Scene Two: Black City
...Of Act Four: Blackness
In the eyes of Ryoku Dragontalen, we are in
Leudis, in the world of Lysvid.
It is late night
On November 7th, 2017.
"Check the map again, Loki."
The Trickster obeyed with frustration, unfurling our map of Lysvid for what seemed like the billionth time. Guildford peeked over his shoulder at the map while the rest of us stopped, looking at the city ahead of us.
We had reached what the Timeless One referred to as the Black City – Leudis, a major town a few miles from Xactyr. People knew it as a war-like town, the secondary capital to Lysvid as a leading force against the werewolves and other invaders. Black gates at the city entrance loomed to the sky like a pair of coffins on either side of the road. The vampires at the gate dressed finely and heavily armed, which seemed like a commodity thanks to their granite skin. They barely glanced at us when we passed them into the city.
"Town square," Guildford said for Loki, pointing at a spot on the map – a close-up of the city of Leudis, marked with a square near the middle. "Home of the Bloody Mare."
My teacher had changed out of the Timeless Castle garb, and now wore a simple white shirt with an open collar and black breeches under a thick brown cloak. A modest longsword hung at his belt. I felt like my teacher was in some Shakespeare play or something rather than neck-deep in a world of vampires alongside me. Of course, Loki returned to his attire as a mock-Dracula, which looked even more ridiculous next to Guildford. The two appeared close in age.
"Doesn't look far, at least," Sira muttered, peering easily over the shoulders of both men to see the map for herself. "A mile through vamp-infested city streets? Can't be too bad. I think we've seen the worst of this place."
"I hope so," I murmured in agreement, and Sira clutched my hand a little tighter. That was a new thing, a side effect from what transpired between us at the Timeless Castle. All had been fast-paced ever since, and that left no time for us to finish what we started. We only held hands, a mere spark compared to the inferno of that dusty old kitchen.
After acquiring my new sword, Ragnarokkr, from the Timeless One, we spoke a little more before the Timeless One suggested our next course of action – bounty boards. Using the very thing that threatened to condemn me as a method of gaining funds wasn't my most favored notion, but it made sense. Nobody wanted to hunt werewolves anymore after what transpired at Gaevrel. Even Sira seemed to swallow back the idea. That and the attack in Xactyr pushed us out pretty quickly. The next best place to go was here: Leudis, the black city. It was the nearest place, and known for its availability of bounties.
True to its name, everything seemed even darker than in Lysvid's capital. Buildings sat along the streets like rows of shadow-cloaked tombstones, and their denizens like pale, well-dressed ghosts among them. Traffic was high during Lysvid's nights, though I saw little difference save for the lack of a moon in the sky once more.
Walking with the new sword bobbing against my back felt strange. All that the Timeless One told me about it was that it belonged to my name somehow. Ryoku Dragontalen. I had to admit, I thought little of my name. It turned some heads even in the spirit realm, especially to those who knew me as a Defender. The name itself felt strangely distant from me. A moniker, I thought, more than my true name. Could I even say that with confidence, given how much transpired in the last month?
The odd quirk about it was that the blade felt light and normal in my hands. Nobody else could lift it from the ground, let alone hold it aloft. I didn't dare try to wield it yet, and the prospect of wielding a sword bubbled in my chest like a faint promise.
Loki hesitated at the entrance to a particularly dark alley. "This would shorten our journey a great deal," he mentioned. "I don't know about you, friends, but my stomach dearly longs for some true grub. The Bloody Mare is next to the city square. We could squeeze in for a proper dinner if we allow this minor shortcut."
"Is there a time Lysvid stops serving food?" Will asked curiously.
"After dawn," Guildford explained, with a quick glance at me. "The least trafficked time for vampires. We do have time. If you feel this shortcut would be wise…"
Loki shrugged. "Of course," he replied quickly. "What worse danger could we face in this accursed place?"
Sira was shaking her head as Loki veered off toward the alley. "That's a damned challenge if I ever heard one," she muttered, and Will chuckled.
