Hey everyone!
Oh my goodness. This chapter was so strange to work on. A lot of it I wrote in a few days, but then... WEEKS of struggling to write the other parts. I'm not sure why. I didn't edit a couple of parts more then once, so I apologize there are probably some errors, but I didn't want to sit on this any longer.
Also, there is a swear word right at the top here - I normally don't like to include too many of those, but every so often I like it fits, haha. This is one of those times, given what happened at the end of the last chapter, and also what I generally put my characters through every single story.
Thanks everyone for your patience! Hoping to get some more work done on this story soon, but we'll see!
For anyone still reading this story or any of my stories on here, you are awesome, and I think you ;)
Now, on to the chapter!
"Oh, for fuck's sake," Kieran's annoyed voice said from somewhere nearby.
Titania giggled at the exclaimed swear word, having been thinking something less vulgar but along the same lines as soon as her vision went dark.
There was a moment of panic, but she soon realized that it wasn't her eyes that had failed, rather the entire space had been filled with thick, roiling shadows.
They had been caught in the darkness suddenly and without any chance for anyone in their group to react.
"Titania?"
She nodded, then rolled her eyes at herself as she realized he wouldn't be able to see her.
"Yes, I'm here. Is anyone else around?"
There was a long pause.
"I'll count that as a no," Kieran muttered.
A small bluish glow emitted from her left and she blinked, finally being able to make out Kieran's vague form. He was staring at his armband.
"And naturally this thing isn't working again," he complained quietly.
Titania felt an odd sensation on her leg and twitched, annoyed. The feeling tightened around her ankle, and she looked down, fear tingling up her spine.
Shadows were coiling around her feet, slowly growing darker and larger as they swirled.
She gasped and pulled away, eyes widening as the inky fingers followed her, crawling along the ground and continuing to try and reach for her. She felt it tug on her skirt's hem and inch along one of her feet.
On reflex, she stomped on it, but it didn't slow down.
Titania shrunk back, away from the tendrils that reached for her, only to back up into another set. She squeaked, alarmed, when more shadowy fingers brushed against her hair, back, shoulder and wings.
Kieran snagged her arm and pulled her closer, darting a look around at the encroaching night. The moment Titania stepped next to him, the dark vines fell away, fading into the mass that swirled around them.
She blinked, puzzled, and didn't dare move for fear they would try to grasp her again.
"Wait..." he muttered, waving an arm out into the darkness.
The shadows didn't move.
Titania's brow furrowed. "Why isn't it trying to grab you?"
"I'm not made of magic," Kieran remarked, glancing down at her. "But you are. Didn't they say the spell was draining?"
She swallowed. "You think it wants to do that to me?"
The thought made her stomach curl.
Kieran frowned, looking back out. "Perhaps."
He waved his arm again.
And again, no reaction from the shadows.
Titania blinked, "It's like it can't see you at all,"
"No magic..." he mused out loud. "Maybe it can't. Afterall, it's not alive, not really. So, maybe it's only drawn to energy on instinct."
Titania wanted to reply, but she had nothing to add and half her mind was taken up with worry that the darkness would suddenly lash out again. She shuddered.
"Stay close," Kieran said, squeezing her hand. "It doesn't seem to see you either right now."
She forced a smile, "You make a pretty good shield,"
He snorted a laugh. "Thanks."
Not wanting to take any chances, she wove one of her arms around his and kept holding his hand. The last thing she wanted was to become even more separated, or worse, swallowed by the inky black.
Kieran was busy fusing with his gauntlet and she bit her lip, hating the thought of standing still and wanting very much to run in any direction to get away from the shadows.
"Hmm... still no luck. This stuff is havoc on the system..." he muttered.
With a sigh, he looked up, "Okay, so, we'll have to do this the old fashion way. I don't suppose you know where in The Beneath we are?"
Titania shook her head, feeling a flash of guilt.
Her senses were a jumbled mess.
He frowned, but didn't seem mad. "Alright, that's fine. I have no idea either."
"Um," she began. "How close are you and Cuore? I mean, like, how closely linked?"
"Very," Kieran replied, "but she's the one who always makes that connection. I'm the ordinary one, remember?"
Titania stared at him for a long time, wondering if he was serious about being the 'ordinary' one.
"It is odd that Cuore isn't trying to contact me, though," he said, looking around again. "Maybe she can't for some reason."
"A good guess," Titania mumbled, resisting the urge to step closer. She was almost clinging to him as it was.
After a pause, he sighed. "Well, we might as well try to find something through all this. No point in standing around."
She nodded, agreeing that at least if they were moving, she could pretend that they were getting closer to safety.
"Stay close," Kieran warned.
"You don't have to tell me twice," she whispered back, already tightening her arm around his.
They walked off in a random direction, but the shadows were so thick and unrelenting that they could have been standing still and she wouldn't have noticed.
It was terribly disconcerting to look around and see nothing. Even Kieran, who was right next to her, was hard to make out amid the darkness. Her own skirt was blending into the eternal night.
They continued onward, and Titania tried to think of something besides the stifling shadows around them.
But her thoughts betrayed her and everything kept circling back to the situation at hand.
Was Siren alright?
Were Leo and the others alright?
Where were the other Eidolons?
Titania finally felt her growing panic reaching all time highs and she swallowed, wishing it wasn't so deafeningly quiet.
"Kieran?" she finally whispered.
Anything louder and she feared the entire world would shatter.
"Hmm?" he replied, sounding distracted.
She bit her lip, "I'm sorry to sound selfish, but... it's really quiet. Do you... do you think we could talk?"
"Oh, yes, sorry." he replied, sounding apologetic. "It is silent with all this dark stuff around."
She nodded, but realized he likely couldn't see her. "Yes. I'd feel better, I think, if we just chatted."
Kieran gave her hand another squeeze. "What do you want to talk about?"
"Oh," Titania muttered, unsure how to answer. "I'm... not sure." She glanced down at her feet. "I can barely hear our footsteps. It's almost like everything is muffled around here."
"Maybe it's a byproduct of these shadows," he mused. "The density of them could affect sound."
She rolled her eyes in amusement. He and Cuore could barely go ten minutes without bursting into theories and babbling about technical information.
Realizing she had asked to chat and wasn't keeping up her end of the bargain, she cleared her throat. "How are you feeling, by the way? I know the Feymarch is quite an odd place. You seem to be alright, however."
"So far so good, it seems." Kieran agreed. "I'm a little concerned about the reverse trip. I know that when you jump really high the coming down part is where injuries happen. I'm hoping I won't have major complications leaving the Feymarch once this whole thing has settled down."
Titania was glad he seemed so confident that everything would calm down.
"That makes sense," she replied. "But, at least right now you seem alright,"
"Yes. I'd say this was a pretty good first test of the Displacer."
