Chapter 13: My Way Forward.
I was naked again. The same as before an expanse of white surrounded me. My mind was a blur, still trying to settle down the torment it had just gone through. The memories and images were clear but at the same time they weren't, like I was being held in stasis. I stood still waiting but no one came. Finally I looked down and there at my feet was a piece of paper casting no shadow and on it perfectly typed black ink.
Forgive her. It was not her fault.
Just what was it talking about? My chest suddenly hurt and I could once more see Taylor's knife sticking through my chest. It vanished as soon as it appeared. Was that what the note was referring to but why wouldn't she tell me herself? Still nobody came and with that the world collapsed.
*
My eyes opened to the familiar inn room. I was back in Greytree. I couldn't waste any time, I needed to get back home to Axel. My body reacted painfully as the muscles struggled to move the way I wanted. Before I knew it I had collapsed from the bed to the floor. The nightmare came like a torrent forcing me to cringe. Their bodies piled high, the look of horror plastered to their thin faces, the black mess sprawled across the ground. It fuelled me to keep moving.
"Rain what are you doing!?" Taylor jumped through the window dropping her bag causing apples to roll across the ground. Her hands pulled me to stand.
"I need to go," I grit my teeth and used her support.
"What you need to do is get back in bed," she forcefully pulled me back.
I turned to snap at her but my words caught in my mouth. Forgive her. Instead I grit my teeth, "Just let me go."
"No," she shook her head. "I've seen people like you Rain. You're one step away from a bad idea."
"I need to go home," I tried to push her away but without her I couldn't even stand. "They're in danger."
"Look I'm not sure what you think is going on but you've been asleep for days now. The Monster is dead, we're safe."
"But they're not," I couldn't think straight. A fog had descended over my mind but what I did know was that I was running out of time.
The door opened and Lara stepped through, Ronalt behind her. She looked at me struggling to pull away from Taylor and her trying to force me into bed. It was clear she was confused.
Her eyes focused on me, "Rain are you okay?"
"He's not," Taylor said immediately. "He's gone crazy."
"I'm not crazy!" I shouted and ignored them both turning to Ronalt. "You owe me."
He looked at me in surprise and turned his head away in shame, "That I do. Had I listened we would never had to face that Monster. I- I apologise." He bowed his head.
"I don't care about that just let me go!"
"Rain?" Lara stared at me shocked and Taylor's grip loosened. I slipped through her fingers and crumpled to the floor on my knees. "You want to leave?"
Ronalt knelt down beside me, "Rain, I understand what happened could have been avoided but we still need you. Her highness the Queen was right to choose you to help us. I see that now."
I turned my eyes to his, "You want me to go with you? Fine, I Rain Axel of Axel swear to journey with Lara the Hero and her party, but, only if you let me leave now."
Ronalt's gaze hardened, "Where is it that you want to go?"
"Axel," I replied stiffly.
"Why? This does not seem like a simple visit home. If something is of the matter perhaps I can assist you."
I felt my jaw clench. He was right. If I brought everyone to Axel then no matter what happened I was sure they could save us. The image of Greytree in flames seared into my mind.
"I had a dream…," I began slowly. "In that dream I saw my family, my friends, everyone in Axel they had been butchered and killed. Believe me or not but it wasn't just a dream. If I don't go now they'll die."
"That's-," Ronalt's expression was clear, he thought I was crazy but then something odd happened. His eyes met mine and in them I could see the reflection of my half crazed and dogged state. He relaxed. "Understood. I'll let you go and in return as promised you will travel with us once more."
"Thank you Ronalt," I gripped his hand whole heartedly.
He helped me stand, "No need to thank me. However if you were to go by yourself you'd simply be fodder for the beasts and monsters not to mention the denizens. I'll go wi-."
"You can't," I refused him. "I- I didn't just dream of Axel but Greytree as well. Call me crazy but you need to stay. Three days from now the demons will attack."
"That's a strong claim Rain."
I continued, "The Monster we killed was a natural wall. With it dead there's nothing to stop us or them to launch an invasion in these parts. You know what that means." He nodded. "Good, in my dream I saw the demons rise from a tunnel they dug near the south and north gates."
"I'll look into it. I owe you that much. Regardless you need an escort-,"
Taylor cut in, "Then I'll go with him." She shrugged while stretching, "I was beginning to feel a bit cramped here anyway. Besides Lara will be able to find me wherever I am." The collar on her neck flickered.
"Then I'll go to-," Lara began.
"No," Ronalt and I both dismissed her. Our eyes met again but quickly looked away. This cycle's Ronalt didn't trust me as much. Of course he wouldn't want Lara to go with me. As for me, I couldn't have her come, she needed to stay to protect Greytree. But in return I had my own claim.
"Lend me Ardent," I said bluntly. "If he's with me you can contact us with magic somehow right?"
"We could," Ronalt nodded. "You'll need to ask him yourself but I don't see why he would refuse."
"Thank you," I bowed. "Really… thank you." With this I had enough power to turn the tides. All I needed now was to get home in time. In a sudden rush my energy left me and I almost fell catching myself just in time.
"First however, you need to recover."
"Call Marley," I didn't care if she was busy, I'd owe her anything if it meant getting to Axel in time.
*
Within the next few hours Ronalt had organised a small carriage for us and even allowed us to take Pina. It was nothing compared to our usual carriage and was barely more than a wagon. The driver's seat was separated by a simple piece of cloth and the insides consisted of a single bench cushioned with bags of hay. Still, the frame was new and strong. Even if Pina ran full speed the wood would hold.
"Hmmm," Ardent looked at the carriage and nodded. "It'll do."
"Ardent… thanks again," I said to him softly.
