Deborah's POV
Took a deep breath to calm myself, I aimed for a relaxed, natural demeanor, slowly walking toward the soldier stationed at the first checkpoint. I gave him a harmless smile. "Hello."
The guard didn't respond, his cold, detached gaze fixed on me.
Meeting his stare, I felt a small thrill—an opportunity.
"Touch your nose with your left pinky finger," I said in a testing tone, silently channeling my "Domination" ability. This power allowed me to influence others' will. Although I wasn't entirely confident in its reliability, I felt a surge of anticipation.
The guard's expression grew vacant, as if locked in place. Mechanically, he raised his left hand, his pinky touching his nose.
Good. "Domination" was working.
Keeping my composure, I locked my gaze on his, my tone firm yet gentle. "Now, disable all alarms at the checkpoint. My seven friends and I need safe passage through each checkpoint until we reach a secure place."
The guard replied vacantly, "I only have access to disable the alarm for the first checkpoint."
I frowned slightly, inwardly sighing. It seemed we'd have to handle each checkpoint individually, and I would likely need to use "Domination" on each guard along the way. This was going to be a long path.
"Very well, disable this checkpoint's alarm first. Escort my seven friends and me safely through," I commanded.
The guard nodded, turning to the control panel without hesitation and disabling the alarm at the first checkpoint. He then turned back to me, his gaze blank. "Follow me."
I signaled to Matthew and the others, who swiftly emerged from behind the wall and quietly followed me, moving closer to the guard.
He opened the door at the first checkpoint, gesturing for us to proceed.
Once we had passed through the first checkpoint, he led us behind a wall near the second checkpoint, ensuring we were safely hidden.
At that moment, I met his gaze again, softly instructing, "Return to your post, reactivate the alarm, and forget everything that just happened. Continue your duty as usual."
The guard nodded expressionlessly before turning, his steps heavy and purposeful, oblivious to the unusual events that had just unfolded. He reactivated the alarm and resumed his position, carrying on as if nothing out of the ordinary had occurred.
Mike, who had been observing quietly, gave me an approving thumbs-up, whispering, "Deborah, that was incredible! I can't believe you controlled them so easily."
I offered a slight smile, saying nothing, though a faint unease stirred within me.
This power of control filled me with an unprecedented sense of capability, even within the confines of the underground city. Yet it also prompted a fresh awareness of my abilities.
Having gotten through the first checkpoint, I found myself growing more confident in handling the upcoming guards.
After closely observing the number of guards and their patrol routes, I decided to use a similar approach: creating a small noise to draw a soldier's attention.
As the guard approached, I looked up, locking eyes with him.
In that brief instant, I focused, channeling "Domination" to infiltrate his mind and control his actions.
"Disable this checkpoint's alarm, call your colleagues into the office, and keep quiet. Lead us safely through this checkpoint, and find a secure hiding place for us at the next checkpoint," I instructed in a calm, commanding tone, fully in control.
With a vacant gaze, the guard complied, summoning his colleagues into the office before shutting the door. He then led us seamlessly past the checkpoint.
We continued using this method, and each time we encountered a guard, I would employ "Domination" to have them disable alarms and escort us to the next location.
As we passed each checkpoint without problems, a growing sense of unease crept over me. I realized that unlike other forms of magic, Telepathy and Domination seemed unaffected by the underground setting, nor did they drain much of my energy. With each use, I became increasingly adept at wielding them.
Despite our progress, I couldn't shake the sense of urgency. The underground city was clearly on the brink of collapse—a feeling that echoed relentlessly within me.
At last, we reached the final checkpoint.
Just as I prepared to make a move, the ground began to shake violently, the tremor nearly knocking me off balance. Frequent minor quakes in Finias had kept us on edge, but this tremor was unlike any before.
As the earth shuddered beneath us, thick dust and fragments of stone began falling from the ceiling. Larger rocks soon followed, crashing down from widening cracks above.
Nearby soldiers panicked, rushing to take cover in the office to shield themselves from the falling debris.
