Eternal Elysium

"Is that… Is that how it's been going on?"

Chris whispered. His gaze was fixed on the guard moving alone.

The guard here was not an issue but what happened just moments ago was. The guard, after completing his duty beside the construction area, turned his head to look back and raised his hand as if waving to bring someone.

However, no one came—the guard remained still for a moment, almost dazed. Frowning, he scratched the back of his head before moving in confusion.

"Are you all done watching that?"

I asked, placing one hand on my face and leaning forward.

Summer glanced at the guard and then back at me.

"What if it's just a coincidence? Should we not ask that guy?"

I grinned.

"And what are you going to ask him?"

Summer opened her mouth to speak but I didn't let her continue.

"Sir, did you hit your head this morning? Who were you looking for all this time? Waving at birds!"

"You!"

Summer looked at me furiously with orange sparks igniting in her eyes as I tried to mimic her way of speaking.

"Pfft—Captain Sis won't ever call a random dude 'Sir'—haha."From the background I could hear Enzo and Chris laugh. Summer, following the laughter, turned her head to look at them—her eyes cold and filled with indignation towards them.

I chuckled softly and turned my head to look at the group forming not far from here. Captain Maira at the center was instructing soldiers while making the final preparations. Her group consisted of more than 25 soldiers, while mine was a measly number of 3.

I again turned to look at the bickering trio.

"Ahem! I don't think it's a good idea to ask anyone directly. Remember, Captain instructed us to keep it a secret."

Enzo said in a low voice, trying to stop Summer from getting angry.

"Alright, I am sorry for making fun of you." I said, and stood up from the stairs attached to the walls and started to walk towards them.

Summer paused hearing me and glanced back at me with her hair bouncing softly along with her head movement.

"But seriously, don't ask anyone. It could be dangerous. We are not the only ones aware of it after all."

"Ah."

Summer nodded slowly, seeing my serious gaze.

I smiled and moved past them.

"Captain Maira, is there anything I could help with?"

Maira stopped what she was doing and turned in my direction. Her gaze was steady and calm as she parted her lips, saying in a small voice and shook her head softly.

"No, most of the preparation has been completed, Captain Asher. Thank you for asking."

I nodded and didn't say anything else.

The tension in the air was thick. It was the kind of silence that filled the space between us, a silence that was filled with unspoken words and heavy anticipation. Captain Maira's eyes scanned over the area one last time before she turned to face us fully.

"Alright, gather around," she called out to the entire group. Her voice was firm and commanding, echoing through the corridor. The soldiers immediately snapped to attention, and the four of us followed suit, forming a semi-circle around her.

Me and my group still maintained a little distance, as they had gathered on my side rather than hers. Maira looked at everyone in their eyes one by one and then nodded.

"We will be starting another expedition now. While I know it's very early and many of you must have several complaints but keep them to yourselves. Creatures of beyond won't stop just because we don't like them. If you are angry, go get it out on them." Captain Maira said with an aloof face, her voice persistent, not letting anyone speak up to her.

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'That's one way to boost morale.'

I thought and looked at the two awakeneds on her side. One was a man with a stern look, probably her right-hand man. The other was a young girl, well, to look at least. By now I was aware that face and age never match in the world of awakeneds. Even Franz, who I had thought was in his twenties, turned out to be almost 40.

'Wait? He is still looking for girls at that age?'

My thoughts paused for a moment before I shook my head, letting strange thoughts go out of my head. Somehow I started to pity Franz, as Lyra must have made his life something he never expected before. Um, yes, let's leave Franz's life to himself; he is still young. He can look after himself.

'I am getting sidetracked. Focus!'

Letting my chaotic thoughts settle, I again looked around only to see Captain Maira and her group had started to leave.

"When are we going?"

Chris asked, bringing me out of my thoughts.

I looked at him, then at Enzo and Summer standing side by side.

"Let's go."

Following my words, we started to move, moving just behind Maira and her troops of soldiers into the desolate and horrific land. Where even life had averted its gaze from humanity.

Moving forward, the supplies were neatly stored in the storage artifacts of different grades and worth; I was sure they were more or less better than the ones we as normal adventurers are used to. Even then I didn't get to know about anything else, as such things remained unrelated to our job.

