tried to speak up. I wasn’t yet sure how all this would turn out. “So, a Reaper blade does this kind of damage, huh?”
We’d talked about Reapers and Death and ghouls before, since the nature of my injuries had demanded some explanations. He understood how the system worked, and why death and life were kept separate. Once in a while, Kalon showed curiosity regarding Reapers and death magic. Considering the Darklings’ own knowledge of the stuff, I wondered whether he was trying to gauge how much I knew about them, or whether he really didn’t know.
“A Reaper’s blade is very special,” I said. “I’m not sure why, but I assume it has to do with it being forged from death magic itself. From our brief encounters with Reapers, we haven’t been able to get many details on the topic. All we’ve been able to come up with are theories as to what they’re like, how they make their weapons, and what makes their blades so different.”
“What theories have you come up with, given your expertise on different cultures and worlds?” Kalon asked. He didn’t take his eyes off me, and it made my blood rush.
“Well, first and foremost, we cannot consider Reapers and their weapons part of the living realm. They’ve died. They haven’t moved forward, so, technically speaking, they’re suspended between life and death. I assume that’s what makes their weapons so different. Death magic is complicated and powerful, a combination of all the magic we’ve come across, with something else on top.”
“Something else?”
I shrugged. “Yes. Death. I don’t know, Kalon, there’s a lot about them I don’t understand, though I certainly wish I could. Until we get to sit down with a Reaper and talk, there’s only so much theorizing we can do. Bottom line is, a Reaper’s weapon affects us all equally. Our rapid healing is no longer an advantage. Wounds that would take minutes or hours to heal will take days. I should’ve been in tip-top shape by now. Of course, I could also be a lot worse, so I’m thankful that I’m able to move and even fight, if needed.”
“It’s one of the reasons why I chose this lesser-known road,” Kalon replied. “I wanted you to take it easy.”
“What is this route, exactly?” I asked, looking around. “Don’t get me wrong, I like it. But why do so few people know about it?”
Kalon smiled. “It goes through the Nightmare Forest.”
“Whoa, the name alone is enough to creep me out,” I muttered. It did make sense, however. This place was creepy. Quiet and beautiful, but definitely creepy. “I certainly wouldn’t want to go through here at night.”
“Neither would I,” Kalon replied. “It’s one of the most dangerous places on Visio. And because it’s so big, it didn’t make sense to build roads through it. People prefer to avoid it… afraid the night might find them here.”
Ansel rolled his eyes. I figured he knew more, but I decided to ask Kalon instead. “What is it about the Nightmare Forest that makes it so dangerous?”
“It’s pure wilderness. There are species here that have retained their domain,” Kalon explained, sounding slightly amused. “We pride ourselves on being at the top of the food chain, but there are predators in these woods that have learned to adjust. If you’re not careful, you might end up losing your head. The sabre tigers, in particular, are quite adept at pouncing and tearing one’s noggin off almost effortlessly.”
I chuckled softly. “You’re kidding.”
Looking at Ansel, who shook his head at me, I realized Kalon wasn’t kidding at all. He was dead serious. I suddenly saw the forest in a different light. It certainly explained the shivers down my spine and the feeling that eyes were watching us.
“Oh, wow,” I murmured.
“The Aeternae respect nature. We only take as much as we need, so it was decided a long time ago that these natural habitats would not be disturbed. There are thousands of acres like this, all over Visio. Virgin sanctuaries where some of the most diverse and most dangerous creatures exist. The sabre tigers, the oakwood bears, the red-tailed vipers—it’s why few people dare to take these paths.”
“That being said, are you sure we’ll make it back in one piece?” I shot him a grin.
“The creatures don’t hunt outside the woods,” Kalon said. “And between the two of us, I trust our instincts to keep us safe. Ansel is obviously temporarily out of commission, so we cannot count on him. Most predators come out at