I think I'm going crazy down here. It has been days since we last saw the sun. The tunnel is playing with our minds.
***
"Who are you?" Crystal asked.
The woman was tall, almost reaching Breeze's height. Her slender body was pronounced beneath her one-piece silky dress, large bosom pressed together and exposed. Her hair was long and so were her eyelashes. Small face, tender lips, straight-edged nose- her features were splendid yet Crystal wouldn't go as far as calling her attractive. She realized that it had something to do with the woman's eyes. It was dull like a faulty lamp.
"Reverie is the name given" She said. "Although if I would to choose a human name it would be Vella."
Crystal shifted to Breeze. Her eyebrows curved up. "I thought you would return with the dust. And yet you brought someone else."
"Don't be jealous darling." Breeze chuckled. "She's nothing to me. You are the one I seek." He stepped. "The only one."
Crystal found arguing with the presumptuous Sentinel too taxing for her mood. She instead sought Reverie, probably the only one who could answer her question without a tinge of unnecessary and annoying coquetry.
"Breeze left two cycles ago bearing news to Shadow about my discovery. I sent him to bring back your Dreamweaver's dust. Now I've been waiting in the Cavern for two cycles, serving a moody Councilor. Have you seen Highness Marble's moody side? No, you haven't and you wouldn't want to."
Reverie stared at her unblinking. "Well I see it now. You are moody yourself. And you look like her."
"I..." Crystal tugged her lips and just rolled her eyes. "Just tell me why you are here? Isn't this imbecile of a Sentinel enough to guard me? And where is the dust I asked for?"
Reverie stretched her neck, eyeing every corner of the room. It was unneeded. Crystal made it certain that their meeting place is secluded from discerning eyes. It was, according to Marble, an old warehouse now abandoned due to age.
"I have the dust." Reverie said. She dipped her fingers in the middle of her bosom. The tight things spew a small leather pouch. It was a mystery as to how a pouch could fit in the middle.
Crystal reached into the pouch. Her hand wasn't even halfway when Reverie swatted it.
"I suppose you don't have any idea how precious this pouch is? I shall never let anyone touch it. Never."
"It's just dust" Crystal said. Breeze's eyes widened as he shook his head quickly to her.
"Dust! Oh you wicked thing. Dust?" Reverie walked to Crystal, finger stiff to her face. "It took me three hundred cycles just to produce this amount and we are blowing it in one go. Just dust? You dare say that to me? Dust! Three hundred cycles. It's three hundred cycles of my life wasted to make this amount!"
Three hundred cycles! Crystal didn't expect Dreamweaver's dust to be that precious. The pouch on Reverie's hand was half her palm.
"But Shadow" Crystal said. "When he dragged me into this Resistance thing of yours he blew some Dreamweaver's dust into me. I saw visions and memories."
"Shadow did what!?" Reverie's fine features trembled.
"Not yours!" Breeze held both hands. "And we needed it. Crystal is bit dangerous to handle. And you know Shadow, he wouldn't waste a resource for no reason."
"Of course it's not mine. I would have known if you stole from my stash. Listen here you brawn without brain. I count every grain, every single grain you hear me?" She looked at Crystal. "I do understand we need to make that crazy man talk. And to tell you honestly Crystal, I don't enjoy seeing my hardwork being spent in a single use. So I am here to ensure that you don't go wasting my dust. I will be the one diving."
"Diving?" Crystal asked.
Breeze tilted closer. "It's sort of a..."
Crystal waved her hand. She would rather hear from a Dreamweaver. Crystal prodded Reverie's answer through raised eyebrows.
"Diving is going inside a person's dream." Reverie said. "From what I gather, Shadow was the one who dived into your dream when he blew the dust into your nose. Someone has to control the dream or else the person would just dream a normal one. The dust would be wasted. The Dreamweaver would be more than just sad. I swear Breeze I can't get over the fact that you wasted dust like that!"
"Alright, enough with that." Crystal said. "Explain to me how the process works. What should we do?"
"We?" Reverie scowled at Breeze. "She's coming?"
"I'm not?" Crystal also scowled at Breeze.
"I'm sorry darling. Shadow's order is for you to keep out of this. We can handle the dream."
Great. After using her and benefiting from what she uncovered, they were just ditching her in the dark. Thrown. Unneeded.
