6

                           VI




Mikota could finally see it now, in perfect clarity. All of it…all of the monster he fought that day. A Yelion, as Chanelle had vehemently recalled it - apparently still very much hung up on.

What was a rippling, purple blur a few weeks back, trying to tear into her umbrella now stood frozen before them: Dark mauve flaps pushed out of every pore of its length, the little circular wedges tightly locking into a coarse, serrated corium.

…so these are…

He placed a finger against a ‘scale’, little granules molten into the plate pitting into his flesh; the wedge flexed inward clucking, shade flinching into the dent.

…this is how it moves so fast…wonder what can cut through it though….

Stepping away, he let his gaze slip below, falling along the three bulging studs that protruded beside its ‘underbelly’ on either side, spitting out into wiry limbs that bent out just off a square’s angle, three-clawed feet digging deep into the earth - its glossy, off-white nails poised out in thick, ravenous crescents - the ones at the rear limbs gut deep into the garnet earth, while the limbs at the front threw them in the air in a gnarled spray.

I fought this monster…if even a single one of them went through me…

He shuddered, loitering to the rear - its body was a long, thick rope of sorts, a tail lashing out after the last legs in a spewing curl.

…and then we have that

Taking a deep breath, Mikota bent his knees - his calves tensing as he squeezed his legs to the earth - before springing them loose, launching himself above and behind, flipping in the air as he landed in front of the monster’s face.

An elliptical surge of the same scaled flesh poured out till the ‘chin’ and ‘forehead’ of the monster…and in between, nothing but teeth - identical to its claws, more straightened out - they filled its gaping maw gaplessly - jagged, knitting between each other; the whole thing hung over him balefully, at least another head taller. Ried’s height.

…at least it’s smiling?

“Well? Satisfied?”

“Saridus, you’re amazing - asking for any more than this would be insanity…yeah, I mean just…it’s incredible…genuinely, it’s like…really here…but it’s definitely bigger than the one in the forest for sure - that one wasn’t even until my chest”

“Hey - don’t wanna miss out on any potential symphonies of their scream. Anyway - see the wonders that can hop into the world, when dear Ms. Evaine sacrifices more than a few maggots every month? Revolution!”

Mikota chuckled, stepping back.

“Revolution indeed…yeah, I think I have a pretty good picture for it now”

“Ahh, another addition to our scrapbook of hide- creative visualisations of the world around us”

“No, no - it is hideous…it’s just taking a little-”

“I was joking, Mik - you’re getting better at it”

“...I see…by the way, this can move, right?”

“I ain’t Ms. Two-bit. Say the word, and we’ll start dancing - actually, snap your fingers. That’s far more satisfying”

“Well…let’s hope Chanelle and Limani get a feel for their training with this…say - do I eat for that long? They’ve been at it for…a while now, right?”

“Humans, Mik. What can I say?”

…wait…sacrificing maggots?

“Hey, Saridus…?”

“That is I.”

“Evaine…sacrifices maggots to keep your power?”

“I’m a demon, Mikota. We wouldn’t be able to talk like this even when inhabiting the same place, if it weren’t some wacky shit people found out to force it. Sacrificing the life of things is a kind of…accelerant for our presence here. I can’t tell you why though, even if I wanted to”

Mikota sighed, eyes falling to the ground. It was times like this he was reminded that yes, his best friend was a thousand year old demon - withstanding a thousand years of atrocities to both himself and the world around him to keep him here. The pit that caved into him was little, yet no less shallow, thinking about this sort of thing.

Saridus couldn’t remember anything as to how he came to this world - only that he was shackled to one cage or another when his personhood was still developing.

…Sacrificing life…

“I wonder…”

“We all do”

Mikota smirked, curling his finger over the newly leather-wrapped hilt of his saber. A swift hiss slated the air as he drew it slow, leaning it back as the tip fell out, and arcing the wooden blade out.

Then sucking in the cool air in his lungs, he swiped deftly at the air-

“...is life a kind of mana?”

“...Maybe. After a while, I’ve come to think of life as a form of mana that living things inherently contain to exist as they do - their consciousness, I mean. But who can really tell? Worth testing, if you ask me”

“If you’re a being of mana…beings that are alive in this world have a different construct of mana…is it that by…absorbing them, you’re maybe inheriting their…infrastructure of mana of sorts, hence reinforcing this type of existence? Sense?”

“Much sense. Ought to be something like that…”

“...those two…they really take a lot-”

The door bellowed loudly, swiveling open listlessly, the girls…his party members, sliding out - faces twinging with…

…Huh…they look happ- okay, no longer happy…but we already went over this, right? What’s she-

“TAKE-IT-DOWN! TAKE-IT-DOWN RIGHT-NOW! TIRON N’MODEA!”

Mikota swerved to his right as a copper length whistled past him, impaling Yelion's thigh.

He smiled, crossing his arms. She was using the new weapon structure they’d come up with together.

Oh, almost forgot!

“Give it your best shot guys!”

“HOW IS THE YELION HERE!? MIKOTAAA!!”

Staying his grin, Mikota snapped his fingers. And the Yelion roared.

~

Setting the cube aside, Evaine sighed - sluggishly kneading her brow as she leaned back in her chair.

Theories, theories…with no test till now

Slipping her fingers over her chest, she felt around for the chain tucked underneath her robes. Closing around the metal thread, she tugged out at the tousled knots it had Sunk into, prismal glints flashing off the vial pecking out from its length.

