Felinis: Can you tell when I have no idea what i'm doing?

The ship parked on the rough shore of the Mantaic coastline. The heroes descend into the crashing salt waves. From here the real challenge begins. Estelle admits that she's a bit terrified of what awaits her. Who's to say that Judith will be willing to reason with them? Judith could easily decide that killing them was just an easy option. Something could go awry in their journey through the desert.

Strong!

Estelle needs to be strong. At some point, it becomes too hot for her to bear and she ditches her white over-dress in hopes that losing a layer will help. It does for a time as the hot sun bears down on them.

"Just a thought," Raven says as he leads the charge, "But ya think that Pharaoh guy will try to kill us?"

Well, there's a grim thought. "I'll fight him… if I have to. We need to save Yuri."

The old man has been somber since they arrived and Estelle is certain it doesn't have to do with the Don. His steps are more precise than Estelle is used to and there's a solemn look as the days pass and the mountain range becomes ever pressing in their vision.

"Raven…"

"Yes, darlin?"

"I… if something is wrong it's okay to talk with me about it."

Raven smiles and Estelle sees his hand fiddling with something in his pocket. "I'm fit as a as can be! Just thinking about some old memories."

"What kind?"

"Beautiful ladies that used to hang off my arms!" It's a lie. Such an obvious lie, but Estelle plays along all the same. Still, she wonders what haunts the man. She asks what's in his pocket and Raven boast about an old and well-tarnished conquest. "This here was my greatest conquest. Most stubborn girl I ever knew and my charms had her on me a week. Ah, she was a real beauty and a noble lady."

Rita snatched it from his hand. "This looks like something you'd steal from a garbage bin." She bites her teeth on. "It's not even real gold. Why carry that around?"

Raven yanks the locket from Rita and stuffs it away. "It's something we humans like ta call sentimentality. Ya should learn it some time." It must really mean something to him.

"You ever been in this area Patty?" Karol asks as she notes the way her eyes scan the landscape.

"Not that I know of." Patty pulls her binoculars up and looks out. "Either way this whole area is barren. Best we make camp before storming the peak tomorrow."

Rita gawks. "Camp? It's not even sunset!"

"Which is why we should get ready now? No need to rush!"

"We have every reason to rush!" Yes, they should hurry. Every moment wasted is another moment that Yuri is trouble. That people are in trouble. Patty tsks and waves a finger ignoring Rita's screams. "We need to push ourselves as far as possible today."

They should rush. Why waste time on sleep? If they kept pushing through, then they could traverse the mountain sooner. It made sense to Estelle, but Patty shakes her head.

"Ya want to rush up a mountain tomorrow exhausted from pushing your body across a desert? Sounds like a stupid idea to me. We don't know what's up that mountain. Could be buried treasure could be a giant monster. Then there's Judith ta think about. Be a shame if ya couldn't protect Estelle because ya were tired."

Karol puts his say with Patty and so does Raven. Even Repede seems against traveling any farther. They make camp on solid ground instead of sand for once which is nice. Estelle has had enough sand to last her a lifetime. She can't quite understand how everyone seems to have fallen into a somber relaxation. Everyone except Rita.

When the evening stars finally show themselves Estelle pulls the mage aside for some privacy. "What did you want?"

"I don't think I could sleep even if I wanted to."

"Me neither."

Estelle grabs Rita's hand. She's found comfort in holding Rita these past few weeks. "Rita…"

The mage sighs and smacks Estelle lightly on the head. "Stop thinking so loud." But, Estelle can't help it. She's so worried about tomorrow and Yuri. What if they can't get Judith's help? What if- Something soft presses on her forehead. Rita glares down at her, the mage's body draped over Estelle. "I told you to stop thinking so loud."

"Sorry."

"This is all going to work out some way or another." Rita's left hands grips tightly around Estelle's. "I'm not going to let you get hurt. Once we get that idiot back I won't let him get hurt either." The grip tightens. "And I won't let anyone get hurt if I can help it! So stop worrying!"

Estelle felt the heaviness leave her for a bit as if Rita was carrying them away. "We'll deal with tomorrow when it comes. For now… I hate to say it but the shrimp is right. We need to rest."

She thanked the mage and then she thanked her again. The ground was hard and unpleasant to lay on as they sat back to look at the stars. Estelle wasn't up for sleeping just yet so she let her eyes wander to Rita. Rita probably understands Estelle's pain the most. To feel useless and like a part of a problem.