The alley turned out to be busier than the streets, and with even less light. Vampires in long, dark coats walked briskly down the alleys and past shopkeepers who operated from behind shoddily stacked crates. In the darkness, I could only discern living from inanimate by the glint of red eyes.
Nobody spoke as we sidled through the alleyways, carefully avoiding contact with the vampires. Lusari kept the light on her staff low enough to only cover us and view anything just outside our tight circle. Will and Sira kept close to either side of me, their eyes dancing madly over the passing vampires like any might attack out of the blue. If I had the story straight from before the Timeless Castle, it wasn't entirely impossible.
After a few minutes, the traffic in the alleys seemed to dwindle until we could walk apart in the narrow alleyways. Loki breathed a sigh of relief, walking backwards to face us with his arms crossed casually behind his head. "This place consumes my anxiety to no end," he said airily, smirking. "To find a vamp-less spot here is like a vacation, don't you think?"
Guildford glanced at the god sharply. "That might not be the wisest idea," he said, but not before Loki bumped into a vampire while strutting backwards. The vampire, a tall male with a black coat, hissed widely at him. Loki turned calmly, glaring at the vampire.
"What's the big idea?" Loki snapped. "Sorry for walking backwards, but, no offense, you lot are like mice with the way you show up outta nowhere."
"Loki, step away!" Will said urgently. "He is of the Ritual."
"That is right," another voice approached from the darkness into the light given off by Lusari's staff. A tall vampire with curly brown hair strolled into our midst, arms crossed. He held himself with a gait that reminded me eerily of Jesanht Olace, and I had to note his eerie crimson eyes to assure myself it wasn't him. "My name is Gale Destrow, and we are of the Ritual. Your people are causing a lot of trouble in paradise."
I realized I recognized him. When we entered the Capital, he was one of the vampires walking with the Ritual. Locking eyes with him filled me with a strange trepidation that left me staring, certain he was going to rear his head. Of course, here he was. His strange accent seemed ill suited for a vampire. It was almost... modern.
A hand grabbed onto my arm. I thought it was Sira, but stiffened when a second hand went around my throat, sharp black claws against my skin. Sounds of struggle around me suggested that the same was happening to my friends.
"Are you serious?" Loki drawled, pure annoyance emanating from him. "Step down. You're messing with the wrong folk if you think—"
Gale lunged. I didn't see him even move, but the force threw Loki back into the vampire he'd run into, who grabbed him by the arms and pinned him. Loki fought back, but the vampires' strength seemed too much for even him to break free.
"That's enough," Gale snapped. Several vampires emerged from the shadows to back him up. I quickly realized that everyone was pinned like I was. He stood in the center, his arms dormant at his sides while he examined us. "First, the Warg that breached the capital, then what happened at Gaevrel. Your alliance with the half-breed, Rex Dougo. And, of course, your little fight in Xactyr. You lot have stirred up far too much trouble."
Sira growled, struggling to break free. "What the hell does that matter to you? Like the Ritual is actually doing anything for this place! So we got rid of your Warg and your kind like to attack us?"
"Our actions had nothing to do with your people," Will agreed angrily. I could see him and Lusari as outlines in the dark. He wasn't fighting his captor, but the muscles in his arms were taut and ready to press back. "Are you suggesting we let the Warg into the city?"
Sira glanced at Will. "No way. Is this guy that dumb? How the hell're we supposed to smuggle one of those into the city?"
"Lest you forget, we defeated that Warg," Loki snarled. "Where were your people then?"
The woman vampire embracing me started to kiss my neck, which drew unelected feelings within my chest as I struggled to pull away. Loki caught my glance, and his eyes spoke untold words: I will not let them hurt you.
Gale only glared at Will and Sira before returning his stare to Loki. "Whoever you lot are, you've caused enough mayhem in my world. That, and the elf..." His crimson eyes flickered over me in mere annoyance before flitting back to Loki. "Enough is enough. You and your company are guilty, and your sentences will be carried out here – repaid to my people with your blood."
