LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 21: chapter 21- Darkness
Mo Tang leaned against a nearby tree, her arms crossed as she watched the campfire crackle and pop. The warmth did little to chase away the chill in her heart, the unease that had settled there since this journey began. She kept her eyes on her brother, Ragith, who sat quietly sharpening his blade a few feet away. His actions were calm, deliberate—too calm.
She knew him too well. That was his way of keeping himself from exploding.
Her gaze shifted to Erin, who sat staring at Rishitha with a look she couldn't quite decipher. It was part curiosity, part frustration, and something else she didn't have a name for. And then there was Rishitha herself, sitting by the fire, her face an unreadable mask of exhaustion and sorrow.
Mo Tang's emotions were a tangled mess.
On one hand, she admired Rishitha. She was a survivor, someone who had managed to lead them through one dangerous situation after another. But on the other hand, Mo Tang couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to Rishitha than she was letting on—something dark, something heavy that she refused to share.
Why won't you trust us?
Mo Tang had always been good at reading people. It was a skill that had kept her alive in more situations than she cared to count. But Rishitha was a puzzle she couldn't solve, and it bothered her more than she wanted to admit.
Her brother's anger weighed on her like a stone. Ragith had been furious when they'd found Rishitha and Erin together, and though he'd managed to keep his temper in check, Mo Tang could feel the resentment radiating off him.
He blames her, she thought bitterly. He thinks it's her fault I was in danger.
She wanted to tell him he was wrong, to defend Rishitha, but part of her wasn't sure.
Was it her fault?
The thought sent a pang of guilt through her chest. Rishitha had saved her life in the cave, had protected her more times than she could count. But there was no denying that trouble seemed to follow her wherever she went.
Mo Tang sighed, running a hand through her hair.
Why is this happening? Why are we even here?
The forest around them felt like it was closing in, suffocating her. The missions, the constant danger, the weight of survival—it was too much. She wasn't a hero. She wasn't a warrior or a strategist. She was just… Mo Tang.
Her gaze drifted back to Rishitha, who sat staring into the fire with a haunted look in her eyes.
But what about her? What are you, Rishitha?
Mo Tang walked over to the fire and sat down beside Rishitha.
"You okay?" she asked softly.
Rishitha looked up, startled, and for a moment Mo Tang saw something raw and broken in her eyes. But then it was gone, hidden behind the same mask Rishitha always wore.
"I'm fine," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Mo Tang didn't believe her, but she didn't push.
"Listen," she said after a long pause. "Whatever's going on, you don't have to do it alone. We're a team, right? You can trust us."
Rishitha didn't respond, and the silence stretched between them like a chasm
Mo Tang sighed, leaning back on her hands.
"You're stubborn, you know that?" she said with a small smile.
Rishitha's lips twitched, almost forming a smile of her own, but it didn't quite reach her eyes.
Mo Tang looked up at the stars, her thoughts drifting.
I don't know what you're hiding, Rishitha, but I'll stick with you. No matter what.
She didn't know why she felt so drawn to this strange, secretive girl, but something about Rishitha made Mo Tang want to believe in her.
Even if it was dangerous. Even if it was reckless.
Because at the end of the day, they were in this together. And Mo Tang wasn't about to let anyone fight alone.
The night had grown colder, the sharp bite of the forest air sinking into her skin despite the warmth of the fire. Mo Tang shivered, but she didn't move from her spot beside Rishitha.
The silence stretched on, broken only by the occasional crackle of the fire and the distant sounds of nocturnal creatures stirring in the shadows. Ragith had retreated further from the group, his back turned as he kept watch. Erin was sharpening his blade, the soft scraping of metal against stone strangely rhythmic.
But Mo Tang's focus remained on Rishitha.
"You know," Mo Tang began, her voice low, "you don't have to carry everything on your shoulders."
Rishitha stiffened, her hands curling into fists in her lap. She didn't look up, didn't respond, but Mo Tang pressed on.
"I don't know what you're going through, and I won't pretend to understand. But it's obvious you're… struggling." She paused, searching for the right words. "You don't have to face it alone."
Rishitha let out a bitter laugh, the sound so quiet Mo Tang almost missed it.
"Alone is all I've ever been," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
The words hit Mo Tang like a punch to the gut.
Rishitha's shoulders slumped, and for a moment, Mo Tang thought she might say more. But the silence returned, heavier than before.
What happened to you? Mo Tang wondered.
She wanted to ask, but something about the haunted look in Rishitha's eyes stopped her. Whatever burden Rishitha was carrying, it was too big, too raw, to be shared so easily.
Instead, Mo Tang leaned closer, her voice gentle.
"Whatever it is, we'll figure it out," she said. "Together."
Rishitha's gaze finally met hers, and for a brief moment, Mo Tang saw a flicker of something—gratitude, maybe, or relief. But it vanished just as quickly as it appeared, replaced by that same guarded expression.
"What are you two whispering about?" Erin's voice broke the moment, and Mo Tang turned to see him watching them with a raised eyebrow.
"Nothing," she said quickly, shooting him a glare.
Erin smirked, clearly amused. "Sure doesn't sound like nothing."
Mo Tang rolled her eyes. "Maybe you should focus on your blade instead of eavesdropping."
Erin chuckled but didn't press further. He returned to his sharpening, though his gaze lingered on Rishitha for a moment longer than necessary.
