Bound By The Void

one wooden carriage creaked and groaned as it moved across the uneven dirt path in the middle of the forest, gigantic trees loomed on either side preventing the most of the moonlight illuminating the dark forest swallowing the carriage and it's riders in dense shadows, thick fog covered the undergrowth masking the sound of the horses' hooves as they moved along.

the driver, a middle aged man with grey hair and wrinkles covering his face, was hunching on the wooden seat as he gripped the reins in his hands tightly, causing his knuckles to go pale. his breath came in shallow gasps, visible in this chilly night. despite the cold his face was covered in sweat and his eyes was darting around nervously half expecting something to jump him from the shadows of this cursed forest.

a lantern was hanging from the side of the carriage swaying as it moved along, casting feeble light against the shadows, that seemed to only increase the darkness around it. the horses tossed their heads and snorted as they mirrored their driver's emotional state, yet they were forced to move forward against their will.

somewhere in the distance, a branch snapped. the driver stiffened his hand going for the worn hilt of a dagger at his belt, bringing some reassurance to his still trembling hand. the sound of an owl's call filled the forest yet the silence that followed seemed more deafening. a shiver ran down the driver spine, something was watching them, the question was whether it was interested enough to make it presence known.

the driver looked behind him parting a piece of cloth to check on the reason he was here in the first place. inside the dimly lit carriage, a young man sat there quietly, his figure emitting a gloomy air. he was wearing an armor that looked like it has seen better days, His sleek armor bore countless scars, each a testament to the battles he had fought and survived. The once-pristine metal was now darkened, its surface marred with deep gouges and faint cracks, yet it retained an otherworldly sheen, as if it absorbed the surrounding light rather than reflected it. The edges of his pauldrons and gauntlets were subtly jagged, worn down from years of relentless combat, yet the design was sleek and functional, built for speed and precision over grandeur.

his black hair, unkempt and falling loosely around his face, bore streaks of premature white, as if the weight of the burdens and responsibilities stole the life from them. a strip of black cloth was tied securely over his eyes concealing them from view and adding an enigmatic quality to his presence. 

he held a slightly smaller greatsword close to his chest, despite being compact compared to its peers, it retained an imposing aura, its hilt a masterwork of steel and leather was worn smooth by countless battles, despite being sheathed, the blade was emitting a bloody aura. a closer look at the sheath indicated that it was a blade forged with precision and power while not slowing down the speed of it's wielder.

his left hand, encased in a heavy metal gauntlet, rested on the sword scabbard. the gauntlet's seemed to be designed for more than protection and defense, and the tips of its fingers seemed sharp enough for attack purposes. it was a tool forged for war, serving a purpose far greater than just defense.

the lantern's light flickered across his features, A young man exuding an air of quiet strength and determination. His face is sharp and angular, with high cheekbones and a defined jawline that hints at both youth and resilience. His lips are slightly parted, soft yet firm.

the carriage came to a jarring halt, jolting the knight inside. the horses neighed and pawed at the ground, their ragged breath visible in the cold air as if they sensed something that terrified them. the driver seemed to hesitate for a moment, before muttering a curse under his breath and taking the lantern and jumping down from the carriage.

and then he saw it, illuminated by this feeble lantern of his, stood a figure frozen in mid step, it was a man. his body was turned to stone, his expression a mask of fear and terror, his mouth open in a silent scream and his stone-turned eyes were opened wide. the detail was unnerving, from the links on his armor to the strands of his hair even the pouch on his belt turned to stone.

the driver stared, his face turning paler by the second as he started backing away hastily toward the carriage and opening the door. "This is the furthest i am willing to go." he declared, his voice shaking as he stared at the knight still seated in his place. "These woods are cursed and any who dare venture any further are bound to stay there forever." said the driver gesturing to the statue of the mercenary behind him.

the knight shifted slightly, as he listened to the driver, the dim light catching the surface of his armor as he leaned forward. he didn't respond but his grip on his sword tightened while his face turned toward the statue blocking the road.

