Zyon's eyes snapped open.
Cold stone pressed against his back. A rough cave ceiling hung above him, illuminated by faint light filtering through the entrance.
For a few seconds, he simply stared.
Then the memories hit.
The feast.
The screams.
Sisy Nila.
Rommel disappearing beneath writhing darkness.
The village collapsing.
The giant black serpent rising from the abyss.
His breath caught.
"No. No. No!"
He scrambled to his feet and bolted toward the cave entrance.
"Zyon! Halt!"
The familiar voice stopped him in his tracks.
Master Hound emerged from deeper within the cave, one hand pressed against his side. Cloth shredded from his simple village clothes was wrapped around his ribs, and every step looked painful, but the older man still managed to reach him.
Before Zyon could speak, Hound pulled him into a firm embrace before speaking. "It's alright, Zyon. You're safe."
Warm light flowed from Hound's hands.
The soothing energy spread through Zyon's body, easing the trembling in his arms and slowing his racing heartbeat. His breathing gradually steadied.
A groan came from the opposite side of the cave. Zyon's heart started racing but then he saw who it was.
"Lorenzo!"
The boy slowly sat up, blinking at the cave wall. Usually, he would've made a joke.
This time he said nothing.
The sight alone made Zyon's chest tighten. With tears in his eyes, he spoke softly again, "Lorenzo."
Lorenzo looked over. But Zyon couldn't find any more words to say.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Zyon crossed the cave and wrapped him in a quick hug.
Lorenzo didn't joke about it.
Didn't complain.
He simply hugged him back.
The three sat together near the cave entrance while sunlight slowly brightened the cave more and more.
Nobody seemed eager to talk.
Eventually, while Hound was still holding on to his hurt rib, he broke the silence. "We're.... still here. We.... survived."
Zyon lowered his gaze and now also found his voice.
"Victor..." The next name caught in his throat. "Sisy..."
His fingers tightened. "Rommel..."
The cave grew quiet again.
Hound stared out toward the distant desert. "I know."
The older man's voice sounded softer than usual.
For the first time since Zyon had met him, Hound looked tired. Physically and mentally shaken.
But nevertheless, Hound held his head up and spoke. "They fought so we could live."
A muscle tightened in Hound's jaw before he continued.
"So we're going to survive, no matter what. We owe it to them."
Lorenzo finally spoke.
The words barely rose above a whisper. "We're just kids."
His eyes remained fixed on the cave floor. "How do we survive out there?"
Hound let out a slow breath. "The same way we always did."
Hound pointed toward the desert beyond the cave. "We learn. We adapt. We survive."
His jaw tightened for a brief moment. "And I'll do everything in my power to protect you."
The words sounded confident, but his gaze lingered on the horizon longer than necessary.
Memories of the previous night still clawed at him.
He simply refused to let the boys feel any fear or doubt.
A bit later, Hound carefully rose to his feet and spoke up. "I placed a Light-Veil over the entrance. It was to protect us overnight."
He waved his hand and the boys saw small light particles glow and then dim out.
"Come on. We need water."
The boys exchanged glances and the moment Hound spoke those words, they felt the cracks in their lips.
At first, they hesitated to leave the cave, still shaken by last night, but then followed their master quickly.
The desert greeted them with brutal heat.
By the time the cave disappeared behind them, sweat already clung to their skin.
The journey was slow due to Hound limping and the brutal sunrays that beat down on their backs.
Only Zyon felt different. The sunlight resting on his skin seemed to give him strength rather than take it. The sun was always welcome to him since it allowed him to use his light powers.
The warmth felt familiar and comforting.
Hours passed in silence.
Then Lorenzo suddenly pointed ahead and, with a dry rasp in his voice, he said, "Trees."
Several hardy river trees appeared on the horizon, their deep roots anchored in one of the desert's precious rivers. Around the water grew dozens more trees and thick patches of vegetation, forming a narrow green corridor through the otherwise endless dunes. Where the river flowed, animals gathered, plants flourished, and life endured. A moment later, the welcome sound of rushing water reached them.
The river.
All three picked up their pace immediately.
When they finally reached the riverbank, they collapsed to their knees and drank.
Cold water never tasted so good.
Zyon splashed a handful across his face.
Beside him, Lorenzo drank until he started coughing.
Even Hound looked relieved.
After a few minutes, the older man sat against a tree and let out a long breath. He was contemplating what to tell the kids and what not. 'They are young, but I know they can handle most of the truth. The world outside is going to be wild, and it's best I don't sugarcoat things going further.'
