The Culmar Trail was a twisting labyrinth of trees and flowers, and despite its serene appearance, it was dangerous. Monsters lurked around most corners, and while that thought normally would have frightened me enough, I felt perfectly calm. I was used to fighting monsters at this point, as strange as that was to admit. Monsters were a safe, predictable obstacle that I was slowly bettering myself at overcoming. In fact, getting to practice my swordplay on a real target sparked a thrill in my chest I would have never expected to feel.
No, the monsters weren't the scary part about the trek through the trail. It was everything that loomed ahead of and around us - I was marching right back into the danger I'd run so far away from. I had no idea what awaited us. For all I knew, we were about to face off against King Nachtigal himself.
But if we succeed, we'll be heroes.
Lost in these thoughts, my foot caught a rock and I stumbled, slamming right into Alvin. Instinctively, his arms reached out to catch and steady me.
"Easy."
"I'm fine," I muttered, shrugging away from him once I'd regained my balance.
He drew a short breath. "Are you going to stay mad at me forever? I said I was sorry."
"No," I said, anger swelling in my chest. "You didn't, actually."
"Cline is more likely to help you now than ever, now that he knows what you've been through. After all this, he'll understand why you lied. You might even be able to help him put a stop to it all."
"And why should that be on me?" My voice was a bit too shrill, and the others paused to stare at my outburst. I waved them off, wrapping my arms across my stomach. Only when they turned and continued on did I lower my voice and shoot Alvin a hurt look. "I didn't want any of that. I just wanted to go home. And I thought that was something you understood."
"I do," he said, raising his hands in surrender. "You're right. I'm sorry."
I said nothing. The trees melted into a green blur as a haze of tears stung at my eyes. Part of me knew he was right - if we wanted Cline to trust us, we needed proof. That was me, kind of.
"I really was trying to help."
"Sure, yeah. Maybe," I mumbled, giving my head a shake. The last thing I wanted to do was cry. I sniffed, dabbing quickly at the corners of my eyes. "Maybe youwere. But I was scared. I thought Cline was going to send me away. Send me back there."
"He's a good man. He wouldn't."
"Well I didn't knowthat. I was scared."
"I get it."
There was a long stretch of silence. I kept my eyes locked on the grassy rocks scattered at my feet. I focused on the breeze tickling my hair against my cheek. Despite what Alvin had done, I was still here. Alive. And even though my main instinct was to want zero part of it, some deep part of me felt a thrill that I was able to help someone.
Had it not been for Alvin, I probably would have been sitting in Keegan's apartment, twiddling my thumbs. These people we were about to save...well, I didn't really want to think about what would happen to them. What could still happen to them, if we failed.
I breathed a shaky sigh and forced myself to look directly at him.
"I just...I need time to be mad at you."
"Of course."
"Because, like...it's fucked up. You kind of did a fucked up thing. And I get why you did it, but it's still…"
"Fucked up?" His lips twitched.
"Exactly. So just...let me be mad at you and stuff. I'll be fine, I just need to be mad first, okay?"
"Okay."
"Okay...good."
"And then we can kiss and make up?"
I smacked his arm, and his lips pulled fully into a shameless grin when he saw the blush in my cheeks. Already, I could feel the tension melting away. Alvin was somebody who was hard to stay mad at. Regardless of what he did, we had something in common, and without Keegan around, I craved that comfort.
He was a good friend, even if he wasn't a very good person.
I inhaled, the tight coil in my chest beginning to unravel. Satisfied my blood had ceased to boil, Alvin turned the conversation to the matter at hand.
"Cline's quite the fool, attempting to directly defy King Nachtigal."
Rowen glanced over his shoulder, his expression grave. "I too counselled him against it, but as you can see, he can be quite stubborn." There was a tone to his voice that wasn't entirely different from that of an impatient father.
"Hey! Stop saying mean things about Driselle's brother!" Teepo exclaimed.
"Cline is a good man," Elize agreed.
"He most certainly is," said Rowen, smiling fondly. "Never have I met a lord who cares more deeply for his subjects. Indeed, he was kind and gentle before he was even a lord at all. Two years ago, when I had nowhere else to go, he was gracious enough to hire me on as his butler."
"Sounds like he's really important to you," said Jude.
"Very much so."
"And he's so cool," said Teepo with a dreamy sigh. "Way cooler than Alvin."
"I beg your pardon?" Alvin calmly stepped forward and grabbed Teepo by the face, pinching his cheeks and stretching them roughly. "I didn't quite catch that."
"Ack! Alvin! Let me go!"
"I'm sure Cline is still safe," said Jude, paying no mind to the chaos happening behind him.
"Of that, I have no doubt," said Rowen. "No harm will befall him on my watch."
"Alvin, cut it out! Leave Teepo alone!"
"Lemme go!"
"Hm? Maggie do you hear something?" Alvin asked, tucking Teepo tightly beneath his arm.
"You're such an asshole," I sighed. I pried Teepo away from him and allowed him to bounce back over to Elize. She clutched him to her chest, glaring at Alvin. "So...Bermia Gorge. What's the plan?"
"As you might imagine, the government is quite secretive when it comes to their operations," Rowen replied. "I know little about the facility at Bermia Gorge."
"Either way, we should be prepared for a fight," said Milla. The whole time, she kept her eyes trained forward. Typical Milla, refusing to be distracted from her mission. "I doubt they'll take kindly to us crashing their operations."
I gulped and nodded, praying that the pounding of my heart wasn't as audible to everyone else as it was to me.
Jude let out a yelp then, falling to the ground with a harsh thud. I barely had time to react before he was being dragged across the ground, toward a thicket of bushes.
"Jude!" I dove to the ground, rocks skinning my knees as I gripped his hand and fought desperately to pull him back. Whatever had him in its grip was strong. I dug the tips of my boots into the dirt to try and steady myself but I was in danger of being pulled in as well.
I felt arms around my waist and a grunt of effort in my ear - Alvin, holding the two of us down. Milla lunged forward into the brush and, with a cry, brought her sword down. Alvin and I fell backwards as the creature's grip on Jude was severed and, like a snapped rope, the tension holding Jude's body went slack.
"What the hell was that?" I breathed.
