The pack was left behind and Jake’s boots were light as he nimbly traversed the rocky landscape. Just off his hip, the snow white furred beast pattered at his pace. Her paws tapped and clicked, her talon-like nails barely touching the rocks with every step. Wordless, the pair moved away from the sight of the failed ambush until the pack was out of view. Jake’s eyes scanned the terrain, searching for the easiest path along while also keeping his wits as he checked for any other signs of danger. The beast sniffed at the air frequently, performing her own checks for danger as they walked.

However, her eyes regularly flicked towards the human at her side. Every few meters, she seemed to stare at him for a moment. Her icy blue eyes rolled to look him over, and then they looked down at the bag of meat that his hand gripped tightly. Jake would not explain himself to a weaker individual like her. A beast who came from the pack that had attempted to kill him, regardless of their reasoning for such an action.

Necessity or otherwise, the deed was done, and her pack had failed. If Jake would have his way, he would slaughter them all as a consequence. Unable to do so after his own decision to spare them, humiliation would do fine enough. Especially since she’d practically begged him to help the injured.

Pitiful. Being unable to protect your own kin from a foe you yourself chose to attack. The failure to properly assess their enemy was proof enough of their inability to properly survive. No wonder she was so desperate for him to heal their numbers. A single loss would likely cause a ripple effect when it came to productivity and survivability. One less hunter, though a less mouth to feed, would be one less producer of meat for the pups to eat.

“If I may?” Breaking the silence, the beast opened her jaws to speak. Her voice was strong but Jake could hear that she was forcing herself.

Jake gave her a momentary glance. “What?”

The beast swallowed a mouthful of saliva to clear her throat. “Humans are not known to travel alone, nor do your kind traverse these mountains often. Especially in light attire and with such minimal resources. May I ask why you are? Did you not know the dangers of these mountains? Of my kind?”

From the outside looking in, and now with additional information of the terrain and threats within the valleys here, Jake understood her mix of confusion and curiosity. To see an individual of Jake’s size and age by themselves in such an austere environment must have been quite the surprise. With so little in terms of supplies, they must have figured him a fool. No wonder they jumped him without much planning. But, those details shouldn’t have been taken as reasons for weakness. They should have been warning signs.

No fool travels into such dangerous territories alone.

“This passage is the shortest route west,” Jake answered. Electing to share his thinking and decisions. Doing so wouldn’t harm him, anyways. He would be beyond the mountains before she could do anything about it. “Cutting through the mountains was easier than traveling north for several weeks. This route will take three days. Well, it was supposed to.” He let out a huff and grumbled. “Now it’ll take longer.”

“As for me being alone, that’s because I don’t have any companions, nor do I have a need for them.” Jake raised the sack of meat, jiggling it lightly. “I can handle my own out here. Additional bodies means additional mouths, slower pace, and more headaches.”

The beast nodded her head and turned her eyes forward. “You are a strange individual, Mr. Jake. To be so bold and confident of your abilities isn’t unique among your kind and it leads many to their deaths. I fear you are different in that regard.”

Jake raised an eyebrow as she spoke, looking over at the female beast. She met his eyes.

“If it were not for your skill with blade and spell, my kin would have torn you apart.” She smirked, chuckling lightly before turning forward. “Many have tried to pass these valleys, seeking the same shortcut that you are. We have had many bountiful hunts because of such decisions. To finally have met an individual capable of surviving us was… unexpected.”

The man tapped his canines together for a moment, thinking of just how many people she was referring to. Jake had never come across anyone traveling from the west in the desert, let alone anyone who had come from the direction of the Ravine. Most travelers came from the ports of Hamar, or from the north after having taken the long way around the mountains. Which told Jake that the mountains he was surrounded by were likely impenetrable by normal means. The pack he’d fought likely was not the only one living here.

“And us?” She asked. At Jake’s confusing glance, “Did you know of my kind within these mountains? Is that why you were armed?”

