The Boundless Pillar

Unbeknownst to Caius, it was late afternoon when he was discovered by the couple, who he would learn were named Silas and Katelyn, respectfully. After being dragged by Silas towards the slowly moving caravan, he watched the sun slowly start to kiss the horizon, casting elongated shadows through the trees.

A small, crackling fire painted the trio in hues of orange and red. Katelyn and Silas sat side by side, a shared blanket wrapped around their shoulders. Across from them, Caius hunched slightly, his eyes drawn to the flames as he slowly shoveled in a venison stew that Silas had thrown together.

"You're sure you don't remember anything?" Silas's voice was low, a question wrapped in doubt.

Glancing up, Caius shook his head, his face etched with confusion and resignation. "Nothing. I just... woke up here. No idea how I got here or where I'm going."

Katelyn shifted uncomfortably. "It's a lot to take in all at once." Her gaze flickered to Silas, seeking an unspoken agreement.

Silas nodded, his expression hardening. "What can you tell us.. of your memories, I mean? Even the smallest detail may give a clue."

Caius nodded, his eyes distant. "I appreciate your kindness, I truly do," he said, his voice filled with a genuine gratitude that seemed at odds with his situation. "But the only thing I can remember is an elven woman with emerald eyes, but even that is a flash; I don't know if that is real or just a figment of my imagination." Shaking his head as if trying to clear it, Caius continued, "It's as if my past was just a dream, and I am finally awake; the more I try to remember, the faster it slips my grasp."

A long silence stretched between them, broken only by the soft crackle of the fire. The woods were cloaked in an eerie quiet, punctuated by the occasional hoot of an owl.

"I can't say I understand exactly what you are going through, but chin up, there are worst things in this world. Regarding your vision of an elf, the only elves near here are the Salubritas Elves, which are nearly two weeks from Cearulues. That may be a good starting point for finding your mystery woman, but we can talk about that later; it's getting late. We should probably get some sleep," said Katelyn.

Silas agreed, his voice laced with finality. "We'll set up the tent a little further away. You can have a fire. We shouldn't need a watch tonight since the others in the caravan will set one."

Caius nodded, his face impassive. As the couple gathered their things, he watched them with a curious intensity. Their willingness to trust his story had caught him off guard. He didn't know if he would have believed a stranger who claimed to have no memories.

As the crunch of leaves and the murmur of their voices faded into the night, Caius leaned back against a tree, his eyes fixed on the fire's dying embers. A cold wind swept through the woods, carrying the scent of pine and damp earth. He pulled his cloak tighter around him, ignoring the creeping chill.

He ran a hand through his hair, his thoughts a tangled mess. The elven woman. A flicker of memory, a phantom amid his mind. Was it real or merely a desperate grasp at something familiar? And why did it feel so important? He closed his eyes, trying to conjure any image, but his mind was blank.

A shiver ran down his spine. He was alone, vulnerable, and with no clear path forward. The woods, which had been a sanctuary since he woke up, now felt like a menacing place, filled with shadows that seemed to be closing in on him, seeking revenge.

As he stared into the darkness, exhaustion rolled through him. Closing his eyes, Caius thought that at least he had a fire and a full belly.

___________________________________________

Once a silent sentinel, the forest began to stir with an unnatural energy. Strange sounds, a mix of guttural growls and eerie whispers, replaced the comforting hush of the night. Once a source of warmth and companionship, the campfire now cast a mysterious glow, dancing shadows that took on monstrous shapes.

Caius was jolted awake by a sharp shake to his shoulder. Silas's face, illuminated by the embers of the dying fire, was etched with grim determination. "Wake up," he hissed, his voice low and urgent. "Something's out there."

Caius's heart pounded in his chest as he scrambled to his feet. The night was filled with an oppressive silence, broken only by the rapid thumping of his own heart. Silas pressed a sword into his hands. It was cold and heavy, a stark contrast to the warmth of the fire.

"We need to stick together," Silas said, his voice barely a whisper. "I don't know what they are, but they can smell us."

As if on cue, a blood-curdling screech echoed through the woods, followed by a series of snapping branches. The ground trembled, and a low growl rumbled through the undergrowth. The shadows seemed to thicken, taking on more defined shapes.

Fear gnawed at Caius, but he forced himself to stand tall. He looked at Silas and then at Katelyn, who was near the fire, mumbling softly as the fire before her started to spark and grow ominously. Her eyes were wide with terror, but her gaze also had a strange intensity. They were a small island of light in a vast, menacing ocean of darkness.

A pair of glowing red eyes appeared from the shadows, followed by another and another. The creatures were large, with hunched backs and elongated limbs. Their skin was a sickly green, and their teeth were sharp and jagged.

Three creatures advanced on their group; Silas moved with a feral grace, his sword a blur of silver in the night. He met the first creature head-on, parrying its claws with his shield before driving the sword into its heart. The beast let out a gurgling shriek and collapsed. The second, taken by surprise by Silas' quick attack, was no match for Silas's follow-up attack, as its head was separated from its shoulders.