The ground beneath us rumbled. A trail of raised earth shot out from the bushes, circling around until a creature pushed its way through the dirt. The growing darkness hid its form slightly, but from what I could see, it was like a massive millipede, with a wide row of sharp teeth. One long arm protruded from its side, ending in a clawed hand. The other arm ended in a mess of black sinew - likely the hand Milla had severed. The lower half of its body stayed submerged in the dirt.
"A shade," said Rowen. He calmly straightened his posture and unsheathed his weapon - a long, thin saber. "A common beast around these parts, especially when the sun goes down. Mind your backs, I doubt it comes alone."
No sooner than he said that did another rustle sound from the bushes behind us.
I jerked my leg out of the way just in time for a black hand to slap at the air beside me. I scrambled away from the bush and to my feet.
"Why couldn't we stick to wolves and goblins?" I muttered. I unsheathed my sword, though I was unsure of how easily it would find its mark in the dim light. Shifting my stance, I inched closer to my companions. The woods came alive with the sound of grating rocks and whispering leaves. The shades were clearly taking advantage of the lack of sight - I had no clue how many of them there were, but it was clear there was more than a handful.
"We don't have time for this," said Jude, gritting his teeth together. "Cline needs our help."
There was a faint glint from Alvin's lilium orb as he clapped a hand on Jude's shoulder. "Then let's get to it, partner."
As if they'd been waiting for Alvin's cue, the shades surged forward as one unit. I felt one at my back and jumped out of the way, swinging wildly. To my surprise, I felt the satisfying pressure of blade through...well, whatever the shades were made out of. The thing let out a guttural sound and slithered away.
A bright light erupted to my left. Rowen held his rapier poised like a baton, a green spell circle gleaming at his feet. The sight of it was off-putting, despite having seen Elize's own magic in action, it was enough to make me pause and gawk.
The circle evaporated as glowing green blades gusted to life, slicing at the group of shades. A chorus of howls sounded as the shades started shrivelling in on themselves.
"Now!" Rowen barked, and it was with authority I hadn't expected from his refined voice.
"R-Right!" Alvin said hastily. He nodded at Jude and the two of them rushed in and unleashed a flurry of strikes.
The combined assault was enough. Their scaly bodies continued to shrivel and crumble until there was nothing left before us but a pile of smoking husks. I stared at the scene, unblinking. I'd been expecting more of a fight, but Rowen had managed to decimate their numbers with a single spell.
"Rowen," Jude breathed. "That was…"
"Amazing!" Teepo finished, bouncing excitedly. "You totally kicked their butts, Rowen! You're so cool! We barely had to lift a finger!"
"You don't have any fingers," Alvin pointed out, putting his gun away.
"Impressive moves for a butler," said Milla. As usual, I couldn't quite tell if she was suspicious or not.
"Nonsense," he said. "I'm just an old man with an eye for strategy. You young folk did all the hard work."
A weird time for modesty, I thought. Either way, he was thankfully on our side so I wasn't about to question it.
With that battle behind us, continued on through the trail. We faced a few more monsters along the way, but Rowen's magic made quick work of most of them. The rest of us were able to easily pick off any stragglers. For the first time since I'd started battling, I felt no fear. It didn't feel like we could lose with someone as strong as Rowen on our side.
As impressed as we were with Rowen's skill, he was just as impressed with Elize. It was as we were finishing a battle that he watched her with fascination in his expression.
"Hm?" she said, blushing. "W-What is it?"
"I was curious about your fighting technique," said Rowen. "My apologies for staring. Tell me, where did someone as young as you learn to channel spirits?"
"Where?" She frowned. "I don't remember."
"She's just really talented!" Teepo explained, as though it were obvious.
"That's why I was going to ask the same thing," said Alvin. "I've never seen a kid with anywhere near you master's level of skill."
"Really?" said Milla. "I was channeling the Four when I was much younger."
"You're a special case," Alvin remarked drily. "Although, it does sound like Elize can channel spirits based on intuition alone, just like Milla."
"You're really something," Jude said to Elize, causing her blush to deepen.
"You betcha!" said Teepo. "Jude knows what's what!"
"Remember that you're still a child, though," said Milla, a touch more serious than normal. "In combat, you must prioritize self-protection."
Though Elize had begun to puff up with pride, Milla's words caused her to shrink back in on herself. "O-Okay."
"Milla's just worried about you," Jude assured her.
"She's right," said Alvin. "You be careful out there."
"Yes," said Milla, blinking slowly. She smiled. "Perhaps that's what I should have said. Do you understand?"
"Yes ma'am!" said Elize, her smile returning.
The trees of the trail gradually gave way to a rocky cliff face that stretched high above us. Outcroppings of rock shot across the sky, giving the impression we were encased in some kind of stone ribcage. Trees grew from the stone, their branches weaving a canopy and casting our surroundings even further in shadow. The moonlight snaked through the leaves, throwing faint dappled patterns on the rocks below us.
We rounded a corner and came upon a broad opening, in the middle of which sat a tall tower of stone. Lavender light pulsed through an opening near the bottom, and also streamed into the night sky high above.
"I've never seen anything like this," said Jude, gazing around in wonder.
"This is one of the few liminal regions in Rashugal," said Rowen. Wind whistled around the twisted stalagmites in front of us as he spoke, and I pushed my hair from my face as I pretended to know what he was talking about.
"Clashing spirit climes," Alvin said, nudging me with his elbow. When I frowned, questioning, he winked at me. "The world sure is amazing, isn't it?"
I snuck him a grateful look.
Teepo floated towards the cliff face. His eyes widened with concern.
"You don't expect us to climb this, do you? I don't even have hands!"
I squinted into the darkness. "Well, maybe we don't have to. That glowing purple light looks suspicious enough to me. Maybe we should - "
"Look out!" Jude suddenly exclaimed.
The next few seconds whizzed by. Jude threw his body across Elize and the two of them went tumbling across the dirt, just before an arrow struck the ground where she'd been standing. I let out a yelp and dove behind a nearby stalagmite. Milla and Alvin were quick to follow once they heard the faint whistle of another arrow flying through the air.
"Where is it coming from?" I asked frantically.
"I caught a glimpse," said Alvin. "The military?"
Milla nodded. "I suppose they don't want people seeing what they're up to here."