Wonder what they’re doing…he wanted to use Saridus’s illusions more thoroughly today… after what happened last time, I never thought…

…calm down

She delicately unscrewed the vial from the chain, before bringing out its open mouth to her nose, and inhaling deeply. The fumes of Night Oil instantly flared out into her nasal canals, their soothing scent billowing them loose. Taking another whiff, she smiled.

There we go…

Screwing the vial back on, she tucked back the chain, and closed her eyes.

…I mean, I suppose I can take a peek.

She reached out to one of the mirrors, setting her fingers against the glass, her intent focusing.

The mirror over the Tower’s main door…that would do.

Evaine opened her eyes, drumming her fingers sequentially over the chrome. The glass rippled, the sterling sheen deliquescing into a foaming iridescence - brilliant milky pores slowly drifting from all corners of the frame

Evaine grinned, her finger still hovering over the glass

…almost there...and…

The first pore burst, a frisson passing over her as its vapourous residue quickly dashed over to the foot of the mirror, congealing into little olive strands.

Grass

The second pore burst, then the third - then another, and another. Her body was thrumming now, racking in feverous jolts as the whole thing speckled with vapourous frocks that hovered sluggishly for a moment, before scampering all around, blooming into colors of the world around - the tarping sallow skies, the bright amber cowl of the Sun, the olive slope of the peak, and…a Yelion?

Evaine sat up, squinting.

The children…one of them was tailing behind the other racing away, as the third ran around it - jabbing it with a copperish rod that lunged and retracted at will - the monster galloping haphazardly as it thrashed out in all directions.

Hmm…the one with the rod seemed to be the girl who’d streaked her hair in pink bands.

The other girl seemed to be the timid one - blonde hair, soft voice, stalking the shadow of…

Mikota…

The boy seemed to be trying to sway the girl behind him as they ran-jamp together hand-in-hand, encouragingly waving his saber towards the Yelion.

Evaine smiled faintly, placing a finger underneath the dancing boy.

Not going to work, Mikota…

This boy - this racing, dancing boy…why would he want to be a mage? The whole idea of it seemed so utterly…absurd, now.

…then…my second farewell after all…why can’t I just…is the sky…?

The sky was darkening. Blackening.

“...n-no…no…I still have time! I still have time! J-June…June 18…from then it’s still…it’s…”

…5 years

Her throat crushed in.

“...that’s…no…no…S-SARIDUS!”

“...eh? What does my madame-”

“C-CHECK THE MIRRORS - ALL OF THEM!!”

“Geez, what’s with the…Fuck…he’s FUCKING BACK SHIT-SHIT-SHIT-SHIT-SHIT! EVAINE!?”

“T-THE BARRI-?”

“BLOWN TO SHIT!! FUCKING SHIT!! HOW DID I…wait, no-no-no Mikota’s still…”

“...H-HIDE THEM! I..a b-barrier-”

“No FUCKING time - throw every single goddman crate of maggots we have…I’ll hide us all with all I’m worth for now - I have no intention of…Evaine: listen, we need to get…for fuck’s sake, FOCUS, DAMMIT!! EVAINE!!?”

She was shaking. She was crying. It was all coming back.

Every. Single. Part.

~

“Limani, just trust me! You can-”

“N-NO!! D-don’t let go!”

There’s no real danger …aren’t you being a little…?

The air burst over them in wuthered spurts as they raced away, along the grassy slopes - away from screeching howls of the Yelion, its frantic padding grating their ears as they dashed in a wide arc around the tower.

…Ried…it’s like this? Monster fighting? Probably way less running away though

“I won’t! Just…”

Mikota looked around, catching Chanelle’s figure streaking down the first bulge downhill that raced past his view, disappearing behind the bulge of the hill.

Where is she…?

“Chanelle - Careful! Don’t run down! Even pace! We’re rounding it up!”

A second passed.

Did she-

“Mikota!? Where are you guys!?”

She’s alright!

“Up here!”

The grass below pounded back and forth as they scampered past the maroon glides of the tower, cutting straight behind it as they hurled onward.

I should’ve thought this out better…her hands are slipping-

“M-mikota!?”

“Yeah!?”

“...I can’t…hear it…anymore!”

She’s already running out of stamina…think I’ll wrap it in a few

“It’s probably the wind! We’ve made some distance already!”

“...I really can’t hear it!”

Okay - let’s just start over

Mikota snapped his fingers, slowing down to a trot as he looked around for Chanelle, dimly aware of Limani gasping haggardly as she clutched his arm.

Right now, she should’ve been just under the bulge a few steps ahead.

“TIME OUT, CHANELLE!”

He spotted her figure, wandering around all the way down to the third bulge.

Why is she there? Did me and Limani run from…oh my…crap…it was following her?

“MIKOTA!? WHERE’S THE YELION!?”

“I DISMISSED IT JUST NOW! COME UP!”

Mikota sighed deeply, finally reaching the spine of the edge of the peak. Peering down, he could make Chanelle trekking up to them. He waved his hand at her. She looked up from below, waving back.

How did she end up all the way down there? Wasn’t she chasing…

Sighing, Mikota stepped back, turning to Limani.

…oh no…what have I done?

