"Hurry up, Carr. We're almost there!"
I was trying. Really. But my goddamn robe simply wouldn't let me move any faster! I was running towards Lady, barely holding the orb between my hands. Magic- I could feel it in my veins, green like the blood of our planet. It was throbbing in my blood, a warning that I needed serious healing. It could wait. From the corner of my eyes, I spotted Moon, struggling to heal a fallen Chanter; Ahn blocking the attacks of a Draconute; and Melody, who was…healing me? All at once, I felt better, my senses confirming the guess, and I stood up, having a sudden urge to lightburst something. The poor Balaur behind Mel didn't see what hit him.
"Moon, behind you!"
Fortunately, Rider spotted the attacker before I did and, with a well-aimed arrow from his hide state, sent it back to Aion.
Now, all eight guards were disposed, the only thing left being the General. The thought sent a shiver on my back. I heard about the infamous Dredgion Captains. Their power was huge, and not everyone could kill it. Spotting the Cabin door, I saw the others were gathering and I joined too, forming a circle.
"So…."
Seems like I wasn't the only one a bit afraid.
"So what? We go and kill that blasted thing!"
Well…I had to admit, Ahn was never scared of anything. I hope he won't suffer from his pride soon enough.
"Ahnek, as much as I hate to shatter your heroic dreams, we have only two healers! We need a plan."
"Fine. Let's hear your extraordinary plan, Sorcerer."
"First, I have a name. Carrana. It's not that hard to remember. Second, what do we know about this General? What's his weak spot?"
"The neck?"
Ah, the Assassin. His knowledge is such things was unmatchable. He had to know that, after all, his class's strategy was 'hitting the weak spot'.
"Correct. But, unfortunately, the Balaur knows that too, as a result, his neck is covered with an armor plate. Any idea about how we can remove them?"
Moon looked like she just found the Abyss. Her eyes had that strange glow that reminded everyone why she was our Brigade General.
"Carr, you must try to sleep him. With your most powerful spell."
"You're joking, right? He'll resist it for sure. Those runes on his armor are there for a reason, you know!"
I was sure by now I was looking ridiculous. I couldn't care less. I wanted to finish this, leave this hellhole and return to my beloved bed.
"I know. But that's not the point. The reason behind this is to lure him and make him a little dazed. Once he's sleepy and you are his main target, Ahn will cover you and parry his attacks. You must concentrate on the sleeping spell. Keeping him confused is crucial in the plan. From the shadows, Lady will throw every single buff she can in his direction, staying unnoticed. I'll make sure you two are not harmed, and-"
"Wait a second. How will this help us defeat him? By parrying the only thing we'll get will be a dead Gladiator and an exhausted Sorcerer."
Ah, dear Apocolipsa. Why can't you shut up? It's nice to be young and unexperienced. But Moon….
"LET ME FINISH THIS GODDAMN PLAN!"
And there was silence around us.
"Ok. Now that I can speak, while these two do their part of the plan" –here she made a lazy line between me and Ahn with her staff- "our Scouts and the Templar will sneak behind him. When you're right behind the monster, he will counter attack…"
"Do you want to get me killed?!"(Clearly, the once-confident Gladiator didn't like her plan.)
"….and at the same time, the Templar will tear that plate apart with his greatsword. Once the neck is exposed, all 3 Assassins will sink their daggers in his flesh. That's my plan. Who wants to follow?"
Besides Ahn, who was sulking and no longer paid attention to his superior's killing glares, everyone raised their hands. I was hanging my hand in mid-air, a sign that I had a question.
"And what if Ahnek doesn't parry all the attacks? If I get killed?"
"Why do you doubt me, dear Carrana?"
Something in his smile and the way he pronounced my name made me shudder. I had a feeling he was going to do prove my fear true, just to show me he can. What did I do to make him hate me?
"Don't worry, Carr. I'm right beside you. I can dodge too. And should he try something…" here all eyes turned to the star of our discussion "…I'll assure it won't succeed. So don't worry."
I nodded weakly, being aware that I just dragged the fury of an already pissed Warrior.
And so our plan was formed.
What happened next? Of course, the first person the General attacked was me, the glass cannon. I have to admit now, Ahnek made a great display of skill. I must take him to the tavern for that. But nonetheless, the plan worked. Our trio lured the beast and kept it busy, his face turning to a mask of pain and shock the moment daggers pierced his flesh.
He fell, we won.
The armor and sword were a great reward for our plans. However, the fight took its toll on our main healer and tank. Moon's face was showing how tired she truly was. The polearm and armor of the Gladiator took considerable damage, a sign that they needed to be repaired. How his face was, I couldn't say. However, I was feeling his stare headed to me. I was stained with blood from the Balaur. That cursed beast, my face probably looked horrible. I simply responded with a honest smile.
"You are gonna pay for this, sorceress. In kinah. Many, many kinah."
