It was well passed noon before everyone was awake again and Loren had taken advantage of the time in Daath to retreat to the familiar air of his quarters. Others would call it stagnant but he called it livable. Whatever it was that permeated the rest of the building didn't seem to make it down there.
He used the time to train, focusing on his artes instead of the meager blade work that he had managed to scrape together. For all that his original could wield both with frightening ability, he found the blade artes lacking. Better to focus on something he was actually good at.
"Negative Gate!" The first fonon ripped through the air, swirling under his target before engulfing the dummy in writhing shadows. He released a breath of air and let his arm drop slowly as the spell dissipated. The end of his staff hit the floor with a dull thud, the sound echoing lowly in the chamber.
"Impressive!" He turned, finding Ion standing in the open doorway to his room with his hands pressed together as if he were about to clap. He looked away without comment, taking in the dummy and the head that now rested on the floor. He sighed soundlessly.
"More impressive if I could do that with one arte," he said, "I've been using him since last Remday."
"I think even Jade would be hard pressed to break a dummy in one arte," Ion countered as he crossed the room, "don't discount yourself too much."
Loren gave a non-committal hum, not believing him for a second. "Did you need something?"
"Jade wished to tell you they were getting ready to leave," Ion reported, "he said, 'make sure you're ready for a trip into to the Qliphoth, it wouldn't do to have you incapacitated at a crucial moment.'" Loren blinked then looked down at the Fon Master at his side.
"He sent you to deliver that?" He seriously doubted it though he didn't doubt that the words came from Jade.
Ion shook his head, "He was going to send Anise originally but since I already knew where your rooms were, I offered to come instead," he explained then gave him a curious look, "I have to ask, though. Why are you all the way down here when there are plenty of rooms higher up?"
"Ah," Loren's gaze drifted to the side and he ran his fingers though his bangs, "to be honest, it has to do with the air, I think. I find it easier to breathe down here than I do in the upper levels."
Ion blinked in surprise, "Really? It didn't look like you had an issue the other day."
"It wouldn't," Loren started, "the difference is slight and it doesn't begin to affect me until I've been up there for a few hours. Going outside, though, is worse and if what I hear about the Qliphoth is true than I'm almost dreading the trip. I'll be drinking coffee by the bucket load."
"Coffee?" Ion questioned and Loren shrugged.
"It seems to be the only thing that keeps me going when I'm traveling," he offered then hooked his staff across his back as he gestured to the door, "anyway, let's go before that man sends someone else down to find us."
They reached the main level relatively quickly, catching Anise about halfway up. She grumbled and scolded the both of them even as Loren calmly turned her around and pushed her back the way she came.
"Loren!" Guy called when they arrived, arm raised in a wave. They were gathered beneath the pool of holy water, apparently in the midst of a discussion.
"Ion said we were leaving soon?" he prompted as he approached and Tear nodded from next to Jade.
"We were just discussing what we were going to do after Yulia City," she said, "the Fon Master confirmed the location of a passage ring in Tataroo Valley."
"Really?" Loren looked at the green haired youth who smiled and nodded.
"Yes," Jade pushed his glassed further up his nose, "we'll be heading there after getting the measuring device from Sheridan if this lead falls through. To be honest, I'm reluctant to put much hope in it."
"Jade!" Natalia exclaimed, her hands flying to her mouth as she stared at him in disbelief.
"Come on, do you really have to be like that?" Guy sighed and the man shrugged in a helpless manner.
"Asch and Luke disappeared in such a way that it's nearly impossible to tell where they've gone. Actually, I'm tempted to say that it was a hyperresonance that took them and if that's the case, there's no way for us to trace where it went. Especially now that it's been so long," he explained then smoothly placed his hands in his pockets. "At any rate," he continued, "while Teodoro's letter has substantial evidence, keep in mind that it might not be what we're looking for."
The group was quiet for a moment as they took it in before Natalia shook her head and looked at Jade with determination.
"No, I won't. Luke and Asch, they're down there. I refuse to believe they've been taken somewhere we can't reach. I'm not going to lose them!" She stood tall, her arms at her sides in an unspoken challenge.
Jade considered her then bowed his head in a single nod, "I admire your resolve. Very well, let's go to Yulia City and find our wayward companions."
