The Ascent Begins

Smoke and burnt wood still lingered, a terrible reminder of the white dragon's fury hours earlier. As Sije inhaled, the metallic taste of death caught in his throat. He looked at the skeletal ruins of homes, remembering the Overseer's quick rescue that saved this town. "They're lucky they weren't wiped out," he mumbled. Dragons are unpredictable creatures. The Guardian should've known that the White Dragon was close by but still allowed the test to be held here. "

"Hah. I guess we were lucky; we weren't wiped out." Sije chuckled. Zayan and Riju were listening in the back.

Rion, their acting leader, led the group. Her eyes focused on the green arrows painted haphazardly on the charred cobblestones. Sije seemed to be observing their surroundings. Zayan, as always, remained quiet. The group just left him alone. Maybe he'll talk when he feels like it.

After twenty minutes of silent walking, they came to a halt. In the middle of the wreckage, there was an unusual sight. A skinny, pale man, his skin taut over his bones, grasped a girl's hand. Seemed to be his daughter. She stood out with her plump, healthy figure, flushed cheeks, and lustrous locks. They stood out. Both the guy and his kid wore smiles that were abnormally wide—almost uncomfortable. It made Riju feel uneasy.

"Good day!" The man's attempt at a cheerful tone was severely undermined by his weak, somewhat reedy voice. "I'm Tiago, and this is my precious daughter, Priel." With his unwavering gaze fixed on his daughter, he bowed with a clumsy motion. In the middle of this ruined place, Priel let out a high-pitched giggle. It was so out of place, thought Riju.

"We are the family you'll be helping," Priel interrupted, her father's fingers squeezed. "They said we would be in your care now." She grinned at them, her expression frighteningly similar to her father's. Something very uncomfortable about their interactions—the mirrored looks, the almost fake friendliness—was palpable. It had the air of being staged.

Riju didn't know if the others noticed, but Rion didn't seem like she could care less. She's an impatient and straightforward person. "We don't need to explain, right? We will be with you for three days. Let's get to it. What do you need?" Her tone was curt, not even a bit of warmth, not even in those red eyes.

Riju looked like a child; his gaze was filled with curiosity. He found the father and daughter a bit creepy, but most of his attention was focused on his group, mostly with Rion. It's as if he viewed her like an adult he could depend on despite just meeting her and having hardly any interactions yet.

Sije, on the other hand, paid as much attention as he could to keeping an eye on the father and daughter. In stark contrast to Priel's immaculately kept garments, he noticed Tiago's worn-out clothing and the way his sleeves drooped over his skinny arms. His daughter shone like the sun, and the dad seemed to have aged a few decades in just a few days based on the way he moved.

"We actually volunteered for this. We needed help." Tiago said. "It's about my wife. You see, she's a hunter. Three days ago, she went to the forest on the left of the town." He made a feeble motion towards the thick forest that enveloped the town's burned ruins.

"Hunting is our main livelihood here. She's stronger than me, and her father was also a hunter, so she provides for us while I care for our daughter, " he added. "... She hasn't come back since."

As Sije was aware, the town of Madoc was not a place for wealthy people to live. The members of this town made their living by hunting in the forest on the western side of the town. It was an average community. It provided fur and meat. A wide plain, located to the east, provided grazing for their livestock. Up until this point, life was quite simple.

He has never set foot in this town before, but he has read numerous books to aid in his preparation for his ascension. While he may not know everything, his knowledge certainly surpasses that of his team members. The forest, referred to as Tibuere, had served as a refuge for witches who were hunted and killed during the purge that took place decades ago, fifty years prior.

Many restless souls dwell there, along with cursed objects and more. Could the wife have fallen victim to that? After all, this forest was not known for its monsters or beasts, not even wolves.

Aside from that, Sije watched as Tiago carefully rested his hand on Priel's head, his eyes still focused on her face. They exchanged smiles, the same unsettling, unnatural grin. Sije felt a chill, and he wondered if the others felt it, too. This wasn't merely a family looking for assistance. There was something profoundly, disturbingly off.

"Alright, got it. Your wife hasn't returned from hunting after three days, correct?" Rion said voice clipped.

"That's right. We're starting to get worried. The longest time that she was away was less than a day, after all." His voice was weak, but he still had a small smile on his lips.

"Can you give us more details? Her height, appearance, clothing, and the route she usually takes while hunting?"Rion asked, her voice flat. "My wife's about 5'6 with short brown hair. She always wears her green cloak and leather jerkin while hunting. She also uses a short sword and a small hunting knife. She talked about liking to hunt near a river, about a mile into the forest."

Sije interjects. "Although it's not usual for large predators to be in the forest. We should be careful of supernatural entities. About fifty years ago, that forest served as a refuge for the witches when they were hunted and killed. It would be wise to consider all possibilities."

This caught Zayan's attention, and his head shifted slightly. Riju, on the other hand, listens intently, taking in every word.

The conversation continues. "Let's make a plan first. We're going to search the forest near the river, following the path most likely taken by Tiago's wife. Is there any other place she likes to go hunting?" Rion inquired. Tiago seemed to ponder when Priel interrupted.

"Mommy likes to hunt in the center of the forest, too. Uncle Jude said so. They sometimes go together." This caught everyone's attention. Priel, who had been smiling eerily just moments ago, now wore a serious expression. Her gaze was hard and intense, and her head was slightly tilted to the side. It's as if she was a different girl than a while ago.