Placing a hand on her back, caressing it soothingly

…I do this, right? Wait…or was this for puking-

“L-Limani…I’m so sorry I pushed you so hard…on the first day too…are you - w-we can sit down…”

Limani had clenched her eyes shut, a pained expression on her face as she wheezed…it was getting worse.

“...try breathing through your nose…it gets worse if you keep using your mouth”

I guess I’m just used to this sort of thing now…they haven’t had much practice with keeping their breathing rhythm

“Just…give it a-”

Limani nodded lightly, slowly slowing down her breaths as she used her nose more to heave and suck air in and out.

…there we go

“...do you…feel a little better now?”

“...Y-yeah…much better. Thanks”

“Again, I sincerely apologise - I just got so wrapped up in all this - I-I should’ve given proper instructions and…I messed it up for you guys”

Limani shook her head, opening her eyes and setting them in his. Her grey pupils quivered thinly…yet he felt them press into him deeper as she looked on.

“You gave it to us exactly as it would have played out back in the valley…if anything, I should probably be thanking you”

“T-thanking…?”

“Yeah…I doubt either of us would willingly want to do this…but all the same-”

She took his hand in hers, smiling warmly.

“If it were up to us, I don’t think we’d stand a chance at getting any higher than we were before, Mikota…that’s why, I truly-”

“Limani? Mikota? What the hell happened to the Yelion?”

Mikota spun around, catching Chanelle plunge her ‘twisty-sword’ over the bulge, before hauling herself over.

“U-uh yeah, I dismissed it just a little while ago…we’ll just start-”

“What are you talking about? It was chasing down after me - and it vanished long before I asked you where it was. Hurt my ankle a bit, so it took a while to get up”

Mikota frowned. That wasn’t…he’d signalled Saridus just a few minutes back.

Reaching out for the locket, he hissed quietly.

“Saridus? Did you dismiss it early?”

One second passed.

Two.

“Saridus? Can you…w-what’s going on?”

Three.

…Four

Mikota gulped, his throat tightening.

Is something wrong? Did Ms. Evaine call him for something? Right - right…I can just-

“Oh-my-god: Guys, LOOK. UP. It’s…evening out here! What’s…?”

Hand clamping over his locket, he looked back, gaze passing over to the sky.

It's nearly dusk!? How is that even…

“...G-guys…we better head back…I don’t know what’s…guys?”

No Limani.

No Chanelle.

He was alone.

A chill creeped into his flesh, his stomach caving in as his throat tightened, crushing in.

“G-guys…? L-limani? LIMANI!? CHANELLE! WHERE DID…w-where…w-where did y-you…”

…I can’t hear myself…

Eyes falling, he squinted below - flinching as he shrieked mutely.

He…

…where am I? Legs and arms and…what is happening!!? I’m…I can’t-

His wrist. It was tightening. His eyes darted over it. Under his last crease…around the tightness. It was denting?

Wait…Limani…she’s still holding me…are we all still here? Did…Saridus mask us?

He squeezed back, Limani’s cold palm pitting plushly underneath his clutch. She was here. Which meant Chanelle was presumably still standing next to them, closer to the cliff of the bulge.

…What in god’s name is he-

A deep thud thundered out, cracking from all the earth around.

Mikota stumbled back, snatching Limani closer as he squeezed his eyes shut.

Watery echoes of it rippled out through the mountain, cleaving shrilly into the flesh of the air and earth.

……please god…pl-

Another thud. Louder.

…walking?

One more thud. Closer

“EVAINE…”

His insides curdled loose, the pit of his gut sucking in as he collapsed to the ground…every single limb numbing in the haggard growl of the voice.

The thing gave a weighty, breath-laden huff.

Another thud…Just behind the bulge.

“EVAINE FROST…OUR MASTER BECKONS YOU…STAND BEFORE US”

I’m not opening my eyes - I…can’t…No, no! I’m NOT! I’M NOT! IT’S RIGHT…

Twitching his eyelids, Mikota peered through the tear-bleary gauze of wet lashes.

WHAT AM I DOING!? STOP IT! STOP IT!

His palm trembled as it fell over his eyes, deftly rubbing out the tears with swipe after swipe - scraping away at the only veil latching the thing from his sight.

stop-it-stop-it-STOP!

His palms were wet now. And his eyes dry.

A twitch. A squeeze. His eyes snapped open. And leapt away all his breath.

The lightless void beyond the bulge - tarping into the dusk itself…the behemoth of that thunder.

…what am I even-

Yellow eyes. Glowering yellow eyes - perched far above into the dusk, goring ahead. The world beyond the bulge cloaked umbral.

One…Two…Three…It can’t see us…I can bring the others back in the…but…Ms. Evaine …CAN’T DO ANYTHING! THIS IS WHAT SHE HID HERSELF FROM! OH GOD…NO…no…no-no-no…clam down, Mikota…Saridus is still…he’s hiding everyone

“EVAINE FROST…YOU HAVE 5 MINUTES”

Mikota’s insides shrivelled in, congealing at the sonorous flecks of the thing’s tone…his whole arm had tightened now, dampened at the sleeve.
…I can’t do anything…Saridus…I can’t do anything…

“LIELI?”

Was it…feminine just now?

A soft thud. Something had landed just below the bulge.

“Much appreciated, Imona…but I’d like to greet my apprentice face to face…”

More breath than deep cadence of a man, hardly a voice amid wisps of a cut up sigh.

