Mythic (NaNoWriMo14)

Chapter 18 - Fight Back

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Chapter 18 - Fight Back

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The energy high left Rena's body feeling drained as she poured it into the sceptre, leaving it glowing in her hands.

She fought off dizziness as the extra two tails disappeared, leaving her usual five feeling sparse behind her as they twisted together protectively, well out of range of the djinn's hands.

She didn't need to ask if it'd worked. Silvery white lines were etched into the wood of the sceptre, making it appear almost fae in nature. The crystal at its heart resonated with the same energy as her crystal key. It flashed when she reached out to it, testing their connection.

"It is now yours," said the djinn. "Well done. I'm impressed, I barely had to guide your energy with your key. It seems to have a talent for energy abilities after all."

Rena followed his gaze to her tail. Instead of its usual burnt orange with the brownish tips, the fur was streaked with silver, creating an interesting effect when she waved it back and forth, catching the light on the strands.

"Will it stay like that?" Rena asked.

The djinn shrugged. "Most likely not. Kitsunes tails are prone to change with use of ley, though most have a default colouring. I suspect in a few hours, it will have returned to its usual state. May I see the sceptre?"

Rena handed it over. Out of her grip, the silver lines faded, leaving the wood looking as normal as ever. The crystal suddenly looked more like the tree had grown around a rock rather than the core of a weapon.

"It's a good attunement," said the djinn. "Not perfect, but it will improve with use and time."

The djinn turned the sceptre, observing it from various angles while stroking the chain of Rena's crystal key. She kept her ears perked, pretending to be studying the sceptre and the light it left in its wake. She had little idea what she'd done to it or if the effect was permanent, but she didn't particularly care. She wanted her key back around her neck, safe where it belonged.

The djinn nodded to himself and handed the sceptre back. It flashed as Rena gripped it, like her touch had breathed life into it.

"Good," he said. "This confirms my suspicions."

"Your suspicions?" asked Rena.

"That feeding off the defiler was holding you back," said Qariinn. He waved a hand. "But he won't be an issue any longer. I've ensured he won't be holding back your progress any longer."

Rena's tails stood up on end. "You... what?"

"You were far too attached, Emberheart," said the djinn. "Links to the Order are dangerous to our mindset. It's much easier to slip back into your previous mindset, to forget your responsibilities to this world, but that does not make it the right path. The defiler had to be removed."

Rena's heart jumped into her throat. She swallowed it back down, telling herself that Cayden knew how to fight. He wouldn't go down easily--but what if he'd been surprised? She couldn't get Nazine out by herself. Of that she was sure. She needed Cayden, if not for Nazine than for her own sanity in this place.

"Oh, Emberheart," said the djinn, giving her a sad smile. "Just your reaction tells me I've made the right decision. But he was poisoning your mind, trying to convince you that saving the phoenix was the correct path. To work against your brothers and sisters."

He knew.

Rena backed away from the table, raising the sceptre between them but the djinn seemed unconcerned. The stairs were somewhere behind her. She had to run. Get away. Escape the threat.