Alexia's eyes flashed with anger. Whipping her head at Helian, she demanded." Why'd you do that?" Her fists clenched on the reins, slightly raised. He closed his eyes, expecting a punch. Not feeling anything, he opened them only to be jerked downwards alongside her and the horse.
" Calm down. I..." Helian wanted to say something but the wild neighing of a horse interrupted him. He raised his eyes just in time to see a horse, soaring overhead. He blinked. " Wow. Now that's a sight you don't see everyday."
Feeling her glare bore into him, he avoided her gaze." Don't look at me like that. I just thought... I'd give your soldiers some momentum." Deciding to let him be, she turns to her horse, her eyes softening." Be a good girl and hide behind that rock over there." She said, pointing to a stone slab leaning on the canyon.
" Neigh." It snorted, refusing to move. " I'll come fetch you. Promise." Patting it's orange mane, she assured it.It neighed, finally moving. Listening to the clomping of hooves, she turned her gaze away. Dusting herself up, she brandished her silver sword.
" Bet I can reach it before you". Helian said, gesturing at the lava worm. " Prove it." She replied assuming a starting position. The sound of his whistle spurred them into a sudden, frantic sprint.
Target in sight, she accelerated. From her peripheral vision, she could see a looming shadow, confused, she barely had time to register the appearance of a bulky hand in her path.
She gasped, her feet sliding out from under her as she desperately tried to brake. She knocked into the arm, coming to a stop while falling back. Helian wasn't spared either. Turning into an unappetizing feathery pancake on the stony ground.
Groaning, she scratched her head, looking up at the owner of the bulky arm. Braided red hair, violet highlights, ivory skin and violet eyes.' I think I know this guy. What's his name again?'
" Halt ". His chilling voice matched his demeanor, imposing. Undeterred, she raised a brow at him. " Why should I? Are you secretly a troll or something? Cause I don't any bridges?."
With a face as calm as a placid lake, he continued speaking. " I don't care how crazy you usually are but you're too weak to face that thing." He folded his arms,his tone remained calm as if he was talking about the weather.
" So?" She asked through gritted teeth. " So, stay behind the group. Stop getting into trouble." He said in a matter of fact tone, picking her by the collar. She trashed about, her sword swung wildly.
Ignoring her struggles he placed her behind him. Stomping her feet, she raised one up to kick him. While she was plotting against him, a red object shot up from the ground, delivering an uppercut to his jaw.
Spitting out blood, the man stumbled backwards. Seizing the opportunity, Alexia shifts her weight to her right hand, using both legs to kick his falling body. Attacked from behind, he falls on his face.
Moving closer, they studied the fallen soldier. " He's probably just resting." Said Alexia. Helian nodded in agreement. Smiling at each other, they moved over his fallen body, giving each other a high five.They sprinted ahead.
Doing a summersault in the air, Helian whistles. " What a fighter." If he had eyebrows, he would be wriggling them at her. Leaping over a bolder, she responds to him." What do you know? Anger does wonders for a girl. Want to have a try" she said while shaking her fist at him. Helian chuckles leans close to her ears and whispers. " I like fiesty types. They make everything more interesting."
With a reddened face, she swatted him away. Focusing on the lava worm instead. Hesitating, Helian spoke up. " I think that idiot back there was right. I don't think you can handle this monster." She glared but didn't refute his statement.
" Just look at them. There's no way for you to succeed against a lava beast, two ranks above you. Complying, she looked at the soldiers battling the lava worm.Their swords melted immediately upon contact with it's skin that was like molten lava. Some of their hands were even encased in hardened lava that splashed when they struck it.
Some noticed this pattern and opted to using long ranged fire attacks. Unfortunately, thde flames shot out only to dissipate when it touched it's skin, causing no damage at all.
Listening to the cries of desperation and agony around her, she clenched her fists knowing fully well that she was useless. Feeling a soft pat on her head, she looked up at Helian, her shoulders slumped.
Sighing, she turned back. 'Maybe I could listen to Helian on this one'. As if answering, a voice grumbled in her head, barely a whisper. " You're willing to take advice from a talking bird now? Heavens, you do need me." Alexia quirked a brow at the voice. ' Is this my conscience, but it's never been this sassy."
Coming to a stop,she looked around. A jolt ran through her as someone crashed into her. Turning her head to the side, she saw Helian rubbing his little head. Helian stood behind her nursing a sore head.
