged her hair back into a bun.

"It's time to go. I hope the others are okay," she said aloud to herself. But before she could go back to the others, she had to find her way out. She started walking around the cave again. This time, she walked around the wall, looking for a way out. When she reached the opposite side of the cave, opposite the entrance, she came across a rock that was lying in front of the wall but clearly didn't belong there. She tried to push it away. At first, the rock wouldn't budge. She tensed all her muscles to push with all her might. Slowly, it began to move. 

After a moment of effort, she finally managed to push the rock out of the way. There was an opening, but it was too small for the trolls to pass through upright. However, May saw no other option but to try this way. So she knelt down and began to crawl through the tunnel on all fours. It was very cramped inside, so she was glad she didn't suffer from claustrophobia. That would have made it very difficult. She slowly moved through the narrow tunnel, wondering how long she had been crawling like this. It felt like an eternity. But she had to get out as quickly as possible. After all, the time she could spend in this world was limited. If she woke up and Senna and Spark weren't by her body, who knows what would happen to her before she got back here. During the long journey, it seemed to her that the tunnel was turning slightly to the left.

She reached the end of the tunnel, where there was only a pile of bones, not just human ones. She began to push her way through them, throwing them behind her. As she threw them away, more and more bones fell from above. She realized that the tunnel led somewhere up. The bones above her were slowly disappearing, and she could already see part of the surface. She fought her way through the rest and climbed out exactly where she thought she would, judging by what she had to dig through. She was back in the room where they had found the women's bodies. She had to cover her mouth and nose with her hands. The air in the room was simply unbearable. 

May walked past all the piles of bones and body parts. She didn't look at them. Her eyes were focused only on the path ahead. Finally, she was back at the door. She walked through, bowed her head apologetically and regretfully, then closed the door behind her. She had to take a deep breath. She didn't have a torch with her, and even though her eyes had partially adjusted to the darkness, she preferred to walk carefully along the walls at a slightly faster pace. After a while, she reached the fork again. No one was there. She didn't hear anyone coming. She could only hope that Senna and Spark were all right. Her hope was strong, but she couldn't shake the unpleasant feeling. She knew that the two of them would search for her at any cost. At least, she believed that with all her heart. So she made her way back to the surface. After a slight climb, light began to filter in. It was definitely starting to dawn outside. May ran towards the exit.

When she ran outside, the sun was still behind the mountains, but it seemed that dawn was indeed breaking. She immediately began to search for Senna and Spark. She couldn't see them. Instead, she noticed something completely different. Or rather, someone else.

A person was crouching on a rock near the entrance to the cave. They were completely covered in a black cloak and wearing black clothes. From the part of their face that was visible under the hood, May guessed that it was a man. Then she noticed that he was staring intently at something. He was holding something in his hand. Suddenly, May realized what it was. It was Dain's head. She recognized it by his red hair and the blood that was still dripping down his hand onto the ground. Right below the rock where he was crouching, she saw two lifeless bodies lying on the ground. One was headless and must have belonged to Dain, and the other was completely chopped up. It was Ivan. May was horrified. Not because she missed the two of them, but because, no matter how hard she searched the area, there was no sign of Senna, Spark, or Tragiro.

She drew her sword, ready for battle.

"Where are the others?!" she cried out sharply. The mysterious figure remained silent, staring at the head.

"Can I kill this one too?" came a sudden voice. It was as if someone was speaking behind May. She wanted to turn around immediately, but at that moment, a little girl appeared in front of her. She looked so childlike that May guessed she couldn't be more than twelve years old. She had black, medium-length hair and a smile spread across her face. But what was most remarkable were her eyes. They shone a golden color. 

"No," replied the person on the rock. It was now clear from the voice that it was a man.

"But why? This isn't any fun," she said, a disappointed expression appearing on her face.

May finally recovered from her surprise and tried to step away from the girl. She felt that she was very dangerous. Another warning sign was that she was holding a scythe-shaped weapon behind her back with her right hand, which was still covered in blood. The girl reached out with her left hand and grabbed May's wrist, which was holding her sword. May realized with horror that she couldn't move an inch, no matter how hard she tried to back away. The girl was so strong that she didn't even flinch. 

"Can I at least play with her a little?" the girl continued. 

"No. The time will come soon," said the man on the rock. He finally let go of the head, and it fell to the ground in the grass right next to the limp bodies. 

"Your friends are stunned and tied to a tree further into the forest. You don't have to worry about them. At least for now..." he finally answered May's question and pointed her in the direction.

