Fer.al Series #2 - The Blood Tundra

Chapter 9: Method of Illusion

Fata Morgana. A mirage. A miracle.

Lillie was touched again. They're a miracle. Fata Morgana. Putting my infinite life in front of  their finite life. Using their unchangable appearence to tell me what a random word I thought up actually means.

Nothing will happen to them. Ever. I promise.

"Wait," Robin glided over and sat beside Lillie. "So you mean you're not Sapnap? Fata Morgana?"

"Never was," Fata Morgana dipped their head down again, as if they never put their head high up in the first place. "Never will be."

"Aww, Fata Morgana." Lillie didn't know what to say anymore.

Suddenly there was a boom.

"Everybody evacuate!" Lillie screamed as her, Robin, Arc, Fata Morgana and Lumiax all jumped back. The walls were shaking. "This way!" Maxwell pointed as they all sped up the stairs. The stone floor began shaking even more.

"What in the name of Sapnap is this," Lillie huffed between gulps of air. "I don't - Wingwatcher attack!" Maddie pointed as a black tail began slithering through the crevices of the walls, which were beginning to sway back and forth.

"I don't know, but STOP! WE'RE NOT RUNNING!" Lumiax suddenly skidded to a stop, as Lillie and her friende frantically scurried past her. "I SAID NO RUNNING!"

"What!?" Lillie stopped. The black tail moved up as Lillie stomped hard on it, and scratched.

It was cloth. Bits of cotton poofed out where blood should be. "This is the Method of Illusion," Lumiax shouted, picking up the tail, which ended at a stump, also sewed with black cloth. "We use it to scare others away, to scare those who are not worthy of the secrets here."

"Well, secrets?" Lillie said with a smug smile. "Then can I go look at le Sapnap Decree Board over there-" "NO!" Lumiax nearly pushed Lillie off her footing. "That is TOP SECRET. We shouldn't reveal that to others. Don't touch it. Don't even talk about it."

"Do you know about this?" Arc asked Maxwell, "The Method of Illusion and the secret decree board?" "Not much," Maxwell shook his head. "I just got here, first time. I usually go with the Lakeroot Bakeneko, I don't know much about the Blood Tundra Bakeneko, though."

"Okay, then," Lillie stepped back. "Let's go now..." Did shadows just rush over Lumiax's face? Robin and Arc and Fata Morgana were scattered on the stairs. "I say follow me," Lumiax flittered to the front and led the way, as if nothing has happened, as if nothing will ever happen.

The squad treaded through endless stone stairs, red and blue, illuminated with torches, also red and blue. Sometimes they ran into other Methods of Illusion, a fake Wingwatcher suddenly dropping onto them, a stuffed claw or tail or something sticking out of the wall. As she experienced more, her fear gradually faded, each time Lumiax would explain.

They ran and ran, until they were at a dark entrance, concealed with gates studded with rubies and lapis lazuli the shape of two kitsunes entwined. Fera and Aref, Lillie thought in her head. Lumiax went up and tapped the heads of the two carvings. The doors opened, magically, revealing black inside. Darkness. Waiting to be discovered.

"Woah," Lillie gasped, wanting to go in. But there was something weird, something fishy about the place, something not supposed to exist.

"What is this, in the name of Sapnap!" Lumiax mimicked Lillie's voice and mocked. "Well, you're about to find out..."

"It's a method of illusion?" Lillie squeaked.

"Well...come out and play now~" Lumiax's voice suddenly sounded eerie.

Then the doors bursted open.

And Wingwatchers flooded out.