Poisons. They're poisons in their own way. Rita having helped to hurt hundreds and Estelle's power literally killing a race. Poisons that hurt people and cause destruction wherever they go.

Flynn had developed a habit of sleeping with a knife tucked into the bedside when his mother died. Shortly after the funeral, someone had broken into the house and while Yuri had torn the man to shreds the idea of a person being able to hurt him while he was unarmed stuck. So for his and Yuri's sake there had always been a very large steak-knife nestled in the crook of the bed along with there money. These days he slept with an actual dagger under his pillow because more often then not his paranoia was confirmed as valid.

It was amazing how many low-grade assassins or thieves snuck into various windows and expected to be fine.

Flynn liked to think that paranoia kept him sharp at times like this. Flynn had been asked once during his initial training if he'd like to be a spy because he had the mettle for the job. He was cunning and charming with a good sense of caution. Sadly, it seems he let himself falter because of his emotions which, in his faulty opinion, was Yuri's shtick. The best way to describe how he felt was like an idiot who left the dagger on the dresser instead of the bed on the night of a break-in.

His feet padded along the ground as he slunk through the area where the Krytians in the late stages of the disease. Was it even a disease? Cages filled with gruesome creatures stared back as he made his way through. It's unsettling to watch them tilt their heads.

Can any of these things even be called people?

The ones that bothered him the most were the ones that looked like their bodies had simply melted away or broken off like crystals before finishing their disturbed metamorphosis. Those ones were so sad so destroyed and often with others like they were rejects.

Failed products.

"We think that this new method will work."

"Oh?"

"It'll slow the process down enough to keep the subject alive and stall any major changes."

"Excellent."

"But, we're still not certain on long-term use. It could be rendered ineffective like the last batch. But, we had a thought that seemed important to run by you."

Flynn held his breath and pressed tight against the wall.

"What is it? I don't have all day."

"Let's cut the antennas. It doesn't matter if the subject lives if we have enough of the original material we can surely make a synthetic model in time."

"That is a last resort. While the manufacturing process has improved we're still years away from a purely synthetic replica. That is why we require more materials. Stabilizing the subject is a top priority for your team."

Flynn heard something click and the hiss of steam.

"Yes, your Excellency."

"it is a shame though. I had hoped we'd have enough power by this point, but there's nothing wrong with following the original plan."

"There simply aren't enough materials to make a proper apatheia."

Apatheia?

"But, there has been good news on that front! When we condensed multiple subjects at once the structure conducted far better. Fewer crystals but higher power concentration. Even if the result were a bit messy."

"Really?"

"Turns out if you put multiple subjects in the pressure chamber they'll explode long before they crystalize. It's unpleasant to clean and I'm worried it wastes pieces."

"You are collecting the waste?"

"Yes. By the way that Khroma fellow-"

"What about her?"

"What do you plan to do with her?"

A revolting silence falls as Flynn hears something collide hard against the ground. It sounds like a head.

"She's no longer providing useful information or resources. We'll properly deal with her soon." A door opens and he hears two people exit.

In all his years Raven never thought he'd be back on this hell-scape of a mountain. Fate seemed cruel in that way. If he thinks back to another life, a dead life, he can still see the greenery and town. He can almost feel the cobblestone path that ran all the way to the village. Almost smell the food and hear the sound of mountain livestock. Then he can hear the explosions and the screams. The people shouting in pain. The soldier just barely alive on the field crying as they hold onto their severed limbs or punctured chests. Burnt flesh singing in his nose.

Mostly, he hears Casey dying.

All because an Entelexeia burned a lab to the ground so he could run off with a woman. Raven's fingers lace around two mementos that he can never bring himself to throw away.

"Starting today I'm your senior officer! So better listen to what I say."

"Geez, this town's pathetic. Why'd I have to get stuck in a shithole like this?" He'd thought she hadn't heard him but the woman had sharp ears.

A nice smile that crinkled her nose and twinkling sterling eyes that were too almond shaped to be cute. Almost unsettling in a way despite her warmth. Hair that was a dull wheat color that always seemed to frizz even when pleated to her head. Skin that had tanned from time in the desert and running through the mountain. In those days there were a few towns along the base of the mountain near small oases. The desert wasn't as wide as it was. There was grass, actual grass, at one point under his feet. One's without barriers that Knights protected; Hanna had loved those the best. "I like this backwater shithole myself. It's nice and the people are sweet. Just wait till you meet the scientist running the labs."