“LEILI…I BEG OF YOU…LET ME BRING HER TO YOU…YOUR BODY WILL NOT STAND THIS MUCH LONGER…I’M BEGGING YOU, LEILI…”

“Imona, be assured that I still have-”

The man gave a dry cough, a crackling racket that he quickly swallowed back.

“LEiLI, PLEASE COME BACK…I WILL FINISH THIS…”

“My breakdown just sped up right now…is it the Dragon? Either way…I just need…to reach the tower…”

One second passed.

Two.

The man sighed, breaking the silence, soft padding crept the air again. The man was walking up the bulge.

He’s…he’s coming here! For…

“LEILI, THERE ARE THREE PEOPLE BESIDES EVAINE IN THE TOWER…”
IT KNOWS!?

“...is there now?”

“YES….TWO OF THEM ARE LYING ON THE GROUND…TO THE LEFT OF THE TOWER…THEY SEEM TO BE NEARLY MOTIONLESS…THE THIRD I SUSPECT WAS TRYING TO CUT YOU OFF…I HAVE IMOBILISED ALL OF THEM…ALLOW ME TO APPROPRIATELY PUNISH THE THIRD AT THE VERY LEAST”

“…I’ve already made it clear what I want from this”.

…third…Chanelle!

A hand flashed out from behind the bulge, clumsily griping at the slope above as it hauled the rest of its body. The man.

A shuffling shadow, no more, against the black beyond the bulge. Long, billowing fabric flowed from his shoulder to toe, a broom of straight white hair hanging to his back - flashing brightly when they swished out by his hips as he trode towards Mikota.

And he was already closer.

…please leave us…I won’t do anything…

Closer.

…I’m begging you

He was right in front of him now. His footsteps scraped gently against the grass, his foot falling in front of Mikota’s face. And stilling

…no

The foot twitched, picking up again - the other foot plodding behind in quick succession as the man pulled himself past Mikota, slowly making himself towards the door of the tower.

And then he stopped. Turning around, the man looked back at the Behemoth.

“Imona...I don’t want to be disturbed while I fetch her…hold them for a while. You can release them when I walk out with Evaine…and we leave this tower for good”

“WITH PLEASURE, LIELI…CONSIDER IT DONE”

And all the light was gone.

~

Black. Nothing.

Have I…died?

Did I die?

Mikota tried blinking his eyelids…he could still feel them twitching mutely.

“...H-hello?”

His voice was back.

“...M-mikota?”

Limani.

“...I-I’m here…where’s Chanelle? My head feels clearer…Limani?”

“W-what d-do we do? I c-can’t even…”

Mikota felt around at the ground. The rivulets of grass slaked by his palm. So they were still on the ground. He sat up hesitantly, setting his hands apart, clawing away aimlessly.

“What is this? Have we become blind?”

“I-I don’t think so…there’s some kind of…b-barrier keeping us here…”

“...So we’re constrained in this area? In that case…we’re under some kind of shell…tch…”

“M-Mikota…w-what do we-”

“I believe that…the creature was being controlled by that man to some extent…it also mentioned ‘our master’, didn’t it?”

“I-I don’t…”

“Limani - calm down…I think it did. So it wouldn’t be a stretch to assume that the being was a demon…it could talk like Saridus, so it must’ve been particularly powerful...”

“M-Mikota…where are you?”

Mikota turned to her voice.

A little to my left

“Limani, I’m coming over to you - please don’t move any more”

“O-okay…”

Notching his arm forward, he sauntered ahead.

…this demon…what’s her ‘Domain’? I didn’t…I couldn’t understand anything…it all just went dark too fast…how did she find us? Saridus masked even our voices! Not breathing, not seeing, not…what’s left? NOTHING!

Mikota gritted his teeth, fists tightening.

Crap…where is she again? No…I don’t need to find her right now…it’s a shell, isn’t it?

“Limani, listen to me…did you see anything? How it happened? I don’t know how long it’s been…but Ms. Evaine’s is…”

Ms. Evaine…OH NO...that man…what is he going to…no…I’m too late…what have I DONE? Because I…

Because I didn’t…

I…refused…Refused!

“M-Mikota? W-what were you saying? I wasn’t paying attention-”

-Even though you were the only one who-

“Mikota? D-did you leave?”

Eyes burning, he fell to his knees. It was over. He’d crushed the only thing Ms. Evaine had ever wanted…the only chance she ever got. Because he wasn’t ready to tell her? What? What was so difficult in assuring her that he wasn’t through with learning magic under her? Hadn’t Sardius told him she was different? He - who had never lied to him, and had every reason to be cautious of any mage - trusted her. And so did Mikota…so why didn’t he tell her? Why not as soon as he could? How long had she waited - for someone, anyone, to…

“I-I really am…”

Worthless.

“Y-you’re still here? T-thank god…what were you saying? Listen…did you see how that thing did all that? I think it came from everywhere at once - l-like tendrils of some sort…we all became…invisible…and mute for a while there for a moment…but you said that’s something Ms. Evaine could do right? Illusions? Mikota?”

“...y-yes”

Why am I…like this?

“You said that this was some kind of shell…I think you might be right there…Chanelle was a little further from us…so I think, maybe…she’s in a different shell? She hasn’t done anything to us so far besides this…”

…will he take her away? Then Saridus…

No…no-

Mikota flexed his fingers, shaking off their numbness as his fingers dropped to his hip, curling over his saber. His left hand wiped away at his eyes, before gripping the sheath. A swift hiss slated the air as he drew it out lithely, notching it forward.

