Ark 2 Chapter 3 Fractured Paths
The darkness that engulfs all of us is strange. It's not just the absence of light—it's something deeper, something that creeps into the corners of the mind.
I woke abruptly, a sharp pain shooting through my side as I hit the floor. I had fallen off the bed as the boat rocked violently back and forth. The relentless rhythm of the sea had no mercy, its waves battering the ship like an impatient beast.
Groaning, I sat up, rubbing my sore shoulder. The cabin was dimly lit, the faint glow of a lantern swinging with the motion of the boat. The sound of creaking wood filled the air, accompanied by the distant crash of waves against the hull.
As I steadied myself, my eyes wandered to the other side of the room. Lilly was curled up on her little bed, fast asleep, her pink hair cascading over her face in loose strands. She looked peaceful, her breathing steady despite the ship's tumultuous journey.
I envied her ability to find rest even in a storm. For me, sleep had been elusive—haunted by the weight of everything we had faced, the loss of my sword, and the uncertainty of what lay ahead.
Standing carefully to avoid another fall, I made my way to the small porthole. The ocean stretched endlessly into the night, the waves illuminated by the pale light of the moon. It was beautiful, in a way, but also terrifying—a vast, unknowable expanse that seemed to mirror the chaos in my own mind.
I sighed, leaning against the wall, my thoughts a tangled mess. The sea might be unforgiving, but it was nothing compared to the storm brewing within me.
I reached into my side pocket and pulled out the relic. Its crystalline surface shimmered faintly, pulsing with a rhythm that mimicked the ebb and flow of the ocean. The soft glow lit up the cabin, casting rippling patterns across the walls, as if the relic itself was connected to the very waters surrounding us.
Turning to the small porthole, I gazed out at the vast expanse of dark waves. The sea seemed calmer now, the storm's wrath subsiding into a quiet lull. Beyond the horizon, barely visible in the moonlight, was a faint outline—land.
I squinted, trying to make out more details. It was far away, a shadowy silhouette against the starlit sky, but it was there.
Finally, after days at sea, we were nearing our destination.
"We'll be there by dawn," I murmured to myself, the realization bringing a mix of relief and apprehension.
The land ahead was a mystery, and while it offered the promise of progress, I couldn't shake the unease gnawing at the edges of my thoughts. Whatever awaited us there—answers, enemies, or something else entirely—I knew it wouldn't be simple.
I looked back at the relic in my hand, its pulse steady and unwavering. It felt alive, almost sentient, as if it were urging me forward.
I tucked it back into my pocket and returned to the bed, glancing once more at Lilly as she stirred slightly in her sleep. Rest would come for neither of us soon, but for now, I allowed myself a moment of stillness, listening to the quiet hum of the ocean and the promise of the unknown waiting just beyond the horizon.
When dawn broke, the dim cabin filled with the soft golden glow of sunlight filtering through the small porthole. The steady rocking of the ship was gentler now, a welcome reprieve from the previous night's stormy chaos.
Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I sat up, glancing across the room at Lilly's bed. It was empty.
Curious, I stood and stretched, the soreness from the night still lingering in my muscles. The faint sound of laughter carried through the wooden walls, accompanied by the rush of the wind. I stepped out of the cabin and onto the deck, the crisp morning air immediately hitting me.
The sea sparkled under the rising sun, a stark contrast to the ominous darkness from hours before. And there, at the port side, was Lilly.
She stood near the railing, her pink hair cascading down her back, catching the light like threads of silk. The wind played with her strands, tossing them lightly as she laughed—an unguarded, carefree sound that felt almost foreign after everything we had been through.
She turned, catching sight of me watching her, and froze for a moment. Her cheeks flushed, a soft pink matching the dawn's glow. "You're awake," she said, her voice carrying a mix of teasing and warmth.
I walked closer, leaning against the railing beside her. "What's so funny?" I asked, a small smile tugging at my lips.