But the third, sensing an easier target, abandoned its original prey and lunged for Caius. The creature was larger, its movements quick. Terror seized Caius, but before he could react, time seemed to slow. The world around him blurred, and his mind raced. He saw the monster's every move, every muscle twitch as if dissected under a microscope. The creature's trajectory, the angle of its claws, and the vulnerable points in its anatomy were all laid bare before him. To his surprise, He saw the threads connecting the creature and himself. Focusing on this thread, he instinctively senses each possible movement of the beast.

In this frozen moment, Caius felt a strange sense of calm; if he knew each possible move, he could counter each move. He was detached from his body, an observer of his fate. Caius adjusted his stance, the grip on his sword tightening. With a clarity he'd never known, he saw the perfect counter—a slight shift of his body, a precise angle for the sword.

Then, as abruptly as it had begun, the world snapped back into focus. The monster was upon him. With a speed that surprised even himself, Caius met the charge. His sword found its mark, sinking deep into the creature's flesh. The beast howled in pain, but it did not stop. Caius felt its hot breath on his face, the stench of decay filling his nostrils. He braced himself for the impact.

The impact sent Caius crashing to the ground, the wind knocking him out. Pain shot through his body, a sharp, insistent agony. He tried to rise, but his limbs felt like lead. Above him, the monster was a dark, looming shadow. Then, a blinding flash of light erupted from the direction of the campfire.

Katelyn stood over the flames, her figure outlined in fire. A rune, pulsing with an otherworldly energy, hovered above her hands. With a powerful gesture, she sent a wave of fire crashing into the creatures. The flames were not ordinary; they were imbued with a destructive force that seemed to consume everything in their path.

The creatures howled in agony, their green skin blistering and peeling. They retreated, their forms distorted by the heat. The forest was filled with the sound of their retreat, a cacophony of snarls and growls.

Silas, his sword dripping with blood, moved to Caius's side. "Are you alright?" he asked, his voice filled with concern as he pushed the dead creature off Caius.

Caius managed a weak nod before attempting to get to his feet. A hand appeared, and Caius gladly grasped Silas's outstretched hand. The pain was excruciating, but with the last of the adrenaline, Caius stood. Turning towards the fire, he looked at Katelyn, her face etched with determination and fear. She was a woman transformed, a force of nature to be reckoned with.

The forest had once again fallen silent, the only sounds being the crackling of the fire and the ragged breathing of the three survivors. Still grimacing in pain, Caius asked, "What in the heck were those things?! Secondly, how the heck did you control the fire?! It was magic, wasn't it?" his voice grew louder as he finished.

Silas and Katelyn stared at Caius in disbelief. Katelyn was the first to recover and responded, "Those monsters are goblins. They aren't too powerful alone, but in large groups, they can destroy entire villages. We were lucky that there wasn't more of them." She took another breath and continued, "Yes, what I did with the fire was magic. It was a variation of the fireball spell."

Before Caius could even start to unpack that information, Silas interrupted his rambling thoughts, "How did you do that?" Silas asked, his voice filled with genuine astonishment.

Confused, Caius asked, "Do what?"

Silas straightened and looked at Caius as if appraising him. They had seen him as nothing more than a lost and vulnerable stranger, but his actions had proven otherwise. Caius survived the attack and managed to kill one of the creatures.

"How did you move like that? Your movements were fluid, like Quicksilver; it was as if your sword knew exactly where it needed to be," Silas asked more seriously this time.

Caius was still catching his breath, but he managed a weak smile. "I don't know," he admitted. "It was like time slowed down, and I could see everything."

Katelyn's eyes widened in surprise. "You mean you saw the future?"

Caius shook his head. "Not the future, but the possibilities. I saw all the possible outcomes of the attack, and I chose the one where I survived."

Silas and Katelyn exchanged glances, their expressions mixed with disbelief and awe. They had never heard of such a thing.

"And you, Katelyn," Caius said, his voice filled with curiosity. "How did you do that? The fire, the runes, the magic?"

Katelyn hesitated for a moment, then took a deep breath. "It's a long story," she said. "But I can tell you this: magic is a powerful force that can be used for good or evil."

Caius's eyes lit up with excitement. "Can I learn magic?" he asked.

Katelyn smiled. "It's possible," she said. "But it's not easy. It takes years of training and practice."

Caius nodded, his determination undeterred. "I'm willing to learn," he said.

Silas looked at Caius and then at Katelyn. "We'll talk more in the morning," he said. For now, let's get some rest; my bones are tired. We need to be ready for whatever comes next."

Caius nodded, his mind racing with possibilities. He had survived a terrifying ordeal but also discovered a new strength within himself. He was no longer just a lost stranger; he was a survivor, a potential warrior, and a student of magic. Maybe not having any memories was a blessing; perhaps he could make himself a life in this world.