Going South

The mysterious figure stood still, glaring at them from top of the building. Looking at it made one thing clear; this thing isn't the Weeping Widow.

Touma blinked, and the figure was gone. Bam! Something hit his back like an explosion, launching him up in the air. He tried to look back, but nothing was there.

“Huh, what? What… just happened?”

Dain tried to help him, but everything was happening too fast. In an instant, a terrible crash in the corner caught his attention. He turned his head to see what happened, it was Touma.

“Ughh! Hff! hff! hff! This thing… it isn't… ghh! It isn't like it was back then. It has… evolved.” Touma was stunned by the consecutive attacks.

“Huh?” Alaric's eyes widened upon hearing Touma's words, “Then does that mean… the thing we were fighting earlier… wasn't its complete form?!”

Something cracked near his feet – the concrete. Alaric was the next target.

Instinctively, he covered himself with his sword – only to be blown away by the impact. His sword shattered, but his body was fine. Dain slashed at the figure since it was focusing on Alaric. But the figure vanished from its place. He missed.

“Where did it go?!” Dain looked around, but the figure was nowhere to be found.

Something at the edge of his vision caught his attention. He looked downward, only to see a growing shadow behind him.

In an instant, Dain turned back. The figure stood there, on top of a building – morphing its right hand into something. 

Dain felt like interrupting it, but there were no openings. Alaric came back, he survived the impact. 

“What is that thing doing?” He asked.

“Probably making a weapon?” Dain wasn't sure.

The men stood there watching the figure intently, ready to attack the moment it approached. 

The concrete began to crack beneath its feet, the sound growing louder – until the building split in two, crushing the monster into the ground. 

Dust arose from the chaos, the building had crumbled. Something slammed the monster into the ground, obliterating the building with it.

The dust clouds acted as a smokescreen, only the silhouette of the thing was visible. 

“You people can't even handle a single monster, huh?”

“Malrik?! Where is he?”

“No need to look for me. I'm everywhere you call for me!”

Something crackled in the air in the next moment, several lightning bolts hit at the same spot – where the monster was. The lightning didn't stop until only the smell of charred flesh loomed in the air.

“What a monster.” Dain muttered.

“Isn't that a bit harsh? Maybe call me a warrior or something.” Malrik made his appearance.

The dust clouds began clearing, revealing Malrik standing behind the monster. A sudden wet squelching sound followed soon after. Malrik drove his hand into its chest and ripped out its heart.

Alaric's eyes widened. The monster was dead, Malrik killed it. The Weeping Widow was gone forever – in an instant. Malrik threw the carcass away for the vultures.

“Huh, the sky is becoming normal again? No, it's getting foggy!” Dain spoke in a confused manner.

“Well, that's obvious because I killed her. Even the wolves are dying now, everyone she turned into hollowborns will turn into ashes soon.”

“What's… happening?” Touma regained consciousness, his body still trembled but he made way to the scene, “What's up with this mist?” He added.

“Wait, you shouldn't move so quickly!” Dain helped him stand up.

“It's gonna be like this for some weeks, the ecosystem will be heavily affected due to the sudden decrease in Hollowborn concentration. That's why, as a tip from me – avoid going out at night, it won't be very safe.”

“What's that… hff, hff… supposed to do with the weather… and the danger at night?”

“You sure are a curious one aren't you?! But I ain't gonna be a tutor for you, figure these things out on your own. Also, since I'm in a really good mood, I'll give you a parting gift.”

Malrik raised a finger, releasing a blinding flash that healed everyone it touched.

The sudden kindness from Malrik seemed way too suspicious, but nobody was in the condition to win in a fight against him. Everyone stood in their place, never attacking him.

“Well, at least you're not fool enough to attack me after seeing that. Anyways, see you soon. I'm going.” 

“Where?” Touma glared at him.

“I just saved you all, kid. And you're still glaring at me, don't you think it should be the other way around? You're the one who's been getting in my way after all. And as for your question, isn't it obvious where I'm going now?”

“Don't tell me you're going there?” Alaric asked.

“You got it! Yes, I'm going to Mistvale Clearing. And don't think you can catch me in this misty weather.”

“Why are you going there?!” Alaric shouted, but there was no reply, Malrik was already gone – to Fernleigh Grove, The Mistvale Clearing.

“What was that supposed to be?” Dain was confused, so was everyone.

“I still don't get why he helped us.” Touma turned his head to the cloudy sky.

Alaric was silent, only one thought came to his mind “Why did he go there? For what purpose?” 

“I've got a bad feeling about all of this.” His thoughts turned into words soon.

