The air grew colder as the three of them worked together to drag the massive icy teeth toward Cadogan. Each step felt like an eternity, the weight of the shards almost unbearable. Ned's arms trembled with exertion, but he refused to stop. Beside him, Dune and Atlas gritted their teeth, hauling their own burdens without complaint.
When they finally reached Cadogan, his faint blue glow flickered like a dying ember. He lay motionless, his breathing shallow, his eyes barely open.
"Cadogan!" Ned called, dropping to his knees beside him.
Cadogan weakly tilted his head toward the icy fragments they'd brought, his voice hoarse.
"Place… the teeth… near me," he whispered.
Dune and Atlas hurried to position the shards in a circle around him, while Ned knelt closer, his heart pounding. As the last tooth was placed, the blue Neba within them began to stir, threads of light stretching toward Cadogan like tendrils of frost.
The air crackled with energy as the shards dissolved into a mist of glowing blue Neba, swirling into Cadogan's body. His wounds began to close slowly but they didn't heal fully. He let out a shuddering breath, his hands trembling as he pushed against the ground, trying to rise.
Ned reached out, steadying him. "Don't push yourself too hard!"
"I… can stand," Cadogan muttered, his voice still weak. Slowly, with Ned's help, he managed to get to his feet, though his weight sagged heavily against him.
Cadogan groaned softly. "The forest… there's a cave… not far," he rasped. "We'll… be safe there."
Dune stepped forward, looking toward the ruined buildings in the distance. His expression hardened as he turned back to his brother. "I'll find the safest route."
Ned blinked. "How are you going to—?"
Before he could finish, Dune activated Nebastep.. He leapt into the air, the sound of crackling Neba echoing through the cold air as another platform appeared mid-jump, then disappeared as he launched higher.
Dune climbed higher into the sky, using the Nebastep to create fleeting platforms that gave him an aerial view of the ruined city. His eyes scanned the landscape, searching for movement. He spotted bunch of monsters prowling near the edge of Fein and deeper into the ruins but also saw stretches of open ground where the danger seemed minimal.
"Got it," he muttered, his voice carried away by the wind. Dune angled himself back toward the group. The platforms flared and vanished with each step until he landed gracefully beside them.
"There's a clear route if we head north, away from the heavier ruins. The monsters are concentrated near the city center and closer to the edge. Just follow me and we will avoid most of them. We will go around and then head towards capital.
Ned adjusted his grip on Cadogan, nodding. "Good. Let's move."
Dune moved ahead, scanning the path while Atlas walked behind them, his weapon drawn and ready. Ned kept close to Cadogan, who leaned heavily against him, his weight dragging at Ned's already-tired body.
As they trudged through the snow, Cadogan's voice broke the silence. "You've grown… stronger," he said weakly, his eyes flickering between Ned and Dune.
Ned forced a smile, though his arms ached from the effort of keeping Cadogan upright. "Well, we had no choice."
After some time, they neared the edge of the forest. "We're almost there, little more."
The forest was silent except for the crunch of snow underfoot as the group found shelter in a small, hidden cave. The entrance was narrow, barely large enough for the group to squeeze through, but inside, it widened into a cold, dark chamber.
Cadogan leaned heavily on Ned as they entered, his body trembling with exhaustion. Once inside, he gestured weakly with his hand, and an icy wall materialized over the entrance, sealing them in. The faint blue glow from the ice bathed the cave in a soft light.
Ned carefully helped Cadogan down onto the stone floor, propping him up against the wall. Dune and Atlas collapsed nearby, both panting from the ordeal. For a long moment, none of them spoke, the silence broken only by the faint crackling of the ice wall as it solidified.
Finally, Dune broke the quiet. "So," he began, his voice low but firm. "What happened in the city, Cadogan?"
Cadogan's eyes drifted over the group, his expression distant as if he were replaying the events in his mind. After a moment, he sighed and began to speak.
"We had two attackers," he said slowly, his voice hoarse but steady. "The first was Matiane… one of the warriors serving King Aramir of Sanatria. It seems his plan was to send you all into the trials."
Dune frowned. "We already suspected the king knew about the trials," he muttered.
Cadogan nodded weakly. "He did. Matiane is protected by Aramir's authority, so there's nothing we can do about him for now. Besides, he claims he had nothing to do with the destruction of Fein. If his words can be trusted, then…Our real enemy is the Blacktooth."
"Blacktooth?" Atlas asked, narrowing his eyes.
"He's a Purple Neba user," Cadogan explained. "I suspect his ability allows him to enslave creatures, he used them to attack Fein. It was chaos. Monsters everywhere. After the battle, he returned to collect the Neba cores left behind by the fallen creatures. I fought against him but he quickly left. I believe his limit is Red Neba, as none of the monsters under his control had anything stronger. I don't know why he attacked us now, but one thing is certain…"
Cadogan's gaze hardened as he looked at the group. "We need to warn the king. Blacktooth won't stop here. He might attack other cities, and next time, it could be worse."
Dune sighed deeply. "Two enemies?" he muttered. And of course, the king knew about the trials… Not surprising, I guess. Even higher ups from other continents knew about them.
Cadogan interrupted his thoughts. "What happened in the trials?"
