The aftermath of the dreadful encounter left a vast land, charred from various combinations. The waters of the battle evaporated into the atmosphere — a mix of regrets and grief. The ground mourned its lost glory, its tears felt in the humid wind. In the arid land, XN and Reynolds stood, silence camouflaging their individual resentments.
"By the way, what's your name, young lad?" Reynolds asked — a forced smile stretched to his right.
"XN."
"I see. The past is full of skeletons," Reynolds pursued.
"They don't always grow into roses."
His face, contemplating the soft light of the moon, gradually revealed itself as the smoky canopy dissipated. A tear dropped down his left cheek.
"We should get to the others," XN suggested, his demeanor unchanged.
Together, they carried Manson, who remained unconscious throughout. The weight of the casualty was a tangible burden for both XN and Reynolds.
While the immediate threat was handled, anxiety resonated in the walls of the Nekrolyma cave. The residents were confused and worried in the absence of Reynolds. Among the words of concern, unpleasant whispers rapidly won their thoughts:
"Where's the stranger?"
"He must be behind all this!"
"We should've dealt with that scrap!"
The lamentations and curses grew louder, ramping up from the lake to Sora. He couldn't bear the injustice. Yet—
"I can't condemn my people for the sake of a stranger…"
His teeth clenched in frustration. Valora sat by his right, tranquility embracing her.
"The face may be different, but the heart speaks like us," she said.
Sora gaped, confused by the profundity of her words, but something about her tone was different.
"Valora… you seem to accept him," he replied before pursuing his inquiry.
"But why do you say so?" Sora asked.
"In the midst of rejection, he stayed true to himself," Valora began,
"Even though he knew his life was at stake. Doesn't it remind you of anyone?"
She turned to Sora, her blazing red eyes staring intensely into his, as though she were trying to communicate an image.
Then—
"Vlad…"
Finally, Valora nodded in agreement with Sora's guess.
Shortly after, footsteps echoed from the entrance. The pace was disorganized, accompanied by a dragging sound, as though something were being pulled along the ground.
The intruding noise provoked alertness in the residents. Sora and Valora anxiously watched the entrance, their hands clenched on their hilts. The large shadows cast on the blue-hued walls steadily shrank in size as the footsteps became more distinctive.
"Master Reynolds?"
Sora's eyes widened in joy as Reynolds appeared first.
The panic that saturated the cave was rapidly replaced with relief. Beams replaced the grimaces on their faces as they rushed to receive their leader, more injured emotionally than physically.
Then, all of a sudden, the rowdiness hushed. Manson was unconscious, and Reynolds was accompanied by the 'stranger.'
An uproar burst at the sight of XN, in a less pitiful condition than Reynolds.
"He must be behind it!"
"Why is he still here!?"
Gradually, they began to march, guided by wrath and disgust.
"To death! Let's put him to death!!"
[ROAR!!]
A loud and intimidating sound reverberated, birthing fear in the residents and imposing silence.
It was the Great Silvery Tiger — Reynolds.
Their conviction broken, they listened to Reynolds' monologue.
"I'm still alive. Isn't that what bothered you all?"
Reynolds started, his voice filled with disappointment.
"Do you think of me as capable of inviting danger into our sacred place?"
Then he stared at the soldiers.
"Have you forgotten that he brought you and your fallen comrades back on his own?"
XN watched the scene, his brows slightly relaxing, hiding surprise and regret as he breathed in.
Meanwhile, shame settled incrementally in the crowd. Sora wasn't excluded. He pondered with a sad face.
"Valora was right. I should've reacted."
Reynolds' speech was over. Voices from the crowd conceded as they acknowledged their excesses.
The growing noise became muffled. XN's sight blurred.
"I can't… I can't feel my body…"
A dark fog steadily clouded XN's vision as his body succumbed.
"I guess I overdid it this time…"
XN's last words before passing out.
In the darkness, a door opened. Its groaning sound steadily replaced the external voices, which slowly faded.
A voice traveled through the door.
Something seemed to lurk behind it. A dark substance stretched from a profile that loomed behind the door.
"What now…?"