The abandoned hunting cabin is farther away than Elara made it sound.
After carrying her through the forest for nearly half an hour, I begin to suspect she has no idea where we're going.
"You said it was north of the clearing," I say.
"It is."
"We've been moving north for a while."
"It's hidden."
"That would have been useful to mention."
Elara opens her eyes slightly.
"You could put me down and search for it yourself."
"You would fall over again."
"I wouldn't."
"You said that twice already."
She closes her eyes without responding.
At least she has stopped arguing.
The forest becomes denser as we continue. The two moons provide enough light for me to see, but strange shadows move between the trees whenever I look away.
I'm not sure whether they belong to animals or something worse.
The Reaper said Elaris contained monsters.
He failed to explain what kind.
A faint sound comes from somewhere behind us.
I stop walking.
Elara immediately becomes alert.
"What is it?"
"I heard something."
Her hand moves toward her waist, but there is no weapon there.
"Could the knights have followed us?"
"Not unless they learned how to move without making any noise."
The sound comes again.
A branch snapping.
Closer this time.
I carefully lower Elara against a tree.
"Stay here."
"I can help."
"You can barely stand."
"I know magic."
That gets my attention.
"What kind?"
"The kind that won't matter if you leave me sitting against a tree."
Fair point.
I help her stand. She leans against the trunk with one hand while raising the other toward the darkness.
A dim silver light forms around her fingers.
The energy feels different from the death energy inside me. It is warmer and far less threatening.
I summon my scythe.
Black smoke coils around my arm before forming into the weapon.
The cold presence inside my chest grows stronger.
Something moves between the trees.
Then another shape appears beside it.
A low growl spreads through the forest.
Two pairs of red eyes stare at us from the darkness.
Elara's silver light becomes brighter.
"Grave wolves," she whispers.
I glance at her.
"That name doesn't sound promising."
"They hunt injured creatures. The smell of my blood must have attracted them."
The first wolf steps into the moonlight.
It is almost as large as a horse.
Most of its body is covered in dark gray fur, but several sections of exposed bone run along its back and legs. Black mist pours from its mouth with every breath.
A second wolf appears behind it.
Then a third.
I look toward Elara.
"You only mentioned two."
"There are usually more."
Several more red eyes open in the darkness.
Of course there are.
The largest wolf lowers its body and growls.
The others begin spreading out around us.
They're trying to surround us.
"Can they be frightened?" I ask.
Elara stares at me.
"What?"
"Never mind."
The largest wolf charges.
It crosses the distance between us faster than the soldiers did.
I swing my scythe toward its neck.
The wolf twists in the air, causing the blade to cut across its shoulder instead. Black blood sprays over the ground.
It lands behind me and immediately turns.
The wound is already closing.
"That's inconvenient."
"They regenerate," Elara says.
"That would have been useful to mention too."
"I didn't realize you needed every detail explained."
Another wolf lunges toward her.
I step between them and drive the end of my scythe into its jaw.
The impact knocks it aside, but two more attack from different directions.
I release one hand from my weapon.
Death energy gathers around my palm.
I fire it at the closest wolf.
The black sphere strikes its chest and tears through its body. The creature falls to the ground, whining as dark energy spreads through its fur.
Its wound doesn't heal.
Elara looks at the dying wolf.
"Your magic stopped its regeneration."
"Death energy appears to be good at killing things."
"What kind of magic is called death energy?"
"The obvious kind."
The first wolf attacks again.
I duck beneath its claws and drag my scythe across its stomach.
The wound is deep, but it begins closing almost immediately.
I place my palm against the creature's side.
Black energy flows into its body.
The wolf lets out a terrible howl.
Its fur turns gray before crumbling away. The creature collapses as its exposed bones crack and dissolve into dust.
The remaining wolves stop moving.
Their red eyes shift between me and the pile of ash.
For the first time, I sense fear coming from something that isn't human.
Cold energy enters my chest.
Dread received: 5
Dread received: 4
Dread received: 6
Dread received: 3
So monsters can produce Dread too.
Useful.
I lift my scythe and step toward them.
The wolves back away.
"If you're intelligent enough to be afraid," I say, "you're intelligent enough to leave."
