For some reason, the Emperor's words had stuck Albaric as resoundingly true. A fact which he resented. The situation was a reflection of his own negligence. He saw Michael's descent but let him fall so he wouldn't have to be alone.
Still now, even though Michael had manipulated Bird and Ace, and his words still hung like a shadow - Albaric didn't want him to die. He could have brought a deal to the Emperor on their behalf, but of course, Michael had no patience or faith in him.
"Concentrate, Albaric," Rena glanced up at him, "Your mind wanders,"
"I'm sorry," Albaric inhaled deeply.
Behind Albaric's eyes, a vision of blinding white cajoled him into silent repose. He found himself at the royal temple in summer. It was approaching noon and the sky was burning red. The tall white spiralling spire of the temple was but a shadow beside it.
At once Albaric eyes found Rena, she was sitting staring down at her hands. They were marked with scars. The look in her eye was foreign to him. Glazed and filled with sadness. Then another sister approached. Albaric's eyes widened. The girl knelt down beside with warm blonde hair flowing gently in the wind and a generous smile Albaric knew too well.
"Lucy?" he breathed.
But she could not hear him. Instead, Lucy took Rena's hands in hers.
"Out here again, Rena?"
"The silence of the temple sets my mind alight," Rena said softly.
"I've hardly seen you since you returned from the west," Lucy replied. "When you were called for subscription we were all afraid you would never return,"
"Perhaps I never did," Rena remarked, "It is one thing to serve as a healer as we do here. It is another to kill a human being. I suppose this is the limitation of my birthright. Though I serve the order and can come and go to the Empire, I will never be one of you. My country will own me for the rest of my life. How many wars do they intend for us to fight? How much destruction do they intend for us to reap? For what? So the rich can sit in their glass palaces while the rest of us die?"
A tear streamed down Rena's cheek. Lucy caressed her hand warmly.
"Your country asks much from its people,"
"Yet it gives so little. Even now, though I am here again, the stains of that place won't wash away. The other sisters are afraid of me. I come out here to be away from their sympathetic eyes. I don't know why the head sister chose me to lead the order in the north. How can I lead them when I can barely command my own body to walk? How can I ask them to follow when I can't see the path myself? I won't just be a fool in their eyes. I'll be a fool in the eyes of the goddess. She shows me her love but what have I done to earn it?"
"The goddess knows your heart better than you do," Lucy smiled, "The other sisters may not trust you yet but they will. You are not someone to pity or to fear. You are stronger than anyone I have ever met. I look up to you Rena because even in your lowest, you are still higher than the others will ever be. Don't see your time in your country as a weakness, use it as a strength. The sisters may never know the things you have seen, but it is because of that that you can guide them. If you walk with your head held high and the fire of your conviction in your eyes, they will follow,"
Rena's eyes widened. The darkness abated and a clear light filled them. She swallowed hard.
"Do you really believe that Lucy?" she whispered.
"If anyone can do, it is you,"
At once, Albaric felt the energy shift. He could feel Rena's magic. Soft like running water yet unrelenting as the current hitting a shore.
"There," Clover said, "We have enough magic. Just maintain it until you find Michael. I will guide you,"
Clover placed a hand over Albaric's and Rena's. At once, Clover let out a grunt.
Ace watched apprehensively. This plan just didn't sit well. Why wouldn't Clover just let him help?
Clover gritted their teeth against the pain. Blood began to trickle down their nose. Ace instinctively stepped forward but this time it was Bird who stopped him. Ace's jaw clenched as he stepped back with his fists balled.
"Do you see it yet?" Clover exhaled uneasily.
"Not yet," Rena answered. Both she and Albaric remained joined by the hands with their eyes closed in deep concentration.
Blood began to pour this time from Clover's eyes. They began to mutter some incomprehensible words under their breath which appeared to steady their shaking. A little more, just a little more...
"I think we're close," Albaric slowly, "I see a forest covered in snow. It's not far from here. I can...I can see him. I can see Michael,"
"Okay," Clover breathed, "Try to remember this feeling. Once we break the connection, you'll have to go on instinct alone. Have you got it?"
"Got it," Albaric answered.
"Sister?" Clover turned.
"Yes, I believe I've got it," Rena replied.
Clover released their hands and fell back. Rena and Alabric opened their eyes. For a moment, they shared a knowing gazed. They didn't need words, the feeling was enough. However, they were soon brought back to attention by interspersed coughing. Both looked over.
