the beginning after the end perfect duo

Pierced by Darkness

Jade's POV

In my brother's tight embrace, my body slowly relaxed as the tumultuous memories from earlier began to settle deep in the recesses of my mind.

"I'm all for sibling moments, but my leg's getting crushed here!" The gruff voice of Elden, the man supposed to be our shield, echoed down the tunnel, each word reverberating with a mix of frustration and pain.

"Hang in there, Mr..." My brother's voice trembled as he wiped the tears from his eyes, his words still rushed with emotion, though the latter part softened. He didn't know Elden's name, but that didn't surprise me. He probably never even bothered to ask. Not that I had, either.

"Elden's the name. Now let's get out of here," came the strained response, accompanied by a pained hiss as he clutched his injured leg. "Ahh," he groaned, the sound nearly swallowed by the vastness of the tunnel.

I rolled my eyes. My brother, ever the dramatist, didn't let a moment go without some kind of theatrical flourish.

"I shall be your guide this time, rescuing you from the darkness of this cavern. Follow me, fellow adventurers, and you shall once again see the light of day," my brother announced, his voice rising with exaggerated grandeur, as though narrating a fantasy novel. I had already told him a dozen times how childish his antics were, but, of course, he couldn't help himself. And honestly, as much as I hated to admit it, he did lighten the mood.

With Elden's weight precariously balanced between him and Ragnar, my brother appeared almost childlike in comparison to the men's massive frames. Their muscles bulged, each step taking them deeper into the endless darkness.

As we trudged forward, the pace slowed, each step growing heavier as Elden's injury took its toll. If it weren't for my brother, I might have just left them behind. But then again, my brother would never allow that. No matter how much I just wanted to get out of there, I couldn't bring myself to abandon him.

We walked in silence for what felt like an eternity. Ten minutes had passed, maybe more. The air had warmed back to its usual oppressive heat, and I finally let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding.

"We're close," my brother murmured, his voice much quieter now, calmer. The earlier chaos had settled in his chest, and I could tell he was relieved. As for me, I didn't care about anything except that he was still here. The rest of the world? It could burn for all I cared.

But as we moved a few steps forward, something changed. Black spikes erupted from the ground with terrifying speed. If we hadn't backed away in time, they would have impaled us, each one sharper than the last. My heart raced in my chest as the reality of the situation hit me. Someone was trying to kill us.

I scanned the surroundings, my eyes darting across the shadows, and that's when I saw him—a tall, imposing figure approaching us with unnerving confidence.

His footsteps echoed through the cavern, but it was his aura that sent a chill down my spine. The oppressive cold that radiated from him was unlike anything I had ever felt. My pulse quickened, and an overwhelming instinct to flee surged through me. I wasn't the only one who felt it. Everyone stiffened, their bodies taut with fear.

"Who are you?" My brother's voice rang out, demanding an answer, though I could hear the faint tremor in it.

The stranger's laughter was chilling, a sound that seemed to belong more to a predator than a person. "Thinking you matter, lesser beings?" he mocked, his voice dripping with disdain. "How quaint."

"Lesser beings?" I thought, the term lingering in my mind, puzzling me. What did he mean by that?

The strange man's dark mana flared in response, and I could see the faint gleam of something unnatural in his eyes. But what really caught my attention were the two small bumps on his head. Not bumps—horns. He wasn't human.