(15 min earlier)
"Where is she?"
He said, glancing back at the same longing trees that dawned on him for what time he knew.
The path had no end, nor did his eyes, staring in all directions while he tried to find a way out.
Gripping his sword tighter, he cursed under his breath, when suddenly—
The lullaby echoed across the sky, attracting his attention.
"This again?" he squinted, frowning at the voice, as then a small rumble felt across his feet, wondering, "what's happening," as—
Boom.
Trees fell down, dust covered the sky, before a trail of darkness engulfed his nearby surroundings.
"Why?"
A woman asked, standing feet away from him, a hidden sorrow masked behind her voice, her head low, staring at the barren ground as if waiting for a long forgotten response.
In front, he stood in a daze, wary of her presence, although his posture remained calm. He took a step back, his feet touching something cold; it was "water?" No, it was blood staining his shoes.
A reflection of her caught his eyes, while a laughter echoed, completely broken with pain.
Asking the same question—"why? why? Why?"
He prepared his sword instantly, staring at her hollow eyes, reflecting on the crimson blood.
"Give me a break," he said, sighing.
Lunging forward, swinging at her face, about to sever her head, but then something grabbed his feet, while in front, she faded into a burning skeleton, turning into ash.
The ground was covered under an army of hands; they all reached Noen, their unmerciful eyes stared at him, while their corpses lay almost motionless, covered in blood.
Crying in pain, screaming to spare their lives.
He clicked his tongue in anger, swinging his sword, but they all disappeared.
"What..??" he stood in the dark, confused, staring at the empty void, which earlier was covered in blood and the corpses of the undead.
"What just happened?" he questioned, eyes frowning.
Clack cluk.
The sound of bones echoed, shadows walking toward Noen, a few figures emerged carrying a bowl filled with soup.
Their bodies were rotten, covered with barely any flesh, bones clearly visible, while their head remained with nothing, just emptiness.
Noen stood there, trying to process. He prepared his sword once more, but to his surprise, they stopped inches away from his face.
Those three headless corpses raised their bowls, the sound of slow breathing whispered through his ears, a chill ran down his spine, he stepped back, drifting his gaze upward where those bodies stood.
At the ceiling, three heads hung, staring lifelessly at the offering soup.
Noen found himself inside a hut, completely baffled. He tried to attack them, but nothing happened, phasing through their bodies like a ghost.
Where those corpses raised their hands, feeding soup to the hanging heads.
The atmosphere suddenly changed, their eyes glowing in complete hollowness, cracks appearing as they started to sing a birthday song.
"Happy birthday… dear Emily…"
Their voices didn't feel normal, like a regret of mercy was hidden behind their faces. They bled tears of blood, yet their singing didn't stop. while he stood in silence, staring forward, looking at the same figure, a white gown, and a subtle cold feeling bracing his skin.
A reflection shone brightly on the blood bathed ground, a bloodlust screaming through her eyes. A woman stood far away, staring at the land with the same look. She smiled eerily, looking at him.
A knife shone brightly in her hands, covered in blood. She looked forward. Her smile slowly fading, turning into a growl. She ran at him, screaming. But he quickly dodged sideways while her knife passed through him, his eyes glowing red, he reached for her throat.
But suddenly, he found himself back.
"Tch."
***
Sera was standing all alone, crying; the pain she felt was a grief over others, for the child she saw die before her eyes, and a sympathy for a mother.
She heard that lullaby again.
But this time it was different; it was like a call to her, attracting her attention, because what she heard wasn't Emily but a mother's voice calling for Sera in that same beautiful singing voice.
Though her hands were shaking, a dagger swinging on her waist, she moved forward, closer to the voice that was calling her, while the trees rustled…
"Its same as earlier," he said, jumping all around. "I still can't sense Sera, and it's about time the dagger I gave her will disappear."
"Also… that voice, why is it silent now?" he squinted his eyes, legs still moving, while the air brushed against his face.
His breath was getting ragged from moving for hours without any rest, yet not a single thought of stopping crossed his mind.
The only thing that was running, he thought:
"Once I find her, then whatever is doing this bull shit, I'm gonna kill it."
He stopped again, finding himself on the same path again… "I think running around won't do."
He closed his eyes, feeling his surroundings through all of his senses. He touched something; it was vague but similar to a wall.
"What's this?" he wondered as he followed it slowly, walking forward. He opened his eyes.
It was dark, trees looming above his head like a shadow, while a giant moon stayed up in the sky, small murmurs of insects crossed his ears.
He frowned more, looking at the sky, gripping his fist tighter as he stepped forward.
While behind was a stone house, destroyed by trees covering it.
The lullaby crossed his ears, but this time he was sure it was not an illusion, and dashed forward—
Toward the sound.
Moving across the path that crossed his eyes.
***
Her eyes were shaking, walking in between the silent forest with the voice that kept calling her name.
The dagger on her waist was slowly fading from the tip, while her voice stuttered, asking to the air, "wh- whos calling my name?" but no response came beside the same voice echoing in whispers.
The time had lost its meaning, and the moon was the only thing keeping her sane, except the dark, which was slowly distorting into human shape.
Staring at her.
Sera just closed her eyes, quickening her pace, begging, "please p- please just end…" her voice cracking, "it's scary i can't…"
"Sera…"
"Eek—" she grabbed her ears in fear. "Wh-what was that?"
The same voice echoed, but more closer and closer to her ears, as if it was standing beside her, 'smiling'.
She dashed forward, running as fast as she could. Trees passed before her, and, like a doom, she hit her leg on a stone, making her stumble on the floor.
She looked back, dragging herself away, but the fear made her stunned, where in front of her, those same shadows were moving closer, smiling at her with a non-human look.
"Don— Don't come closer!" she cried, screaming in fear, her voice loud.
Breath rising, she closed her eyes.
Before a warm? No, it was something cold, touching her forehead, stroking her hair with a motherly touch.
She opened her eyes, expecting those same faces, but it wasn't, but a smiling mother.
Singing for her,
"Don't be scared, Sera, your… mama is here."