The Dark Before The Light

Acacia looked around frantically, relieved to see everyone was still clinging desperately to the backs of their Mimickers. She also noticed that the massive sea creature had submerged once more. A loud, piercing ripple echoed across the water, and then a long, dull blue tail rose from the depths, slamming back down with immense force, sending sprinkles of cold water showering over them. The aquatic beast descended, disappearing completely from sight.

"What was that?!" Fafea shrieked, her eyes wide with terror.

"I think a Ser?" Acacia suggested a note of uncertainty in her voice.

"Looks similar to a Nereght, though? But it's so big!" Bella exclaimed, her voice trembling slightly.

"Yeah! But Sers are bigger than Nereghts, and it's usually the male Sers that are massive," Acacia replied. "But I might be wrong since it's my first time seeing one. The tail is similar to a Ser's, though."

"We could've died! I don't care what that thing is!" Edwin bellowed, his gaze hardening. "And hold my waist tighter! If you fall into that ocean, I am not coming to save you."

"You are a horrible liar," Bella retorted, but she pressed even closer to his back.

"And I lost my crystal," Acacia stated, a pang of annoyance.

"It's fine, they'll be useless against the barrier there anyway," Edwin dismissed, his voice still a little breathless.

"We should fly higher. We don't know what might come next," Acacia suggested, scanning the vast expanse of water. The birds ascended further, making the ocean seem even more distant. Acacia glanced down again, watching as the water regained its still, peaceful appearance, a deceptive haven for hidden terrors.

As they continued, the ocean seemed endless, with only an occasional large fish breaking the surface before dipping back down. Acacia eventually stopped looking down, resting her body. Behemoth's grip remained as tight as ever around her neck. Hours blurred into a monotonous stretch of flying over the open sea, the sun burning against her back. She closed her eyes, taking deep, steady breaths, feeling the warmth on her skin.

"You can sleep if you want," Vincent offered, his voice a low rumble beneath her.

"So that you can dump me in the water?" Acacia shot back, her tone sharp.

"...I wouldn't."

"Too bad, I don't trust you." Acacia cut the conversation short. She glanced to her right, seeing Edwin and Bella wide awake, clinging tightly to their Mimicker. To her left, Fafea was equally alert.

'I guess no one wants to risk being vulnerable,' she thought.

The seemingly endless ocean finally gave way to land ahead. It was plain at first, a barren expanse before a vibrant tapestry of trees and a thick forest came into view.

"This used to be a small country called Tat! It's completely overwhelmed with monsters now. It also means we're close by!" Edwin's voice carried over the wind.

Acacia stared at the country below. She couldn't pinpoint much, as it resembled a sprawling, wild forest rather than a place people would inhabit. She fluttered her wings, feeling the breeze ruffle them, before letting them fold neatly against her back.

'The breeze is making me feel sleepy,' Acacia thought, resting her head slightly, feeling Behemoth stir around her neck. 'But I can't let my guard down.'

"Can you switch bodies with those you have eaten before?" Acacia asked Vincent, a sudden thought striking her.

"No, we can only turn into the last person we eat. We mimic their DNA and become them," Vincent replied. "But it's also if we wish; if we eat a person or animal, if we choose to mimic their DNA, then we change, but if we don't, we'll be stuck with the current DNA."

"You must've learned that from eating lots of people," Acacia stated, her voice flat.

"...It couldn't be helped," Vincent sighed heavily in response.

"How did Ciflith change you?" Acacia asked, her voice steady.

"Well, he tore me apart limb from limb, broke all my bones, but didn't kill me. Then he started to rebuild me all over again, and I became this," Vincent replied, his voice flat.

"Sounds painful," Bella winced. "Is Ciflith dangerous?"

"No, he is a good man," Vincent stated, a strange conviction in his tone.

"Is he the guy you said is as powerful as a god but isn't one?" Bella clarified, looking at Acacia.

"Yes," Acacia confirmed with a glance and a nod.