Titania frowned, "It's amazing that you and Cuore could build something like that, but... why did you make it? Were you always planning on visiting the Feymarch?"
It was no secret that Kieran and Cuore both incredibly imaginative and talented when it came to inventing things. But almost all of their creations had a very specific purpose.
This one seemed completely random.
"Well," Kieran began, sounding slightly hesitant. "We... actually made it for you,"
Titania tripped over nothing.
Kieran steadied her, and they paused their slow walk.
"You what?" she asked, looking up at him despite the darkness.
"We made it for you." he repeated.
Kieran sighed, and she felt him shift before settling into different standing position. "It didn't seem fair that you couldn't at least visit your father and friends. Cuore had a hypothesis that the Feymarch's time dilatation effects actually caused a shift in one's metabolism, aging someone faster within its confines. In your case, she wondered if our world was aging only your Eidolon half, making it so you were experiencing a sort of illness. So, we made the Displacer to regulate the wearer's metabolism, forcing it to be a normal, steady baseline. Regardless of where the person wearing it ended up."
Most of the words he had just said made no sense, but Titania was barely listening anyway.
They had built an entire device for her?
"Cuore came up the idea, and I built the prototype. We had intended to test it differently, but, well, I figured I'd give it a go now." he finished, shrugging.
She swallowed, staring at her feet. She could barely see them.
"You both built this... for me?"
"Yes,"
Tears prickled her eyes. His words that it wasn't fair that she couldn't leave the Feymarch was exactly how she felt. The way he phrased visit put no pressure on her that she would ever have to choose between both of the things she was.
She was and always would be a child of two worlds, but while she wanted nothing more than to thrive in that knowledge, it always seemed like a weakness.
"I... don't know what to say," Titania finally choked out.
How was she going to repay them? She knew them, yes, but they weren't her family. They owed her nothing. The thought that they cared so much for her made her want to cry.
"Say something if we find out it works for you as well as it seems to be for me," Kieran remarked, laughing nervously. "We didn't tell anyone about it for that very reason."
"So, my father doesn't know?" she asked, looking back up at him.
Kieran shook his head, "No. Cuore and I thought it would be a good idea to make sure it worked before bringing it up to him. No one knows. Cuore and I, and now you. That's it."
Titania take a deep breath to steady her nerves.
"I..."
Kieran settled a hand on her shoulder. "Titania, you don't have to say anything. We aren't sure it works, but if it does..."
She closed her eyes, and tempered her emotions.
He was right. They didn't know if it worked yet. She shouldn't get her hopes up.
But the thought of hugging her father again, or of styling hair with Rainbow, or hearing Raj's grumpy stories, or watching Felix practice his spells, made her heart ache.
The thought of getting the chance to dance and laugh and talk with Leo whenever she wanted...
She missed all of it so much. More than she ever wanted to admit. Even to herself.
"Thank you." Titania finally whispered.
Kieran squeezed her shoulder again. "I appreciate the sentiment, but, truly, Titania, wait until we know if it works."
"Even if it doesn't..." she murmured. "thank you for thinking of me at all."
He didn't seem to know what to say to that, so she just bounced on her toes a few times before mentioning; "We should keep moving, right?"
"Yes,"
They began walking again, the pace slow but steady.
Her thoughts were swirling with possibilities, even as she told herself not to get too excited.
But the kindness of the gesture was enough of a gift, even if the Displacer didn't work. Kieran and Cuore had more than enough to worry about without also thinking of her. They had basically rebuilt Bab-Il from the ground up, were working on trading lines and airships that people had only dreamed of a few years ago.
Yet, they found the time to think about her.
It was further proof that her aunts were wrong that all humans were wicked and dangerous.
Even if she'd sort of been afraid of them when she'd first met them, too.
She peered up at Kieran and smiled, despite the fact that he couldn't see her. "By the way, I think you'll make a pretty good father,"
Kieran chuckled, "Thanks. I kind of needed to hear that,"
Titania blinked. "Oh, why?"
"It's just... a lot to take in." he answered after a moment of silence. "And, well, I'm not always the... warmest person, so..."
Titania wasn't sure how to reply besides just telling him he was wrong and being dumb.
"Well," she began, wondering if she should really say what she was about to say. "I don't think that's true. But, even if it is, my father and I get along great now, but you know how that started. So, if we can figure it out, then, well, you'll do just fine, right?"
Kieran paused, then laughed in a slow, halting way. "Hopefully."
She wasn't sure he believed her, but she hoped her words at least helped a little bit.
They walked for another few minutes, or hours, she really couldn't keep track of time any long when everything and anything was simply more gloomy, inky night.
Her companion suddenly stopped walking. She skidded to a halt as well, tightening her grip on his arm.
"Okay, Titania," Kieran said, "tell me honestly if I'm going crazy, but... do you see that light up there? It is light, right?"
She followed the direction he was pointing and squinted.
At first, she did see a speck. But then she was convinced her mind was playing tricks on her. The next moment, it looked like light again.
"Yes? I... think so anyway?" she muttered. "It's so hard to make it out,"
He sighed. "It's either someone friendly that we know, or, it's a wonderfully tempting trap to lure us that way."
She didn't like those odds.
"Do we ignore it and go another way, or walk towards it?" he asked.
Titania frowned. "I don't fancy walking around in the dark anymore, even if the light is a trap."
"I was thinking the exact same thing." he replied. "Alright, stay on guard..."
They pressed onward, and for a few moments, it seemed like the light wasn't getting any closer. Titania began to wonder if both of them had gone crazy.
Finally, the light wavered, and she squinted to try and see what it was or determined how much longer it would take to reach it.
The closer they got, the better she felt as the unknown light did eventually grow brighter, proving they were making progress.
After a few minutes, she could make out the vague shape of what appeared to be a human, or something like that, silhouetted against the light.
And, whatever or whoever it was, must have noticed them because the light started to move closer.
Titania felt Kieran tense, and they both wordlessly slowed their steps.
Caution was best, but as they came together, it was obviously unnecessary.
The light was emitting from a hand poised in the air, slender fingers glowing with an ember colored hue and casting speckles of yellow and orange all around.
The figure was a woman with a gown of golds and reds, with feathered accents along the trim, bust and in her fiery hair. Her features were sharp, but her expression was gentle.
"Ah, Kieran, Titania. How delightful to see you," Phoenix greeted, smiling. "I thought I heard something shuffling about in all this dreadful darkness."
Titania instantly relaxed, and she heard Kieran sigh in relief next to her.
"Phoenix!" he said. "Good to see you as well. We were all a little concerned about you. We heard you ran off straight into the shadows."
Her smile widened, "Indeed. Perhaps not the wisest idea, but I had a theory I needed to test."
Titania frowned, thinking that was a terrible excuse. Kieran didn't seem overly thrilled himself.
