[ Zetens 58/100 ]
The sun climbed higher, casting long shadows as Dune and Elijah moved deeper into the forest.
Elijah tilted his head, still smirking as he rested his sword on his shoulder. "Tell me something, Dune. Did you feel bad when we killed that guy?"
Dune met his gaze, unflinching. "Not really," he admitted. "Having a reason to kill makes me less regretful and sad about the death of someone. But if I can avoid it, I will. Especially killing the innocent."
Elijah let out a short chuckle, shaking his head. "See, When i know that i don't like this person, I don't feel anything at all." His fingers drummed against the hilt of his sword. "I just kill them. That simple."
Dune didn't react, just listened him in silence.
Elijah took a step closer, his smirk fading just slightly. "But I do like people who don't lie to my face. People who own up to what they are, what they want." People who don't lie to themselves. You're not pretending to be something you're not. That, I can respect."
Dune exhaled through his nose, neither grateful nor offended. "And what does that mean for you?"
Elijah grinned again, taking a casual step back. "Means I don't hate you. Yet… you showed me power and determination, you were honest about your feelings and goals, and didn't feel ashamed of it. If i killed you back then i would definitely regret it now."
"I see" Dune answered calmly.
They pressed on, the forest gradually thinning until they reached a clearing. At its center lay the remains of a village. Crumbling stone walls, shattered windows, and abandoned structures jutted from the earth like skeletal remains.
"Charming," Elijah said, eyeing the ruins.
Dune's gaze was fixed on a massive building in the heart of the village. It stood taller than the rest, a weathered stone structure with arched windows and a spire that stretched toward the sky.
"That's the center," Dune said. "If the island's sinking, this will go last."
"Then let's get cozy," Elijah replied with a smirk.
The air inside the building was musty, heavy with the weight of time. Dust motes swirled in beams of light filtering through the cracked windows. The main hall was vast, its stone floor littered with debris.
They barely had time to take it in before a voice rang out.
"Stop right there."
Ahead of them, five figures emerged from the shadows. Each was armed, their stances tense but controlled. At the front stood their leader, a tall man with long black hair tied loosely at the nape of his neck. His thin beard framed sharp cheekbones, and his piercing gaze locked onto the newcomers.
Elijah's hand moved toward his sword, his grin widening. "Well, this could be fun."
Dune stepped forward quickly, his tone calm but commanding. "We're not here to fight."
The long-haired man raised a hand, and the others lowered their weapons slightly. "Then why are you here?" he asked, his voice smooth but wary.
"We know this island is sinking," Dune replied. "The forest, the water, it's all falling apart. This building is the highest point on the island. If we're going to survive, it's here."
The man studied Dune for a long moment, his dark eyes narrowing. "You'll survive if I let you."
Dune met his gaze steadily. "That's right. We'll stay out of your way. Maybe floor above us will do."
Elijah shot Dune a sidelong glance but stayed silent, though his fingers still twitched near his sword.
The leader's lips twitched into a faint smirk. "You don't scare easily, do you?" Dune didn't answer, keeping his expression neutral.
Finally, the man nodded. "Fine. You can stay. The floor above. But let me make this clear." He stepped forward, his presence looming. "No funny business. You pull anything, and you're both dead before you hit the ground."
Dune inclined his head. "Fair enough."
Elijah chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Oh, I like him."
The leader ignored him, turning to his team. "Keep an eye on them," he said sharply.
The group parted, letting Dune and Elijah pass. As they climbed the stone staircase, Elijah leaned in close to Dune.
"You do know you just put us on the second floor of a sinking island, right?"
Dune glanced back briefly, his expression unreadable. "It's temporary. Like everything else here."
Elijah laughed quietly, his steps echoing as they disappeared into the upper floor.
The second floor of the tower was little more than an empty room, its cracked walls letting in slivers of light. Elijah sat slouched against a wall, lazily flipping his blade in his hand. His blue eyes flicked to Dune, who stood near the window, staring out into the forest.
"You know," Elijah began, his tone casual but laced with irritation, "this whole 'sharing the tower' thing? It's stupid. We could've taken those five out and been done with it."
Dune didn't look at him. "We don't need the extra fight right now, i'm still healing. The island's enough of a problem."