Jake shook his head. “No. I did not know of any threats, but I’ve learned to never travel light when it comes to protection. When dealing with the unknown, there’s always a chance of coming across an enemy. Staying ready for it is basic knowledge”

The female beast let out a low rumble, akin to a hum as she nodded her head briefly. “I see. You are not as inexperienced as you look.”

For a moment, Jake wasn’t sure if she was complimenting him or not. Did that mean he still looked like a child? Or was she saying that he looked stupid? He was tempted to ask but felt doing so might reveal more of what he didn’t want to hear.

“Where did you learn such skills?” Continuing to inquire, the female beast turned her eyes towards his waist. “Though the handles of your blades are certainly different, those blades are undeniably Elvish. Your magic is as powerful as many Sages we have encountered, and there is a glean to your eyes that tells me there is more to you than you have yet revealed.”

She paused for a moment, daring to lean closer as a smile crossed her jaw. “You are… interesting, Mr. Jake.”

Jake narrowed his eyes and carefully took a step away from the glint in her eyes. He avoided further eye contact so as to not be lured into her game, if she was playing one. Curiosity or not, she seemed to be digging more to find out more than surface level information. For what purpose, he didn’t know, but it was odd.

“I fought in the Ravine for a while against a troublesome enemy. Lost a friend there who gave me his blades. I learned the sword there and was also taught magic just before going.” Jake skimped out on the main details, feeding only some necessary details to entertain her.

It seemed enough to at least sate her digging. Yet, his answer brought out another detail that made her eyes widen. “You fought the Maedra?”

Jake nodded. “I did.”

“Very few have encountered such creatures and survived to speak of it. At least in this region.” She huffed and lowered her head as she turned away from him. “I’ve lost many kin from the Maedra threat.”

Instantly, Jake’s hairs stood on end. “They’ve entered the mountains?” What? Were they not contained to the Ravine? Were those bastards on the surface already?

“No,” she answered promptly, easing Jake’s mind. “In search of safe dens for our pups, my kin and I have entered many tunnels and caves within the tunnels. Several have been found to be connected to the Ravine. Within them, we sometimes encountered Maedra. Foul creatures.”

Jake nodded in agreement, at least with her assessment of the Maedra. “Very much so.”

“You must be very strong, Mr. Jake.” She peeked over at him. He only shrugged in response, which earned a stifled laugh. “It is always those who do not understand their strength that tend to be more than they know.”

“And what of you? Your kind. What are you? Why do you live here in the mountains?” Seeing as he had answered her questions, Jake thought it only fair that she offer up information as well.

She did not hesitate to answer. “We are Fenris Wolves. The mountains are our domain, our home.” After a brief pause, her tails swished at her back. “It is surprising for you to not know of us. You mentioned not knowing of any threats within the mountains.” Peering towards him, her head tilted. “Do you always travel without looking into where you are going?”

She had him there. Indeed, Jake hadn’t taken the opportunity to do his research on the mountains. Rather than peruse a book on the terrain, the inhabitants of the territory, or any details that might aid in his travel for that matter, Jake elected to take it head on. Both out of laziness and in an effort to exchange safety for speed. In his desire to clear the mountains for the forest on the far side, Jake dove in with every expectation of being attacked at some point and planned to deal with whatever came his way. He trusted his abilities, his magic and swordsmanship. So long as he remained healthy and combat effective, he would handle whatever threat cropped up.

“So far I have,” Jake huffed. “I’ll need to fix that for next time.”

In both cases now, the mountains and the Ravine, Jake had little information prior. Chul had informed him of the potential dangers to the Ravine but he hadn’t expected the Maedra to be such an infuriating virus of existence. He would need to correct such a way of thinking if he wanted to maintain the advantage of power in the future. Knowing his enemies ahead of time would give him preparation time.

This round, he was lucky they were only dogs.

The female beast bobbed her head. “It would do you well. There are many evils within these mountains. We are just one of them.”