Raven listened as the group mentioned Judith and Hunting Blades. Bloodlust scented the air and he took the lead. No need for the kids to get hurt if it could be helped. Not real gold! Of course, it's not real gold! The locket was ornamental and that was it. Not like that monster ever had a gald to his name.

"Raven, you were in the war? I thought only imperial knight fought in that." Karol says and there's curiosity mixed with admiration in there.

"I'll tell ya about it someday. It's not as grand as yer hoping." If anything, it was still a nightmare he had to live with. They see traces of the Hunting Blades as they go onward and the edges of the fallen town creep up like weeds.

A hand grabbed Flynn's mouth as he turned the corner. A dark-skinned Krytian woman shushed him. Flynn stays still as the woman looks him over.

"You're friends with Yuri?"

"Yes."

"Help me and I'll help you." He takes her hand as she guides him down a hall. Apparently, a mutual deal had turned sour for this woman with the commandant. "I thought helping them to create a new form of blastia cores might push humanity forward, but they were so fixated on the power source. By the time I realized what was happening there wasn't much I could do." The Krytian clenched her fists. "I hoped they might be able to fix your friend. I was foolish to not foresee this."

Greed is not something easily spotted despite how inevitable it is. It's too easy to have faith that people will know better and Flynn understands that immensely. From how the Krytian is clenching her teeth he assumes she did too.

"I need an escape route and Yuri's location."

"That's easy enough to procure."

Judith stood in the center of a good five Hunting Blade members. Blood slipped from her lance as the foes all lay dead. She pilfers the pockets quickly for supplies that she can use. Gels, rations, anything! Her body turns rigged as she hears more people approach.

"Judith!"

It's the poison herself. She looks better than Judith at the moment which brings the Krytian shame. She hasn't had time to do more than quick rinses and retie her hair. She has to have grime on her and a tiredness that never suited Judith's face.

"Are you hurt?"

Judith points the lance straight for Estelle's neck. "I told you before, I will kill you."

The mage stands at the ready to do the same. Judith can respect Rita's care and protectiveness of Estelle. She'd do the same for Ba'ul in an instance. It's Karol who takes center stage as he walks in front of her. His head bows.

"Judith, I'm sorry for everything that's happened. I'm sorry you didn't feel safe to trust us with your secret, but we need help."

It was never about trust. Judith had just thought not explaining the matter was simpler. That letting them search for answers would give her time to judge their mettle. "This about Yuri isn't it?"

"More than that! Judith, your people are in danger."

She beckons them along through the old broken town; past the broken cobblestone and the crumbling bridge. The caution in the air is palatable and she neither blames them nor cares. Judith does understand that this group believes they need her. They wouldn't have spent so much energy chasing after her otherwise. She doesn't let them near Ba'ul. They're close enough for her to run to the Entelexeia's rescue if need and that's all that matters.

They tell her of experiments and theories they have. Of brewing war and her people being tortured and turned into batteries. Bile sits in her mouth and the scar on her stomach throbs.

"I don't need to work with you. I could just as easily attempt this with me and Ba'ul. Why would I follow you when your power could very easily kill my friend?"

Estelle's body twists and in a speed Judith hadn't known Estelle pulls the spear towards her chest. "Judith, I understand that I'm a poison. But, poisons can be medicines too! I want to help any way I can…. So… If you help us fix this… if you stand by us for now… I will let you kill me."

A gasp echoes from the group.

"Estelle what are you saying!" Rita is desperately pulling at Estelle to take her to safety.

"Of course, you can always change your mind on that. For the most part, I'm offering for a free wish." What was stopping Judith from killing the poison right here along with the others? "You need us. Sure, you can probably bust Yuri out with some effort, but taking down the empire is something beyond you. Beyond any of us on our own. Let us help you to help ourselves."

Judith pulled away her weapon a vicious grin on her lips. "The enemy of my enemy is my friend, huh? I can live with that, Poison." Estelle's triumphant face boils her blood. Offering her life for the greater good? It was too much of something a Martyr would do to escape responsibility. Judith will admit the chutzpah to make such a statement was admirable, but it unsettled her. Did Estelle really think her life was something she could easily wager?