Alvin gripped his gun, adjusting himself so that he balanced on the heels of his feet. He bounced slightly, once, twice, before jumping to his feet and taking aim. A volley of arrows immediately fired upon him. He cursed and dropped, his gun falling to the ground with a clatter.
"I can't. I'm pinned down."
The arrows continued to fly through the darkness, pattering the rocks like rain on a tin roof. I squeezed my eyes shut. My heart hammered in my chest. I couldn't focus.
"Superpals! Do something!" Teepo wailed from somewhere far to my right.
"We need a distraction," said Milla.
"I'll draw the shooter's attention," Jude replied. He, Elize and Rowen were crouched behind a chunk of rock across the opening, barely visible in the dark. "You take care of the rest."
"You're going to be the bait? That's quite dangerous." I caught a hint of something in Milla's voice, despite her words. She sounded impressed.
"It'll be fine. Trust me."
"Very well. We'll leave this to you."
"Thanks." Jude nodded and slowly rose to his feet. Beside him, Elize clutched Rowen's jacket. I felt my heart climb into my throat. Was this really such a good idea?
But then Jude was stepping into the open and Milla slipped away from her spot from beside me and I was left to watch the scene unfold.
The fall of arrows stopped as Jude stepped forward, raising his hands in a sign of surrender. I cautioned a glance around the corner and saw our assailant, now lit by the violet glow and a stray beam of moonlight. Judging by the slender frame and the long pale ponytail sprouting from the back of the helmet, I assumed it was a woman.
She poised her crossbow towards Jude. The night fell silent, though I was sure everyone could hear the pounding of my pulse. She pulled the trigger, and time slowed as it sailed towards Jude's head. He responded with barely a twitch, eyes narrowing as he craned his neck at just the right moment and avoided the shot.
Alvin whistled. "Nice one, kid."
The archer recoiled in shock. "How the hell -?"
Her reaction was cut short when she noticed Milla bounding up the slope behind her. The archer whirled, readying an arrow, but Alvin had rushed out from his hiding spot and fired off a shot. The bullet knocked the archer's crossbow from her hands in one moment and in the next Milla had brought her sword down across her chest. I clapped a hand to my mouth as the archer's body fell lifelessly out of view.
Milla sheathed her sword. She leapt from the platform, landing gracefully in front of Jude. She nodded towards Alvin.
"Thank you."
He shrugged, resting his gun against his shoulder. "Sudden dramatic saves are my specialty. It's a mercenary thing."
Milla actually smiled at the comment, but it was cut short when the glow radiating from the cave suddenly pulsed, spilling light across the clearing and illuminating the sea of arrows that littered the ground.
"That feeling again," she murmured, her jaw locking. "The same one from Fennmont."
"We mustn't waste any more time," said Rowen. He stood and smoothed his coat, offering a hand to Elize.
I was the only one who remained crouched in my hiding spot. The wet gasp the archer had breathed when Milla struck her had been clear as day, even at this distance. I couldn't bring myself to stand. It was only when Jude came and gently nudged my shoulder that I snapped out of my daze.
"We need to move."
"R-Right." I allowed him to help me to my feet. The others were already hurrying into the cavern entrance, but I felt rooted in place. I eyed the platform above the opening and meekly asked, "is she dead?"
His face softened with sympathy. "She would have killed us first. That's what she was trying to do. We had to…"
"I know," I said, raising a hand to cut him off. I curled my fingers into a fist to hide how badly they were shaking. "You're right. C'mon, let's go save Cline."
He looked like he wanted to say more but he simply nodded and we followed after the others. They hadn't made it very far into the cave - a giant glyph stretched from floor to ceiling like some kind of force field, blocking our path. Past it, I could see a room lined with strange machines, cannons shooting streams of purple light at something hanging over the center of the room. It almost looked like…
"Is that a cocoon?" I asked, my voice still thick with emotion.
"Lord Cline!" Rowen exclaimed, and it was then that I noticed the row of glass cages that hugged each wall. People filled each of them, looking weak and pained. It took a moment, but I was able to make out Cline, his body slumped and his cheek pressed against the plate of glass. "So they were performing experiments on humans."
I felt eyes on me, but all I could focus on was the white husk absorbing...what? Life force? Spirits? There was something just above it that I couldn't see, only that it was crystalline in shape and colour.
Milla approached the glyph, hand raised, but Alvin grabbed her by the shoulder and yanked her back.
"Stop! It'll tear your hand right off."
"This device is just like the one that killed Professor Haus in the laboratory!" said Jude.
"Are they trying to build a spyrix weapon here, too?" Milla didn't look pleased. She shrugged away from Alvin's touch in favour of glaring at the glyph and the room beyond. "They shouldn't be so easy to make." She stood just in front of the glyph, and I noticed then that she had retrieved something from her belt. I couldn't tell what it was exactly, but it looked like some sort of disc.
"Milla?" said Jude.
"So this is why they gave up the search for us. A bit of knowledge is a big danger to these people."
"The channeling circle being generated here isn't a closed type," said Rowen. He'd spent the whole conversation gazing thoughtfully at the glyph. "I would assume the surplus spirit energy is flowing out from the top."
I nodded. "Yeah, you're right. I remember seeing it from outside."
"Then there must be another opening," said Rowen. "If we enter from the top of the gorge and destroy the core producing the spirit artes…"
"Then we can save everyone," Jude said resolutely.
"So we do have to climb…" said Elize, her voice small.
Milla nodded, stowing the disc back in her belt. She moved past us, already heading out into the night. "We should hurry."
The terrain was as treacherous as it looked. Some semblance of a path snaked its way up through the gorge, but we spent more time climbing than we did walking a straight path. It was tricky finding our footing in the dark, and coupled with our brisk pace, I ended up stumbling and falling behind.
Jude hung back with me. No one really spoke, but there was a particular silence hanging between the two of us that I knew he was searching for a way to break. Large birds of prey swooped overhead, letting out occasional cries, and I kept my hand near my weapon in anticipation of an attack. I was surprised that we didn't run into any more guards, but instead of feeling relief all I felt was dread.
"How are you feeling?" Jude eventually asked.
I shrugged, keeping my eyes locked on my own footsteps. "Alright."
"Was that…" He swallowed audibly, scratched at his forehead. "I mean, have you ever…?"
I shook my head. "I've never seen someone...die, before, if that's what you're asking."