Atlas was the first to speak, his voice tinged with disbelief. He explained important details of trials to Cadogan. "So the trials were created by the gods themselves. Yeah, they exist. It's still hard for me to wrap my head around, but apparently it's true."
Cadogan chuckled weakly. "Cel will be thrilled."
"Cel?" Ned asked, curiosity flickering in his eyes.
Cadogan coughed before answering. "Ah, right. You wouldn't know him. Cel is the strongest human I've ever met. All he wants is to fight a god. If what you're saying is true and gods really exist, Cel will be the happiest person in Sanatria."
Dune frowned, his confusion evident. "I've never heard of Cel. I thought the strongest human was Cassius, the king's right-hand man. But you're saying it's actually Cel?"
Cadogan's lips curved into a faint smile. "Cassius is officially the strongest Neba user in Sanatria. His Neba is Purple. But Cel? He doesn't care about rankings or recognition. I've seen his power with my own eyes, and I'm telling you, he's stronger."
Atlas leaned forward. "Cadogan, how long will it take for you to heal fully?"
"Few days," Cadogan replied, his voice growing softer. "I'll crystallize myself to speed up the process. Once I'm healed, we'll head to Rendely. It's a seven week walk from here if we keep a steady pace."
Dune nodded. "What about our Zeten marks?"
Cadogan looked at him, confused. "Our marks? What do you mean?"
Without a word, Dune pulled up his shirt, revealing the green Zeten cross etched into his chest. He smirked faintly. "Surprise."
The group stared in shock, Ned looking particularly alarmed. "Dune!" he exclaimed.
Dune quickly raised a hand to calm his brother. "Relax. This was my trial gift, as the god of wisdom and knowledge himself said. Well, it turns out I'm a Zeten now too."
Cadogan sighed deeply, his head leaning back against the wall. "I'll conceal your marks when we reach Rendely," he said after a moment.
"You'll have a safe place to stay, and I'll help you get into the Academy. That's the only way you'll be allowed into the inner city. Trust me, it's better to be inside than stuck in the outer districts."
"Academy?" Atlas asked.
"Yes," Cadogan said. "It'll help you grow stronger, but…" His eyes darkened. "I'll conceal your marks with Blue Neba. It should be enough to keep anyone in the Academy from detecting your true identities. But be careful. If you encounter anyone as strong as me, or stronger, they may see through it. If they do, you'll be killed."
The group exchanged tense glances, but they all nodded in understanding. Cadogan managed a faint smile. "Well then, I'll leave the rest to you boys for now."
As he spoke, the air around him began to shimmer. Crystalline blue material formed over his body, encasing him in a protective shell. The faint glow of Blue Neba pulsed within the ice, and Cadogan closed his eyes, his breathing evening out as he entered his long sleep. The group sat in silence, the glow from Cadogan's cocoon casting soft light around the cave.
The cave was quiet, save for the faint hum of Cadogan's crystalline cocoon. Dune sat in silence for a moment, watching the icy glow pulse faintly. He exhaled and pushed himself to his feet, intending to check on the ice wall blocking the entrance.
But before he could take a single step, a sharp, searing pain shot through his head. He clutched at his temples, his knees buckling as the world around him seemed to warp and distort.
"Agh! What the, what's happening?!" he gasped, collapsing to the floor.
His vision blurred, and in the depths of his mind, millions of voices rose. Whispers, no, screams, filled his thoughts, their words chaotic but undeniably clear:
*"Kill… destroy… wreck havoc… ruin…"*
The vile commands grew louder, threatening to overwhelm him. His body trembled as he clawed at the ground, his breath coming in short, ragged bursts.
"Stop it!" Dune shouted. Suddenly, a firm hand gripped his shoulder. Dune flinched, the whispers momentarily faltering as a familiar voice cut through the chaos.
"Dune! Calm down."
Dune turned his head, his vision still swimming, and saw Ned kneeling beside him. His brother's red Zeten mark glowed faintly, radiating a soothing aura.
"These are whispers," Ned said softly, his voice steady and reassuring. "They're part of being a Zeten. Don't listen to them, Dune. You're strong, you can fight this."
Dune gritted his teeth, sweat streaming down his face as he tried to focus on Ned's words. The whispers clawed at him, urging him to give in, but he forced himself to breathe deeply. Slowly, the voices began to fade, retreating like a tide.
He collapsed onto his side, gasping for air. "Agh… my head," he muttered. Ned stayed by his side, watching him closely.
Dune closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them, his expression a mix of exhaustion and disbelief. So this is what Zetens feel like? This is crazy. I almost lost control… His hand brushed against the glowing mark on his chest. And I don't even have my Zeten animal yet. What happens when I get one? I… I need to get stronger.
He sat up slowly, his breathing still uneven. "I'm okay," he said after a moment, though his voice was shaky.
Atlas, who had been leaning against the cave wall watching the scene, chuckled. "Welcome to the club, Dune. You're officially one of us now."
Dune glanced at him, a weak laugh escaping his lips despite himself. "Shut up," he muttered, shaking his head. Atlas smirked but didn't press further.
Ned finally relaxed, his hand slipping from Dune's shoulder. "You'll get used to it," he said gently. "The whispers will only get worse…Just… don't let them win, okay?"
Dune nodded, his resolve returning as he clenched his fists. "Yeah. I won't."