Chapter 12: The Blooding Fort

The night was long and harsh, with violent waves wobbling the ship like a rocking chair. The crew struggled to maintain control until they finally passed through the storm. The sun peeked through the dark clouds and revealed sanctuary as Red Haven stood in view. The ship docked in the harbor, and all travelers exited the vessel.

Nearly everyone stepped off, and princess Lashida looked around but couldn't find Jushiro. She and Vinbror looked at each other with concern and searched the ship. Lashida found Jushiro flat on the floor, groaning and motionless. She approached to see him ill from the roughness of the storm.

"Um... Jushiro, are you alright? Princess Lashida asked.

Jushiro didn't say a word in response. He grunted and lamented as he struggled to stand up. Feeling a loss of balance and nausea, he suddenly dashed for the nearby window to vomit. The sound and scent disturbed the princess, causing her to look the other way. Jushiro then collapsed to his knees after unloading his stomach matter.

Vinbror entered after hearing the commotion. He looked on in pity to see his sworn brother in a pathetic state before grabbing his right arm. He raised Jushiro to his feet, and the princess took his left arm to help him walk off the ship. A weakened Jushiro felt gratitude and embarrassed that Vinbror and princess Lashida had to help him walk.

"Thank you, my friends. I-I'm sorry you have to see me like this..."

"It's all fine, little brother. You're just new to this. I understand," Vinbror said.

Jushiro looked to his left to see princess Lashida nod in a gesture of accepting and wanting to assist him. The trio left the ship, and everyone saw Jushiro in a depleted state. One of the elven warriors mocked the man for his inability to handle the stormy waves.

"I guess we found one thing you can't stand against, sir human. If only you wannabe knights would understand. You Aredain knights are pathetic, even your..."

"Sir Finglo, that's enough! Not everyone is used to it. It was probably his first time on a boat so leave him be," Silvir said in a disgusted tone.

The elven warrior sighed, "My apologies, lady Silvir,"

"It's not me you should apologize to, and you know that,"

Finglo doesn't say anything further aside from nodding his head in a gesture of understanding. He took a quick glare as he stood before Jushiro and bowed his head to apologize. He then turned to walk away.

The company took some time to rest in the port, and Jushiro slowly regained the strength to walk without help. The once trembling feeling in his stomach subsided after he received a potion from Silvir. He lowered his head and thanked the elven mage.

Everyone mounted their steads after acquiring them from the lord's stables. The journey south from the port lasted a few hours until the road led them to a forest. The sight of it caused Jushiro to feel uneasy. He felt a sensation of fear, and he wasn't alone as other knights and elves gazed at the forest with reluctance.

"No birds were chirping or any woodland creatures around to hear. There was dead silence in the forest, and the trees stood twisted and dark with vines and thorns,"

Jushiro looked to Vinbror, ahead of the group, and asked, "W-Where are we, Vin?"

"Draugr forest, brother. A place turned and corrupted since the first great war eight thousand years ago. It's one of the oldest and foulest places in western Areth. A dangerous place infested with goblins, vargr wolves, and other foul creatures. But the worst among them are the draugr wights. It's best to venture only when there's sunlight,"

Vinbror's words and cautious tone caused Jushiro to grip his reins tightly as the group slowly entered the forest. Vinbror advised all to stay close and never venture off the road. A powerful dark enchantment covers the forest as all who leave the path never return.

Jushiro followed close behind Vinbror and Lashida as the forest shrouded the way with small glares of sunlight peering from the leaves and branches. Jushiro's right hand clenched his sword, ready for a fight. They gradually entered as the bright sunlight faded behind the dark shroud.

Like the feeling he felt as he ventured into the goblin's domain, Jushiro observed and listened to his surroundings. None in the group uttered a sound as the sound of breaking twigs and crunching leaves echoed around them. Most of the way forward was thick tree lines and brush with blood-red barbed vines dangling above. The air sickened Jushiro as the scent was fouled and decayed. Jushiro noticed Vinbror, ahead of the group, constantly surveying the path with one hand gripping his sword.

"He was like a veteran soldier waist-deep in enemy territory or a predator-infested den. The dread I felt was greater than the time of the goblin nest. With nothing but dense trees and brush to see, anytime was the best time to be ambushed. I truly have entered Mirkwood forest,"

What seemed like an eternity for the company ended when Jushiro saw a glare of sunlight ahead. The sight calmed his soul, and the outlander didn't hesitate to show his relieved expression after entering the light.