He winced. "I'm sorry. Is it insensitive to ask?"
"Is it?" Despite the situation, I gave a short laugh. "You probably have more experience with this kind of stuff than me."
Fifteen years old and more experience with death than me. What a world…
"You could have hung back you know," said Jude. "No one would have held it against you."
"I know." I couldn't find anything else to say. Jude seemed to understand anyway. He gave me a kind smile and then dropped the subject entirely. Still, the situation hung heavy in the front of my mind, a thick cloud darkening my vision. I couldn't stop thinking about the sickening impact of the archer's lifeless body. I hadn't fully understood what I was agreeing to.
A shudder ripped through me. A sudden fear gripped me that I was going to be sick. I swallowed, pausing to collect myself. The wind whistled through the gorge, warm despite the lack of sunlight.
"Are you gonna hurl?" Teepo asked, bouncing inches in front of my face. "You're all pale and sweaty!"
Every eye in the group turned to me.
"I'm fine," I said, mortified. My fingers twitched to shove him away from me but I didn't want to upset Elize. "I'm just tired. We've been walking all day."
"You didn't need to come," said Milla - coldly, if it had been anyone else. I felt Jude's eyes on me as she said it. "We could be facing off against King Nachtigal. There'll be no room for error."
My eyes grew hot. I was thankful for the lack of light.
"Whatever this crazy experiment is, do you really think King Nachtigal himself is gonna be running the show?"
Alvin's doubtful tone was enough to shift the focus away from me. Milla turned to him and frowned, and I took the chance to stare at the sky and control my breathing.
"I do not know," said Rowen. There was a sad note to his voice. "The Nachtigal of old would have fought on the front lines instead of dealing with intrigue behind the scenes."
"Is that right?" Milla asked.
"Nachtigal's a blueblood," said Alvin, "but he didn't shy away from combat as he climbed the military chain of command. Although lately it looks like he's been more busy with political fights for power."
A darkness passed over Rowen's face. He mumbled something to himself that I didn't catch, clearly lost in thought. Milla perked up at the sound of it.
"What was that?"
Her words wrenched Rowen out of whatever daze he'd been in. He blinked slowly, smoothing a careful smile across his face.
"Ah, please disregard my ramblings. Regardless, Lord Cline is a great threat to Nachtigal. Nothing is more threatening to a dictator than another individual with both wealth and growing popularity."
Elize hung her head, looking fearful. "No wonder Cline's in trouble."
The path grew steeper the further we went. My arms began to ache from the effort of pulling myself up the cliffside. Elize struggled, with her small frame and her billowing skirts. Alvin often hung back to help hoist her up the ledge, though his chivalry was usually met with embarrassed yelps.
"I'm just trying to help," Alvin said defensively after a particularly sharp quip from Teepo. "These cliffs are steep."
"Yeah right!" said Teepo. "You big creep!"
Elize was already up on the ledge, looking down at him reproachfully. Alvin lifted his hands in exasperation and looked to Jude for help. As usual, Jude responded to his antics with a blank expression and continued on.
"Jeez, can't a guy catch a break?"
"Who's fault do you think that is?" I asked, placing my hands on the rock in front of me. My palms were starting to blister at this point, and my arms shook as I attempted to pull myself up. My boot slipped and my knee slammed against the stone. "Shit."
"Need some help?"
"Shhhhh," I hissed, mostly from the pain. After several moments of struggling I pulled myself up, only to be momentarily blinded by a brilliant light.
When my eyes adjusted, I realized that the top of the gorge had snuck up on us. I wasn't sure how - it was now that I could hear the shaking roar of whatever device lurked in the belly of the tower. It definitely looked more volatile than it had from the bottom. Something must have...activated, somehow. I didn't like the looks of it. My heart climbed into my throat.
Jude had already reached the top. I could see his crouched form, illuminated against the light.
"The core is active now," he said when we'd all pulled ourselves up beside him. "But what can we do from up here?"
"Yeah, we didn't really think this through, huh?" I said, lowering onto my stomach so I could comfortably peek over the side without feeling like I'd fall in. It felt like the stream should burn my face or something, but I didn't really feel anything. Maybe if I had a mana lobe it would be different. All I felt was strong wind, blowing my hair back from my face. "How are we going to get down?"
"Ah, grow wings?" Alvin suggested.
"Good thinking," said Rowen, and was met with a bewildered look from Alvin. Rowen peered into the opening, stroking his chin in thought. "I shall cast a channelling circle on the erupting spirit energy. We may be able to ride it down safely, but only if we can maintain control."
Everyone stared at him, taking in his plan. I tried to match their expressions, but I wasn't sure if his plan was crazy or totally plausible. I had no clue what he was talking about, but it sounded dangerous. I pulled myself up, stepping away from the ledge.
"So, are we going to dive in?" asked Milla, unbothered as usual.
"I should have kept my mouth shut," said Alvin. He shook his head. "We're only gonna get one chance to hit the core."
Jude thought carefully a moment, his mouth twisting into a grave frown. It was quiet, save for the rumbling of the flow of energy. I couldn't place why or how, but for once it didn't feel like we were waiting for Milla to take charge - we were waiting for Jude.
"What are we waiting for?" he finally said. "We have to save those citizens."
Milla nodded. "Right. There's no other way."
Rowen watched the two of them carefully and chuckled. "Your mettle is inspiring."
"Oh, thanks," Alvin spoke up, looking particularly white in the face.
Elize had stayed silent the entire time, hugging Teepo tight to her chest. She peeked over the top of his head, but she stayed far from the edge, a slight tremor rippling across her shoulders. Rowen took notice, bowing to reach her level.
"Young lady, will you wait here, please?"
She stared at him, wide-eyed, before violently shaking her head. She rushed to his side, untangling one arm from around Teepo to grip Rowen's hand. Lifting her chin, she looked at him with something like defiance in her eyes.
Rowen looked shocked, but his face quickly softened. "Alright then. Hold on tight, okay? This might be a turbulent flight."
I knew the warning was meant for Elize, but my heartbeat quickened all the same. If Elize was unafraid to go sailing down into the belly of the beast, then there was no excuse for me. I swallowed, watching Rowen retrieve his trio of throwing knives.
