The talk of defying fate… or so Asher said, was his taunt that the spirit doesn’t seem to take seriously.

  Even Asher was not sure how smart the spirit was. Sometimes it acted like a child; at others it would say things that would sink his heart.

  Asher sighed looking at the orb of darkness floating around him.

  It was still following him.

  Tap—

  Asher didn’t think it would attack him anytime soon, as spirits had a reputation for being peaceful or even cooperative with humans depending on the situation.

  And it was just a small bud; he couldn’t compare it to others without getting to know other spirits. However, Asher was confident in case of emergency he could deal with this spirit.

  Tap—

  But…

  Tap—

  This small orb… This tiny bud…

  “Ugh, stop pulling my clothes! I am not going east!”

  Asher huffed loudly as his cloak fell back in its place.

  The tiny bud shivered at the sudden yell but then again grabbed the edge of his cloak.

  “N-o”

  The voice made the air tremble.

  ‘Annoying…’

  The attempts to pull him toward the east of the desert were cute at first so Asher had let the bud do as it pleased.

  But now it was getting annoying.

  And—

  Asher hated annoying things.

  Swiss!

  Asher swung his hand, pushing the spirit back.

  The spirit flew back.

  Again Asher's cloak fluttered with the wind. His dry lips parted as he cursed under his breath, seeing the trembling spirit of shadow.

  “Huh, what do you mean? You are asking why I am not coming?”

  The spirit nodded furiously.

  Asher frowned and opened his mouth to speak.

  “Of course I won’t go. Who knows what kind of crazy thing is waiting there? And calling it my fate… hmm, it doesn’t make it any better, you know.”

  With a sharp voice, Asher's words made the small bud fall silent… or as silent as it could be.

  Asher was getting used to the spirit presence fast as well, unsettlingly even. But he didn’t find it strange. Recently he had been surrounded by strange creatures; after all, it was just that the old one had left the world and a new one had appeared. Asher could adapt to that.

  It was not like he was attached to anyone.

  ‘Ah, but I do miss that bastard.’

  Asher mused with a lingering feeling of sadness.

  He missed Acosador's presence.

  Every time, he would be reminded of how great that monster was.

  Asher in his heart sincerely prayed to the goddess that the acosador wouldn’t wander anymore and would get to rest in hell.

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  No, not rest. Asher wouldn’t mind if it gets tortured…

  Yes, he would probably prefer that.

  ‘Yes, rot in hell you bastard!’

  Asher gave a thin smile before sighing heavily.

  “You… you are not planning to let go, are you?”

  The small bud, even after Asher's outburst, has not let go of his clothes. With small tugs on his cloak, it continued to pull Asher to its side.

  Even though Asher had continued to ignore it or even push the spirit of shadow away, it would always come back, much angrier and more furious than before.

  The smell of sand and scorching earth. The warm wind and heatwaves washing over the sky. The nausea from feeling his throat burn. Asher felt everything.

  Then with a frown, he shook his head.

  ‘Ah, I am lightheaded now… or is it empty head?’

  Asher scowled.

  Even parting his lips felt as if it took a tremendous amount of effort on his part.

  But he needed to do something.

  Fast, extremely fast.

  He summoned his last water pouch and took a shaky sip.

  Feeling water flow down from his dry throat, Asher almost felt euphoric, but he couldn’t be this desperate. Not when the only thing he needed to be desperate about was being alive.

  That's just how it was.

  Being alive matters, at least for now.

  Placing the pouch back, Asher turned to look at the small bud flying near him; it was holding his cloak tightly with its small grip, enough to tear it apart.

  “Hey, stop…”

  It didn’t stop.

  “I am a human.”

  The spirit suddenly paused as if finding his words unusual even for him.

  However, it didn’t interrupt him.

  Even though it had no face, no body, just an orb of black ink flying with dimness, Asher could read it like the back of his hand.

  Or at least guess what it was thinking or saying.

  Asher had awakened an unusual talent, really.

  Though he was not sure if he was correct, the spirit never cared enough to correct him.

  Even now it was giving him a look as if saying. ‘Yeah, so what?’

  …At least it's listening now. Asher pursed his dry lips and licked them before speaking again.

  “I need food and water to be alive.”

  Asher said shortly after raising his head and looking in the sun’s direction.

  “I can’t go there… I will fall before even reaching there unless it is nearby.”

  The spirit remained silent.

  “Is the place you’re taking me far?”

  “F-ar”

  Asher nodded, placing one hand over his ear.

  “See, I can’t go there. If it's far, I will just die unless…”

  The spirit leaned closer, listening closely to what Asher was saying.

  “...I find water, enough to last me a month.”

  Asher took a deep breath and continued speaking with an even voice.

  “So, if you want me to come with you… help me. This is not a threat, just facts. Think about it. Unless you help me, I can’t help you, or more like go with you.”

  The spirit shivered violently—an orb-like ripple passing through its shadowy form. Then it paused, hovering silently near Asher’s shoulder. He could almost feel its confusion—a tangible tension thickening the desert air.

  "What?"

  Asher tilted his head.

  Even though he didn't wish for the spirit to speak, sometimes it was needed, inevitable even.

  But from the looks of it, both Asher and the spirit didn't like each other's company very much. Maybe that was also the reason why, even though having met just hours before, they could get along so well.

  The spirit stopped pulling and rose higher, its movements slow and deliberate as it circled above Asher’s head like a vulture eyeing its prey. The air trembled faintly; a coarse humming came from the drifting shadow, low enough to make his teeth rattle. Then, without warning, it shot southward—swift as a streak of smoke—disappearing beyond a dune in the distance.

  Asher stood frozen, his breath caught in his throat.

  ‘It left? ... It left just like that?!’

  Asher could only blink, being left dumbfounded by the sudden escape of the spirit.

  Or was this just another one of its twisted games, waiting for him to follow?

  Asher bit his lips, unsure of what to do next, now that another companion has left him.

  ‘Follow… or not to follow?’

  In the end the choice was obvious.

  Asher started to move in the opposite direction to where the spirit of shadow went.

  Unlike the stalking fiend, this one had given him the chance to leave; how could he possibly not use this opportunity?

  Asher walked with slow steps and gaze lowered.

  The sun’s light had washed over the yellow-white desert. It was shining clearly in a way as if reflecting Asher's desire to leave the world behind.

  It was ironic, really.

  Even though everything was bright, Asher hated this place more than Kalista's dull grey sky and the dark forest where no light came.

  Anyways, in the end Asher kept his gaze down as the sun pressed closer.

  His shadows stretched long, longer than ever he had seen in the desert dunes.

  With no shade to give him a moment of rest, he could only continue his journey.

  But even then life was harsh but not full of surprises for him.

  Asher turned his head to the left; the air carried a deep stench of blood.

  He held his breath and walked closer to the place, only to see another carcass that seemed to have been torn to shreds. The bite marks were obvious, as they had punched hole into the flesh of the beast…

  Red.

  That was painted all over the dunes.

  A dark shade of red had covered the large surface as Asher watched it from afar. The light reflected off the creature masking the view and making it hazy before becoming clear once more.

  Asher hissed as he inhaled a cold breath.

  Something had killed the towering giant…

  Its body, as if a piece of art done by a psychopath, was spread too far for Asher's eyes to see clearly.

  Asher took a step back—

  And then—

  The air trembled with a low hum; something closer came from below, making a chill run down from his spine. Asher's face darkened instantly.

  When he jumped ahead in fright, all he saw was a dark shade of inky black with small translucent wings floating below.