Chapter 5

I watched the dark shadow circling above us and fought not to throw Selene off and run.

“What is that…?”

“Don’t worry. We’re safe as long as we lie still.”, Selene whispered.

I took a deep breath and turned my eyes away, trying to fight the rising panic. She smiled, noticing my efforts.

“Good”, she nodded.

She held my gaze, trying to distract me from the beast. She was covered in bruises. I must have landed a few good hits on her back then. I sighed and broke the gaze. Even after everything that had happened, she didn’t deserve that. It was yet another reason to leave as soon as I could.

“Are you okay?”

She must have noticed something was wrong. Why couldn’t she just let it go?

“Sure”, I nodded.

I didn’t think she believed me, but who cared? She probably thought that it was the beast freaking me out, which was still true.

“It's leaving.”

I glanced up at the sky.

“How do you know?”

“Don’t you feel it? The fear is fading.”

I paused. She was right. The panic was leaving. She grinned as she noticed my reaction, but still didn’t move from me.

“So.. I guess you don’t have them in your world?”

I chuckled, suddenly elated now that the panic was gone.

“Do you have Wi-Fi here?”, I chided.

She blinked.

“What..?”

“Yeah, exactly..”

She went silent for a moment.

“It is gone”, she said suddenly, and rolled off me.

I struggled to sit up and then peered at the sky, but except for a few clouds, it was empty. With the adrenaline gone from my system, I now learned that the ground was as hard as I had expected, and my torn jeans and bruised arm dispelled any doubt about it. It could be worse, I told myself, and ignored the pain as I got to my feet.

I glanced at her as we headed back. Apart from her face, she seemed to be more or less okay. I guess both of us got lucky. I didn’t know what to do about her bruised face, though. It wasn’t fair, and the only solution I could think of was to leave at the first opportunity before they told me to go away.

“May the goddess bless you. You are safe.”

Karim ran to meet us as we arrived at the camp, and he turned to Selene.

“You shouldn’t have...”

She cut him off with a sharp glance, and he fell silent. I glanced at them, but didn’t have time to wonder about it because Uruk came over.

“Imperium is closing on us. We need to go.”

He turned to me and looked me over.

“My lady, are you okay?”

I nodded.

“Stay close, my lady”

I picked up my bag and saw Selene trying to lift Aki. She stumbled and almost dropped her.

“Let me do it”

I ran to her and lifted Aki’s lifeless body and placed it on Uruk’s back. Not that this would pay for what I had done to her, but still… This close up, I saw her arm, covered with the bloodstained bandage.

“Let me have a look at it.”, I said.

She frowned and shook her head.

“I am fine, we need to go”

I looked at her as she turned away. She was lying, of course. I was an expert at saying it was fine when it wasn’t, so I was good at spotting it, but I let it be. She was right. We should go before that beast, or something worse, came back.

Karim gestured for us, and we set out. It was tough going. The landscape changed, and we began to climb to higher ground. Heavy rocks protruded from the cracked ground, and the gravel constantly shifted under my boots, almost making me stumble and fall.

“Even the Drakes trained by the Imperium will hesitate to dive here”, Uruk suddenly said.

I glanced at him, surprised by his sudden explanation.

“You were lucky this time, they didn’t carry a rider.”

“Why?”

“They will use their magic rather than make the Drake hunt you.”

I shivered and looked at Aki strapped to his back, and he nodded solemnly.

“Yes, that’s how they got her. Don’t fear, my lady. Selene is skilled with magic, too, and if you get close to them, they will bleed like everyone else.”

I nodded, not sure how reassuring the last part was.

“Who are they?”

“Beasts trained to seek out and kill. The riders are traitors who betrayed their Queen to serve the Imperium.”

His growl caught Selene’s attention, and she frowned as she walked over to us.

“It is an old tale, Uruk. Tomorrow, the sun will rise again”.

She kept walking, but I could see that she was upset. I knew that feeling very well, so I didn’t want to ask more, even if I was curious. It was better to save my strength to make it through the walk than get caught in an argument.

“You didn’t run”, I said quietly as we continued walking.

Selene sighed.

“We know not to. I never realised you may not know… We believed you were..”

Her voice trailed off.