Deep in the forest's center lay a large clearing of grasslands and small hills. There Jushiro saw from beyond the large hill before him.

"It was like your typical old castle, abandoned decades if not centuries. The sight of goblins and other monsters infesting the place, I knew this would be difficult,"

The sight of goblins patrolling the castle's ramparts dismayed the company as the sun started the set. The leaders of elves and aredains decided to camp for the night and draw plans to infiltrate the castle. Jushiro brought out a map he acquired from the capital's archives to help with the infiltration.

"You always come prepared, brother. Well done," Vinbror complimented.

Lady Silvir praised his deeds as well. Knowing the goblins are nocturnal, Vinbror advised striking after sunrise as most will be asleep by then. Finglo volunteered to navigate using the map, and Jushiro will remain with lady Silvir and the elven rangers as support. Vinbror and the princesses will lead the warriors in front. All nodded their heads in agreement and prepped for the upcoming operation.

On top of a cliff overlooking the castle, Jushiro sat to observe the place while in deep thought. The elf Silvir called out to inform him time for dinner was near. Jushiro didn't look her way but raised his right arm in acknowledgment. She approached the lone man and asked to join him. Jushiro didn't mind the extra company and tapped the spot next to his left side. Silvir seated herself closely next to him when she felt a strange sensation. She looked Jushiro in the eye, and Jushiro instantly knew she had questions.

"May I ask you something?" Silvir asked.

"Sure, I don't mind. Ask away, miss,"

Silvir remembered the world of Jushiro's origin but wondered more about the man than his native land. She pressured and questioned the life Jushiro lived before coming to Areth. Jushiro breathed before sighing in reluctance. He told Silvir of the family and environment he grew up in as a child of a hard-to-please father. From his upbringing to the day he moved away, Jushiro didn't mention Hinato for fear of reliving the moment.

Silvir felt pity and sympathy for the outsider, firmly grasping his shoulder before petting his head.

"There, there. It's okay now," Silvir said.

Her gentle touch and soothing voice undid any pressure on Jushiro. He then asked about Silvir, feeling he's accepted her into his circle of trust. Silvir remarked how she grew up similarly as a member of an old and proud mage family.

"The Eruna clan existed for eight thousand years during the peak of the first era in Areth's history. My grandfather and great-grandfather fought as renowned heroes against the dark forces in the first great war. As an only child to an old elven clan, I was fated to uphold the duty and cast aside all desires,"

Silvir went on about her parents being strict and demanding for the sake of the clan and realm. As per tradition, the head of the Eruna clan may only conceive one child. The harsh reality of being without a brother or sister to cherish or relate to aggravated Silvir. The centuries of arduous learning yielded hardly any recognition from her family. To them, Silvir understood her role as an Eruna. Yet unknown to them, a slight gap grew between the child and parents. After a thousand years, Silvir accepted her position after joining the Eradul Nine and becoming the head mage of Imlanor.

Jushiro understood her wishes and reasons. Jushiro knew what it was like before his brother was born. He also somewhat understood the solitude Silvir must have endured without the slightest shred of family affection. Despite the worldly difference, Jushiro felt some kinship to relate to Silvir. He petted and softly stroked her silver-blue hair while uttering the very words she said to him.

"There, there. It's okay now,"

The elven mage felt odd within and looked at Jushiro, seeing a grin on his face. She felt relieved that there was someone to whom she could relate. Her grin turned into a full smile as she started to ramble aloud.

"I now wish you were my brother..."

Her face turned red like a tomato from embarrassment after realizing she spoke loud enough for Jushiro to hear. Jushiro chuckled and welcomed the idea as he never had a sister, let alone a two-thousand-year-old sister. Silvir expressed shock but warmly accepted Jushiro as kin before thanking him.

Unexpectedly Jushiro remembered what Silvir called herself and queried her about the Eradul Nine.

"It's an honor only bestowed by the Mages Council of Valisgard. It's a coveted title gifted to the nine strongest sages in Areth," Silvir said.

"Is that so, and you're one of those powerful sages? You must be amazing, lady Silvir," Jushiro said.

The elven mage blushed from his comment but felt slightly unsettled about how Jushiro addressed her.

"Silvir. Just call me Silvir from now on. Or sister," the elven mage requested.

Jushiro understood what she meant and asked for the same from her.

"Alright then, sister. And you can also call me Shiro or brother..."

"Okay, brother.  Shiro, huh? Why split your name?" Silvir asked.

"Up until now, I've only allowed close friends and family to call me by it. It's an honor I grant only to a few people I've accepted. What do you say, Silvir?"