He struck Loki again. Loki could only stand and take it, pinned taut by the vampire binding him. I watched the moment flicker by like a slideshow: Gale lurching forward, the impact, Loki's rebellious glare as the vampire struck him.
The next thing I knew, I broke out of the vampire's grip, and the sound of naked steel rang through the air. It was a glorious, reverberant sound that felt... right. Ragnarokkr. It came to my hand as instinctually as scratching an itch. I barely registered tugging the blade from my back. It seemed to pulse in my grip like a living thing. I connected to it in a way that I didn't seem to with any of my weapons. I could feel it longing to strike. I knew it could cut these vampires.
"Oh, look," Gale muttered dryly, only glancing at me from the corner of his eye. "The elf brings a black sword to the black city... how oddly fitting." A slow, menacing grin spread across his lips, and he drew two of his slender, clawed fingers into the air over his neck. He didn't need to state the order.
My company sprang into action. I heard Sira's shout as she slammed into her captor. It jarred him for a moment, but he caught her and struggled to restrain her. Lusari cried out, trying to reach her fallen staff. Will threw all his might into pulling himself free, but it was useless. I could hear Guildford struggling in the shadows, dragged behind me and out of view.
Three vampires advanced. I stood alone, holding only a sword I wasn't sure I could use, and suddenly felt quite naked. What was I doing?
A shadow shot between the others. A loud crack shot through the air – stone to stone. The closest vampire dropped, and the shadow swung at the next vampire, forcing him back. It darted away and sprang at the leader, and I caught a glimpse of the figure as he passed the light of Lusari's fallen staff. My heart soared.
"Rex!" I exclaimed, surprised. Another shadow appeared into our midst, and then Loki fell forward. The Trickster was nothing if not smooth, however, and had his regal blade freed and sprang to right himself before he could hit the ground. In the same movement, he spun and brought it down upon the back of the leader's neck. In his wake slid Cleria, a set scowl on her face.
"Ugh!" Gale growled, rising to his feet – apparently Loki's sword could only serve as blunt impact to the vampire. "The half-breed dares show up here? And you – Cleria Nightfang. You're with them?"
"Screw you, Gale," Cleria retorted, and she extended her claws out like unleashed knives. "You joined the Ritual, and I told you what that means! You're dead to me."
Gale growled under his breath. Rex shot for him again, but another vampire threw himself upon him and the two grappled in the shadows.
"You're making a mistake, Cler. Siding with these folk? You probably still visit that rotten old vampire in the woods, too, don't you? Enough is enough. You've hit my last nerve!"
More vampires appeared in the darkness around us. I hesitated, wondering if my sword I so bravely drew would be any use here. Rex sprang from his opponent in the shadows and struck Will's captor, freeing my friend from their clutches. Will didn't hesitate, and spun around, drawing his lance in a full arc to slam the blunt end into the same vampire's chest. The force hurled the vampire into the shadows with a resounding crash, but two more appeared in his place. Will was already moving, headed for Sira.
Before he could get to her, Sira drove her elbow into her captor. In the moment, she spun around and yanked Sinistra free without hesitation. The blade screamed through the air, and I swore it gave off light as it arched through the air. To my surprise, Sinistra cleaved her foe asunder.
Guildford appeared from the dark behind me just as Lusari reached her staff. As soon as she made contact with it, the small light on it grew to several times its size. I threw my hand over my eyes as light flashed through the alley, illuminating every corner of the fight – and unveiling at least twenty vampires surrounding us, only slowed down by the blinding light.
The first thing I saw when I could see was Guildford throwing his hand forward, and a burst of flames shot from it against the nearest vampire. Lusari already followed up with batches of cold energy lancing through the air like frozen waves of water. Gale picked up a sword somewhere and dueled Loki in the center of it all, with Rex backing Loki up using his singular fist.