"You should be careful with that power. It's very dangerous," he added, now staring intently at May. He looked her up and down from head to toe. He held this unpleasant gaze on her for a moment, then finally turned his back to her on the rock.

"It's time to go, Yin." Those were his last words. Then he snapped his fingers and was gone, as if he had never been there.

A smile lit up the little girl's face again. Even though May resisted, he pulled her closer to him as if it were nothing. May couldn't explain how he could have so much strength.

"We'll see each other again soon," she said goodbye, and then she too disappeared with a snap of her fingers, as if she had never been there.

Finally, the first rays of sunshine touched May and warmed her face. It snapped her out of her confusion. She immediately ran in the direction the man had pointed. In the distance, she could already see Spark standing among the trees, waiting for her. She ran up to her and threw her arms around her neck with joy. After everything she had been through, this was exactly what she needed. Spark licked her face with joy.

Then May looked into her eyes and said, "Take me to the others."

Spark immediately ran deeper into the forest. On her way through the forest, May first saw Senna and Tragir's weapons lying on the ground. She took them with her and continued after Spark. In a moment, she was there. A really tall tree stood there, clearly the tallest of all the surrounding trees. The dwarf was tied to the trunk, while Senna hung high above the branches. Even the two women who had been carried out of the troll's lair were lying nearby. Both of them were now dressed in something. However, there was one more person there—another woman. She had dark brown hair adorned with a headband made of thorns. Her hair was almost as long as May's. She was dressed in a short green-brown dress. The colors of her dress seemed to blend together, just like the colors of nature in the forest. The woman sat between the two lying women, and in front of her, right in the middle between them, she had a stick stuck in the ground that resembled a huge rose. May noticed that the top of the stick also bloomed like a rose and glowed a warm red color. The woman held the hands of the two women who were still unconscious, and leaves swirled around her. As they swirled, the leaves slowly but surely dried up.

"Who are you?" May asked her. The woman turned to May and looked at her closely. Then she let go of both women, stood up, and bowed.

"I am Mirthana, a forest nymph, but you can call me Mir," she said with a slight but sincere smile.

"I arrived here a moment ago and these women needed immediate care, so I took care of them, but I haven't had time to untie the other two yet. I assume they are members of your group, correct?" she continued.

"Yes, and thank you," May replied. She thought she could trust her. The women seemed to be doing much better, and they even appeared to be slowly waking up. Spark was also calm near her. 

May began climbing up the tree to untie Senna. She was still dazed. She left the dwarf tied up below because she wasn't sure if he had anything to do with the other two or not. After climbing for a while, she reached the height of the tree where Senna was. She stood on a branch in front of her so that she wouldn't fall when she cut her free. Senna's head was still hanging down, but otherwise she seemed to be unharmed and really okay. As soon as she cut the rope, Senna's body fell into May's arms. She caught her and hugged her. Ever since she had been alone in the cave, she had missed Senna terribly.

Senna seemed to smell the familiar scent and feel the warmth of the embrace she knew so well. Before she even opened her eyes, she smiled and enjoyed the friendly hug.

"I was so worried about you. You don't know how glad I am that you're back. You'll have to tell me everything that happened," said Senna. May just nodded quietly with tears in her eyes. Then they both climbed down from the tree and back onto the ground. Tragir was still stunned and tied to the tree trunk. Senna noticed another person standing there. As a forest elf, she knew her well. Although these races did not mix, the elves were older and therefore well acquainted with them. Only women belonged to the forest elf race. This was because men radiated negative energy that could not connect with the heart of nature. That was why they did not get along well with the male gender. Since they were only women, the question often arose as to where the forest elves actually came from. It worked like this: any pure woman who was able to connect with nature through her mind could become a forest nymph if she wanted to. She thus gained the power of nature and could use it. However, if she voluntarily established a connection with the male gender, she was cut off from her connection with nature. Only those women who had been connected to a man against their will could remain connected. Thanks to their connection with nature, the forest nymphs were able to place a strong seal on themselves that prevented anyone from entering their bodies from the outside. It was possible to break the seal, but it was almost impossible for ordinary beings.

"This is Mirthana," said May, who had already met her. Mirthana bowed again. 

"I'm Senna. An elf. Nice to meet you," she replied, smiling at her. She then turned back to May and sat down in the grass next to Mirthana, who also sat down. 

"Now you have to tell me everything that happened. I was so worried about you. Then I'll tell you what happened to us since we left the cave," said Senna.