Clover was doubled over coughing. They spat out a mouthful of blood. Ace knelt down beside Clover alarmed by the amount of blood. Clover held up a hand pushing him back.
"It's fine. I'll be okay," Clover exhaled through short breaths.
"So you can be hurt then?" Albaric said looking down.
"Don't be too happy about it," Clover scoffed.
"Why don't you let us heal you?" Albaric replied sternly.
"I'll pass," Clover rose unsteadily, "I can heal myself,"
"Albaric is right," Rena enjoined, "If this becomes a fight with Michael, you can't go out there injured. Let me heal you. I am still a sister,"
"Sister, I appreciate the sentiment," Clover smiled wiping the blood from their lips, "but even if you only use healing magic on me, just the presence of your holy magic will probably be enough to put me six feet under,"
"I see," Rena glanced waywardly at Albaric.
Albaric gave Clover an inspecting glance "So, you've never been healed by anyone else, Clover?"
"Why would I need to?" Clover returned somewhat impatiently.
"But if you can't heal yourself, what happens then?"
"I suppose, in that case, I'll just have to die," Clover smirked, "Now, shall we?" they gestured onwards.
As Clover had described, the faint feeling of Michael's presence was enough to guide them beyond the small village. To Albaric the feeling was akin when one has lost something. You have this feeling that what you've lost is in a certain place, then when you go to that place, it's as you thought.
They travelled deep into the snow-covered forest.
"I think we're close," Rena surmised.
They continued walking into an opening. The clearing beheld a small shrine of rocks balanced on top of each other. It was quiet. Not even the sound of animals could penetrate the heavy silence.
"Something's wrong," Clover stated in a low voice.
"What is it?" the group turned back to them.
At that instant, a black pool came under Clover's feet. The moment they looked down, they fell into the void below. Ace ran after them and fell through as well.
"What the..." Albaric stared at the place where they had been but all that remained was their footprints in the snow. Albaric stepped back and drew his sword. He frantically searched around the empty clearing.
"Albaric, I think this is ka..." Rena began. Yet once again before she could finish, the black shadow swallowed her as well.
Albaric spun around wildly searching the clearing.
"Get out here, Michael!" Albaric snapped. "What do you need these dirty tricks for? Come out and fight me, you coward!"
There was more silence. Albaric turned to Bird.
"Bird," he said, "Can you do a scan of the area?"
Bird nodded. He put his hand to the ground and with his magic propelled himself into the air. Once above the trees, he scanned the area below.
"I can't see anyone in the surrounding area," Bird called, hovering in the air. His eyes went beyond the grove where they had been standing. He glanced around. Upon turning a black shadow appeared just above his line of sight. He jumped back startled.
Kalandra hung upside down staring at him with a smile. Her legs were still held in place by the shadow.
"Hey Bird," she waved. "Fancy seeing you up here,"
Bird hit out with a blow of wind in her direction. Then he proceeded to retreat to the ground.
"What is it?" Albaric questioned as Bird crashed to the ground. Bird scrambled to his feet.
"Kali!" he yelled.
Albaric spun around but he was instantly hit with a wave of water magic. He flew back several feet in the other direction. Bird stared up.
"Michael," he breathed.
Micahel tilted his head back with a merciless stare. Within a moment, Kalandra appeared at his side. Her cheek was marked with a fresh cut. She dashed it irritatedly.
"He cut me," Kalandra said viciously, laying eyes on Bird.
"Calm down, my love," Michael smirked, "It's only a flesh wound,"
"A man should be more protective over the face of his wife," Kalandra frowned.
"Your definition of masculinity gets increasingly smaller every day. How can I keep up?" Michael grinned.
"What are you doing, Michael?!" Bird interrupted, "Stealing from Clover? Now the Empire is involved. Just give the necklace back before this becomes any worse!"
"I'd love to stay and talk Bird but do you hear that?" Michael gestured just beyond.
There was something a roar of anger beyond their line of sight.
"GET OUT HERE MICHAEL!"
"Well, my love," Michael glanced at Kalandra with a smile, "promise me you won't kill him?"
Kalandra turned to Bird with severe purple eyes, "Cross my heart and hope to die."
Michael started to walk away but Bird chased after him. At once, Kalandra blocked his way.
"Where do you think you're going?" she said coldly.
A short distance away. Michael stepped over the trunk of a fallen tree. There were skid marks leading up to another half-broken stump. Albaric flew forward with eyes shining with anger.
"You bastard," he breathed.
"No need to call me names," Michael smirked, "You want me? Here I am."