chapter 4 : Broken bones
It's cold here.
Am I dreaming?
Where did they take me to?
They came here with ships, how could they have a dungeon? Was it built by that Yura General? It's so cold I can't feel anything else, nor use my power, nor focus on anything around me. My head is paralyzed and I can't think of anything. It's cold here and I hate this. They could have tortured me, hurt me, or done anything that can physically damage me but this.
It's not like I didn't know that they would capture me. We've discussed this for hours, thought of every case that our plans could have backfired. The only thing we couldn't be aware of is this kind of torture they use. I've never been locked in a fridge to spit information to anyone.
I was trained by Master for years to overcome any kind of torments. In those years, I'd been immune to any hurt and pain and lived a life of a cold-blooded assassin for Master. All I'd ever wanted was to die because of a terrible mistake in the past, for that mistake I lost my brother and the twin dragons that taught him and me their slaying magic. Being gnawed by guilt, I went seeking for death in order to be reunited with them, so I didn't care about danger, I didn't care about blood flooding from me. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't die, there's always something within me that triggers me to fight, to seek for more blood and souls to fulfill an invisible hole in my left chest, where the heart lies. When I came to Master's guild, he told me this hole is a curse of the past. I made a mistake, I had to bear this hole for all my life and suffer from killing. I thought this was the end for me, there was no way out, I started to be his right hand wizard, do anything he orders as an excuse from killing the wrong people. I thought with that at least I could be necessary to someone, I could find a reason to continue living.
Until I met Sting.
He was not as anyone I'd met in the guild, interestingly, not like anyone I've ever met in my life. He was a slayer kid who lost his father dragon as me. He was also suffering his pain of losing someone just like me. But he didn't lose himself. Since he was young and a dragon slayer, Master let me be his instructor. My job is to support him in missions and help him improve his dragon slaying magic. He learned really fast, and was also a joyful boy who always kept moving forwards. With some recklessness, we became one of the most powerful team in Redwood. We fought, ate, lived and laughed together. And little by little, I realized there was another thing that kept me from suicide, another thing that helped me understand that my life was still worth it. I wanted to protect him as long as I'm still alive. I wanted to make use of my curse to kill anyone who dare to hurt him.
So that I can't let Master's scheme of killing him in this mission be completed. We planned that If I was kidnapped, he would send a light message to Master to get him here. With that, I'll be found and Sting will be safe without having to go back to the guild and meet him in person. Who knows what could Master do if he saw Sting came back without me.. He could have just kill Sting right there.. Although I can't die, I am not strong enough to be his rival.
Now, all I can do is waiting for him, and not letting this ice dungeon swallow me.
It's been hours. My bones feel so hurt, as if I fall down, they will shatter like glasses. I can't move. My mind is floating and wandering in the clouds. I can't breathe. My lungs are also frozen and it's really hurt to inhale. I wonder why they haven't asked me questions? Why are they still doing nothing to me?
I hear a "clang" rings in my head. Then it seems like my hands and legs are released. And then I fall to the ground, but my neck is still sealed by the chains. I keep lying because I find no strength to stand up. There's sound of steps near me, someone is approaching me.
"I see that you're still up, right? Ready for some asking?" His voice, that General, I can recognize his voice.
Suddenly, my neck is pulled up, I choked and coughed loudly.
"Do you hear me?" He pulls me to his sight.
"Of...course..." I breathe.
"Then can you please tell me how to get to that fucking stone? Or where is your partner? I guess he is running off to your Master's, right? That would be great, cause when they are here we will capture them both." He laughs.
"You are underestimating my Master, don't you?" I smile. "I warned you, without my support, you have no chance against him, or the stone. And I also warned you, I won't help you."
"Then I guess I shall leave you frozen here, till death!"
That's my wish, too.
The ice chains are back tying me to the wall.
But, I can't die, you know.
My freezing bones crumbled when the chains tightened. But now, they are starting to heal, I can feel every piece is joining and rebuilding together. That's my ability, I have the power to control the souls of death and living things. And sometimes, they are out of my hands. Sometimes, they behave their way and I can't stop them. But all they can do now is preventing me from dying, not giving me enough power to break through.
"Why are you smiling, scum?"
"Me? Well, nothing."
"You are hiding something, aren't you?"
"You're a really suspicious man, General."
He kicks me in my stomach, I cough.
"Stop playing around. I could kill you and get to that stone with my power."
"Then why don't you do it?"