" Why'd you stop walking? I have a feeling that thing is about to go ballistic any second now."
Behind her, a thunderous roar shook the air. Rivers of lava spilled from the beast, falling in glowing, golden sheets that hardened into gigantic obsidian rocks.
"Ahh!"
" Roar!"
Two voices rose in unison: the soldiers anguished shouts being turned partially into stone, the beast's deafening bellow. It turned around to face the other team.The canyon walls trembled as it's gigantum body grazed them.
" Without me watching you, you've grown complacent." Alexia turned to Helian. " Did you say something?" Rolling his eyes at her, he flew to her face. " Yes. I said, MOVE IT."
' He didn't have to shout'. Dragging her collar a bit, she let out puffs of hot air. ' If I stay close to that thing. I might just into a popsicle in summer.' The lava worm seemed to have gone crazy before attacking the other side. ' I hope Evan is alright.'
A light chuckle followed the thought" If I were you, I'd worry more about myself. Especially with what you'd have to do next." Trying to decipher the origin of the voice, her speed slows down a bit. " Could it be..." Her head tilts to the side, her eyes lighting up. " ...my intuition?" Before she could confirm her guess, the voice in her head spoke first.
" It's good you still remember I exist. But first things first, go back and fight that lava worm." " What? Why should I?" Maybe she was too loud because Helian glanced back at her shook his head and continued flapping his wings. She glared at her intuition. " You're making me seem like a crazy person!"
It scoffed. "You sound as if you weren't one prior to this. Anyways..."
" ...someone is trapped in the belly of that thing. He wouldn't last long." Listening to that deadpan tone, she clicked her tongue. " What's that got to do with me? I ain't the messiah."
" Just save him or else." After dropping those words, the voice went silent again. Running a hand through her hair, she mumbled to herself" Just what I need. Another crazy adventure". " What's going on in that head of yours? Why do you keep stopping?" Helian landed on her shoulder questioning her softly.
She drops to the floor on her knees, earning a yelp from him " Helian, I want to tell you something. I..." He places a wing to her lips interrupting her. " Come on Alexia. Even if you want to confess your feeling for me, you should have chosen a better setting."
Her forehead creased. She would never understand what goes on in his head. She wondered how the people worshipping him would feel, being in her shoes.and she opens her mouth.
Sighing, she blurts out quickly. " There's a voice in my head telling me what to do. It says I have to go fight that lava creature and save someone. So I can't go into hiding. I have to fight that thing!"
With a red face, she heaved waiting for his reaction. Helian releases a sigh of his own.
" So you're saying there's a voice in your head and it wants you to fight a rampaging lava worm two ranks above you." She eagerly nodded. At least he understood what she was saying.
" Are you sure you're okay?" His voice carried concern. " I'm fine and I'm telling the truth." She stared at him but she said nothing. " You don't believe me do you?" She asked still receiving no response.
" If that's how it is. Then I'll get to dying by a fire beast . If you don't mind". Huffing, she rose up, marching the opposite way.
She knew that they had known each other for a week at most. The fact that he didn't believe her was understandable. It's not everyday that someone tells you about a voice in their head that makes them suicidal. That thought made her laugh a bit.
Shaking her head, her eyes focused on the chaotic battle field. Since the beast wasn't attacking now, the soldiers decided to rest and recover. That wasn't easy given that their only healer was on the other side. And now she had to find a way to rescue an absolute stranger at the risk of her life.
" What a perfect day to be alive." She said while stretching her arms and cracking her neck. Gazing at the slanted towering masses of hardened lava, her eyes lit up as she smirked "Bingo."
Assuming a starting position, she shouted " On your marks" Her voice boomed, drawing the attention of nearby soldiers. One of the younger ones nervously poked at the stocky back of the man beside him. The man turned to face the lad, brows raised in inquiry.
His braided vibrant red hair a contrast to his chilling violet eyes. The young soldier gulped, pointing towards the shouting girl. " Lieutenant Vesper, what do you think she's doing? Think we should stop her?"
His gaze followed the direction of the lad's finger, Vesper's eyes flashed. " Mind your business." He said in his usual flat tone. He winced subtly, not just from his throbbing jaw but also, the memory of his recent fall. He walked away, leaving the young soldier confused.
" Get set." She tensed her muscles ignoring the red canary calling out her name. " Go!" And with that, she took off.