Into The Unown

The Quest begins

When she'd first arrived in Chewa island, she was broken and bruised.

Serena was unaware of the tragedy which had unfolded at Haldfest, all she was aware of was that it had killed her mother and Alain. Coming to Chewa island wasn't something which she'd planned to do, but her footsteps which subconsciously knocked at Aria's doorstep said otherwise. There, she had found not only a home, but warmth and love, something which had healed her wounds.

When she'd left, Serena was still broken, but not bruised.

When Delia had asked of her to help them find the city of Okera, she had said that if Serena chose not to help, they would still do their best to find the city and that she wouldn't be at fault. There was no condescension in her voice, just concern.

"Professor Oak left when he was put in a similar position as you and we still love him," Delia has laughed to break ice, "whatever you chose to decide, I will stand by you."

"I will help," she's answered without hesitation.

Serena didn't say no, she couldn't, she owed that yes to far too many people.

"You think you'll be alright?" Gary asked.

Ash looked up proud, from dodging triggering questions to blaming each other for all that was wrong in the world, the two had come a long way in their friendship.

"Yes, I'll be alright." Ash said with a smile, packing all necessary items. "I've come a long way—we've come a long way."

His mind was instantly bombarded with images dating back two years. The sleepless nights they'd spent and the blood they'd shed. "We have,"

"If God forbid something does happen, I believe you'll do the job?"

Gary hesitate, "I will,"

"Thank you," Ash smiled. "Why are you carrying that old book again?"

Gary was on his way to stuff the novel that the two discovered in James's lair into his duffle bag when Ash interrupted. He looked up, dove eyed and said, "I began reading it last night because I thought it might have some clues..."

"And?"

"I kept reading it cause it was..." Gary mumbled.

"It was?"

"It was..." he said, only to mumble yet again.

"Gary if you don't yell in the next few seconds, please be aware that I am going to hit you."

"Fine, it is good." He sighed, "I was never a fan of novels because I thought they were for—"

"The less educated and you preferred real things like scientific journals,"

"Yes, exactly, but this one... this is SO GOOD ASH! The characters and the setting and the emotions!" Gary hugged the book close to his chest and let out a satisfactory sigh, "I love this book."

Ash smiled, "That is out of character for you gare-bear."

"I don't care, this book is the hill I'm going to die on."

"I stand by my statement. Maybe it's good thing that you're reading it."

Ash didn't need to know his father to infer that keeping a old novel at his hideout was a bit weird. From what he'd heard, James seemed way too busy to have a side passion of reading novels. But if he had one at his place, maybe there was a deeper reason as to why.

Gary frowned at Ash's words, "What are you trying to say?"

Ash zipped his bag and turned to face him. "I mean, you've never been one for fiction, and my dad wasn't exactly the type to keep novels lying around. If it was in his secret lab, it has to mean something."

Gary's eyes dropped to the book in his hands. "You think there's a clue in here?"

"I'd bet on it," Ash replied. "Anything stand out while you were reading?"

Gary flipped through the pages, his brow furrowing. "It's just a story... about a guy trying to find a hidden city of the dead."

"Why does he want to find it?"

"Luke comes from a line of people called themae; basically they had a power so dangerous that others had them butchered and burned their city to the ground. He's the last of themae to exist, has no clue about his power and wants to find the city to get his answers."

Ash hummed in response. "Don't related to it, but go on."

"This book talks about the city being hidden by a 'veil of time,' whatever that means. The protagonist has to use... well, something called a key of the gods to find it."

Ash froze, his eyes starting dead into Gary's. "The key of what?"

"The key of the gods..." Gary flipped through the pages until he found the one he was looking for, "here, see. Forged in light, shattered by darkness. Hidden in plain sight, visible only to those bound by blood and sacrifice."

"That sounds ominous," Ash muttered. "But it does sounds like a lead,"

"A lead to what?"

"Okera?" Ash shrugged, "Maybe this book could be a map, or at least a guide to finding it."

Gary looked uneasy. "But if James left this here, why didn't he act on it? Why leave the clues for us to find?"

Ash's jaw tightened. "Maybe he didn't get the chance. Or maybe he wanted us to be the ones to find it."

Gary hesitated, then nodded. "So, what's the plan?"

"We follow Luke," Ash said, sliding the book into his bag. "Serena's already agreed to help, and Delia thinks the city's our best shot at stopping the Apocalypse. This book might be exactly what we need to put the pieces together."

Gary's expression softened, though the tension lingered in his shoulders. "You really think we can find it?"

Ash met his gaze. "We have to. Too many people have died for us not to try."

Gary sighed, then threw his own duffle bag over his shoulder. "Alright. Let's do it. But for the record, if this ends up being some elaborate dead end, I'm blaming your dad."

Ash laughed, the sound brief but genuine. "Deal. Now let's get moving before Delia sends a search party."

As they stepped out of the room, Gary cast one last glance at the now-empty space. The lair felt quieter somehow, as though it had given up its last secret.

But Ash's mind was racing. If the novel was more than a story, then their journey to Okera was already written—buried in fiction, waiting to be uncovered. And if the city truly held the answers they needed, it was no longer just a search for survival.

It was a race against the Apocalypse.