The hum of another core rose through the dark. Nuyani senses stirred as she slowly recognized the hard ground beneath her and the rasping wind filling the area.

  ‘Whuh?’ she wondered as pain shot through her body. Her core continued to receive a foreign hum relieving some of the strain. Awareness returning to her, Nuyani’s eyes opened. Her heart raced as she realized it was not her own core at work. She found herself lying on the floor and sat up. Before her, sat Cuganwa looking back with a shocked expression. His hands hovered over her feet with both palms glowing with blue light. Beside him, a blue wisp the size of a fist floated in the air with occasional rising tendril shooting out in any direction.

  The boy then smiled before he said, “Hi…”

  Nuyani merely replied, scrambling backward until her head struck a stone wall forcing her to stop. Cuganwa’s brow furrowed as he looked at her, his mouth agape.

  ‘No. By the Great Lord, I didn’t take him?’ Nuyani thought. She recognized the cavern as the wind whistled passing through the parts as shadows lied over the small huts. Nuyani found herself and her strange company sitting on the higher shelf where the firepit lay. Her thoughts were focused only on the boy’s eyes as they were ember in color and glowed like hers. Cuganwa lowered his hands as the blue light faded from his palms. Nuyani could sense the ethereal waves soften until the remainder contained within him stopped and his eyes returned to their usual dark brown. Overhearing tales about her stealing away hunters to kill in vengeance ran through her mind, Nuyani’s heart raced, pounding in her ears. She had never taken another life that was not game. ‘The villagers. They’ll think the stories are true. They’ll come after me.’

  “Relax. I’m just trying to help you,” Cuganwa said as he wore his smile once more.

  Nuyani shook her head fervently. “No. No. By Lord Kelvert’s will, I did not mean to take you,” the witch said tucking her chin and grabbing her head. “I…I was trying to protect you from the…” Nuyani looked up realizing the monstrous blade-jaw was not around. The last of her memory returned to the creature’s jaw descending on them until the world went black. “W-where is the blade-jaw?” Nuyani looked only to find the cavern remaining quiet.

  “Dead,” Nuyani’s voice echoed in her own mind. The woman could feel pulses coursing through the area much like hers. Yet, they did not rise from the boy but, the flame. Nuyani watched as the sapphire wisp floated toward her.

  The beats of her heart grew heavy despite her nerves growing at ease. Nuyani’s thoughts ran to one conclusion. ‘Lord Kelvert.’

  The wisp then answered, “As you have prayed, lohtels (child). The blade-jaw is no more. It was killed by Sutama with the blade you carried.” Nuyani released a deep breath as if a sense of worry had left her.

  Cuganwa narrowed his eyes at her. ‘Father killed the blade-jaw? You were worried about the village?’ the boy questioned.

  The wisp then continued, “As the creature was upon you, I pulled you both through govtif ved edria to safety as the hunters dealt their blow to the creature. I am ashamed to say that I left them to fate in killing the infested creature when you were desperate to face it.” Once more, every syllable she heard, a wave rang from the flame striking Nuyani and Cuganwa’s core. Their minds act on their own to produce the sound.

  “The blade?” Nuyani replied. She then looked down. Her expression grew somber. The weapons.”

  ‘Weapons?’ Cuganwa questioned.

  “Fear not, Nuyani. Fate has given us more than we needed,” the wisp stated. Nuyani’s eyes widened as she looked at the wisp.

  Her body started to tremble as she tried to understand the circumstance. Danger lurked from every bush, stone, and crevice. Yet, for all her prayers and close calls, the wisp before her claimed to be their lord. A floating flame, no larger than her hand, was their god. “How is this true? Why now? Where were you?” Nuyani’s tone became aggressive as she looked at the flame. Cuganwa glared at Nuyani wondering how she could be so dismissive.

  “Your questions are fair. But, I was locked away,” the wisp stated.

  “What?” Nuyani questioned glancing at the boy as well. Cuganwa looked to the flame, his expression fixed in a quizzical demeanor.

  “Yes. As I’ve said, fate has given us a true chance for you both are one of the few who bear my gift. Because you both were together as the blade-jaw attacked, I was able to free myself and save you both with our combined strengths.”

