“Axel, where’s Axel,” I ask as we stop to catch our breaths. “Wasn’t he here with us just a second ago?”

Kat squeezes her chest as she fights back pain and tries to speak. Her words, thin and weak, barely make it to my ears. I quickly look behind before throwing her arm around my shoulder and helping her walk.

“Ughh…”

The running definitely took a toll on her but that’s not it. There’s no way she’d be tired from something like this compared to all we did yesterday.

“Stay with me. We have to find Axel first.”

Kat shivers and tries pushing me away but I hold on tight. She then staggers forward, dragging me along.

“I’m… I’m no good right now. I just need a moment…”

I let go of her arm and take a few steps back as she drops on her hands and knees, gagging and nearly vomiting. She does her best to hold it back and once she’s feeling better, gets to her feet. She turns away upon seeing me, a face holding both embarrassment and tiredness.

Dozens of questions buzz in my mind but I refrain from asking them as a sign of respect for her privacy. After checking on her condition and making sure she can walk without stumbling, we cautiously retrace our steps in the hopes of finding where Axel might have gone.

We stay on the flattened snow as it’s easier to walk on and much quicker, however, neither Kat nor I can find a hint of Axel.

It’s as if he vanished into thin air.

I slam my fist into a nearby tree.

I should have kept an eye on both of them during that chase…

Kat stares off into the distance where the chase started.

“See something?”

“...”

I ask again, “Is there something over there?”

“H-hey… Do you think that Axel is, is still being chased? Or maybe since the monster hasn’t made much noise in a while…”

What?

“That’s unlikely.”

It’s not possible.

“Axel definitely broke off somewhere.”

He has to have broken off. People like him don’t die so easily.

“I know he’s fine.”

Vormar couldn’t have killed him.

I reassure Kat of his wellbeing but somewhere in the back of my mind, dark thoughts begin creeping up. Like the drizzle before a storm or the gathering of troops on both sides of a battlefield before an attack, I know what’s coming, I know what’s happening, but I’m powerless to stop it.

I need to kill Vormar before it finds Axel.

The already cool air grows colder and my vision flashes between the white wonderland of snow and a seemingly endless darkness. My throat tightens as if a noose has been placed around it and I fight the evil sensation crawling up my back.

Its voice whispers, “Let me help. I only need a few seconds…”

My skin burns. It’s either a searing heat or a wicked cold, like a sheet of dry ice that purges all heat or an unbearable flame consuming me whole. My eyes strain and water as if telling me it’s the fire but my body shakes uncontrollably screaming for more warmth.

My hands slowly curl themselves around my neck and squeeze. My legs give out from under me, my whole body is loosening except for my hands. I can’t tell if they’re trying to kill me or save me from the noose.

“R...en,” Kat rushes to me, “Wh... what’s ...ong?”

Her muffled voice barely pierces my conscience. The part of the words I do hear vibrate and bubble like someone speaking under water. It’s unintelligible.

The next thing I know, a hand filled with snow hits me across the face. The burning sensation dies down and the world returns to normal speed. Kat’s chest heaves up and down as if she just ran again.

Suddenly, she stands and pulls me along, “Come, come on! We- It’s coming back!”

Still dazed, I allow Kat to drag me with her. I only put the minimum amount of energy into standing up forcing most of the work onto her. I fruitlessly try to look back but my footing suffers and I stumble. Kat, unfortunately, becomes a victim of my mistake and we both tumble over a formation of rocks resembling a cliffside.

However, as luck would have it, the formation of rocks acts as a shelter, the cliff part of the formation being the roof. Kat hauls me deeper in as Vormar’s roar echoes throughout the forest.

Exhausted, Kat crumbles to the nearly snow-free ground. We lay idle as Vormar continues in its search for us. As time passes, seconds, then minutes, the monstrous bear leaves the immediate area.

“What happened back there? Are you okay now,” Kat mutters, still wary of the beast.

“I don’t know,” I answer. “Something just came over me.”

Half truths. I’ve never experienced it like that before. It was so much more intense and forceful than all the other times. It wanted to take over and take over completely.

“...”

Kat doesn’t respond and lets silence dominate the conversation. I, on the other hand, have a few questions of my own.

“What about you then? Why were you so nervous?”

She nods absentmindedly while staring up at the moss covered underside of our temporary shelter. Its jagged bottom proves the unnatural safety it provides, from both the elements and other monsters roaming the forest.

“I don’t know,” she responds. “But about that bear… Vormar. I don’t think we can do anything to beat it… At least, I don’t think I can do anything.”

I stare at her.

“Don’t look at me like that. My magic is basically nonexistent and when it comes to weapons, I have nothing good enough to pierce its thick fur. As it is, I don’t think even your knives will be able to do damage… Maybe that sword on your back might give it a little cut but not even that would be enough.”

It would be enough. I know it would.

“You shouldn’t sell yourself short. You’re still useful.”

“I’m not,” she says. “You can give me a weapon or whatever will help, but I, I can’t fight… I realized it when I saw the goblins. I can’t fight right now.”

“...”

I sigh as I have no words to encourage her. What would my master do in this situation? He’d encourage her. But I’m not like him, I’m not so good with my words.