At some point, Asch wasn't sure when, Luke had gotten lost between the bathroom and the dining table. He only noticed when the idiot still wasn't back by the time the food was done. The water wasn't running, that much he could tell and the only other sound he could hear was slowly cooling stove. His frown deepened as he resisted slamming the plates on the table. Then he was stepping down the hall and all but throwing the bathroom door open. A bathroom that was suspiciously empty aside from the old and dirty bandages piled in front of the sink and the mirror above it.
'Where the hell are you?' What he received could only be called a flinch, a flash of surprise laced with fear crossing the back of his mind. His grip tightened on the doorknob before he released it.
He went to the bedroom next, a quick glance telling him that he was in neither of the beds so he marched to the closet and threw the door open wide. Luke stared up at him with wide eyes, curled as far into the back corner as he could go and clutching one of his wrists as if it were his last line of hope.
Suspicion wormed its way into his chest.
"What did you do?" his jaw was tight as he spoke and he tried to keep his voice low. Luke tensed and pressed harder into his corner. He was shaking his head, his mouth open as if he were about to speak before it clicked shut and he swallowed hard. Asch crouched on his toes.
"What did you do?" he repeated slowly, eyeing the marks that littered the other's skin. A few would have to be re-bandaged. Luke's eyes skirted to the side, the hand around his wrist twisting. His eyes narrowed at the twinge of pain that passed through.
"N-nothing," the youth stuttered, "I didn't do anything." Asch watched him, the suspicion in his chest growing. He held out his hand.
"Show me your wrist." The grip Luke had on it tightened, the white in his knuckles becoming visible in the shadows of the room. Asch raised a brow. "If you've done nothing, then there's nothing to hide," he urged, reaching his hand out further.
Luke looked at it for barely a moment before he was staring at Asch's face, confusion furrowing his brow as he began to relax. "You… why?"
'I thought you hated me.'
His lips thinned as he caught the errant thought. "At this point, it doesn't matter if I hate you or not," he said, ignoring the look of shock, "what matters is that you show me your wrist so I know what to tell your little group of friends when we get out of here. I'm not that eager to gain their ire."
Luke looked away again but the fingers around his wrist loosened and the arm pulled away moments later. Asch took it before it could be taken back, pulling and tugging Luke to his feet and out of the closet where he could get to a light and see better. At least he had the decency to put on pants.
Luke was deposited on the bed and the lamp switched on in short order, adding to the small amount of light coming from the only window. He didn't even bother with the chair, continuing to stand as he pulled Luke's arm into the light to assess the damage. There was a small intake of breath as relief flooded through him and his grip relaxed. Anything that was there old news.
"You…" Asch looked up, resisting the urge to back away from the look he was given.
"Don't even," he warned, reaching behind him to take a roll of bandages from the desk drawer, "we are going to get some of this covered then you're going to finish getting dressed before we eat." Luke frowned and Asch already knew what he was going to say. "I don't care if you think you're not hungry," he said before Luke could even open his mouth, "you haven't had anything since we got here, you're eating."
"How do you keep doing that?" Luke burst, pulling his hand away clutch at the sheets as he leaned away from Asch's gaze, "How do you know what I'm going to say?" Asch's stare turned flat.
"I was starting to believe you weren't that much of an idiot," he said lowly, "think about the last few minutes and you might figure it out." Luke scowled and he could feel the indignation coursing through him. With a raised brow, he hooked the chair behind him with his foot and finally sat down.
'Hand.'
Luke jumped, the scowl dropping off his face to stare blankly at Asch. "My head doesn't hurt…" he said a few moments later and Asch had to visibly stop himself from making it hurt.
"That's what you took away from that?" he exclaimed then took a deep breath while Luke continued to watch him. "Whatever," he shook his head, "give me your damned hand so we can get this over with." Luke huffed, his cheeks puffing as he considered doing the exact opposite. Asch didn't give him the chance.
"Don't forget, I know what you're thinking," he reminded as he snatched his wrist and used it to make him sit straighter, "now sit still while I do this, I don't want to have to knock you out."