"A theory, huh?" he muttered. "Regardless, it is good to see you. Cuore will be relieved."
Phoenix frowned, paused, and then gave them a once over. "Speaking of my summoner, where is she?"
"We all got separated in this darkness," Titania explained. "We came to The Beneath to investigate the source of these shadows but they suddenly expanded and we... well, we got lost..."
The Eidolon woman looked concerned, but she merely glanced at Titania and quirked an eyebrow. "I'm surprised you two made it this far without the shadows attempting subdue you,"
"They don't seem to care about Kieran at all," she explained, tightening her grip on his arm.
Kieran nodded, "I have a theory of my own that this stuff either can't even see me, or has no interest in me because I don't have any magic. Titania seems safe enough when she's close. I hope everyone else is as well."
Phoenix nodded slowly. "That would make sense. I've been able to fend it off with my light, but it hasn't been still either. I do believe you are right that it seems drawn to magic."
"Have you..." Titania began, swallowing and continuing. "Have you found any other Eidolons down here?"
She shook her head, expression softening. "No, sadly."
Titania dropped her eyes to the inky flooring.
Phoenix settled a hand on her shoulder, "Don't worry, cherished. I don't think the darkness is attempting to harm us, not maliciously, in any case."
"Bahamut is here," Kieran said. "He seems to think this is a spell."
Phoenix looked up sharply.
She was quiet for a long moment.
"He always ruins the fun of the chase," she muttered with a rueful sigh.
Titania stared at the Eidolon woman, wondering if she was taking the situation as seriously as she should be.
"I agree with him." Phoenix finally said.
Kieran frowned, "Was that your theory you were trying to test?"
She grinned. "Yes,"
He rolled his eyes at her and she chuckled. "I'm glad Bahamut is here. We will need his help. I assume he explain that to you? And I assume if he is here then Rydia is as well?"
Titania nodded. "Yes, High Summoner Rydia, Leo, Edge, Cuore, and us."
Phoenix looked ready to make a comment but Kieran just grinned and beat her too it. "Oh, believe me. It was a process to get here."
She laughed softly.
"And yes, Bahamut did tell us he would need to destroy this errant spell to dissipate the shadows."
Titania looked around, "Speaking of that... Phoenix, do you know where in The Beneath we might be? I know Bahamut doesn't really need our help, but I'd feel better if we were there all the same. And... if we could reunite with the others, too."
Phoenix nodded. "Agreed, we should all be present. Sadly, I'm unsure where we are. I've been wandering for quite some time, however, it is difficult to navigate."
Kieran glanced at his gauntlet. "This thing went haywire with the last expansion, so... hmm..."
There was a long moment of silence. Growing restless, Titania nudged him. "Kieran?"
"Sorry, just thinking..." he said, eyeing the floor absently.
Phoenix shifted her glowing light to her opposite hand. "As you often do. Would you like to share aloud with us?"
Titania bit down on her lip to hide a giggle at the soft yet sassy tone she'd adopted. For an ancient being, the Eidolon woman rarely acted her age.
Kieran grinned, "Depends. Can I scan you with this?"
Phoenix frowned. "Yes?"
He slowly waved his arm with the technology attached to it near Phoenix, making a somewhat circular pattern.
"Alright, so, if I get all this Eidolon stuff corrected, which is a big 'if'," he began, flipping his forearm upwards to see the display on the gauntlet.
Titania loosened the hold on his arm so he could reach over, and she craned her neck to watch what he was doing. Even though she could see it, it made no sense. The wriggling lines and flashing lights seemed impossible to understand.
"All Eidolons are made of magic, and Ves'Per* comes in two forms. You, I'm guessing, are the high frequency one, same as white magic. And Bahamut would be the low frequency version because you two are opposite forces..."
Phoenix looked amused. "He and I are opposites, yes."
Kieran nodded, eyes trained on his work. "Alright, so... here's you," he tapped on the armband. "And... let's see if...inverse scan, siphon the background noise..."
Titania leaned closer, anticipation raising.
The gauntlet beeped.
"Ah ha! And there is Bahamut." Kieran exclaimed. "I think, anyway. It's a power signature that's strong enough to cut through the noise of this darkness, with an opposite tonal variance to yours, anyway."
"Wait, you found them?" Titania said, looking up him with wide eyes. "Just by..."
She waved a hand at the armband.
He chuckled. "It looks a lot easier than it is. And the signal is faint. But, yes, I found them. Or, at least found something for us to look for."
He looked back up at Phoenix. "Thanks for letting me scan you."
"Oh, anytime." she replied. "Shall we travel in the direction of the beeping dot on your metallic appendage?"
"You have been spending way too much time with my wife," Kieran remarked, shaking his head slightly. "But yes, the beeping dot is calling."
Titania giggled, tightening her hold on his free arm once more.
Phoenix extended a hand forward, the other was still held near her face, illuminating the darkness around them in a soft, amber glow. "Lead on. You seem completely uninteresting to this savage spell."
He snorted, but glanced over more at the gauntlet before picking a direction and walking.
"I've never been so glad to be so un-special in my whole life," Kieran said.
Titania wondered if she should get him to stop making disparaging comments about himself.
She probably shouldn't get involved in that sort of personal reflection.
Afterall, she may have known all of them, but that didn't mean it was any of her business.
They walked in silence, the only sound their footsteps occasionally crunching on loose gravel or pebbles that went scattering.
Titania felt better having Phoenix walk behind them; her light was comforting, as was the intense power radiating from her. It felt warm, safe, commanding.
And they would soon reunite with everyone else, another comforting thought.
It was completely and utterly dark.
"Uh," Leo started. He stopped walking for fear of what he might walk into. Or away from.
A moment before, they had been walking through the tunnels towards The Beneath and just entered a larger, more cavernous area.
Then, in a heartbeat, everything had turned to nothing but black.
"Hello?" he called out tentatively.
He felt like no one was around, but it was hard to tell in the pitch black all around. In fact, even though he felt the ground beneath his shoes, it was so dark and quiet that he felt almost as if he was floating.
"Luminesce,"
Cuore's spell radiated outward and illuminated a wide-open space with no one else around them. Eventually, the light hit the rocky outskirts of whatever tunnel they found themselves in. It sparked to red upon hinting the stones, then turned to a flurry of shimmering dust before plunging them into darkness once more.
But the darkness didn't last; as soon as the spell faded, a glow popped up from Cuore's gauntlet as she opened it and began tapping commands into it.
It beeped an unhappy tone at her.
"Hmm..." she muttered.
Leo frowned, "Where is everyone?"
It was clear they were the only two nearby. Not only did the light not touch anyone else, but if someone had seen the spell, surely, they would have called out to them.
"I don't believe we are in the same location that we were before," his sister explained.
