Chapter 96 – Leaving a Trail of Dust

Chapter 96

Leaving a Trail of Dust

Date : Day 11 of Grimleaf 1024 Aethellgard Concord Year.

Hyoren exited the main tunnel of the quarry. The dual suns of Kresneger started to descend. Sol and Luna hung low in the sky. Their light was golden. Orange. Fading. They would be gone in approximately two hours. The shadows stretched long across the quarry floor. The air was cooling. The wind picked up.

He fixed the position of Elise on his shoulder. Adjusted her arms. Secured her legs. And started running again. Through the shacks of the goblin settlement. The structures were silent. They were empty and abandoned. Through the remnants of the settlement. The bodies. The blood. The destruction. Through the gate. The path was clear.

He climbed the basin. His feet found purchase on the rocky slope. The ascent was steep. Following the main path. The trail wound upward. And entering the forest. The trees swallowed him. The shadows deepened.

He continued running through the forest. Pine trees blurred around him. Rocks. Ridges. Hills. The world passed in a haze of green and brown. His feet pounded against the earth. His breath came in steady rhythm. His muscles burned with effort.

"My speed is still slow... even fueled with Berserker and boosted by Stamina potion."

He grimaced. The frustration built. He might not reach Akela before the dual suns set. The light was fading. The darkness was coming. The weight of Elise slowed his pace. Her body was limp against his back. Her breathing was still shallow. Still weak.

He continued running while thinking. His mind raced. His legs pumped. The forest blurred.

"I once got Aethell Sense when forcefully pouring Aethell to my eyes. What if I did the same to my legs? Forcibly strengthened it with Aethell?"

He slowed down a bit. Trying to focus his Aethell core. The energy center in his chest pulsed. With Magic Manipulation level three, the work of making Aethell inside his body move became faster. More efficient. The flow was smoother. The control was better. He poured Aethell into his legs. The energy flowed downward. Through his thighs. Through his knees. Through his calves. Into his feet.

His legs started to burn. The muscle powered by Aethell groaned in protest. The pain was sharp. Intense. But it made his stride a bit faster. Each step was longer. Each push was stronger.

He gritted his teeth. Continued running. Faster this time. Strengthened by Aethell. The trees passed quicker. The ground blurred more. The distance shrank.

Then after a few minutes of running while holding back pain in his legs, the notification chimed. The sound was clear. Distinct. Welcome.

"Strong Legs - Skill Acquired."

The Voice of Aethell notified him. He had acquired a new skill. His effort to hold back pain in his burning leg got rewarded. The pain was worth it. The struggle had meaning.

This new skill of his. Powered up his legs. When activated. It not only made him run faster. But it boosted all of his leg parameters. He could jump higher. He could plant his feet better to brace for enemy impact. The versatility was clear. The applications were numerous.

Hyoren did a triumphant pose in his mind. The satisfaction was real. The achievement was earned. Then he activated his skill. The words left his lips.

"Strong Legs."

Then the effect was instantaneous. His running became faster. His legs surged with power. His stride lengthened. His pace quickened. He ran like a whirlwind. The forest blurred past him. The trees became streaks of brown and green. The ground disappeared beneath his feet. The wind roared in his ears. The destination was closer. Elise's life depended on his speed. And he was not going to fail her.

***

Hyoren kept running. The forest blurred around him. The trees became streaks of green and brown. He avoided rocks. He followed the main path. The trail wound through the wilderness. His feet found purchase on the earth. His legs pumped with berserker-fueled power.

Then a lone goblin appeared in front of him. The creature was thin. Starving. Desperate. It stood in the middle of the path. Its eyes were wide. Its posture was aggressive.

Might be a straggler from Hifoppe's Army. Or just lone goblins which wandered here. The distinction didn't matter. The threat was real.

He couldn't use his spear as he needed to hold Elise steady. One hand secured her body. One hand was free. He quickly took his Cinder-maw Dagger. The blade was warm in his grip. He lit it on fire. The flames erupted from the metal.

"Precision Throw."

The throw was perfect. He didn't even glance at the goblin as its head burned. The creature fell. The body crumpled. The flames consumed its life. The threat was eliminated.