"Why don't you do that anyway? It's clear you want to," Luke grumbled and Asch pressed his thumb into one of the smaller bruises on his arm. He couldn't stop the cringe and he twisted it in an attempt to get him to stop.
"Because you need to eat, or did you not understand that the first time I said it? Stop acting like a petulant child and cooperate!" He eased on the pressure as soon as Luke stopped resisting, though the idiot refused to look at him.
He worked in silence after that, wrapping the worst of the marks that covered his hands and arms. He paused at his shoulders, considering the option of letting the air at the wounds there.
"Are you done?" Luke asked, pulling off a spectacular pout and Asch rolled his eyes.
"For now," he replied and re-rolled the short length he had pulled, "we'll cover your back when you sleep. It should be fine 'til then."
"My back?" Luke repeated as Asch stood, twisting as he tried to look over his shoulder, "Why my back? It feels fine." Asch snorted as he shoved the chair aside and set the roll on the desk. He watched as Luke got to his feet to try and see better. Without a word, his hand reached out and smacked one of the larger lesions near his spine.
Luke yelped, his hands immediately trying to cover it without much luck as he skittered away, "What'd you do that for!"
"To prove a point. Now put a shirt on, we're eating."
It was with trepidation that Loren stared out at the gloom that was the Qliphoth. He had quickly lost sight of the water that cascaded from the hole in the ocean as Noelle expertly navigated the thick clouds and the occasional bolt of lightning. Briefly, he wondered how they managed to find anything the first time they were down there.
"It's quite the difference, isn't it?" Tear spoke from beside him. He looked at her from the corner of his eye and she smiled as she met his gaze. He leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms in an attempt to hide his discomfort.
"I think you're making it out to be a smaller deal than it is," he said and Tear laughed lightly.
"Yes, I can see what you mean," she turned her attention the scene outside and smiled wistfully, "I was amazed the first time I came to the Outer Lands. It was so clear and there was so much life I almost couldn't believe it." She paused and Loren let her take the moment to dwell in her memories.
"I grew up with stories of its beauty and with the shadows of the Qliphoth being the only thing I knew, everything about the Outer Lands seemed like a fairy tale," she took a deep breath then shook her head, "listen to me, waxing poetic about a place you've known your whole life, I'm sorry."
"Don't be," Loren said and turned his own attention to the world outside, "it's refreshing, I think, to have an outsider's perspective on something I'm always looking at. You tend to forget to actually look at the world when it seemingly never changes. "
Tear stared at him in slight surprise, not expecting the level of insight that he presented. Her head tilted as she considered him, wondering just how different he was compared to Luke or even Asch. Surely, he couldn't be that much different but she doubted either of them would come out and say something like he just did.
Maybe it was just their experiences showing in the way they acted around everyone else. Asch, undoubtedly, would keep to himself and shut out any attempt at conversation; a trained reaction to never show any weakness and, by extension, to never give anyone the chance to get close. Luke was still learning. For all his enthusiasm, he would remain clueless when faced with such a conversation.
"What?" Tear blinked, straightening in her seat as Loren looked at her with a raised brow.
"I'm sorry," she leaned away as his look became more questioning, "I just got lost in thought. I didn't mean to stare." Loren made a sound, one that spoke of his skepticism as he looked away again.
"Whatever." Though maybe they weren't so different after all.
She smiled looked forward as the lights of the city came into view. Her stomach twisted as an odd tightness formed in her chest. She hoped, desperately hoped that they would find Luke there and in a better condition than when he'd left. She clutched at her dress then took a deep breath to compose herself. It wouldn't do to fall apart now.
Her grandfather was waiting for them when they landed, somehow looking excited despite the ever present frown.
"Come," he beckoned as soon as they were in range, not giving them the chance to talk, "this way." They each exchanged glances but followed without a word, hurrying after Teodoro's surprisingly quick pace.
He led them to a gated stairway off to the side of the main building, the previously locked gate wide open as researchers routinely scaled the steps.
"Down here?" Tear wondered, leaning over the railing to peer into the darkness. Small lights dotted the path the researchers were using but they did nothing to illuminate the surroundings.
"How do you see?" Anise questioned as a man passed them with nothing but a stack of files. He disappeared quickly into the shadows with the flicker of the lights being the only thing to tell his progress.