“I am sorry, Rina”, she said.

I glanced at her, hoping she would continue, but she turned away. Uruk halted and looked out over the landscape. We had reached higher ground, and I saw a mountain range loom on the horizon. He pointed into the distance.

“That’s where we’re going”, he said. “Once we’ve crossed it, we’ll be safe”.

I looked out where he pointed. I could see nothing but forest, but maybe that safe place would mean a chance for me to leave.

We continued walking until the sun was low in the sky. When Karim finally announced we would make camp, I slumped down on the ground. Even after all my gym workouts, I wasn’t prepared for this much walking. I reached for a flask of water when a howl suddenly pierced the air. I froze.

“We are getting closer to the mountains”, Uruk said as he gently placed Aki on the ground.

I stared in the direction of the howl, but I couldn’t see anything.

.

“They may not dare to attack a group as big as ours, but we cannot keep a fire in the night. Sleep lightly tonight, my lady.”

I nodded. At least my insomnia would serve something.

Selene walked over and knelt next to Aki, and Karim got up and walked away. I looked at the others. They didn’t make any signs that they’d seen him leaving, and instead, Uruk turned to me, giving me an uneasy look before saying,

“There is still enough light. I could show you how to use your dagger.”

I sighed. He had a point, but I was tired, and something in his voice felt wrong. Selene looked at me, and her purple eyes met mine.

“She can stay. The more she learns, the better she will be.”

She unwrapped the bandage from her arm, revealing a long wound stretching from her wrist to the elbow. It still looked fresh.

“Blood magic”, she said quietly and pulled out her dagger.

I shivered as she cut open her arm and let the blood flow over Aki’s body.

“It keeps her alive”, she said weakly.

I stared as the red fluid poured over Aki. When she was done, she sat back, and Uruk took hold of her arm, bandaging it as Selene said,

“Some don’t like it, but we have no other choice”

“Karim…” I said without thinking.

Uruk nodded, releasing Selene’s arm.

“Goddess forbids it, and he follows her teachings.”

“Where was Goddess when Tarnis fell?”, Selene frowned. “We are alone.. ”

“Selene…”

He put his hand on her shoulder.

“The sun will rise again tomorrow.”

I looked at her bandaged arm and shrugged.

“I don’t care if you do it. You do what you have to do.”

Selene smiled, and I could see she was relieved by my lack of care.

We sat down, resting against the rock. Karim joined us soon afterwards, and we shared the little food we had. As we finished, I sat watching out over the dark landscape. I could hear them talking among each other, and Karim whispered something as he looked up at the night sky above us. I followed his gaze. A myriad of stars spun in front of my eyes. I sighed. It was strangely comforting seeing the small dots so far away. It reminded me of the summers I’d spent with my grandpa, teaching me their names and constellations. I wasn’t an expert, but I was pretty sure they weren’t the same ones as in my world.

I dispel the darkness

and bring the light.

I don’t regret

walking this path.

Karim’s voice echoed into the night. Selene glared at him, but Uruk stopped her before she had a chance to say anything. I glanced at them, and maybe the stars had lulled me into some kind of state, because I gathered my courage and asked,

“Who did you think I was?”

They glanced at each other. Karim cleared his throat, and I saw Uruk put his hand on Selene’s shoulder.

“Goddess”, Karim said quietly. “There is an ancient legend about her deciding to walk among mortals and protect this world from the Darkness.”

He sighed and looked down.

“It was our last hope. It is not your fault, Rina…”, he whispered.

I looked away. Not that it mattered any longer. I had already proven I wasn’t who they thought I was.

“So you are finally doubting her wisdom…” Selene snarled.

“I don’t”, Karim said firmly.

“Then accept her answer. We asked for her help, and she gave us Rina.”, Uruk replied.

I glanced at them, not sure that I liked where this discussion was going.

“What does it matter? She won’t be able to do anything”, Selene grumbled.

“If the people believe she is the Goddess, it will give them the hope to continue fighting.”, Uruk replied.

Now I was sure of it, I definitely didn’t like where this was going. Selene went silent, gazing up at the stars. She sat there until I thought she had forgotten about it and then turned to me.

“Will you help us, Rina?”