He threw the knives into the air where they formed a triangular light, glowing against the night sky before solidifying into a shape that wasn't too far off from a paper airplane. The plane lowered until it hovered just over the mouth of the tower, right below our feet. Still gripping Elize's hand, Rowen stepped carefully onto the surface. The plane wobbled beneath his weight but Rowen raised a hand it righted itself soon after.
Milla was next to step onto the plane, then Alvin and Jude, until I stood alone on the cliff. My knee throbbed; my tights had torn from the climb, blood seeping through the fabric. I felt rooted in place.
Milla held her hand out to me. "There's no time to waste. I made myself clear earlier - come or don't, but you need to decide."
My face burned. I wasn't used to being the source of her coldness. It gave me a new respect for Jude - the way he was learning not to shrink under her stare. I gulped and grabbed her hand before I could talk myself out of it. The plane shifted under my feet and I yelped. My grip tightened.
"I'll aim our course towards the core," said Rowen, crouching at the head of the plane with Elize at his side. "Brace yourselves. The flow of energy is going to push against us. It shall be anything but smooth sailing. Once I give the cue, you'll aim your weapon for the core."
It took a beat for Alvin to realize Rowen meant him. He grimaced.
"So it's on me, huh? That's a lot of pressure."
"We're counting on you," said Milla. She stood at the back, planting her feet firmly apart.
I fell to my knees, feeling thankful when I felt the presence of Jude and Alvin squeeze in on either side of me. With Rowen and Elize in front of me and Milla standing just behind me, I felt properly anchored. Though the surface of the plane was transparent, it felt less like something made out of energy and more like solid glass. My shaking subsided.
Then the plane lurched downward, ripping a scream from my lungs. The plane and my stomach plunged in tandem and I felt the thick pressure of the wind force tears from my eyes.
"Shit, shit, shit!"
Jude looped his arm through mine. "Just hold on!"
The plane began to shake violently the further down we went. Rowen floated his rapier threw the air, avoiding spires of rock sticking out from the light grew, nearly blinding, and I could sense Jude searching for his target.
We jerked sharply to the right before flipping upside down to narrowly avoid an obstacle. I shrieked, pressure spiking behind my eyes. I felt like I was going to vomit. My fingers dug sharply into Jude's arm, and I was thankful that I chewed my nails short enough not to pierce his skin.
"Alvin, there!" Jude shouted suddenly, unfazed "The core! Take your shot!"
"I can't! This ride is too rough!"
Jude nudged me with his elbow. "Help me!"
My eyes were squeezed shut. "With what?"
But he shoved me until I was pressed against Alvin and then wrapped his arms around the both of us. I wasn't sure what was expected of me but I did my best to act as an anchor and pulled the two of them as closely and tightly as I could. Jude managed to tuck himself under Alvin's arm. He reached up and steadied Alvin's arm by gripping his wrist with both hands.
"Need a hand?"
"Much obliged." With my close proximity, I could hear the smirk in his voice. Jude guiding his arm, Alvin took his shot.
When the bullet connected, the crystal shattered. A pulse rippled through the cavern before the energy stopped entirely. The air fell still. A barrier I hadn't noticed surrounding the cocoon fell, dropping to the ground with a glittery splash before vanishing entirely. The machines shooting energy towards the core shuddered to a halt.
Rowen calmly lowered the plane to the ground. The energy dissipated just before touching down, and we dropped the rest of the way. I stumbled slightly before righting myself and looking around.
All around the room, the cell doors slid open. The prisoners inside had delayed reactions. They peered at us, mysterious newcomers, through the glass. Slowly, though, they filtered out and joined us in the center of the room. Dragging their feet at first, but then picking up the pace and excitedly scurrying when they realized they were free. It took little time for the crowd to grow in size - it was clear there were a lot of bodies being held here. People surged and pushed through us in a desperate scramble to find loved ones they had been separated from.
Rowen scanned the room, his face growing with concern. Finally, he perked up, locking his gaze onto the entrance of one of the cells.
"There's Master Cline!"
Cline was propped against the wall, dragging himself out of the cell. His face was pale, his eyes dull. He slapped a hand against his forehead. A feeble groan slipped from his lips before he dropped to his knees.
Rowen was at his side in an instant. He gathered Cline into his arms, cradling his body into a sitting position. Cline's head lolled side to side like he lacked the energy to hold it up. His eyes were lazy slits as he stared up at Rowen.
"Are you alright?" Elize asked, kneeling beside him. She held her staff out, ready to heal if need be.
"Forgive me," Cline croaked. He let out a hiss of pain before continuing. We all gathered around, far enough from the edges of the crowd that we could breathe. "I-I dashed off again without heeding your warnings...a-and I shouldn't have."
"I am just glad that you're safe," said Rowen. His expression was more tender than I'd seen it. His body slumped, briefly free from the rigid posture he'd so carefully trained himself to keep.
Milla hung behind them, looking impatient. "Do you know if Nachtigal is still here?"
Cline sighed shakily. "I-I came here to demand answers about all of this, but his...personal g-guard took me captive."
"I see."
There was a long silence, filled only by the nervous chattering of the crowd. I stared around the room and fully took in the state of it for the first time. Machinery lined most of the walls, but vines were beginning to snake around some of the consoles. There was a small nook cut into one wall with some sort of control desk. A rack of weapons sat nestled in the corner, looking full and untouched.
In fact, the more I looked around, the more abandoned weapons I noticed lying haphazardly on the floor and piled in crates. A sword here, a bow there. I frowned, bringing my lip between my teeth.
"Personal guard, huh? Are they still around?"
"Good point," said Alvin. He, too, was examining his surroundings. "Besides that one archer, we didn't really see anyone."
"The trip here is a treacherous one," said Rowen. "Many people wouldn't risk the journey. I would imagine few would go to the lengths to enter this cave that we did."
Cline nodded, wincing with pain. "I-I haven't seen anyone in a while."
"Ohhhh, I just hate, hate, hate this place," Teepo burst out, twisting in Elize's arms. "Let's skedaddle!"
A low rumble sounded through the room. Or at least, I think it did. I silently hoped that I'd imagined it.
"The spud's right," Alvin said in a low voice. "I'm getting bad vibes here."
"We need to get these people to safety," Jude began to say, but he was cut off by another rumble and then a shrill hum emitting from the cocoon above us. A white glow was shining brighter and brighter before shooting off as waves of light in every direction. The room shook.