She shouldn't rue. This is what she wanted- to be excluded from their dangerous games. But after hearing the eerie warning of the survivor, she itched to know what actually happened in Shivan.
"But you need me. I was the one who talked to the surgeon."
"We can talk to him without you. He had seen Breeze right?" Reverie said.
"Yes. But Breeze had the impression of being my guard. I think I should be in there."
"Crystal" Breeze seemed surprisingly serious this time. He inched to Crystal, shaking his head. "Diving into dreams is dangerous. And Shadow's orders are absolute."
"But..." As expected, she was stuck between being a full blown rebel and a clean citizen. Crystal provided a weak nod and trudged toward the door. "I'll be going."
Crystal peeped out of the door, looking left and right. Carts burdened with rocks hauled in the streets. Miners walked with bowed heads. None of them regarded her. Good.
She joined a group of gloomy miners with just a few steps behind. Their picks were slung on their shirtless shoulders. Their skin darkened with dust. The smell wasn't welcoming. Sweaty and damp. A little sour with a tinge of bitterness.
After spending two whole cycles in this confines they call The Cavern, she had memorized the whole area. It was shaped like concentric rings. The center was Marble's tent. It was surrounded by a string of tents belonging to the Sentinels. The next few rings were reserved for the warehouses, kennels and infirmaries where most of the activities happen.
Crystal crossed several streets before the Sentinels' tents presented on the other side. Most of the Sentinels were resting inside their tents this time. The lamps would dim soon after all. Crystal crossed the street and trekked to the path leading to the center. It was blocked ahead by a dozen shields lining. Sentinels stood behind the shields, eyeing her approach.
"Highness Crystal" One of Sentinels greeted a nod. This one had a plume on his helm, the mark of an officer. The others also did the same. Their respectful attitude was a jarring break from Breeze's attitude.
"I need to pass."
"Of course. But we need to search you again Highness. It is Highness Marble's command."
Three Sentinels, all women, went to pat her body. They were thorough and it was uncomfortable despite them belonging to the same gender as her.
"I hope you understand, Highness." The officer said.
"I do. This strict protocol is necessary."
"Thank you. Not all are as understanding as you. The visitors earlier almost had a scuffle with some of my Sentinels when we searched them earlier. Arrogant rascals."
The last visitor she remembered was Rage and the Grand Consul himself. But after she returned that cycle, the two were already gone and Marble was already moody.
"We have visitors?" Crystal asked.
"A few Highness. Nine in all. Six men, three women" The officer sighed. "Flameguards."
Flameguards. Councilor Rage's assistants. There were twenty of them, supposed to be the ones with the most powerful Flamegifts. It was said that only Councilor Rage's Flamegift was more charring. If Rage's Sentinels were obnoxious, his Flameguards were even more so. They were bad news.
The search ended and the three Sentinels retreated behind their shields.The Sentinels broke their line and angled a way for her. She proceeded, steps fast. Soon she saw the tent and the Flameguards.
There were indeed nine of them outside tent. Their clothes were strange even with Councilor Rage's reputation. Dark capes dropped to their ankles, painted with the symbol of a flame. All of their hairs were long and braided, even the men. None were smiling when Crystal approached. Instead they frowned.
"You are Councilor Marble's broken oath? Her betrayal to the Grand Consul." One of them said, a sneer on his narrow face. This one seemed to be the senior with his wilting skin. He was almost as old as Rage himself.
"Highness Marble didn't betray the Grand Consul. She has, is and always will be a bastion of loyalty, one you will never see in the rest of the fifteen. Certainly not in Highness Rage."
"Trained tongue you have there. Sharp too. Now my fellow Flameguards and I have been waiting here for too long. It would be desirable for Marble to answer us with her presence."
Crystal looked at the Sentinel guards by the tent's flap. The stood, spears pointed up and chins raised. "What is this about?"
"Highness Marble is sleeping. Resting. She wouldn't take it kindly if we disturb her sleep." One of the Sentinels said.
"But we are guests" said the senior Flameguard. "Guests should be treated accordingly. We would rather be back at the High Tower rather than being here. The least she could do is to respect us for our troubles."
Crystal made her shrug as visible as possible. A small smile mocked on her face. "You heard the guard. Highness Marble is sleeping. We can't just intrude in her sleep. That is not how we, second-rate Councilors, should act."