"I have time, and I think you have an ability that can help you touch the stone without being burned. By the way, with you, I can have your Master under my feet and take his power too. With the Eye to see the future and the Force of the Stone, let's say that no one can defeat our kingdom.""
"Don't underestimate him. You don't know him, or me. Everything won't be as easy as it seems." I whisper.
"Then why is he not here for you now?"
"He'll be when you don't even know it."
As I finish, a flash of light cut through this man's chest. He roars and falls down, reveals a tall shadow standing behind.
"I don't know you'd be such a talkative when being pinned to a wall." Master's hoarse voice resounds. "Right, Lucerna?"
I laugh. "I was so boring."
He catches a spell, every ice chain on me is broken and I'm free. But I still feel dizzy because a big amount of energy was lost. I lean to a wall and pant.
"Can you fight?" Master asks me.
"Do I have to?" I ask back.
"Perhaps, cause I and Sting sneaked in here and there are still many soldiers outside."
"And where's Sting?"
"Watching for them from outside. Let's go."
He leads me out of the cell. I realize I was imprisoned in a newly built ice cave. I question him when we are watching for a few soldiers walk by.
"They came here for a magic stone in the church."
"I know."
"You do? But they never mention in the mission pamphlet."
"I just knew as soon as you two headed off. I was doing some research on that stone. And I have to tell you that I'm here for it, too."
"Should I know why?"
"Well, let's say that's a personal thing. But the thing is, I need your help. Your slaying power can prevent us from it."
"Does Sting know anything about this?"
"Of course not. He's not for use anymore. Let's finish this mission and get back."
"What do you mean?" I hesitate.
"Just do as I say. When the time comes, you have to kill him immediately, by that you should absorb his remaining energy and we can take care of that stone."
"What about this land? They search for help preserving the stone, this is their God."
"Lucerna, one day you will understand those who are unnecessary will soon be discarded. Even if they are a whole nation or your little partner. Man is the strongest only when they believe in themselves. I told you to support Sting because I want to give him chances to prove himself. But don't you see what can he do? He didn't get any stronger and he let you be captured, he can't save you so he came to me. This is the time I need to filter the guild and get away with weaklings."
I say nothing. I know he's a very gruel and indifferent person but right now I'm really afraid of him. I don't know how far he can go with his thoughts. I don't know what to do. I need to let Sting know he's in danger, but I can't as Master's in the way. I have to think for a way out, I have to.
Think, Lucerna!
That god damn General heals so quickly. Not long as we get out of the cave and met Sting, I can hear footsteps of the soldiers and his loud voice.
"GET THEM! DON'T LET THEM LIVE, EVEN A SINGLE ONE OF THEM!"
Then, a stream of ice flows from the inside of the cave and attack us, but Master use his magic to form a wall of trees to prevent us from being hurt. The sky is dark, seems like it's midnight and Sting use his ability to form a light that follows us. He lifts me as my body is still weak. We keep running behind Master as he's opening the way for us to the church.
"Is the villagers alright?" I ask Sting.
"I told them to go hiding in the forest, for their land will soon be a battlefield anyway."
"Did they say anything?"
"Nothing, some of them cried, but they all do as I told."
"Good, and what about Father Faria?"
He hesitates.
"He stays."
"What? Did you tell him about the stone?"
"Yes, but he didn't listen."
"No, no, we have to.."
This is really out of control. Our plans will succeed if only there's still us and Master, but Father Faria is still here, we can't let him know our true intention and have him caught up in our battle. I have just discover a thing about the stone since I met General Yura. Everything is connecting piece by piece, this stone is a curse to their land, not a blessing.
Footsteps are coming our way and Master's magic cannot keep them away anymore, since the ice of Yura Invel freezes them and breaks them right away. Master let us through and says.
"Keep running, when you get to the church, wait for my signs." He says, but his eyes are directed to me and I tremble when I understand his inside meaning.
"Wait, Master. We can help you here." Sting says. But I hold his hand and lead him to the church. "Lucerna, what are you doing?"
"Run, we can't help him, we will just stand in his way."
"But isn't that our plans? We have to have him stuck in battles and destroy his eye."
"No, Sting. Our plans have been broken since Father Faria decided to stay and since I discover another secret of the stone."
"What? What are you saying?"
"There's no time to talk, we have to get there."
I have to make up my mind. I have to protect Sting and destroy the Stone and the Eye, all at once. Even if this cost my life.