Both of us were drenched in blood. Balaur blood. I could feel my inner magic responding, the burning bloodlust that plagued my soul now gone. I felt great, refreshed, euphoric. Closing my eyes for a moment, I enjoyed this feeling for a second before coming back to Atreia. As my eyes reopened, I saw my fellow Gladiator enjoying the same peace, a tranquil expression on his face, now that he removed his helmet. Hurt and probably still pissed at me, he still looked handsome.
Even if he tried to show me hate, I still cared about him. He was my closest friend. So I made the only thing I felt was natural, given the condition. I did a few steps towards him, that were rewarded with a dubious glance from my target. Leaning forward, I observed a few places where the Guardian destroyed his armor, exposing his skin. So he was hurt. Because of me. I didn't daze the beast enough for him to get out unscratched. Well, I wanted to hug him but…given the condition, it could wait.
"We did it. Together."
One smile from Pixie and I knew. We succeded, no lives lost, and we could go home. Finally.
"Let's go home. Man, I'm soooo tired!"
"Eager to leaver, aren't you, Assassin? Don't forget, we're on a Dredgion. Let's see first where we are, then try a portal."
"Why? Your portal will lead us safely to Sanctum. Why care about where we are?"
"Because, if we are too far, we could land in Asmodae instead!"
That shut him up. Finally. Now that I could concentrate on something else then a hyperactive child, my mind started to calm down as I studied the cabin. As expected, it had two large windows in the front, a giant control panel placed right between them. But right now, that wasn't an important enough reason to worry. At least, not for the moment.
"Guys, could you come here for a moment? I think we have a problem."
This didn't look well. Instead of the familiar Terminion Landing, the space in front of us was pure darkness. No building, no island, just an empty place. Far away, I could see a comet dragging its tail to Aion-knows-where.
"Holy Vaizel!...Where the hell are we?"
I didn't have to turn to realize that we were screwed. Literaly. For all I knew, we could be behind Primum. Near Tigraki Island. Flying upside down on Asmodian sky. Or, why not- on our way to some strange portal leading to Tiamat's palace, when she was still alive. Aion knew which it was.
"I don't know. I really don't know. Maybe we should send someone outside to check the surroundings?"
My suggestion was rewarded with several glances. As expected.
I sighted.
"Ok, I get it. No one wants go. Forget I said anything…"
"Actually, it's not a bad idea. If you proposed it, why don't you go out there first?"
"Wh-what?"
"Yeah. You go out there,then come back and tell us what you saw!"
Now wait a moment. I didn't say that I wanted to go. It was just a suggestion, for Aion's sake! From the looks I was receiving, the others didn't think the same. No chance I was going out there alone! What if an Asmodian spots me? What if I die somehow? I'll Vanish for sure!
"Fine! I'll go. But, only on two conditions. First, we put a kisk here. Second, I'm not going alone. So? Who wants to come with me?"
I was sure no one will come. I could bet my kinah on it. Who'd be that foolish to risk their life on this?And yet…
"I'll come. Are you afraid, sorceress?"
Ahnek? What the hell? He was hurt, injured from the battle. One glance from Moon and I instantly got that she thought the same. He couldn't go! Definitely not!
"But you're hurt!"
"So what? Just let those furbacks try to bring me down! They stand no chance against me."
I wasn't so sure. He's sometimes too confident for his own good. Maybe at some other time, I would laugh and dismiss his attempts to heroism without a second thought. It's not like he never tried to show his 'amazing' skill before. Our legion already got used to it. We weren't named Chickens that Rawr at Asmo for no reason. But this time, it was different.
"We'll both bind to the kisk. Then we go out, check the surroundings and wipe everything and everyone that may pose a threat. Got it? And while we're gone, the others can try to figure out how this control panel works. Maybe we use this thing to travel back back home. Just think how much kinah would Sanctum reward for a still-working Dredgion…"
So the heroism wasn't the only reason for his sudden enthusiasm. What did I expect, after all? This was Ahnek. If it didn't involve kinah, he didn't care. Not even in front of death itself. I pulled a kisk from my cube and placed it in one corner of the room. Spirito and Lindsie helped me move the giant thing.
"Moon, you and Lavii must concentrate on the panel. Lindsie, stay near the kisk the whole time. If we come back, we count on you with the first aid."
I kneeled next to the obelisk and placed my hand on the cold stone, pushing my magic in the statue. The blue crystals that formed around me confirmed my binding. Then it was Ahn's turn to bind. I realized I was staring at him when Spir poked me. At least he didn't see. After the Spiritmasters and Songweavers placed their blessings on us, we were finally ready.
"Fine. You lead."
And, here it is. The first chapter. You are probably wondering, where's the asmo part? Be patient, we're heading there. This time, I'd like to specify The Lay of A Broken Sparrow, the story whih inspired me to write this. I made this longer than I originally wanted, including what I did for the second chapter, because 1500 words were too less. So right now, I'll start chapter 2 from scratch.
Until next week, when you'll probably get the second chapter, walk in Ariel's light and Azphel's shadow. And good luck at killing balaurs!
