Paths Beyond

I fished writing this at 0330, so I hope everyone enjoys. I wanted to get a chapter ahead, so that if I ever take a vacation, the readers (although there are none) won't suffer for it. Ideally I'll add one more chapter to my back log every week. I want to be seven ahead. Or I'll just do it all at once, who sleeps anyway right??? Any I will try to release chapters at 1800 every weekday. I live in Japan so that will be different if you are in the US. Closer to 0400 and a day before, but at least you can wake up and read my story.

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It did not take long for Grey to return with Brawl and his men, sleds in tow. Keen stood somberly, his gaze fixed on Bark's lifeless body. For a moment, the group paused, the weight of the situation heavy in the air. Brawl was the first to act.

"Thatch, Serene, take the Hooded Horn sled back to the village," he commanded sharply. "Catcher, go wake Elder—tell him it's urgent. The rest of you, we've got work to do. Shot, Grey, get Keen and Bark on the sled. Trek, help me with this wolf. Move fast; if it hits midnight, we'll all freeze, and these spoils will be lost."

There was no time to mourn their fallen comrade. Though Keen's squad and Brawl's men didn't always see eye to eye, there was no hatred between them. Each person understood the risks of their work. Now, time was against them, and they moved with purpose. The wolf and the Hooded Horn were tied down, and the sleds were strapped to their respective haulers. Together, they pulled with every ounce of strength they had, making for the village.

When Grey and Shot approached Keen, he looked as if a single gust of wind might knock him over.

Grey took him by the arm cautiously. "How are you holding up?"

Keen let out a low grunt. "I'm fine. Just help me onto the sled. We need to get back."

Shot carefully lifted Bark's heavy body and, with some effort, hauled it next to Keen on the sled. The coldness of Bark's lifeless form sank into her hands, extinguishing any lingering hope she'd held that he might still be alive.

The journey back was grueling, but eventually, a shout broke through the silence. "Open the gates!"

Though opening the gates after dark was strictly prohibited, the guard recognized the group and their burden. The heavy wooden doors groaned open, and the team stumbled through, the gate slamming shut behind them. Exhausted, they paused only briefly before continuing toward the village center.

In front of Elder's home, a large wooden structure draped in pelts, they slowed. Elder and Catcher were already waiting. As the group approached, Elder's eyes widened, grief spreading across his face.

"What happened?" Elder asked, his voice trembling as he dropped his ivory walking stick and stumbled toward the sled carrying Keen and Bark. Brawl steadied him.

"Elder, we need to get inside," Brawl said firmly. "We'll talk after. Open the warehouse—it's already getting too cold."

Elder glanced at the sled. Seeing Grey standing nearby and Keen's chest faintly rising, a flicker of relief crossed his face.

"Come on, old man," Keen grunted weakly. "Open it up. We're freezing out here."

Elder straightened, steeling himself. "Let's go."

Next to Elder's home stood a massive stone building, unnatural in its construction. It appeared to be carved from a single piece of stone, as though the earth itself had been shaped into its form. Elder approached the onyx-like door, its surface smooth and gleaming. He drew a thin blade and sliced his palm, letting the blood drip freely. Without hesitation, he used the blood to paint intricate patterns on the door. Then, with his uninjured hand, he lifted a necklace hidden beneath his pelts.

The necklace glowed faintly, and the blood on the door seeped into the stone, vanishing entirely. A grinding noise reverberated through the air as the door slid aside, revealing an entrance large enough for the sleds to pass through side by side.

"Did... did you see that?" Thatch stammered, his voice cracking. "The door just... swallowed his blood."

Serene, still gripping the Hooded Horn sled, nodded. "Swallowed it? It drank it. Like it was alive. What kind of magic is this?"

Catcher, standing at the back, whispered, "I thought these stories were just meant to scare kids. I didn't think this place was real."

Shot exhaled sharply, still holding Bark's body. "You think that's scary? Look at Elder. He didn't even flinch when he cut himself. How many times do you think he's done this?"

Trek, who had been silent until now, stared into the dark opening. "Not the first time. Probably not the last. Makes you wonder how much else Elder knows that we don't."