"Just follow the lights," Teodoro said, "the path has already been cleared and there's enough light at the end of it, there's no need to bring more." Then he started down the stairs and left them to stare at his back.
"Well, watch your step, I suppose," Guy suggested, scratching the back of his neck nervously. Loren snorted and moved forwards, wasting no time in descending the steps after the watcher. The rest followed his lead, some swallowing their hesitation as they moved.
At the end of it, they understood Teodoro's statement about extra light not being needed. A doorway stood at the end of the light trail that gave off its own faint glow and stepping through it presented something they weren't expecting to see.
"It's a passage ring!" Natalia exclaimed, turning slowly on the spot to take in the familiar symbols and architecture. The room they had entered was large with an arched ceiling swooping above them and a floor far beneath their feet. The walkway had them close to the top of the room and as she approached the protective barrier, she noticed sloping paths that led to lower levels.
"Not quite," Teodoro corrected and she looked over her shoulder at him for his explanation. "This place is built like those surrounding the rings but we've found no evidence of there ever being one here. In fact, this room is incapable of housing one due to its size and as far as we can tell, there are no others down here. Though, with the Daathic seal on the lowest level it's hard to tell for sure."
He paused then turned to Ion. "Fon Master," he addressed and the boy nodded, "I have to admit, I was intrigued when your message arrived and described an event that coincided with the appearance of this structure. While I understand the reasons behind the omission of some things, I was hoping you could fill me in on why you wished for a prompt reply."
The atmosphere in the group noticeably shifted as Ion cringed, "My apologies," he offered as he stepped forward, "but discretion was absolutely necessary. Asch and Luke were taken by what we suspect to be a hyperresonance three days ago."
"But," Teodoro glanced up, scanning the group until his eyes fell upon Loren and the confusion was replaced by shock. "Oh dear," he muttered as Loren frowned, "this is not good, not good at all. The Score must be very off track if you're here."
"Excuse me?" He blinked, bewildered at the old man's comment. Teodoro straightened, shaking his head as he realized what he'd said.
"Nothing, nothing," he waved, brushing his words aside though they lingered in their minds, "follow me, I'll show you to the seal."
So one by one, they trailed after him, each giving a look to Loren to which he shrugged simply because he didn't know what else to do. What was he supposed to do after something like that? Sing?
"What was that all about?" Anise murmured as she stepped up beside him and he shook his head.
"I have no idea but from the sounds of it, I don't think I'm supposed to be here."
"Here? You mean with us?" She looked at him imploringly and he hesitated before shaking his head again.
"Alive," he clarified, staring hard at the elder's back, "I don't think I'm supposed to be alive."
The girl made a rather crude noise and Loren couldn't stop the look he sent her. "Don't look at me like that," she scowled once she saw it, "I have every right to disregard what you just said. By all rights, Luke shouldn't be alive either yet he is and so are you and just like him, I don't want to hear you speaking that way again."
"I'm… sorry?"
"That's right!" Anise nodded fiercely, her hair bouncing around her ears at the force of it. But then her scowl turned into a troubled frown as she looked towards the floor and Loren found himself placing a concerned hand on her shoulder.
"Anise?" he leaned forward as much as he could while walking in an attempt to see her face and she took a deep breath. She raised her head, shaking her bangs out of her eyes as she did.
"Sorry," she apologized even though she didn't need to, "it's just… I was thinking that… if we had actually let Luke talk about it instead of always telling him not to then maybe… maybe he wouldn't have…" She swallowed thickly before taking another deep breath, this one shakier than the last and he realized she was trying not to cry.
"Anise," he said softly, unsure of how to continue. Then Jade was at her other side, taking her hand gently in his own and pulling her away.
"That's enough, I think," he muttered, "this is no place to be getting emotional." His voice was soft despite his words.
"I'm sorry." Her voice cracked and her hand lifted to wipe at her face.
"Save that for when we find him, hm?" Loren watched them as Anise nodded and sniffed loudly, something curling and tightening in his chest as she clearly took comfort in Jade's words. He frowned, resisting the urge to rub at the centre of his chest. Something… hurt? He stared at his feet as they steadily made their way down. What was this?
Let your song sing true...