Chapter 6: Aurora

Blade, Ben, Walter, and Andrew boarded a ship destined to take them to a land called Aurora. Escaping the harbor, Walter dared to ask Ben, Blade, and Andrew how they commandeered their ship.

"Magic," said Blade.

"Persuasion," said Ben.

"Force," said Andrew.

"It was a combination of all three," Ben explained, "We forced them to hand over a ship, while Blade used magic, which persuaded Logan's guards to lend us one."

Walter laughed, "It sounds like you."

Ben was good at steering the vessel, while Andrew and Blade were good fighters in case pirates decided to raid them. Walter, however, was good at nothing and had no purpose traveling with the group.

"I'm good at ingratiating," Walter would tell them. Which was another way of saying 'Walter's a useless bum', Blade thought, grimly.

The group arrived in Aurora on separate shores. Blade, Andrew, and Walter remained together, but they were missing Ben. While exploring the area, the group found a dark cave along the shore. Blade had a feeling to avoid the cave. Walter ran on ahead, ignoring her cries of disapproval.

"Come on, Blade," Andrew said, "We can't let the geezer get hurt."

They followed Walter, uneasily. Walter lit a torch and led them through the cave. Soon, he realized that listening to Blade's gut would have been the wiser choice.

The group met a strange, fear-eating creature, soon after they entered the cave. This creature, who terrified Walter and Andrew, seemed to enjoy watching the two cower before him. Blade, however, seemed unprovoked by his very presence. The creature wanted to see how long Blade could keep her composure before she trembled at his feet. Blade remained unmoved through all of the creature's trials.

During one, the creature stood uncomfortably close to Blade, his fingers almost stroking her neck. Because her comrades were afraid, Blade didn't expect them to stand up for her. The girl acted as though this creature were like any other. She dared him to touch her.

"Are you aware of what I can do standing so close to you?" the creature hissed.

"Are you aware of what I can do to YOU?" Blade seethed.

The creature seemed confused. Perhaps no one had threatened it before. Blade stayed indifferent and cold.

"Let us pass," Blade touched her sword.

"I'm not afraid of man-made weapons," the creature stated.

"You will be when I'm done with you."

The creature moved aside. The group passed without any further disturbances. That is until they reached the end of the cave.

The creature abducted Walter. Blade and Andrew had to fight in order to get him back. In exchange for his life, Walter gave up his sense of sight. When the group finally escaped the cave, Walter collapsed. Neither Blade nor Andrew were strong enough to carry him to civilization. They promised to get help.

While crossing the desert, Blade blacked out. The heat was overwhelming.

"Blade, wake up!" Andrew shouted at her.

Blade didn't respond. Andrew desperately scanned the horizon to see how far civilization was. He knew he couldn't wait for someone to rescue them; Walter might not make it. So Andrew did what he imagined Blade would do: he carried her to the nearest settlement. The moment he arrived, Ben flocked him.

"Forge! Is she okay?"

Andrew answered that Blade was fine, she just needed some rest. He told Ben that Walter was hurt and approximated the distance from the city to where Walter was waiting. An exotic woman took Blade from Andrew and set her on a hospital bed. Andrew smiled at the sight of Blade sleeping peacefully before he passed out from exhaustion and the heat.

Andrew awoke to Blade staring into his face with concern.

"He's waking up!" she shouted over her shoulder to someone, then averted her attention to him. "Hey," she tried to smile.

"Hey," Andrew smiled back at her.

"I heard what you did. Ben told me. Andrew, that was pretty heroic."

He shook his head, "You would do the same thing."

"That's what makes it heroic."

He laughed. "Wait," he stared at Blade, his face etched with worry, "did they find Walter?"

"Yes, he's going to be alright."

Andrew looked relieved. "I'm happy to see you," he whispered, admiring Blade's emerald green eyes that shone down on him.

"Aw," Blade genuinely smiled, "I'm happy to see you, too."

They studied each other for a little longer before Blade broke into short chit-chats. Andrew closed his eyes. All he could think about was Blade's green eyes and her auburn hair.

Gaining Aurora's trust was much easier than Blade had predicted.