"Everyone take cover!" Milla demanded of the prisoners. The crowd dispersed as people dove for any available hiding space - even if it meant throwing themselves back in their cells.
The light began seeping from the bottom of the cocoon. It solidified and grew, warping and changing until the very real shape of an enormous butterfly unfolded its wings. The action tore the remainder of the cocoon to shreds. As the light faded to a dim shine, the features of the butterfly came into clearer focus. Its thorax and upper wings were blue and ethereal, while the lower wings shined every colour of the rainbow. Two mantis-like claws jutted from its head, a hooked tail swinging from the back of it.
My breath caught in my throat. It was beautiful. More beautiful than anything I'd ever seen in my life, but I knew that if it had come from that cocoon, in this place, then it wasn't a good thing. It was deadly.
Jude tensed, instinctively lifting his fists. "Oh, no. What's that?"
"We're about to find out," said Milla, drawing her sword.
A shriek pierced the air. The butterfly gave one powerful beat of its wings, and the resulting wind was like a punch to the chest. We were all sent flying. I hit the ground with a sickening thud and kept rolling until I slammed into the wall. Nausea clawed wildly at my throat but I shuddered and pushed it down.
"I sense a strong amount of spiritual energy emanating from it," I heard Rowen say somewhere to my left. He'd managed to land gracefully on his feet, still holding Cline's slight form.
"Was their main objective creating this thing?" That was Milla, looking like she'd never been knocked away in the first place. She held her sword towards the creature.
"Something's not right." Jude, a few feet away from me. He was struggling to pull himself up. He wiped blood from his chin. "I think - "
"You can analyze it after the battle!" Alvin fired off a shot from the other side of the room - despite being the biggest, he'd been thrown far. The bullet grazed the butterfly's tail. It shrieked, swinging the hook and knocking Alvin back off his feet.
"It's so pretty…" Elize murmured, though there was a tearful edge to her voice. She was the smallest, so it hadn't taken much to swat her to the side. "Do we have to fight it?"
"We have no choice!" Milla brought her sword up just as the butterfly swung a claw at her. It hooked around the blade and ripped it out of Milla's hand, throwing it across the room.
A spell circle formed beneath Rowen's feet. "Stay back. It will have trouble finding its mark if you stay out of range."
But with Milla's weapon gone and Jude without a weapon at all, that left them at a disadvantage. Me too, for that matter, if I was able to remember how to stand. It looked like Alvin and Rowen were going to be the only ones able to land any real hits on the thing. The ceiling rose high enough that the butterfly was easily able to fly out of range of our attacks.
I gritted my teeth. But we had to try. We were the only line of defense for those weak, sick prisoners. I used my sword as a crutch and pulled myself up. In the next moment I had it drawn and was rushing to cover Milla.
"Grab your weapon," I told her breathlessly.
"Why don't you stay with Cline? We'll handle the fight. Make sure he's safe from harm."
I tried not to let the comment sting. I didn't blame her for thinking so little of me. My fear was probably etched plainly on my face, and unlike Elize, I had no excuse. I was a coward. All the same, it was my instinct to feel defensive, so when I spoke next, it was probably harsher than it should have been, and with a touch of exasperation.
"Fuck, Milla, just grab your sword. There's no time for this."
She flinched, out of surprise more than anything, I think. I couldn't read her expression. She listened this time and took off in a sprint to where her sword had flown. The butterfly swung its claw towards her but I was there to block the brunt of the hit with my blade. All too late I realized I'd made the same mistake as Milla but I recovered just in time. I squeezed my blistered hands around the handle, so tightly that I let out a cry of pain. I was able to slide the blade free and knick the claw before running out of range.
It was enough. Milla had grabbed her sword again and, from what I could tell, had linked with Alvin across the room. She landed her strikes in perfect rhythm with his, and he punctuated each land of her sword with the fire from his gun.
Rowen's spells, so useful on the journey here, were bouncing harmlessly off the butterfly's wings. His brow furrowed, each failed spell adding to his frustration.
With the creature distracted, I fell back to stand with Rowen.
"How do we beat this thing? Nothing seems to be hurting it."
"We have no choice but to keep up the assault," he told me, though he didn't seem confident in his own words. Either way, he gave me an encouraging look, and I felt the sudden rush and clarity associated with linking. Our rings glinted in unison. "Go. I will have your back."
I was still afraid, but as always, being linked gave me new found confidence - especially with someone as strong as Rowen. Before I could change my mind, I rushed back into the fray, only to be assaulted by a sudden volley of wind blades the creature had summoned towards me. I threw my hands in the air for cover but a faint barrier had sprung to life, encompassing my whole body. The blades slowed, like they were cutting through jelly, and they still bit into my skin, but they vanished by the time they got close enough to do any real damage.
"Rowen…" I said, glancing over my shoulder in amazement. "That was - "
"Keep your guard up!" he commanded. "Behind you! Dodge left!"
My body lurched to meet his order. Shit, did he mean turn and dodge? His left or mine? I ended up diving forward instead. I narrowly avoided the pronged stab of the butterfly's tail. I swung, missed, swung again - it was too fast, too nimble in the air for a short amateur like me to hit.
The sound of Alvin firing bullets was a constant. I always caught myself feeling amazed he didn't run out of bullets before remembering it wasn't a normal gun - something to do with spirit artes or something. It wasn't a full explanation I'd ever gotten. Either way, he was firing shots like crazy at the thing, trying to pierce the wings. His shots never met their mark, but the few hits he and Milla were landing on its body seemed to be slowing it down, if only a little bit.
It seemed to be going well, for a moment. Then, the butterfly reared back and gave three bats of its wings. A thick, purple cloud erupted in the air, settling over every surface in the room before vanishing. It filled my nostrils. My lungs burned. A searing pain erupted in my chest and I started coughing, choking. I could hardly breathe. The strength left my body and I collapsed.
I wasn't the only one. One by one, I watched my teammates fall to the effects of...of what? Poison? The cloud had disappeared but the room still felt unbearably dense, like the air had turned to sludge.