“Yeah. I believe that too.” Dain agreed.

“Anyways, let's go to the library. And did you get your answers, Touma?” Alaric started walking towards the library.

“Y– yeah.” Touma was hesitant.

The library’s door opened before they reached it. It was Rauen, he came outside.

He was walking towards them, his steps soon turned into running. His hands were trembling, he was sweating. Something wasn't right.

“What happened?” Dain asked.

“It's… hff, hff… it's Lyra…” he was gasping for air. 

“Calm down. And what's up with Lyra?” 

“Lyra… she's gone! Malrik took her!” Rauen finally spoke.

“What?!” Touma was shocked. 

“Yes, he took her. He's probably planning something evil.”

Alaric was speechless by what he just heard, his hunch was right, Malrik hadn't come to help them, he was planning something. 

“When did he take her? When he left, she wasn't with him.” Dain asked.

“That's not what is important. We must find her, he must've taken her to the Mistvale Clearing. We should go there.” Touma was firm in his words. 

“Wait, if that's the case, I think you shouldn't go there. It's not safe there.” Alaric responded.

“So, what do you want? To not save her? If you don't wanna come, I'm going alone.” Touma started walking away as he spoke.

“You don't know what is there!! You haven't seen anything! And what even is the purpose of going there?! The world is already ending after all! If it's a bit early, then what's the problem?!” Alaric snapped.

“Shut up!! You're just a coward, a man who's afraid to save people in trouble because of your own trauma! Dain, will you come with me?!” 

“I… I don't know.” Dain was stuttering.

“Got it. Then rot here!” Touma started walking away, “Goddamn cowards!” he muttered.

His footsteps quickened into a run, echoing in the mist. Soon the sound of the footsteps started to fade, until it was silent. Touma was gone, the three men stood there speechless, like statues.

“Why did you not stop him?” Rauen turned to Alaric.

“I tried to… but, it wasn't enough. I'm… just a… coward.” Alaric didn't argue. “I don't have the courage to even go with him.” He added.

“Why didn't you go with him, Dain?” Rauen turned to him. “Didn't you go to the Mistvale Clearing back then?” 

“I… didn't, I stopped the moment I saw the mist, I'm afraid of the place. I'm… sorry.” 

“There's nothing left then.” 

The whole place was still. People hid in silence, dead soldiers’ bodies lay scattered around in the city.

“Let's go to the library.” Rauen broke the silence.

“Y- yeah. Let's go.” Alaric agreed.

They all walked into the library, the door creaking behind them as they disappeared. The streets were empty, the capital looked like an abandoned city, with fear spread on the streets like the bodies of the soldiers.

In the mist was… a horse galloping. Someone stood on its back – Touma. He was already out of the city. It was already two hours since he left, he could reach the Mistvale Clearing soon at this pace.

“All of them are just cowards. Not wanting to save themselves and then hoping for the world to end, I just hate people like them!” He was annoyed. 

“Let's go faster, Sora.” He kicked her back as Sora jumped into high speed. 

The mist was scattered everywhere, Malrik was right. Leaves were being crushed under Sora's feet, they were in a forest. 

The horse suddenly snorted and froze, refusing to take a step further. “Don't stop now! Keep going!”

Sora refused to move, fixed on the spot like a statue. “Are we there?” 

“Well then, I'm going on foot then. You stay put here.” 

Touma started to walk away, disappearing into the mist a few seconds later.

“I got off Sora's back in confidence that this is Mistvale Clearing, but is it actually the right place?” Touma was doubtful. 

“Even the Hollowborns staring at me from behind the trees are just about the same in number as those I saw in the way.” 

The mist had already gotten denser, nothing farther than a foot was visible. Touma took each step with caution.

Thwack! He stumbled into something. “What was that?!” He looked around a bit.

“What is that?” Touma closed in to get a better look. “Huh?! Is that… a dead body!!” He freaked out.

It wasn't just one, Touma looked here and there for a bit and noticed it. Seven bodies were hanged from the trees. They looked fresh. 

“Wait, are these the people that Rauen spoke about? Then why haven't they rotted, it's been two years.” He was getting a bad feeling.

Touma looked around for a bit, to check something. Suddenly his gaze fell on something else hanging, not a body, but an object.

“What is that? I've gotta see it. Huh, something is written on it, what is it?” Touma closed in just barely enough to clearly see what was written on it.

It was a wooden board. Etched into it were the words… Fernleigh Grove.

He hadn't realised it because of the dense fog, but he was already inside the Mistvale Clearing.