May sat down with them and began to tell them what had happened since Senna and Tragir had left. How they had walked through the tunnel to the trolls' lair. What Dain and Ivan had planned and how they had left her there to fend for herself. She told them about their connection to the heyens and also about the mysterious mention of a "Ten heyen." Then she told them how she had closed herself off and when she opened her eyes again, all that was left of the trolls were piles of ashes. She herself did not know what had happened at that moment. She then described her way out of the lair and how she met a mysterious man and a girl who seemed to be called Yin in front of the cave. She ended her story by telling how Spark led her to the forest where she met Mirthana. After Maya's story, Sennin's gaze was full of sadness and remorse. It was easy to guess why she looked that way.

"The main thing is that we're all okay. I was really scared down there and felt hopeless, but I'm actually glad you weren't there with me, Senna. If you had been stuck down there with me... it would have been even worse than if they had left me there alone. I couldn't forgive myself if something had happened to you because of me," May added and smiled at Sennin. She still couldn't come to terms with it, but for now she managed at least a brief smile. 

"Now you have to tell me what happened to you," May said, looking at Senna. 

Senna took a deep breath and then began to explain everything. How she and Tragir had carried the women out, brought them here, and asked Spark to watch over them. Then they started to return to the cave, but when they were almost at the entrance, a little girl appeared in front of them and stabbed her scythe into the rock. Yes, she really stuck it into the rock. 

"Let's play a little," she said, looking at Tragir and Senna with a big smile and enthusiasm. Senna already had an arrow in her bow and fired. She was just a little girl, but from what she had just seen, it was clear that she was no ordinary girl and that this had to end immediately. But then something happened that no one expected. The little girl caught the arrow with her bare hand halfway to her. Yes, while the arrow was in flight, she managed to move that distance in an instant and even catch the arrow—Senna's arrow, which normally could fly through a body without getting stuck. She immediately realized that there was no point in using a bow against something like this. She quickly drew the two short swords she had under her quiver on her back and prepared for close combat.

Suddenly, the girl was standing behind her and said, "I've got you," and kicked Sennu in the side. The seemingly ordinary blow threw Sennu several meters away. 

"Don't forget to let them live, Yin," said the unknown man who had appeared on the rock. Tragir immediately rushed towards him with his heavy hammer, preparing to swing it and smash the rock. Suddenly, the little girl stood in front of him. First, she stopped the hammer with her left hand before it could touch the stone. Then she punched Tragir in the face so hard that he flew in an arc toward Senna. She was already on her feet. She swung her swords into the air. The little girl was still there, but she was crouching down. She tripped Senna and, as she fell to the ground, managed to punch her in the stomach in midair so that she landed even harder. Tragir was already getting up, but this fight had been futile from the start.

Just as he started running towards her, Dain and Ivan came out of the cave. They immediately noticed the commotion outside. Dain turned to the man on the rock, while Ivan ran towards the girl. She pointed behind Ivan. Ivan quickly looked in the direction she was pointing.

Dain tried to use one of her spells, but she didn't make it in time. Suddenly, only her headless body remained standing, holding itself upright for a few moments before collapsing to the ground. The man held her head in his hand and stared at it. Ivan let out a roar and ran towards the man. He was almost at the stone, but suddenly he froze and couldn't run any further. His body fell apart into pieces. The little girl standing behind him with her scythe stabbed it into the ground. 

"Just knock them out and tie them up in the woods where the bitch is. Okay, Yin?" said the man. Yin just smiled and in a split second she was standing over Senna and Tragir again, who were trying to recover and resist. She knocked them both out with a quick blow to the face. They didn't even have time to react. Senna's eyes were now adjusting, but her body still couldn't keep up with her. With that, Senna ended her story. May was speechless. She knew she sensed enormous strength in this little girl, but it was still unimaginable to her that she could have so easily defeated both of them. Tragir had awakened in the meantime and listened to both stories.

"I'm very sorry about what happened in the cave," he finally said, "but I don't think I would have fought the elf against that kid if I had been teamed up with those two," he continued.

"Why should we believe you now? When your friends tried to get rid of May, huh?" Senna snapped. 

"I can tell you everything I know, and you can see if you can trust me," said Tragir.

"I think we can trust him. After all, he carried the wounded women out with you, Senna, and then fought alongside you," May finally decided. She stood up and walked over to Tragir. Then she cut his ropes.