“I’m sorry that I’m a burden,” Kat says. “I should just stay here like this.”

I suddenly find the strength to stand, “Don’t say that. You and Istraun, all of the people in your group made the choice to come with me. I could have stopped you but I didn’t. Come,” I hold my hand out. “We have to find Axel before it’s too late.”

“...Right,” she says as she takes my hand, “He’s different. He’ll be okay.”

Different. Different from who...? I already know.

“Let’s go.”

We search the forest cautiously, looking out for footprints that might clue us into where Axel may have gone. Our focus stays on the path of where Vormar chased us. Kat and I had no idea where to start, going down the path Vormar went even after the two of us hid, or back further when Vormar started chasing us.

Kat ultimately leaves the decision up to me.

Knowing Axel, he doesn't seem like the type to have left us on our own. I only lost track of him after throwing a few useless fireballs at Vormar. It’s probably in my best bet to believe that Vormar was chasing something, most likely Axel since he wouldn’t just abandon us to save himself.

“We’ll go down where Vormar headed after we hid.”

Kat agrees, “But we have to keep our eyes peeled.

“Of course.”

The path after Vormar is much easier and less tiring than before it. I suppose going down a trail is always easier than making one yourself but not being chased probably has a few things to do with it too.

I can’t imagine how hard it must be for Kat and some of the others. I’ve run my fair share, built up a lot of stamina from all the training my master put me through, but running away from something else takes its toll.

Kat takes a few breathers along the way and I stop to accommodate her. It’s only a little longer before the two of us run into a dead end… with no signs of Axel. I hop into the flatland of snow where the monster once was and tunnel through snow looking for torn pieces of clothing or blood.

Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

“Where could he have gone,” I ask no one in particular.

Out of nowhere, the wind picks up. It concentrates on one point nearby, without the snow flying everywhere, I’d think it was only a sudden breeze. But, as I gaze at the mini-tornado of snow, a person sized figure becomes more pronounced.

“Axel?”

“Hey,” he says as the wind disappears and the snow scatters onto the ground, “I’m glad you guys found me. I wasn’t sure if I could walk after using it,” he holds his stomach and leans forward as he vomits.

“Nasty,” I sigh in relief.

“I’m going to need a bit of help here,” he says as more comes out.

I make my way over and after confirming that he’s been through the worst and that I won’t be caught in the crossfire, the three of us slowly retreat from the area. I ask Axel if he can send his spirit to do a quick scout but he shakes his head.

“I’m not up to it,” he says, his face turning a shade paler.

We continue trodding through the forest without knowing what’s ahead, guided only by our weak sense of where the village is. With Axel under my care, Kat acts as the pathfinder going on ahead.

With time to spare before reaching the village, I ask Axel how he escaped. Kat, catching a hint of the conversation, slows down in hopes of hearing the full story. Axel picks up a handful of snow and shoves it down his throat before speaking.

“My ability,” he says. “My ability lets me turn ‘invisible’ for a little while.”

“That’s amazing,” Kat comments.

“If only it didn’t have it’s consequences,” Axel points to himself. “It’s not so great once you actually use it.”

“But it saved you didn’t it? That ability would have saved a lot of other people you know.”

He sighs, “You’re right. I guess I can’t complain then-”

Ear shattering screeches come from nearby, all of them high pitched, feral, and raspy. Much like baby’s cry. Axel and I look around for the monsters but Kat falls down and covers her ears. Stunned, we stare at her for a moment before she notices.

“Sorry,” she mutters, standing up. “Uh…” she blinks dozens of times. “I, I was just startled.”

“Yeah,” Axel says, “No worries.”

“Um, I think it’ll be better if I help Axel for now… Is that alright?”

Axel and I exchange a quick glance, “Of course. The guy was getting heavy anyway,” I say as I now take the lead. “Follow closely now.”

With Kat’s overreaction, I take the role of leading them much more seriously than I would have before. Every other odd second or so, I check our surroundings without letting the other two know. Near some thicker trees and rocks, I slow down but when all seems clear, I speed up.

It’s not long before we leave the forest behind.

Now only a little longer until we hit the village. Then we can rest and come up with a different strategy for taking down Vormar. Or I’ll simply tell Axel and Kat we can’t take the job anymore. I need to keep them safe. Everyone would agree with my decision… And while everyone is sleeping, maybe I can go at it alone. With no one to worry about, mobility is fully on my side.

“Are you tired,” Kat asks, “You’re slowing down.”

“It’s nothing. I was just thinking.”

Or, I could just leave this place with all of them tomorrow. I need to prioritize them. Aisha, Iris, and Axel. I promised Mr. Bellard I’d return the favor... No, the money is important. Without the money, it’ll be hard for a group as big as us to make it to the next town or village.

Vormar needs to be taken care of. We’ll get the money and as it just so happens, we’ll be helping this village out.

It’s the best solution. The group is still the priority but everyone ends up happy.

A few minutes pass and part of the village comes into view. Sighs of relief make its rounds between the three of us.

“It’s nearer to the river than I remember,” Kat comments.

“Hey,” Axel calls out, “Is that…”

I look more closely at the village and my heart drops, “Vormar."