This time, it was Jake’s turn to nod his head in silence. If the wolves were thriving and capable of feasting on the stupidity of those attempting to pass through, it would not be a lie to say there might be other creatures lurking just out of sight. Who they are, what they are, and their levels of threat would be a mystery until either Jake heard of them or came in contact with him.

“What else is out there?” Jake glanced around him, his eyes scanning the rocks for any sign of life beyond their conversation.

The female beast laughed and shook her head. “Scared?”

Jake scoffed. “Bored.”

“I see.” She rumbled a low laugh and flicked her tails. “Trolls and Kobolds. Spiderlings and Worms. Basilisks, Minotaurs and Warefolk. Creatures of the dark that even I do not wish to contend with. All of them hide within the stone, lurking within the many caves, caverns, and dark tunnels scattered throughout the mountains.” As she spoke, her eyes scanned the rocks and she seemed to stare off into the distance. Her eyes recalled every instance of contact with the named beasts, and her expression remained heavy.

“Beasts who would happily tear off your flesh and suck the very marrow from your bones at the opportunity.”

Jake felt a chill roll down his spine. The hairs on his neck stood on end as he thought about coming across such beasts. All except one. “You mentioned Spiderlings. Do you mean Arachkin?”

The beast nodded. “Correct. We called them Spiderlings, as they typically remain smaller than those beyond the mountains. Due to the small spaces in the tunnels and the many threats lurking around them, they rarely grow very large. But they are very, very venomous. Their bites and stings will kill you in minutes.”

“Noted.” Jake washed away his thought and hope, writing off the idea that one of these Spiderlings would be related to Chul. If Chul’s sister crossed these mountains in hopes of finding a proper den, she likely wouldn’t have stopped here to have her brood. It was too dangerous for their kind.

“You know them by their True name. That is surprising.” The beast leaned in close to him again. “A detail that was not missed, I hope you know.”

Jake felt the scrutiny of her stare and looked away, but gave no answer. She let out a low rumble and chuckled before returning to staring ahead of them.

The conversation ended, the questions coming dry as the pair seemed to have learned enough between one another. They traveled for several more hours until the sun dipped well below the mountain peaks. The sky darkened and the chill of the night began to set in. Though the female beast was unbothered, Jake didn’t put on his mana veil. He continued to regulate his body temperature through light magic use but after hearing about all of the potential threats, he elected to find a comfortable spot to stop for the evening. Now he had several reasons to conserve energy and mana.

Out in the open with plenty of angles of attack, but long sightlines in every direction. He dropped his pack and took a moment to look around. The female beast noticed he’d stopped and turned to watch as he scanned the region.

“Are you stopping for the evening?” She pawed at the ground, her feet tapping as she approached his pack. “I am surprised you traveled this late into the night. Most humans set up camp much earlier.”

Satisfied, Jake extended his hands and scattered dozens of alert spells in every direction, plastering the space with a network of runes. Then, he connected them all to a set of alarms beside his pack. Next, he used rock magic to carve out a large pit that he filled with fire runes. He filled the underground fuel space with mana, enough to fuel the runes for the evening, and ignited them.

“I can set everything up in a few minutes. It doesn’t take long.” Jake explained as he worked. The female beast watched in silence as he used his magic quickly, producing a safety network, a source of heat, and then a small shelter to protect him from the elements.

Rather than erect a box, Jake made an open hut with three sides and an opening encapsulating the firepit. He ensured it had enough overhang to provide coverage from potential rain to the beast, which also allowed her to close in on the firepit. She crept in, accepting the invitation, and sat down beside the heat source.

“To say that you are interesting almost seems like an insult now, Mr. Jake,” she mused, watching as he began to fish through his pack. “Travels alone. Elvish weapons. Originating from the east, not the west. Proper swordsmanship. Exceptional magic abilities…”

Jake sat down on his pack as he spread open the sack of meat he’d carried and began to drain the blood from the meat he would spend time preparing. As he did so, the beast female narrowed her eyes on him.

