<h4>Chapter 24: Trails of Smoke</h4>


    I regretted not taking some water with me. The mountain pass had no water sources in or around it, at least as far as I could see. At first, I didn''t think it''d be such a huge issue. I didn''t think it''d take me more than a few hours to reach the end.


    As the sun set behind the massive mountains surrounding me, I hastened my steps. As the two moons shone brightly in the sky, I started running. Nighttime was when demons ran rampant. Using Fallen Grace, I pushed my limits hoping to find another crystal to protect me through the night.


    As my mana depleted, I finally slowed down. I wasn''t even halfway through the night yet and I already felt exhausted. My back ached from running for so long on this uneven, harsh terrain. Out of breath, I leaned on arge rock.


    How on earth had Erik and the others gotten past this ce? Even with my increased speed, it had taken me such a long time to get here and there was still no end in sight.


    I heard the sound of feathery wings. My already racing heart skipped a beat as Vixia gracefullynded before me. In a panic, I backed off and reached for my inventory to grab a weapon, but a cold hand grasped my wrist and twisted my arm behind my back.


    "The hell!" I shouted as pain shot up my arm.


    "Be gentle, Delthur." Vixia softly said as she stepped closer. She was wearing a half-dress as dark as the night sky. Her pale skin reflected the moonlight like a marble statue.


    I heard Delthur''s dry voice. "He''s stronger. I can''t afford to be too gentle, Lady Vixia." His grip only tightened as I felt a cold de on my throat. "And you," His voice cracked. An awkward moment passed as he cleared his throat. Vixia just shrugged and rolled her eyes as we waited for him.


    "Don''t try to do anything if you value your life." He finally spoke. I gulped; I could feel the de cutting into my skin.


    "Now then," Vixia approached me and pushed my hair back, revealing my face. "As I thought." She said with a smile. "Congrattions on ying the Cursed One." Her smile was gentle and warm. For only a moment, I couldn''t help but want to see her smile more.


    As soon as she stepped back, I blinked a few times. What the hell was I thinking?


    "It didn''t work." Delthur said with a monotonous voice.


    Vixia shrugged. "I didn''t expect it to. Anyways, where are you running off to in the middle of the night?" Her smile faded. "I don''t remember allowing you to leave." Her harsh, cold voice sent shivers down my spine. She firmly grabbed my chin and forced me to look at her. "Remember, you''re only alive because I willed it."


    "What the hell do you want from me?" I shouted as soon as she let go of my chin. I couldn''t understand why they''d let me live only to threaten me like thister on.


    She pondered a moment. "Many things." A mischievous smile shed across her face. "But nothing you can provide me with at the moment." She pped her wings, creating a small whirlwind around us. "So, what''re you doing out here?"


    I looked away. I needed to find a way out of this. Thoughts raced in my mind.


    "Answer her." Delthur coldly said. I screamed as his w-like nails dug into my arm. "Now." I felt the cold metal de pierce my skin.


    "Alright!" I shouted. "Just... let go, please?" My voice trembled.


    "Aww, look at that." Vixia ran her fingers through my hair. I felt sick, I didn''t want her anywhere near me. It took all my willpower to not shout at her to stay away. Instead, I lowered my head and looked away.


    She chuckled. "Let go of him, Delthur."


    I barely suppressed a mischievous smile. I couldn''t believe they bought such a simple act.


    "Are you sure, mydy?" His grip didn''t loosen a bit. I wouldn''t call him smarter than Vixia, but he was more wary of me for some reason. She nodded. He finally let me go. I immediately backed off until my back leaned on the cliff face. To be honest, I didn''t really think I had a chance against them. But at least this way I wasn''t constantly in pain.


    "He''s adorable." She said with a disgusting voice. She pitied me. Being so much weaker than her just made everything worse.


    "Only you''d say that." Delthur coughed and cleared his throat. "Anyways, answer her." He stared at me.


    Holding my still aching wrist, I kept looking at the ground as I spoke with as weak a voice as I could fake.


    "I was just trying to get away from there." I hesitated. Thoughts and ns whirled in my mind. Wasn''t there any way I could escape? "It''s too dangerous there, I just wanted to go somewhere safer." My voice trembled. Was I overdoing it?


    My heart raced as silence covered the narrow pass. Had I fooled them?


    I heard footsteps. A cold hand brushed against my neck. I flinched, what the hell was she doing?


    "Too dangerous, you say?" I felt her warm breath on my cheek. "Liar." Something crackled as a bolt of dark lightning leapt from her fingers towards me. My legs went numb as I screamed in pain.


    I copsed on the ground as she chuckled. "Let this be a lesson. Do not lie to me, Kai Friseal." She raised her finger as lightning danced around it. "Now, let''s try this again. Where are you going?"


    I clenched my teeth. I reached for my inventory again and this time, my sword materialised in my hands before they could stop me. Hopeless, I took a wild swing at her which Delthur promptly blocked.


    "You''re one against two. Both of us can easily crush you and you''re on the ground. On top of all that, did you really just try to attack us?" Delthur asked in disbelief. He reached down and took my sword away as if I were a small child.


    It was embarrassing. I''d never felt so powerless in my life, not even against that horned lion.


    "I asked you a question, Kai Friseal." She spoke slowly and clearly. I gulped as fear gripped my throat. I took a shallow breath.


    "I don''t know." I quietly answered. "I just wanted to find someone else. Anyone." I said with a catch in my voice. I wasn''t lying, I had been on my own for so long, I couldn''t bear it anymore.


    I flinched as she reached towards me. Had she realised I wasn''t telling her the whole truth? I prepared myself for more pain and lightning, but instead she gently stroked my head. "See, that wasn''t so difficult." She said with a gentle tone. "You''re not far from the settlement, it''s just an hour or so away." She gestured towards the east, then stood up and stepped back. "I''ll see you again soon, Kai Friseal. Do try and stay alive until then." She said with a bewitching voice.


    "You''ll be able to move in a few minutes." Delthur said, then paused and cleared his throat again. He thrust my sword into the ground, then stretched his massive wings wide. With a mocking grin, he waved at me before they both flew off.


    I stared after them as they disappeared in the dark night sky. What was all this about? I had so many questions and so few answers about all this. I impatiently waited until I could feel my legs again. Then, I slowly pushed myself on my feet and, with wobbly steps approached my sword and pulled it out of the ground. After cing it in my inventory, I nced towards the direction Vixia pointed at. Was I really only an hour away or was she lying?


    Whether it was a lie or not, I had no choice but to head that way. It was the only lead I had. My unsteady steps carried me towards the east as I racked my brain trying to figure out what their goal was. Lost in thought, I noticed a smell. The smell of smoke. I looked up to see several trails of smoke rising to the sky, slowly dissipating with the wind. I spotted something behind therge rocks. My steps hastened and I hurried towards the smoke until I finally saw them.


    Several buildings were lined up on both sides of a dusty road.