The Journey to Kalokairi: Chapter 2

The boat rocked gently as it bumped against the dock. The band of Kalons were silent, weary from their travels, but excited for the journey ahead.

Bersaglio stood up first, picking up a rope that was attached to the front of the boat, and using it to secure the boat to the dock. She steadied the boat against the dock, looking back at Ness and Keone and silently asking them to get off of the boat. Ness did so willingly, her legs glad to be back on the land. Keone followed, stifling a yawn as he did so.

"Welcome to Kalokairi," Bersaglio muttered, her face dark from exhaustion and some other emotion that Ness couldn't place. "We were out on the sea for almost a full day; I suggest we find somewhere to rest until tomorrow."

Ness looked around, taking in their environment. The dock was located on the very edge of a rocky beach. Instead of sand, small pebbles covered the ground from a few hundred feet in front of them right to the water's edge. They decreased in size the closer they got to the water. There were a few small plants here and there, but nothing else seemed to call the beach home. It was such a barren environment that Ness was starting to get uncomfortable.

"Where do you recommend we go?" Keone spoke up, stifling another yawn. "Is there like, an inn or a good campsite or something around here?"

Bersaglio frowned.

"I definitely wouldn't camp out tonight, not with the threat of monsters," she admitted. "There's a town a few miles west of here. I think we should make that our goal."

Ness nodded in agreement, but went she glanced at Keone, he seemed annoyed. She guessed it was because they would have to walk a long while, and she forced herself not to smile. Trust Keone to complain about something like that.

They set off up the beach, their boots crunching against the pebbles underneath them. The uneven floor coupled with how tired Ness was meant that she stumbled along. She was glad when the pebbles finally gave way to dirt, and when she looked up, a dense forest was spread out before them.

"In there?" she asked, squinting against the darkness. The forest seemed to swallow up all light from the sun.

"Yup, just through there and we'll get to the village," Bersaglio replied. "There's a path over here, look."

Sure enough, a rough, dirt path wound through the forest. Ness walked beside Keone as they followed Bersaglio. At least the older Kalon seemed to know where she was going.

They walked for a while, Ness growing more tired with every step. Something about this place just seemed to drain all of a Kalon's energy. Was it because of the dark forces here, or was it just because the environment was dreary and unwelcoming? Ness didn't know the answer to that.

A noise somewhere behind them startled then, and Ness turned to see what it was. But in the darkness, she couldn't see anything, so she turned to Bersaglio for an explanation.

The older Kalon was frowning, digging in her bag for something. She pulled out a lantern and silently lit a match, lighting the lantern and allowing them to see further into the forest.

"We should keep moving..." she muttered, turning back around and quickening her pace down the path. Ness and Keone followed eagerly, unwilling to be left behind in this forest of shadows. They came to a fork in the path, and stopped.

"Left or right?" Ness asked, as Bersaglio shined the light down each path.

"I'm...not sure," Bersaglio answered with a frown. "It's been so long since I was last here, I honestly couldn't tell you which path was the right one."

"Well, I wouldn't take too long deciding," Keone squeaked. "There are footsteps coming up behind us, and I don't really want to find out what they belong to."

Bersaglio spun around, the lantern swinging in the darkness. Sure enough, heavy footsteps were coming up the path, getting quicker as they got closer.

"Oh no..."

Ness glanced up at Bersaglio. trying to read the older Kalon's expression. Was that fear? No, it almost seemed like recognition. Did Bersaglio know what this was?

"We need to go, now," Bersaglio suddenly shouted, startling Ness and Keone. "Pick a path, and we'll go down it, hurry!"

"Um..um! I don't know which one to pick!" Ness cried, panic rising up inside of her. Keone was suddenly beside her, nudging her arm gently.

"Let's go left, come on," he said.

"O-ok. Left, Bersaglio; we're going left!"

When Ness turned back to make sure Bersaglio was coming with them, the footsteps had stopped. The lantern had been placed on the ground, and Bersaglio had drawn her sword. Towering above her, a shadowy figure that vaguely resembled a Kalon made ear piercing noises.

"RUN!"

Ness and Keone bolted down the left path, and when Ness glanced back, she was relieved to see that Bersaglio was coming with them. However, so was the figure, moving at impossible speeds. It was so strange, the way it moved. The movements were jumpy and unnatural. Ness would later describe it as being like a video game where some of the frames are skipped. It just didn't look...complete.

She turned her attention back to where they were running, and was relieved to see lights in the distance.

"Come on! We're almost there!" Keone yelled, as they broke through the tree line and came out into a field. Ness skidded to a halt as soon as they were in the clear, waiting for Bersaglio to emerge. The older Kalon came flying out f the forest, the eerie shadow still following her. She turned quickly on her heel, raised her sword, and brought it down on the figure. There was an otherworldly screech, and Ness had to cover her ears. The sound was horrifying! Thick, black goo exploded where the sword had sliced the figure open, and the shadows dispersed into the air. Bersaglio stood tall against it, seemingy unfazed.

"What was that thing?!" Keone cried, panting from running so hard.

Bersaglio turned around to face them, wiping some of the black goo from her hair.

"That was one of the things you'll be learning to fight," she muttered, flicking the goo onto the ground. Ness was sure she saw the grass that it landed on wilt a little. "Come on, let's get to the village."

Ness nodded, following in silence. Keone, however, had a thousand questions.

"So does this village have a name? You've just been calling it 'the village' this whole time. I mean, it kind of reminds me of that one horror movie; you know, the one by the guy who also made Signs?"

Bersaglio snorted.

"The village in that movie probably isn't as different to this one as you think," she said, picking more goo out of her fur. "This is a very small kingdom, as you already know. It really is just called the village; I don't believe it was ever given a name. And like in the movie, I doubt they'll let anyone leave because of the monsters in the forest."

Keone nodded, taking it all in as they found the rough, gravel path that led to the village. Ness walked beside him, stretching to ward off the exhaustion. Where was this inn that Bersaglio had promised them?