Elijah snorted. "Yeah, well, with them gone, it'd be one less problem." He stood, gesturing toward the floor below. "We could've cleared this place in two minutes. I wouldn't even break a sweat."
Dune finally turned to face him. "You can't just kill anyone you meet, we must also use this opportunities to gather more information."
Elijah rolled his eyes. "A bunch of nobodies playing guard dogs while we sit here waiting for the ground to swallow us up?"
Dune shrugged. "It's temporary."
"Yeah, so is everything on this island bla bla," Elijah muttered. He sheathed his sword, leaning back against the wall. "I'm just saying, we're wasting time."
Dune didn't respond, his mind already on a different track.
Minutes passed in silence, broken only by the occasional creak of the old stone tower. Dune paced the room, his thoughts racing. The island was sinking, and time wasn't on their side. He needed to find Atlas and Ned, and do it fast.
Finally, he stopped pacing and turned to Elijah. "I'm going out."
Elijah's eyebrow arched. "Out? Into the forest?"
"Yes," Dune replied firmly. "I need to find Atlas and Ned. If this place is going under, i can't leave them out there."
Elijah smirked. "And here I thought you liked it just being the two of us."
Dune sighed, pulling on his gear. To his surprise, Elijah shrugged, the smirk still on his face. "Fine. Go ahead."
Dune blinked. "You're… agreeing?"
"Sure," Elijah said, turning back to the window. "I'll stay here and play babysitter to our new neighbors. But don't expect me to come rescue you if you get into trouble."
Dune hesitated, narrowing his eyes. "You're okay with this?"
Elijah chuckled, glancing over his shoulder. "Why wouldn't I be? You'll come back eventually. You don't have much of a choice if this rock's going under, do you?"
Dune frowned but didn't argue. Elijah was right, he would have to return, whether or not he found Atlas and Ned.
Elijah waved him off. "Go, I'll keep your seat warm. Don't take too long, rabbit."
Without another word, Dune jumped out of the window and descended on another building, leaving Elijah alone with his thoughts.
Dune moved swiftly through the trees, his steps light and deliberate. The air was thick, and the eerie quiet of the forest pressed in around him.
He had no idea where Atlas and Ned might be, but he couldn't afford to waste time. If they were still alive, they'd likely be moving toward the center of the island too. That gave him a direction, at least.
He picked up his pace, leaping over fallen branches and weaving through the dense undergrowth. The forest felt alive, shifting and watching, but Dune kept moving, his eyes scanning for any sign of his brother or Ned.
Dune slowed his pace as he reached a small clearing, the dense canopy above giving way to reveal patches of the sky.
Clenching his jaw, Dune sprinted toward the nearest massive tree. Its thick, gnarled trunk rose high above the others, branches stretching into the sky like twisted veins.
Without hesitation, he began to climb, using Nebastep on his feet to boost him upward with explosive bursts. Bark splintered beneath his boots as he ascended.
When he reached a sturdy branch near the top, he perched and looked out across the forest. His breath caught.
The island was crumbling.
From this height, he could see it all. The waterline, dark and glistening, had crept further inland. Parts of the forest were already submerged, their tips barely visible above the waves of black Neba.
The ruins of the village stretched out below, looking smaller from up here, and in the distance, the tower still stood defiantly against the shifting landscape.
Dune narrowed his eyes, spotting movement in the village ruins. A few figures wandered aimlessly between the crumbled buildings. Zetens.
[ Zetens: 55/100 ]
Still 45 more to go.
Focus, he told himself. But then, a sound shattered the quiet, deep, rolling booms that echoed through the forest. Explosions.
Dune's head snapped toward the source. In the distance, through the haze and the skeletal trees, he saw it, flashes of red light blooming in rapid succession. The air seemed to ripple with each blast, the faint traces of fiery Neba unmistakable.
His heart slammed against his ribs.
"Ned…" he whispered, his hands tightening into fists.
He didn't hesitate. With a single step, he launched himself off the branch, Nebastep igniting beneath him in a flurry of controlled detonations. He shot through the air like a streak of light, darting toward the source of the explosions.
The trees blurred past him as he propelled himself forward, the crackling hum of Nebastep echoing in his ears. He landed briefly on a high branch, only to leap off again, his momentum carrying him faster and higher. The explosions grew louder, closer.
*Hold on, Ned,* Dune thought, his heart racing.
*I'm coming.*