"It's not funny," she replied, still blushing. She motioned toward the horizon. "Look."
I followed her gaze, and there it was—the land from the night before, now much closer. The jagged cliffs rose high above the shoreline, dotted with patches of green and white sand glistening in the sunlight. Beyond the cliffs, I could see faint hints of trees and distant mountains, their peaks wreathed in early morning mist.
"It's beautiful," I murmured, my voice low.
"It is," Lilly agreed, her eyes fixed on the sight. Then she nudged me lightly with her elbow, her teasing grin returning. "Come on, don't just stand there. Take a closer look. You've been so broody lately; you could use a little wonder in your life."
I chuckled, shaking my head, but I stepped closer to the railing, letting myself take in the view. The salty breeze carried the promise of something new, and for the first time in days, I felt a glimmer of excitement.
Whatever awaited us on this new land, it felt like the beginning of something important.
As I leaned over the railing, taking in the sight of the approaching land, a sudden wave splashed up from below, drenching my face and catching me completely off guard. I stumbled back, sputtering and wiping the salty water from my eyes.
Behind me, Lilly burst into laughter, clutching her stomach as she leaned against the railing for support. "Oh, that's priceless!" she managed between giggles. "You should've seen your face!"
I glared at her, though I couldn't hide the faint smirk tugging at my lips. "Glad you're enjoying yourself," I muttered, shaking water from my hair like a soaked dog.
"Oh, I am," she said, grinning. "It's the most entertaining thing I've seen in days."
With an exaggerated sigh, I turned and headed back toward the cabin to clean up. Lilly's laughter echoed behind me, a sound that was strangely comforting despite my now-drenched state.
---
Later, after I had managed to dry off and change into something that didn't smell like the ocean, a sharp knock on the door caught my attention. It was the ship's captain, his weathered face breaking into a slight smile as he stepped into the doorway.
"We're nearing the docks," he announced, his voice carrying the gruff authority of someone who had spent most of his life at sea. "Get your things together. We'll be docking soon."
"Finally," I said, grabbing my satchel. The thought of solid ground beneath my feet again was a welcome relief.
The captain nodded, tipping his hat slightly before leaving. I turned to find Lilly already at the door, her bag slung over her shoulder and her expression eager.
"Ready?" she asked, her excitement barely contained.
"Let's go," I said, stepping past her and onto the deck.
As the ship glided smoothly toward the docks, the land ahead grew clearer, revealing a bustling port town nestled at the base of the cliffs. Wooden piers stretched out into the water, lined with ships of various sizes. The town itself was a patchwork of colorful rooftops and narrow streets, the early morning activity already beginning to stir.
I glanced at Lilly, who was leaning over the railing, her eyes alight with curiosity. For the first time in a long while, I felt a flicker of hope. Whatever challenges lay ahead, we were one step closer to finding answers—and to finding our way back.
As the boat docked, we stepped off the gangplank, leaving the salty breeze of the sea behind us. Before parting ways with the captain, we handed him a small pouch of coins—a modest but sincere gesture of thanks for getting us safely to shore. He nodded in appreciation, tipping his hat slightly before returning to his duties.
The port town greeted us with a lively yet oddly subdued atmosphere. The air was filled with the sound of seagulls, the occasional hammering of nails on wooden planks, and the faint chatter of merchants setting up their morning stalls. Despite its smaller size, the town had a charm that was hard to ignore.
Lilly adjusted her bag, her eyes scanning the streets. "First order of business: finding an inn," she said. "We could use a proper bed after the days we've had."
I nodded in agreement, and together we wandered through the winding streets, taking in the sights. The town seemed built into the cliffs themselves, with staircases carved from stone leading to upper levels where more houses and shops perched precariously.
After some time, we stumbled upon a small inn with a sign swinging gently in the breeze. The sign depicted a simple illustration of a cat curled up on a bed, the words The Cat's Rest etched beneath it.
