Whispers of the forgotten

After reaching the base of the Crimson Snow Mountains, Morpheus and Lornara felt the weight of the distance they had traveled together. The winds howled through the red snow blanketing the mountains, filling the air with a sense of mystery and dread. This place was home to many dark etheric beasts that lurked in the heart of the mountains, and there was no doubt that these creatures were stronger and more dangerous than they had anticipated.

At first, Lornara had tried to keep her distance from Morpheus. She focused on staying alert, and it was clear she didn't want to get involved in any emotional attachment. But over time, with each step they took through the mountains, Morpheus began to notice how Lornara had started to open up a little. She was more vocal, sharing more about her past, about her family that had been lost in a battle with etheric beasts, and how this sorrow drove her to continue her mission.

One evening, as they sat around a small fire in one of the caves, eating a simple meal, Morpheus smiled and said:

"You have an incredible ability to endure. You don't seem afraid, despite everything we're facing here."

Lornara responded quietly, "Fear is not an option. If I let my guard down here, I might never return. But I'm no longer searching for escape. This fight has become part of me."

There was a long silence between them. Morpheus studied her for a moment before saying:

"Do you believe this battle will be the end?"

Lornara gave a sad smile, "I don't know, but I believe that even in the darkest moments, one must hold onto hope, no matter the cost."

Those words created a strange connection in Morpheus's heart. He wasn't sure if she was opening up to him or if it was just a quiet attempt to forget the pain.

Before he could respond, a distant howl echoed through the mountains. The deep, powerful sound reverberated through the air, making the temperature drop even further. Suddenly, a large snowflake landed near them, rolling slowly across the rocks as if it were watching them.

"Did you hear that?" Morpheus asked, quickly standing, his senses on high alert.

Lornara nodded and swiftly drew her sword. "Yes, and it's not good."

Before Morpheus could move, the creature emerged from the shadows. It was a massive wolf, but not just any wolf. Its eyes glowed a bright crimson red, its fangs long and sharp like claws. Its fur was a deep, shadowy gray, and its etheric energy permeated the air, making it feel as though they were facing a dark force. This wolf was not just an etheric beast—it was a demonic entity summoned from the abyss of the mountains.

"An etheric… demonic wolf! It is a fourth class " Lornara said in a low voice, her heart racing.

The wolf let out terrifying growls from its fangs, causing the ground to tremble beneath them. There was no time to prepare. The wolf leapt into the air, aiming to strike them both. Its eyes burned with fury as it charged at them with lightning speed. Lornara moved swiftly, darting to one side and striking the ground with her sword, while Morpheus ran in the opposite direction to distract the beast.

"These creatures feed on etheric energy!" Morpheus shouted, dodging a strike. "We can't let them hit us directly or we'll attract more of them!"

As they fought, Morpheus realized this beast was unlike any they had encountered before. It was far stronger than the creatures they had faced on their journey. It had a unique ability to drain etheric energy from its surroundings, growing stronger the longer it fought. The battle raged on, but their strikes had little effect.

"We need to work together!" Lornara shouted, circling to meet the wolf's attack.

"Let me start!" Morpheus called out, his eyes glowing with the increasing etheric energy within him. In a sudden move, he focused his energy into his hands, charging them with a massive amount of etheric power to send a wave of energy toward the wolf.

The wolf lunged again, but this time, Morpheus and Lornara's strikes were faster and more precise. With a powerful slash from her sword, Lornara landed a vertical blow to the wolf's side, while Morpheus absorbed a portion of its energy using his etheric abilities.

The wolf staggered back, then disappeared into the shadows, leaving behind the scent of emptiness. But they knew it wasn't the last they'd see of it. This battle was just the beginning of something worse in the mountains.

"Are you alright?" Morpheus asked, his voice serious, as he struggled to catch his breath.

"Yes, just… these creatures are getting stronger. We need to be more careful," Lornara answered, wiping the sweat from her brow.

As they continued deeper into the mountains, their bond began to grow. With each passing step, Morpheus began to learn more about Lornara, not just as a powerful warrior, but as someone carrying a burden of loss and hope. And with every adventure they faced, her words echoed in his mind: "Even in the darkest moments, one must hold onto hope."