They probably don't understand me.
The largest remaining wolf growls.
Perhaps it understands the threat.
It turns and disappears between the trees.
The others follow it.
Their footsteps fade into the distance.
I dismiss my scythe.
Elara is staring at the ashes.
"You scared off a grave wolf pack."
"They made the right decision."
"Grave wolves don't run from humans."
"Then it's a good thing I'm not from here."
She looks at me sharply.
I suppose there is no point pretending that comment was an accident.
"You really aren't from Elaris," she says.
"No."
"Are you from the Eastern Continent?"
"I don't know where that is."
"The Northern Isles?"
"No."
"The Hollow Lands?"
"I've never heard of them."
Elara's expression becomes more concerned with every answer.
"Then where are you from?"
"Another world."
She remains silent.
I expect her to call me a liar, but after seeing my weapon and magic, the idea may not seem impossible.
"Another world," she repeats.
"Yes."
"How did you get here?"
"I was sent."
"By whom?"
"The Reaper."
The silver light around her hand disappears.
For a moment, she looks more afraid of me than she did of the wolves.
The Mark of Dread responds.
Dread received: 7
I should probably stop giving her reasons to fear me.
Then again, that would go against my purpose.
Elara carefully moves away from the tree.
"The Reaper is a children's story."
"He would probably be offended to hear that."
"You've met Death?"
"He trained me."
Her eyes move toward the pile of ashes again.
"That explains your magic."
"It explains some of it."
A distant howl echoes through the forest.
Elara's face becomes serious.
"We need to keep moving. The wolves may return with a larger pack."
"You said the cabin was nearby."
"It is."
"You've been saying that for half an hour."
This time, she points toward a cluster of trees.
"There."
At first, I see nothing.
Then I notice the outline of a small building hidden beneath vines and branches.
The cabin is built from dark wood and looks as if it hasn't been used in years. Part of the roof has collapsed, and moss covers most of the walls.
It isn't exactly impressive, but it should be enough for one night.
I help Elara toward the entrance.
The wooden door is locked.
She reaches beneath a loose stone beside the steps and removes a rusted key.
"You've been here before," I say.
"A few times."
She unlocks the door.
The inside smells like dust and wet wood.
There is a table, two chairs, a stone fireplace, and a bed covered by an old blanket. Hunting equipment hangs from the walls, but most of it is too rusted to be useful.
Elara closes the door behind us.
"We should avoid lighting a fire," she says. "The smoke could reveal our location."
"I don't feel cold."
"I do."
I look at the blood covering her clothes.
Her skin has become noticeably pale.
She isn't going to last long without treatment.
"Sit down."
"I'm fine."
"You're leaving blood on the floor."
Elara looks down.
A dark red trail follows her from the entrance.
She reluctantly sits on the bed.
I move toward her injured side.
She immediately raises her hand.
"What are you doing?"
"Looking at the wound."
"I can handle it."
"Can you heal yourself?"
"Not properly."
"Then let me see."
"You use death magic."
"That doesn't mean I'm going to kill you."
"You turned a grave wolf into dust by touching it."
"That was intentional."
Her expression suggests that this does not make her feel better.
I hold out my hand.
"You can either let me help or continue bleeding until the knights find your body."
After a moment, she lowers her arm.
I kneel beside the bed and examine the wound.
A deep cut runs across her lower ribs. The bleeding has slowed, but the skin surrounding it has turned dark purple.
"There's something inside it," I say.
"The sword was poisoned."
"Of course it was."
"The royal knights use dusk venom when hunting magic users. It interferes with healing spells."
"Are you a magic user?"
Elara gives me an irritated look.
"You watched me use magic."
"I assumed most people could do that here."
"Everyone possesses mana, but very few can control it."
I focus on the wound.
The poison feels faintly familiar.
It isn't death energy, but it has a similar coldness.
Maybe I can remove it.
I place two fingers near the cut.
Elara grabs my wrist.
"What are you doing?"
"Trying something."
"That isn't reassuring."
"You're welcome to suggest a better option."
She slowly releases me.
I draw a small amount of death energy into my fingertips.
The wound reacts immediately.
