Adtraic Verity: Journey For The Truth
Chapter 51

Asahi’s eyes slowly parted away to the sounds of monstrous roars around him. His vision cleared up, he couldn’t move his legs nor his arms. All he could move was his head. He then someone grunting next to him— swiftly hurling stones out to the creepy silhouettes running at him.

As Asahi was carried by another’s shoulder, he turned to his left and saw Aletha’s body dangling over the boy’s other shoulder.

“…What?”

The mist was too thick, and he could hardly view anything. The boy carrying both of them swiftly noticed and decided to sprint away from the wicked creatures. Asahi tried to examine the monsters while Belial jumped from one cliff to the other.

His vision blurs into focus. The sight of the monsters unravels before his eyes.

Their arms were slender like a stick, their body looked like it withered from flames, and they were all faceless— only having a small glowing white circle on them. Their skin was covered in charcoal and obsidian with a blazing red eye on their necks.

They screeched— and continued to chase Belial in massive numbers. He whispered to himself as he swiftly shuffled through leaves and held the wanderers tightly.

“I know these wretched demons. I had many experiences with them back when I was at Zomrack. They’re going after their own kind.”

He looks through the mist and sees fifty more silhouettes in the distance.

“Something is urging them to chase me— pure starvation. These demons can not survive without feasting on crimson b***d. Beyond the edge of the world— is a place where no weak mortal should ever tread through. No, stop speaking to yourself. I-I got to keep going.”

And so, he continued running. Belial panted as he jumped upwards to an elevated area. He scraped the tip of his shoes from the solid rocky surface of the hills and accidentally shredded a small piece of his long, messy dark hair

. As he kicked his feet up and used his powers to propel him upwards, he swiftly tossed the wanderers behind a tall dead tree.

He then slid on the ground and leaned his back against the trunk— breathing heavily. As he heard the monsters’ distant roars, Belial said out loud.

“At last, safety. Hopefully, the wanderers didn’t hear me.”

The monsters tried to jump up to the cliff; however, they couldn’t reach Belial. While trying to leap up, the creatures then gave up and lifted their heads toward the sky. They released an antagonizing shriek that echoed throughout the entirety of the forest.

“Dang it, they’re alerting the others. I forgot that Dreamtoe was near the edge of the world.”

He turned his head upward and saw a dark crimson tree stretching upwards. Belial couldn’t carry the wanderers anymore. He felt exhausted and overwhelmed from jumping, running, and holding them for kilometers on end.

“Well, at least these two are safe.”

He leaned his back against the trunk of the crimson tree and pulled out a small metal container of water from his pocket. He quickly gulps all of it and wipes his mouth off. He screws the cap back on, puts it away, then turns his head towards the wanderers. Belial released a deep and relieved sigh. He slowly picks up the two and pulls his hood over his head. As he saw the faint rays of sunlight glittering far in the distance— behind the mist, Belial whispered to the wanderers.

“We’re almost there.”

As he began to run to the light, Asahi slowly shut his eyes and fell back into slumber. At least he knew that both he, Aletha, and Belial would be safe.

* * * * * * * *

Sometime after, Asahi feels warmth touching his face. A light shines on his shut eyes. As he felt leaves touching his face, he then heard the sound of an ax harshly hitting wood. The singing of the birds, the breeze, and the insects chirping slowly cleared up to his ears.

Asahi’s eyelids slowly part— feeling comfortable against the soft bristles of the grass below him. It feels to him as if it was the soft cushion of a bed.

He slowly rubs his eyes and looks up to the bright blue sky. The sun seems almost blinding to look at, but then, the brightness softens down, and he can see everything clearly once more.

Without hesitation, he turns his head to find Aletha. There, lying down on the small green hill— a beautiful white-haired adolescent girl lays over a large patch of bright white dandelions. The sun’s vivid rays shine on her face as if she was a sleeping beauty. Belial sits on a log like a chair— patiently waiting for the wanderers to wake up.

He then hears faint g****s, then turns his head to see Aletha rising up from her slumber.

His face slowly glows into a bright red hue— intensely feeling sudden emotions. Belial’s emerald eyes widen while watching her long silky white hair fluctuate and her bright fair skin shining under the sunlight. This little glimpse made Belial admire her. Even without the forced love from The Soil getting in the way, he finds the entirety of her appearance— gorgeous.

As Asahi approaches her, Belial sees Aletha’s beautiful dark crystal gray eyes— slowly peering right toward his face. Belial’s hair is unbraided— stretching down toward his back. It looks messy but rather attractive— making him look like a whole different person.

As the wind blows on Belial’s dark hair, he takes a deep breath and quickly turns his head away from her to hide his warm blush. Asahi tilts his head toward Aletha and asks.

“Sis, are you alright?”

Aletha slowly nods her head and responds.

“Yes, bro, I’m fine. Where are the others?”

“Others?”

Aletha nods her head and squints at Asahi. She replies in a sarcastic tone.

“Yes, others. You know? The ones that brought us here in the first place?! Drimi, Phthonus, and Sally?!”