the driver took a step back, shaking his head, he could tell what the knight wanted but he refused to take anymore risks than he already have. "If you want to continue, you will have to do it on your own. but you need to pay me first, i brought you here while other refused to enter these cursed land. but after seeing...that, i refuse to go any further." he gestured toward the petrified man with his lantern, while his other hand stretched expectantly.

the knight titled his head slightly, he could practically hear the fear in the driver voice and he knew that he won't move any further even if he offered to pay him more. while the knight was deep in thoughts, the horses started to grow restless and snorted anxiously, their unease unnerving the driver even more and spread across the air.

the knight head snapped, seemingly staring toward the depth of the wood. "please, i don't want to stay here any longer than this." the driver begged his voice wavering as he felt an oppressive air filling the place.

the knight nodded to himself before reaching into a pouch strapped to his belt and pulled out a small leather bag. the clinking of coins within broke the tense silence. without a word, he tossed the pouch toward the driver, who caught it with trembling hands, before stepping down from the carriage.

the driver didn't utter a thanks or bid a goodbye. he just backed away hastily while clutching the pouch tightly before getting back on the carriage and steering it back where they came from. the horses seemed eager to get away and they galloped swiftly across the uneven terrain, not caring for the possible damage it may cause to the carriage the driver didn't order them to slow down. looking back at the knight who was about to be swallowed by the shadows. "To hunt the Medusa blindfolded, He either braver than most or just more foolish." muttered the driver before turning back toward the road home.

the knight stood alone now, his imposing figure seemed lonely shrouded by shadows. slowly, he held his sword before him while it was still sheathed, its tip brushing against the ground. the sword became his guide, tapping softly against the roots and rocks as he began his journey toward the heart of the woods. he paused for a moment next to the man statue and brought his gauntlet hand to his stone cold face, the tip of clawed fingers brushing softly against his eyes. with a subtle nod he started walking in the direction the man was last looking at.

the knight walked with measured steps as the woods swallowed him, the sound of dead leaves and brittle twigs were the only noise in this quiet woods. despite the cloth around his eyes, he moved with practiced precision, his sword tracing the path ahead. each tap against the earth echoed faintly as if forest itself was listening, watching.

the knight's steady pace continued for who knows how long, time felt stretched and meaningless in this woods. after a what felt like hours, he started to slow down, the weight of the journey settling on him. 

finally, he stopped, planting the sword in the ground for support. he reached into a small satchel at his side, his gauntleted hand fumbling for a moment before retrieving a flask. tilting his head back slightly he removed the stopper and took a slow drink. the water was lukewarm but it felt soothing against his dry throat.

as he lowered the flask, a faint sound reached his ears-a low, guttural growl that caused his body to tense instinctively. his dropped the flask from his hand while his other hand tightened around the sword as he pulled it from its sheath and held it in front of him while his gauntlet hand came close to his body ready to react.

the growling grew louder, echoing through the forest and was soon joined by another, this one was closer and to his right. the knight shifted slightly in his place, he didn't need his eyes to know what approached him; the heavy thud of paws and the ragged snarls gave the beasts away. Wolves. 

the knight turned slightly, straining his senses in the darkness. he couldn't afford to take off the cloth around his eyes now, one wrong glimpse at his true target and he would be done for. so basically he was fighting blind while the wolves weren't so hindered. he could hear the crunch of paws against the forest floor, circling him, testing him.

a sudden snarl cut through the silence, and the first wolf lunged at him. the knight swung his sword upward, the heavy blade whistling through the air, but the beast was faster. the wolf twisted mid-air, avoiding a fatal strike, its claws raking against the knight pauldron adding another scar as it passed. the impact shook the knight forcing him to take a step back.

he barely had time to recover when the second wolf darted in from the side, its jaw aiming for his leg. the knight thrusted downward, catching the wolf flank. it yelped and recoiled, blood staining its dark fur, but the wound was shallow.

The first wolf attacked once again, this time aiming low and clamping its teeth around the knight cloak, trying to make him lose his balance. The knight staggered his sword scrapping against the tree as he tried to regain his footing. His gauntleted hand lashed out striking the wolf forcing it to let go of his cloak.

