39 Pulling Strings
Aurora had asked what she wanted to know.
But.
The archer's futile struggles came to an abrupt halt, leaving Korig and Aurora enveloped in a heavy silence.
It was a silence that seemed to echo the morbid reality of the situation, amplifying the sound of their rapid breaths, heavy with the lingering shock of what they had just witnessed.
With a mixture of dread and determination, Korig moved forward to unveil the face behind the mask.
He hesitated for a moment, bracing himself for the gruesome sight he was about to confront.
As the mask was pulled away, the disfigured face of the archer was revealed, a sight that sent shivers down his spine.
The lips were torn away, leaving a disturbing display of jagged teeth and raw, mangled flesh.
"What... in the name of all that's good..." Korig's words trailed off, his mind struggling to comprehend the grotesque horror before him.
Disgust and disbelief mingled in his voice, rendering it barely above a whisper, caught between his revulsion and the need to articulate the horrifying reality.
He released the lifeless archer, who now lay devoid of the malevolent force that had animated him.
The stench of death seemed to cling to the air, a poignant reminder of the unnatural puppet they had just encountered.
As Korig stood up, he turned to Aurora, her analytical mind already sifting through the disturbing details before her.
Her gaze was unyielding, analyzing every inch of the disfigured face and twisted form of the archer.
Aurora's eyes narrowed as she pieced together the fragments of this macabre puzzle.
"This isn't the work of a sane person. This individual... this victim... was likely under some form of mind control."
"A puppet whose strings were being pulled mercilessly."
Korig, struggling to digest the horror, added with concern in his voice, "Mind control? Like... manipulating them like a puppet?"
Aurora nodded solemnly, her analytical mind pushing forward despite the grimness of the situation.
"Yes, in a sense. It's similar to your necromancy in principle, but it's using the living as puppets, a grim variation of your own abilities."
"And when the strings are cut, the puppet dies."
Korig grappled with this revelation, his mind racing to comprehend the implications.
"So, the person behind this has a similar knowledge of the system, maybe even as deep as mine... and they were ruthless."
"The attack on us, controlling the archer, it was all for gaining experience points."
"They aren't seeking companions, just levels."
She searched for the same rusted fire ladder she had climbed up, it seemed like it was a skeletal trace of safety from a time long past whereas the apocalypse had just taken place two days ago. Her fingers traced the cold, rusted metal, and she hesitated for a moment, contemplating the ladder's stability.
Testing her weight on the first few rungs, the ladder creaked ominously.
She inhaled deeply, nerves tingling with apprehension, and began her descent, the sound of metal straining and protesting against the years of disuse.
Halfway down, the rusted ladder betrayed its age and frailty.
SNAP
Yup, she should've just analyzed the ladder as well.
The metal snapped with a sudden, sharp sound, giving way under her weight.
Aurora was falling, the world spinning as she tumbled through the air.
Fear gripped her as she realized the impact would likely injure her.
But just as fear tightened its grip, a flash of movement saved her from the impending fall.
Strong arms encircled her, catching her in a secure hold.
The sudden halt sent a jolt through her, leaving her breathless and disoriented.
Wide eyed, she stared into Korig's eyes, her pulse racing in sync with the intensity of the moment.
Their faces were close, close enough to feel each other's breath.
Time seemed to hang suspended, the world reduced to the inches that separated their gazes.
"Are you okay?"
Korig's voice broke the silence, a gentle concern underlying his words.
Aurora blinked, gathering her composure.
She nodded, still somewhat in awe of the quick reflexes that had saved her.
"Y-yes, I'm okay. Thank you."
With a careful yet swift movement, Korig set her back on her feet, the connection broken but the memory of that moment lingering in the air.
The world around them seemed to shimmer with a renewed awareness, as if the intensity of that brief encounter had altered their perception.
Aurora felt a sense of gratitude mixed with a growing sense of connection to Korig.
His strength and quick thinking were a comfort in this harsh world, and she began to realize that their partnership was slowly yet steadily becoming more than just a practical alliance.
...