"Well, he doesn't sound good to me," Edwin interjected, a sceptical frown on his face.

"I don't have much of an opinion on him, so I guess I'll judge when I see," Acacia replied, a slight shrug. 'Daemonis doesn't like him, but the Mimickers do. They might not understand his intentions, or maybe his intentions aren't bad, to begin with.'

'His intentions are never good. If I could, I would lay down everything from start to finish, but you can't handle that,' Daemonis cut in, his voice a dry whisper in her mind.

'What's so hard to handle? It's just a bunch of information,' Acacia retorted mentally, a flicker of irritation.

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Acacia waited for a reply from Daemonis, but received nothing. She frowned and huffed in annoyance, tightening her grip on the Mimicker's feathers as Tat quickly faded from sight.

The monstrous birds shifted into a more organized formation in the air, and the speed seemed to increase, the wind whipping violently around her hair. Soon enough, the burning heat on her back cooled as the evening air settled in.

"I see Lalan! Oh my goodness! I'm home!" Fafea yelled, her voice brimming with excitement. She nearly slipped but quickly grabbed onto the feathers tightly.

Edwin shook his head and sighed, his gaze hardening as he looked down. The birds slowly descended, and the landscape became more visible. Acacia noticed numerous mountains blanketed in lush greenery and rivers winding through the terrain.

"Stop by the barrier," Edwin ordered. The birds flew further, until a yellowish, wall-like barrier came into view, marked by a large, circular stony entrance with a river flowing directly into it. They flew lower and lower, eventually settling beside the river.

Acacia fluttered her wings and gently dismounted, landing softly on the ground. A slight numbness lingered in her legs. Edwin and Bella got off the Mimicker's wings, immediately moving in an awkward, stiff manner.

"My legs are numb," Fafea complained, rubbing her knees and calves as she reached the ground.

"I was scared my leg would fall off," Bella admitted, already adjusting her bionic limb.

"Thanks for the ride," Acacia said, glancing at the Mimickers.

"We only did it because Vincent asked," one Mimicker stated plainly before flying off, the rest following suit.

'You are lucky I didn't need to kill you,' Acacia thought, a cold edge to her gaze.

"Sorry about that." Vincent bowed his head slightly before taking flight to join his group.

"Shall we go?" Fafea asked, gesturing towards the other side of the barrier.

"Let's get this over with," Edwin grumbled, walking forward. He tossed his crystal aside as he passed through the barrier, with Fafea following closely behind. Bella and Acacia exchanged a hesitant glance.

"Come on!" Fafea called out, her voice echoing from beyond the shimmering wall.

"I guess we have no choice. We came too far to turn back." Acacia walked forward, and Bella, with a sigh, followed, passing through the barrier behind Edwin.

Acacia looked up at the circular ring as they walked, the river flowing through its heart. Thick metal railings lined the river once they stepped inside the ring. The river itself was wide, its course seemingly designed to gracefully pour into Lalan. As they passed through the ring, Acacia's breath caught in her throat. Before her, a city unfurled, vast and breathtaking. They stood high above it, a grand staircase spiralling down into its embrace.

Under a sky painted in the softest twilight hues, where the last embers of day bled into the first whispers of night, a city stretched languidly along the banks of a river that flowed like liquid moonlight. This was no city of sharp angles and towering monuments, but one cradled by the very earth, breathing with the pulse of ancient stone. Colossal mountains rose in the distance, their peaks dissolving into the mists of dreams, like slumbering giants whose craggy faces were softened by the veil of evening, their slopes etched with the whispers of forgotten winds.

Sometimes, stray clouds, like gossamer veils, snagged upon their highest points, making them appear to float in a boundless sky. Their presence was one of immense, quiet power, a constant, comforting weight on the horizon.

Below them, the city hummed with a gentle, timeless rhythm. Boats with sails like moth wings glided silently on the river's surface, their reflections shimmering and stretching into impossible lengths.

