Chapter 13: The High Priestess
Limbo.
A forest that mirrored the human experience. With its numerous different paths swathed in shadows and tangled vines. Trees that felt exceptionally close awakened a claustrophobic dread. Trails of mud and rocks sometimes gave way to sinkholes or the traps of a (hopefully) playful spirit. And the cold. The frosty veil that felt biting even after hours of walking and fighting.
Where was the light that was supposed to filter through the thick canopy?
The undisturbed passages that offered a much-needed respite?
Even the earthy aroma refused to surface and offer a healing breath to their starving lungs.
This was hell. This was what humans called hell.
Rainy's fingers dug into the damp mud as another coughing fit assaulted her chest. She breathed in sharply and strained her body until it stopped.
Gore splattered her hair as Nanami flung another curse against a nearby tree. The trunk split and hit the ground with a resounding thud.
"Blood?"
Rainy reached behind her and grabbed onto his leg. "Not mine."
"Please stop healing me."
But his leg didn't move. His body's need for the energy overruled his mind's concerns about her lack of self-preservation. They both understood that he needed to stay in top shape for them to make it out alive.
Her weak grip loosened completely, and Rainy slumped against the tree behind her. She gathered her legs to her chest, hiding almost completely within the jacket he'd given her.
The scent of smoke approached.
Rainy shivered.
"I need more time."
Between healing and adding her energy to Nanami while upkeeping the nets around the world, the fae barely had enough resources to keep herself alive on a journey that still had a long way to go. Special-grade monsters roamed about. One of the fire curses had demolished many of their adversaries, but now they were in its path.
Nanami sat next to her. He took a deep breath and enjoyed feeling whole for a moment.
"How much longer?"
Rainy spit out blood on her side. She thought a tooth had gone along, but she couldn't be sure. Her mouth felt somewhat numb. "I don't know. I can feel where we're going, but I don't know how long it will take to get there."
They were quiet.
Painful shrieks and explosions rang nearby. A surge of curses approached.
Nanami breathed out. "We can't keep doing this."
Rainy dusted some dirt from her knees. Her legs hurt badly, but they had a minute at most before facing the next wave of enemies. "Please, just get me to the entrance, and Rubi can take it from there."
Maybe it was time she started sacrificing some limbs. In the end, it wouldn't matter. Tomorrow at this time, if she survived, her vessel would regenerate. But she couldn't do it without him.
Nanami was quiet.
Flames consumed the surrounding area.
Rainy waited, but he didn't stand.
The verdant enclosure around them blew into the wind in an ashy storm. A gust of heat engulfed them.
Her skin burned. Her mouth felt dry.
His name tickled her tongue.
"Nanami…"
He turned. In the brown of his eyes, she could see herself and the fire that approached.
"...What do we do? We can't just die here."
He sighed. "Go to the river. I have a friend that can help us."
"A friend?"
"He's trustworthy. We can get through Limbo with him. I promise."
The sorcerer stood up. He reached with both hands and pulled her up gently.
"Go."
She stood still. Nerves made her legs feel heavy. A friend?
"Well, there you are, handsome."
Rainy didn't remember this particular fire curse. She had a more defined human form with soft, feminine curves. Fire glowed through the cracks of her charred, stone-like skin, all the way to the two puffs of smoke that resembled hair.
"So good to see you again." She blew a smokey kiss his way.
The fae leaned against her companion's arm. She breathed out and allowed the little energy she had secured to flow through him.
She had nothing else to give. This friend of his would be their only chance.
Nanami retrieved the weapon from his back and gifted Rainy his most comforting smile. "I'll be fine. Go."
It was enough for the first step. "I'll be back."
[13]
At the entrance of Limbo, where the lake separated the mystic grounds from the rest of the world, Rainy found him. White-haired with fair skin, the man hugged his long legs to his chest as he leaned against the activated fairy jar.
The moonlight spilled through the naked tree branches, catching his enthusiastic smile as he waved. "Good to finally meet you!"
She looked around for guidance. Rainy felt the presence of the other energy sources, but he was the most overwhelming. Maybe that's why they were hiding?
The fae felt her heart tighten.
While Nanami's soul always felt comforting, this one felt… Dangerous…
"Nanami needs your help…" Even with the river standing perfectly soundless, her voice barely reached the short distance between them.
"Of course he does." The falling leaves danced around the man, not once actually touching him. "So, should we do this the easy way or the hard way?"
He lifted the lid.
He's trustworthy…
And while Rainy herself didn't trust him. She had to trust Nanami's words because if she didn't, she had stupidly walked to her death.
Nanami wouldn't do that.
He couldn't.
The fae walked to the prison. The daunting item loomed over her.
"Arms up!"
His smile made her shiver. The blue of his eyes felt as cold as the air in Limbo.
"Can't promise I'll be as gentle as him, but I'll do my best."
He wasn't far off in that aspect. She landed in the water awkwardly and breathed out. Her wings sprouted, and her clothes melted away. Rainy felt herself ease into a familiar body.
"This doesn't feel like home anymore."
The man lifted the compressed jar in the palm of his hand and pressed his face against the glass. "Good to hear. Now let's go get ourselves a Blue Lotus."
Author's Note: Thank you for reading!