"Please sit down with us and tell us everything you can," May urged him, sitting back down on the ground next to the others. Tragir came over to them and sat down in the grass. Now that all four of them were seated, with Spark at May's side, the dwarf finally began his story.

He was still in pain. The dwarves were tough, but they certainly didn't have the regenerative abilities of elves. If he had taken as many blows as Senna, he would probably still be unconscious.

Tragir began to explain, ready to provide more details, at least from what he had heard himself. At that moment, it was difficult to say whether these were just tales told among people. However, the ten heyens were said to be the most capable and strongest of the heyens. Above them stood only the elite three, who themselves fell under the highest authority. The most powerful of the heyens was not even a heyen. The heyens were born from humans, with their bad qualities prevailing over their good ones, but the highest one was created by the darkest darkness itself, so it was never a living being like the other heyens. It was said to be something immortal—a demon king who had not only heyens under his command. In fact, they only make up a small part of his warriors of darkness. 

In any case, the two must have had an agreement with one of the Ten heyens, but even Tragir himself could not explain how they had made contact with them. Sometimes people who longed for greater power and abilities made a deal with the heyens and, in exchange for this power, hunted people like May to get rid of them.

With that, Tragir concluded his questions about who Dain and Ivan had formed an alliance with. It was rare for humans to cooperate with heyens. On the other hand, there weren't many other things that could be paid for with gold or the offer of greater power.

"Can you tell us anything about the little girl Yin and the unknown man? Have you heard anything about them?" May asked.

Tragir thought hard and then nodded. 

"I'll tell you what I've heard, but it's hard to say how much of it is true," said Tragir, and he began his next story.

According to what Tragir had heard, certain things had happened long ago. He first heard about the girl. She had been living and walking this world for thousands of years. Many like her had appeared here over time. These children were not a superior race. They were children from different worlds. In the worlds they came from, fate had not been kind to them. For various reasons, whether due to hunger or other causes of death, these were children who had been unable to live and fulfill their lives. Thanks to their desire to live, they were given a second chance in this world. Unfortunately, however, they came into this world with the bad thoughts and traits they had carried with them from before. They felt hatred and anger towards others and towards fate itself. They did not become heyens, but something darker. There was no one to guide and protect them in life, so they fell completely into darkness. Most of them just spread destruction and ruin wherever they went. Many of them had already been defeated over the years. The new ones that came here had to be neutralized as soon as possible before they became more powerful. Yin, however, was an exception. She had been in this world for a very long time and had become the most powerful of these children. At the same time, she managed to retain her youthful appearance, as it took children bound to darkness several hundred years to age even a month. 

However, Yin was the worst of all the children. Stories circulated among humans about how this little girl devastated cities and easily dealt with hunters sent to neutralize her. She was already too strong.

However, she did not take sides, so she caused trouble for both human communities and heyens and others. Anyone or anything that stood in her way had to be destroyed. One incident involving happened ten years ago. On the plain near the capital city of Rháda, a man dressed entirely in black stood before her. Behind him, in the distance, stood the king's dragon knights. The dragon knights were the most elite unit of the human community. Every year, the best hunters were recruited into their ranks. 

But they weren't there to confront little Yin. Although they were the best of the hunters and greatly outnumbered her, they were reluctant to face her. The unknown man, on the other hand, offered to stop her himself. The knights were only there as his escort. They had only one order from the king: to finish off the enemy if possible. 

"Will you play with me?" Yin asked with a broad smile across her face. But the man opposite her did not answer. She was not amused. She was already standing in front of him, looking up at his face. Strangely, he was smiling. Then he flicked her forehead with his finger. She did not expect that. She flew across the field and stopped only when she hit a small rock protruding from the ground. Yin had a blissful expression on her face. It was as if she had finally found what she was looking for. Then their battle began, which lasted three long days without interruption. Yin had finally found someone who could match her, if not be stronger than her. 

Yin felt that she too needed to rest and regain her strength. She hadn't had a chance to catch her breath once in three days. She had to end this quickly. An even stronger dark flame formed around Yin than was normally around her. Now her eyes were also glowing gold. She approached the man again. She swung her scythe. Suddenly, she felt it being knocked out of her hands. There was something else... The man was hugging her despite her dark flames, which under normal circumstances would have burned anyone to ashes. 