"Looks cozy enough," Lilly said, pushing the door open.
As we stepped inside, the scent of freshly baked bread and brewing tea greeted us. The interior was quaint, with wooden beams crossing the ceiling and a warm hearth crackling in the corner. The innkeeper, a middle-aged woman with kind eyes, greeted us warmly and offered a room at a fair price.
Just as we were settling our payment, Lilly glanced out the window and froze.
"Retro," she said, nudging me. "Look at that."
I followed her gaze to a large building across the street. Its sturdy stone walls were adorned with a faded emblem depicting a sword and shield, and a worn banner hung above the entrance.
"The guild," I muttered, recognizing the universal design immediately.
Without a word, we left our bags at the inn and crossed the street.
The inside of the guild hall was surprisingly lively, though it lacked the chaos I'd come to associate with these types of places. A handful of adventurers sat at wooden tables, poring over maps and chatting quietly. A job board stood prominently in the center of the room, its surface covered with neatly arranged parchments detailing various tasks and bounties.
Lilly scanned the room. "Doesn't seem too busy," she observed.
"No," I replied, stepping closer to the job board. "But still enough to get by. A place like this always has its share of activity."
A clerk behind the counter looked up and waved us over. "Newcomers?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Just passing through," I said. "But we could use some information."
"Of course," he said, setting down a ledger. "What are you looking for?"
I hesitated for a moment, unsure of how much to reveal. Finally, I said, "We're looking for a map of the surrounding area, especially anything that might lead to the next continent."
The clerk studied us for a moment before nodding. "I can help with that. Follow me."
As we followed him to a side room filled with maps and charts, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. This town had its charm, but something about its quiet, almost too-perfect atmosphere felt… off.
Lilly must have sensed it too because she whispered, "Something doesn't feel right, does it?"
I shook my head. "No. But let's get what we need and keep moving."
Little did we know, our journey through this seemingly peaceful town was only just beginning.
Before we could proceed to getting the map, I decided to clear up an important detail. I reached into my satchel, pulling out my well-worn orichalcum rank insignia. Beside me, Lilly followed suit, holding hers up for the clerk to see.
"We need to know if our rank still applies here," I said, my voice steady but firm. "We're from another country, and our situation's… complicated."
The clerk's eyes widened as he took in the insignias. For a moment, he just stared, his mouth agape. Then, as if reality had just struck him, he shouted, "Holy shit!" loud enough to make several heads in the guild hall turn toward us.
The sudden outburst caught me off guard, and I raised an eyebrow as the clerk hurriedly composed himself, bowing his head slightly. "I—I'm so sorry for my disrespectful behavior," he stammered, his voice laced with both awe and embarrassment.
Lilly smirked, clearly amused by his reaction. "So… does that mean our rank applies?"
The clerk nodded vigorously. "Yes, of course! Orichalcum rank transcends borders. You'll find that you're recognized as some of the most elite adventurers anywhere in the world. I… I just wasn't expecting two orichalcum adventurers to walk into this quiet town."
"Neither were we," I said dryly, slipping the insignia back into my satchel.
The clerk straightened his posture, his demeanor shifting to one of utmost professionalism. "If there's anything you need—anything at all—just let us know. The guild here is at your full disposal."
"We need a detailed map," I said, cutting to the point. "One that covers this region and shows the routes to the next continent."
"Of course," the clerk replied. "I'll get the most comprehensive one we have right away."
As he scurried off to fetch the map, Lilly leaned closer to me, her voice low. "You sure know how to make an impression."
I shrugged. "Sometimes you have to remind people who they're dealing with."
She chuckled softly, though there was a glint of pride in her eyes. Despite the weight of our journey, moments like this reminded me of why we made such a good team.
When the clerk returned, he laid out a large, intricately detailed map on the table. "This is our best map," he said. "It includes every major route, port, and point of interest in the region, as well as the safest passage to the next continent. I'll mark some key locations for you, including areas where supplies can be found."