Even Tiago, her father, Tiago looked at her as if he were in a trance. His mouth was slightly open. The fingers that were holding onto Priel's small hands were slightly shaking.

These details did not escape the group's notice. Something is definitely off with this family. Additionally, there's this guy, Jude.

"Is Jude missing?" Sije asked. The little girl then shook her head, replying, "Only mommy. But we haven't seen Uncle Jude since a lot happened." Her eyes looked around the surroundings, pointing out the chaos that had occurred.

Sije threw a knowing look towards Rion. She nodded towards him.

"We understand. Give us a moment to talk between ourselves." She turned around and led our group a bit farther from the two.

"There is more to the story." Sije began, and the group nodded in agreement. "They don't seem upset for someone who lost a mother and a wife. Look at their expressions, too, and their state. Maybe it's just me, but that doesn't look like a loving family. The only reason that could say otherwise is their smile, and even that is weird." Sije spoke in a low tone. Just audible enough for the group to catch. This was his own opinion. Zayan and Rion chose not to respond, but Riju seemed to agree with him.

For the first time since Riju joined them, Zayan finally spoke. "Let's search for this, Jude. I think he's important, too." Everyone looked at him, each lost in their own thoughts.

"I agree. We'll split into pairs. Two of us will seek for this Jude while the other two will search for the missing wife. Who will pair up with whom?" Rion asked, but Sije had additional thoughts to share first. He raised his hand.

"We will be searching for Jude in this town and the wife in the forest, right?"

"Correct," Rion replied. Seemingly having reached a conclusion, Sije adjusted his clothes. He then met everyone's gaze and stated, "I will go look for the missing wife. I am familiar with this forest, although I lack experience."

"I've never been in a forest before. I think I'll stay in town."

"I'll go with you," Zayan said, moving a step closer to Rion. That leaves... everyone turned to Riju. "I've been in a forest before, " he said as if attempting to prove his worth. Sije laughed softly and ruffled Riju's hair.

"Let's proceed." But before they could leave, Tiago and his daughter rushed toward them.

"Excuse us, but can we accompany you? I've overheard the other half of your conversation. I know my way a bit in the forest. I lived here all my life. And my daughter likes to play around town. She could help you find Jude. He's very close with my family, especially my wife since they've been neighbours before." Tiago said, his voice slightly rushed.

'I don't like this. Please don't agree,' Sije thought to himself. He let Rion decide for the group, so he kept quiet. Making decisions that concerned other people was beyond him. But before Rion could even answer, Riju answered him first.

"Sure. You could come with us. But you have to walk in the front. You know more about the forest, right?" Slightly, Rion's eyes widened, and Sije was a bit surprised. He thought he was just going to stay silent until the end of this test. Guess he's wrong. But what could the kid be thinking? Does he have a plan, or does he genuinely believe in the father? Whatever it was, he actually prayed to the Rion to intervene.

In the end, she didn't. Tiago and his daughter smiled, and they began their search.

As they arrived at the forest's entrance, night was nearly upon them. The remnants of daylight spilled across the sky, casting the western horizon in shades of dark purple and bright orange, colours that brought back memories of the fires for Riju.

Tiago was at the forefront of their group. Sije felt uneasy about Tiago accompanying them; he wasn't comfortable with the idea but had no choice but to go along. Occasionally, he would steal a glance at Riju, wondering, 'What was going through his mind?'

If he ever discovered that Riju's decision was based solely on a feeling, he would be upset. Riju believed that with Tiago joining them and Priel with Rion, they could unravel the mystery.

"Gentlemen, nightfall is approaching. I think we forgot to bring a torch or flashlight?" Tiago hesitated as he looked back. Sije, attempting to mask his discomfort with Tiago's presence, smiled slightly. "It's not an issue. I have my own methods."

Riju felt intrigued. He examined Sije from head to toe and realized he had no visible means of producing light. What was he alluding to?

"I understand. If you need a drink, let me know. Before we reach the river, there is an old well where hunters occasionally stop for water," Tiago offered. His tone was quieter than usual. The wind rustled the leaves, and Sije felt a chill creep in. How old was this well? If it had been there for over fifty years, wasn't it rumoured to be a place where the bodies of deceased witches were disposed of? The thought induced a chill down his spine. He should start providing light now; the darkness was creeping in quickly.

He extended his right hand, and a small flare of white energy flickered from his fingertips. Riju was astonished and filled with wonder. Was it possible for him to do that? He thought to himself. The only person he knew capable of such a thing was his father. Throughout his fifteen years of life, he had encountered many people, yet his father was the only one with that gift. Even his mother lacked such a skill. Though she was no ordinary person herself.

The luminous beam expanded several meters ahead. Both Tiago and Riju seemed awestruck.

"You're incredible, Sije. No wonder you don't require a flashlight," Riju exclaimed, impressed. Sije merely shook his head and replied, "Nonsense, this is just the basics. Can't you do something like this? I can't quite articulate it, but I believe you have talent and potential as well."

As he spoke, he recalled that day in the central square when they first officially gathered. The moment Riju approached them, Sije sensed a surge of power within him, along with the fact that he appeared to be wounded prior to tier 3. The scar on his throat had been evident then. Even his voice had been hoarse. In such a short amount of time, he observed how Riju was walking and standing tall. His complexion had returned to normal, and the scar on his neck was gone. He carried himself as if he hadn't been gravely hurt. This boy was anything but ordinary, he mused.