“L-Limani…get down…I’m going to throw my saber to find a wall”

“E-eh? Throw your…o-okay…I’ll just”

He curled his arm back, hoisting the saber above his shoulder.

As far as possible

“1…2…3-”

Sucking in his breath, Mikota hurled the blade ahead. The thing whistled quietly as it cut away through the air.

…has it-

The saber clattered softly, a few paces away. Mikota quickly rushed over in the direction, stretching out his arm.

“Did you throw it? I think…it fell near me”

Is she near the wall?

~

It’s right behind me…right?

“...Mikota? Where-”

Her breath caught sharply as something brushed past her.

…it’s just Mikota…nothing else…I don’t know how much longer I can bear, before I...

She could hear a rustle now…was Mikota running his hand through the grass?

“D-did you find it? The wall?”

“...I did…I think its a hemisphere…its curving evenly as it goes up”

“A hemisphere…”

But what now?

That man…was he trying to take her back with him? Mages…it was quite common to keep their apprentices like property from what she’d heard…Ms. Evaine was his apprentice?

“Limani…do you have any kind of light? Even a little will do…I just need to find my saber again”

Limani pursed her lips, her hand hovering over her satchel. She’d been saving it until now because….even if they could see, it wouldn’t really matter. They were stuck here…but if Mikota had a plan-

Do I want to go outside?

She shuddered, hugging herself.

I’m sorry, Ms. Evaine…we…there’s nothing-

“I…i-it’s all my fault…I can’t ask you…to forgive me…but I let this happen…I…I have to…”

What is he going on about?

“Mikota, please - how could this possibly be your fault? That demon came from nowhere! Don’t stack things on yourself that you clearly don’t control…Mikota…just listen to me…sometimes…you have to accept…”

Accept how you leave everything and everyone behind, and run away. And keep running…until no one who really knows you can find you again

Limani bit her lip, shaking her head. Never again. She was over this. Three years over this.

“...H-Hey, Mikota…I…do have something…it’s not very bright though”

“...you do? Can I…use it now?”

“...yeah. I have a leaf like that…will that help?”

“I’m begging you…please”

“No need to, Mikota”

Her fingers slipped to the last zip in her satchel, where she’d thankfully separated the Breezelight leaves from the rest of them - if she needed them in the dark, then she’d need to know where to find them without looking.

I don’t know what you’re feeling Mikota…but you’re being too hard on yourself…

Carefully unzipping the pocket, she fished out a cool gel sac the leaves were stitched to, keeping them fresh.

And I’m too light on me…

She plucked out one leaf, clamping the stem between two fingers as she brought it close to her lips, as she smiled faintly.

He’s never seen this before…might cheer him up a bit…cheer him up- what am I thinking?

“Okay...ready?”

“F-for what?”

“This-”

Limani blew on the leaf.

The thing rustled, humming softly.

…and-

A dim red gleam sprayed from the stem, coursing up the veins of the leaf - glistening ember paths fracturing from its foot.

“...amazing…y-you just blew and…”

Her smiled deepened, as she slowly pulled away the leaf from her face - keeping the thing far away from her satchel this time

“Who said it was over?”

“It’s-”

The leaf burst into a bright orange flame, its thrashing, dancing tongues spitting out light all over - they were sitting inside a patch of grass, under a tall, black dome - all the colour of their little world throbbing in shadow and fire.

Hemisphere…you were right…hey…where are y-

Limani flinched, registering him huddled to her side, his lips pulled over in a little gap, his face craning towards her fingers, as fiery motes broke over his eyes.

…we’re…so close

“M-mikota…you should probably hurry…we only have about 2 minutes..”

“...u-uh…right…I’ll just…find my saber”

…is he going to try and hit the shell?

“...u-uh…right…I’ll just…find my saber”

Mikota quickly got to his feet, prodding the ground as he searched for his saber, working his way along the wall

“Y-yeah you can…”

Of course he can…what am I-

“...I can still…hear it…”

“...w-what’s wrong?”

“Sizzling…I thought it was from the leaf, but…”

Sizzling?

“M-Mikota…I think you might be mishearing…there’s no sizzling from this leaf…”

Mikota turned back, eyes unfocused.

What’s wrong?

“...Mikota?”

Then quickly turning to the wall, he seized up his saber from below and struck the dome.

No sound. No reverberation. Nothing.

“It’s a physical obstruction…but it isn’t really present physically…”

“H-huh?”

Mikota walked back towards her, placing his head near the wall.

“...it’s sizzling…then…”

Mikota’s eyes widened, hand quickly falling to his mouth as he looked back at her-

“...that demon…she can grant physicality to shadows…she immobilised us by using the shadows from the grass…found us by tracking our shadows…that’s why she needed dusk…I don’t think that’s her power - that’s the man optimising for her…and light…”

His gaze struck into hers, gap widening in relief.

“And light works against it…your leaf is burning it away! W-we…we need more! We can get out! Limani! More!”

Limani blinked, looking away

…you really are amazing, Mikota

“...Limani? How…how many more do you have?”

“I…I can’t use anymore…we’ll run out of air…this leaf is pulling it’s power from the air around it”

His gap slackened, hand slowly covering his ears.