The only one who seemed unaffected was Elize. She'd quickly casted a recovery spell on herself and was looking fine, aside from the terror and worry in her eyes. Jude was nearest to her, collapsed on his hands and knees and fighting for breath. She moved to rush to him but the butterfly swung its tail, blocking her path.
"E-Everyone…" she whimpered. "I want to help! I can heal you!"
But the butterfly continued to swing its tail. Alvin groaned from across the room, his breath rasping in his throat. He raised his gun in an effort to defend Elize but the butterfly swung again and knocked his gun away. Even Milla was struggling, fighting through the pain to keep attacking, but each strike was sluggish and the butterfly was easily able to outmaneuver her.
Shit. Everything was going blurry. Some deep, panicked part of me remembered what I'd learned and knew that we were poisoned. Elize could reach us all with her magic but the butterfly wasn't giving her a moment's rest. Jude had healing items in his bag - maybe Rowen too, for all I knew, but we were too scattered. It had to be Elize, but I watched now and saw she was cornered, fear rooting her in place.
Stars danced on the edge of my vision. I squeezed my eyes shut, shook my head. There had to be something I could do. I wasn't going to lay down and die here. I couldn't. The panic climbed in my chest and I felt what little breath I could draw get stuck in my lungs. I stared wildly around. Something.
Anything.
There.
So close I could almost reach out and touch the floor - a crate of abandoned weapons. I could make out the rusted tips of swords poking from the cracks in the wood. Laying across the top was a brittle-looking bow, and two arrows lay strewn across the floor beside it.
It was our only chance. I began dragging myself across the floor. Each breath I drew was like a dagger piercing my lungs but I kept forward, refusing to stop until finally my hand caught hold of the splintered wood of the crate. I used the grip to drag myself further. Oh god, I was going to be sick.
The bow was long, made from dark wood and thick string. I grabbed it in one hand and an arrow in the other. There was a small, brass nocking point. I wracked my brain for everything I had learned in the collective three days I'd practiced archery at summer camp when I was twelve but everything was growing hazy. I fumbled with readying the arrow.
Okay, the point rests here...where do my fingers go? This arrow is broken, there's no nock, or feathers...what are the feathers called?
After agonizing moments of struggling, I felt ready. I lifted the bow, resting the arrow against the nocking point to keep it steady. My fingers curled around the string, definitely not in the right spots, but I had no time for etiquette. I aimed, and the arrow immediately strayed away from the point and I nearly dropped it.
"Come on."
Finally, I was able to hold it steady. I pulled back on the string - it was a lot tighter than I was expecting. My weakened muscles screamed with the effort. I kept pulling, fighting through the pain until I felt unable to pull back any further. I adjusted my aim, and…
My arm gave out. The arrow fell short, landing on the ground with a dull clatter and nowhere near the butterfly.
"Shit." Tears started streaming from my eyes, red hot with pain and fear and anger. I had one arrow left. If I didn't do something, then everyone I'd met in this world was going to die. I had to do something.
It was then that I remembered the single apple gel stowed away in my bag. With numb fingers I searched through the front pocket until I found it and immediately unscrewed the cap, downed the contents. The relief was instant - the painful haze never left my bloodstream, but I felt able to think clearly again, and some strength seeped back into my muscles. I knew it wasn't going to last.
One shot.
I didn't give myself time to hesitate this time. I grabbed the last arrow and aimed, pulling back, pulling, pulling…
Thwish!
Amazingly, the arrow stayed true. It shot forward and met its mark, piercing through the lower rainbow of the butterfly's left wing. The tip ripped through the gossamer surface and tore a giant hole, quick and easy like scissors through paper.
There was the opening. The butterfly screeched, its balance wildly and hopelessly shifted. It spiraled through the air, aggressively beating its remaining good wing to make up for the damage to the other. Elize pushed herself forward, her face knit in determination.
"Recover!"
A soothing light flooded the room. Crisp, beautiful air rushed into my lungs and I started gasping mouthfuls of it down. The bow fell from my hands as my fingers clawed at my throat, as if that could help speed the process of the life returning to me. One by one, I watched the poison fade from my companions, pained expressions softening in relief. A stupid grin split my face.
I did it.
My victory was short-lived. As the butterfly made its final collapse, its tail flicked towards me and the prongs sliced cleanly through my leg. I buckled, crying out from the pain. An immediate river of blood seeped through my tights.
Milla had sprung back to her feet in seconds. She lunged at the butterfly, readying her sword for a finishing blow. Her cry died in her throat when Jude flung himself in front of her.
"Hold up!"
"What do you think you're doing?" she growled at him.
"Wait," he said again, his tone gentle. "Can't you feel that?"
The butterfly's limp body began to float into the air, shining brilliantly. Flecks of light drifted from the surface into the air, illuminating the room.
"They're lesser spirits," Jude breathed.
"How wonderful…" Rowen gazed at the sight, slack jawed. His sheathed his rapier and let his hands hang at his sides.
"Wowie kazowie!" Teepo exclaimed.
Even I was momentarily distracted from my pain. I clutched my leg, watching as the mass dissipated into hundreds of tiny spirits that floated up to the ceiling and out into the night sky. With no further source of light besides a few dim lumen lamps, the room became shrouded in darkness.
There was only silence as everyone processed what they'd seen. The pain roared to life in my leg and I let out a strangled cry.
"Ah, shit," said Alvin when he realized the situation. He and Elize rushed over to me, Alvin looping his arms under my armpits to prop me up. "I didn't realize the damn thing had knicked you."
"It's more than a knick." My shoulders heaved in a tremor. I'd gotten used to seeing my own blood since coming here, but it still made me queasy, especially a deep cut like this.
"S-Sit still," said Elize, holding her staff over my thigh. The spell circle lit up the room. The healing light sank into my leg and I felt the unnerving sensation of flesh pulling itself back together. "Does that feel better?"
"A little." I nodded and gave her a grateful look. I felt dizzy - drunk, almost. "You're...you're pretty amazing Elize, you know that? So cool."
"Okay," Alvin said derisively. He stood, hauling me to my feet but keeping his arm tucked across my back to support my weight. "I think the blood loss made her a little loopy. We should get back."
"Agreed," said Rowen. He was helping Cline to his feet. All around the room, the prisoners were emerging from their hiding places. Many of them looked more shaken than before, but at the very least the poison hadn't reached them. "These people had intolerable amounts of mana extracted from them."
