As the trio left the dark forest behind, they found a narrow trail that led toward a small village tucked away between the hills. The village was called Arkelion. The sun was just beginning to set, casting long shadows across the path. As they walked, Soren, deep in thought, finally turned to Jupiter.
"Hey, do you know anything about those spirits we saw earlier?" Soren asked, his calm voice carrying the weight of concern.
Jupiter scratched his head, his usual playful demeanor dimming for a moment. "Yeah, those spirits? They're Hel's, the goddess of the underworld. She's been known to claim the souls of those cursed by the Pale Scythe."
Soren's gaze drifted toward the Pale Scythe in Elara's hand. His worry for her had been growing since they left the Pale Garden, and the words of the spirits echoed in his mind. Yet, he stayed composed, his thoughts focused on finding Elara's brother.
After a while, they entered Arkelion. Jupiter's usual energy returned as he waved at the villagers, greeting everyone with his infectious smile. Soren, ever calm, kept to the task at hand. They began asking around for any information about Elara's brother. Most people didn't know much, until an older woman atleast 30s approached Soren.
"You're looking for the hero of Aurelia?" the woman asked, his voice rough from years of battle.
Soren nodded.
The woman's face darkened with a mix of sorrow and pride. "I knew him. We fought side by side in the Aurelia Vanguard. We were investigating a being named Khione. Our mission took us to Mount Kharath, a dangerous place. But when we got there, we were ambushed. Not by ordinary elves, but ones with power crystals embedded in their skulls, controlling them like puppets. We tried to flee, but your brother… he stayed behind. To save us."
Everyone was stunned by the revelation, but Soren's attention shifted to Elara. She showed no reaction, no sign of shock or grief. She simply said, "Oh."
Soren's calm exterior cracked for a moment as he wondered why she didn't seem concerned for her brother. Before he could dwell on it, Jupiter, ever the light-hearted one, broke the silence with a grin.
"Well, if we're going to climb a mountain full of mind-controlled elves, better pack extra socks! Cold toes are the real enemy, trust me."
The tension in the air eased, and the man handed them a map leading to Mount Kharath. They decided to rest in the village for three days, training, preparing, and hunting.
The next few days flew by in a blur of activity. Soren, Elara, and Jupiter trained together, sharpening their skills. They hunted monsters in the nearby forest, battling creatures that tested their strength and teamwork. Despite the weight of their mission, Jupiter's constant jokes kept the mood light.
One afternoon, while sitting around a campfire after a successful hunt, Jupiter stretched lazily. "Ah, nothing like a good monster brawl to work up an appetite. Who's up for roasting a few of those oversized mushrooms we found?"
Soren smirked at Jupiter's antics but remained focused, quietly sharpening his blade. Elara, however, stayed mostly silent, her eyes often lingering on the scythe, its weight both physical and emotional.
They shared stories of their pasts, laughed at Jupiter's exaggerated tales of heroics, and even let themselves enjoy moments of peace amidst the chaos.
On the fourth night, just before they were set to leave Arkelion, things took a dark turn. Soren was fast asleep, but Jupiter stayed up late, poring over the map and researching the mysterious power crystals the elves had. He was lost in thought when a sharp screech echoed from the room next to his—Elara's room.
Jupiter shot up and rushed to the door, swinging it open. What he saw froze him in his tracks: Elara, standing, clutching the Pale Scythe, her body stiff as a board. Behind her, a shadowy figure—a woman with long hair and a veil over her face—loomed, controlling Elara like a puppet.
"Elara?" Jupiter called out, gripping his weapon. His usual carefree attitude slipped, but he quickly tried to lighten the tension. "Hey, Elara, I know you're not a morning person, but this is taking things a little far!"
In his rush, he knocked over a chair, causing a loud crash. The noise stirred Soren from his sleep. He bolted to Elara's room, finding Jupiter ready for battle and Elara moving as if under some dark influence.
"Elara! Wake up!" Soren shouted, but she didn't respond. Her eyes were closed, her movements controlled by the shadowy figure behind her.
Suddenly, Elara lunged at Jupiter, scythe raised. Jupiter, back to his usual self, dodged with a grin. "Hey, easy there! I'm not the enemy!"
As Soren tried to strategize, a hand tapped his shoulder. He turned to see the man from earlier—the one who had told them about Elara's brother.
"I'm Dr. Skarvald," she said, her voice sharp with urgency. "I was the doctor for the Aurelia Vanguard. I sensed Hel's energy here and came as quickly as I could."
Soren's eyes widened in realization. "Hel? She's controlling Elara?"
"There's no time to explain," Dr. Skarvald said, her voice rising in panic. "I need the scythe! I can perform a binding seal, but we don't have long!"
Soren leaped into action, moving to disarm Elara while Jupiter danced around her attacks, throwing in his usual banter. "Elara, I know you like me, but this isn't the time for flirting!"
As Soren struggled with Elara, Jupiter, with serpent-like speed, made a shallow cut to her foot, causing her to stumble. Soren kicked the scythe toward Dr. Skarvald, who began the ritual immediately, chanting as a reddish light emerged from the book in her hands.
Hel's shadow let out a bone-chilling scream, shattering the windows around them before fading into the darkness. Elara collapsed to the ground, freed from Hel's control.
Soren rushed to her side, relieved. "Thank you, Dr. Skarvald."
Jupiter, ever the joker, grinned. "Well, that was fun. Next time, how about we fight something less... ghostly?"
Dr. Skarvald wiped her brow, exhausted. "The binding seal is temporary. It'll only hold for six months. After that, Hel's influence will return. Be cautious."
Soren looked at Elara, worry filling his calm eyes. Before he could speak, Jupiter asked, "So, what's up with that book? Does it come with a 'how to banish a goddess' manual?"
Dr. Skarvald's face darkened. "It's better you don't know. Some burdens are not meant to be shared."
Jupiter shrugged, though his curiosity was piqued. "Fine, but if it starts glowing, I'm out."
Soren turned to Dr. Skarvald, his voice steady. "Can you take care of Elara after we rescue her brother? She's not ready to face what's in that mountain."
Jupiter blinked in surprise. "Wait, are you seriously thinking of leaving her behind?"
"No," Soren replied calmly, "but she's not ready for what's coming. The mountain holds tier-four dangers, and we can't risk her life."
Dr. Skarvald nodded. "You're right. The ruler of that mountain could destroy an entire village with a single strike."
After another week of intense training, Soren and Jupiter set off on their journey to Mount Kharath, leaving Elara and Dr. Skarvald behind.
To be continued...