Her eyes were trained on the bracer. "However, I'm uncertain where we are exactly. This will need to be recalibrated again. Whatever these shadows did scrambled the readings."
Leo looked around them again, seeing and hearing nothing. "I wonder why the shadows would bother to sperate us. Seems... weird."
Cuore didn't reply, so Leo sighed and crouched down to touch the ground. He could feel that the stone was smooth here, unlike the more uneven terrain they had been traversing before.
His fingers glided across the stone, but no glow or scattering magic powder showed up.
"Huh," he muttered, picking up a pebble and standing. He leaned closer to the dim light of Cuore's bracelet so he could examine the rock.
It was dull and unremarkable, bearing no vein of magical light passing through it, and no inner glow either.
It didn't even seem like it was from the Feymarch at all.
"Hey Cuore," he said, looking back up at his sister. "Do you think we're somewhere else? Like, no longer in the Feymarch?"
Cuore made a face, "No, why?"
"Well, nothing looks right." Leo explained, holding out the pebble.
Cuore paused, then plucked it from his fingers to look it over. "I see what you are referring too. This seems mundane. Perhaps..."
Leo patiently waited while she ruminated, knowing she was likely thinking of every possible reason or theory.
"If we are correct in assuming this darkness, or rather, this untamed spell, is draining energies, then perhaps it is feeding on the Feymarch itself."
Leo frowned, "I guess that makes sense, but you'd think it would be... well, more powerful though if that was the case, right? This whole place is magic, after all."
Cuore tilted her head. "Yes, you are right. I suppose we don't truly know enough about to draw any conclusions."
Leo looked around again, feeling unsettled in the silent dark. "Maybe it's just being in these shadows that makes everything seem mundane, as you said."
Cuore had paused once more in her furious tapping on her gauntlet. "A nullification effect. Intriguing."
He stifled a grin and merely replied with a halfhearted; "Yeah, sure."
She shook her head. "In any case, I am concerned that we've become separated. My device is having difficulties pinpointing our exact location, but I am certain we are not where we were moments ago."
He shrugged, "I don't like it either, but I'm sure everyone else is alright. They are probably worried about us, too." Leo smirked. "But, it's us. We're pretty amazing, and so is everyone else down here. We'll be fine."
His sister didn't seem to be listening.
"If I can recalibrate this, then I may be able to scan for the others. Bahamut surely gives off a strong and particular Ves'Per* signal. Still, the fact that this isn't heeding my commands is disconcerting. You may be right about the nullifying effects of this feral spell."
"Cuore," Leo said, trying to draw her attention.
She ignored him; "I wonder if the others have become further separated or if they are all together. If they are split apart, it will make this more difficult."
"Sissy," he tried again, louder this time.
Cuore glanced at him and he smiled, "You are anxious. That won't help anyone."
She frowned, "I think it's natural to feel anxious at the present moment."
Her tone was bland.
Leo matched her frown. "Yeah, but it's not helping either of us think clearly."
She hesitated.
"Cuore," he said. "the others will be fine. Mom and dad have been through way worst stuff, and Titania and Kieran are pretty sturdy too."
His sister didn't seem convinced and Leo blinked, realizing she was holding back.
"Unless... there's something else you aren't telling me?"
Cuore sighed and hugged her arms across her chest, dimming the light from her gauntlet. He saw the look of uncertainly on her face before the area darkened.
"I am unsettled. The dreams I was having prior to coming here. I'm convinced it is linked to this spell somehow. It makes me feel uneasy. It's why I didn't want Kieran to come along with us."
Leo processed the remarks for a moment, unsure how to reply. Cuore had always had trouble fully explaining her thoughts, feelings and emotions out loud with normal words. But he could usually be her translator.
"You mean because you just felt like something bad was going on?" he asked, hazarding a guess.
His sister nodded.
"Oh." Leo said. He reached up to scratch his ear. "That makes sense, but, Cuore... Kieran is an adult. He can do whatever he wants. Besides, you already know he'd follow you literally anywhere."
"I know," she muttered sadly.
Stifling a sigh, he reached out clasp her arm and tug on it, forcing her to uncross her arms. "Sissy, I'm stressed too. But it won't help anyone."
"I can't even communicate to him telepathically right now," Cuore said.
"Well, maybe we're just too far way," Leo offered, trying to sound hopeful.
"Or, something is very wrong."
Leo frowned again. "What if nothing is wrong?
"But, what if everything is wrong?"
Now he did sigh, but rather than continue to spin more arguments with her, he sank to the ground and crossed his legs. She'd only continue to counter everything he said, no matter what.
It was time for a different tactic.
Leo patted the ground next to him.
"Sit,"
She hesitated, and he sighed again. "Cuore, sit. Think. Meditate."
With one last moment of hesitation, she licked her lips before she shut the compartment on her bracer and sat down. He heard her sigh as she settled and offered a smile to her general direction, even if she couldn't see him.
Leo could sense her relax slightly after a moment and stifled a sigh of relief. He closed his own eyes.
Whenever his sister started to not only babble, but to quicken her words, he knew she was anxious. He could understand her feeling unsettled by the darkness, and he shared her concern over their missing family members.
Still, they wouldn't get anywhere just wandering through the night, and she would only continue to worry herself to pieces if she didn't relax.
Leo was worried too.
About everyone, an everything, but he meant what he told her. Sometimes the best thing to do was nothing at all.
He shook his head, annoyed that he wasn't taking his own advice, and returned to the task at hand.
After a few moments of making sure his breath was even and controlled, he focused on pushing all the energy he had out through his fingertips.
Anxiety included.
As unsettling as the darkness was around them, it was oddly soothing as well.
Leo leaned into that side of his thinking, deciding that although they were in danger, nothing had actually hurt them yet.
Besides, shadows weren't all bad. They were useful, too.
Good for hiding.
It was easier to sleep when it was dark.
Without shadows, light didn't seem so remarkable.
With these thoughts, he took one last deep breath before resuming a shallower pattern.
It was hard to gauge time when meditating, but it felt like only seconds had passed when he heard something in the distance.
Leo cracked an eye open, frowning in confusion.
He strained and could still hear it.
He counted to twenty, and still heard it.
Either he was going crazy, or someone else was in the darkness.
"Cuore," he whispered. "Do you hear humming?" he asked, tipping his head to one side.
After a few seconds, she replied. "I do."
"I wonder who that is?" Leo mused. He gestured in a direction. "Sounds like it's coming from over there,"
"We should investigate," Cuore remarked, slowly standing. "Either it is someone we know, or perhaps it is an Eidolon that was lost in the shadows?"
Leo blinked. "Siren?"
"Possibly." she said.
He hopped to his feet, "Okay, let's go."