“Oh, yes! Now I remember. Sorry, sis, I think the mist made me forget. I still notice that I’m acting more strangely than how I usually do.”

Aletha smirks and crosses her arms.

“Yes, I can SEE that. Do you have any idea where we are?! Wait a minute…” Her eyes broadened in shock, seeing a dark-haired boy gazing at them from afar. She screamed.

“Is that Belial?! How did he get here?”

“Where?” Asahi asked genuinely.

Aletha quickly pointed to the distant figure and shouted.

“Over there!”

Then, Belial took notice in them,

“Oh? Is that you, Asahi and Aletha? I’m sorry for putting you there, I should of placed you two closer now that I think of it.”

Aletha sneered at him, walking up the hill and shouting out.

“Why did you bring us here?! Where are the others?!”

Asahi stepped forward and added with a loud yell.

“Yeah, you have a lot of explaining to do.”

Without hesitation, as the wanderers approached closer, Belial hollered back.

“Settle down, okay. If you two just come here, then I will explain.”

Unable to deny the offer, the wanderers were forced to use their meager legs to climb the hill, approaching Belial in the long run.

* * * * * * * *

Later…

The sun glittered over the hazy horizon of the sea, grass bathed in the sun’s fluorescent rays, and the birds flew onward to the vast azure plain of salt water.

Among the horizon, Asahi and Aletha followed Belial toward a cliff, where they would be given further insight on the happenings before; well, that’s at least what they hoped. When they approached, they saw three logs on the ground, perfect for settling a discussion. Then, as they turned their heads, the wanderers noticed the sun was slowly approaching closer to the horizon of the sea.

Though the day was still far from over, it looked like the sky was getting darker than before. Nonetheless, they discarded that thought and instead, focused more on what happened right now.

The wanderers smelt and felt the fresh scent of the ocean breeze. They heard the sounds of waves crashing against a shore below them and the distant shrieks of seagulls echoing over the edges of the cliff.

As the wanderers caught up, Belial turned toward them and shouted while raising his hand.

“Don’t worry! I’m not going to push you off a cliff! Trust me!”

The wanderers quietly nodded their heads and gave him a thumbs up— trusting him.

* * * * * * * *

As Asahi and Aletha finally arrived at the cliff, they saw Belial stare into the sky. His long dark hair fluctuated, and the faint noise of the waves crashing on the shores— sounded from below the cliff.

As he heard the footsteps of the wanderers, he tilted his head downward and calmly offered them.

“You can sit on those logs. They are freshly cut and smooth. Don’t be afraid.”

Sparked with confusion on the rather immediate offer, Aletha asked Belial.

“Wait, are you a lumberjack?”

In response, Belial shook his head and chuckled.

“No, I just know how to cut trees. It’s the optimal standard if you ever want to survive in the wilderness.”

“Oh…”

As Belial tooks a sip from his small metal container of water, Asahi, and Aletha slowly placed their bottoms over the smooth surface of their logs and sat down.

Though it hadn’t felt like a chair to them, at least it was comfortable. Belial prepared himself to explain— taking yet another sip from his container to cool himself down.

“Okay, to start it off. Did any of you two happen to awaken while I was carrying you out of the forest?” He then placed the container back in his pocket and took a deep breath, awaiting a response.

Aletha shrugged her shoulders and shook her head in denial. Asahi slowly shut his eyes and responded in a quiet and guilty voice.

“Yes, I have.”

Belial gave a faint smile to Asahi, pointing, and exclaiming confidently.

“I knew it was you! Even if you have lied, I would have known. I felt your head moving on top of my right shoulder. It’s no guess that you also happened to see those monsters chasing us, right?”

As past visions of the monsters flashed in their mind, Asahi replied with a fearful-sounding voice.

“Yeah. I had no clue where I was.”

Hearing Asahi’s voice, Aletha raised her eyebrow and questioned.

“Huh?! Monsters were chasing us? Now I knew that I should have woken up. I would have wanted to see them too.”

Belial shook his head.

“I don’t think you want that. Just by the way you act, I know that you would cry if you ever faced one of those. Anyways, I saw that both of you were on the ground— laughing. Why were you like that?”

Both of the wanderers fell silent— remembering what happened.

When Aletha acted strange, and Asahi, following too. Laughing uncontrollably, almost to the point they were crying and screaming to stop; Like immature brats.

Goosebumps popped on their skin. Trying to hold herself from shivering, Aletha answered.

“We were like that because… it was some sort of force. I never wanted to laugh at that moment, but somehow, I did. Something was strange about my brother too. Even HE acted funny.”

Belial’s emerald eyes broadened in fear, looking worried and anxious— thinking of what would’ve happened if he wasn’t there. As silence filled the area, Belial took a deep breath and replied.

“Oh… now I see. You two were inhaling the mist. You are fortunate that I found you two and took you to safety. If I wasn’t there… you would have been devoured by the monsters…

He took a deep breath, keeping his sanity at bay.

“Dreamtoe’s mist and the monsters are from a distant place unknown to us. I can’t recall what it was, but I know that demons used the fog to stun their prey and devour their bodies. If the prey were ever to escape, the mist would fog up the prey’s mind and drive them insane. Either way— if left uncured from a particular healing spell after two days, the prey would have ended their own lives from being overwhelmed by the constant noises in their head.