"Sigh... I need to let go of my trusty dagger. I couldn't be bothered to stop to take them from their corpse."

The trusty Cinder-maw dagger which had already accompanied him from the Forest of no Return. Reduced by one. The loss was necessary. The time was precious.

He almost went sentimental. The memories surfaced. The forest. The survival. The journey. But Elise's condition was deteriorating the more time he wasted. He couldn't be bothered to take back his thrown dagger. Her life was worth more than a blade.

Her breath was more ragged but more shallow. The rhythm was wrong. The depth was insufficient. He felt a trickle of sweat drenched from her forehead. Her perspiration was cold. Clammy. He felt Elise keep getting weaker and weaker. Her skin kept getting colder in his arms. The warmth was fading. The life was draining.

"Please hold on, Elise. We will arrive at the city soon."

He continued running through the forest path. The trees passed. The shadows lengthened. The slope started to become gentle. He descended from the hill. The terrain flattened. The path widened.

Then another goblin appeared. The creature was thin. Ragged. Starving. Another straggler. Another obstacle.

Another Cinder-maw dagger was thrown and not recovered. The blade flew. The fire burned. The goblin fell. The dagger was lost.

"Damn it. Did we fail to finish every goblin??"

He was frustrated. He needed to rush. But the monsters kept holding him back. Every encounter cost time. Every stop cost seconds. Every delay was dangerous.

He continued running. His hand touched his belt. The leather was lighter. There were only two daggers left on his belt. The count was dwindling. The weapons were disappearing.

Hyoren continued to run. Now he had already arrived at the foothills. The terrain changed. The forest thinned. The path became clearer.

He saw the beaten path to the alcove he and Elise spent the romantic and intimate night before. The trail curved beside the lake. The bushes were familiar. The trees were recognizable. It was just five days ago. But now it felt so distant. So far away. Like a memory from another life.

He gripped Elise's hand tighter. Her fingers were cold. Limp. Unresponsive.

"You will be safe, Elise. Just wait."

He glanced at the beaten path for the last time before he picked up his pace. The path disappeared behind him. The alcove faded into memory.

"Then we can go back to that beautiful alcove again. I promise."

A cloud of dust rose behind him. The trail marked his passage. The speed was relentless.

He now ran on the path beside the lakeview. The water stretched to his left. The dual suns started to descend on their horizon. Sol and Luna. Mirrored in the lake. On his left. The orange and silver light reflected on the still water. The colors bled together. Gold and silver merged.

The view was breathtaking. The lake was calm. The sky was painted with colors. The mountains were silhouetted against the fading light. But Hyoren didn't even glance at it. The beauty was lost on him. The scenery was irrelevant.

His bloodshot eyes focused on the front. On the destination. On Akela. Where someone might save his lover. The path was clear. The goal was close.

Two horned rabbits suddenly appeared from the field on his right. Both of them jumped on him. Attacking like rabid beasts. The horns were sharp. The eyes were wild. The movement was fast.

He cursed. The word was sharp. Angry. Berserker fueling his bubbling anger.

"Damn it. Why are there so many monsters blocking our path? Those goddamn rabbits always run away before!"

He quickly threw the last two remaining Cinder-maw daggers from his belt. The blades flew through the air. The fire erupted. The daggers struck true. The rabbits burned. The creatures fell. The path was cleared.

He continued running towards Akela. Not sparing a glance at the two burning rabbits behind him. The smell of charred flesh filled the air. The sound of dying squeals faded.

"I have no weapon left... and I can't wield a spear with Elise in my back."

He took a skinning steel knife from his storage bag. The blade was small. Thin. Designed for preparing game. Not for combat. It was not a weapon to attack. But it was better than nothing. The metal was cool in his hand. The edge was sharp.

"Maybe they think we became easy prey as Elise is so weak? Damn it. I need to run faster. I need to avoid every encounter. I don't have a dagger anymore."

He increased his pace. His legs burned with effort. His lungs strained for air. If someone else looked at him they would only see a blur and a cloud of dust moving at high speed. The motion was impossible. The speed was inhuman.

