Chương 406: Rush to the Domain

The moment Vale shouted, the camp burst into motion. Doors opened one after another as footsteps filled the quiet night. Voices soon followed as everyone tried to understand what was happening. Eskar was the first to step outside. Even with his bright crimson hair, the darkness almost swallowed him. He wore only a loose pair of pants, leaving his bare chest exposed to the cold air. Despite his missing arm and eye, he looked strangely calm for someone who had just been dragged from bed.

"What is going on?" he asked.

"Korin is about to break," Vale answered. He glanced toward the giant before looking back at Eskar.

"We need to move now, or get ready to fight. Personally, I'd rather move." Eskar gave a small nod. He didn't need more of an explanation. If Korin was close to losing control, staying here was a bad idea. The noise also woke the forest drake. She lifted her head and gave a deep yawn before slowly getting to her feet. Her huge body shifted beneath the trees, shaking the ground slightly. The young drakes woke soon after. They squeaked and scrambled up before following their mother.

Eskar turned and hurried back toward his cabin. A moment later, Nova stumbled outside. She was wrapped in a sheet, and her hair was still messy from sleep. She looked like someone who had been woken far too early.

"What is happening?" she asked, barely keeping her eyes open.

"We're leaving," Eskar said.

"What?! So early?!" Her complaint echoed through the cabin as Eskar gently grabbed her shoulder and pulled her back inside. The door closed behind them. Vale stared at it for a moment before shaking his head. There was no time for that. He rushed into his own cabin and gathered his supplies. His blades came first, followed by food, water, and his purifier. He moved quickly but made sure not to forget anything important. His eyes then fell on the dark spear resting against the wall. Shade.

Vale grabbed it and threw it toward the edge of the camp.

"Shade." The spear struck the ground. Shadows spilled from its surface and formed the shape of the familiar black-clad warrior. His ruby eyes narrowed as he looked at Vale.

"Help Korin. You're the only one here who can carry him if he falls. If he can't run, you carry him." Shade's expression darkened. Vale was using his loyalty against him. It was cheating, and cheating was for cowards. Sadly, Vale was also right. If Korin lost control, Shade was one of the few people strong enough to deal with him.

"We need to reach that place within two hours," Vale continued.

"If we don't, Korin will snap. And if that happens, I'll probably die." Shade stared at him. Vale tilted his head.

"You don't want your master to die, do you?" Shade's eyes narrowed further. He hated being pushed like this. But he hated the thought of Vale dying even more. With a quiet sigh, Shade turned toward Korin. Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. The giant stood near the barracks with one hand pressed against his chest. His breathing was rough, and his whole body shook as he fought to stay in control. When he saw Shade approach, Korin gave a weak laugh.

"Take good care of me, alright?" Shade gave a single nod. Vale stepped back outside. Nym came out of her cabin at almost the same time. Unlike Nova, she was fully awake, and her supplies were already packed. She quickly joined Vale and looked toward Korin.

"So he's snapping?"

"Not yet," Vale answered. He glanced at Korin again.

"But he's close. I don't know how much longer he can hold it." Nym's face became serious.

"Then we'll have to run." She hurried toward the forest drake and began securing the supplies to its saddle. Vale followed and helped where he could.

"Do you know which way?" he asked. Nym nodded.

"Southeast. As far as we can go." She pointed into the dark forest. Vale looked that way and nodded.

"Alright. Then we run." A few moments later, Eskar and Nova came out of their cabin with their supplies. Eskar somehow carried three heavy bags at once, yet walked as if they weighed nothing. Nova carried only one and still looked ready to fall asleep. Vale sighed.

"Most of us can handle it."

"Don't mind her," Eskar said, glancing at Nova with his remaining eye.

"She's barely awake. The run will wake her up." Vale looked at Nova, then at Eskar.

"Are you sure? She doesn't look ready for a long run." Eskar looked at Nova again before sighing.

"You have a point. But we don't have much choice." Vale nodded and looked back at Korin. The giant was still holding his chest. His fingers dug into his skin, and his breathing grew rougher. His body shook with every breath. Whatever was happening was getting worse. And it was getting worse fast. Vale turned toward Nym.

"Make sure everything is secure. If something falls off, we'll lose even more time going back for it."

"Roger that." Nym tightened another rope around the drake's supplies. The drake hissed and lowered her head, clearly annoyed.

"I know, I know," Nym said. She patted the drake's side.

"Just deal with it for a little while. We don't have time." The drake snorted and looked away. Vale glanced toward the horizon.

"At this pace, we'll be ready in about five minutes." Eskar nodded.

"Then we'll run as soon as we're ready." Vale looked between Eskar and Nova. Something about them had been bothering him. He couldn't explain it, but they seemed different now. Eskar noticed his stare.

"Something wrong?" Vale hesitated. He wasn't sure if he should ask. In the end, curiosity won.

"Are you and Nova... sleeping together?" The question came out more awkwardly than Vale hoped. Eskar simply tilted his head.

"Oh, yes." Vale blinked.

"This was our first night." Vale's eyebrows rose. His mouth opened, but no words came out. Eskar had said it as calmly as if he were talking about the weather. Before Vale could answer, Nova appeared behind Eskar and smacked him on the back of the head.

"You can't just say that!" Eskar barely reacted. Nova, however, was bright red. Eskar looked at her.

"I see." He gave a small bow.

"I am deeply sorry, my love." Vale raised an eyebrow.

"Your love?" A grin slowly spread across his face.

"My, I almost feel insulted considering our relationship." Eskar stared at him. The silence lasted just long enough to become awkward. Then Eskar answered calmly.

"I tried to kill you when we first met." Vale's grin vanished.

"Fair point." Before either could say more, Nym called from across the camp.

"Everything is secured! We're ready to go!" Vale straightened. The joking was over. Everyone moved. Despite the panic, the group worked well together. Everyone knew what to carry and where to go. They had traveled together long enough that they didn't need to explain every step. Vale turned toward Shade.

"Shade! Get Korin. We're leaving!" Shade nodded and moved at once. He reached Korin and wrapped one arm around his waist. He pulled him upright. Korin's legs nearly gave out, but Shade held him firmly.

"I'm fine," Korin muttered. Shade said nothing. He simply kept him standing. The others gathered around them. Nym checked the forest drake one last time, while Eskar made sure Nova was ready. Vale looked around the camp for anything they might have forgotten.

"Move!" The group rushed into the forest. They ran at roughly twenty-five kilometers per hour. Their footsteps pounded against the ground as they vanished beneath the trees. Branches shook as they passed, and the camp quickly disappeared behind them. Nobody stopped. There was no time to talk. They had one goal. Reach the domain of Korin's Enigma before his mind broke. Vale looked back once. Korin was still moving, but Shade was doing most of the work.

His breathing was getting worse, and his eyes kept flickering with that same unnatural look. They had to reach the domain soon. The danger was no longer somewhere ahead. It was already inside the group. And if Korin lost control, none of them could be sure who would survive.