They set out, and Cuore turned her gauntlet back on so they had a small amount of light. He was surprised she didn't cast a spell instead, but wondered if it was a calculated decision in case they needed to sneak.
He looked up at his sister. "See? Told you sitting for a moment would be a good idea,"
She grinned, "I will endeavor not to doubt you in the future, little brother."
He chuckled and nudged her.
They wandered closer to the sound, pausing every so often to stop and listen. The pitch black made navigating hard, and more than once they had to shift directions or turn around as they became confused.
Leo was frustrated at the seeming lack of progress. Part of him wanted to sit back down and meditate again so he could try to clear his head, but he opted to instead stamped down on his feelings of annoyance.
He knew if he was feeling this way, Cuore must be doubly so.
It was no secret that his sister hated wasting time or failing, so she must be itching to find the source of the singing as soon as possible.
Finally, after what seemed like hours, they were close enough to the humming to make out more of the song.
Cuore paused, and Leo looked up at her, squinting through the shadows to try and gauge her expression.
"I know that song," she muttered, tilting her head to one side. "Siren taught it to me when I stayed here."
Leo perked up instantly. "Then it is Siren!"
He felt a rush of relief that they had not only found someone, but Siren as well. Titania had been worried for her friend since they are started this adventure. He couldn't wait to tell her they had found her.
"Perhaps," Cuore cautioned, holding up a hand. "We should still be careful."
He resisted rolling his eyes at his sister's overprotective and absurdly cautious approach to everything that didn't involving throwing herself into danger.
"Alright," he said instead, slowly beginning to move again. "We'll be careful."
They moved closer, and the song became crystal clear.
While the tune wasn't anything remarkable, the voice singing it was one of the most beautiful things Leo had ever heard.
He wasn't even sure he could describe how it sounded if anyone asked him, but he knew the moment it reached his ears that it had to be Siren.
He also felt instantly relaxed.
There were no lyrics, but the melody was calming and gentle, like the slight rippling of water on smooth rocks, and a faint wind that rustled the leaves on a tree in summer.
It took away all his feelings of worry, dread and apprehension.
That was, until the voice wavered.
The pitched altered slightly, then started again from the beginning of the song. It was then he could hear the tremble to the tone. Almost as if someone was trying not to cry.
Cuore had stopped walking again once they heard the falter. "That is Siren,"
Leo perked up, "That's great!"
Now that they were sure, his sister called forth another burst of Luminance.
As the light made the area come alive, they saw Siren kneeling on the ground, blonde hair spilling over her back and shoulders and pooling on the ground around her. The spell's light made her scanty swathes of fabric glimmer briefly.
She cringed back at the light, voice hesitating again before her eyes fell on them. Her expression lit up, but as soon as she stopped singing, she winced.
Just as the spell faded, Leo saw the panicked look that crossed her face before she began the song all over again.
"Siren?" Cuore called, stepping carefully across the ground and avoiding a scattering of pebbles her spell had illuminated.
Leo trailed after her, glancing around quickly but not seeing or hearing anything out of the ordinary. Truthfully, Siren's song was making him feel lethargic, and he wasn't sure he trusted his sense as much as he had a few moments before.
"Siren?" Cuore repeated, softer this time. She knelt down next to the Eidolon and tapped her gauntlet twice to strengthen the bluish glow from it.
Siren was staring at them with wide eyes, her song still ringing across the cavern. Her hands were occupied with holding another set of hands, a familiar Eidolon who seemed unconscious.
"Barbariccia?" Cuore said, gently reaching out to settle a hand on the other Eidolon's shoulder. She closed her eyes, but Babariccia didn't stir.
Siren's voice hitched again, but the melody continued.
"Is she okay?" Leo asked, kneeling down as well.
His sister frowned, eyes blinking open. "Her form is stable. It's almost as if she's in some sort of... sleep? Eidolons don't sleep, however. This sort of stasis would explain why I haven't been able to communicate with any of them."
She was babbling, more to herself then him, judging by the hushed tone of voice.
Still, it made sense. Leo chewed on his lip. "Maybe... maybe it's that nullifying effect you were talking about before."
"Perhaps." she said.
They both looked back to Siren, who was still singing but looked relieved to see them.
"What happened?" Cuore asked her.
But the blonde Eidolon only shook her head, nodding to her sister. Her eyes were brimming with unshed tears.
Leo frowned. "Are you alright?"
Siren shook her head again.
Cuore glanced to Barbariccia, then back to Siren. "Siren, you can... stop singing,"
"I can't," she choked out between notes.
Leo frowned. "Why not?"
Siren didn't reply, and the song continued. Even though he felt calm once more, now that he was paying attention, Leo could hear the undertones of fear in her voice.
Each note was laced with a small quiver, as if Siren was doing everything in her power to keep tears at bay.
Cuore shook her head and gently reached out to touch Siren's hands, clutching at Barbariccia's. She gently pried them away, giving them a squeeze before releasing them.
Instead of saying anything, Cuore caught the song at the same moment and took over the melody.
Siren blinked, lips curling a little to a smile as her voice faded and the teal haired woman took over. Leo flashed his sister a quick smile before returning his attention to the Eidolons.
Cuore was nothing if not smart, and if Siren had taught her this song before, then she would have no problem continuing it.
Siren breathed a sigh of relief, her whole body slumping. "T-thank you, Cuore."
Not faltering in the song, she nodded and gestured to the Eidolon to continue.
"Yes, I should speak quickly. Your voice is lovely, but I think this darkness will realize the difference soon enough. Afterall, your voice isn't magic." the Eidolon woman said, wringing her hands.
"What happened?" Leo asked, shifting to a more comfortable position on the ground.
Siren swallowed.
"If you are here, then Titania must have made it." she said. "Once the shadows caught up to me, I felt like they were sapping my strength. But, I also realized that they did react to my voice."
She shook her head. "Not all the songs made an impact, but some of them did. The one I was just singing seemed to be the best. It's a lullaby."
Leo blinked. "That makes sense. I felt calm when I heard it, and maybe you made this spell feel the same."
"Spell?" Siren asked, eyes narrowing. "What are you talking about?"
"I'll explain later." Leo said. "How did you find Barbariccia?"
Her eyes fell to her sister. "Sheer luck, honestly. I was just wandering around in the darkness. I didn't know what to do. Every time I stopped singing, the shadows would lash out. So, I just kept singing. And walking around this endless nightmare."
She shuddered and Leo reached out to squeeze her shoulder. "That was really brave,"
"I don't feel very brave," Siren muttered, squeezing her eyes shut. "I-I'm so scared. I can't wake my sister. I've tried everything. I'm so tired... my voice has almost failed several times. It's so quiet and dark here..."
"That is what makes you really brave," Leo assured her. She looked like she needed a hug, but he didn't know how she felt about those so simply squeezed her shoulder again. "You helped Titania make it out, too."