  “Gifts?” Nuyani questioned. As she listened, her breathing calmed as she placed a hand onto her stomach.

  “Exactly,” the wisp continued. “Your gifts are stronger edria given apart from me to the land. There is much I must explain despite the little time we have before things grow dangerous. In short, I’ve reached out to you when I had the strength and direction. The storms that crossed the desert and drylands weaken me and my influence. Before my conscience and power were swept away, I imparted it onto your ancestors, the land, and the animals. I hid within the land only to find the storms had separated me from all that sat within the drylands. The magic around us grew still and weak.”

  “How did you get out with our help? Why would you need us?” Nuyani questioned her tone more demanding as she leaned forward with wide eyes glistening in the blue light.

  The wisp floated closer. “You feel the beats and rhythms coursing through you even when you are not trying to use your core, yes?” Nuyani gave a shallow nod. “If it were still, you would die. Imagine the land fed with my power constantly bombarded with forces that could make it still, weakening you with every passing. It was the only place I could go to ensure that I was not destroyed and look after those with my powers remained. With your edria in synergy with my own, I could break free stirring the land’s edria and move us all to a safer location. I wish I could do more but, in this state, I am no stronger than either of you.” The wisp floated away ascending toward the fire pit.

  “How do I know this is true?” Nuyani asked. Her tone turned gentle yet, still held a sense of doubt.

  “I don’t ask you to believe me without proof, edya lohtels (my child). But, I will show you. I called to you when the banshee came to you that night. I freed you calling to your strength when she tried to paralyze you.” Nuyani blinked several times and looked down at the floor. There was a tinge of guilt weighing on her as the flame listed its efforts. “Give me more time and I will prove it. Please follow me.”

  The wisp then floated through the area heading toward the back. The two watched as its light gleamed over the dry stones only to remain stagnant where they could still follow. Cuganwa rose first giving a sudden glance at the woman as she collected herself.

  ‘I guess the witch is just as afraid of these things as we are. I used to fear you. But, you fear the wisp. Should I?’ the boy wondered. He walked toward the end of the shelf and dropped to the lower floor.

  Nuyani caught his glance wondering if the boy was angry with her for some reason. She had faced threat after threat in the drylands never knowing if it were truly a sin for her survival. Through it all, the sudden words of a strange being claiming to be their god and imparting his power to their people for safety made reality seem warped.

  ‘I don’t know if this is real but, this is the closest to the answer I’ve searched for. I will see where this goes,’ Nuyani decided as she rose as well. Taking a step forward, pain shot through her ankle. Nuyani grunted as she fought to keep her balance. Failing, she collapsed to her knees. ‘Damn. It still hurts.’ She peered at her foot finding the swelling was gone. The muffled steps and scrambling then reached her ears as she looked forward. Cuganwa had made his way back up the shelf and was heading toward her. ‘What?’ she questioned as she stared at the approaching hunter.

  Stopping just before her, Cuganwa held out a hand looking. “I always thought of you as fearless as the blade-jaws. What do you need to fear now?” the boy questioned as he waited for Nuyani to take his hand.

  She looked him in the eyes paralyzed by the question. Her mind raced. She thought of all the arrows and curses the hunters slung her way as she fought to survive. “I…don’t want to be the monster everyone fears. I’ve been the witch for all this time. I just don’t want that to be true.”

  “Well, now you are another child of Kelvert with his gift, and not the only one,” Cuganwa replied.

  Nuyani’s eyes widened as she looked at the boy smirking. As inviting as his words were, young Caluu came to mind. ‘Does he know?’ Nuyani wondered before replying. “Yes. Children of the Great Lord.” Nuyani then grasped the boy’s hand as he hoisted her up to her feet and wrapped her arm over his shoulders.

  Nuyani looked away. “What is wrong?” the boy questioned.

  “Nothing,” Nuyani answered resisting the urge to pull away.

  “Fine but, let’s hurry,” Cuganwa said taking lead.