“...n-no…”

The fire sputtered, the leaf crumbling away in her fingers.

Black again.

…Mikota…I…

“...I-I’m really sorry, Mikota…I-I…I don’t have any…”

“...no…you’re right…I-I…can’t ask that…not from you…”

…you would do it alone?

“M-Mikota…I r-really am sorry…she means so much to you, and…”

…why are you torturing him?

She pulled her legs in, head thumping against her knees.

This whole time…the three days they'd been here…when was the last time things had been so much like-

Home. So much like back home.

Gone were the dust choked streets of the city, the swarming masses of scornful resorts and expressions - all the faces that had clogged up against them day after day, no efforts ever paying off - rinse and repeat of the same nonsense that had dragged on…for three years.

They’d been through it all, together, The three of them. Finding each other by chance, and somehow making it work.

Limani scoffed softly.

No…nothing worked. Not really. But that was fine.

It was okay, as long as they kept going.

Somehow. That part still never really made sense to her.

And then came Mikota. And more memorably…Ried. He wasn’t wrong. They were being idiotic. She was being idiotic. As someone responsible for the party…what had she done?

Kept things to herself? Let someone else make decisions? Pitied herself everyday, and refused to do anything about it?

…irredeemable incompetence…the curse of accepting it all…I’m fine the way things are…why?

Because what you are here doesn’t matter

True…there really wasn’t anything to say after all, then. Nothing to lose…nothing to vie for…nothing. As long as it meant she wasn’t over there.

“I-it’s…getting warmer?”

“H-huh?”

Silence.

“...Mikota?”

“...my head…what am I…?”

“Mikota…w-what’s wrong?”

The boy groaned loudly, shifting.

“...is this…this…”

…he’s in pain? My head too…the mana around…it’s plummeting!

“J-just calm down, I c-can…I think I mi-”

She cut her words, spinning her head away as a blinding light suddenly engulfed the dome - catching a lavender flame wreathing an ashen figure before the brown-bathed wall of the dome walled over her sight.

Who was…MIKOTA!?

She snapped her neck back, breath falling sharply as the bright, ember spitting tongues of the fire tore into her eyes - pulsing, rippling coiling around his torso as it gorged on his figure, shrieking gravelly over his own smothered screams.

Her eyes burned in the light - every part of her body felt more leaden by the second as the flames raged on…unable to move…to speak…to help him.

…the mana-

Her head swung over, the world careening as she hit softly against the grass - eyes scorching and milk-veiled as the fiery tendrils locked over his arms. There was another sound now…faint, but-

Sizzling…

From everywhere, all around. The dome was sizzling.

“...Mikota…don’t…you can’t…”

A wet crunch slipped into her ears, the wall behind her spluttering as it caved in, flecks of its black flesh spraying everywhere, as a dull blue light poured gently through the dome. The cool mountain air wafted in, giddily coaxing her lungs loose - she quickly sucked it in, her brow lightening as she rolled over to her back.

…what happened? Mikota…Mikota?

She sluggishly notched her head right, blearily glimpsing past the soft dusk gleam, over to the shade beyond the breach. Mikota.

He was quite still now, crouching. His tresses lay strewn back as he gazed at his open palm - steam curling in little wisps from all over his body.

What did he…oh NO.

His shirt had been thoroughly charred - ashen spots and slashes peppering all throughout his torso and sleeves. His locket hovered ahead his hunched chest, penduluming gently as the evening breeze swung in.

Then, slowly turning to her, he gave her a frazzled look.

What is he…?

“M-Mikota? What did you…you were on fire!”

He turned back to breach. They were directly behind the door…which meant-

“Mikota, wait-”

Mikota spun his saber, plunging it in the earth as he pulled himself up, staggering towards the breach of the dome, craning his neck outside.

“...Mikota, please…you can’t…Mikota, l-look at me…please…M-Mikota…”

Bending down, he gave her one glance.

Red eyes…he’d been crying all this time.

Wincing, she pulled it towards him…if she could stop him now…somehow.

Don’t…please…

Mikota turned back to dome’s fracture, nimbly wrenching back the cracked rim of the breach as he pulled himself out, staggering out into the blue lit earth.

Then suddenly, the boy slapped his head, shaking it vigorously, before breaking in a limp towards the door.

…I couldn’t even

He’d already hastened his pace, a few metres away from the tower.

Two metres.

One.

He paused as he reached it at last, leaning his brow against the door, trying to lower his hands on the knob. They fell quickly, slipping off as they grazed past it, dangling lifelessly below the thing.

…he can’t even stand

He stayed there for a moment, before slowly turning his head to the right, pressing an ear on the wood.

And slumped down, crouching still.

~

“Evaine…just listen to me-”

“S-STOP! I-It’s not o-over….I-I’m not going back…H-how many are left?”

“36…35…34-”

“DO SOMETHING! I KNEW IT! YOU LIED TO ME! YOU SAID YOU COULD HIDE ME FROM HIM AND YOU DIDN’T!!”