Black veins spread beneath Elara's skin.
She gasps and grabs the blanket.
"That hurts."
"I assumed it would."
"That isn't an apology."
I focus on the poison.
Rather than pushing more energy into her body, I imagine pulling the foreign substance toward my hand.
For several seconds, nothing happens.
Then a thin stream of purple mist rises from the wound.
The mist twists around my fingers.
Elara's breathing becomes calmer.
I continue drawing it out until the dark color surrounding the cut begins to fade.
The poison gathers into a small sphere above my palm.
I throw it into the fireplace.
The sphere strikes the stones and begins eating through them with a quiet hiss.
"That would have been inside you?" I ask.
"Yes."
"Your knights seem pleasant."
"They aren't my knights."
I tear a strip of cloth from the ruined blanket and wrap it around her side.
The wound is still serious, but at least the poison is gone.
Elara touches the bandage.
"You removed dusk venom without an antidote."
"Apparently."
"That should be impossible."
"I hear that a lot."
"You've only been here for an hour."
"And I've already heard it more than once."
Elara leans against the wall.
Some color begins returning to her face.
"Why aren't you asking for payment?"
"I haven't decided what I want yet."
"That sounds worse."
"It should."
She studies me carefully.
"You saved me from the knights, carried me here, protected me from grave wolves, and removed the poison from my body."
"When you list it like that, I sound helpful."
"But you aren't doing it because you're kind."
"No."
"Then what do you want from me?"
"Information."
"About what?"
"Everything."
Elara frowns.
"That isn't specific."
"I arrived in this world knowing almost nothing. I need to know about the kingdom, magic, monsters, and why royal knights were chasing you through a forest."
She looks away.
"The last part doesn't concern you."
"It became my concern when I attacked six soldiers."
"You chose to do that."
"And now I'm choosing to ask questions."
For several seconds, the cabin is silent.
The sound of wind moving through the damaged roof fills the room.
Finally, Elara speaks.
"My full name is Elara Asteria."
I recognize the name.
"Asteria, as in the kingdom?"
"Yes."
I look at her silver hair and violet eyes.
Those aren't exactly common features.
"You're part of the royal family."
"I am the king's youngest daughter."
A princess.
The Reaper called her my first opportunity.
Now I understand why.
I rescued a royal princess from her own kingdom less than an hour after arriving.
This situation is becoming increasingly useful.
"Why were your father's knights trying to capture you?" I ask.
"They weren't sent by my father."
"Then who sent them?"
"My brother."
"How many brothers do you have?"
"Two. Prince Lucien is the oldest and heir to the throne. Prince Caelan is the commander of the royal army."
"Which one wants you captured?"
"Both."
That sounds like a healthy family.
"What did you do?"
Elara's eyes narrow.
"Why do you assume I did something?"
"People usually don't send poisoned knights after innocent relatives."
Her expression becomes colder.
"I discovered what they were planning."
"And what are they planning?"
She hesitates.
The Mark on her neck begins glowing faintly.
The chained circle.
I point toward it.
"Does that have something to do with it?"
Elara quickly covers the symbol.
"It's a royal binding seal."
"What does it do?"
"It prevents me from speaking about certain things."
"Your brothers placed it on you?"
"Yes."
"So remove it."
"If it were that simple, I would have."
I lean closer to examine the mark.
It gives off the same golden energy the knight's sword used.
Unlike the poison, it appears deeply connected to her body.
"What happens if you try to talk?"
"The seal tightens around my soul."
"That sounds dramatic."
"It stops my heart."
"That is dramatic."
Elara lowers her hand.
The mark pulses once.
Pain crosses her face.
"I escaped before they could erase my memories. They need me alive because the seal is connected to something only members of the royal bloodline can access."
"But you can't tell me what."
"No."
I extend my hand toward the mark.
She immediately pulls back.
"Do not touch it."
"I removed the poison."
"The seal is different."
"Maybe."
"If you damage it incorrectly, it will kill me."
"I'll try not to."
"That isn't good enough."
I lower my hand.
There is no reason to rush.
I still need her alive.
"What can you tell me about your brothers without activating the seal?"
Elara thinks for a moment.