  The two made their way toward the shelf ledge and slowly toward the back. Nuyani attempted to control her core. Distorted waves rose from her center yet, remained shallow as they coursed only as far as her knee before retreating once more. ‘How long will it take you to rest?’ Nuyani wondered. She then thought back to the pulse that Cuganwa used as well on her leg. ‘How did he do that? There is too much going on. But, if I learn that then it will be a start.’

  “H-how did you do that?” Nuyani started. Cuganwa’s head reeled back as he maneuvered the two of them around another hut. “How did you start healing my ankle? I’ve never learned that.”

  “Oh,” Cuganwa started. “I didn’t really learn as much as I just let Lord Kelvert’s will guide me. The weird drum in us. It let me repeat his pattern but, I didn’t even know it was there until he showed me. I don’t even feel the pulses like I did before.”

  “Really? I don’t think I blame you. The first time I was aware of it, the spirits were pressing on my core for me to notice. It was painful,” Nuyani stated.

  “What were they like?” Cuganwa asked. Nuyani turned toward him. “The spirits.”

  “Oh. Strange forms of death,” Nuyani started. Her expression turned into disgust as she recalled their images. “Naked shriveled women with beast-like claws and blue bodies you could see through. They had the strangest faces. Long jaws and their eyes were black with small lights in the middle. Everything around them made you want to run. The air was cold. Their yells freeze you. Their claws make your flesh shrivel.”

  “Wait. You said their claws make your flesh shrivel?” Cuganwa repeated.

  “Yes,” Nuyani answered. “On that night, one left cuts on my arm. I was luckier than some tall horns that were nearby.”

  Cuganwa stopped as he stared at the floor. “Those tall horns we found were killed by the spirits and then that means even the villagers were taken by them,” the boy said. He looked toward her. “Then you did stop them from harming the villagers.” Nuyani winced at his tone nearly rising to a scream.

  “Yes. Yes,” Nuyani answered. “Calm down. It was something I had to do. We…must guide one another and help.” The boy looked forward with a smile as they rounded the last hut.

  “I’m glad to know you were there,” the boy said. His doubts faded as he remembered Deyunca. “I guess the monsters aren’t always what we are told.”

  Kelvert floated before the massive wall waiting at head height for the two to approach. Before either could ask why they were going to the back, the wisp touched the stone wall passing halfway through before its pulse coursed over the stone surface as well. The earthly surface rippled as if it were a puddle before pouring from the center outward. Cuganwa and Nuyani gawked at the display uncertain how to process such a hard element acting as fluid. The stone surface only stopped to form an arching entrance fitting the same tunnel traveling further into the cliff. The wisp continued passing through the overgrown vines bearing silver glowing flowers as if they were never there. The two said nothing as they walked on ducking slightly to pass under the shrubbery. Nuyani was forced to place a hand on the tunnel’s sidewall discovering the smooth surface too unnatural not to be manmade as she wondered who lived in the abandoned village.

  “I wonder who made this place,” Cugnawa stated as if reading her mind. “If no animals are bothering you, then why is no one else here?”

  “I think we will find out soon but, I had the same questions,” Nuyani replied.

  After a few moments, the two reached the end of the tunnel and stretched their backs. Nuyani separated from Cuganwa for a moment and stayed by the wall as she straightened up. Both of their eyes widened as they found Kelvert floating out in the open of an even larger cavern, miles wide and tall. The entire area was like a cylindrical staircase with stairways and ladders carved into the stone walls leading to wider shelves holding countless huts. Pathways leading in between each structure had moss growing within the mortar or puddles collecting in worn areas. More vines clung to the tops and the ceiling of the area. Nuyani looked toward the top where the remaining daylight streamed through a large hole in the top that was a perfect circle mirroring the chasm that was down below. Water streamed from shadow ports far on the other side and streamed down into the center making Nuyani wonder if the path reached each level. Plenty of moisture was in the air and left a smell of rain lingering in her nose.

  Nuyani relaxed grabbing both of her arms and leaning against the stone wall. ‘What happened to these people,’ she wondered.

  “A fate that may befall the village if we do not act,” the wisp answered in her mind. Nuyani froze not realizing her thoughts were still available to the wisp. “I do not mean to pry but, there are answers. Come to me and you will find them.”