"It's time for you to rest," said the man, smiling. At first, she tried to push him away and break free from his grip. She couldn't. He placed his hand on her head and stroked it. Just like your parents stroke your head when you're in pain. Yin burst into tears like the little girl she once was. She didn't cry out of sadness, but out of a feeling of comfort and peace in her heart that she had never known before. However, the dragon knights sensed an opportunity and were ready to fight. They aimed their weapons at them. Then they finally fired their bows. Yin felt fear for the first time in this world. Not that she was going to die. She just didn't want to lose the feelings she was experiencing. She closed her eyes. The man was still holding her. Then there was a snap of fingers and they were gone. The arrows missed their target. No one has heard of them since... 

"That's all I heard," said Tragir. Senna and Mirthana also knew this story. It was often told, both by humans and other races. However, it was considered a bedtime story. Now, though, they saw this story through different eyes and began to believe that it might actually have happened. It gave them something to think about.

"Whether it's true or not, we have to get back to the city," said May, getting up first. The women who had been carried out of the cave were just beginning to wake up.

Both of them stirred, but neither spoke. Of course, they were both still shaken by what had happened to them inside. After all that, they would need time and the will to go on living. 

"We'll stay together for now," May decided, glancing at Tragir. The dwarf was clearly thrilled to have a chance to prove that he wasn't one of the two. 

Then she continued, "Are you coming with us, Mirthana, or are you heading somewhere else?"
Mirthana smiled, glad she had asked. 

"Actually, I was headed to the city to join the hunters' guild. I've spent enough time in the forest, and I think I could be useful there," she said.

"We'll definitely need someone who can heal," said May, then glanced at Senna and smiled briefly. She nodded. Tragir and Senna took the women on their backs again, and the whole group set off back to the town of Osten. The journey was peaceful as they traveled during the day and discussed everything they had already talked about. It was still hard to believe.

Before long, the whole group was back at the city gates. It was slowly getting dark. Everything had taken too long, and May needed to sleep soon and return. After all, her time in this world was limited, and her body was still on the other side. In her real reality. 

They headed straight for the hunters' guild. They needed to collect their reward. Fortunately for them, there was no problem. The surviving women were enough proof, as they had been reported missing. People often posted missing person notices in guilds as soon as someone went missing. Of course, it was rare for these lost persons to be found. The women were handed over to the right people and had to undergo an examination by local healers. 

Then the group headed to a pub, where they paid for accommodation for the night. Finally, after their long journey, everyone ate and drank their fill and then moved to their rooms. Tragir, of course, was the only one to get a single room. May, Senna, Spark, and Mirthana shared a room. Unfortunately, they could only book a double room. Mirthana had her own bed, and May and Senna lay down on the other one. After all, after their adventures together, it was nothing unusual for them. They had become very close. Spark lay right next to May's bed. It wasn't easy for May to fall asleep now. So much had happened that fear was creeping into her mind. Not just for herself, but above all for the others. She knew she would have to leave them all for a while before she could return. 

"I'll watch over you, don't worry... I'll take care of the others, too, of course. We'll wait for you to come back. So you can sleep peacefully," Senna whispered. With a smile on her face, she hugged her. The close human contact was still unusual for May, but she was glad that it was her who was there with her and that she trusted her completely. 

"Good night..." May said finally, and as soon as she closed her eyes, she was gone.

When May opened her eyes again, it was morning. She was awakened by the familiar ringtone of her cell phone. She was home again. This time, she had no more scratches on her body. The scars left on her psyche were worse. Just thinking about what had happened in the cave made her head spin. 

Anyway, May had other things to worry about today. It was the worst day of the year for her. She got dressed in the clothes she always wore to school. This time, she pulled her hair back into a ponytail. She gave Spark, who had been waiting there all along, a big hug. Then she took her down to the garden and let her run around before putting her back in her kennel. Spark was always there during the day when May was away. She hugged Spark one more time and said goodbye. She went through the basement and up the stairs to the kitchen. Her mom was already preparing breakfast, and all her siblings were sitting eagerly at the table. She glanced quickly at them and sat down at the table. Her father wasn't there. As usual, he had left early and was already at work. 

"Happy birthday, May," her mother said, smiling gently at her. Her sisters and her five-year-old brother joined in. That was exactly why it was the worst day of the year . May hated her birthday. Celebrating something that wasn't really an achievement made no sense to her. 

Then it was time to leave for school. Her siblings didn't have to rush, as they lived closer to school. She, on the other hand, had to travel to her high school, which was not in the town where they lived. There, the meaningless faces of her classmates and teachers awaited her. School days often blurred together for her. She always spent them sitting resignedly at her desk, thinking about everything that was going through her mind at the time, while in the background she could hear the teacher reciting some lesson. Most often, of course, she thought about what had happened. Lately, the situation in the other world had been escalating. It was as if some changes had suddenly taken place. 