The very air was thick with the scent of water and ancient dust, a perfume of ages. Within the city's embrace, structures of weathered stone and sun-baked earth glowed with a soft, inner light. Palm trees swayed like silent dancers, their fronds rustling secrets to the passing breeze. Every archway, every courtyard, and every narrow path seemed imbued with stories waiting to be dreamt. The entire landscape felt less like a place and more like a sigh, a profound, serene breath drawn from the very heart of the world.

"Told you," Fafea said smugly, snapping Bella and Acacia out of their dazed state.

"Come on," Edwin instructed, already descending the grand staircase. They followed, the colossal mountains slowly receding from view as they descended until they reached the levelled ground.

Acacia looked back, noting how the staircase split into two, allowing the river to cascade down its centre. A thick metal railing guided the water, preventing it from splashing onto the steps and stopping neatly at the bottom.

Acacia turned ahead, her eyes taking in the vibrant scene. People moved about, their long hair styled in elaborate braids, adorned with ribbons or flowers. They wore light robes of various colours, accessorized with beaded bracelets, necklaces, and earrings. As they passed, some people stopped dead in their tracks, staring wide-eyed in shock and disbelief.

"I found our king!" Fafea exclaimed with unbridled happiness.

"Kera lo doka-ir-an nì koda- kera."

"Lo morta wira-an fina-ir?"

"What if he's not the king and just a fake?" Murmurs rippled through the gathering crowd.

Edwin scoffed, snapping his hands together. "I am disappointed in my own people. Do you really think this face can be copied anywhere else?"

"...Yeah, it's him."

"Mala lo! You're back!"

Many people began to gather around Edwin, chanting his name. The commotion drew more onlookers, who rushed forward, inadvertently pushing Acacia and Bella to the side.

"What a warm welcome," Bella commented, a hint of sarcasm in her voice.

"I know, it's overwhelming," Acacia replied in kind, and they both chuckled softly.

"Enough! I need breathing space, and I need to fix some things," Edwin announced, clapping his hands together. The crowd immediately pulled back. Edwin then walked towards a nearby boat and glanced at Acacia and Bella. "Why are you so far away? Hurry."

"Is it just me, or is he acting more annoying than usual?" Bella muttered to Acacia.

"The king persona must be coming back," Acacia shrugged, as they both followed Edwin into the boat. Fafea climbed aboard and began to push the paddles, setting the boat in motion.

"Your home is lovely," Bella commented, looking around.

"I guess," Edwin said, waving a dismissive hand, his gaze fixed on some unseen point ahead.

As Fafea propelled the boat forward, Acacia observed the numerous houses, noting people emerging from their homes to stare at them in awe. They passed beneath several high bridges that connected parts of the city over the water. Soon, a tall, imposing building came into view, its docks filled with multiple boats that appeared luxurious in their design. Fafea skillfully parked their small boat alongside one of the decks, and they all stepped onto the solid ground. Instantly, two burly men, armed with swords, pointed their blades at them.

"Names."

"It's me! Fafea!" Fafea introduced herself, her voice bright. The guards lowered their swords, their gazes sweeping over the group before widening in shock at the sight of Edwin. They looked back at Fafea for confirmation, and she nodded eagerly. Without hesitation, they dropped to their knees.

"Sì Mala, welcome back," they said in unison, their voices reverent.

"Stand," Edwin commanded, waving a hand dismissively as he walked past the guards with Fafea. Acacia and Bella were about to follow when the guards abruptly stood, blocking their path.

"There's a meeting being held at the moment, and no one is allowed."

Edwin stopped dead in his tracks, glaring at them. "I didn't know stupidity had become a trend. They are with me."

"Apologies," the guards mumbled, stepping aside. Acacia and Bella passed them, following Edwin up a grand staircase that led into the imposing building.

"So many stairs," Bella huffed, as they ascended higher and higher until they reached the grand entrance. Edwin pushed the door open, revealing a chamber where someone sat on a throne, and multiple people inside stared at them at once. The sudden attention sent Acacia's heart skipping a beat for a split second.