  Cuganwa then turned to Nuyani holding out a hand. Confusion covered her face for a moment until she realized he was still helping her. Together they made their way down the worn path seeing the similar stone huts along the way. Pieces of stones that sat on the floor covered in moss also bared deep scars on the surface. Nuyani’s mind shot to the blade-jaw that chased her as she froze once more, stopping the two of them.

  “What’s wrong?” Cuganwa asked. He looked at the stone as well.

  “The blade-jaw that chased me. It could scratch stone like this as well,” Nuyani answered as she limped on trying not to halt their movements.

  “What?” Cuganwa whispered.

  “I went to another village made of stone and bricks. Met a spirit and learned what brought us here. There are monsters and things beyond the cliffs I wonder if we could face,” Nuyani stated.

  “But, the weapons?” Cuganwa reminded her.

  “They were to fight the spirits. The spirits pass through the stones just like Lord Kelvert can. With the storm approaching, I fear for the village,” Nuyani admitted. This time Cuganwa hesitated for a moment.

  “Then we must find an answer,” Cuganwa said increasing his pace. Nuyani nodded her head and pressed faster as well.

  The two walked beyond the huts came to the center where a wide space lay in a ring around the chasm. Several small walls standing up to their knees were built in circles. With at least a dozen from what they could tell lining the circular pit’s edge. When they reached the small circle Kelvert floated above, the wisp then descended through the stone floor. The two looked on wondering why until they saw the blue light glowing through a man-sized opening in the floor. Without hesitation, Cuganwa stepped over the wall, knelt, and popped his head through the hole. Below, another room lay with shallow water covering the floor. Kelvert floated beside strange designs in the wall.

  “There’s something in here,” the boy stated as his head rose. “Lord Kelvert is near a mural. Come on.” Cuganwa then maneuvered his feet to meet with footholds in the wall leading down into the area. His feet splashed as he turned around getting a better picture on the wall. Before he could focus on the detail, he felt a pressure sitting on his stomach directing his attention just below the mural. Nuyani followed soon after hopping with her better foot to reach each indentation as she reached the floor. The water was just above her ankle. She too noticed the pressure and spun around ready for an attack. Cuganwa looked back hearing the sloshing water yet, he remained calm.

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  Turning back toward the source, the boy then asked, “Lord Kelvert, what is this place? Whose picture is this?” He looked to the wall seeing different designs carved into the stone surface.

  “Tell me what you see,” the wisp stated. Nuyani moved forward eyeing the piece as well. A large silhouette stood on high in the first section of the mural at the left. Only rough circles in the top part resembling eyes told them that it was another being of sorts. Vertical striations in the stone with only a few lines separated another section with the silhouette of smaller men fighting off with appeared to be blade-jaws, charge-horns, and blood-manes. Another section of striations with a few more lines then showed fewer men standing around. Some with designs of lying on the floor and others with odd waving spheres leaving them and heading toward the larger being. Nuyani wondered if that was their life. The next section of the striations and the same wavy spheres rising from their bodies. The furthest section to the right had fewer people and more animals attacking them.

  Nuyani shook her head as she looked from one end to the other. She wondered what was happening until she stepped back. At the top of the mural, some of the areas remained rough in straight lines bordering smooth silhouettes of the people and animals.

  ‘This is their home it’s showing,’ Nuyani thought.

  Cuganwa’s attention trained on the waving striations that kept growing bigger. He narrowed his eyes at the silhouettes captured within the last. “I-I think these are sandstorms,” he said.

  Nuyani looked back at the largest section of the waving lines. “You might be right,” Nuyani said. “The animals attacked them in their home.”

  “In here? How?” Cuganwa questioned.

  Nuyani turned to face him, her expression somber as she said, “The blade-jaw today was able to scratch stone. It was stronger and larger than any I had ever seen. Worse, it was faster than me.”

  Cuganwa’s eyes widened at the news. He remembered seeing the witch run through the land and parry an arrow with ease. The thought dwelled within his mind as Nuyani turned toward the pressure sitting beneath the mural.