“It begs the question of who you are, Mr. Jake, and I wonder if you would provide me with an acceptable answer.” Her tone shifted, deepening as she stared at him. Her light blue eyes glistened, and Jake felt his skin crawl.

Yet, he did not flinch. He continued his work of preparing the meat for consumption and drying into jerky. “And if I don’t give you one?”

A lull settled. The wind whistled as the chilled air rolled between them. The female beast’s fur fluttered as she stared at him.

“Then I must ask you to leave these mountains with haste, as the mere presence of a monster such as yourself is a threat to my kin, my children, and the very mountains themselves, Mr. Jake.”

Jake’s hands paused. After a short breath, he looked up to see the female beast staring at him. Hard. Those glacial eyes pierced into his very soul with threat. Though she likely was aware that she could do nothing to force him along, there was no doubt that she would damn well try. It also told Jake that those eyes could see more than she was sharing.

So. She came with him to monitor him, not to escort him.

“I already told you the duration of the trip.” Jake lowered his eyes and continued with his work. “Deal with me until then. Once I leave the mountains, it is unlikely you will see me for some time.”

The wolf huffed and lowered down onto her belly. “I will hold you to your word, Mr. Jake. These mountains have enough dangers.” Her head then lowered to her paws, but those eyes never left him as she watched him cook the very meat of her kin.

After prepping a few chunks of the meat, Jake created a slab of rock to put the meat on over the runes and set down a few steaks to let them cook. He then created another, smaller fire pit, and hung the rest of the meat over it to let the meat cook and dry out. The meat on the slab would be eaten tonight. The others would dry out slowly overnight and be prepared for rations in the morning. As the meat in front of him cooked, Jake pulled out a portion of his rations and took half of a sandwich to eat.

He did so in silence, under constant watch of those icy eyes.

As he prepared to sleep, Jake gave the beast one final look. “What stops you from killing me in my sleep?”

The beast scoffed at him. “You would belittle me in such a way? How revolting to think I would stoop to such a low. I would rather tear your throat from your neck and watch the very life fade from your eyes than do something so cowardly.” She bore her fangs and snapped her teeth at him. “Sleep, Mr. Jake. I will not tempt fate twice.”

Jake eyed her for a long moment, then decided to put some trust into her words. She did seem to mean them and hadn’t made a move to strike him during their walk. Those eyes were hungry and angry, but he would believe her. Still, for his safety, Jake placed a pair of alert spells between them. A red line connected the spells- an alert wire that would sound should she cross it.

“Cross that line and I’ll kill you in an instant.” Jake crawled into his sleeping bag and then closed his eyes.

As he had predicted, Jake found himself unwilling to visit the Library. Due to the potential need to awaken should the alarms sound, Jake let himself drift off to a normal sleep. His breathing steadied, his mind eased, and he sank into the depths of his mind. A decision that made him realize just how affected he was by his experiences in the Ravine.

Several nights in Hawa had ended with Jake awakening, jolting upright from harsh dreams and through his mind reliving his fights in the Ravine. He remembered the faces of those he fought beside, of those he cared about. He dreamed of Yae’s face, of her voice, of her touch. He relived the final moments when he gave her his final goodbye, when he left her for the last time, thinking things would be fine so long as he played his part.

And every night, he remembered the fires. The screams. The sounds of the Maedra burning in that pit of flame he caged them in. Every night, he stared into that flame, watching their very bodies melt beneath the heat of his hatred.

You feel it, don’t you, boy?

And every night, he heard that voice. At first, it was just a whisper. A quiet noise. Yet, he could hear it now. Clearly. A raspy voice. Dry and brittle. Cracking and wheezing with every breath, as if something was clutching the individual by the throat and choking out the oxygen from its lungs.

That hatred. That desire to kill. That need for slaughter. You feel it in your bones, don’t you?