A grotesque shriek stole my attention. From the darkness lurched the strangest vampire I'd ever seen. It was taller than the others, its claws so long that they dragged along the pavement behind it as it swaggered eerily toward me. Greasy black hair fell in clumps around its stone-grey face, with oddly unfocused crimson eyes. Every button of its Ritual trenchcoat was done up, but the creature's long neck still stuck out above the tall collar.
Perturbed, I stumbled away, but the vampire creature was fast. It toppled into me like a swinging coat rack, wildly swinging its claws without reason. One claw bit into my arm as I frantically tried to put distance between us. Ragnarokkr slipped from my grasp. Panicking, I snatched at it, my best possible defense against this insane monster. Instead of grasping it by the handle, I caught it by the chains jangling from its hilt, and dragged it toward me.
Suddenly, the blade felt heavier than before. A flash of cold fear gripped my chest. Was I not worthy of the weapon after all? When the eerie vampire lurched again, my only thought became to put the sword between us.
Before I realized what I was doing, I swung the weapon with all my might, my grip still on the chains. The momentum behind my slash ran through the monster like a knife through warm butter, spun, and stuck into the ground on its other side.
I stood there for a moment, my chest heaving, clutching the chains of Ragnarokkr. The monster loomed over me, its eyes wide and buggy as though it lived through the mighty attack. Then, I watched as the top half of it slowly slid to the side, and then fell toward me with a grotesque spray of purplish blood. I cried out, falling back, and lost my grip on Ragnarokkr.
A pair of hands grabbed me by the waist. I thought it was Sira until I felt the claws pinch my skin. Before I realized my mistake, the vampire dragged me back, slapping one hand over my mouth.
Nobody could help me. Each of my friends was in their own fight. Sira and Will fought back-to-back in their opposite styles that somehow worked. Loki and Rex skirmished with Gale in the middle, while Cleria, Guildford, and Lusari backed them up against the outer circle of vampires that didn't seem to end.
Nobody looked back as the vampire dragged me off. As she dragged me around the corner, everyone was already out of sight.
She spun me around and slammed me into the wall, one hand still over my mouth. The other pinned both my behind my back. I found myself face-to-face with the vampire. Her dark orange hair framed her face in a cute, stylish bob that curled over her shoulder. Her opal eyes bored into mine with intensity, accentuated by dark makeup around her eyes. She was, admittedly, quite beautiful.
"Where is he?" she demanded. Fangs slid behind her lips while she spoke. She gave me a look. The implication was obvious: don't make a scene. I nodded, and she pulled her hand away like removing tape. "Bring him out!"
The situation ceased to make sense and, I realized, she was not a vampire.
Orange markings lined her cheekbones in a strange, almost tribal fashion. Her dark skin was far unlike the regular pale skin of vampires. Even the touch of her hands was softer than a vampiric touch. Her eyes weren't even crimson.
"What?" I asked, confused. I tried to free my hands, but she had me pinned.
"You know who. The prince. He who walks in the darkest corridors of your mind. I know he slumbers there even now. Call him out!"
Her words sounded alien to me. Even then, though, they made sense. Images flashed through my mind. When I blacked out in the woods, and woke to the retreat of the Keeper. The dark confidence that ran through me when I needed it most. It propelled me to act sometimes without thinking, resulting in surplus amounts of skill I didn't normally have. Burying three arrows into the throat of the Warg, or summoning magic for the first time.
The worst part was that the occurrences weren't limited to my arrival in the spirit realm. Time and time again, the darkness swelled through me to carry me through tough situations. However, prior to meeting Chris, even those events seemed oddly foggy. The time after Guildford's death had felt like a nightmare. Was it even real?
"Speak!" she demanded. To my alarm, she reached between my legs and grabbed me. "You know who I refer to! Bring him out, or I'll—"
"I don't know what you're talking about!" I said urgently.
"Nonsense! You are Ryoku Dragontalen, and he lives in you – I can almost smell him!"
Her face was very close to mine. A sickly-sweet scent wafted from her, like dewy roses glimmering in a morning sun. She stared into my eyes like a challenge. "Perhaps I must draw him out. Surely you are too weak to hold him back, but if I can appease him..."
