Sekai Break

" Five day from now the halo rings of the condensation point near Laptove will erase the poisoning. During that time is when we act. " The elder said."

" Mm. " All seated but Elren said in unison.

Dym looked at their eyes lit with determination. He could help but smile thinking that there might be some hope left for them.

" Sir so what the plan. " Sen asked.

" Five days from now the water in the river is decontaminated. That means safe passage close to the river with no worry of poisoning. " Dym started.

" Back then I noticed that the river flow was gentle. That means the river's source is near by. "

" So that means the contamination is in the source… " Sen said stopping abruptly after noticing he had interrupted Dym.

" Sorry sir. " he said sinking into his seat. Liora glared at him shaking her head in disapproval.

" As Sen just pointed out… " he said looking at Sen. " The contamination must be at the source and as the river flows it carries it with it. "

" How far is the source from here ? "

" According to the village's mapping of the forest the source is just a few hikes from the village watering point. We can get there by foot. "

" Of course by foot. " Liora added.

" It really rather close Liora but the only issue is that it's near the shriekers den… " Ery said hesitant to finish.

" Their den ? " Liora exclaimed.

" There are caves near the source of the river and the shriekers usually use them to store their kills. But don't worry if the only problem is the source we won't have to go close to them. " Ery added in a light tone trying to cheer up Liora.

" Wait we ? Are you coming too ? " Liora asked eyeing Ery.

" I assumed it's the reason we're here . " Ery added shifting her gaze to Dym.

" Once we're there the plan is simple ,find the contaminant and remove it from the river's source. In order not attract any unneeded attention the six us will be the ones to go to the source. " Dym concluded.

" Any questions? "

" But if it's five days from now wouldn't it be better to call other experienced guild members for reinforcements. " Liora asked.

At the corner seat Elren rolled his eyes wondering what naïve children Liora and Sen were.

" You seriously think this is the first time we've asked for help from the guild. " Elren , irritated, queried.

" The poisoning started months ago, and no matter how many times we asked, not a single guild member cared to spare the energy to helping us. "

" And the guild is handling the matter as we speak. We only ask for patience as we undo our wrongs. " Dym said .

" Patience won't bring back all the lost lives. Their families, friends and everyone who knew them don't want patience or your empty promises."

" They want their friends back… "

" They want their family back. " he said his tone softening a little.

" So don't come here and expecting anything from us . " Elren ended his breathing heavy.

He then roughly pushed back his seat, the screeching resounding in the enclosed cabin.

" Let's go, Will. " he commanded as he turned to the door.

" I don't have time to play with children. " he muttered giving Sen harsh look before walking to the door.

Will, hesitant, followed behind him. A few moments later the cabin door was slung shut the force fluttering the already fainting candle.

" What's his problem ? " Liora asked skeptical about his outrage.

" Don't worry. He has a hard time believing in others especially in matters that are close to him. " Ery said , sympathetic to Elren words.

Sen was still seated. His eyes were glued to the door ,glossy in the candlelight. He could feel a piercing pain in heart , like a wooden steak had been drove into it, as he remembered Elren words. Each words like a hammer drove it deeper and deeper. Flashes of that day when this all started flashed by adding to the weight of the hammer.

The elder watched Sen as his eyes drifted to his right hand. Her eyes narrowed as he started to move his left hand across his palm as though drawing something. On close inspection she saw it. The rune engraved onto his hand like a scar from his past she had yet to unfold.

" Will he be there ? " Dym asked concerned of Elren's outburst .

" Yes . He'll be there. " the elder answered .

" This village matters to him more than he shows. "

" Okay. "

" As for the rest of you… " he said looking at Sen and Liora.

" Get some sleep. I know you've had a tiring first day. "

" Your rooms are upstairs pick whichever you want."

With that Sen and Liora made their way up the stairs. Ery was at the door waving goodbye as she followed Elder Lin. Sen waved back while Liora only glanced at the two.

Everyone had left the cabin leaving Dym alone in the seated at the edge of the table. Upstairs he could hear Sen try to say goodnight to Liora only to be cut short by a slamming door. He sighed as picked up the brass candle holder.

" I wonder why he paired up those two together? "

" I hope you know what you're doing Trojn. " he thought as he blew out the candle.

…

Up in his room Sen sat on the wooden bed. He had taken his hooded robe off, his skin now bathing in the moonlight.

Behind him he could feel a presence. It felt cold, as a winter night, sending chills across his body. He could feel its eyes gaze at him as though they were his own. Deep down he already knew what it was. And what it meant.

Then suddenly like the wind it swayed from the shadows ,circling around the room . Yet it's presence was unfelt to the other objects in the room. As it swirled across the room its passing touch lingered more and more onto his skin until it felt as though his entire body was bound by an invisible veil.

As the swirling neared it's end he heard a hum. Gently serene and warm.

The presences veil restriction slowly eased as the warm feeling encased his eyes and gradually grew to the rest of his body. The hum verbalized and Sen could finally understand it.

" It's time to wake up. "

Slowly the room he was in started to fade like chunks of a jigsaw puzzle as they floated into the dark space around them. As they floated away, small cracks in the dark space started to form , a golden light seeping through them.

Slowly Sen opened his eyes. The warm morning sun pierced through window in his room and we're settling on his now warm face. He rubbed his eyes as he got up from his bed , finally realizing that all that was a dream.