— I ran into Abb a few days ago, said Bikao, resting his arms on the table. He was standing near Bérénice, an old woman from the village. I tried to step in, but she begged me not to. She said he still recognized her face... So I stayed.
He paused.
— Eight days. Eight days watching him without moving. Until that evening when I heard his howls... and your voice, Briana.
— You could have at least let us know you were alive, Briana shot back, crossing her arms.
— Abb stayed near Bérénice's house for eight days, Bikao replied calmly. I couldn't leave her alone — it was too risky. He only moved north the day before, but I didn't see him go. He disappeared during the night. So I went looking for him at first light. And it was after several hours that I heard his howls... and your voice.
Briana, Bikao, and the four bearded men were gathered around the living room table. Aria and I sat on the sofa, slightly apart, listening to them in silence.
Since the fight, something had changed between us. A bond had formed without warning — strong and fragile at the same time. We had barely known each other three days, and yet I felt a disarming familiarity, as if years had slipped between the few hours we'd shared.
Aria, sitting beside me, kept her eyes on the flames in the fireplace. She wasn't leaning closer. Not pulling away either. Just... present, in that careful distance she always seemed to keep between herself and the rest of the world.
— Casimir... are we leaving tomorrow? she asked me in a low voice.
I looked at her for a few seconds before answering.
— That would be for the best. We have two gates in front of us, and we can't forget our objective. We can't afford to stay here too long.
— You're right... The western one is the one that leads to Point A, isn't it?
I nodded, eyes fixed on the watch projecting the map in a faint light.
— I think there's another place to cross before that. Look, here... to the left of Champi-Brume, there's a passage, and south of that passage, there's Point A. I'm guessing it's another territory.
— I hope it won't be as rough as here, she sighed with a small smile.
I kept exploring the watch's functions when a new tab caught my attention.
— Aria... this tab wasn't there before, was it?
She leaned in slightly.
— "Quests"? What's that?
A list appeared before us. I scrolled through it, incredulous.
— Wait... it says we've completed almost all of them?
— Already?!
— There's even a congratulations message. It looks like something out of an old video game...
Champi-Brume: Quests 2/3
1. Obtain a weapon: Completed2. Find the enemy Parazampi: Completed3. Build a home: Not completed
Achievement unlocked: "Champi-Brume Decontaminated"
Rewards:— Currency ×40— Champi Heal ×10 (instant regeneration against parasites or a virus, also treats minor pain)— Boletus Ore (unique material for forging a poisoned weapon, by the craftsperson of Champi-Brume)
Info: Each territory is rated by difficulty level. You have unlocked this option in the Map tab.
Aria looked up at me.
— So Parazampi was the name of the parasite controlling Abb?
I turned toward Briana.
— Abb was infected around fifteen years ago, right?
— Yes, why? she replied, puzzled.
— We only arrived here two days ago. Don't you find it strange that he survived that long without being defeated?
Aria frowned.
— Fifteen years is a long time. Couldn't someone else have dealt with it in the meantime?
— Exactly. And then there's our weapons... they were loans, not gifts. They don't really belong to us.
— That's probably because we used them against Abb, I'd imagine.
— Most likely, yes.
Our voices had risen slightly without us noticing, as if the tension of the past few days was looking for a way out.
— What have you two been talking about this whole time? Briana asked, losing patience.
Might as well ask her directly.
— You wouldn't happen to know a local craftsperson, by any chance?
She smiled with quiet pride.
— What a question. That's me.
Aria's eyes went wide.
— You mean the weapons at the entrance — you made all of those? Even my bow?
— Come on, you two, I told you that, Brad cut in with a low laugh. Briana makes the tools. I told you as much when I took you to her.
Right. With everything that had happened, I had completely forgotten. If she was the craftsperson, she would know something about this ore.
— I was asking... because I received some "Boletus Ore." And apparently, only a craftsperson from Champi-Brume can...
— Boletus Ore?
Her voice nearly broke. Briana took a step back, eyes bright.