"Prince Lucien controls the royal council. Prince Caelan controls most of the army. My father has been ill for nearly a year, so they have taken over many of his responsibilities."
"And they're doing something they don't want you revealing."
"Yes."
"Does the public know you're being hunted?"
"No. Officially, I'm still inside the capital."
"So the soldiers who escaped can't admit they failed to capture you."
Elara looks at me.
"They may report you without mentioning me."
"Good."
"Why is that good?"
"The more people who hear about me, the better."
"You want the kingdom to know you attacked its knights?"
"I want everyone to know."
She stares at me as if I've lost my mind.
The Mark of Dread grows colder.
A notification appears.
Dread received: 3
Before I can close it, another message appears beneath it.
Dread received through rumor: 1
Dread received through rumor: 1
Dread received through rumor: 2
I straighten.
The surviving soldiers must have reached someone.
The rumor is already spreading.
More notifications begin appearing.
Dread received through rumor: 1
Dread received through rumor: 3
Dread received through rumor: 1
Elara notices my expression.
"What is it?"
"People are talking about me."
"How could you possibly know that?"
"I can feel their fear."
She becomes quiet.
"You gain power from fear."
"Yes."
"And you came to this world to create it."
"Yes."
The silver light forms around her hand again.
It's weak, but she is prepared to attack.
"Are you planning to harm the people of Asteria?"
"That depends on them."
"That isn't an answer."
"It's the only one I have."
Elara moves toward the edge of the bed.
"If you intend to slaughter innocent people, then helping me was pointless."
"I don't need to slaughter anyone."
"Then how will you spread fear?"
I think about the soldiers.
They produced more Dread when they realized they couldn't defeat me than when I injured them.
The wolves feared me after watching one of their pack die.
Fear doesn't require random killing.
It requires a threat.
"A kingdom doesn't need thousands of dead bodies to become afraid," I say. "It only needs to believe that something exists that it cannot control."
Elara watches me carefully.
"And you intend to become that something?"
"I already have."
Another notification appears.
Total Dread: 174/1,000
The number is slowly rising.
By morning, the knights' story may reach an entire outpost.
After that, the capital.
I look toward Elara's royal seal.
A runaway princess, a hidden conspiracy, and two princes controlling a weakened kingdom.
The Reaper chose this location carefully.
Perhaps he knew exactly what would happen.
"How far are we from the capital?" I ask.
"About four days on foot."
"And the nearest town?"
"Half a day east."
"Will the knights search there?"
"Yes."
"Good."
Elara shakes her head.
"You keep saying that."
"Because every problem you mention sounds useful."
"To you, perhaps."
She leans back against the wall, exhausted.
"What are you planning?"
"I need Dread. You need to escape your brothers."
"That doesn't explain anything."
"We help each other."
Her expression remains suspicious.
"How?"
"You teach me about this world and help me enter the capital. In return, I keep you alive and deal with anyone your brothers send after you."
"You make it sound simple."
"It probably won't be."
"And what happens when we reach the capital?"
"I remove your seal."
"You don't know if you can."
"I didn't know I could remove the poison either."
Elara touches the symbol on her neck.
"And after that?"
"You tell me what your brothers are planning."
"What do you gain from it?"
"Enemies."
She looks completely confused.
I smile.
"The more powerful my enemies are, the more impressive it will be when they fail."
"You're insane."
"Possibly."
A faint noise comes from outside.
Both of us immediately become silent.
Footsteps move through the leaves.
Not wolves this time.
People.
Several of them.
Elara tries to stand, but I raise one hand.
"Stay here."
"The knights may have found us."
"That saves us the trouble of finding them."
I summon my scythe.
Black smoke fills the cabin as the weapon forms in my hand.
The footsteps stop outside the door.
A man's voice speaks from the other side.
"We know someone is inside."
Elara's face becomes pale.
I move toward the entrance.
"Open the door and surrender the princess," the man continues. "Do that, and your death will be quick."
I look back at Elara.
"You were right."
"About what?"
"They brought more."
My Dread rises by another point as the people outside hear my footsteps approaching.
I place my hand on the door.
This time, I don't plan on letting all of them escape.
END OF CHAPTER 4