Lilly and I leaned over the map, studying it carefully. The path ahead was far from easy, but with this map in hand, we were one step closer to finding our way back—and, hopefully, to finding the others.
The clerk carefully folded the map and handed it to me with a slight bow. "This map should guide you through the region and beyond. I've marked the main roads and points of interest. If you follow this path to the southeast port, you'll find ships heading to the next continent."
I nodded, tucking the map into my satchel. "Appreciate it."
Lilly leaned over the map one last time before the clerk folded it, studying the markings closely. "What about potential dangers along the way?" she asked. "Anything we should be aware of?"
The clerk hesitated, then pointed to a shaded area on the map. "There's a stretch of forest you'll have to cross before reaching the port. It's known as the Blackwood. Travelers have reported strange phenomena—disappearances, moving shadows, unnatural silence. No one knows exactly what's causing it."
Lilly frowned. "Sounds like our kind of place."
I smirked, though the clerk's warning stayed in the back of my mind. "We've handled worse," I said, more to reassure myself than anything else.
The clerk nodded hesitantly. "If anyone can handle it, I suppose it's two Orichalcum-ranked adventurers.
With the map secured, Lilly and I left the guildhall and headed back into the bustling streets. The morning activity had grown, with merchants calling out their wares and townsfolk moving about their daily routines. The sea breeze carried the scent of salt and fresh fish, mingling with the aroma of baked goods from nearby stalls.
As we walked, I noticed Lilly was unusually quiet. Her eyes darted from shop to shop, and there was a tension in her shoulders I couldn't ignore.
"You okay?" I asked, keeping my voice low.
She glanced at me, forcing a small smile. "Yeah, just… thinking."
"About?"
She hesitated, then shrugged. "Everything. This journey, what we're trying to do, the people we've left behind." Her gaze drifted toward the ocean visible in the distance. "It feels like there's always something pulling us forward, but I can't help wondering if we're moving in the right direction."
I stopped, placing a hand on her shoulder. "We'll figure it out. One step at a time."
Lilly met my eyes, and for a moment, the tension eased. "Thanks," she said softly.
The rest of the day was spent gathering supplies. We stocked up on food, water, and basic necessities for the trek ahead. The innkeeper, hearing about our plan to leave town, packed us a bundle of fresh bread and cheese as a parting gift.
Before we left the inn, I unrolled the map one last time, tracing the path with my finger. "The Blackwood's our biggest obstacle before the port," I said. "We'll need to stay alert."
Lilly nodded, adjusting the straps on her pack. "And if it's anything like the clerk described, we'll need to be ready for the unexpected."
With our preparations complete, we set out from the town, the sun beginning its descent toward the horizon. The path ahead was clear, but the shadow of the Blackwood loomed in the distance, a dark smear against the golden sky.
By the time we reached the edge of the Blackwood, night had fallen. The forest stood before us like a wall, its dense canopy blocking out the moonlight. The air was colder here, carrying a faint, earthy smell that reminded me of decay.
Lilly unsheathed her weapon, her dragon scales glinting faintly in the darkness. "Something's off," she muttered, her voice barely audible.
I nodded, gripping the knife at my side. Without my sword, I felt more vulnerable than I cared to admit. The relic in my pocket pulsed faintly, a steady reminder of its presence.
We stepped into the forest, the world around us instantly swallowed by silence. The usual sounds of night—crickets, owls, the rustle of leaves—were absent. It was as if the forest itself was holding its breath.
As we moved deeper, the trees seemed to close in, their gnarled branches twisting like grasping hands. Shadows danced at the edges of my vision, fleeting and elusive.
"You see that?" Lilly whispered, her eyes scanning the darkness.
"Yeah," I replied, though I wasn't entirely sure what I had seen.
The whispers started then—soft and indistinct, like a distant conversation just out of reach. I stopped, straining to make out the words, but they slipped away the moment I focused on them.