The wanderers’ eyes flashed in pure fear— imagining what would have happened to them if they were to stay there. Closing their doubts aside, they leaned their heads, giving Belial their attention as he continues.

“When I heard from survivors two years ago, they described that they fell unconscious instead of what you two have described as… a ‘forceful, strange, and childish’ feeling. Perhaps you two are different. Maybe you two have connections to this place. Most of the victims of The Mist were children. Though one of the survivors said that the monsters don’t devour children— instead, the monsters abducted them.”

A faint tremor of amusement shook on Aletha’s lips, mumbling.

“That’s… tragic.”

Belial nodded his head and closed his eyes. It was clear for him he never wanted to continue this discussion. All he wanted was to proceed onward. And so, he lifted his chin and shifted to a other topic.

“Oh, just so you know, the others are safe. Drimi, Sally, and that other man. A few hours ago, I saw them in this area. Perhaps they are looking for you guys within the safe place in Dreamtoe’s forest?”

Asahi raised an eyebrow, mumbling.

“Safe place?”

Belial nodded his head.

“Yes. In Dreamtoe, there are two types of areas. The Safe Haven and The Mist. The Safe Haven is where all the goblins are. I heard from Drimi that you arrived at Dreamtoe to gather a special type of Fruit from the goblins.”

As the sun started to approach closer to the horizon, Aletha replied with a faint tone.

“Hold on. Belial, you know where the village is?”

“Yeah. Drimi and the others will guide you. I will be… somewhere else.”

…

A long silence entered. Both of the wanderers were frightened of this place; Belial’s words didn’t help either.

Curious onto more on what Belial had to

Asahi and Aletha are curious about more of what Belial has to say, especially when he mentions a place called The Underworld.

As they see the sun slowly turning orange and the horizon blending to pink— Asahi asked Belial.

“Is there anything more you need to inform us?”

Belial turns his head away from the sunset— his emerald eyes widen.

“Indeed. The reason why I saved you two is that I followed you from Milmoor all the way to here. I was hiding in the forests— standing while a storm hit. I really wanted to make sure you were safe, so I did everything I could to follow you two without any of them knowing.”

Without hesitation, Aletha added.

“Did you know that Akwan—

A look of bemusement floated in his face, answering, keeping his emotions settled.

“Yes, I have. I’m trying… my best to settle down. I know he’s still alive, or else we wouldn’t be standing here.

As the sun approached closer to the glistening horizon, Belial took a deep exhale and sat up straight, staring at the wanderers while continuing.

“The reason why I followed you is that you two know nothing about this world. I don’t want to see both of you two— slain; because I have faith that you two will be the ones to save Gincad. By the way, both of you act; I see that you two will be potential heroes, and I want to train you.”

The wanderers fell silent, hearing Belial’s compliments.

“Thank you.”

Belial nodded his head and continued.

“Yes, the monsters in this world are different— varying in size, intelligence, ability, and strength. You’ll know more once you have encountered them.”

As the wind howled over the cliff, and trees swerved back and forth, Belial continued with a faint smile plastered on his face.

“It is… perfect that you two arrived here in Pladtioa. This nation is relatively peaceful compared to all the other countries. There isn’t much danger here but The Queen, Narcissa, herself.” Belial sighed and took a deep breath, continuing.

“If you want to travel in Gincad, you must know what you are facing. It isn’t easy to survive in a world where you know nothing about it.’

Given that the warning, in response, the wanderers gave silent stares at Belial, questioning in their minds.

(But… wasn’t this our world?)

As they remained silent, staring into the beautiful sunset, a deep feminine voice sounded from a distance.

“Hellooo? Is anyone there? Hold on. Is that Asahi and Aletha?!”

Immediately, Belial’s eyes shifted to the front of the forest, finding a tall, dark-haired woman wearing a mask approach him.

He sprung up from his seat quickly and grumbled to the wanderers, gritring his teeth as he clutched their hands.

“Well, I guess that’s enough discussion for now. I GUESS you two may go. Even though I wanted to speak with you two more, I guess the world doesn’t want you two to know something.” Aghast at this, Belial pushed the wanderers away and sighed, saying. “Just go. I will see you two later.”

“Thank you, Belial. I never knew you cared this much for us.”

Belial shrugged his shoulders and chuckled; his prideful aura radiating heavily around him.

“You’re welcome. Also, before you go. Don’t think the training will be easy, Asahi and Aletha. If you ever want to reach the light— you must follow the darkness. There is more to wandering than meets the eye, and it will take effort to get The Fruit from the goblins.”

The wanderers nodded their heads and kept that statement in mind. Running down the hill, the wanderers waved to Belial and thanked him.

“Thank you!”

As he watched them disappear into the forest of trees with Drimi, Belial clenched his fingers and mumbled to himself.

“Wanderers, I know how much pain you felt after losing your family. Because, I too, have felt the same. It feels like I am missing something; that I never had originated here. But until then, I’ll just savor this peaceful moment, as long as it can last.