She made her way inside, a strut was in her walk. She paused and looked behind before entering. Satisfied by the irked faces of the Flameguards, she continued.
Marble was brewing something on the table. The smell was good, homely and new. Her hand seemed trained in crushing the mixture of herbs in the bowl.
"Sleeping?" Crystal asked.
Marble glanced smiling. "Let them wait. Arrogant things."
Crystal went closer. Marble poured water into the bowl, slushed it and held the bowl under her nose. She sniffed with eyes closed. Marble slid the bowl toward her. "Drink."
"Drink?"
"Yes, drink. Mushroom tea. Good for your growth. I do hope repairing your stature is still possible."
"My stature?"
"Yes. You are a little short."
Crystal eyed the liquid. "I don't think I can still grow."
"Thus the tea. Drink child."
Crystal held the bowl and sniffed. The smell was indeed good. A little tangy but somehow gentle. She took a sip. Sourness, sweetness and a tinge of bitter skidded down her throat. It was warm.
The bowl was empty save for the mushrooms and herbs after a few gulps. She put the bowl and grunted.
Marble bent and wiped the edge of Crystal's lip with a cloth. "This is also my apology. I've been rather harsh on you lately."
"Well you did yell at her a few times. You were also frowning all the time. The last time you chided me, I didn't even made a mistake."
"Oh hush child. You lost the documents on Reget Mine."
"It wasn't me who lost it but that Sentinel."
"The same Sentinel you entrusted. You put your trust that he would be capable enough in accomplishing the task. That is your mistake."
"But it was found in the end."
"Still a mistake."
"Fine" She nodded. "So your moment of gloom has passed?"
"Not yet. Those arrogant things outside our tent sours my mood still." Marble leaned back on the table, hands supporting her stand. "I'll be away, child. For a while."
"With them? The Flameguards?"
"Right. The new mine, Tex, is... well I'll just say that it is more complicated than the other mines. This coordination with Rage's people is distasteful but the Grand Consul himself ordered for it." She looked at Crystal. "Tex Mine is the farthest one so far. Deep. It would take me several cycles going back and forth. You are free for the meantime. Stay here or go back in the High Tower. Your choice. Just be present when I call for you."
Not having Marble around would be different. But she would manage. She had lived for years alone without Marble. But somehow hearing that that she would be alone for the next cycles saddened her.
"I'll stay here. The trip to the High Tower is cumbersome."
"Your choice." Marble cupped her face. "And don't slack on your practice. Your gift needs to grow."
Marble left with the Flameguards not long after. There was a limit in how long they could spite Rage's assistants after all. Crystal stood outside the tent, watching as Marble and the Flameguards vanished behind the tents.
She went inside. The empty tent was eerie, a sound more unsettling than a loud explosion. Crystal sat on one of the sturdy chairs. Her eyes were on the map.
She had learned reading the map now. Despite the crossing lines and the knotted paths, she could at least make out the different mines.
Tex Mine was marked vaguely. It was a smooth surface for now, only marked by several lines. She wondered what task Marble and the Flameguards were up to now. It was a subtle feeling but Tex had the same feel with Shivan.
She leaned back. Her eyelids fell though sleep didn't come. There was nothing to do now. The Resistance wouldn't include her. Marble was in a confidential trip. She feared losing her sanity to the silence.
Crystal rose and went to the bed. Beneath the pillow was the book Shadow gave her. Journal, he called it. Marble did ask about the book several times. Her lie of it being a commoner's gift seemed solid enough. She didn't understand why she kept the thing. Maybe it a whim. Or maybe it was a terrible symptom of her giving attention to their dangerous craft.
The book gave the same crispy sound as she flipped through it. New. It was only a copy after all. The original was out there, probably rotting and unread. The figures were still strange. The strokes were hurried in some of the pages. It would indeed be interesting to know what the author wrote.
"Highness" The Sentinel outside called.
Crystal close the book. "What is it?"
"I am here! Crystal!" That was Breeze voice and it was hurried.
Crystal immediately peeked out and grabbed Breeze inside. The Sentinel's wrist was sweaty and Crystal would have chided him for it if not for the look on his face. Horror.
"What happened?" She whispered. "Why are you here?"
"Crystal there is a problem. It's about Reverie. She..." Breeze bit his lips. "She has gone insane too."