If so she's a fool and if not she's a bigger fool than Judith pegged her for. When the time came would she back down? That was the real question here.

It then came time for her to answer questions. So she told them of a scientist named Hermes and his blastia. Of his experiments. Of a war that sparked between two races. Of an old rumor she'd heard that it was because an Entelexeia destroyed the lab out of spite. The thermometer in her pocket from long ago burns Judith's thigh. She'd barely been four when the town was brought under attack. Barely remembered a father who'd loved her immensely.

She still recalled the fires and the explosions. The people huddled in building scared of death. She remembered worst pieces of that time. It was funny… Temza wasn't the first place they burnt to the ground. Instead, it was Hypionia and Yurzorea that were trampled for their large colonies. Once everyone heard that Myorzo had ascended to leave the ground it became clear they'd been left to die.

Some fled the city while others stayed because it was their home. Because where else would they go? Palestralle became a refuge for many while Judith remained with others on that doomed mountain. So many died just because of blastia and now many more were dying for the same reason.

This had to be stopped!

"When Ba'ul is ready we'll leave. I can track Yuri well enough to get an idea where he is." A plan was set in motion, gears were turning.

Then the Hunting Blades attacked.

It's an easy enough plan… crazy enough too. Flynn can't help but think how much he'll be betraying his brigade and what he's worked for up until this point. He thinks of Yuri and how his best friend is dying, suffering, while he's being uncertain.

No.

Focus!

What's important is saving Yuri! The putting a stop to these inhumane experiments. He'd been promised an escape route to a secure location wherever that was. At this point trusting Khroma is all Flynn can do. The armor he slips into is not his own and he fidgets inside the helmet. Really the helmets on imperial armor were more a decorative formality. Sure, anyone could wear them, but they only came into use when one had to look official. Though some still chose to adorn the cumbersome things. Flynn stands ready for the shift and slips in unnoticed for now. It won't be long till they realize it's not the actual knight on duty. His feet hurry down the hall turning through the maze to find where Yuri is apparently being held.

Yuri woke to a light knocking as a helmeted figure tapped at the floor. His eyes lazily drifted over the figure and the smell that lingered from him. He doesn't acknowledge the knight, but he tilts his head up from his curled position to clean his paws. His feather tail flicks across the floor as stretches slowly.

"Bout fucking time!"

"SHHHH!"

It's a little late for subtly in Yuri's opinion. He's groggy as hell but functioning. If needed he could even fight. A little voice in the back of his head says he should yell at Flynn for taking his time. Later, when they're safe he will.

Flynn's hands open the remote for the gate and he's typing away. Trying to guess the password? Yuri's curious to see if this will actually work when Flynn says, "Fuck it." Electricity rumbles in the air and Yuri scoots against the wall to duck and cover or at least some form of it. Oh shit. Yuri sees that chaotic glint in Flynn's eyes and swallows.

Oh shit!

"Radiant Dragon Fang!"

Yuri felt the cage shake with the impact of the explosion. Smoke closes the room as he hacked away. Whatever remained of the cage was merely structural as the barrier had been blown clean apart.

"Little warning next time!"

Flynn tossed off his helmet with a grin. "Got the job done didn't it."

"Please tell me you have a plan." Yuri groans.

"Pft. Who do you take me for?"

Yuri has so many things he wants to say to that. Chief being: the idiot who got him in this mess in the first place. Followed shortly by 'you and that alone is enough to worry me'. "Let me guess you don't really have a plan."

"I have a plan!" A plan that involved sneaking into rescue him and saying, 'fuck it' to any and all subterfuge. Not a very assuring plan. "Now come on! Hurry!" Yuri grasps Flynn's hand and runs behind as he leads the way.

Flynn's too slow!

He yells for Flynn to tell him where to go and turns the corner ahead of him. An alarm is blaring alerting any and all knights of Yuri's escape. "If we keep going like this we're going to just run into the knights. No offense Flynn, but this a fucking dumb plan."

"We'll be fine!"

"I don't have a weapon! Or fucking clothes!" Yuri's feet skid on the ground almost knocking him to the wall. His balance is still off with these tails. Shit! Shit!

