That night, under a sliver of a moon, they set out for the mountains, their mission to investigate the growing threat of the trolls and Minotaurs, leaving Shu alone with her fear, her heart heavy with the knowledge that her life, and perhaps theirs, would never be the same. The house, once a haven, now felt like a cage, the walls closing in with every echoing footstep outside. She knew, with a chilling certainty, that she was right to be afraid. The monsters were real, and they were closer than she ever imagined.
Raven, Jihu, and Fang had reached the foot of the treacherous Mount Cinder. Their mission: to investigate rumors of monstrous activity plaguing the region. Raven, ever methodical, headed right towards a small village nestled at the mountain's edge. Jihu, known for his quiet observation, took the left path, intending to comb the less populated areas. Fang, the group's powerhouse and most fearless member, boldly ventured into the heart of the mountain, drawn to the whispers of trolls and Minotaurs.
Upon reaching the village, Raven immediately began his inquiries. He approached a weathered man near the well, asking, "Has anything unusual happened here lately? Any strange creatures sighted?"
The man shifted uncomfortably, avoiding eye contact. "No, nothing out of the ordinary," he mumbled, his words betraying a nervousness that contradicted his claim.
Suddenly, a young girl ran up to the man, her face etched with worry. "Father, that man on the mountain… he's very strange! He's always angry, and I don't want to serve him anymore."
Raven seized the opportunity. "Which man are you talking about, child?"
The girl glanced at her father, who frantically gestured for her to remain silent. Sensing the fear griping the man, Raven gently intervened. "I understand your hesitation, but I only want to help. If something is amiss, remaining silent could put you all in danger."
The man hesitated for another moment, before pulling Raven aside. "Okay, okay," he whispered, his voice laced with anxiety. "But please, keep this quiet. Don't attract trouble."
He continued, "A few days ago, a… a creature arrived. Half-human, half-horse. It demands food and lodgings, and he is… imposing."
Raven's blood chilled. A minotaur. Without another word, Raven realized he needed to find Fang. "Is he alone?" he asked quickly.
"Yes, as far as I can tell," replied the man.
Raven turned and sprinted back towards the mountain's centre, his mind racing. He had to warn Fang.
Meanwhile, Jihu, after scouring the left side of the mountain with no luck, also decided to head to the center, hoping to find his companions.
At the mountain's core, Fang was indeed finding more than he bargained for. He noticed patches of viscous, green liquid scattered across the rocks. It looked like vomit, but the stench was overpoweringly toxic. He suspected it was some kind of creature saliva, but he couldn't be sure.
As he ventured deeper, he narrowly avoided a glob of the same toxic substance that sailed past his head. He couldn't see who, or what, was launching these attacks.
Suddenly, another glob came hurtling towards him. This time he wouldn't be so lucky, but just as is about to hit him Raven appeared out of nowhere, pushing him out of the way. The projectile splattered against Raven's arm, causing him to cry out in pain.
"Be careful, Fang!" Raven gasped, clutching his injured arm. "That's troll spit. They're hiding in these caves, I think."
Panic flared in Fang's eyes. Trolls were notoriously vicious and their venomous spittle could be lethal. He cursed his recklessness.
"We need to get out of here," Fang said, scooping up Raven. Ignoring the throbbing agony in his arm, Fang carried the injured Raven and they ran, ducking and dodging more volleys of toxic spit. Finally, they spotted a narrow opening leading to a hollow within a large tree root and they dove inside, finding a temporary respite from the poisonous onslaught outside.
The mountain was proving to be far more dangerous than they had anticipated. Their mission had just become a desperate fight for survival.
The stench of troll spit still clung to Fang's fur. He huddled deeper into the hollow trunk of the ancient oak, Raven whimpering beside him. Their escape had been narrow, a desperate plunge just as the viscous, burning liquid had landed. But the temporary safety was a stark contrast to the chaos that had unfolded on the hill.
Death was indeed dancing in Jihu's head. He'd gone left, circumventing the perceived danger, a lone wolf on the hunt. He'd expected one troll, maybe two. Instead, he faced a horde. The air thrummed with their guttural roars and the thud of their crude clubs. Realization crashed down on him: they were woefully unprepared. They'd underestimated the enemy.
Within minutes, three hulking trolls had him pinned. The next two hours blurred into a brutal, agonizing dance. Jihu, fuelled by adrenaline and desperation, fought with a ferocity he didn't know he possessed. But for every blow he landed, he received two in return. Blood painted his skin, soaking his clothes. His muscles screamed in protest, each breath a ragged gasp. He could barely stand, his vision swimming. Just as he felt his legs give way, a desperate, hopeful cry pierced the din.
Raven and Fang.
Raven, still pallid from the troll poison, launched himself into the fray, claws and beak flashing. But his movements were sluggish, weakened. Each troll blow landed with sickening force, bruising and battering his already fragile frame. He fought on pure grit, the image of Jihu's impending doom fuelling his desperate struggle.
Fang, normally a beacon of divine magic, was stunned. His spells, potent against even the most corrupted creatures, were useless against the trolls. They simply shrugged them off, unaffected. But the trolls' attacks, conversely, landed with full, devastating impact. He knew they had to escape. Somehow. Summoning the last vestiges of his strength, he shoved Raven and Jihu ahead of him, forcing a path through the throngs of trolls.
They stumbled, limped, and clawed their way back towards their haven. But the damage was done. Just before they reached the front of the house, Fang collapsed, a tremor running through his body.
A gasp. Then, two figures burst from the house: Ri and Ash. Fear etched on their faces, they assessed the horrifying scene. Without a word, they moved with practiced efficiency. Ri and Ash hefted Jihu and Fang between them, dragging them inside.
Raven, still reeling, his mind fogged, saw everything through a distorted lens. He pushed himself up, each movement agonizing. He staggered towards the house, where Shu stood frozen in the doorway, her eyes wide with shock. He reached her, his voice a broken whisper, "Forgive me…" and then he crumpled to the ground.
Shu stared, a whirlwind of emotions churning within her. Fear warred with compassion. After a moment of agonizing deliberation, she chose the latter. Shifting Raven's weight, she managed to hoist him onto her shoulders and carried him inside to a spare bed.
When Ri came to retrieve Raven, she saw Shu tending to him. A flicker of something unreadable crossed her face. She simply nodded and left without a word.
Inside, the scene was grim. Shu, Ri, and Ash worked tirelessly, focusing all their efforts on healing the three injured boys. They channelled their spiritual power, pouring every ounce of energy into mending broken bones, stitching torn flesh, and counteracting the lingering effects of the troll poison.
Two hours passed in a blur of focused concentration. Finally, a groan broke the silence. Jihu's eyes fluttered open.
He was met with a strange tableau: Fang and Raven, unconscious beside him, and the three women, radiating an otherworldly glow. He was shocked. How could they have such power? Were they… human?
Before he could voice his questions, Ri, Ash, and Shu turned to leave. Ri paused at the door, her gaze piercing. "If you won't tell us your secret," she said, her voice cool, "why should we tell you ours?"
She added, "Since you are now well, I hope you can take care of your two friends."
Then, they were gone. And Jihu was left alone with his wounded companions, the burning questions swirling in his mind, and the unsettling realization that the world he knew was far more complex, and far more dangerous, than he had ever imagined.