SSS-Ranked Evolution: Worlds Unbound-Chapter 35: A Restoration Of Faith.
"Friend, do we still have food?" Ren turned to Von who already moved to get the leftover they hadn’t finished. Ren didn’t stay in one place either, he went around picking berries and fruits for her from the cursed trees and once they were together again, they placed everything on a giant leaf and slid it to her. They maintained their distance, on their knees and giving them an unsure look for just a second, she grabbed the meat and stuffed her mouth with it.
Ren and Von gave each other a small smile, she was so hungry and that was why she had fainted. Von watched her in awe as she existed, never in his life would he thought he would see a beast. Maybe that was what you got for hanging out with a beast tamer. His eyes roamed everywhere. She had tanned skin that had become pale and lost its colour, although now it would slowly come back as long as she wasn’t malnourished and what fascinated him the most were the tiger stripes and claws she had. How delicate her feet looked but at the same time, knowing that she could use them for super jumps.
What he couldn’t believe was her tail, it swayed excitedly as she ate the food without reckoning, or manners, just attempting to get everything into her stomach.
The food rush slowed down gradually as more time was used to wipe the tears that had formed in her eyes, she never believed she would still be alive. When the plate was empty, her eyes were everywhere except on them. However, slowly, her hazel eyes met with their unique eyes too.
"Thank...you..." she bowed her head slightly, but a big part of her was still so unsure of them. They were humans, and she had been taught humans were not a good thing, but Ren was the same one that saved her, so how could he be bad. The discomfort and confusion was evident on her face.
"I know what you feel, I swear we won’t hurt you. We just want to know how you got there." he was very soft with her, and still gave her the space she needed to feel safe. He stretched his hand towards hers, and with her eyes staring at it intensively, she gently put her hands in Ren’s, and it made his smile widened.
"This...was my land... I should be asking you what you are doing here..." almost immediately, she took her hand back, her eyes catching Von who was taking off his clothes. He had removed his tabard and his shirt and offered her the sleeveless shirt, keeping the tabard for himself. She wondered why he had done that but upon looking at herself and seeing she was barely covered, she could understand. To her, it was normal to be like this after being subjected to such harsh conditions for so long.
"You can trust us, you are safe." he reassured her, as she took the piece of clothing from him. It was very important to note that he didn’t move closer to us, they talked to her from their distance so she wouldn’t feel cornered and truly, the tigress would have burst out crying, but she held the tears back.
"We are not safe. This place...is not safe. We will all die if we stay here." her voice cracked, with all hope gone down the drain, Ren could understand what she felt, it was the same hopelessness he saw in Reina’s eyes when she talked about her land.
"Do you not want to see your land be restored?" Ren pressed on but she shook her head abruptly.
"There is nothing here to save. I am sorry but if this is why you came here then your journey is in vain. Leave while you are still alive." she warned them, trying to rise to her feet, but her legs quickly gave up on her, she was still too weak and couldn’t go on by herself. Ren and Von shot each other glances, knowing there was nothing much he could say, he let Ren do the most talking.
"I’m here on behalf of Queen Reina. I promised her I wouldn’t go back unless this place was restored." That little revelation sent the tigress’s heart beat skyrocketing. Her eyes widened in disbelief. Never in her life did she think she would hear that name again.
"How are you affiliated with my queen?! She is alive!? Where is she?! And the others?! My people live?!" so many questions all at once as the tears clouded her eyes, "I want to go back home!" She closed the distance between her and Ren to hold his shoulders with the little strength she had left, with so much tears in her eyes and a weakened smile, she thought of the warmth of her people holding her. But Ren’s sad eyes had another story to tell her.
"Your people have been constantly attacked, the empire wants them at all cost, wants the queen at all cost. That is why I came here, so I can bring them back here. Many have died and many are still dying. Your people are few now." the smile was wiped off her face and the tears streamed down her face, many unpleasant memories washing through her being. She broke down and Ren did the best thing he could do at that moment, lend her his body to cry on.
She could have gone on for hours but eventually, she calmed down and brought herself together. Ren had asked her how all of this happened, and though it would sting her to recount, she had to, "we were happy, but our demise started when a vile entity began to possess beasts. The Great Corruption. No beast was strong enough to resist its poisonous grip and though my queen did all she could, she could not save her people. The ones we lost to corruption turned into horrid monsters. Each of them was distinct in evil and began to attack. We were forced to flee. But not all of us made it out alive. I have been trapped here for years, and I am the only one surviving. My brothers and sisters fell and became the monsters that haunt this place."
The dead of the night whispered to them, silence strong enough for only her voice to be heard mixed with the cackling of the camp fire and a rhythmic breathing pattern from the boys. Their minds worked hard as they took in everything she said.
"Is there not a way to defeat these monsters?" Von decided not to be quiet any more, curiosity getting the better of him. Her eyes met with his, the fire causing it to glow almost ethereally. She thought about his question before she answered.
"Yes...but..." she was unsure and out of instinct, Ren grabbed her hand and squeezed reassuringly.
"Tell us, is there a way to defeat them and free your land?" he asked what his friend had asked and not being able to pull her eyes away from his, feeling a deep connection, she swallowed the lump in her throat, her shoulders squaring gently.
"They draw power from the throne..." she swallowed another lump, "the queen’s throne became a nest for the evil power and the monsters drew power from it. They protect it like birds protect their nest, and they will not let anyone get close to it. However, I do not know if we destroy it, it would rid the land of the evil creatures."
"Can you take us to the throne?" Von jerked forward slightly, and she shifted a bit to accommodate him, her eyes searching his, seeing something she could not explain.
"I can but...it is so dangerous. I almost lost my life in the attempts I made. We can leave here and inhabit another place, there is nothing here for us." her eyes squeezed shut at the remembrance of all the times she had attempted to end the strife once and for all. Her brothers and sisters were still with her but each time they tried, more of them died. It was traumatic for her and didn’t want it to happen again.
"Even if we do leave, these same monsters seep into Karnak and threaten the people there. If I can eradicate them, I will. For the people I protect." he placed his hand on his chest, signifying that it was personal to him.
"And I promised your queen that I will return her to this land. I cannot break my promise. Please,m you need to take us there. We beg of you." Ren folded his hands for her and Von copied his movement, their heads slightly bowed to her. Not wanting to risk the lives of the people that had saved her, she closed her eyes, hoping she would not see them, but they stayed like that till she had no choice but to give into their request.
"I will take you there." but the pounding question at the back of her mind was...will they accomplish the mission, or will they die trying?