Regaining his balance, the knight adjusted his stance and gritted his teeth as he swung his blade in wide arcs to keep the wolves at bay, giving himself few seconds of reprieve. But the wolves were restless, their glowing eyes piercing the darkness as they waited for an opening.

The knight gripped his sword tight enough that his knuckles ached. He steadied himself, forcing his breathing to slow down as he listened carefully to the growls and the movement around him. He couldn't see, but he could feel their presence and could feel the shift in the air as they readied their next attack.

So when the larger wolf lunged at his throat, he was ready. He sidestepped, the blade of his sword swung upward into the beast throat. Forcing a choked snarl from the beast as it collapsed, its body twitching once before going still.

The remaining wolf seemed to hesitate as it growls were faltering, but it still sprang forward, its jaws opened wide. The knight raised his gauntleted arm, taking the burnt of the attack as its teeth tried to sink into metal. With gritted teeth, the knight drove his blade into the wolf side and twisted until the wolf went limp.

Taking deep breaths, the knight didn't stop for long, the silence that followed won't last for long if he stayed in this place. So after retrieving his fallen flask, he marched once more, into the silent forest, the only sound accompanying him was the rustling leaves. Yet he remained unaware that he wasn't alone.

From the shadows, a pair of eyes watched him intently. Twin orbs of blue eyes that pierced the darkness. Their vertical pupils narrowed, Predatory and unblinking, following his every movement.

The figure was definitely a woman. She stayed perfectly still, her figure shrouded in the darkness and blending seamlessly with woods around her. Her gaze was sharp and calculating, she saw this man in tarnished armor struggle against the wolves. Her head tilted slightly in curiosity, there was no malice in her posture... At least for now.

She saw him getting closer to her domain, causing her eyes to narrow further, then they started dimming before she disappeared from her place as she melted into the darkness.

As The knight pressed forward, tension seemed to fill the air and the temperature seemed to drop the more he walked. The rustling leaves and the moving shadows hinted at something unseen yet close by.

Then, a sharp voice seemed to cut through the darkness, filled with venom and distrust, echoing faintly through the trees accompanied by the sharp hisses." Stop right there, stranger. Do not take another step."

The knight froze in his place, his head turned around trying to pinpoint the source of the voice but to no avail. It was young and feminine yet filled with hate and caution. His quest will prove harder than he expected.

" Turn back, you are not welcomed here." The voice came once again, followed by hisses filled with warning.

" I mean you no harm, My name is Arc, a former knight of the royal palace." Arc responded his voice steady and calm.

A tense silence filled the place before the voice returned, laced with mocking disbelief. "A royal knight? In my woods? That's rich. Let me guess-you were their shining hero, weren't you? Until they sent you here 'to deal with the monster.'"

" I WAS a knight." Arc replied evenly while stressing that point. " no longer. I came of my own accord, seeking an audience with lady Medusa."

Her laughter echoed through the woods, mocking and amused. " Lady Medusa? What a noble words. Do you think this is a courtly affair ? That i will appear before you draped in finery ready to bow to your knightly charm?" Her tone grow sharper. " this isn't a fairy tale, Arc. You are in my domain now."

" Fairy tale or not." Arc said, his voice unwavering, " i have come to speak to you, not to fight."

" And i am supposed to believe that?" She Snapped. " Do you take me for a fool? Knights like you only come here seeking my life or the treasure i am supposedly guarding, or my dead body for ingredients."

" I am not like the others." Arc insisted. " I have no desire for your life or seek any glory. On my last honor i swear i mean you no harm."

" Swear all you like." She retorted, her tone dripping with suspicion. " It means nothing here. Words are easy, knight, And yours are as empty as the graves of those who came before you."

" Then test me." Said Arc firmly. " watch my every move, do whatever you want. I won't draw my blade against you unless you force me to."

The forest fell silence, watching the exchange between the knight and the medusa. Then she spoke her voice softer but still filled with distrust. " If you truly mean no harm, then you are either the most honest fool or the most cunning liar, either way, you are not welcomed in my domain, don't blame me if you insist on staying."