  “I cannot recount what took place in this domain as another power dwelled here but, there is one who can if they are willing,” Kelvert said as the wisp floated away. “Nuyani, I wish for you to learn more fervently how to use your gifts. Please, meet with him.”

  “Yes, Great Lord,” Nuyani said as she tightened her lips and took a deep breath.

  Holding out her hand, Nuyani released a pulse from her core releasing weak but, stable waves coursing through her limb and out toward something small item sitting in the murky waters below them. Within the dirt covered item, Nuyani could feel it. The sloshing remains of life dwelling within. The bead of pressure weighing on their cores then surged. Nuyani wondered if stirring the spirit had angered it, though she kept her waves too shallow to disturb any life with real force.

  Nuyani stopped the pulse of her core. White light started glowing outlining the item within the water. Several thin swirling lines were revealed in the sudden light before the glow collected into another wisp that floated from the item rising to head height. Nuyani stood straight before backing away and raising her hand to her knife. Cuganwa glanced between her actions and the rising light. Taking precaution, he at least widened his stance uncertain what would happen next.

  The light then burst forth revealing a man from head to toe standing only up to their hip. Nuyani’s eyes widened as she recalled the child spirit’s memory of another being of the same height and stout figure attacking her and her father. Stark differences between the two men as the one before Nuyani, Cuganwa, and the wisp had skin as dark as theirs, a wild afro and beard barely giving view to the man’s bottom lip. He wore a dark green tunic, and lighter green trousers that were held up by a brown leather belt with the same shining ring stone that Nuyani saw in the fallen village. The man’s arms, knees, and legs were covered in layers of ring stone and leather. Like all spirits, a bleeding wound appeared just beneath the ring stone and leather on his abdomen and an outline of white light surrounded his form.

  Nuyani relaxed her demeanor. The spirit looked between the two of them and grew a wide grin on his face. “Ah. Gor men veit. Dwo,” the spirit said. He waited for a response only to see Nuyani and Cuganwa glancing at one another unsure how to reply. The spirit’s smile faded away as he then looked to the mural. He started to breathe heavily as he ran a hand through his cloud of hair. His eyes grew red.

  ‘If spirits feel this much after death, you can be stuck in your own cage,’ Nuyani thought as she remembered both the child spirit and Deyunca staying confined in their areas. ‘Can they not move on or are they waiting for something else?’

  The spirit then placed his hands on his hips and looked to the floor. His brow furrowed as his expression hardened.

  “Why’s he angry now?” Cuganwa whispered.

  Nuyani shook her head before saying, “I don’t think he remembered. Who or what else was there to call him out? This place is empty.”

  The man’s head then shot up catching the two off-guard. He glanced at them for a moment before rising and waving for them to approach. “Yolt geig,” the man said in a stern voice. Nuyani stole a glance at the wisp.

  “He seems to understand the situation. Though with a different language, he may have a solution,” the wisp said.

  ‘Language?’ the two thought, wondering what the term meant. Nuyani and Cuganwa then approached the spirit as the short man held out both of his hands. The two felt a strange instinct and drummed their cores allowing their energy to surge through their bodies before grabbing the spirit’s hands. “Ne’od mout,” the man said as he bowed his head and let the current of his life surge forth. Nuyani and Cuganwa closed their eyes as they allowed the energy to course forth and swell within them. Their senses disappeared as the world changed to a new setting. The man with several others wielding spears and blades made of the same ring stone raced past the shelf and down the tunnel. The silver lights above gleamed against the headwear of the men before him. The group broke free of the path only to witness others fighting against enormous variations of the dryland’s worst predators. Each one marred with the same rotting blemishes as the charge-horn and blade-jaw Nuyani encountered.