At school, her head was the only refuge where she could find some peace. The groups formed by her classmates meant nothing to her. Nothing interesting happened there. The issues her peers discussed were simply beyond her, and she had no interest in addressing them. 

It was the same conversations over and over again about how everyone had spent their day, and the typical small talk about other people, especially boys. She wasn't interested in that. Nevertheless, she had to endure it to a certain extent, because her classmates who at least talked to her a little always gathered around her desk during breaks and started discussing exactly these things. As usual, she just listened silently without saying anything, until, of course, a question was directed at her. This was the second life she lived and had to live. Time dragged on at school as usual, but today she didn't want to go home even more than usual. She knew that when she got back, she would have to celebrate this day with her family. 

The last class was gym. It was probably the only subject May showed any interest in. It was also because she excelled at it. Compared to girls and boys in the same or higher grades, she performed incredibly well for her age. It seemed as if she spent all her free time exercising every day. From her other world, she was used to pushing her body to its limits, which was reflected in her physical appearance. Teachers often wanted to send her to various competitions, but she always refused. She didn't like showing off in front of others. And PE was no exception. She didn't do it to show off, but to test herself. Even so, she was never satisfied. She always thought to herself that she could do better. 

PE was over and everyone was leaving the changing rooms. It was time to go home, but May was still sitting there. She never changed in front of her classmates. When the last of them left the changing room, she finally began to undress slowly. She always looked at herself carefully in the mirror. The reason she didn't change in front of others was that she didn't want anyone to see how many scars she had on her body. She always ran her hand over each one. They were memories for her. She didn't know why the scars from the other world remained in this world. She took a shower and then got dressed again. She sighed heavily. She knew it was time to go home. She watched the world go by from the bus window the whole way home. Everyone was rushing somewhere, chasing after something. Money, society, status, and other things. All of that was more important to people than actually living. This life seemed incomplete to her. Studying, working, raising children, taking care of them, growing old, and then enjoying the money you saved for your old age for a while before it was time to leave completely. Very few people knew how to truly enjoy life and live it to the fullest.

No one had time to stop for a moment and enjoy the peace and quiet of this world. It always made her sad when she saw this. This was the world she lived in, but she always felt that this reality was secondary to her. 

The bus finally stopped at her usual stop. She always got off a little early so she could take a walk. But in a moment she was standing at the door of their house. There were more cars in front of the house than usual. She sighed again. She entered slowly so as not to be heard. She took off her shoes and headed straight down the hall to the staircase that led up to her room. The door to the kitchen and living room was partially open. She was already on the first step.

"May, come here," her mother's voice called from the kitchen. She never dared to sneak away when they needed to talk to her. They left the door ajar so they could hear when someone came in. She knew there was no way out. 

"I'll just get changed and be right there," she replied and continued upstairs. There she changed into her usual clothes, which she wore at home. A red T-shirt and black shorts. She knew she couldn't stay upstairs for long. Soon they would call her again to come down. She had no choice but to go. She slowly began to descend the stairs, one step at a time. She opened the kitchen door and entered. The whole family and relatives were already looking at her from the living room. They all started to get up and take out the gifts they had brought to wish her well. She forced a smile. It took a while for everyone to come up to her. 

There were two other families of her relatives there. For May, this was too many people in one place. She didn't feel comfortable in such a large group, even though it was family. She knew she would have to stay there with them for a while and listen to their usual conversations about what had happened to them, how they were doing, and, of course, the endless discussions about politics. Her sisters and brother were running around with their cousins, causing mischief. May was the oldest of them all. 

"So, May, tell me, which of your classmates do you like?" one of her aunts asked. She hated these questions. Every time she visited, they asked her the same thing because they didn't really know what else to talk to her about. School and whether she had found someone yet. 

"I'm not interested in that kind of thing right now. There are other things that are more important to me," was her reply. 

"You're still young, you have time," her aunt replied, smiling, and then turned back to the others. This was one of the better responses. Sometimes her relatives continued to pry, even though May had nothing more to say. She felt that time dragged on especially slowly at moments like these. But she stayed there for a while and sat with them. It was a kind of social protocol for her. Decency dictated that she shouldn't just leave right away. 

Then she knew it was finally time and got up. She wanted to go out to Spark because she knew he had been waiting for her the whole time and was looking forward to seeing her.