Her grip between my legs turned startlingly gentle, and she started moving her hands in a way that made me jerk upright. "W-What are you doing?" I demanded. "Who are you? What do you want with—"
Her hands slowed to a stop, even as a wry little smirk pulled at her lips. Still, she didn't remove her hand. "Hmm. Maybe he is weakened. There is no way he died in the blast, but... Doing such a thing should surely please him..."
She abruptly pulled away, and I nearly fell back against the wall in my relief. She retreated to stand just a few feet away, scratching her chin in thought. She was intensely pretty, I realized. She looked the type of girl considered popular by default in my home world. She dressed nicely, too, in a silky white shirt with tapered sleeves and a medium-length black skirt that hugged her shapely thighs. Every part of her skin that showed was marked with the same strange stripes on her face. Was she even human?
"That might explain the different hair color," she murmured to herself, "but not the eyes. And the sword – there's no way that isn't Ragnarok, but it looks so different." Her black eyes flitted back to me, and I flinched. "Still, you do know what I'm talking about. It's no good to lie to a demon, you know. Especially not one like me. I could make you regret that. Should I?"
"N-No!" I said frantically, pushing myself against the wall. "I mean, I didn't lie! Not really. I don't know what you're talking about, but it does make a little sense."
"So you have experienced him?" she asked sharply. "He does live?"
"Who?" I asked. "You say the darkness, but you act like there's somebody else in me. A demon?"
She stared at me for a long moment. I felt like my face was giving away my emotions. She was alarmingly beautiful in a way that I didn't like letting myself think.
"You truly don't know," she muttered, and the hope in her opal eyes seemed to dwindle. I almost felt bad. "Well, I suppose you should be grateful. I saved your life just now. A kid like you should have been ripped apart in a fight like that. You don't look much like you used to. With my Prince at his prime, they would not dare to meet your glance. At least you managed to kill that odd vampire. Surely the Prince would have stepped in were your life truly endangered. He... has before, hasn't he?"
I didn't respond – her words were hitting quite close to home. I harbored almost no doubt what she was speaking of. The nameless darkness inside me. Smiling, she sauntered toward me once more, pressing me back against the wall. "You don't even know what I am, do you? Who you are?"
I felt like I stood at the edge of a cliff. What was she talking about?
"Ryoku, I'm a demon," she said, smiling all the while. She turned around, pressing her shapely backside against me. I tried to avert my eyes, but then something touched my face. Stunned, I glanced down. The first thing I saw was the lacy black band of her underwear rising over her skirt, but then I saw the object – a long, furry tail, the same color as the stripes on her skin. The tail touched my nose in a way that suggested she had full control over it. As distracted by her as I was, I wished I had a tail.
"You've never met a demon before, have you?" she asked demurely, smirking up at me over her shoulder. "Especially a demon like me. I'm rather unique. Those like me and the Prince stand above the common ilk that run amok in the realms. Of course, we have better powers and other talents too."
As she spoke, she rose in a catlike fashion, pressing her back against me until her neck was at my lips, her hands running across her thighs. She glanced sidelong at me with a sultry look in her eyes. "I suppose my Prince must not be at his full strength just yet. He is there, though, I am certain. Perhaps he needs... something to return to?"
"What do you want?" I asked, but my voice came out weaker than I'd hoped.
She giggled huskily, rolling her tongue across her fangs in a suggestive manner. "I thought that was obvious, boy."
She tilted her head around until her lips were inches from mine. There was a look in her eyes I couldn't break away from, like she had all the time in the world to play and wait for her supposed 'Prince' to return. Maybe she did, if being a demon was anything like I imagined.
As I felt lost in her gaze, her hand slipped between my legs and gripped me again. I gasped sharply, but I couldn't pull away from her glance. "My Prince rests in that pretty head of yours, boy. This body is his as much as it is yours. That includes this." She stroked between my legs boldly. "That's his, too. And it's been everywhere you can imagine on me. I'll certainly come back for him, and you can feel everything that I make him feel."
