Rewrite The Star

CHAPTER 51: TOWARDS THE JOURNEY

CHAPTER 51: TOWARDS THE JOURNEY

As dawn broke, Atlas and Creed set off once more, a renewed closeness between them after last night’s revelations. Walking side by side along the dense forest path, the sounds of nature created a tranquil backdrop. However, Creed suddenly paused, lowering his hand to the ground.

"Wait," he murmured, his gaze sharp and attentive.

Atlas mirrored Creed's vigilance, scanning the surroundings for any sign of danger. A bush to their right began to rustle, and out leapt a goblin, snarling. Atlas raised his hand, preparing a spell, when—snap!—a net suddenly ensnared the creature.

“Creed, was that you?” Atlas asked, surprised.

“No,” Creed replied, just as a distant voice shouted, "Yes! Finally caught it!" Footsteps rushed toward them. Atlas squinted, recognition dawning.

“Darren! Is that you?” he called, grinning as his old friend emerged from the trees.

“Atlas! Didn’t expect to see you out here!” Darren exclaimed, laughing as they exchanged a hearty handshake. Noticing Creed standing nearby, Darren leaned in with a playful grin. “So…who’s the guy in black? Your roommate?”

Atlas’s face flushed. “Oh, shut up, Darren,” he muttered, struggling to hide his embarrassment.

Then another figure joined them—Nowell, catching his breath from the run. “Atlas,” Nowell greeted with a nod, attempting to keep a composed demeanor.

“Didn’t think I’d see you either, Nowell,” Atlas replied, his grin widening.

“Well, since we’re all here, how about a quick break?” Darren suggested, gesturing to a nearby clearing.

“Sure, sounds good,” Atlas agreed. They settled down, and Nowell busied himself with the goblin, extracting its liver and heart with skilled precision.

Darren glanced at Creed, raising an eyebrow. “So, who exactly is your dark, brooding friend?”

“His name’s—” Atlas started, but Creed cut in smoothly.

“Creed,” he said, extending a hand. “Nice to meet you, Darren.”

Darren shook his hand with a smile. “Likewise.” He then turned back to Atlas. “So, what brings you out here?”

“I’m on a quest, same as you. And actually,” Atlas lowered his voice conspiratorially, “I think I’ve found something important.” He reached into his pack, pulling out the Stellaria Coetus. He opened it, and as his eyes scanned the ancient text, he was transported into another vision.

In the vision, Atlas found himself wandering a dark, narrow hallway, walls of stone and mud pressing close. His footsteps echoed as he moved toward a faint light at the tunnel’s end. Suddenly, he spotted several torn book pages scattered on the ground, each marked with unfamiliar star charts and celestial symbols.

A faint voice reached his ears, pained and desperate. “Atlas… help me.” The sound reverberated through the cave. Atlas broke into a sprint, reaching the exit just in time to see Nowell slumped against a rock, badly injured, while Darren lay nearby, his arm bloodied and limp. Atlas felt his stomach lurch as he came back to himself, gasping.

“What happened?” Creed asked, noticing his paled expression.

“Darren,” Atlas said, his voice edged with urgency, “you were planning to head east this afternoon, right?”

Darren nodded, eyeing him curiously. “Yeah, how’d you know?”

Atlas took a breath. “This might sound insane, but this book… it gives me visions. Warnings of what’s to come. If you go east, you’re not heading toward a goblin village like you thought—it’s actually a Dragonoid’s lair.”

Both Darren and Nowell’s faces turned white.

“A Dragonoid cave?” Nowell choked out, shuddering. “We wouldn’t stand a chance…”

“Exactly,” Atlas replied. “I think you should come with us instead. We’re all heading in the same general direction, and it’d be safer together.”

Darren chuckled, patting Atlas on the shoulder. “You might’ve just saved our skins, you know that?”

Creed and Atlas exchanged a knowing glance. For now, the path forward was clear, and as they all shared a laugh under the sunlit canopy, Atlas couldn’t help but feel a spark of hope for the journey ahead.