Uda - Exorcist (2)

Again came a low murmur of agreement and bitter looks.

“None of you have to. I’m not going to ask that of you,” said Uda.

She paused for a moment, glancing over at Nia.

Dried black tears streaked her cheeks, and the red mark at her neck had deepened. Even though Nia had lied to them, Uda still felt responsible for her.

She knew she hadn’t consciously done anything to hurt Nia. Yet her own carelessness had allowed the situation to unfold. She hadn’t considered an attack from below during their escape, something that now seemed foolish in hindsight. No one else had noticed either, and she had likely kept the clearest head through all the tension.

She should have been the first to realize it. She should have taken Nia’s feelings for Locu more seriously. If she had shown enough care under the barrier, maybe the young woman would have trusted her enough to speak up about her worries.

Should have, could have, would have. All too late.

Uda decided there was no point in dwelling on it any longer.

Looking ahead was more important now. Nia was still with her. She had to help her find a way out of the darkness.

Even if Uda didn’t find darkness itself all that frightening.

“When the entrance is cleared, I’ll leave with Nia. I have to find someone who can help her,” Uda said.

“No, please stay with us! What are we supposed to do if those monsters come back?” a woman gasped.

“She’s right. With you leading us, we have the best chance!” another agreed.

Uda shook her head.

“Orfet will manage just as well. He kept a cool head too. Or Ya! I’m sure you’ll all manage.”

“Besides, the barrier is around us now. We don’t know why, but I think we’re safe for the time being,” Orfet added, nodding briefly in her direction.

“Exactly. We can’t always rely on others. We have to take responsibility ourselves,” Ya said.

The people accepted her words, though reluctantly.

“Why do you care so much about her? You could leave her and come with us. If the barrier really protects us here, we could set up a temporary camp nearby, settle for now. Explore the area, figure out how this place works. Maybe even find others,” suggested the man with the bandage around his head.

Uda noticed he didn’t take his eyes off her. Not once. It wasn’t uncomfortable, though. Others were watching her too, just as intently.

“Vid is right,” said Ya, trying once more to sway her.

“I’m really sorry. I have to admit Nia is dangerous. Maybe not on purpose, but the way she acted... she could hurt someone without meaning to. It’s better if I take her with me and try to help her.”

It pained her to leave these people behind. Still, her instincts told her they would manage.

Or was that only something she told herself to feel better?

Should she stay and leave Nia behind?

No. That would be wrong.

“That’s truly a shame. It’s remarkable that you care about her so deeply,” said Vid with a sad smile.

Uda returned his smile without meaning to, feeling a strange urge to keep talking to him. Yet Vid shook his head slightly, as if remembering something, and turned to Orfet.

“You tell us. What should we do now?”

The others also shifted their attention away from Uda and looked to Orfet for guidance.

He frowned for a moment.

“We’ll rest a little longer, then we’ll clear the entrance. Take everything you can carry. We’ll set up camp at the forest’s edge and plan our next steps from there. Uda, you’ll always have a place with us,” he said firmly.

“That sounds reasonable,” Ya agreed with a nod.

“Uda,” Orfet continued, now speaking with near solemnity, “we will never forget what you’ve done. You can always return to us once you’ve done what you feel you must. You’ll always be welcome here.”

Uda felt her face flush, but also a wave of relief—relief that she no longer had to carry the burden of leading everyone.

Now, she could focus on Nia, even if she still didn’t know exactly how to help her.

Soon, the camp was alive with activity. People hurried about, gathering anything that might serve in building a shelter.

Finally, Uda found a moment to approach Nia and sit down beside her. Vid had gone to gather wooden poles, leaving Nia frozen, staring blankly ahead. It made no difference. Gently, Uda removed the bloodied gag, yet Nia didn’t react.

“Hey... how are you?” Uda whispered.

No response.

“Hey... it’s over. He’s gone, Nia. It wasn’t your fault,” she tried again.

Suddenly, tears welled in Nia’s eyes, spilling down her cheeks. She turned her head slowly, looking straight at Uda.

“Yes. It was my fault. Uda, it was literally my guilt that struck us up there...”

Uda took a deep breath and gently wiped the tears from her face.

“But it’s gone now, that guilt. Does it feel better?”

“A little. Though it’s still there, deep inside. Along with the pain.”

“We’ll get through this. Please, Nia, let’s try. Talk to me. If you don’t talk, I can’t help. No one can.”