"They won't risk letting knights who aren't aware of the lower labs in this area. It would pose too many questions that I doubt they're quick to answer. It'll buy us enough time to get to a ventilation shaft that leads towards the cooling chambers. You can swim still? Good. After that, I have an associate who says she can get us to a place we lie low at. Oh yeah, you'll want this." Flynn tosses him the band of his bodhi blastia.

When does traveling through the vents ever actually work in escape scenarios? This is nuts! Flynn can't be serious.

"Also, I'm sorry if I attempt to kill you over the next hour. It's because-"

He shoves Flynn forward as the knight does his best to toss away any armor he can. "Yeah, yeah I get it! Escape now- emotions and shit later. Loved you and all that family shit." He looks at the vent in front of him and grabs Flynn's sword. "This vent?" Flynn nods and hurries to drop the heaviest pieces that will sink him down in the water. Yuri makes quick work of the vent and heads in with Flynn following after.

"Not gonna lie, I was kinda expecting something more…"

"Subtle?"

"I was going to say grounded in reality."

"Meaning?"

"That I really am doubting that this is gonna work."

"Have some faith in me!"

Again, does Flynn really want him to answer? Because his response is still "You got me into this shit!" and he knows Flynn is just gonna play dumb at some point.

"Working on that front, Flynn. Working on it." Yuri can barely squeeze his body through. How did Flynn expect this to work? Yuri hears soft chanting behind him and suddenly he realizes that 'fuck it' translates to 'everything now go boom'. Son of a bitch.

The explosion is compressed and shrapnel hits Yuri skin enough to leave a considerable number of wounds. It's then Yuri also realizes that what Flynn meant by shaft that leads towards the cooling chamber he meant directly above the wastewater.

Either Flynn lost or he lost it.

They were on top the tank and any knights in the room were turning to them. Crossbows were loaded as Flynn smiled holding the blade to Yuri's throat.

"Hold your fire!" Flynn yelled. "This is a valuable research experiment." Laughter bubbled from the blonde's chest. "And I will happily kill him and myself before surrendering. Hehe, I'd rather die before I saw Yuri suffer another day in one of your cages."

Oh dear.

"I love this man! None of you are ever touching him again! I am the muffin man"

Well, let's see where this takes them. The knights in the room all looked between each other. Confused and likely afraid of the crazy man who just exploded out the ventilation. Then one of the crossbowmen fired and Yuri took that as a cue to haul ass.

Sorry, Flynn! He flipped his friend over disarming his blade and taking the moment to cast an arte on the tank shattering the top.

The water was boiling, and Yuri was certain if he stayed their much longer both him and Flynn would be burned to death in the heat. Isn't the wastewater supposed to be on the cooler shit? Flynn guided him towards the openings that released water. He heard the cracking of the tank as knights who and engineers put their efforts into getting them out.

Literal sink or swim time right now! Flynn took back his blade as a magic circle lit under his feet. The water exploded them out in a torrent into the sea. At the height, they were at it felt barely softer than landing on concrete from a second story building. The only solace was that the torrent had actually smoothed the fall.

"What the fuck was that?"

Flynn bobbed to the surface coughing water. "It distracted them, didn't it? I thought I played an unhinged maniac pretty good there."

"Muffin man? What was that?"

"Okay, I'm going to admit I panicked near the end. I know what I did. No need to bash me for it."

Yuri huffed struggling to afloat. "Don't do that again. Any of this! Ever…! What now genius?" They were struggling to swim in current created by the Heracles.

"Now we wait for our ride."

"Exploding the vent? Really!? Did you ever stop to consider that was a bad idea?"

"Duh, but what else was I supposed to do?"

"Find a reasonable way out!"

"Reason went out the window with the first explosion."

Yuri might strangle this idiot before chewing his ass off for what he'd done. "You didn't have a plan!"

"I did!" Flynn turns bashfully. "It just wasn't very well thought out."

"I'm going to drown and it's all your fault."

They kept side swimming out of the Heracles path. Whoever this was needed to hurry the fuck up! It wouldn't be long before they sent crew after them.

"Need a lift?" The Krytian woman from Heliord hanged in front of them from the edge of the ship. Well… this was all turning out very interesting.

Felinis:

Buy me a ko-fi maybe?
ko - fi felinisfeloney

If you like maybe support my patron or not. Up to you
Pat re on. com felinis