Siren smiled at him, tears finally streaking down her cheeks. "I'm so glad she's alright. I was so worried. It feels like its been eons. Everything is so dark, and so quiet..."
Leo smiled back. "We're here to help. Don't worry."
"Thank you," Siren whispered. "You have no idea how nice that is to hear."
Suddenly she yelped and scooted away, slapping at her arm as a shadow coiled around it. Leo jumped, startled.
"Luminance!" Cuore shouted.
Leo winced as the area burst to radiant white light once more. As it faded, it took a small amount of the darkness with it, letting him see some cave walls and the ground for a moment.
The tendrils around Siren pulled back sharply, retracting to several feet away.
"I think we've successfully proven the feral spell is drawn to energy." Cuore remarked.
Siren burst into tears, "No, no, I'm so tired, I can't keep singing, please... I want to go home..."
Leo reached out to pull her into a hug, deciding that it was the right thing to do, and pat her back. "Siren, it will be okay. We're here to help. Cuore's magic seems to hurt the shadows."
Over the Eidolon's shoulder, Leo caught his sister's eye and mouthed; "What do we do?"
Cuore shook her head at him, before looking around the area and then back to Barbariccia.
Leo knew his sister must be worried about the windy Eidolon. She cared about the Eidolons immensely, especially the Element Guard who she was overly protective of.
As Siren sobbed into his shoulder, hands grasping his upper arms so hard it almost hurt, Leo cycled through possible ideas.
They could just wait here until Bahamut found the source of the spell and destroyed it.
But, they had no idea where Bahamut was down here, and they had no way of knowing how long that would take.
They could attempt to find the others, or the source of the darkness themselves, but he had a feeling that neither Siren nor Cuore would want to leave Barbariccia.
Cuore's voice brought him out of his thoughts. "We can't stay here. This spell is already adapting to my magic."
She nodded to where a swirl of darkness was gathering.
"If this wasn't such a dire situation, I'd be impressed." she said. "I do believe that it is feeding off the Eidolon's energy, and I do think it has the capacity to nullify magical effects as well.
"Siren, we need to go," Leo said softly, trying to pull away from her.
Her grip was incredible strong for such a petite frame.
"I won't leave my sister," she said, shuddering. "I can't lose her again."
He completely understood why she felt the way that she did, but it didn't leave them many options.
They could leave without both of them, which seemed cruel.
Or, they could all stay and risk being ensnared by the raw form of this spell.
He didn't like that option either.
Leo tossed a pleading look to his sister, hoping she had an idea or argument to help Siren move.
"Siren, I know how you feel. I don't want to leave Barbariccia either." Cuore began. "But, this darkness hasn't hurt her. She's only asleep. We need to find the others and figure out where the source of these shadows is."
Siren jerked upright, forcing Leo to lurch backwards and catch himself on his hands.
"No!" she exclaimed. "I won't leave my sister! I lost her once, it won't happen again."
Cuore looked taken aback, but frowned as if she was about to admonish her. Siren cut her off.
"Your supposed to be her summoner! Your supposed to keep her safe. Why can't her summoners ever keep her safe!?"
Cuore winced and Leo felt a burst of indignation on her behalf.
"Siren, that's not fair. Cuore isn't suggesting we abandon her. But if we don't stop this spell, then all of the Eidolons are going to end up like your sister." he explained sharply.
The Eidolon burst into tears.
Leo groaned and buried his face into his hands.
That hadn't been the outcome he'd wanted.
Siren was sobbing. "I-I know, I'm sorry. I didn't mean that, Cuore. I'm just so scared, and I'm so tired..."
Leo and Cuore exchanged a look.
His sister sighed. "I wish I had a better idea, but..." She gestured vaguely in the direction of the growing mass of darkness nearby.
Siren had clutched her sister's hands again, tears still streaking down her cheeks. She looked miserable, her whole form trembling.
Leo pondered their best options. If they stayed, they would have to find a more permanent solution to keep the spell at bay.
Siren's voice was hoarse, and he wasn't certain how much longer she could keep the unstable magic calm.
He wondered if there was a way to move Barbariccia, but that might complicate matters if they needed to also keep the shadows away.
They didn't really need to be there when Bahamut did whatever it was he was going to do, so at least they didn't have to worry about that.
He glanced back at Siren.
The way she was staring at her sister broke his heart.
She was terrified, but there was a fierceness in her look. She meant it. She wasn't going to lose her sister again.
"No, I'm sorry Siren," Leo said, touching her shoulder. "I didn't mean to sound harsh. I know you don't want to leave your sister."
She looked up at him, lips quivering.
He offered a sad smile. "I get it, okay? I wouldn't want to leave my sisters either. Or course you want to protect her. And, besides... the others don't really need our help, so... if you want to stay, then we'll stay."
She sniffed. "We?"
"Yeah, I'll stay here with you. I'm sure you don't want to be alone." Leo said.
She stared at him for a long time, silent and unblinking.
Finally, Siren swallowed and whispered; "Really?"
Leo nodded. "Yeah. Like I said, I wouldn't leave my sisters behind either, so, I understand. I'll stay with you."
He wasn't prepared for her throw herself into an embrace with him again and nearly fell over.
"Thank you," she mumbled, sniffing again.
Leo glanced at Cuore to see if she was going to be annoyed with his decision or if maybe she would offer to stay as well, but he quickly realized she likely wasn't even paying attention.
Her gauntlet was removed and laying across her lap, somewhat dissembled. Cuore's eyes darted over the components and her fingers moved impossibly fast given how small everything was she was touching.
"Uh, Cuore?" Leo asked tentatively.
Siren peeked at her as well, looking concerned and intrigued.
"We can't remain here, but obviously we can't leave Barbariccia either," Cuore said, eyes still on her work.
Siren hadn't pulled away, but she lifted and tilted her head to teal haired woman better. "You... have a plan?"
Leo heard the tremble in her voice. She sounded frightened for the answer.
His sister looked up then, and a slow, melancholy smile forming on her lips. "I always have plans, but they don't always work. It occurs to me that we can distract this errant spell for a moment. I hope that will be enough time for us to continue on our way."
"But we don't know where we're going," Leo pointed out.
"Indeed, that is the next thing to worry about." Cuore agreed.
Siren was still clutching Leo's shoulders, which made him sit at an awkward angle but her attention was solely on the other woman.
"Your going to stay with us? Well, I guess... we're all leaving, but..."
His sister's blue eyes flickered up to meet Siren's. "You were right. I am her summoner, and it is my job to keep her safe."
Siren bit her lower lip. "I-I didn't mean to-"
"No, you are right," Cuore repeated. "We're bonded, and we shouldn't leave her."
