My eyes darted through the trees, catching nothing but the soft sun-rays that passed through openings in the branches. Suddenly the leaves began to rustle. Branches shook as shadows darted from one tree to another.
"Who's there?" I yelled out but got no response.
Of course I wasn't expecting any. This was a classic bandit operation.
I felt Kora gently rest against my back.
"Captain?" She muttered.
I spun around. My eyes widened and I instantly reached for the hilt of my blade. I pulled Kora slowly to my side, blocking the path to her. Men emerged from the shadows casted by the trees. Each dressed in an all black robe with a single red eye printed on the center of the shirt. Black hoods covered their faces and eyes.
They weren't bandits. My instincts flared up. I pulled my blade without hesitation, pointing the tip at the men.
"Who are you?"
My question had barely landed when I felt Koras fingers wrap around my cloak.
"We need to run." She muttered. Her voice shook slightly.
For the first time she didn't feel like she was freakishly strong. Whoever they were, they frightened her. My instincts were right.
One stepped forward, voice hollow and haunting. He was different from the others with a red hood.
"Hand over the Oracle."
I gripped my blade tightly. I had no idea what they were talking about but from the way her grip tightened, I guessed it had to do with her.
I raised my blade, pointing at the red hooded figure.
"Sorry but I am not handing anything over."
The figure tilted its head slightly. Suddenly an overwhelming aura tore through the forest. It suffocated me. Dark and disgusting. Malice unlike anything I had felt. The sky darkened with blood red trails traveling through.
My body stiffened and I instantly froze.
"That was not a request." The red hooded figure said.
Blood dripped from my nose, the world slowly began to fade.
"Captain? Captain!"
Kora's worried cries muffled as my vision blurred. My blade fell to the side. My knees gave up and I crashed face first into the dirt.
*****
When I woke up, I was all alone in the path way. No aura, no hooded men, no Kora. My heart skipped. I grit my teeth in anger. This was my fault. I couldn't protect her. My head bowed and I slammed my fist into the ground.
"Don't beat yourself up captain."
I raised my head up.
"How long have you been watching Sylvi?"
She stepped out from behind a tree, eyes low and body slightly hunched over.
"Long enough to know you had no chance." She said coldly.
Hearing this, I bit my lip hard. A long silence followed as I muttered to myself. Why did I care? I had barely been here a week, I didn't want to be in this unit but yet I am beating myself over what happened.
"Who were..".
"Heralds Of Oath. A secret cult who worship the dark goddess Lilith. They act only in her interest" She cut my question short.
"They've been hunting Kora for a while now. They say she's their oracle. I believe they have something to do with her strength and why she never ages but.."
I cut off the rest. Never ages? So she's immortal? But even weirder she said they were hunting her for a while.
"You say they've been hunting her for a while now. How did you guys keep her safe?" I asked.
"We didn't." She replied. "Lina did."
Lina?
She noticed the confusion on my face.
"Lina might sleep a lot but she is the most powerful member in the unit. She is also the only one that can help right now. "
"I'll try to reach her."
Sylvi glanced over to her wrist where a weird device rested. It had a circular frame and glowed a faint blue hue. Strapped to her hand with two leather straps.
"No need to." Lina's voice came from behind a nearby tree. "I know what the situation is. We don't have much time."
I glanced over to where she stood.
She had on a silver armor with purple markings etched into it. Her hair fell softly. Loose and free. Her drowsy eyes replaced by a sharp focused gaze. An oddly familiar blade rested on her side.
Without a word, she walked past Sylvi and me, heading down the path as if she already knew where to go..
My lips parted. I wanted to say something but I couldn't. Lina didn't seem like herself. Her usual lackluster attitude now replaced with stoic grace. I stayed quiet, following behind.
We walked in silence for a while. Eventually we reached a crossroad with two signs. Lina stopped and so did we.
I glance at the signs. One pointed down the right reading 'Seraph'. While the other read 'Umbra'.
"Where?" Sylvi asked.
Without warning, Lina lowered her stance, grabbing the hilt of her blade.
Sylvi shifted back, pulling me along.
"Don't stay close."
Lina began muttering. Her voice low and guttural. I couldn't understand a word she said but I picked up one word.
"..Devour.."
The air around became thicker, blasting away from her in different directions. The ground trembled violently. Cracks split like webs from her feet.
Then. A loud boom echoed. She pulled her blade out, slicing the air in one clean motion. At first it was anticlimactic. Silent. Nothing happened. I stared, confused. Then I heard it. A low creak. Like a door was being opened.
Before my eyes, the spot she had sliced split in two. Slowly it opened up like a door that had been pushed. Behind it nothing but darkness.
I blinked in disbelief at the sight. Portal magic. No wonder it felt so familiar. That was Asriel's blade. Eros. The blade that cuts anything. But how?
I glanced over at Sylvi but her face was expressionless as always. Lina stepped into the darkness and without hesitation she followed.
My body stiffened, my heart pounded. This terror was new to me. I couldn't do anything before what did I think would happen now?
I took a deep breath, muttering to myself.
"Calm down Darius."
The Raven unit and its members were my duty even if I didn't like it. Every one of them were my responsibility.
My foot raised off the ground when Mira's voice came from behind me.
"Relax captain."
A shove at my back sent me stumbling straight into the portal.