And within the heart of the Crimson Snow Mountains, horrors awaited them.

After the fierce battle with the etheric wolf, Morpheus and Lornara regained their breath, but a deep sense of unease lingered. They continued their journey through the desolate mountains, where crimson snow fell quietly upon the ground, covering everything with a bloody veil. The towering mountains around them loomed like silent giants, hiding many secrets behind their peaks.

There was no sign of the criminal sent by Germain, nor any indication of the Forgotten Ones' activity. The atmosphere in the mountains grew increasingly oppressive, as if the place itself was pressing heavily on their nerves. The winds howled through the empty spaces, adding to the sense of mystery. Nothing seemed to point them in the right direction, and the threads they stood upon were becoming harder to trace.

"It doesn't look like there are any clues so far, does it?" Lornara said, cleaning her sword as her eyes scanned the surrounding mountains.

"Yes, but we have to keep searching. They don't vanish without reason. There must be some trace somewhere," Morpheus replied in a calm voice, though he felt something strange in the air. It was as though the mountains themselves were trying to hide the truth from them.

Time passed as they navigated through many dangerous areas of the mountains. The snow continued to fall steadily, and the sun hung far away, pale and red, as if refusing to light the path ahead.

Suddenly, Morpheus felt something different. A misty aura enveloped his vision, and his mind began to drown in a whirl of visions and illusions. He tapped into his ability to see the future, but it was muddled. Everything seemed unclear, as if time itself had warped before him. He couldn't fully understand what was happening, but he knew something unnatural was about to occur.

"Be careful!" Morpheus shouted, sensing unusual movement in the air. "It's coming! Stay alert!"

And then, from the snowstorm, the second etheric wolf appeared. This one was larger and more ferocious than the one they had fought before. Its eyes glowed brighter than before, its bones coated in layers of crimson ice, as though the beast itself had become part of the mountains. Its muscles were taut, and its strength was many times greater than the first one. With every step it took, the ground trembled beneath it, and Morpheus could feel that this time would not be like the last.

"It's from the fourth tier, and it will be stronger than the one we faced," Morpheus said in a firm tone, trying to focus on his vision.

At that moment, his future sight began to clear, but something was still off in his predictions. The wolf's strikes accelerated with terrifying speed, while Morpheus struggled to correct his vision, which was still distorted. As he moved, he had to predict every step the wolf made, but it was a difficult task, for its movements were faster than he anticipated.

"I can't do this alone..." Morpheus whispered to himself, preparing to channel his etheric energy. As he tried to halt the wolf before it closed the distance, he found himself stumbling, making direct attacks more challenging.

Then Lornara intervened quickly. With swift directions, she added a touch of power to Morpheus's plans. She leaped into the air, attacking the beast from above, using her sword to cut off the path of the attack that was headed toward Morpheus. But the wolf was not easily defeated. It used its immense strength to deflect her strike at the last moment, expressing violent resistance.

"Watch out!" Lornara yelled as the wolf swung one of its claws at her. But Morpheus, using his skill, directed a surge of etheric energy at the wolf, causing it to retreat a step.

"If this continues, we'll be in trouble. We need to focus together!" Morpheus said, trying to regain control of his vision.

Together, they began to coordinate. Morpheus focused his etheric energy around Lornara's sword, allowing her to deliver powerful, lethal strikes to the etheric wolf. At the same time, he concentrated his energy directly on the fourth-tier wolf, weakening its defenses.

After several attempts and etheric energy blasts, they finally shattered the wolf's strength. The massive creature collapsed onto the crimson snow, letting out a roar of pain. The surrounding mountains fell into a temporary silence, with snow gently falling onto the creature's body.

"We did it..." Morpheus whispered, panting. "But there's more in these mountains. This is just the beginning."

Lornara stood beside him, gazing at the surrounding mountains. "You're right. This isn't over yet."

As the two of them sighed quietly, they were reminded of the true reason they were here: the battle against the etheric beasts was only a small part of their greater mission.