As I entered the cave, I was met with a sight that made my blood run cold. A man lay on the ground, his body battered and bruised, his clothes torn and tattered.
He was covered in blood and seemed to be in a mixture of pain and desperation. I approached him cautiously, my heart racing with fear and concern.
"Hey, mister, are you okay?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady. "What happened to you? How did this happen?"
The man's eyes turned towards me, and I felt a shiver run down my spine.
They weren't normal eyes - the sclera, the part of the eye that should have been white, was instead a deep, inky black. It was as if his eyes had been consumed by the darkness itself.
He slowly sat up, his movements stiff and labored, as if every twitch of his muscles caused him agony.
"Oh, it's just a human child," he exclaimed, his voice dripping with an otherworldly tone that sent shivers down my spine. I was taken aback, confused by his words.
"Human...?" I repeated, my voice barely above a whisper.
"What are you talking about?" I took a cautious step forward, my eyes fixed on the man's strange eyes.
"Who are you?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady despite the fear that was growing inside me.
The man's gaze seemed to pierce through me, as if sizing me up. "I am a Phobian," he replied, voice low and mysterious.
My instincts screamed at me to be cautious, and my eyes widened in surprise. "A P-Ph-Phobian?"
I took a step back, my hand tightening as I prepared to attack. "Inferno Blast!" I shouted, summoning the last ounce of my mana to unleash a barrage of hot fireballs.
But the Phobian surprised me. "Hold it, boy, I am in no position to fight," he said, his voice laced with a hint of weakness.
His eyes seemed to cloud over, and he winced in pain, as if the mere thought of fighting was too much for him to bear. "I won't harm you," he promised, his voice sincere.
I hesitated, unsure what to do. "How can I trust you?" I asked, my voice firm. "You'll attack me the moment I let my guard down." I eyed him warily, my mind racing with possibilities.
The Phobian's expression turned solemn "Just believe me for once, boy," he said, his voice filled with conviction.
"I won't betray what i promise, and I would never lie to do such a thing. I stay true to my word, always." His eyes locked onto mine, and he placed his fist on his chest, as if pledging an oath. and I felt a strange sense of sincerity emanating from him.
My instincts told me to attack, to protect myself from this unknown entity.
But something about the Phobian's words stayed my hand. Perhaps it was the genuine look in his eyes, or the weakness that seemed to emanate from him. Whatever it was, I felt a spark of trust ignite within me.
I sighed, releasing the tension in my body. "Huhhh... fine," I said, letting go of the Inferno Blast that had been building up.
The Phobian's eyes lit up with gratitude, and he bowed his head slightly. "Thank you for understanding," he said, his voice filled with sincerity. His hands were clasped together, and he seemed to be genuinely thankful. I nodded, still wary, but willing to give him a chance.
I approached the Phobian cautiously, my eyes scanning his body for any signs of deception.
"But don't think that I'm going to let my guard down around you," I said, my voice firm but controlled. "I still don't trust you."
"I understand" he replied gasping.
My mind was racing with possibilities, and I thought to myself, "He might be plotting something... better to keep my guard up."
I took a step closer to him, my eyes locked onto his. "Why are you here, and what are you up to?" I asked, my tone direct and inquiring. The Phobian, looked up at me.
"I am Zarak," he replied, his voice low and measured. "I've been running away from my companions.... no, more like my enemies from now on," he exclaimed, a hint of bitterness in his tone. I raised an eyebrow, intrigued by his words.
"Enemies?" I repeated. "Are they Phobians too? Why were you running away from them?" My questions were rapid-fire, and Zarak's expression turned serious.
"I've stolen something," he said, his words dripping with reverence. "Something important. The Special Stone... it's both powerful and... volatile."
My eyes widened in surprise. "Stolen something?" I repeated, my voice questioning. Zarak nodded, his eyes narrowing with seriousness. "Yes, One of the Seven Ancient Energy Stones forged by the exact powers of the gods.... The Aetherstones."
I was confused, and my lack of knowledge was evident. "Aetherstone?" I asked, my voice hesitant. "What is it? And where did you find it? How much danger can it pose?" My questions tumbled out, and Zarak's expression turned grave.
"I can't answer all your questions at once," Zarak said, his voice strained. He gasped, wincing in pain. "It wasn't easy. I had to sneak into the royal treasure chamber to acquire it."
"What is that place?" I questioned, my curiosity piqued.
Zarak's eyes clouded over, and he replied, "It's a chamber where all the powerful and rare artifacts are kept, hidden away from prying eyes. The chamber is said to be protected by powerful magical wards and enchantments, making it nearly impossible to breach."
"A chamber?" I repeated, my mind racing with images of hidden treasures.
Zarak nodded. "And just after I took the Aetherstone, Prince Vrakor saw me."
"A prince?" I questioned, my eyes widening in surprise.
Zarak replied, "Yeah, he and his guards attacked me. I barely managed to escape with my life." His words were laced with a sense of urgency.
"But how did you manage to get there?" I asked, my curiosity getting the better of me. "I mean, it's a royal treasure chamber, right? Where only the royalties are allowed?" Zarak's expression turned solemn.
"As the General Commander of the 5th Division, I have clearance to access the chamber for security purposes," he explained. "My role requires me to oversee the chamber's protection and ensure its safety."
I was stunned to learn that the man standing before me was a high-ranking official among the Phobians. My eyes widened in surprise. "A General Commander?" I thought to myself, my mind reeling with the implications.
I guarded up, standing stiff. "Why did you steal it?" I asked, my voice firm. "I mean, what was the reason to betray your own people?" Zarak's head hung low, his voice barely above a whisper.
"I stole it under the command of..." He paused, hesitating. "What? Under the command of what?" I questioned, my curiosity piqued. Zarak's eyes darted up, and he replied, "I can't reveal his name. Let's just say that he's my Secret Lord."
"Why can't you tell me who he is?" I asked, my eyes narrowing in suspicion " Why are you hesitant to reveal his identity?"
Zarak's expression turned serious "It's because his identity needs to be kept secret," he explained. My eyes narrowed in confusion, and Zarak continued, "We're like a Secret Organization, working under him. And we're... Against the other Phobians."
His words hung in the air, "What kind of organization is Zarak a part of? And what are their goals?" I thought