She held up the bracer; it was partially dismantled, with wires dangling from one side and the other side already sparking. "Since this spell only seems attracted to Ves'Per*, I should be able to overload this. It will provide us a brief opportunity to move while the spell is drawn to that burst of overloaded energy."
"That will destroy your gauntlet though," Leo said, concern washing over him.
Cuoore shrugged. "It hasn't been helpful thus far,"
"I guess that's true..."
She gestured to Barbariccia. "Do the two of you think you can move her? I need to concentrate on this."
Siren shifted, releasing Leo and moving to stand on shaky legs. "I can try,"
"I'm sure we can," Leo said, hopping to his feet and hoping he sounded confident.
Cuore smiled, "Good."
"And when we move where... are we going?" he asked, bouncing on his toes.
He felt restless. It would be good to get moving again but if they didn't have a destination, then it would be pointless.
Siren looked thoughtful. "Maybe we move to where the shadows are thickest?"
Leo blinked, "Um..."
"I know," she said, ducking her head with a nervous laugh. "I don't want to do that either, but, if the others were heading to the source, then, wouldn't that be where the thickest shadows would be?"
"That's genius," Cuore remarked.
Siren beamed at her. "Oh, thank you. Do you think so?"
"I do. It's also a better plan then anything we have at the moment." The teal haired woman said. She nodded to the Eidolon still unconscious nearby. "Are you two ready?"
They both nodded, and Leo knelt down to sling one of Barbariccia's arms around his shoulders. Siren bent down to tug on her other arm.
"Ugh, she's heavier than she looks," Leo muttered as he lifted her up and attempted to stand.
He winced, realizing he'd said such an insensitive thing out loud, but Siren merely giggled.
"It doesn't help that she's taller then us, too," Siren said, wobbling as she stood upright as well.
Leo shifted the Eidolon and glanced at his sister. "Well, I think we're as ready as we'll ever be. Are you?"
Cuore nodded.
Leo wasn't feeling completely on board with the current plan, but they didn't have anything better to do, and he'd be lying if he said he didn't want to be moving.
Or, at least doing something with the appearance of helping.
No matter how much slowing down, thinking things through and planning ahead were important, he also knew sometimes you just had to move.
Plus, he didn't feel comfortable idly waiting around while the darkest grew around them. It was deeply unsettling.
Cuore made a few more minor adjustments to the bracer and it begin to make a horrible whining sound.
She tossed it away from them, opposite the direction of where the shadows swirled the strongest, just as it began to fizzle with sparks.
After a few heartbeats, it gave a sharp pop that was loud and sudden enough that both he and Siren jumped, startled.
In an instant, the inky black tendrils sped forward, swallowing the sparks and making that side of the cavern nothing but an abyss.
Leo winced, disturbed, but didn't have a chance to dwell on it as Cuore beckoned them onward. They moved towards the new cleared tunnel, having to step lightly around only a few spots of shadows.
The darkest left a trail, but none of it moved or made any attempts to stall them, so they just cautiously continued onward.
After a few moments, Cuore helped them lift her Eidolon and they moved faster, still following the stains of darkest that clung to the floor and walls.
"I can't believe that worked," Siren whispered. Her voice sounded hoarse.
Leo grinned at her. "Cuore's a genius, of course it worked."
"Well, it worked for now," his sister corrected. "We still need to find the source and hopefully the others, as well."
They walked another few minutes in silence, but unlike before, this wasn't disconcerting. Leo didn't feel like he was being watched any longer, and the darkness had lessened slightly to make it a little easier to see.
The Feymarch was still mundane and eerily still, but it was an improvement.
Siren finally broke the silence again.
"Thank you."
They both paused to look at her, but her eyes were filled with tears again and cast downward.
"Siren?" Leo asked.
She looked up and offer a small smile. "Thank you for finding me, and for not leaving. Me or my sister. I don't know what I would have done with you two."
"Don't mention it," Leo assured her. "We're here to help!"
She gave a single, uneasy laugh. "I suppose you are."
Cuore gingerly stepped over a particularly large patch of creeping shadows. "It seems to be darkening up ahead."
"Do you think that means were getting close to the source?" Leo asked. "There's suppose to be ruins and a gate, right?"
"Oh, that place?" Siren said. "I'm not sure if we're near that, but I know that place. It's forbidden, but I'm not really sure why. Didn't you go there once, Cuore?"
She frowned. "I never went past the gate."
Leo resisted the urge to ask her more questions.
His sister had always been selective on what she spoke about in regards to her time in the Feymarch. He knew they weren't her best memories, and even now it was strange to think she'd spent years down here, yet only weeks had passed for them.
He understood it more now that he was older, but when he was a child it made no sense to him.
Still, Cuore was standoffish about it, so he never pried.
Clearing his throat, Leo forced an optimistic tone. "Well, if we are close, then maybe the others are too. And, if they aren't, then at least we'll know where we are down here."
Cuore's expression looked unimpressed, but she didn't say anything.
Siren on the other hand smiled once more. "Right!"
At least one person here believed his confidence.
Cuore admired her brother's cheery nature, even if she was baffled by it.
Sometimes he was overly happy and acted carefree when she thought any sane and normal person should be disturbed or afraid.
Either that or he was a very good actor.
Probably a mixture of both.
But, she didn't want to upset the situation or drag anyone down, so she keep her comments and concerns to herself.
Even if they found the source of the feral spell, they couldn't do anything about it without Bahamut.
And given that the spot they needed to get too was likely those ruins, she wasn't thrilled to be making the trip.
She'd feel better if her parents, Kieran, Bahamut or even Titania were with them. Uncertainly and the unknown bothered her.
As they continued to move onwards, Cuore was glad she could feel the thrum of normalcy from her Eidolon. Even is she was unconscious, her aura didn't seem damaged, and her presence was calming.
In fact, her lack of smart remarks made her more calming asleep then if she had been awake.
"Oh, what's that?" Leo suddenly said, freeing a hand to point.
Cuore blinked, following his finger.
"The gate!" Siren exclaimed before she could.
Rather then feel relieved they'd made it, Cuore felt a wave of dread wash over her but ignored it.
The gate was a rounded arch of black stone, smooth with a slight shine to it. It towered into the air, and spread out to either end so far it seemed to disappear.
It looked, from where they were standing, as it the metallic like rock was suspended in midair.
They limped closer, still hauling Barbariccia between them. Wisps of darkness floated in the air, but none of them tried to lash out or caused any discomfort when touched.
Cuore eyed one. "Residue," she pondered.
Part of her was terrified of this feral spell, but another part of her was fascinated. If it wasn't causing harm to the Eidolons, she would have loved to learn more about it and study It's life cycle, abilities and origins.
They stopped just inside the gate, and wordlessly they lowered Barbariccia to the ground.
Siren looked uneasy. "I... I don't feel right here."
Leo blinked, "What do you feel?"
