40: The Soul Flower: Graveyard Array on the Mountain Top

"Are we there yet?" Bosnia huffed and puffed, feeling her legs burning from their steep stair climb.

The stairs were more like a vertical crawl up a mountainside. It was dank, dark and one false move could see a slippery tumble to their death. Aiden led the way with Rat, while everyone tried not to lose their balance from exhaustion.

Fortunately, they didn't face any major issues since their fight with the Dark Lotus Maiden. Earlier wall and floor traps had been set off to allow them safe passage during the climb. Aiden figured that Camilia's earlier explorations had cleared an easier path for them.

Eventually, they saw light the way ahead. A breeze flowed down to refresh their dry and tired bodies.

"Finally, the top." Bosnia panted when they reached level surface. She dumped herself down near the mountain cavern exit.

Liran saw they had stepped out to a mountain top, where the sky was so low, wispy clouds touched their skin. She dumped herself down and saw the others did the same.

"You did well." Xiao's tail slapped the stone he was perched on.

They looked up to see the rat on a stone pillar near the exit.

Rat went to perch next to Xiao. "What are you up to, ratiss?"

"Are you dumb and forgot? We're to get the flower," Xiao said plainly.

Rat frowned. "I guess you'll then stab us in the back once we get it."

Xiao teased with a chuckle, "Did a ratiss steal your cheese because you were too weak to hold on to it?"

"Hmph, evade all you want, but that just proves you're all scum," Rat answered with a heated growl.

"The guardian is awake. No way we can sneak around her." Chen panted for breath as he updated Xiao at the base of the pillar.

Xiao turned to hop off the pillar, whipping Rat's face with his tail before doing a jump.

"Okay, Bard. Here's the deal. This flower is guarded by an Air Sprite who can play with emotional intentions. There's only two ways to deal with it, sound magic and our kind," Xiao said plainly as he approached Liran.

"What's this flower anyway?" Aiden impassively asked.

Xiao carefully answered, "From the stone scratch around our den, our boss said it was a source of great power. It once belonged to The Alchemist."

"The Alchemist?"

Xiao glanced at the red streaked sky appearing between the gray and white misty clouds. His voice held a distance, almost like he was remembering something. "Long ago, there was a battle between alfar and wizards who fought this heijin sorcerer. To defeat them, he used his remaining magic to corrupt the mountain flower to be his, which was originally used to keep the area supplied with lingxi."

"What happened?" Aiden pushed for answers.

"It seems everyone died and The Alchemist got away, leaving behind the flower and the Air sprite witch that guards it."

"Why does Camilia want it now? It's been sitting here for thousands of rules." Liran asked.

"Like I know. Boss's business. We were told to help you guys get it." Xiao stated, which had Chen and Wei nodding.

What makes you think we can do anything to get it?"

"Didn't I say sound magic and our magic?" Xiao huffed. "Besides, you got paid for the job. Best to not go back on your deal with our boss."

Rat frowned. It was clear these ratiss were far more intelligent than their race was known for. Something about the way Xiao said his reasons made him feel there were personal stakes. He was about to voice his concerns but saw a head shake from Liran.

"We have to find a way to do it first." Liran stared at the map in Aiden's hands. "Does the map show how we can get close to the flower?"

"We know. The black tombstones will upset the array. We need to take those out to release the barriers around the flower. Then use sound magic to shake it out of the outer husk." Xiao stated.

Everyone stared at the map's sketched outline of the array formation and the black dots that represented the strong points.

"Hopefully we won't encounter bug swarms." Aiden prayed.

"Nah. You're in luck. We tried before and all we got were beasts." Wei sniggered. "You can go back down the mountain if you're too scared of little cretins."

"When did you try?" Clover asked.

"A while back. Not the first time Boss wants flower, but this time we have bard." He grinned showing her all his sharp teeth.

"Okay so we just take out these black tombstone spots. How?" Aiden asked Xiao.

"How? Whack it with your sword. As long as it's off the spot, it will break the array's power," The rat coolly answered.

Rat examined the closest gray tombstone on the silver path. He squeaked with fright when the stone cracked and a skeleton hand burst from the soil.

"Skee..."

"Ski?" Annoying Imp scratched his head.

"No idiot.. Ske...le..ton! Skeletons." Rat fumbled while trying to sound tough.

More skeletons burst out of graves to stand before them. They were bone formations of former beasts: dragonlings, toads and ratiss.

"Wei, they creepy!"' Chen panicked and ran around the spot with Rat. Both banged into each other.

Liran played a ballad of courage to calm emotions and boost stamina.

"Wow, bards really do come in handy." Wei grinned. His tail whipped Rat's face. "What's the matter, mucus, scared?"

"It's not mucus! Hardly." Rat huffed and called upon his air magic to shatter an oncoming skeleton.