"No problem Rain. I'm actually quite curious to see what your home is like," he smiled oblivious to the danger I would probably end up putting him through.
"I know right," Taylor cheered beside me. "I can't wait to get all his embarrassing stories."
I ignored her and walked up to Lara. She was looking at us anxiously. I could tell what she was thinking. She didn't want everyone to separate. Although we had only known each other for just over a week, to her it meant a lot. That was the kind of person she was.
"We'll be fine," I said lying optimistically.
"Ah yeah," she nodded. I slipped a note into her hand. "What's this?"
"Instructions. There's a boy with a sick sister. Please help them." Michael's sister would be fine in the long run but there was no telling what he would do until then. I knew what a desperate person could do to help a loved one. It was a self-serving wish to help him and all I could do was ask Lara to take the burden but leaving him alone left a bad taste in my mouth.
"Don't worry I'll handle it, so stay safe okay?" she smiled.
I nodded in reply trying to do the same.
The last of our supplies were loaded onto the carriage. Most of it was what we already had from the other carriage like food and sleeping gear but we couldn't take the bulkier equipment. The room we had was a lot less despite it not being visibly much smaller. Regardless it would be more than enough for a two day journey.
We said our final goodbyes by the south entrance to Greytree. Earnest was intent to come with us however Ronalt managed to pull him away while Marley moped that I was leaving saying that I owed her. I'd have to pay the debt another day. It was an uneventful send off and soon enough we were on the road as Pina pulled the carriage happily, which was more than I could say for myself. In a normal situation we wouldn't even have left at this time. It was already the late afternoon and in a few short hours the sun would set. If it wasn't for my desperation we'd still be in Greytree. I spurred Pina faster and she kicked off the ground causing the carriage to bump and shake. We at least needed to be at a safe camping ground by nightfall.
Ardent and Taylor kept to themselves while I drove and it wasn't long before the sun began to set.
Eventually Ardent poked his head from the cloth, "Rain we should find somewhere to set up camp. It's not safe to travel at night with our numbers."
"I know," I cursed internally and had Pina head towards a rocky outcrop in the plains. It was marked as a safe place by travellers and I had camped there before. In the winter when the sun set early it really could be a pain to travel. With less light it meant less time to move, plus the cold was never comfortable. Thankfully the temperature here was still mild compared to the northern parts of the Kingdom.
"Need any help?" Taylor asked as I began to set up the camp. "I may not look like it but I have experience."
"Go ahead and light a fire then. Over there should be fine," I pointed to a spot not too far away.
"On it," she was all smiles which only made it worse for me. The letter said to forgive her, that it wasn't her fault but just why would Taylor stab me? I actually thought we had gotten pretty close but then again maybe that was only me. Still I couldn't hate her for it, another few seconds and I would have done the deed myself.
I cooked a quick meal for the three of us and we sat around the fire silently. The sound of the crackling wood and the clink of our spoons the only noise in the night. It felt like it used to when I first joined them. When I ate alone working my woes away.
"Rain I've been meaning to ask, this dream of yours just how serious was it?" Ardent broke the silence.
"Serious enough," I replied and rubbed my forehead. "Imagine seeing everyone you know and love dead, that's how I feel right now."
"But a dream is still just a dream, what happened may not come to pass," he was trying to reassure me but from experience I knew if I did nothing there was no doubt it would happen.
"Humour me," I said bluntly.
Ardent let out a hollow laugh, "Then I shall. Tell me of this dream Rain. I have experience in such things, who knows perhaps your dream was more of a vision."
I frowned, "A pile of dead bodies reaching the eaves of the buildings around it. It was like some kind of Goddess forsaken ritual."
"A ritual?" Ardent looked at me seriously. "You could tell that much?"
"Want me to draw it for you?" I huffed jokingly.
"Please do," he reached into his bag and pulled out a board and chalk. I did as he asked though apprehensively. For one just remembering the scene made me want to pull my hair out but if Ardent really did know what this was, I needed to do my best to recreate it. I explained what I could while I drew. Drawing had never been a hobby of mine as no one in Axel had taken an interest.
As I finished Ardent breathed thoughtfully and stood up pacing, "This… this is not just any ritual Rain. The fact you were able to draw this, to describe it, we can no longer treat this is as merely a dream."
"What is it?" I asked feeling my heart beat thicken.
"A taboo of the highest class punishable by more than just death," he spoke through gritted teeth. "Really I shouldn't even speak of it."
"I need to know," I hardened my expression.
"You've got me curious now as well," Taylor said intently beside me.
"There is a class of magic that's practice is extremely controlled and for good reason. Its basis is the collection of mana through living beings. Worse still what you have shown me is the most rotten of the sort. It's not just collection through death but suffering." Ardent paused, "I knew some people who researched the possibility. When humans experience strong emotion the mana within us can fluctuate unpredictably and it is exactly that which is exploited. The intricate paths in the circuit you drew me, though incomplete I can say for certain that magic was used."
"Ardent tell me, can you stop it?" my gaze was firm.
"Before it happens yes," he nodded. "During it, maybe."
"Hold it," Taylor raised her hand, "If Rain's dream is more than just a dream doesn't that mean Greytree is in danger as well? Also if that magic is so special surely not many people could do it right?"
"Astute of you Taylor," Ardent nodded. "I'll contact Ronalt and inform him. As for who… I know of a group of outcasts who research such things but they should be in the Empire."
"So it wasn't the demons?" I probed.
"It could be. They have their own methods as well, but this," he held up the board, "looks distinctly familiar."
"I see," I looked down in thought. This was becoming more and more complicated. "We have a long day ahead of us. I want us out by first light. You should get some rest." I walked away from the fire into my own tent. For a brief moment I saw Taylor about to reach out for me but she quickly pulled back, I ignored it.