  The battle was strange as the animals acted accordingly to one another. As a large blade-jaw swiped at two men who raised a barrier to block the animal, a blood-mane swept down and struck one of the men from behind leaving the other to fall as the blade-jaw shattered the man’s defense killing him. Nuyani could feel her body shake and her breathing deepened, remembering the visions of the fallen city. Such carnage and onslaught are possible and destined to repeat. The spirit and the others were not helpless however as they released their own attacks stabbing with spears and blades while casting spells of elements. Clear, white, or blue freezing stones, wind, fire, and even the same energy spheres soared and tore through the various beasts with ease. Many died in the coordinated efforts of the fighters as they continued to battle. The numbers on both sides were too great to count as the chaos continued. The spirits group sprinted down the slope only for a few of the others in front stopping in place as the group sprinted down the slope only for a few of the others in front stopping in place as the group shook putting them off balance. When the shaking lessened, one of the men then rose a barrier and yelled at the others. They all did the same. Through the spirit’s eyes and the quiver of his energy, they could feel the spell activate. A deafening roar then rose as the area shook once more.

  The afternoon sun was blanketed in darkness a moment later. Man and beast caught unaware were hidden within the sandstorm.

  ‘This…It flew here already,’ Nuyani thought. With the storms reaching her home first before the rest of the drylands, she was accustomed to the early signs of the season. Yet, this was different. No harsh winds steadily growing over time. No cool afternoons. None of the blooming plants lose their flowers of closing into their thick sepals to protect from the coarse sand. Nuyani’s thoughts returned to the large silhouette on the left side of the mural. ‘Something has to be controlling all this.’

  The sandstorm then passed within moments. Most of the fighters were gone with only a few emerging from their conjured defenses. The animals however remained relentless. Blood-manes and blade-jaws were susceptible to arrows but, the infected ones returned to battle marred with mortal wounds that would ensure any normal creature would die. Several blade-jaws ran across the land with flaps of flesh dangling in their run, as did the blood-manes whose wings were reduced to the bone. The charge-horns with their heavy girth stayed in place and began to run through some of the defending men smashing through their constructs. Screams could be heard from those killed.

  The spirits and his crew lowered their defenses as the charging beasts started toward them. Despite downing many of the infected animals, their numbers were overwhelmed, being pushed back into the tunnel. Two more men fell as a charge-horn ran them down and stopped at the entrance. It moved away only for another pair of blade-jaws to enter and charge the men. Desperate to kill, the front warriors fired spells instead of making their defenses. A blade-jaw lost a foreleg only to ignore the wound and pounce on the man killing him. The other blade-jaw bound over the other surprising the next who instead chose to conjure a wall. The animal then lamented weakening the warriors for a split moment. All that the beast needed as it rend through the barrier and the fighters as well. The man felt a building rage will him forth toward the beasts.

  Before he could, a comrade rose and created a barrier around him and before using wind to push him back. Bound in the energy, the man was thrown backward by the gust heading toward the huts. Before he could collect himself, the screams and growls of the others gave all the signs he needed. He looked around the huts wondering if anyone was left. No one was in sight yet, the path to the larger cavern remained open. Understanding the reason why the man ran for the doorway passing through the arching entrance and placed his hand on the ground. The edges of the path shifted and molded as they crawled to the center. The man watched as darkened figures of the beasts’ rounded huts and headed toward him. He continued to feed his own energy into the stone until it closed. The first blade-jaw ran toward him at full speed as the entrance closed. The beast then collided with the wall releasing a loud thud.

  The man fell backward, his heart racing as he inspected the stone wondering if the beasts would break through. Faint screams collected in his ears. The man turned around where the bright light at the other end of the tunnel showed. Fleeting shadows then appeared as the screams seemed to grow louder. A green glow illuminated the entrance. His heart skipped. The man rose and dashed for the other end of the tunnel. Calls for help and yelling grew louder. He emerged from the tunnel and nearly collapsed. Dozens of blood-manes poured through the ceiling hole where a barrier should have been. He watched as the flying beasts plucked many of the remaining women and children before flying back through the entrance.

  Some broke free of the animals’ grasps and fell to the floor injured or dead. Cuganwa shuttered, his pulse wavering and lessening presence.

  ‘You’ve never seen this,’ the fact dawned on Nuyani. ‘I wish you hadn’t.’ Nuyani could feel her own body tremble as well. So much death seemed needless and barbaric, a sin to life and nature. She could feel her stomach turning.

