Chapter Text
Murphy woke up drenched in sweat, his heart pounding. Blurry memories of pain and screams still haunted him, but he forced himself to focus on the present moment. He was lying on a comfortable bed. The walls were made of packed earth, adorned with patterns that his tired eyes struggled to make out. A soft light, filtered through a hole in the wall, bathed the room in a gentle warmth.
So it wasn’t a dream... I was really saved, he thought.
Suddenly, a faint knock-knock sound came from the door, breaking the heavy silence. Before he could react, the door opened slowly, revealing a strikingly beautiful native woman. Her black hair cascaded down her shoulders, and her gaze was both piercing and curious. She carried a wooden tray filled with food.
“Wake up, sky-man,” she said, her voice both harsh and mocking, as she set the tray on the table. “You can't afford to stay like this. This isn't a luxury hotel.”
Murphy slowly sat up, rubbing his eyes.
“I’m not used to being treated like royalty,” he murmured.
She shrugged, an amused smile on her lips.
“If you want to survive here, you’d better be ready to fight. This clan, Raskelûn, isn’t for the weak. We have no place for whiners. So, eat; it’ll do you good.”
Fight?
The woman’s words echoed within him, reminding him of his own struggle for survival. He took a bite of bread and fruit, savoring the freshness of the food after so many days of suffering.
“Who are you?” he asked, curious.
“My name is Kaela,” she replied, leaning slightly toward him. “I am a warrior here, and a word of advice: be careful what you say. The walls have ears, and shadows are everywhere.”
Without waiting for a response, she turned and left the room, leaving Murphy with a mix of gratitude and unease. He got up to explore the room a bit more, but his mind was still restless from recent events.
Shortly after, the door opened again, admitting the man he had met—the one who had saved him.
“Can I call you Rylar?” Murphy asked a bit timidly.
Rylar nodded, his dark eyes scrutinizing Murphy’s every movement.
“How do you feel?” he asked, settling on the edge of the bed.
“Better, I suppose. But I’d like to understand what’s going on here.”
Rylar took a deep breath, then leaned forward, his expression becoming more serious.
“Welcome to Raskelûn, a clan that has chosen to live apart from others for survival reasons. We have rules here, and you’ll need to learn to respect them.”
Murphy sat up straighter, intrigued.
“What rules? And why live apart? It’s not like natives don’t like to fight...”
“We avoid conflict to protect our way of life. Other clans see us as traitors, and we must be cautious. Our strength lies in our unity and discretion,” Rylar explained, his gaze hardening.
Murphy nodded, realizing he was here not only to escape his tormentors but also to understand a world he had never truly known.
“But what brings you here, to this clan? Why did you save me?”
Rylar hesitated for a moment, as if weighing his words.
“I am here because it’s my choice. And you are here because I believe you have something to offer, even if you are a sky-man. But I can’t tell you everything just yet. You’re new here, and it’s best to keep certain things secret until we know more about you.”
Murphy felt a twinge of frustration, but he knew he had to respect Rylar’s judgment.
“Alright, I understand. I’m ready to learn.”
“Good, then focus on what you can do for us. We need people who can fight to defend what we’ve built here. Raskelûn is more than just a clan; it’s a community fighting for its survival.”
Murphy nodded, determined to prove his worth. He stood up, feeling adrenaline begin to course through his veins.
“What should I do first?” he asked, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
Rylar smiled slightly, a hint of approval in his eyes.
“Follow me; I’ll show you what life is like here. Get ready to fight, sky-man. Your real trial begins now.”
Murphy followed Rylar out of the room, prepared to dive into this new world, determined to find his place among them, far from those who had betrayed him... and tried to kill him.