His running speed was already faster than a horse. He ran like a madman. The berserker fueled his body. The stamina potion enhanced his muscles. The strong legs skill powered his stride.

The forest and lakes on his right and left blurred. The world became streaks of color. The ground disappeared beneath his feet.

In the corner of his eyes he saw another three horned rabbits. Ready to pounce towards him from the field on his right. The creatures were crouched. Their muscles were tensed. Their horns were aimed.

"Damn it. Is this recreational day for fucking rabbits? Why do they keep appearing and blocking my path! Fucking pest!!!"

He didn't have any throwing dagger to be thrown. The belt was empty. The weapons were gone. He gripped his skinning knife. The blade was small. Inadequate.

"I will try to evade their charge and then run past them."

The three rabbits then lunged at him. Their straight and curved horns gleamed under the orange and silver hue of the dual suns set. The light caught the keratin. The points were sharp. Deadly.

The first one lunged. He sidestepped. The movement was quick. The horn passed inches from his side. The air displaced. The creature missed.

The second one charged its horn aiming at his torso. He poured more Aethell into his legs. The energy surged. The power flowed. And he jumped. The leap was high. The clearance was sufficient. The horn passed beneath him.

The last one jumped. Aimed at the place where he landed after jumping. The timing was perfect. The angle was true. Hyoren tried to sidestep but his balance was not yet recovered. The landing was awkward. The footing was unstable. The horn of the Horned Rabbit grazed his calf. The cut was shallow but painful. Blood started trickling from the wound. The red streaked down his leg.

"FUCKING RABBIT!"

He gritted his teeth. Holding back the searing pain in his legs. The wound burned. The muscle screamed.

His eyes became more bloodshot. Berserker-fueled anger bubbled within him. The rage was rising. The frustration was building. He had already lost too much time from all these monster attacks. And now some pest managed to hurt him. It made him so angry and he lost reason for a moment.

He pivoted 360 degrees. Swinging his kick while holding Elise still on his back. The motion was fluid. Powerful. Controlled. Then he kicked the rabbit that managed to hurt him. The kick sent the rabbit like it was a soccer ball. The force was tremendous. The creature flew. And its body landed on another rabbit which recovered from its first lunge. The horn actually managed to pierce its body. The impact was fatal. Two rabbit bodies tangled. Unmoving. Dead. The creatures crumpled. The lives ended.

"Screw it. Fuck you rabbit."

He let go of his last weapon. The knife was small. But it was enough.

"Precision Throw."

The skinning knife was not suited for throwing. The balance was wrong. The weight was off. But helped by his skill it managed to land straight into the last rabbit's neck. The blade embedded. The creature fell. The threat was eliminated.

He took a deep breath. Trying to even his breathing. The air filled his lungs. The oxygen flooded his system.

"These rabbits are wasting my precious time! Fuck!"

His bloodshot eyes went over the suns. Checking the time. And his direction. Sol was low on the horizon. Luna was descending beside it. The light was fading. The darkness was coming.

"The dual suns are almost set. I already ran for over 30 minutes. I should be able to reach Akela in another 30 minutes."

He then fixed Elise's position on his shoulder. Adjusted her weight. Secured her body. Her silver hair matted with red blood cascaded over his shoulder. The strands were damp. Sticky. The color was wrong. Too dark. Too red.

He then ran again. Leaving a trail of dust. The cloud rose behind him. The path was devoured.

After a while, he arrived near Lakeview. He slowed down his pace a bit. The village was close. The buildings were visible. The fences were in sight.

He slowed down his pace a bit. The village was familiar. The path was known.

"Lakeview Village... Sorry Mara, I can't drop by, but you guys are already safe since there is no more goblin settlement on the Old Quarry. Later we will visit again."

He then picked up his pace. Zooming past Lakeview with quick motion. Leaving a trail of cloud of dust. The village blurred past him. The buildings became streaks. The people became shadows.

The gatekeeper who saw the blur and the dust widened their eyes. The figure was too fast. Too strange. Too inhuman. Faster than even fastest horses. They thought it was a new kind of monster. The speed was impossible. The passage was terrifying.