"I'm going for a walk with Spark," she said. Her parents just nodded without looking at her. She didn't expect anything else. She quickly ran down to the basement and into the garden. Spark was already waiting. She heard her running down the stairs. She opened the gate and immediately hugged her. It felt like they hadn't seen each other in a long time, even though they had said goodbye that morning. Perhaps it was because May had always had less time for her during the week than she would have liked to spend with her. She put her on a leash, at least until they got to the woods. As soon as she crossed the path, she let her go again. Spark ran off happily. May continued walking slowly behind her. She loved just walking through the woods with her head clear. It was the most peaceful place in the world for her. She and Spark spent hours together like this. Spark ran around everywhere, but every few moments she would return to May to check on her. They were never too far apart. May enjoyed the silence. The deeper they got into the forest, the less they could hear the sounds of cars and other sources of noise. They walked together to the top of the hill, where only a few trees grew. She always sat there and watched the life unfolding below them. At least there she could relax for a moment before it was time to go back. The sun was already below the horizon, so they slowly made their way back down. When they got home, it was already getting dark. In the basement, May cleaned Spark's paws as usual and checked to see if there were any ticks or anything else crawling on her. Then they went up to May's room, where Spark immediately lay down in her bed. From the sounds, her relatives were still there. From the way she heard them talking, May knew that, as usual, they had ended up drinking alcohol. She hated it. She knew it would end in an argument, as it always did. Either between her relatives or between her father and mother. But she didn't want to think about it anymore. Tomorrow they would act as if nothing had happened, and life would go on. She headed straight for the bathroom and locked herself in to have some privacy. She ran a hot bath and spent some time in it. Then she just brushed her teeth and went back to her room. Spark was still awake. As always, she was waiting for her. May hugged her, but she knew she couldn't go to sleep yet. It was quite possible that her siblings or relatives would come and disturb her sleep. She couldn't even imagine what it would be like if one of them pulled her out of her other world. She could lock the door, but it was still too early for that. So she took out a book that had been her favorite since childhood and began to read. 

After a while, she could hear everyone downstairs saying goodbye. Their relatives had left, and her siblings took turns in the bathroom with their mother's assistance. Then suddenly the whole house fell silent, except for the living room, where the sound of the television could still be heard. May got out of bed, closed the door, and locked it. She bent down to Spark, hugged her, and whispered, "Good night." 

Then she finally lay down in bed. She moved her alarm clock because she knew that tomorrow was the start of the weekend, so her family would be looking for her later than usual. Then she was ready. Slowly but surely, she closed her eyes and began to fall asleep. 

"May, wake up quickly. We have to go!" she heard Sennin's voice. She opened her eyes. Senna was sitting next to her with an urgent look on her face, holding her hand. She was already ready to go. Mirthana was standing next to her with Spark, and Tragir was already standing in the doorway. 

May sat up a little and rubbed her eyes. Then she sat down on the edge of the bed.

"Did something serious happen while I was asleep?" she asked.

"Osten will be attacked soon. They've called everyone from the guild who's currently in town to help with the defense," Senna replied quickly. "We have to leave right away and get ready with the others."

"I was waiting to get to our town. It's going to be a fierce battle," said Tragir with a broad smile on his face, gripping his hammer tightly. Mirthana just stood there with her head bowed and her eyes closed. 

"Then let's go. There's no reason to delay," said May, getting up from the bed. The whole group nodded in agreement. They all got dressed, gathered their things, and set off into the darkness that still reigned before dawn. They arrived at the main gate, where the other hunters were already gathering. The city guards were visibly nervous. After all, their equipment was not of the highest quality, and who knew what kind of training they had undergone. May could imagine that this would very well be their first real test of their abilities. 

The villagers and townspeople were also helping, of course. They carried various items to help reinforce the inadequate city walls. The fewer opportunities the enemy had to enter, the better the city would be able to defend itself. Others carried water in buckets or whatever else they could find. Fire was the greatest enemy of their homes. Many other groups gathered there, alongsi nd hunters. Some looked like complete novices, and there was a feeling of nervousness and tension in the air. At the same time, however, there were hunters who looked like true veterans, seasoned in battle. One of them, who was almost two meters tall, suddenly stood in front of the other hunters so that he could be heard and, above all, seen as clearly as possible. He wore gilded armor that glimmered in the darkness, reflecting the glow of the fires. 