  The spirit broke from his trance and started firing what spells he had at the blood-manes. Some that were attacking ignored their wounds she inflicted continuing their load. A cry then caught his ear on the ground level as a small child tried to stand, his leg twisted as he leaned against the stone. The green glow then surged calling his attention to the center of the area. The people gathered in a second dome of green light sitting over the giant hole, the light construct creating a floor suspending them in the air. Nuyani and Cuganwa could feel the powerful waves washing through the spirit. The man moved to the child and picked him up before sprinting for the center. He turned away from those airborne knowing there was little he could do.

  He wheezed as he ran with the child clinging desperately to his back. An extra precaution, the man conjured a barrier overhead. Bodies littered the pathway. No one was spared by the beasts. Each by their claws or dropped by the predators. No bites. Now chewed or severed limbs. Only blood spilled from horrible wounds from falls and claws.

  ‘This…why? What would make any creature do such a thing?’ the boy questioned. The life of a hunter was simple. Killing was needed to survive. In that, he knew the blood-manes and blade-jaws as demons worthy of respect. Yet, these creatures bearing the same sickness were murderous and cruel. His strength withered once more as he tried to ignore a pool of blood the man nearly slipped on. The two slowed yet the man continued as they neared the end of the path reaching the circles. Other people of the stone village leaped into the center of the smaller circles revealing collected pools of water. They ran on passing through the green barrier. With greater strength, it was stronger than the ceiling’s preventing any of the blood-manes from entering.

  Loud flapping and a caw filled the man’s ears as he felt the barrier push down on him. The blood-mane did not bother with plucking him from the earth. No. The beast pounced instead pinning the two to the floor. The child on his back screamed in pain sandwiched between the defense and the bearded man. Desperate, the man wriggled and freed an arm as the beast snapped at the edges of the barrier trying to grab hold of him. Blindly casting upward, he released several balls of flame from his hand. The blood-mane screeched as two of the spells collided with its chest burning the feathers. The beast stood on its rear legs as the flames grew. The man rolled to the side raising a hand to guard the boy as his other willed the light wall into another shape flatter than a blade leaving a thin line of light in view. He made a pushing motion with his hands sending the construct forth as it sliced through the head of the blood-mane.

  The beast’s head fell as the lower feathers continued to burn. The spirit rolled once more to the side as the body of the blood-mane fell with a thud and the flames continued to claim the body. Before he could collect himself, another caw sounded getting the man’s attention as large talons descended upon him. Pushing the child away, a piercing pain in his stomach lead to his cry as he was hoisted from the earth. Stuck in the grip of the blood-mane, he found its talons digging into the armor as one pierced his plate. The wind whistled in his ears as he looked toward the ground and grabbed the animal’s leg. The ground grew further away. Each home became as small as a bead.

  Without a second thought, he placed both hands on the animal’s leg and released a flame. His hands departed for a moment as the flames burst from the area. In an instant, flesh of the leg was burned and feathers singed. The beast ignored the pain as the man dangled by the other end of his armor. With little gripping room to remain, he fell loose from the blood-mane and plummeted to the floor. In a desperate move, the man turned as best he could as he called for the wind aiming for the approaching floor. With some effort, the gust that rose slowed his descent but, the speed was too great as he landed hard on the ground. Still awake, his body ached as the cold floor supported him. He faced the wall of light seeing the people wave to him, hearing their screams for him to move. The young boy he carried sat on the light yelling for him to move.

  The man rolled to his side finding that he was just beside small rings outlined by the short stone walls. Blood-manes battered the dome of light. As he struggled to move, the pulse rising from the dome grew stronger and faster. Each one passed through him stirring his core. As the man reached the wall, the green dome became blinding. Shielding his eyes, the pulse then disappeared leaving only a darker cavern and him alone. His wound continued to hurt as blood streamed down his skin. The blood-manes continued to fly about.

  Crawling over the wall, he descended through the hole and fell into the water. He struggled to right himself for a moment before moving to the opposite end of the room and descending toward the bottom. Every kick and twist sent flashes of pain through his body.

  ‘Why is he not blocking it out? Can’t you strengthen it?’ Nuyani found herself questioning. The things she learned to do seemed simple compared to people who had spells to control the elements amongst other things.