"Like I'm being watched. Like something is going to jump out at me. Like there's eyes and whispers and... something wrong nearby."
Cuore frowned, she felt similar, but wouldn't have described it quite as whimsical as that.
"Why don't you stay here?" Leo suggested, voice tone even with a hint of cheer. "It looks like we are the first to arrive, and there's not as much of that dark stuff around here.
He was definitely a good actor.
Siren nodded, lowering herself to the ground next to her sister. "O-okay."
Cuore wasn't feeling very happy about entering the gateway either, but she followed after Leo as he fearlessly trotted through it and into the ruins beyond.
The cavern was spacious, but it was also quiet and sterile. The area was populated with tawny dust everywhere. It covered the ground, the half walls and crumbled ruins and it floated in the air.
She continued to follow Leo, who was looking around and poking his head into wider gaps, craning his neck to see over other objects and occasionally waving a hand to bat the dust away.
But he never touched anything.
"This place is weird," he whispered. "The buildings look... well, they look weird. I've never seen anything like them anywhere else in the world."
Cuore nodded, but said nothing.
The buildings were all rounded, spires and spikes dotted everything, curves and mismatched bricks. Nothing was angular or straight, everything was flowing and just a little bit off.
The complete lack of sound or color anywhere didn't help it feel any less alien. Still, there was something eerily familiar about the ruins surrounding them.
She felt as if she'd been here before, but the feeling of disconnect gave her pause.
Cuore winced, wondering if she hadn't been here before, but someone whose memories she held had. Deep in the recesses of her mind, like a dream viewed through murky, rippling water.
Familiar, yet distant.
Cuore swallowed thickly, suddenly finding the air stale and dusty. It wasn't pleasant to breathe in this place.
"Sissy?"
She jolted, glancing to her left where Leo was staring at her in curious concern.
"Are you alright?" he asked.
Cuore inhaled, despite the musty air, and then exhaled, nodding to her brother. "Y-yes, I'm fine."
Leo didn't look convinced. He took a step closer and lowered his voice. "You sure?"
Cuore smiled, touched by his concern and knowing he'd always been attuned to her feelings, even as a child.
"I'm sure. This place is just unsettling." she explained. "I'll be glad to leave once we're finished."
Leo nodded, letting his gaze wander back to the half walls and crumbled pillars. "Me too. It feels... I'm not sure how to explain it. The Feymarch hums with magic, right? You can hear it too?"
She nodded.
He frowned, darting a look around. "It doesn't hum here. It's like everything is still, devoid of magic. Devoid of life."
"An apt description." she agreed, crossing her arms so she could run her hands up and down her arms.
The air was chilled, but she didn't feel cold. Yet her skin pinched with goosebumps all the same and she felt like something was crawling up and down her spine.
"Are you sure you are okay?" Leo asked once more. "I want to check back in on Siren, but I won't leave you unless you promise me you are okay,"
He sounded so serious yet child-like that she giggled despite herself. "I'm fine, Leo, but thank you. I'd feel better if Kieran and Titania were here, but I'm sure they are both fine."
"Yeah, me too." he muttered. "To both parts of what you said."
He tossed her a carefree looking grin her way and reached out to squeeze her shoulder. "This will be over soon enough. Then we can stop worrying, right?"
Cuore matched his expression. "Right. At least until the next crisis."
Leo snorted a laugh and then turned to walk towards Siren, leaving her lone with the uneasy feeling lingering.
Cuore shook her head at her own thoughts. It was just the situation that had her so unnerved, she was sure.
It was odd how few shadows were here, given that this was where they thought the source was. But, she supposed it made sense they radiated away from her, grasping for places and things with energy to siphon.
Cuore anxiously rubbed her wrist, missing the feeling of cool metal against her skin. Her fingers trailed to her ring, and she spun it around her finger a few times as she glanced upward. The ceiling of the cave was so high she couldn't see it, save for a few rocks here and there.
Something skimmed her back, featherlight.
She jumped, spinning around and clutching her hands together at her chest.
There was nothing there.
Cuore exhaled a shaky breath.
She could vaguely see Leo by the gate, likely doing exactly what he'd said he was going to do.
Cuore was about to rejoin them when she heard something behind her. Looking over her shoulder, all she saw was a thin mist of darkness creeping over the jagged pathways.
It flowed in from every twisted alleyway, crawling up and over piles of fallen rocks with nimble, dark fingers.
As she watched, the misty form darkened, solidified.
It became less like smoke and more like ink, pouring over rather than crawling.
As it swelled, it pooled at her feet. It didn't touch her, but it congealed, gurgling and bubbling.
A faint sound became to echo through every stone, every partial of dust.
Whispers.
Darkness.
Swirling, coiling.
Blackness.
Absolute, bottomless.
Shadows.
Shifting, formless.
Void.
Unfathomable.
There was nothing quite so loud as silence...
Suddenly, that silence was broken with chatting; horrible words that rose in volume and intensity. Screams followed, then curses, whimpers, wheezes.
Her trance was broken with the sound of a chord being snapped.
Cuore gasped and stumbled backwards.
The darkness was gone with a blink of her eyes.
It was silent once more.
Her breathing hitched and she swallowed, darting a quick look around and realizing that she had walked further into the ruins.
A cairn of stone stood before her.
It was unremarkable, jumbled together with a flat top.
But it was reeked of something awful and her pulse spiked as she stared at it.
She wanted to run.
Cuore jolted, trying to break her eyes away from whatever that thing was.
She took a single step back but a hand grasped her wrist so tightly it hurt.
When she looked down, there was nothing there, despite how she could feel the vice like grip.
Cuore made the mistake of looking up once more, and her eyes locked on the pillar.
Fear doused her and yet she couldn't look away.
Not when the whispers were back.
The whispers that spoke not words, but made her ears ring and her head pound.
The longer she stared, the more she realized what the cairn of stone really was.
Author's Note: Whew! That's the end of this chapter. Probably 1-2 more and then the Epilogue. (I THINK it's only 1 more, but I always think things will be shorter then they turn out to be,)
I had a lot of fun writing Kieran and Titania together. They are total opposites in a lot of ways, and they aren't really related, since one is married in and one is soon-to-be married in (obviously, hehehehe) but I had a ton of fun with them talking.
Also, Leo is just always fun to write.
So, yes, the Displacer was intended to be used for Titania to still be able to leave the Feymarch, given that doing so makes her sick over time.
I enjoyed getting to explore Siren's character a bit more. She's the more naive version of Barb. Still a little stuck up, a little sharp but also timid and cheerful because she hasn't had to experience all the hardships that her sister has. I also have this idea that the different songs she sings have different effects (I'm pretty sure that in some of the games there's a random effect each time you summon her, but I could be wrong) I think that type of magic could have some really cool effects.