“W-WHA- EXCUSE ME? IT’S MY FAULT YOU CAN’T SACRIFICE ANYTHING BUT FUCKING WORMS? ARE YOU HEARING YOURSELF RIGHT NOW? NOW ARE WE GOING TO-”

“S-SILENCE, DEMON! I-I knew it…all this time-”


“ALL THIS TIME WHAT!? YOU PROCRASTINATED, HMM? STUCK IN YOUR OWN FUCKING WORLD, REFUSING TO DO LITERALLY ANYTHING IN ADVANCE? NOOOO - LETS BLAME THE DEMON!!…do whatever the hell you want, Evaine. You’re out of maggot juice - and since I don’t see any aluminium cages filled with animals, or feverous scrawlings of polygons to paralyse my mana…I’m contractually obligated to ditch your ass now. You go back to that senile freak’s tower alone…or rat me out, and then we’ll both get shipped off. Goodbye. And 24, by the way - in case you wanna know how long you can pray for”

“W-wait…Saridus?”

The demon scoffed.

“...and now she calls my name? I wonder…where will I go now? You’ve permanently extracted my essence, so your little palace will hold even without me…hmm, guess I’ll find another mirror…with a little view of the mountain maybe…to think I actually rooted for you with Mikota”

“W-wait…what about the boy?”

“Don’t worry…as long as we’re far away from his life, he’ll do just fine…better than ever, actually”

“...what should I do? H-he…Ziekkah won’t listen…oh god…I c-can’t…I can’t go b-back…”

“...pray, then, Evaine. Pray that something or someone will find you before he does…then again, you guys aren't exactly religious, are you? Oh well”

“And who said that?”

…Ziekkah? Where is…my palace!

She was back. In the dining room. Ziekkah levitated, mid-air by the kitchen wall, the air sizzling opalescent below his lounging - the man keenly invested in a book in his palm.

“Now that was perhaps the best constructed spectacle I’ve seen in a while, Evaine. We’re leaving after I rest, for five or so minutes”

…no…no-no-no…

“M-master…p-please…”

“Oh, please. do go on. You have 5 minutes - one minute for each year spent away from my tower, pursuing your grand goals for magic. For how can I ever forget the day my best apprentice screamed at my face with such gusto? Good to see you too, Saridus. Don’t worry, I’ve completely replenished your mana so you can join us - yes, Imona on the table will do, thank you”

Her master gestured to a tucked-in chair - the thing immediately drawing out from under quietly.

This bizarre magic…no artifact, no demon-

Ziekkah sighed, snapping the book shut, and tossing it in the air: the thing fanned out its pages as it stopped mid-flight, hovering above his head - tilting softly as its spine spiralled sluggishly away. And bursted into flames, dissolving into a charred miasma that quickly billowed the window.

“Sit. Talk”

Her throat…there was nothing left in it.

She’d already gone over everything. Nothing would work. She knew.

“Lieli told you to Sit. Down. NOW”

She flinched…that was her…that demon who wouldn’t leave by his side - not even for a second.

“Now, now, Imona - we are trying to calm her down”

Ziekkah’s shadow on the floor rippled, darkening as a pitch-black mass bulged outwards from the crevice of the shade, the thing writhing as it spat out gnarled limbs, curves, head and tresses of a figure, sizzling as its features softened out, settling into a two-horned, lightless-skinned woman - her bright yellow pupils burning out of from tar-black scleras, as they poured their glare towards Evaine.

…you

The demoness turned to Ziekkah, kneeling as she took his hand, kissing it softly.

“Name my penance, Lieli…for you I will”

Lieli smiled faintly, lifting her chin.

“Warm this tea, for starters?”

“...nothing else? I could bring…biscuits? You usually don’t eat much so I don’t know your…”

Ziekkah glanced back at Evaine, his smile fading.

“The tea isn’t mine, Imona…I’d like Evaine to calm her nerves, and explain where exactly her more recent escapades have wandered”

The women leaned into his touch, glare dimming.

“...nothing for you? Name it, Lieli…anything…”

“Nothing for me, Imona. My body is thankfully stable now - I’ve taken a little help from the little boy sleeping under this hill. Or is it a girl? I haven’t found that out yet. Anyway…”

Ziekkah brushed the women’s cheeks assuringly, before setting his elbows upright on the table, resting his chin on a bed of knitted fingers. Facing her directly.

“So. Besides hiding from everything and everyone, permanently sacrificing the autonomy of your legs to keep a trivial mirror contract going on, what have you done? I saw a few kids outside earlier. Have you given up magic after all?”

…how can you even…

He was still wearing those voluminous grey robes. The same robes as the very first day, as they were then. Speckled in blood, dirt - rusty trailings meandering through its folds. Same placid, expressionless face - skin pallid, nigh gaunt. Long white broom of hair. Nothing had changed. Nothing.

“I-I’m not going back…I’m not”

“Preposterous! Submit yourself at ONCE!”

“Imona…let the girl speak…speaking of speaking, someone’s rather quiet today, eh Saridus? Oh, we’ll get to you when we do…now. Go on”

“M-master…you don’t understand! I-I just need-”

“You just need what? Evaine. I let you graduate even when you breached our one decade agreement on your apprenticeship, because you believed magic could be harnessed differently - and I believed you. And from the looks of it, you didn’t even show me what you could do, even back in Hierdelauc tower - so it seems you did take my advice on being more cautious about who to tell what. Nevertheless, there’s not a single thing that you’ve shown me today that you couldn’t have achieved while at my tower - not one solid reason to leave my place in the first place. What new magic, Evaine? What was my tower barring you from achieving?”