The sky remained untainted from the dark clouds coming out of the western volcanic mountains. As grey as ever, but something caught my attention as I squinted hard to look at a dark figure flying forward.

"Captain Maira, can you see that?"

Captain Maira didn't answer at once, her gaze calm and cold at the same time as she raised her right hand, stopping the marching soldiers.

"Not that damn thing." Someone muttered with a heavy voice, almost tired. But I could tell it was not due to our walk; it was something else, as if the flying silhouette was not the first thing they expected.

"Spread wide and take cover!" Captain Maira yelled, her voice spreading through the soldiers as they started to move without delay and took cover below the stone-carved hills and whatever place they could find.

Enzo and the others turned to look at me. Their gazes were heavy and full of vigor, making me smile. I took a heavy step forward and said two words before running ahead with a burst of speed.

"Take cover!"

Chris' eyes widened as he saw me run in the open, straight towards Captain Maira.

"Should we?" He whispered, asking if they should kill it, only to see his two companions shake their heads in denial. Chris frowned and ran to take cover along with them under a curved piece of rock, large enough to hide all three of them.

After I saw them hide, I sped up and reached Captain Maira in no time. She had been staring at the grey sky; her blue hair, now open, fluttered with the strong gust of wind.

"Captain Maira."

I called out to her as she turned her head to look at me and said with a surprised voice.

"Oh, Captain Asher." She smiled and pointed towards the sky with her finger. "Do you know what that thing is?"

"A chicken?"

"What? No, that thing is not a chicken!" Maira chuckled, her lips curling up into a big smile as she heard my joke. "Well, nice guess. But let's get serious, shall we?"

I turned my gaze away from her and looked up to see a giant bird almost as big as a wagon circling above us, its beak long and brown, wings the color of sand and body covered in dust. Whenever it pushes its wings, sand will fall from the sky, making it hard to get a clear look at it.

"So what is it?" I asked.

"A beast—several times I have seen it fly high trying to catch its prey. It never comes down, making it hard for us to fight it head-on. The best strategy is to hide till it gets bored and leaves."

The monster was way out of our reach to harm it. I understand it was cautious, much more than it looked at first glance. Its terrifying presence continued to circle around the grey sky as sand continued to fall from above.

I remained silent for the next few seconds, not saying anything to her. And then smiled before speaking with a playful tone. "Should I bring it down?"

I asked, trying to gauge her reaction.

Her eyes narrowed slightly as she studied me, then she smirked. "You think you can do it?"

"Hmm, maybe. I won't know unless I try."

I said with a shrug, trying to play it cool even though my heart was racing at the thought. Captain Maira's smirk grew into a full-blown smile.

"Then be my guest and do us a favor."

Captain Maira stepped aside, giving me a full view of the creature. Her tone was still filled with the same calmness she had since we met.

I looked at her one last time before stepping forward in the open.

"Sure." I whispered.

The sand bird slowed down as its dark eyes, like that of a vulture, stared down at me from the grey sky. Soldiers looked at me with a gaze filled with confusion and expectations.

However, before I could even make a move, the bird dived down along with a gust of sand raining down on us.

Blinding everyone.

***

"Shit! I can't see anything." Chris frowned, rubbing his eyes as sand filled the air. He and the others had ducked down on time just as the sand had rained on Asher.

"Should I attack now?" Summer asked, raising her hand towards the sand bird flying not far away.

"No, don't." Enzo said grimly, shaking his head.

"What if you accidentally hit the captain as well?"

Summer clicked her tongue, annoyance flickering through her eyes. She looked around to see everyone's tense faces—their eyes etched in the place where Asher had been standing moments ago. Just as the sand started to move, giving a clear picture of the area. They all gasped in shock as the man vanished from his place.

"Is he dead?" Someone whispered. "Did the beast eat him?"

Enzo and the others looked around searching for his presence but then—

The sand bird's screech echoed in the air as if it was trapped in a cage. Its wings moved painfully slowly, creaking like a broken door, as each turn it made to circle around looked more forceful than ever.

"It's flying very slowly." Maira muttered, squinting hard.

"KWAAA!"

The sand bird cried, making everyone turn their attention back to it; by then something started to fall from the sky along with the yellow sand.

Drip—

Drip—

A shallow wound has appeared over the terrifying beast's right wing as black blood fell on the ground mixed with a taint of yellow crystal of sand.