“I know. Uda... I think I could have done it...”

“Done what?”

“Called the rain. I could’ve swept them all away. But I wanted Locu... my guilt... to punish me. I nearly got us all killed...”

“We’re still alive. That’s what matters. A lot happened in one day, our first day,” Uda said, then let out a dry, hollow laugh.

“What is it?” Nia asked, confused.

“I don’t think I ever experienced this much stress in my former life. Of course, I don’t remember it. But after everything...”

Nia managed a faint smile, though her gaze stayed shyly on the wall. “Yeah, you’re right.”

Uda inhaled deeply.

It almost felt like she could sense Nia’s presence within herself, though she told herself it was her imagination.

“Uda?” Nia asked suddenly.

“Yes?”

Nia hesitated, pressing her lips together as if to stop the words. Finally, they slipped out in a whisper. “It... it hurts. Everything inside me. It’s like my thoughts are being pierced by thousands of needles. Like I’m drowning in fear, in these awful, heavy thoughts. But it also feels horribly good and right... and that makes me hate myself even more...”

Closing her eyes, Uda fought the rising sadness.

Then she looked at Nia.

“I’m sorry, Nia. Maybe it’s good that you’re admitting it. Maybe that’s better than burying it.”

Nia let out a soft groan.

“Yeah, maybe...” she murmured.

“But if...”

She was interrupted by a loud shout from above, echoing through the hole in the ceiling.

“Riders! Riders at the edge of the forest! They’re coming this way!” someone called down excitedly.

Uda flinched.

Riders? Who were they? Had they come to help, or was this something else entirely?

Nia had slipped back into silence. Uda decided it was best to check the situation herself. She limped to the stairs and began the slow climb, hoofbeats thundering outside. Her chest still ached, though the pain was dull now. Only the exhaustion clung to her, heavy, and the rising sun dazzled her eyes.

At last, she reached the wall and peered through a gap.

A large group was approaching: men and women riding animals with bags strapped to their sides. Horses. Most of the riders wore white garments, some bore weapons, mostly daggers and lances.

At the front, a few wore ornate robes that shimmered in the sunlight. Several carried flags: red and green stripes circling a white center with a radiant golden halo.

From her position, Uda couldn’t make out many details, only that the group seemed to be led by a red-haired woman with tightly bound hair, seated with command in the saddle. Beside her rode a muscular man and a thin, older rider hunched slightly forward.

“Come down! We know you’re here! Show yourselves to us! We want to welcome you into the Dream!” the woman called.

Her voice was soft, yet her words carried a sharpness that made Uda uneasy.

“We’re coming! We just need to clear the entrance and go around the wall. It’ll take a moment!” Uda called down, buying time.

“Don’t take too long!” came the curt reply.

Uda turned and hurried back. There wasn’t much time, and the people below were already whispering and talking over each other.

“What do you think they want?” Orfet asked.

Uda exchanged a glance with the young man who had spotted the riders. “Hard to say. They say they want to welcome us. That might be true. Or maybe it’s the kind of welcome we’d rather avoid.”

“There are definitely too many for us to resist. And they’re armed. We should meet them peacefully and stay diplomatic. Maybe they can help us find a place to settle. For now,” the young man said.

“That sounds reasonable. I only have two questions: What if things go wrong? And what about Nia?” Uda asked, looking at Orfet.

“We’ll stay peaceful and try to de-escalate. I don’t want to fight anymore. Especially not against people. The monsters were one thing, but people?” Orfet shook his head. “And I don’t think they mean us harm. It’s very possible they extended the barrier to protect us.”

“And Nia?”

Orfet paused, rubbing his forehead.

“We could untie her. Otherwise, they might think we’re holding someone prisoner, and that we’re hostile.”

“That seems like a stretch,” Ya objected.

“I know,” Orfet admitted, frowning. “Still, I don’t want to take chances. It’s better if we appear unified. What do the others think?”

He looked around. No one objected, though a few shifted uncomfortably.

“I don’t know... she was pretty aggressive,” Weet said, raising her arm. Bloody bite marks were still visible, now black.

“Nia and I will be leaving soon,” Uda said. “We’ll ask the riders if there’s a place to wash away her shadows. Then we’ll be on our way. You won’t have to worry. We won’t burden you much longer.”

Ya let out her hollow laugh.

“Uda, you know you’re not a burden. Only she is...”

She pointed at Nia.