"Listen carefully," Hound spoke up.
The seriousness in his voice immediately got their attention.
"The people who attacked us belong to the Night Void."
The name hung heavily in the air, and neither boy interrupted.
Hound glanced toward the desert. "We don't know if they're still searching nearby, and I'm not exactly in fighting condition."
A faint smile crossed his face before vanishing again. He then commanded, "So if something happens, you run. No playing heroes."
Lorenzo swallowed, and neither of them argued.
A while later, Lorenzo stared at the river's surface before asking, "My parents are gone, aren't they?"
The question came so quietly that Zyon almost missed it.
Hound closed his eyes briefly.
Then nodded.
The answer hit harder than any lie would've.
Lorenzo looked away.
Neither Hound nor Zyon tried filling the silence.
Some grief deserved its moment.
Eventually, Lorenzo wiped his eyes. "Why?"
His voice cracked. "Why did this happen?"
His gaze shifted toward Zyon. "You know something, don't you? You knew all day that something was coming..."
Zyon hesitated before describing what he had heard when those monsters spoke.
"We found him. Tell the masters."
The words felt even worse saying them out loud.
When he finished, Hound remained silent for several moments before speaking. "I have my suspicions."
Both boys leaned forward.
But Hound shook his head. "Suspicions aren't answers."
His gaze settled on Zyon. "And right now, fear won't help us."
Silence fell for a moment.
"I'm sorry." Lorenzo's sudden words surprised them both.
The boy stared at his hands. "I froze." His voice grew smaller. "I couldn't move....
I should've done something," Lorenzo suddenly said with more conviction in his voice.
Zyon immediately shook his head. "Lorry! Everything happened too fast. I also wished I'd done more, but I was completely useless."
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then both boys extended their fists.
"I won't freeze again."
"Me neither."
Their fists met.
A simple promise.
But neither planned on forgetting it.
Hound watched quietly before nodding. "Good."
He pushed himself to his feet and snapped a sturdy branch from a nearby tree. A pulse of light from his fingertips sharpened the tip into a crude spear.
Without another word, he stepped into a shallow part of the river.
The boys watched closely.
Wait. Wait. Wait.
And then THRUST.
The spear struck, and a fish emerged from the water on the tip of the spear.
Then another.
And another.
Within minutes, Hound had dinner.
The boys watched every movement, studied every detail, and absorbed every lesson, knowing the days of relying on others were over.
Hound then turned towards Lorenzo. "Lorenzo, gather some large leaves, the ones down there."
Lorenzo immediately set off.
While he searched, Hound turned toward Zyon. "He'll be a good companion. The bond you boys have is rare. Always treat him with respect."
Zyon looked over.
Lorenzo was already arguing with a plant.
A faint smile appeared on Hound's face.
The words lingered.
Especially after everything they had lost.
A few minutes later, Lorenzo returned carrying an armful of broad leaves.
Hound took them and carefully folded each one into shape.
The boys leaned closer.
Hound kept folding the leaves until soon three cups rested in his hands.
Zyon frowned. "Won't they leak?"
Hound smiled. "Watch."
Soft light flowed across the leaves, changing their shape and fibers, and soon the edges fused together seamlessly.
When the boys filled them with water, nothing leaked.
Lorenzo's eyes widened. "Okay, that's actually cool."
They drank some more, and while the boys were drinking, Hound decided to share his plans going further. "We focus on healing first," Hound said, sitting down carefully and pressing light energy into his own wounds. "While I recover, we gather materials, strong branches, vines, stones, anything useful. I know old ways to craft weapons and simple armor. Nothing fancy yet, but enough to survive."
He looked at both boys. "Once I'm steadier, we head north to a small town called Shallow Cross. The journey will take about three months, but we aren't in a hurry. It's a rough place, but we can find supplies and information there."
Zyon and Lorenzo exchanged determined glances.
When they were done drinking, they helped gather nearby materials, copying Hound's careful selection process.
Since escaping the village, the boys had something to focus on besides grief.
Before the sun slowly crossed the sky, about to set, they decided to move back to the cave where they would temporarily camp.
By evening, the cave was filled with the materials they had collected. Stacks of branches, bundles of vines, and carefully selected stones lined the walls.
None of them knew it yet, but these simple preparations were the first steps of a journey that would one day take them far beyond the desert.