A rustle in the bushes drew everyone's attention, and Ragith appeared from the shadows, his expression as hard as ever. He didn't say anything as he approached the fire, his eyes flicking briefly to Rishitha before settling on Mo Tang.
"You should rest," he said, his tone gruff. "We'll need our strength tomorrow."
Mo Tang nodded, though she could feel the tension radiating off him.
Ragith turned to Rishitha, his jaw tightening. "That goes for you too."
Rishitha looked up at him, her expression unreadable. For a moment, Mo Tang thought she might argue, but instead, she nodded silently and rose to her feet.
As the group settled down for the night, Mo Tang couldn't shake the feeling that something was shifting between them.
Ragith's anger hadn't faded, but there was a new layer to it now—a grudging respect, perhaps, or an understanding that had yet to fully form. Erin's curiosity about Rishitha was growing, and though he didn't say much, Mo Tang could tell he was trying to piece together the mystery of the girl who had thrown their lives into chaos.
And then there was Rishitha herself, carrying a weight none of them could fully comprehend.
As Mo Tang lay down beside the fire, she glanced at Rishitha, who sat a few feet away, staring into the flames.
We'll survive this, she thought, determination hardening her resolve. No matter what it takes.
Because despite the secrets and the dangers, despite the uncertainty that hung over them like a storm cloud, Mo Tang knew one thing for sure:
They were in this together. And she wouldn't let Rishitha—or anyone else—face the darkness alone.
Mo Tang lay on her side, her eyes fixed on the flickering shadows cast by the fire. Sleep seemed like an impossibility. The weight of the day's events, the tension between Ragith and Rishitha, and the ever-present uncertainty about their future pressed down on her chest like a heavy stone.
Her mind drifted back to Rishitha's earlier words—"Alone is all I've ever been."
The vulnerability in her voice, the raw pain she barely managed to suppress, made Mo Tang's heart ache in a way she hadn't expected. It wasn't pity. No, it was something deeper, something primal—a need to shield, to protect.
Rishitha wasn't just another person in their group; she was the thread holding their fragile alliance together.
Across the fire, Ragith leaned against a tree, his sword resting beside him. His eyes were closed, but Mo Tang knew better. Her brother never truly let his guard down, especially not now.
"Can't sleep?" she asked softly, her voice barely audible over the crackle of the flames.
Ragith's eyes opened, glinting in the firelight. "No," he admitted.
Mo Tang sat up, pulling her knees to her chest. "You're still angry at her."
"She endangered you," Ragith said sharply, his voice a low growl. "I don't care what her reasons are—she put you in harm's way. If anything had happened to you—"
"But nothing did," Mo Tang interrupted, her tone firm. "I'm fine, Ragith. And you know as well as I do that she's trying."
Ragith's jaw tightened, his gaze flicking to where Rishitha sat a few feet away. She was hunched over, her arms wrapped around her knees, staring into the flames with a distant look in her eyes.
"She's hiding something," Ragith muttered. "And until I know what it is, I won't trust her."
"Trust is overrated," Erin's voice cut through the quiet, and both siblings turned to see him sitting up, his blade balanced on his lap. His smirk was lazy, but his eyes were sharp.
"What do you mean?" Mo Tang asked, frowning.
Erin shrugged. "Trust isn't a necessity for survival. Skill, strategy, and a bit of luck—that's all you need."
"That's a cynical way to look at things," Mo Tang said, her tone disapproving.
"Maybe," Erin admitted. His gaze flicked to Rishitha, lingering for a moment. "But it's also realistic. And right now, realism is what's going to keep us alive."
Rishitha felt their gazes on her, even if they thought she didn't notice. The tension between her and Ragith was palpable, a heavy presence that hung in the air like a storm cloud.
He's not wrong to hate me, she thought bitterly. If he knew the truth—about the system, about the missions—he'd probably kill me on the spot.
Her hands clenched into fists. The system window hovered faintly at the edge of her vision, a constant reminder of the impossible task she'd been given.
"Rishitha." Ragith's voice broke through her thoughts, sharp and commanding.
She looked up, startled to see him standing over her. His expression was hard, his eyes burning with barely restrained anger.
"We need to talk."
The others fell silent, the weight of his words settling over the group like a heavy blanket.
Rishitha nodded, rising to her feet. "Alright."
They moved a few steps away from the fire, just far enough that their conversation wouldn't disturb the others.
"What are you hiding?" Ragith demanded, his voice low but intense.
Rishitha hesitated, her mind racing. She couldn't tell him the truth—not all of it, at least.
"I'm not hiding anything that would hurt you or Mo Tang," she said carefully.
"That's not an answer," Ragith snapped. "You've been acting strange since the moment we met. Missions appear around you, danger follows you, and yet you always seem to know just enough to keep us alive. What aren't you telling us?"
Rishitha swallowed hard, her heart pounding in her chest. "I—I can't explain it, Ragith. Not yet. But you have to trust me when I say I'm trying to help."
"Trust you?" Ragith scoffed, his eyes narrowing. "You've done nothing to earn my trust. If anything, you've done the opposite."
"I know," Rishitha said, her voice barely above a whisper. "And I'm sorry."
The conversation ended without resolution, the tension between them thicker than ever. As they returned to the fire, the group fell into an uneasy silence.
But despite the friction, they all understood one thing: they needed each other to survive.
The forest stretched out around them, dark and foreboding, a reminder of the dangers that lay ahead.
For now, they would rest. Tomorrow, their journey would continue. And with it, the challenges that would test not just their strength, but their fragile bonds.