  He reached the bottom of the well and placed a hand on the stone. Using what little concentration remained, he made a lower brick grow soft like mud and pushed through malleable stone allowing the water to stream out of the hole. The man then rose to the surface just as a pair of glazed eyes stared at him. He floated in place wondering what he should do. The beast continued to stare as the water’s level fell. The sounds of unearthly caws and scratching sounded on the room’s ceiling. They wanted him as well.

  The man merely looked back as the blood-mane watched him. He pressed against his wound as the water lowered to the point that he needed to stand. The blood-mane continued to watch. He leaned against the stone wall. A grin came over his face. He slumped down in the water and reached for a necklace. The leather cord was tied to a strange glowing sphere with a weak light at the center and small, thin pieces of ring stone coiled around it. Nuyani almost mistook it for a soul if not for the single green tint that made it up. The man gripped the small talisman tightly as he released a pulse into it. The trinket replied with a surge of waves that coursed through his body and into his core. The energy rebound and was directed toward the stone wall. Dust and small stones fell away as the mural took form.

  The man breathed heavily as he looked back at the opening. The blood-mane was still watching. With little else to do, the man rested his head against the stone and laughed as he looked at the talisman. The bead of light was gone with only the coiling ring stone left in place. The world grew faint as he lowered his head and the blood continued to spill. He glanced at the blood-mane. The beast still watching.

  The flow of energy ended as Nuyani and Cuganwa could feel the man pull away. With both opening their eyes, Nuyani’s lip quivered as she looked at the man. Another inspection showed his hidden talisman beneath his beard. The claw marks on his attire showed the leather beneath it and some of his tunic.

  “Th-that’s what we are trying to prevent?” Cuganwa asked. His words slurred as he looked away. Nuyani turned to him thinking he would shiver. His stomach began to heave but, he fought the urge as they stood in the water.

  “I’m afraid so,” Kelvert spoke. “This is a world I did not have sight of. Another’s power dwelled here. Yet, I knew their fate.”

  “How…Why…They have the same gifts. Why? Why did this happen?” Nuyani questioned forced to kneel as dread set in.

  “They have the same abilities and more knowledge, but not the strength. My gift too has allowed you all to do the same and with greater strength. Though, things have not turned out as I had wished. Only a few of you remain.”

  “Wh-what do you mean, Great Lord?” Cuganwa questioned.

  “The village has purged most of those who carry my gift. The stronger edria will allow you to do more than normal. I had hoped for many of you to grow your strengths together over time. Yet, your fears have led you to this result.”

  ‘Fear. It’s always because of some fear,’ Nuyani thought. She grabbed both of her arms tightly. Her mind recalled to the lessons of Elder Yanuma reciting the story warning of those with eyes of embers. Cursed at birth becoming demons with sinful powers. The first sinner, a man using his gift for selfish gains and demanding the seat of the chief. “One fool,” Nuyani rasped. Cuganwa turned to her. “One fool ruined this.” Nuyani’s voice grew weak.

  “No, we are here for a chance. We can do this. Lord Kelvert has us here for a reason,” Cuganwa snapped. Nuyani turned to the boy. “I don’t know how hard it was for you but, we need to fight,” The boy shook his head trying to shake away the images of death. “That can’t reach the village.”

  Nuyani’s mouth opened though she looked to the floor. ‘Should I tell him? His sister is the same as us,’ Nuyani considered. ‘Our sister.’

  A tear fell from her eye. “Fine,” Nuyani said as she stood straight. Calling their attention. She then looked to the spirit and held out her hand. The man looked at her through narrowed eyes though he could sense there was no malice. “I want to free you. You didn’t think you’d be stuck here? Can I free you?” Nuyani’s eyes remained wide yet kind. Her core was vibrant as ever sending a steady hum through her body. The spirit looked at her for a moment before nodding his head and giving a warm smile. Before she could say anything, the man grabbed her hand. On his own, his visage gradually disappeared into a white light before condensing into a white wisp the size of a marble. The longer Nuyani looked, the more she could see the strange sphere holding an iridescent light at the core.

  ‘May the Great Lord guide your soul,’ Nuyani thought as she raised her palm to the ceiling and the soul shot upward like a star.