Lilly tensed, her weapon at the ready. "This place… it's alive," she said, her voice laced with unease.
I nodded, my grip tightening on my knife. "Stay close. Whatever's out there, we face it together."
The whispers grew louder as we pressed on, and the shadows began to take shape. Figures emerged from the darkness, their forms twisted and ethereal. They moved with unnatural grace, their hollow eyes fixed on us.
Lilly stepped forward, her dragon fire igniting in her hands. "Back off," she warned, her voice steady despite the fear I knew she felt.
The figures hesitated, their movements faltering as the light from her flames drove them back. I took the opportunity to grab the relic from my pocket, its glow pulsing in rhythm with the whispers.
The figures recoiled, their forms flickering like dying embers. The whispers faded, and the forest fell silent once more.
Lilly looked at me, her expression a mix of relief and curiosity. "What just happened?"
I stared at the relic in my hand, its light dimming. "I think… it's tied to this somehow."
"We need to get out of here," she said, her tone leaving no room for argument.
By the time we emerged from the forest, dawn was breaking. The sight of open sky and the faint outline of the port in the distance was a welcome relief.
Lilly sighed, her shoulders relaxing for the first time in hours. "That was… intense."
I nodded, slipping the relic back into my pocket. "Whatever that place was, it's behind us now."
As we made our way toward the port, I couldn't shake the feeling that the Blackwood hadn't let us go entirely. The relic's faint pulse was a reminder that our journey was far from over.
The port city ahead held its own mysteries, and with it, the promise of the next step in our quest to reunite with our scattered allies—and to finally find our way back home.
Retro stood still for a moment, staring at the horizon where the port city lay. The morning light painted the ocean in hues of gold and silver, but his eyes were distant, lost in thoughts of everything they'd endured so far. His voice was quiet, almost a whisper, as he spoke.
"I just hope, love… that we can get back home, and everyone is back together again."
Lilly glanced at him, her usual sharp demeanor softening as she placed a hand on his arm. "We'll find them, Retro. And we'll make it back. Together."
Retro gave her a faint nod, though the uncertainty lingered in his eyes. The scene held for a moment, the weight of his words hanging in the air before the view shifted.
---
Nexus: An Unknown Place
The light dimmed and the sound of crashing waves faded, replaced by the rustle of leaves and the distant hum of an unfamiliar environment. Nexus stirred, his body aching as he slowly regained consciousness.
His first sensation was the cool earth beneath him, damp with morning dew. His second was the faint glimmer of sunlight breaking through a canopy of trees above. He groaned, blinking away the haze of sleep and confusion as he tried to sit up.
"What… Where am I?" he muttered, his voice hoarse.
As his vision cleared, he realized he was in the middle of a dense forest. The trees were massive, their roots gnarled and weaving across the ground like ancient veins. Strange glowing fungi clung to the bark, casting faint greenish light. The air was thick with the scent of moss and earth, and the faint sound of running water echoed in the distance.
Nexus clutched his side, his body still sore from whatever had happened before he blacked out. He glanced around, trying to piece together how he had ended up here. The last thing he remembered was…
"Father…" he whispered, his voice trembling. Memories of being separated from Atlas, of their desperate attempts to fight Phantom, flooded his mind.
He reached for the sword at his side—the broken blade that had once belonged to Retro. It was still there, its hilt cold and familiar in his hand. The fractured weapon was more than a relic—it was a tether to the people he had been torn away from.
Standing unsteadily, Nexus took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. The forest was eerily quiet, save for the faint rustling of leaves.
"I need to find them," he said to himself, his grip tightening on the sword. "I need to find a way back."
The camera pulled back, revealing the vast expanse of the mysterious forest Nexus now found himself in, its towering trees stretching endlessly into the horizon. Alone but determined, Nexus began to move, each step taking him deeper into the unknown, toward whatever destiny awaited him.