The stars erged across the darkening sky as Erik stood at the edge of the tiny island on which the duo spent the last few days.
The last hints of sunset faded over the horizon, leaving only starlight to illuminate the ocean before them, and that was exactly what Erik wanted and waited for.
"Ready?" Erik asked, glancing at the clone who had saved his life.
The clone nodded but was clearly scared.
The clone had witnessed the devastating power of Mur’s creatures firsthand. He had seen how the three-headed void ravagers had torn through their army, ripping off Erik’s arm and leg, shredding his wings, and leaving no survivors.
The mory of his brothers sacrificing themselves to allow their escape still haunted him. Even the weakest creatures on Mur were as powerful as elite predators from Mannard and knowing they would have to navigate these waters with just the two of them filled him with dread, but he wasn’t the only one.
Erik, too, was agitated after what had happened on the first day of their journey.
[How’s the weather looking?] Erik asked the biological computer, studying the star-filled sky above them.
[There will be clear conditions for the foreseeable future,] the system said. [No cloud cover expected. The stars and moonlight will provide excellent visibility.]
The system paused. [Unfortunately, that sa visibility works against us. The clear sky ans we’ll be more easily spotted. The moon will make our silhouette visible from the waters and will make your bodies even more visible from above.]
Erik grimaced at this news.
[We could wait for cloudier conditions,] the system said, [but there’s no guarantee when that might happen. And staying here much longer increases our risk of being found by the thaids.]
Erik looked out over the dark waters. The stars reflected off the waves, creating a beautiful but treacherous scene. Sowhere out there, creatures were hunting, and they might stumble upon them.
The clone shifted uncomfortably beside him, likely having the sa thoughts. They had barely survived Mur’s predators—neither of them wanted to face another. Stay connected via .Côm
Then, saying nothing, they both shapeshifted. Erik’s body beca smaller as feathers grew from his skin. Soon, he had turned into a small black-feathered seagull, which made him hard to be spotted in the dark.
The clone’s transformation was even more dramatic. Its human form shrank until only a tiny bug remained, barely larger than a grain of sand.
With quick movents, it scurried between Erik’s feathers, finding a safe position where it could rest without risk of falling and where Erik’s feathers would keep him hidden.
Erik asked through their ntal link.
With a nod, Erik focused his mana, channeling it through his Phantom Veil brain crystal power. His form shimred for a mont before fading from view, not leaving even a shadow to mark his presence.
The invisibility extended to the clone hidden within his feathers, not because he turned invisible, but because the feathers shielded him from everything. Even if it didn’t, the clone was too small to be seen by the naked eye, and Erik was going to fly at fast speed, aning that, even if it was visible, nothing would have the ti to see him.
Being invisible helped, but it wasn’t a perfect solution. The thaids could still find them through sll, brain crystal powers, or by feeling the movent of air around them.
Still, not being seen was an enormous advantage, and they needed every bit of help they could get.
Erik said.
Those words made the clone’s heart race faster. Leaving their sanctuary, the tiny island that had sheltered them these past days, ant venturing into unknown dangers.
The island had been their safe haven, where they hid and recovered. But now it was ti to leave this shelter behind and face the dangerous open waters and sky ahead. The clone kept his worries to himself, though—he didn’t want to add to Erik’s stress.
Erik opened his wings and caught the night air. With a powerful thrust, he launched himself skyward, leaving behind the small grove of fruit trees that had sustained them.
As Erik flew higher, he looked back at the island, getting smaller below him. It was disappearing into the darkness. It quickly beca just another dark spot on the ocean.
Through their ntal connection, he felt the clone’s anxiety increase as they went farther from it, but he said nothing. However, the clone’s feeling reached a lting pot, and he voiced his heaviest worry.
Erik’s ntal voice softened, taking on a gentle, almost paternal tone. He tried to send reassuring and calming thoughts to the clone, trying to make him stop thinking too much. He understood the clone’s fears—they were his own as well—but they needed to be stronger, and apparently, he was the one who had to start being as such.
The clone said, hoping Erik would make a new army.
Erik said.
That disappointed the clone. Not making many clones, in his opinion, was going to be a mistake. More clones ant more eyes to watch their surroundings and more people during a fight.
However, he also knew that to have more clones ant they would have to wait for a while before they would hatch, and so more until they matured, and if they remained idle for who knew how much ti, nothing would ensure the blackguards wouldn’t have a technological breakthrough that would make this whole expedition a failure. They had to strike fast and as soon as possible.
The problem was that being on Mur, hoping to survive with just the two of them, was akin to suicide. The clone still hoped Erik would change his mind.
Erik said.
Erik paused.
The clone remained silent. The endless ocean spread out beneath them. From ti to ti, sothing moved in the waters below, making both Erik and the clone shiver. Hidden safely in Erik’s feathers, the clone made small adjustnts to stay comfortable, or better, hidden.
Erik’s flight pattern remained perfectly steady as his companions were ntioned, his wings cutting through the air without hesitation.
In his mind, though, thoughts of concern mixed with a strong sense of resolve, and the clone sensed them. He knew exactly what needed to be done, even as worry for his friends gnawed at him.
He left the thought unfinished, not wanting to consider the alternative.
the clone said.
Unease spread.
"We’ll find them," the clone said through their ntal link, trying to project confidence despite the uncertainty in his thoughts. His tiny form shifted slightly among Erik’s feathers as he spoke.
"First, we need to survive this flight," Erik said, his wings cutting through the cold night air. "Then we will see what Mur has in store for us..."
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