Seeds of The Seven (Rubia)

38. Looming Dangers

Lilith stood in the northernmost part of Bunio, a place known for its unforgiving cold that could freeze ordinary humans in an instant. Her breath misted in the frigid air, but she seemed unaffected, her gaze fixed on the landscape below.

The silence was broken by a sudden tear in the fabric of reality, as if time and space themselves were being ripped apart like a cloth. Lithany, emerged from the rift, stepping gracefully onto the icy ground.

"How is it sister?" Lilith asked, her voice calm and measured.

"It's done, sister." Lithany replied, a hint of satisfaction in her tone. Talking about the magnificent art she did at Mt. Bunio by closing all entrances.

Beneath them, the terrain was a bleak expanse of ice and snow, the ground littered with countless frozen corpses—remnants of the divine war and the second great war. They looked down at the field of frozen corpses, a macabre testament to the wars' brutal history, their final moments preserved in eternal stillness.

"It's all yours sister." Lilith said, stepping aside and gesturing to the scene below.

Lithany moved forward, her eyes glinting with dark purpose. She removed a piece from her bracelet, a small, ornate charm that pulsed with an eerie, dark energy. She began to chant, her voice low and resonant, each word infused with ancient, forbidden magic.

As she spoke, the air around her seemed to darken, the ground beneath her feet vibrating with an ominous power. The frozen corpses began to stir, their eyes flickering to life with a malevolent purple hue, one by one.

Lilith watched with a smirk on her face as her sister's dark magic took hold. The once lifeless bodies started to twitch and move, their glowing eyes casting an eerie light across the ice.

"Es ist Zeit zu erwachen. (It's time to awaken)." Lithany intoned, her chant reaching a crescendo. The corpses, now reanimated, rose from their icy graves, their movements stiff and unnatural but undeniably alive.

The northern part of Bunio, once a silent monument to past conflicts, now teemed with the unsettling presence of the undead. Lilith and Lithany stood side by side, overseeing their grim handiwork.

-----

The moon sets over Rubia, casting long shadows across the cobbled streets as the group parted ways. Ser Bennington, his armor glinting in the fading light, headed towards the healing sanctum, his mind already forming the report for the High Healer. The day's events weighed heavily on his shoulders, but he walked with purpose, his duty clear.

Meanwhile, the youngsters made their way to the Medici's Manor House. Mori, with her gentle persuasion, finally convinced Markenzo to rest at the manor despite his initial resistance. Eliya's decisive words were the final push he needed. "You have nowhere else to go, and you need rest to find the man you're looking for." she had said, her tone leaving no room for argument.

As they arrived at the manor, Mori led Markenzo to a modest but comfortable room. The walls were adorned with tapestries, and the bed looked invitingly soft. "You can stay here for now." she said, her voice warm with kindness.

Eliya, meanwhile, busied herself in the kitchen, preparing a hearty meal. The smell of roasted meats and freshly baked bread soon filled the air, making Markenzo's stomach rumble in anticipation. Despite their weariness, he felt a flicker of gratitude for these two women who had taken him in without question.

They gathered in the dining hall, the chandeliers above provided dim light, casting a warm glow over the marbled floors. As they ate, Mori and Eliya chatted animatedly, their laughter ringing through the hall. Markenzo watched them, the tension in his body slowly ebbing away. Their camaraderie was infectious, and for the first time since arriving in Rubia, he felt a sense of peace being sorrounded by these two.