She drew closer with every whispered word until her lips pressed against mine. Her grip on me became sensational, turning my breathing quick and heavy. Stunned and confused, as well as horrendously turned on, I found myself kissing her back.
It only lasted seconds. Before I knew it, her lips drew away. She removed her hand. My eyes fluttered back open, and she was gone without a trace.
"What the hell?" I murmured, dazed and a little annoyed. I fell back against the wall, trying to catch my breath and relax. What was she even talking about? It was like that entity in me was a completely different person. A different life, one that had somebody waiting for it to return. What did that mean? How, in all I'd come to know, was that even possible?
"Ryoku!"
Loki's shout alerted me from down the alley, causing my breath to catch in my lungs again. Oh, crap. What was I going to say? It sounded like the fighting was over. Honestly, he would only draw in more vampires if he kept shouting. I stole a glance around me, but the corner the girl dragged me around seemed vacant of any vampires. That was definitely a good thing.
Cursing, I steadied myself and rounded the corner.
The alley was a mess. Lusari's light radiated over the area, completely free of vampires now. Ritual members littered the ground. Blood, both human and the purplish of vampires, stained the walkway. I couldn't spot Gale, but all my friends appeared present and accounted for. Loki was gazing the other way, sword in hand. Everyone else was rifling through the bodies, apparently searching for me among them. Guildford had his hand on the hilt of Ragnarokkr, still stuck in the ground next to the severed, crazed vampire I killed, and scanned all around in search of me.
Lusari was the first one to notice me, and she uttered a squeak of glee. Her noise alerted everyone else. Guildford sighed in relief, nearly dropping to his knees. Will gave me a brave smile. Sira's feet looked like they rooted to the ground. Loki sheathed his sword and jogged toward me.
"What happened to you?" he asked urgently, grabbing me around the shoulders. "Are you hurt? Did they do anything to you?"
"One of them tried to drag me off," I lied. "I dropped my sword and I couldn't do much against them. Another vampire scared them off down the alley." I looked over the scene around us with what I hoped looked like an approving smile. "You guys did great. They had us outnumbered badly."
Loki nodded gravely. I expected a vain smirk to appear on his face and for him to gallantly profess his feats in combat, but he seemed oddly serious. "Three Guardians. One teacher. One mage. Two vampires. And none of us could help you."
I realized the route he was going down. "It's okay," I told him firmly. "I can take care of myself."
Loki said nothing. He seemed to take this to heart. Why was he even with us, anyway? Why did I need such Guardians? I subtly shook my head in disbelief and went to draw Ragnarokkr from the ground near where Guildford stood.
"Did the sword work?" my teacher asked.
I managed to yank it free with a single pull. I expected to find the dark blade stained with vampiric venom, but it was flawless. In the near-pitch of night, it seemed to glint warningly. "I don't know," I admitted. "I almost dropped it, but I swung it by the chains. It felt heavier that way, but clearly it worked."
Will approached, scratching his chin in thought. "Perhaps that is a work-around to this curse. That is the best word for it, is it not?" he asked when I looked at him. "A curse? Any normal man can wield a sword. You can wield a knife just fine. I tested it with the dagger I lent you in Gaevrel."
At my expression and a curious sound from Guildford, he sighed and took out the fine dagger from his backpack. He motioned for me to hold my knife out. Putting them side-by-side, the dagger was about two inches longer than my knife. Then, handing me back my knife, he brought out his gladius. I blinked hard. The dagger was only two inches shorter than his gladius.
"The absolute limit to your curse," he told me. "And, I profess, proof that it exists."
"How could he possibly be cursed, though?" Lusari asked gently. "He only just arrived, didn't he?"
"But there was Jesanht, and then this bloke," Will said, jabbing his thumb at Loki. The Trickster still appeared disturbed, but he listened to our conversation. "So, yes. Stranger things have happened to us."
"Well, who would curse you with a sword?" Guildford asked. "Do you have any enemies? Other than—?"