— That's... impossible. That material has been considered lost for generations.
Even Bikao froze, mouth slightly open.
— Uh...
— Where did you find it? That ore resists any infection in its bearer. It's extraordinarily rare.
Aria raised her hand, chin lifted slightly.
— Briana, I have some too.
— I beg your pardon?! Briana said, her eyes going even wider.
Even Bikao was speechless.
After explaining how the watch worked to everyone, we tried to materialize the received items. About twenty minutes later, Aria found the solution: you had to hold your finger on the item's icon. A golden light escaped the screen, and the ore appeared — tangible, solid — in her hands. It worked for the other rewards too.
Briana couldn't believe it.
— Normally I charge for this kind of work... but since it's thanks to you that we were able to defeat Abb, and you're giving me the chance to forge with this unique ore... I'll do it for free.
— Thank you so much, Briana, Aria said sincerely.
— I'll start tomorrow — it's getting late. Go and rest, you've earned it.
Once everyone had left, Aria and I found ourselves alone in the living room. The soft glow of the mushrooms hanging from the ceiling bathed the room in a gentle, almost unreal light after everything we'd been through. The fire crackled at steady intervals, as if reminding us that, for once, we could breathe.
— About the watch... do you find any use in that "Info" section? Aria asked, sitting a little closer to me.
I stared at the still-lit screen.
— I thought it was just a guide, a simple indicator. But now I think it's more of a warning. The more dangerous a territory is, the more significant the information seems. It could help us anticipate things... and understand what this world is really hiding.
— So... the more dangerous it is, the more important it is?
— Or the more likely we are to die, yes.
Aria nodded, her gaze reflecting the orange glow of the fire.
— Unfortunately, it only shows territories we've already visited. Champi-Brume and Point A are both one star. What do you think the maximum is?
— No idea, I said with a sigh. But if a one-star territory already gave us this much trouble... I don't even want to imagine what comes next.
She looked away, thoughtful. Then a faint smile returned to her lips.
— By the way, I checked what I received. I got the same rewards as you... but with one extra thing.
— Oh yeah? What is it?
— "Clan Creation." It says this option unlocks if you dealt the finishing blow to a territory's enemy, or by completing a rare quest.
I looked up at her.
— The Founder mentioned it, remember? The option to found a clan. That must be what this is.
— Yes, probably... she murmured before slowly stretching. We'll deal with all that later. Mostly I can't wait to get my weapon.
I smiled too.
— Same. We'll stay here a few days while we wait.
A peaceful silence settled over us. Then she broke it with a soft voice, almost hesitant — a hesitation I had never heard from her before.
— Hey... can I have your hand?
I looked at her, slightly caught off guard. This wasn't the same Aria as the first night — the one who had grabbed the back of a stranger because she was scared of what was outside. Right now, she was asking permission. As if she knew exactly what she was doing, and had chosen to do it anyway.
— Sure, if you want.
She took my arm and drew it gently toward her, settling into a spooning position, her calm breathing brushing against my skin.
— I still see his face, she murmured. Every time I close my eyes, I see him charging... and I see myself frozen. I'll sleep better knowing you're here.
I slowly slid my hand to her shoulder and drew her closer.
— Don't worry. I fully intend to... stay with you.
She gave the smallest of smiles, almost imperceptible, before falling asleep against me.
And I lay there staring at the darkened watch, wondering how many peaceful nights we had left before the next storm.
Day 5.
Two days had passed since the fall of Parazampi. When dawn finally pierced the mist, I had the feeling I'd been sleeping in another world.
— Looks like the time has come, said Brad, his voice low.
I stood up and adjusted my new weapon.
— I hope everything goes well for you all.
Briana placed a hand on my shoulder.
— It was very generous of you to leave us half of your ore, Casimir. Because of you, we no longer have anything to fear from the infection.
— It's the least I could do. My weapon didn't need that much.
— You'll have plenty of chances to test it, she replied with a smile. And you, Aria — you already look completely at ease with a bow.
Aria puffed her chest up slightly.