"That's not comforting, Trek," Serene muttered, attempting a laugh that faltered. "How do you even make a place like this? It's like the stone obeyed him."

"Enough gawking!" Shot barked, her tone sharp. "We need to move."

"Hurry!" Elder commanded, his voice echoing through the corridor. "The door will only stay open for a few minutes."

The group snapped into action, hauling their sleds inside.

The corridor beyond was breathtaking. Pillars along the walls began to glow with a soft, fluorescent light, illuminating the space in warm hues. The air was unnaturally temperate—not fiery, but a comforting shield against the cold. The walls were impossibly smooth, a blend of black stone and muted grey rock, reflecting the soft light.

Even Grey, though exhausted, couldn't help but stare. Through his unique sight, the room glowed with pure, bright red light, devoid of impurities. It reminded him of the otherworldly man he'd encountered years ago. For a fleeting moment, he wondered if this structure was connected to that strange, unknowable world.

The path spiraled downward. The sleds clattered against the smooth stone as they descended, the sound echoing faintly. At last, they emerged into a massive circular chamber. Three identical onyx doors lined the walls. In the center sat a large, ornately carved white wooden table surrounded by thirty matching chairs.

Elder gestured toward the leftmost door. "That door will open with a touch. Bring the beasts inside and start carving. Do not approach the other doors."

Thatch swapped places with Brawl, and the team began hauling the sleds toward the left room. Only Shot remained with Elder and Grey.

A sharp scream broke the silence.

"Sorry!" Serene called sheepishly, her face red. "The door startled me."

Brawl sighed, his hand on his forehead. "Get moving," he muttered, clearly exasperated. Grey and Shot exchanged amused glances, their grim expressions softening briefly.

Then Keen's voice cut through. "Old man... Bark... he didn't make it."

Elder turned sharply and limped to Keen's side. Brawl steadied him as Elder crouched by Bark's body, his weathered hand trembling as it rested on Bark's face.

"How many of my family must I see go before me?" Elder whispered, tears streaming down his face. "You fool... couldn't you have waited a few more years to let me go first?"

Keen, his grief raw, managed a faint smile. "You should've seen him... tackling the beast mid-air. Stupid. Brave. Typical Bark."

Elder let out a weary sigh. "I'm sure he was magnificent at the end."

Before they could continue, Trek burst into the room, his face pale. "Brawl! Elder! There's... something in the wolf."

"What now?" Brawl barked, frustration creeping into his voice.

Elder's eyes widened. "Could it be," he whispered. "After all these years..."

"Let's go," Brawl ordered. "Shot, Grey, bring Keen. Leave Bark here."

Grey and Shot carefully balanced Keen between them as Elder and Brawl hurried to the left room.

Inside, the efficiency of Brawl's team was on full display. The Hooded Horn was already skinned and partially butchered, and the wolf was in a similar state. At the center of the room, Serene stood holding something in her trembling hands.

It was a transparent orb, glowing with an intense golden light. Inside, energy swirled violently, crackling like a storm.

"Is that... a Central Organ?" Brawl asked, his voice awed.

"No," Elder said, his tone grave. "This is something far greater. Only the weaker beasts of the outer woods have Central Organs. This... this is..."

Serene fidgeted nervously. "What do I do with it?"

"Bring it here," Elder said, his voice trembling with urgency.

Serene hurriedly handed the orb over. Elder's hand shook as he held it, the golden light reflecting in his eyes.

"That's impossible," Elder murmured. "How could something like this breach the barrier?" His expression darkened as realization struck. "It's weakening."

Keen, leaning on Grey for support, frowned. "Old man... what is it?"

Elder hesitated, his gaze lingering on the orb. "Through Bark's sacrifice, we've gained a miracle," he finally said. "This is a Heart of Radiance—a far more potent form of Central Organ. I haven't seen one since I was a child. Back then, Grand Hunts were held every decade."

The room fell silent, the gravity of Elder's words sinking in.

"How do we use it?" Brawl asked, his tone pragmatic.

"We'll divide it equally between Grey and Keen," Elder declared. "They are responsible for the wolf's defeat. The Heart's energy should be enough for two people, but no more."