"Quick! Be careful!" Matthew shouted, rushing to my side and wrapping me in his arms protectively. His figure blurred before me, and I felt a crushing weight press down above us as rocks pounded against the ceiling.
Matthew shielded me completely from the falling rocks, his chest pressed firmly against my shoulder, warm and steady.
At that moment, memories of our first meeting flooded the back—of Falshi Quarry, of a sudden quake and of Matthew shielding me from falling rocks, risking his safety without a second thought.
The warmth of his body, the determined look in his eyes—it all overlapped with the memory of him, an overwhelming familiarity washing over me.
Dust filled the air, and it felt like the very space around us was collapsing with each violent tremor, making it hard to breathe.
Each rock that hit the ground thudded heavily, the reverberations echoing through my body.
I could feel Matthew's arms wrapped securely around me, an invisible barrier between me and the surrounding danger. Despite the chaos, a calm settled over me, enveloped in the warmth of his protection.
"Don't worry," Matthew murmured, his voice low but steady. "We'll be safe soon." His voice held a rasp, yet remained full of conviction. Even in this dire moment, his words gave me comfort.
I could hear Matthew's strained breathing, his low, suppressed groans—a clear sign of pain.
But amid the turmoil, there was no time to ask. The exit had been blocked by debris, the passage buried under a pile of fallen stones. The remaining six of us glanced around in distress, some pacing in place, others muttering curses under their breath.
Taking a deep breath, I forced myself to remain calm.
My mind raced through possible solutions. Though the exit was blocked, we were close to the surface.
Perhaps I could attempt teleportation—a form of magic I hadn't fully recovered my strength for, and the ache in my back lingered, but it was our only chance.
Without further hesitation, I grasped Matthew's hand, intertwining our fingers as I whispered, "Teleportation!" An intense surge of energy erupted within me, sweeping us into an unstoppable current.
The next moment, Matthew and I were flung forward like a gust of wind, appearing outside the entrance.
The instant our feet hit solid ground, I murmured the spell again, "Teleportation!"
This time, I grabbed Mike, barely pausing to think as I clasped his arm. "Teleportation!" Another whirlwind of energy engulfed us, and I heard Mike's startled yell, his voice trailing as we were thrown forward.
In a blink, we landed again outside the exit, Mike beside me, wide-eyed and dazed, mouth opening as if to speak, but I didn't give him the chance.
Exhaustion swept over me, dizziness clouding my vision, but I knew time was short. If the rocks piled too high, I wasn't sure I could continue teleporting smoothly.
Steadying myself, I cast the spell once more. "Teleportation!"
This time, I held onto Alex, feeling the tremor of his arm as we raced through the darkness, materializing above ground.
Before Alex could react, I returned to the underground city, retrieving Jac and Jim in turn. Each spell took more of my strength, leaving me unsteady, but I knew I couldn't stop.
Finally, I returned for John. The tremors had intensified, the entire space shuddering as if on the verge of collapse.
The walls around us began to crack, rocks falling mercilessly, echoing with a destructive force.
Drawing a deep breath, I fought back the fear rising within me. A red glow seeped from the ground, and the air filled with the acrid stench of magma, a sulfurous heat thickening the air.
"John!" I grabbed his arm, shouting the last spell, "Teleportation!"
As we moved, scorching rocks fell from above, sharp pains pricking my skin like needles.
I clenched my teeth, squeezing my eyes shut, praying silently.
At last, after a dizzying surge, we escaped the darkness, reappearing at the exit.
Beside me, John was gasping for breath, small scratches and red marks covering his arms. His face showed a look of lingering fear, while my own energy drained to its limit. I stumbled back, struggling to stay upright.
Matthew hurried to my side, worry etched in his eyes. "Deborah, are you alright?"
I nodded, gasping for air, trying to force a faint smile, though a wave of darkness blurred my vision, and I felt my consciousness slipping. Matthew's hand remained warm and steady, supporting me as I began to lose my balance, my body instinctively leaning toward him.