I shook my head quickly. "No. I mean, I haven't even been here long." I turned to Will. "You really think this is a curse of some kind? I don't get it. Who cares if I can hold this thing properly or not? I just showed I can still use it if I have to."
"Against a deluded vampire?" Loki asked. "Sure. But what about, say, the dark emperor of Orden? Could you trust such a skill against a fully trained knight?"
"I..." I hesitated. The thought of actually fighting an emperor sounded horribly distant. Was it necessary? Couldn't I just find another way to free Chris and find my sister?
"We should get going," Rex cut in with a hand on my shoulder. "Before more Ritual cultists show up." When I looked to him, he gave me a quick, warm smile. "It was foolish of us to let you go on ahead alone. Cleria and I will help you through the mission you're going to take, whatever it may be, or until you leave Lysvid. Lysvid seems to have a thing for you, doesn't it?"
"Our departure should be soon," Will told me. "One more bounty. Refresh our stocks of money and supplies. If we have the Ritual after us, I cannot stress enough the need to move on."
"To a new world?" Lusari asked, beaming.
"To any other world." Sira fell in next to me. Her tone made me glance over at her, but she didn't meet my gaze. "I've seen more vampires now than I ever needed to in my life."
Loki sighed. "Agreed."
We started down the alley, continuing the way we'd been going before the ambush. I subconsciously fell behind; watching the shadows like the demon-girl or any of the cultists might materialize in them. However, it was Guildford who fell in at my side.
"You have not changed much," he remarked, giving me a once-over. "I mean, you look a little stronger. The darkness of this world can't do much to put you down, can it?"
I shook my head, a little gratified by his words. Did I look happy?
"You made it so far without your friends' help," he added with a smirk. "Katiel, Dagoriph... they always helped you out in the past, but you made it this far without them. You still would rather shoulder the burdens of the group than alleviate the weight."
I turned to him questioningly, but he stared into the darkness after my friends. "You continue to swallow back your fear for your friends. I..."
He turned to me with a suddenly quite serious expression, and I felt I was about to be scolded. "I don't know that you realize the gravity of your situation. The danger of your quest. Nothing I have ever taught you might prepare you for what lies ahead. You could wind up seriously injured, or even die. Do you know this?"
His words triggered something in me. Will and Sira spoke the same way to me before they made their vows, and it stank of the strange things that characters like Jesanht and that demon girl spoke of. Things that pulled at my unsung memory like loose threads.
This world felt familiar with me. That, alone, could easily wind up my undoing.
It was bad enough that I entered this strange new world, discovering things like magic and vampires actually existed. My goal was solely to find my sister. That involved saving Chris, though, which inordinately stuck the dark empire in my path.
"I know," I replied softly. "I know it all. At least, part of me does."
Guildford gave me a stern look. "Is your knowledge of the matter enough? Acknowledging a fire does not put it out."
"But it is the first step," I whispered.
I expected Guildford to look mad, but he adopted a small smile.
"Yes. I suppose it is the first step."
He sighed sadly, staring off ahead. For another long, drawn-out moment, I recalled the fact that my teacher was dead. His death only came seven months ago. Hundreds, if not thousands, of people in my home were missing this man. They would give anything to see him again. I was sure he'd do the same for many of them, to stand at the head of his classroom before thirty or so students, book in hand and pointing to the chalkboard, about to call on one of them to answer a question.
Now I stood beside him, clad in outlandish garbs with a sword at his belt, talking about dark empires as we strolled through a vampire-infested alleyway, leaving dozens of unconscious or dead cultists in our wake.
Loki eventually beckoned Guildford to the front, as apparently the Trickster needed his help to make it out of the alley. As he left, I caught Sira's glance, who walked a little away from the rest of us. Her scarlet eyes flashed, and she turned away with a scoff.
A nervous feeling birthed in my stomach. Was she mad about our conversation? Of my weakness at not being able to wield a sword?
Or, I thought, had she seen through my lies?