His earnest words flattered her, and she asked if he considered anyone outside his family as his own. Jushiro admitted there's one who he had the privilege to anoint as his big brother. Silvir openly envied Jushiro and wished she had someone close to call brother or sister.

"It isn't that hard. Where I come from and what I realized it's that family doesn't always have to be blood-related. As long as there is someone you consider close enough to call family, that should be all you need. I learned that after I met Vinbror. And now, I have someone to cherish as a brother in this world," Jushiro said.

Silvir finally dared to ask for what she wanted and was about to ask Jushiro a final question. But she was cut off by princess Lashida who approached to tell them dinner was ready. Jushiro stood up and promised to continue their conversation later. Silvir followed him toward the camp where Finglo watched. He noticed Silvir in a positive mood, the kind he'd never witnessed until now. He chose to leave it and join his kin for dinner.

At camp, Jushiro sat next to Vinbror while Silvir seated herself beside Jushiro. Some in the group noticed how Silvir looked at Jushiro, prompting Lashida to ask what they did on the hill.

"Oh, just a sibling talk, your highness," Silvir said.

Finglo grew suspicious but didn't want to agitate the lady. Everyone left it and decided to eat the stew Vinbror cooked for them. Finglo and two other rangers guarded the camp while the rest slept during the night.

Sunrise lighted the valley of the dark-infested forest. Everyone moved into their designated positions. Jushiro and the elven rangers went to work and silenced the goblin guards at the gate and on the walls. An ogre exited into the open, and Silvir cast a spell to render the ogre unconscious. Vinbror seized the chance to slay the ogre. Finglo looked inside the gateway and gave the signal, "All clear,"

Everyone followed the elven guide with Vinbror close beside him. Finglo used the map to navigate the old castle and evade any rooms housing any goblins or ogres. The smell of waste and decay inside was unbearable that some in the group covered their noses, including Jushiro.

Soon they reached the central hall, and the light of their torches reflected mountains of treasure. Gold, silver, and jewels, far as the eye could see, littered the massive room. Jushiro stood in shock at the vast wealth in a single room. Vinbror nudged his shoulder, "Let's hurry and find the stone. We don't have all day, brother,"

"Right! Sorry, Vin," Jushiro said.

Jushiro went to work searching the piles of treasure, looking endlessly for nearly an hour. The elves in Silvir's company found what they sought, and Silvir decided to assist Jushiro. Silvir realized she knew a spell to find the gate stone. Jushiro looked intensely and questioned her, "How can it be done?"

Silvir giggled, "You need only to watch me, Shiro,"

She held up her staff and uttered words in an elvish tongue. A bright shine emitted from the staff's stone, and a magic circle formed in the room. The glow from her spell reflected brightly off an object in the corner of the room. Jushiro pointed in that direction. There he saw the familiar markings engraved on a dark stone embedded in an obsidian chair.

"At long last!" Jushiro cheerfully said.

His heart beat wildly with excitement to complete his quest. Envisioning everyone on Earth overwhelmed his thoughts as he slowly approached the black chair. Suddenly Vinbror called out to Jushiro with concern. Jushiro snapped out of his delusion and noticed Vinbror raising a finger close to his mouth. It's been nearly an hour, and the halls outside the room remained quiet. Vinbror realized everything they'd done should've caused enough commotion for the castle's inhabitants to know there were intruders inside.

Before Jushiro could process, the three doors suddenly closed aside from the rear door. The shutting sound echoed through the halls, followed by thunderous footsteps approaching the group. The three entrances in the room were sealed shut and barred, trapping the group like rats. They all formed and braced for the coming onslaught.

"Warriors up front. Mages and archers in the rear!" Vinbror commanded.

Jushiro remained with Silvir and the elven rangers.

Then they came pouring into the room like a green swarm. Goblins clashed with Aredain knights and elven warriors as heavy fighting ensued in the treasure room. Vinbror led the defense with Finglo and princess Lashida. Dozens of goblins perished from the knights, but their numbers pushed the company into a corner. Jushiro found himself between a rock and a sharp place. He looked on in shock to see some of his companions die from the goblins.

Jushiro drew his sword after depleting his arrows and joined the battle. He stood back to back with Vinbror, fending off the goblins, putting his old kendo training to use again. There was hardly any end as the goblins rushed in by the dozens. A weary Jushiro saw the stone on the other side of the room behind the goblin ranks. The moment became dire for the desperate outlander as he fought intensely to reach the source of his struggles.