The air settled between them for a moment, as if the previous words still lingered, leaving behind an unerasable trace. But amidst the silence, the mysterious being realized something… He had spoken too much, more than he should have. He had gotten excited, carried away, and had almost let the veil surrounding his aura slip.
Something like that… should not happen.
He tilted his head slightly, and in a low but steady voice, he said, "I hope I didn't frighten you, Darius."
Darius, who hadn't fully processed everything that had been said, looked at him for a moment, then raised an eyebrow and said bluntly, "Actually, you did."
The being's expression didn't change much, but he didn't respond. He simply adjusted his stance, as if trying to regain the atmosphere that had surrounded him moments ago.
Then, as if the conversation had never happened, he turned and spoke in a more composed voice, "In any case, you have a long path ahead of you. I assume you'd rather not dwell on this any further."
Darius didn't object. In truth, there was something unsettling about continuing to talk about Raios… as if merely mentioning his name too much might summon him.
Darius asked to leave. The being raised his hand toward the wall, and the moment he lowered it, the massive tree they were inside began to crack and split apart, slowly forming an opening large enough for a person to pass through. The being nodded, signaling for Darius to go.
---
After leaving, Darius moved through the darkness, walking aimlessly, his steps nearly silent against the cold ground. The air was charged—not with fear, but with something heavier, an unseen presence creeping beneath the skin.
Then, without warning…
A laugh.
It wasn't loud, nor was it jarring… yet it filled the space as if it hadn't come from a single source, but from the shadows themselves.
A long, slow chuckle… devoid of joy, yet carrying something else.
Something… that shouldn't be here.
Another moment of silence passed, but it wasn't empty. There was something intangible floating in the air, as if something unseen had been watching them. Then, abruptly, a sudden voice shattered the tension—
"Boo!"
Darius jumped two steps forward, his hand instinctively reaching for his weapon before he turned to see Lutfi standing behind him, grinning proudly as if he had just accomplished a great feat.
"Ha! You should've seen your face!"
Darius exhaled deeply, taking a moment to calm himself before running a hand through his hair, resisting the urge to slap this fool.
"Lutfi… by the shadows, don't you have anything better to do?"
Lutfi chuckled, waving a hand dismissively.
"I'm just trying to lighten the mood. But anyway, what were you doing here?"
Darius didn't answer immediately. He glanced briefly at the mysterious being, but the latter no longer seemed interested in their conversation, having returned to his silent, motionless state as if their exchange had been nothing more than a fleeting mirage. After a few seconds, Darius decided to ignore it and said firmly,
"I have to go."
Lutfi eyed him suspiciously, then asked,
"Where to?"
"The Druid's Forest. I'm beginning my journey."
Silence hung between them for a moment. This time, Lutfi didn't laugh or make a sarcastic remark. His eyes held something different… something that resembled concern.
"Alright then, I'll go with you. You'll need me."
But Darius shook his head slowly, his tone leaving no room for debate.
"No. I need to go alone."
Lutfi crossed his arms, giving him a skeptical look.
"Are you serious? The Druid isn't just some ordinary opponent. He's powerful—far more than you can imagine. Even the most experienced mercenaries wouldn't approach him without a solid plan, and you're thinking of facing him alone?"
Darius didn't deny it. He knew Lutfi was right, but he didn't have the luxury of turning back.
He looked at his hands for a moment before lifting his gaze again, his voice calm yet carrying an unyielding resolve.
"I know… But don't you see? All these monsters? Shalti is lurking, my heart is missing, and the creatures hunting it won't give me a moment of peace. The shadows, the mist, the serpent, the druid… They're all obstacles in my path. If I don't grow stronger… I'll die."
He paused for a moment, then spoke with even more conviction,
"No… I must become stronger if I want to survive. And I will start by reclaiming the Druid's Heart."
His eyebrows rose slightly, his eyes sharpening.
"I know it won't be easy, but I have to do it… alone."
Lutfi remained silent for a few seconds, then sighed and let out a small chuckle—not one of mockery, but the kind of laugh that acknowledged the futility of arguing.
"Heh… Alright, I get it. But at least come with me to the cabin first. You need to prepare properly. And besides, there's something important you should know about the Druid."
Darius didn't reply immediately, but in the end, he nodded.
Yet, as they walked, he couldn't shake off the strange feeling lingering after his conversation with the mysterious being. The air wasn't particularly eerie, no shadows slithered at the corners of his vision, and there were no whispers sneaking into his ears.
---
When Darius reached the cabin, it was warmer than outside, though not entirely comforting. Lutfi sat at an old wooden table, idly flipping a small metal piece in his hand before glancing at Darius with a side-smirk.
"So… you're really set on going alone."
Darius nodded without hesitation.
Lutfi sighed but didn't try to stop him this time. Instead, he stood up and walked over to a small wooden chest in the corner of the room. Opening it, he pulled out a peculiar torch, its flame burning with a deeper hue—closer to an intense blue than the usual orange.
"This isn't an ordinary torch. I got it from a mercenary trader. Its flame is stronger than normal and lasts longer. You'll need it there because the Druid's primary weakness… is fire."
Darius took the torch, observing it for a moment before nodding in thanks. But Lutfi wasn't finished yet.
He returned to the chest and pulled out a lightweight piece of armor, made of tough black leather, its surface pulsing with a faint glow.
"And this… I crafted it myself from the hide of the bear I killed before. Thanks to its transformation into a magical beast, its skin gained unique properties… This armor grants you some protection against fire attacks, so it'll come in handy in case of any unexpected surprises."
Darius took the armor, testing its weight on his arm. It was as light as Lutfi said, yet surprisingly sturdy.
"Now… onto the important part."
Lutfi sat back down, resting his elbows on the table, his gaze turning serious.
"The Druid you'll face… he isn't just one being. He is one… yet also many."
Darius didn't interrupt, but one of his eyebrows arched slightly.
"He has three phases, each worse than the last. At first, when an intruder enters his forest, he doesn't attack immediately. Instead, he observes them, tests them, gauges their strength. During this phase, the Druid is the forest itself. He'll make you see illusions, turn the trees into nightmares, and even make the ground shift beneath you. His goal here is to scare intruders away. But he won't harm you directly… not yet."
He paused before continuing.
"But if you manage to get past this… that's when he starts fighting seriously."
Darius noted that Lutfi was no longer smiling.
"As for the third phase…" Lutfi paused, then chuckled under his breath.
"Well… no one knows. Everyone who reached it… never returned."
Darius stayed silent for a moment. But he didn't need to hear more.
Lutfi then smirked and raised a fist.
"Alright then, let's have a quick spar. I don't want you coming back to me in pieces in two days. Give me your best shot."
Darius exhaled, raising his weapon. This would be his last moment of safety… before he stepped into the unknown.