“I-I…”


“You don’t know what you want magic for. I told this to a little girl who had the gall to show up at my tower 10 years ago - demanding me take her as my apprentice, despite personally knowing exactly what the risks and consequences of using magic were. She had the talent, wit…tenacity…but with a constitution so fundamentally misaligned from the framework of that power, that she was better off not walking that path at all. She didn’t listen to me. And so I taught her”

Ziekkah leaned in, his brow tightening

“And 10 years later, here is that little girl before me, all over again. Exactly where I thought she would be. You need guidance, Evaine - if you want to use your potential, you need to direct it…you are incapable of using your own authority to fuel your path, so I will do it for you”

“...M-Master…please…I can’t…I don’t want…I’m so…”

“You’re getting nowhere, Evaine. Accept that I’m right, or prove me wrong. Or stay quiet, as we warp back to Hierdelauc tower. You have no new magic, no apprentice willing to follow you, and absolutely nothing to show for your 5 years outside my tower. Anything to say? Now’s the time, Evaine. Well?”

…it’s over…Ried…Mikota…

Her eyes watered, tears welling over the world. It wasn’t ready. She couldn’t test it in time…becuase no one would willingly…

Ziekkah stayed his jaded blue eyes on her a moment longer, before shutting them slowly, scoffing.

“...then we’re done here. Imona, please-”

Evaine flinched as crack passed the room - the door swivelling open as a figure staggered in, and shutting the door behind them. And turning back to face them.

…Mikota? How…what happened to you!?

Wavering and red rimmed, the boy’s eyes flicked quickly between Imona, and Ziekkah.

“M-Mikota…p-please go away…what are you doing here?”

Finally locking eyes with her, he placed one hand on his chest, tucking the other behind, bowing low.

“Professing myself your pupil…your apprentice”

…my apprentice?

“My, what a courteous boy indeed - that bow…it’s the one that Saridus uses, isn’t it? Courteous, yet misaligned all the same. I take it you have the aptitude for magic, then? Raise your head, boy. This woman can teach you nothing”

Imona hissed, glaring at Mikota.

“Lieli…allow me to enforce a more…severe constraint on the boy…clearly we have been too lenient”

“Peace, Imona…by the way, what light source did you use? If you did break from Imona’s prison, you would need quite the significant one”

“...Lieli, we’re going off track!”

“Now, now….I want to hear this”

Mikota looked up hesitantly

“...may I address you…sir?”

Ziekkah chuckled softly, pulling his hands underneath the table as he folded his legs.

“You may. My name…is Lieli Ziekkah”

“The God Mage”

“Oh, Monikers! Let us not confuse the boy just yet”

“Forgiveness, Lieli…”

Mikota straightened his back.

“Can I assume you have come to take Ms. Evaine away?”

“Retrieve her, more accurately - yes”

“Well…I feel I must assert this…Ms. Evaine…and Saridus have been inducting me through a new way to use magic…it is real…that was my light source”

Ziekkah arched his eyebrow.

“You seem to be rather well acquainted with Saridus, boy…still…I don’t believe in hearsay. You have courage to show yourself here…why not apprentice under me as well?”

“D-don’t get him into this! Leave him out!”

“Ah, her first coherent sentence! Maybe I should take this boy after all. Very well, that’s what we’ll do. Imona-”

“-At once, Lieli. ”

Imona raised her hands, every sliver of shadow slowly torsioning in a trickle towards her as her form grew taller.

“M-Mr. Ziekkah, please listen to one last thing!”

“What is there to say, boy?”

“You have…many apprentices…don’t you?”

Ziekkah narrowed his eyes, showing his hand to Imona.

“L-Lieli?”

“What are you trying to imply, boy?”

“...allow me to study under Ms. Evaine for a few months…and have me battle your best apprentice. If I fail to meet your standards, I will have nothing to more to oppose…please give us a chance to prove everything Ms. Evaine promised you all those years ago”

Ziekkah stilled entirely, eyes locked on Mikota.

“...Lieli…please”

The man stood up suddenly, closing his eyes as a finger curled on his chin.

Did it really…?

One second.

Two.

His lips twitched. Feigned. Then curled slowly, widening as they stretched over to his Sunken cheeks, as Lieli Ziekkah opened his eyes.

“...Beautiful”

Curling the hand away from his chin, he pressed his thumb against his middle finger.

And snapped his fingers.

The window flashed, the blue gleam of dusk dissipating as the blinding aureate of noon poured back in.

“Evaine…you know the rules. Fill him in”

Then screwing his eyes, he snapped his fingers again.

Evaine gasped sharply as pain crept through her thigh, quickly coursing to her legs, filling her shin, her calves her toes-

My legs…they’re-

The pain vapourised, a cool tingle lingering throughout her legs.

“And get off that godforsaken chair, and tell Rithneld to stop promoting cripples. Imona, you can let the children out now. We’re leaving”

Imona glared at Evaine, fiery orange pupils quivering silently, before the demon tossed her head away, placing her hand in Ziekkah’s as both the man and demon walked into the dark of the kitchen, melting away into the shadows.

…Mikota…you…

Evaine hurried over to the boy, who’d since crumpled to the ground. Softly lifting his head, she cradled his head, placing him on her lap. His eyes were closed, flesh lips parted slightly as they quivered in soft, ragged breaths.

This boy…he came all the way here for…

Evaine leaned down, kissing his forehead.

“Mikota…you beautiful child…”

“...Ms…Evaine…”

He’s awake?

“What the hell…is cube-thingy?”