"I welcome all hunters who have heeded the call of the guild and the city and have come to defend our guild's home. My name is Kirn, and as a former dragon knight and the highest-ranking member of the guild, I will lead this attack, so I would appreciate it if you would all listen to me." He thrust his long sword into the ground in front of him, still clutching his shield in his other hand. He wore a helmet that truly resembled a dragon's head, topped with a red crest. Kirn carefully examined the faces of all those who were determined to defend the city. 

"Scouts from the guild have brought news that one of the Ten heyens is approaching the city. To be honest, it was to be expected that sooner or later the heyens would gather and begin to conquer cities," he said, then continued: "Those of you who are afraid, please step back. You will remain to defend the entrance to the city and the villagers. Being afraid and succumbing to dark forces is a path to becoming a heyen yourself. Therefore, I also recommend that you all watch over your friends and, if you notice someone succumbing to dark forces, intervene immediately and end their suffering. It will be better than them becoming another heyen."

Several hunters immediately stepped back. This made it easier for the others. It was easier to fight side by side with those who had the courage to face danger. 

"Now let's split into groups. All close-range fighters, join me in defense and attack. We'll fight outside the city to keep the enemies from getting in. All mages and wizards, stand on the walls and watchtowers with the archers and ranged fighters. Healers and those focused on support will stand behind the gate, where they will help others and heal the wounded. A few fighters with heavy weapons will ensure their safety," Kirn finished his briefing and waited for everyone to join the groups he had divided them into. 

May looked at the members of her group. It was clear to her that they would have to split up again.

"So we all know where we belong. I hope everything turns out well and you'll all be safe," she said. Senna looked as if she wanted to say something. There was a desperate look in her eyes. Once again, she had to let May go ahead. Away from her. They both felt the same way, but there was nothing they could do about it. It was important for the defense of the city and also so they wouldn't get in each other's way. May knelt down next to Spark and whispered, "You have to stay here again. Please protect everyone here, including the others inside the city." Spark always seemed to understand every word she said. She licked her cheek and remained sitting while May stepped back.

"Don't worry, May. If anyone gets hurt, I'll try to heal them," said Mirthana with a smile. It was clear that this would be her first real fight. Tragir looked a little disappointed that he had to stay in the city, but his skills and tenacity were ideal for protecting the healers. 

"Please take care of yourself and come back to us when this is over," Senna finally said. She seemed to be struggling with this internally. The two were quite dependent on each other. One couldn't be without the other. May just smiled, then turned her back on the others and continued on after Kirn. Meanwhile, about twenty hunters capable of close combat had gathered in front of him. They had various weapons, from swords and shields to spears. 

"I hope you're all ready. It's going to be dangerous out there. You could die at any moment. Are you still determined to go and defend this city with your lives?" Kirn asked everyone. Some nodded, others still hesitated, wondering what awaited them. But in reality, none of them really had a choice. If they failed, everyone inside the city would face destruction and death. 

Meanwhile, the sounds of the surrounding forest, birds, and other animals fell silent. Slowly but surely, an impenetrable fog rolled down the hills toward the city. This was no ordinary fog. There was something strange about it, namely that it was filled with darkness. At the top of the hill appeared a creature on horseback, the likes of which none of them had ever seen before. Most of those who had the chance to see it, of course, did not live long enough to tell the tale. However, there was a distinguishing mark among the highest Ten that helped them tell them apart—each of them had a clearly visible number of vertical lines across their foreheads, which glowed red even from a distance and determined their order of precedence. This one was the Ninth. All members of the Ten heyens were many times stronger and more terrifying than normal heyens. They also had the ability and power to lead other heyens and other creatures of darkness. Wings spread from the Ninth's back, burning with dark flames. Behind him, other creatures began to emerge from the hill. From trolls and heyens to multi-tailed dark wolves and grogotis. Dark wolves were monsters that served the heyens. Just as May had her Spark, the heyens had these dark wolves, which surpassed ordinary wolves in both strength and size. At the same time, their strength and appearance depended on the strength of the heyen they obeyed. Grogot were true monsters - half human, half animal. That's why each of them had a different appearance. But they had one thing in common. They all towered over even the tallest of humans by at least two heads. All these creatures passed by the horseman and slowly made their way down the hill into the dark fog. There were a huge number of them. Some of the hunters began to show fear on their faces. 

This army hadn't come here just for their town. They probably planned to raze the town to the ground and march on to the capital of Rháda, May thought. If the capital was burned and destroyed, the whole country would be like a body without a head. Until now, the people had trusted that when the worst came to the worst, at least the king would be there to lend them a helping hand.