— My choice was obvious: a bow and poisoned arrows. But... are you sure you want to give it to me?
— In my opinion, Bikao cut in, you'll need it more than we will. And if you run out of arrows, you'll know how to make more. The heart of the ore is in that bow — every arrow will carry its properties.
For my part, I had chosen a dagger. Not the most impressive weapon, nor the one I handled best. But it didn't consume all the ore. I wanted to leave some for the village. If my blade drew a cut, it would poison and neutralize infection. A power I preferred to use for protection rather than destruction.
— We'll take the western side, I announced.
— So you're heading to Argemira? Brad asked.
— Argemira? I repeated, intrigued.
Bikao nodded.
— You didn't know? To the west lies Argemira — an ancient mine swallowed by darkness. A tragedy took place there when that gate was shut.
Briana continued:
— And to the east, there's the Frost Gaol. The Snow People live there. The cold is bitter and snow falls without end. In my opinion, going there right now would be a very bad idea. You have nothing to fight off the cold.
Bucodu, silent until now, stepped forward holding two torches.
— I prepared these for you.
— Thank you so much, Bucodu, Aria said with a genuine smile.
It was the first time I had really heard him speak.
— If your fire runs out, he explained, rub this mushroom against a pine cone. The mushroom will make the cone burn.
I took the bag he held out to me.
— Thank you, truly.
Briana stepped forward, visibly moved.
— Good luck, you two. I hope we'll see each other again soon... and thank you for everything.
A little to one side, Bikao joined Briana and lowered his voice.
— His strength... he doesn't go unnoticed.
— That boy must have a past ability.
— An outsider with a past ability? Are you sure?
— We'll find out soon enough. The Dolmari will spot it at first glance.
Briana lowered her eyes to her bandaged arm, then raised her head toward the silhouette of Casimir walking away.
— I'm counting on you, you two. I don't think we've heard the last of you.
After our goodbyes, Aria and I set out toward the west. The wind still carried the damp smell of Champi-Brume. Before us stood the dark gate of Argemira.
— Look, said Aria, pointing. The gate is right there!
I stared at this gaping opening, from which a cold black mist was seeping out.
— Argemira. I hope we can reach Point A by going through here.
Beyond the gate, there was nothing but darkness. A cavern swallowed whole by shadow.
— Light the torch.
The moment it caught, the orange glow revealed a long rocky corridor. We advanced carefully, our footsteps echoing in the mine's deep resonance. The silence was so dense you'd have sworn we were walking through a bottomless dream.
— I feel like we've been walking in a straight line for hours, I breathed.
A little further ahead, we noticed an opening on the left. A small campsite, abandoned. The campfire was still warm.
Someone passed through here recently.
— Did you hear that?
A sound. Faint. Like a strangled breath behind the stone.
Aria bolted before I could stop her. We ran, torch in hand, toward a collapsed corridor. Through a crack in the rocks, three faces. Pale, dusty, exhausted.
— People?
The nearest one raised his head, eyes wild.
— Help us... please...
Aria began pulling rocks away with her bare hands. I joined her immediately.
— Th-Thank you... so much, said a weakened voice behind the rocks. My two companions are unconscious. They didn't make it through the cave-in.
I managed to clear a gap wide enough for the one still conscious to get through. The other two lay on the ground, motionless.
— How long have you been trapped here?
— No idea, the stranger answered. Long enough that I've lost all sense of time. The watch isn't showing anything anymore.
— Aria, take him back to the camp we passed earlier. I'll handle the other two.
— Can you manage?
— Yes. And if anything happens, shout.
She nodded, placed the injured person's arm over her shoulders, and led them away without hesitation. Meanwhile, I braced myself under the shoulders of one of the unconscious figures and began carefully dragging him toward the way out.
— By the way, the stranger murmured on the way back, I should warn you... That cave-in didn't happen naturally.
Aria stopped in her tracks.
— What do you mean?
He swallowed, his voice barely audible.
— Someone caused it. Someone... who knew exactly what they were doing.