Chapter Ten
Lilith hurried to help Miles, struggling to get up from the ground. She grabbed his arm to steady him as he coughed and fought to catch his breath.
"Thanks," Miles said, the tension in the air thick with an unspoken sense of urgency.
"Crimson!" Lilith exclaimed, her voice slicing through the silence. "What do you mean when you say the day of the Demon King is approaching… again?" Her eyes sparked with fierce determination, fueled by urgency and a deep-seated fear of what was to come.
Miles, still leaning on Lilith for support, felt a surge of adrenaline. "What do you mean?" he asked, his voice steady despite his turmoil. The words hung in the air like storm clouds ready to burst; it was clear that the stakes were higher than ever. The fate of their world teetered on the edge of a knife, and they needed answers—fast.
Crimson's voice cut through the tension. "Miles, I didn't tell you the whole truth back on the ship."
"What truth?" Lilith asked, her brow furrowing in confusion as her heart raced, sensing the moment's gravity.
"Just listen!" Crimson's voice sliced through the tension, urgency etched into every word. "When someone from another world steps into Amethyst, they become ensnared by forces far beyond their comprehension. These forces—known as the Legion of Rigour—are anything but harmless. Rigour is a demon king, lurking, waiting for a new vessel from another world to unleash chaos and destruction. They've already caught wind of you and Laurel, and they're already on the hunt!"
A spark ignited within Miles. He broke away from Lilith, determination igniting his eyes like wildfire. "Then what the hell are we doing just standing here?" he snapped, his concern for Laurel boiling over.
"If nothing has happened yet, then she hasn't been discovered," Lilith countered, her voice steady even as their world teetered on the brink.
"Exactly! We have to get to her first before they do. We won't let history repeat itself!" Crimson urged, locking eyes with Lilith, the intensity crackling between them.
"I won't lose everything again! It can't end this way! Not after all we've fought for!" Lilith shot back, her conviction like a shield against the storm.
"We won't," Crimson vowed, determination etched into his features. The fate of their world hung heavy in the air, and they would fight with every ounce of strength at their disposal.
"Let's head back to the ship," Crimson said, urgency propelling them forward. They pushed through the remnants of the devastated tavern, adrenaline fueling their every step.
On the ship's deck, Miles turned to Crimson, his voice taut with tension. "Where to now?"
"Do you have anything of Laurel's we can use to find her?" Crimson asked, hope glimmering in his eyes.
"No, you lost the only thing we could have used to track her down," Miles replied, realization crashing over him like a wave.
"Oh yes, I did," Crimson admitted, a sudden frustration bubbling to the surface. "Then it looks like we'll be heading there."
"Where are you talking about?" Lilith asked, curiosity piqued.
"To see Gale the Mage at Willow Haven," Crimson answered, a grim edge to his voice. "He'll kill you if he sees you—just like I should have done."
"I said I was sorry!" Crimson exclaimed, hastily steering the ship toward their fateful destination.
As the ship cut through the clouds, Miles leaned against the railing, staring into the depths below. Lilith approached him, her presence a mix of tension and warmth.
"Hey, Miles, I'm sorry I didn't get to introduce myself properly. I'm Lilith," she said, extending her hand in an olive branch.
Miles didn't respond, a wall of silence rising between them. "Can I join you?" Lilith asked, undeterred.
When he didn't reply, she stepped beside him anyway. "Beautiful view, right?" she said, attempting to lighten the mood. "Don't worry, Miles. I'm sure your friend is safe."
"How can you be so sure?" Miles finally asked, scepticism lacing his tone.
"I knew that would get you talking," Lilith said, a playful smile breaking through. "You know, when Crimson and I were younger, Rigour claimed a vessel and unleashed havoc across Amethyst. We lost everything—our families, our friends. A knight of the High King took us and some other kids and shielded us from the storm. But one day he never returned from a battle against Rigour. From that day on, Crimson became our protector, like an older brother."
Her voice grew softer. "Five years later, Rigour was in the body of an old man, stripped of his full power. The High King and other mighty forces managed to bring him down." She paused, the weight of the past heavy in the air. "That's why Crimson and I will do everything in our power to find Laurel and protect you until you find a way back home." She reached out to comfort Miles with a gentle touch on his back, but he shrugged her hand away like it was fire.
"Sorry for what you went through, but I don't need protection," he said harshly. "I just need to find Laurel." As the words left his mouth, a chill emanated from him, a palpable reminder of the darkness creeping ever closer.