Shot stepped forward, her voice sharp. "I get that they earned their share, but are you sure this is the best choice? Grey is young and inexperienced. Keen's strong, but he's injured. If Brawl—"

Keen interrupted, pushing himself off Grey. Though his body trembled, his voice was firm. "Without Grey, that wolf would have killed us all. If Brawl wants my share, he can have it. I'll heal on my own."

Brawl crossed his arms, his expression unreadable. After a long pause, he said, "Fine. But when the next Grand Hunt comes, any Central Organs we find are mine. Agreed?"

Elder's eyes narrowed. "You know there's no guarantee we'll find another one."

"There's no guarantee we won't, either," Brawl countered. "But you'll need fighters—healed ones—if you want to survive the hunt."

Elder led Grey and Keen through the rightmost door. Inside was a vast chamber, its centerpiece a massive bronze cauldron large enough to hold several people. Shelves lined the walls. On the left were rows of thin, bundled pieces of animal hide—tomes, each inscribed with intricate symbols. On the right were hundreds of small cabinets, each containing mysterious vials, herbs, and powders that glowed faintly in the room's fluorescent light.

"What is this place?" Grey asked, his voice hushed with wonder.

"The Room of Knowledge," Elder replied. "Generations of village heads have preserved our history and secrets here. Every tome, every resource, is a relic of our survival." He paused, his eyes clouding. "No one has entered this room since my son brought back one of the first Central Organs in my time as Elder. That was... long ago."

Grey noticed Keen slump into a chair near the cauldron, his strength finally giving out. Elder retrieved a tome and flipped through its pages, his fingers lingering on symbols and diagrams.

"Here it is," he said at last. He scanned the text before walking to the shelves, gathering various glowing herbs and powders. Even in his exhausted state, using his power, Grey noticed how the ingredients seemed to pulse faintly with life.

Elder approached the cauldron and pressed a hidden mechanism on its side. A section of the ceiling opened, and steaming water poured into the vessel, filling it quickly. Elder added the gathered ingredients one by one, his movements precise. Finally, he held the Heart of Radiance aloft, its golden light casting long shadows across the room.

With a deep breath, Elder dropped the orb into the cauldron. The water boiled instantly, the Heart shattering inside. Golden light erupted from the vessel, swirling in a vortex as the ingredients dissolved completely. The liquid turned a brilliant gold, shimmering like molten metal.

Keen frowned. "How are we supposed to split this? There's no way we can drink all of it."

Elder smirked, handing Grey a ladle. "You won't need to. Each of you will take a single spoonful."

Grey hesitated but obeyed. As he drank, the thick liquid flowed down his throat, filling him with warmth and energy. It tasted faintly of herbs—neither pleasant nor unpleasant—but the effect was immediate. His exhaustion vanished, replaced by a comforting vitality.

Keen followed suit, standing moments after finishing his portion. He flexed his arms and grinned. "I feel amazing. Maybe I'll drink the rest myself."

"You'll do no such thing," Elder snapped. "You'll bathe in it. Both of you. The Heart's power will heal you completely, but only if you submerge yourselves."

Grey and Keen exchanged glances before climbing the wooden steps leading to the cauldron. They stepped into the golden liquid, which was warm and soothing against their skin. For a moment, it felt like pure bliss.

Then the pain began.

Grey's veins felt like they were on fire. His heart pounded as though it might burst. His mind reeled, every nerve ablaze with searing agony. Keen's screams echoed in the enclosed chamber, mingling with his own.

Outside the cauldron, Elder sat silently, his expression unreadable. He leaned heavily on his walking stick, enduring the sound of their suffering with quiet resolve.

"Survive," he muttered under his breath. "This is the price of power."

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Can you, believe this was meant to have three sections. I really surprised myself, my outline had two more main sections to go over, but I found myself wanting to describe the ritual and rooms in much more detail. I don't mind longer chapters, but I really don't want to go longer than 2500 words. Just want these to be snacks of story. Easy to consume, and later regretting that you did... wait that's not right... Anyway I added even more to the outline, so I least no writers block for the foreseeable future. I need to stop ranting. I get talkative late at night (it's actually early morning). I hope you enjoyed, please comment, follow, and vote on the story!