"Mhm," I mumbled. I rested my head against Alvin's chest. The room spun. "Can we go to bed when we get back?"
Alvin cleared his throat, choking back a laugh. "Y'know, I'm gonna let that one slide."
"How considerate," said Jude, rolling his eyes. He started to make his way across the room but Milla's words stopped him.
"Jude...thank you."
"Huh?"
"I forgot myself," she said. Her eyes lingered on the dark, empty space where the spirits had once floated. When she turned fully to him, it was with a grateful look of admiration. "I nearly destroyed those lesser spirits."
Even in the darkness, Jude's blush was apparent. "Oh, I...well…"
But Milla spared him any further embarrassment and started for the mouth of the cave. I knew from experience that we were expected to follow. I frowned, staring after her.
"I gotta apologize to her. I was kind of a bitch."
Alvin let out a booming laugh. A few people in the crowd shot him dirty looks.
"Do you really think Milla's apologized for every harsh comment she's made to one of us in a time of crisis?"
I didn't answer. He wasn't wrong, but my sharp comment sat weighted in my gut, and everything hurt, and all I wanted was to flop onto a huge bed and sleep for three days. With Alvin supporting me and Rowen supporting Cline, we began our long trek back to Sharilton.
"Do you think they can use that facility anymore?" Jude questioned as we made our way back through the Culmar Trail. Our group filled the narrow pathways, but thankfully the sheer size deterred most monsters. Milla and Jude were able to fight off the few that dared attack us. Navigating the rocky path was difficult, though, especially since I was quickly losing strength in my legs. I wouldn't have been able to make it if not for Alvin's help.
"After we destroyed the core, it didn't appear to be operational anymore," said Milla.
"Those devices looked a lot like the ones we saw in the Laforte Research Center."
Milla nodded. "Yes. They absorb mana and transfer it elsewhere. Definitely a similar design. They must have been trying to create something by mixing human mana with lesser spirits."
"Like that butterfly atrocity," Rowen gravely remarked.
"No. I suspect that was the side effect of a failed creation. Most likely, the lesser spirits they were using went out of control when we intervened."
Rowen paused to shift Cline's weight. "It's frightful to think that such a powerful monster could be an accidental result of a failed experiment."
My mind instantly jumped to Blair. A monster resulting from a failed experiment with mana and spirits - wasn't that exactly what had happened to her? People playing God with something they had no right to mess with and ruining the existence of something innocent. My throat constricted. Was Elias behind this too? Or was it just typical of Nachtigal and his followers?
"Wow…"
Elize's sudden dreamy tone broke me out of my misery.
"Elize? What's up?"
"I just can't believe we all jumped from such a great height!"
"We could have died!" Teepo added dramatically.
"That's very true," said Rowen, as a chuckle rippled through the group.
"Hey, you're the one who suggested we all ride down here on your channelling circle," Alvin pointed out. He sounded slightly stressed. "I mean, you knew it was going to be okay, right?"
"I wouldn't say 'knew', exactly. I do recall having some concerns about the weight."
"So, you staked our lives on a hunch?" Alvin's bewildered sigh blew my hair from my face.
"Suddenly I'm more scared now then I was then," said Jude.
"What's the problem?" asked Milla calmly. "It did work, didn't it?"
"Indeed it did," said Rowen.
"These two scare me more than all that machinery did," Alvin muttered.
Elize walked, thoughtful and quiet, during the exchange. Eventually, she gave Rowen a shy look and said, "Rowen, thank you for taking my hand when we jumped."
He gave her a warm smile. "You needn't thank me at all. I merely did what I'd do for any of my friends."
"That's right," she said, her face lighting up with a pink glow. "We're friends."
"Yay!" Teepo cheered. "I never thought we'd make friends with someone much older!"
The two of them chattered happily to each other, skipping off ahead. I stifled a yawn and watched them go. The mood had already lifted considerably in the group, but their excited laughter was raising it even further.
"You're very good with children," Alvin observed.
"No, not at all. I just know how to treat a lady." He dropped a subtle wink in my direction. I started giggling.
Alvin eyed the exchange with a smirk. "And such a charmer as well."
"I do get that a lot."
"I bet you do."
"He's better at it than you are," I mumbled, earning a light pinch on my shoulder from Alvin.
"You don't know what you're talking about kid. You should stay quiet, save your strength."
"He's...always been that way," Cline spoke up. He'd been staying silent for most of the walk, barely having the strength to put one foot in front of the other. Clearly he couldn't resist poking fun at Rowen.
"Both of you, hush now," said Rowen. "We should be reaching town soon." As if on cue, we rounded a corner and one of Sharilton's windmills came into view. There was renewed energy in the crowd - finally, everyone was home.
When we reached the central plaza in front of the Sharils' manor, I was surprised to find Driselle standing in the middle, holding a lumen lantern and flanked on either side by one of Cline's personal guards. Her mouth fell open when she saw Cline and she ran to him, helping him away from Rowen's grip. Her hands cradled his face.
"Cline. Oh, look at you…"
"D-Don't worry about me," he said, leaning into his sister. "Someone get these people to a hospital."
One of the guards stepped forward and gave a brisk bow. "Yes sir!"
"You all must be exhausted," said Driselle - she looked tired herself, with dark circles beginning to form under her eyes. It was late. Worry had likely kept her awake. "Please, come inside. Get some sleep, and we can discuss things tomorrow." She motioned towards Rowen, and then to Alvin and I. "Send for a doctor for our own as well."
Rowen bowed. "Yes, Lady Driselle."
My leg spasmed in response and I dropped, nearly bringing Alvin down with me. He caught me at the last second, grunting in surprise. I glanced down and gagged - the wound had reopened, fresh blood mixing with the old stains on my tights.
"Oh God," I whimpered. My vision blurred, and the last thing I remember before passing out was Alvin scooping me off the ground and starting towards the manor. Then, darkness.
It took longer than I wanted for this chapter but it's a long boy, and that's after cutting myself off. I'm pleasantly surprised with the result, though! I've been planning the scene with the bow for a long while. Shoutout to AllSpark Princess for the suggestion. It's going to keep working itself into the story so stay tuned for that.
It's very late where I am and I'm tired so I don't have much to say! It will hopefully be a quicker update. Thanks for reading!