Chapter 14: THE VEIL.
Before anyone could steady themselves, the door to the carriage swung open, and Milner’s towering form blocked the faint sunlight. His shadow loomed over them like a menacing omen.
"Out. Now," Milner barked, his voice like gravel scraping against metal.
The old man hesitated, his frail frame trembling uncontrollably. Milner’s patience, however, was non-existent. With a growl of irritation, he grabbed the old man by his chains and yanked him out, the brittle figure crumpling to the ground like a broken doll. Next, the beast girl was dragged from her seat, her small, panda-like form barely able to resist as she whimpered quietly.
Yomi, calm as ever, shifted his weight and stepped forward before Milner could grab him. The warrior’s piercing storm-like eyes met Milner’s briefly, and for a fleeting moment, a flicker of something unspoken passed between them. Milner narrowed his eyes, clearly displeased, but said nothing as Yomi disembarked on his own.
Once outside, Yomi felt a sharp chill bite through the air. The scene that greeted him was both foreboding and alien. They stood at the base of a dark, towering mountain, its jagged peaks clawing at the sky like the fingers of some ancient beast.
Shadows draped the mountain like a tattered cloak, swallowing the light and exuding an oppressive aura that pressed down on the group like an unseen hand. The air smelled of damp earth and faint sulfur, with a metallic tang that lingered at the back of the throat.
At the mountain’s base, the terrain was a chaotic blend of cracked stone and sparse, gnarled vegetation, as though life itself hesitated to root itself in such an ominous place. Blackened trees twisted unnaturally, their bare branches reaching out like skeletal arms desperate for escape. A low, eerie hum resonated from somewhere within the mountain, faint but constant, as if the very earth was alive and groaning under its own weight.
"Quite the sight," Thanir sneered, hopping down from the carriage. He dusted his hands theatrically, his grin smug as he surveyed the slaves. "Enjoy the view while it lasts."
The beast girl clung to Yomi’s side, her wide eyes darting around fearfully. Her small fingers tightened around the fabric of his tattered sleeve. The old man, though weakened, managed to lift his head, his expression one of grim resignation.