It was poisonous, he knew that. That voice was not good. He could sense the vile nature behind it. Everything in his mind screamed at him to ignore it, to drown it out and not listen…

That very primal urge to stomp out the weak and eviscerate those who stand in your way. You live for it. It feeds you. It fuels you. Doesn’t it? Every time you draw your sword, you feel that rush. You smile in it, revel in it. The bloodbath of War.

…but he cannot turn away from it. Because it wasn’t lying. Every word it spoke was truth. Jake enjoyed the fight. No, he enjoyed slaughtering the Maedra. He savored every death of their kind. He relished in their demise and found utter joy in ripping them to pieces. Their screams and cries, pleas of pure anguish. It was like honey on his eardrums.

You were born for it, Child.

For the first night, Jake didn’t awaken as the fires burned in his face. He didn’t feel joy or pleasure in the sounds. He didn’t feel his lips curl into a smile at their fate at his hands. No, he felt numb. Cold. His body refused to move as his eyes stared into the abyss of yellow and orange and red. The carnage in front of him did not stir his heart, not on this night.

This is your destiny.

The world went black in front of him. Jake found himself standing in the dark, floating on nothing. No matter where he looked, he could see nothing. The air was cold and every breath felt forced as he drew it in. His chest felt tight, squeezed and pressured by the very blackness swirling around him.

You will become the example, and I will use you to finally destroy all of Their hope for a peaceful world. You will be my key, Child.

Then, Jake remembered. This place was familiar.

They put all of their faith in you. You and the others are their instruments and they have placed the burdens of their sins on your shoulders.

Clenching his teeth, Jake forced himself to look upwards. In the distance, there, he could see him. A dark shadow. A figure just barely within view, silhouetted by the very essence of the black veil surrounding Jake.

A terrifying being. One who was the very essence of despair and brutality in the world. The one person who Jake had heard whispers of.

I will rip you asunder, Apostle. You, your Gods, your Kin. I will tear you each to pieces and finally teach your pathetic Gods that I am not something they can forget. I am an inevitability, and their pitiful barrier will not hold me. I have waited far too long in this place and I refuse to let it be my eternity.

Jake clenched his teeth and swallowed a heavy lump in his throat. The eyes of the distance figure glowed a faint red.

I am Crux. The rightful King of the Overworld, and I will have my throne.

And you will be the sacrifice I will use to achieve that end.

You. Your fellow Apostles. Your Gods.

Every being who dares refuse my might.

I will snuff out the fires of your existence like a feeble candle in the night.

Jake felt a heavy wind lick at his face. With it, a chill rolled through his spine. One that caused even his breath to freeze. Yet, he felt compelled to speak. To resist. To say something, anything in response to the one sided threat. Not to defend those Gods he spoke of or promise to defy the being above to the end out of some worthless drive or feeble desire to save the Overworld. But, out of something more… personal.

This being. Crux.

The maker of the Maedra.

“...You…” Jake opened his mouth, his voice cracking as he spoke.

The eyes above narrowed.

“...For taking Yae from me. For taking my friends in the Ravine. For taking Chul away from me….” Jake spoke with force, his teeth grinding with every word as his lungs burned. Before he knew it, his eyes were hot as he glared upwards. His fists curled tight, so tight he thought his nails might break skin.

“...I’m going to rip your fucking throat out.”

A long silence dangled between the two before the being above began to fade into the dark.

We shall see, Child, but know this. You are but a pawn in their game and you will soon come to learn how worthless you truly are.

The floor fell out from beneath Jake’s feet and he fell into the abyss. Wind lapped at his ears, deafening him. His body refused to cooperate as he plummeted until, abruptly, his eyes shot open in the Overworld. He took in a deep, pained breath, and stared at the rocky overhang above him. He looked around and made eye contact with the Fenris Wolf on the far side of the fire pit. Her eyes were harsh as she glared at him, in the same spot he had last seen her.

The sky was brightening, evidence of it being morning.

The beast female spoke in a low tone. “Who are you, Mr. Jake?”