Barrier Fall

Before the long march

The villagers were beyond overjoyed. They had lost nothing—no lives, just a single bull.

But the same couldn't be said for everyone else. Nox felt like he'd lost a part of his humanity after killing Gran, though he consoled himself, saying the man more than deserved it. Kirian felt like he'd lost his brother twice over, and the second time hurt even more.

Ren wore his usual grin, no surprise there, except this time, he'd just pummeled someone he knew and sent him back to Ignis.

Soren was silent, deep in thought. He and Nox wore the same expression, both itching to ask Ren what the hell was really happening. It was obvious he and Kirian knew more than they were letting on.

The villagers were busy tending to the children. It was already past high noon. The little ones changed into clean clothes given by the village kids, though not all could get sandals for the long trek ahead.

Nox and Soren sat inside the large house they'd stayed in the night before, at the same table where they'd eaten. Ren and Kirian were away in the village, preparing supplies for their journey. The silence between Nox and Soren stretched, until Nox finally broke it.

"Where the hell did you learn to fight with a spear like that?" he asked. His mind flashed back to when Soren threw the spear with lethal precision, skewering soldiers like it was nothing. "That wasn't the work of an amateur… and why were you killing so easily?" His voice dropped.

"First of all, why weren't you?" Soren shot back. "That was a war, Nox. You realize you could've been killed, right?" He sighed heavily. "You can't keep thinking the world will treat you well just because you refuse to treat it badly. Mercy in a battle like that will only get you killed."

Nox sat quietly as Soren scolded him, tapping his fingers on the table.

"Anyway," Soren continued, "I was a prince. I've trained with every weapon I could get my hands on since I was a child. When I awakened my Iora while on the run from my father, my strength became ten times what it used to be. I can still feel myself growing stronger." The sound of his fist clenching was clearly heard by Nox.

"Huh?" Nox muttered, his thoughts melting away under Soren's lecture.

Ren barged in and dropped a huge bag on the floor.

Gbuum!

They'd been so caught up in their conversation they hadn't even noticed him enter. Kirian walked in right behind.

"Yeah, yeah, listen to Soren, Nox. He seems smarter than you," Ren said with a grin, giving a thumbs-up.

Nox groaned on instinct. He remembered Raizen saying the same thing about Juro.

He sighed. "I hope Juro's doing better than me, well knowing Raizen, Juro's probably half-dead by now, but stronger too. Probably stronger than me already."

Soren suddenly slammed his hand on the table. "Hey! What the hell do you mean Pyros? Who the hell is that red-haired bastard? And what do you know about him?" The demand was clear.

"Now, now," Ren said, smiling faintly. "Don't take it out on the table—it's done nothing to you."

"Screw you! Don't play games with me!" Soren snapped.

Nox stayed quiet. Soren was saying everything he wanted to, so he decided to wait for Ren's answer.

Soren's anger was boiling when Kirian's voice cut in, sharp and merciless. "Even if you knew who he was and where he is right now, what would you do, let me rephrase that. What could you do?"

"I would kill him," Soren growled. "I would tear him limb from limb and make him give me my mother."

"Well," Ren said, "he's, or was—a part of an elite clan within the Kurai called the Phoenix Clan. They have a hereditary type of Iora, fire. Once they grow to their full potential, even to other Iora users, they're nothing less than gods. Two months ago, all but three members of that clan were wiped out… by this red-haired bastard, as you call him."

Kirian added, "He's still getting stronger. If you were unlucky enough to meet him now, he'd kill you a thousand times before you could even raise a finger."

Soren was silent. He hated how powerless he felt.

"So how do I get stronger?" Nox finally spoke. "How do I get strong enough to challenge this god, as you put it?"

"That's the question you should be asking," Ren said, nodding.

"Raizen said you were the only one who could train me. Why is that?" Nox asked.

"We both have the same kind of power. Which is amazing, since in Kurai history I'm the only one who's ever had it, well until you. It's been so lonely," Ren joked, patting Nox's head.

"Tomorrow, we'll start our four-day journey to Eden. Any more questions can wait until then, or until we get there. For now, let me rest." And just like that, Ren melted into the ground.

Soren and Nox were left with half-answers, but it was enough for now. Still, one question lingered in Nox's mind. "If you and that red-haired bastard crossed paths… could you beat him?"

Ren's face twisted into something monstrous. "I'd completely destroy him." Then, with his usual grin, he added, "Or something like that."

Nox thought of asking Kirian the same, but one look at the determination in their faces told him enough, even though it was obvious already, these two weren't ordinary men.

Evening came, and the slaughtered bull was prepared. The village gathered in celebration.

Soren ate and drank, but his face was tight with anger. The children stayed quiet; the reason was obvious. Ren drank himself silly until he passed out. Kirian ate plenty but didn't touch a drop of alcohol.

Nox had the biggest appetite of all, eating more than anyone in the village. He promised himself that night that no matter what it took, he would grow stronger, and take revenge with his own two hands.

The next morning, Kirian and Soren kicked Nox and Ren awake to begin the journey.

It would've taken less than two days if it were just the four of them, but now they had more than a hundred children. They couldn't just leave them behind, not when every one of them possessed Iora.

What puzzled Ren and Kirian most was how the soldiers had known that. Was it because of the rings? Ren's head pounded. Probably not the time for questions, he thought. "Maybe I drank a little too much."

"A little?" Kirian scoffed.

"Did I just say that out loud?" Ren laughed.

Ren and Kirian led the group. The children followed in the middle, while Nox and Soren trailed behind, carrying supplies.

"That bastard making me carry all this while he walks around empty-handed," Nox muttered.

His mind drifted to earlier that morning.

Thud!

"So, yeah, divide these supplies equally and carry them. That's our food for the journey. Hawwww." Ren yawned and stretched like a house cat. "So yeah, just carry them."

"There's too much stuff! We can't carry this much weight while walking?" Nox complained.

Ren rubbed his chin. "Hmm. Well, this is the first step of your training. You have to build a healthy body… to make demons unhealthy."

"This bastard," Soren muttered under his breath.

Back in the present, Nox sighed. "No use complaining now." He grabbed Soren's hand, who tried to break free. "Come on. Let's keep the pace before we get left behind."

They were still in the open plains, where they could see everything, the village still faintly visible behind them. The sun's heat burned down on their backs, draining their stamina.

At last, they reached the edge of the forest. This was where the real journey began. The terrain ahead would be rough, and dangerous creatures could lurk anywhere.

Ren stopped and raised his voice so all could hear. "Alright, kids! If you ever feel scared or lost, come to me, or you can run to this scary-looking guy here," he said, pointing to Kirian. "And those two at the back, keep your eyes on them. All our food's with them. It'd be really bad if they ran away!"

The children burst into laughter. Ren lightened the mood while trying to make sure none of the children would wander too far.

Now, all that remained was reaching Eden.

"What a terrible journey we're about to start," Kirian murmured.