And after this, there was a rumor circulated in Lakeview village about a fast monster who leaves a trail of dust in its wake. The story spread. 

***

After running like a madman, leaving a trail of dust for another 15 minutes, he finally saw it. The grey and tall stone wall of Akela. The imposing North Gate also greeted him. The structure was massive. The gate stood as a barrier between civilization and wilderness.

The dual suns would completely set soon. The streak of gold and silver peeked from the horizon. In the area around the gate, magic lamps started to replace the dual suns' light as a light source.

He didn't get attacked by another monster after the last three rabbits. The path was clear. Quickening his pace.

He slowed down his pace. He didn't want to alert the gatekeeper. His run lowered to be just a bit faster from normal human run. The speed was still impressive. But less suspicious. Less alarming.

He quickly went to the gate. It was sparse. Not many people used this gate. The area was quiet.

The two gatekeepers widened their eyes seeing something that approached them. Something which ran so fast until leaving a trail of dust. Something with bulging muscle. Bloodshot eyes. And a visible red streak on his veins. The veins pulsed. The muscles rippled. The eyes were wild. The appearance was wrong, so Inhuman.

He was almost like a monster himself. And the monster was carrying something on its back. A body. A woman. Pale. Unmoving. The contrast was terrifying. The combination was suspicious.

They raised their spears. The weapons gleamed. The tips pointed forward. The stance was defensive. Ready.

"Halt! Who are you! Are you even human?!"

Hyoren skidded. His feet dug into the earth. The dust rose around him. His breathing was ragged. His chest heaved. His bloodshot eyes went over the two guards. The berserker rage still simmered. The frustration still burned. He didn't want to waste more time.

But his logical mind was still winning over his berserker-fueled mind. He knew if he forced his way through, it would spell more trouble. Guards and knights would chase him. Complicated things. Elise would not be saved. The wait was necessary. The delay was unavoidable.

He then recognized one of the guards. It was Rogg. An old guard with white hair. A veteran guard whom they met on West Gate before. The face was familiar.

"Rogg! It's us!"

Rogg's eyes narrowed. His spear was still raised high. The weapon didn't waver. The stance didn't relax.

Hyoren grimaced. His jaw tightened. His frustration grew. He then parted Elise's silver hair which covered most of her face. The strands were matted. Bloodstained. The motion was gentle. Trying to make the guards recognize them.

"Rogg. This is Elise! She is gravely wounded! She needs treatment fast!"

Rogg widened his eyes. He recognized Elise. The silver hair. The pointed ears. The elven features. The familiar face. His spear lowered a bit. The tip dropped. The stance relaxed. But he was still guarded. The hulking muscle and bloodshot eyes still screamed danger. The appearance was wrong. The threat was unclear.

"And I'm Hyoren! I'm looking like this because of the skill effect! It's us!"

He then quickly took his guild card. The motion was fast. Desperate. He presented it to Rogg.

Rogg quickly checked it. His eyes scanned the surface. The information. The identification.

"Huh. It's really you two... what happened to you..."

His eyes then went over to the pale and unmoving Elise. The color was gone. The life was faint. The condition was critical.

"And the ranger?"

Hyoren took his card back.

"It's a long story. We just came back from a quest which went wrong! We will tell you the complete story later. But please. Elise needs help!"

Hyoren's voice was full of hurry. The urgency was real. The desperation was clear. The need was absolute.

Rogg then snapped from his shock. The recognition settled. The understanding formed. He nodded, then lowered his spear. The weapon dropped to his side. The threat was dismissed. He looked at the younger gatekeeper who was still guarding him. Spear raised high.

"Okay lad, they are safe. Let them pass."

He looked back at Hyoren and Elise. The expression was concerned.

"Okay Hyoren. You can go. And hope she will get better soon."

Hyoren nodded. The motion was grateful.

"Thank you... Rogg."

He then shifted Elise's body on his back. Adjusted her weight. Secured her more. Her arms draped over his shoulders. Her head lolled against his neck. Her skins kept getting colder. Her breathing was still shallow. Still weak. Then they entered Akela City. The gate loomed above them. The walls rose on either side.

And inside this city, there is someone who can help saving Elise’s life.