Uda - Abyss (1)

"I think you two still have a lot to talk about, don’t you?" Lera cooed, and Uda could see the Exorcist shifting excitedly in her saddle.

You fucking bitch!

Uda stared straight ahead, debating whether to pretend she hadn’t heard the woman. In the end, she knew it was out of the question. She winced as she stepped on a sharp stone that pierced the sole of her foot and stumbled forward. She barely managed to catch herself when Lera cleared her throat again, this time almost like a hiss.

"Nia, I spoke with Lera, and she told me you refused to do what she asked. That’s disrespectful," Uda began through gritted teeth.

Nia said nothing and didn’t even seem to hear her.

Please don’t let that bitch pick up on this. Shit! Uda prayed before addressing Nia with a mocking laugh, trying to make her words sound earnest.

"You were just as foolish at the ruins. Wanted to stay under the barrier, too much of a coward to move! Because we’d already made it that far. Do you remember how I had to force you, you pathetic crybaby, to go back in and infiltrate the people in the ruins? Absolutely pitiful!"

She glanced over at Lera, but the Exorcist was pretending to be fascinated by the tree canopy above.

Nia slowly turned to her, eyes wide.

"When we were under the barrier…?" she asked, shaking her head slightly.

"Yeah, don’t you remember? We were inside, and you wanted to skip straight to the next settlement, to blend in with the people there! Even though there were still so many vile humans nearby. Do you remember what you said to me when we left?" Uda said it while trying to wink subtly, hoping Lera wouldn’t see or notice.

Nia pressed her lips together for a moment, then began to tremble.

"I remember," she said, giving Uda a faint smile.

Suddenly, Nia flinched as the small stones around her neck lit up.

"I’m so worthless I couldn’t even satisfy my urges as a Possessed…" she gasped quickly.

Uda didn’t need to look up at Lera to know she was wearing a smug smile.

"And when we were in the tower, and you were too much of a coward to stab Orfet in the back? I even got you a knife," Uda went on.

Nia’s eyes started to show a flicker of life again.

"Yeah, I should’ve drowned them all with my rain, those monsters. I’m sorry. I’m such trash," Nia trembled, sadness heavy in her voice and face.

"You should be ashamed! I hope you understand what your stupidity cost us. All the people who didn’t die in the tower because of you, you worthless piece of garbage!" Uda hissed now, starting to get a feel for how to phrase things so Lera wouldn’t catch on.

Inwardly, she thanked her past self for being sharp enough to pretend she was possessed for the first time. It had caused her so much despair, yet now it made it easier to remind Nia that she hadn’t been useless in the fight against the Tide. And that, because of the false Locu, she had even unknowingly helped hold back the horde of monsters.

At least I can support her a bit. At least she is not alone in this. I hope she remembers that now. Though… in the end… back when we fought… it was Lera who saved us. She expanded the barrier and turned the Nightmares to ash. How can someone care so much about people, and still be such scum to others? Is that what real Possessed are like? That horrible?

A shiver ran down Uda’s spine, and she blinked up at Lera. The Exorcist fell back to chat with some of the other hunters, and Nia gave Uda the faintest of nods.

I hope my words gave you a little strength to fight on, Nia…

Still, the march was agonizing. Uda had to grit her teeth more and more as they went. Sharp little stones pressed into her soles despite her careful steps, and the wounds on her hands burned worse with every movement. The rough leather straps of Lera’s backpack dug into her shoulders, and she had to keep adjusting them to stop the load from slipping. Each pull sent fresh jolts of pain through her raw palms, and the coarse material scraped against her open skin. The weight of the stones grew heavier with each step, pressing her bare feet into the uneven ground where roots and hidden rocks constantly tripped her up and threatened to send her sprawling.

The path was choked with brambles and dead grass, a trail once well used but now nearly lost to time; now moving forward was nearly impossible.

The Nightmare Hunters were often busy clearing the way for the wagons, hacking through the dense undergrowth with their weapons. It looked as if the spear tips were burning away the grass and shrubs, though Uda couldn’t quite tell how. She couldn’t afford to look up often, partly out of fear that Lera might disapprove, a thought she absolutely despised, and partly because she didn’t want to risk misstepping and stumbling again.

Whenever Uda managed a quick glance at the soldiers, who always kept at least one hand on the hilts of their daggers, she saw their frantic eyes scanning the trees around them. As much as the darkness between the trees offered Uda a faint sense of comfort, she knew it must feel like the opposite for the men and women around her. From time to time, a distant howl or eerie laughter broke the silence, making everyone flinch. Even Lera and Kelwin ran nervous fingers along their whips, trying to hide the tension creeping through their bodies.

Behind Uda, the Sky Stone glowed faintly, offering a small sense of safety, though she still wasn’t sure if that was only in her head. Since arriving in the Dream, there hadn’t been a single light that hadn’t repelled or disgusted her in some way. Yet the glow of the stone almost tickled her thoughts. It was a strange feeling, both comforting and unsettling. The longer she stared at it, the more a quiet melancholy crept into her chest, until she eventually preferred to keep her eyes on the path ahead.

Despite those few fleeting moments of comfort, Uda felt her body deteriorating. She had no idea how long they’d been walking, but her legs were starting to give out, and she had to force herself to maintain the pace. Each step became a battle against rising exhaustion, her muscles screaming for rest. The straps of Lera’s backpack seemed to tighten with every step, biting deeper into her flesh. Her feet, raw and blistered, burned with every contact, and every stone or root brought a fresh stab of pain.

After what felt like an eternity, the forest began to thin. The darkness gave way to icy light. The Sun blazed through the canopy, its warmth cutting harshly against the cool forest shadows. Uda flinched as the brightness hit her eyes. She raised a hand to shield her face, blinking rapidly to adjust. The piercing warmth of the Sun was a harsh contrast to the forest’s cool shadows. Though the light brought new discomfort, it also signaled a kind of relief, an end, at least for now, to the immediate dangers of the woods.

The path ahead seemed to stretch on forever, a ribbon of overgrown weeds and crumbling stones. In the clearer daylight, the Nightmare Hunters were easier to see, moving with cautious precision, their eyes constantly scanning for threats as Nightmares could appear at any moment. Now and then, a dark shadow passed over the distant hills or between the clouds, but the Sky Stone protected them—or at least, Uda assumed it did. The distant howls and eerie laughter hadn’t faded, and the tension still hung thick in the air.

As they continued, Uda’s thoughts drifted toward the journey ahead. The physical pain was constant, yet it was the uncertainty that gnawed at her most. Every step reminded her of their situation, of the narrow path she and Nia were walking, balanced between suffering and awakening. The soft but persistent glow of the Sky Stone was slowly becoming a faint glimmer of hope, offering her a fragile sense of refuge. And yet even that light, comforting as it was, couldn’t banish the fear of what still lay ahead for her and Nia.

Until now, Uda had pushed aside her thoughts of Exorcist Immesh. Yet the way Kelwin and Diga had spoken about him… and Lera, too… what kind of horrors were still waiting?

The Sun became unbearable, reminding Uda of that terrible, blinding circle. The air grew thick with humidity. Sweat ran down her back, soaking into the foul-smelling remnants of her linen clothes. Her mouth was dry, each breath a struggle against the heavy air. She could feel the hatred in Lera’s gaze pressing down on her, a constant weight threatening to break her resolve.

Still, she couldn’t give in now. She wouldn’t give Lera the satisfaction.

Never. Too much is at stake.