Fool of Knight 1: Strength

Chapter 10

"Okay, first give me yo-" Zelle replied.

"Zelle...," I timidly interrupted, reaching my hand out to stop her.

'What," she replied, dodging my grasp.

"I want to use my last question to ask you who you are..."

She shot me a look of disgust. "You're out of questions... but if you can keep up, I'll give you a couple more." She yawned, stretching her arms up before she sat down.

"What!? How am I out of questions?!"

"Now that 'that's' settled, follow me and you'll be fine! Give me your feet!" She grabbed my ankle, lifting my foot to her face. "Hold still please," she demanded, quickly swiping the edge of her blade through the top layer of skin.

"H-"

"'Trust', remember fool," she yelled, waving her hand for my other foot.

I hesitantly gave it to her, groaning in agonizing horror as she shaved through the skin. "Fool? Why is only that word sticking out?"

Shaving her own feet, she stood. "Okay, don't push an enormous amount outward at one time, with running you gotta release a slow, but constant and consistent stream out while you maneuver your body to control where you go... Just do what I do..."

A loud screech sounded from the forest, throwing me back into the memories of our last encounter.

I stood up. "But-"

She took my hand into both hers, caressing either side.

My heart throbbed.

"I, Zelle of Time, 'promise' that if you put your faith in me. I will lead you to salvation. Do you accept my gesture?"

"Gesture?"

Her eyes were like clear crystals with a hint of blue swirled in. She gently squeezed her cold hands around mine. "Just trust me once... and when I let you down, stop trusting me!"

"I guess if she 'does' get me killed, I'll just come back here..." I nervously smiled. "Okay... I trust you."

Her shoulders dropped as she pressed her head to my knuckles. "I'll even tell you 'more' about Troy when we get out. Follow me!" She bolted towards the forest, taking long strides while flying close to the ground.

Taking a breath, I took energy in, pushing it out the soles of my feet as I stepped. "...It worked," I thought, flying forward. My breathing went frantic as the air pressed my face. I began to slow down. "Oh no..."

Zelle gained distance on me.

"What am I doing wrong..."

"Remember to breathe," she yelled.

Taking a breath, I flew forward uncontrollably. The image of my feet sliding made me dread putting them to the grit of the ground. "This isn't good!"

"Why are you holding your breath so much," Zelle asked, snapping me out of my daze. She placed her hand on my back and nudged me, carrying me further.

"...You came back," I asked, gazing at her.

"What... Of course I came back, that 'doesn't' sound like you're trusting me! Are you breathing steady?"

"Uhh..."

"Don't think of this as jumping, move your feet to a rhythm that's comfortable for you." She sped in front of me, waving. "Come on! Hit the ground running!"

Taking a deep breath, I shifted to a running stride, switching to a slow and consistent breathing pattern.

"Yes," She yelled, closing the space between us.

I looked over as she focused her gaze on the incoming forest. "I'm really doing it!"

"Do what I do, and you'll keep up, okay! Don't think, just 'intend' to do it!" Leaping into the forest she gained speed.

"Intend?" Picturing myself leaping, I pushed off, catapulting myself into the forest. Everything came at me fast, making me hesitate.

"Don't get scared!"

Touching my foot to the ground, I switched back to my running stride.

"This way," she yelled, landing on a tree, and jumping towards the gigantic bush.

Following her, I emerged in front of the four doorways, stopping in her absence as my feet hit the grass and skidding my ragged flesh.

"It was the... Right one... right?" A large gash sat at the foot of its frame, slowly closing as it regenerated. "Did Zelle leave that?"

Pushing off the ground I flew straight through, catching a brief look of relief from Zelle. Chills slowly went through my body.

Tapping off the ground, she elegantly flipped across the declining path and into the next void.

"She really is amazing!" Leaping into her footing, I jumped across, barely avoiding the thick patch of sharp grass and throwing myself into the opening.

Holding her arms out, she caught me in a hug. "I 'knew' I was sent for a reason; Troy doesn't make mistakes!"

Her skin felt welcomingly cool as my legs wrapped around her.

"No one said to wrap around me," she bellowed, pushing me to the ground. "This one should be easy, you ready?"

"Y-yea-"

"Left," a familiar deep voice called out.

"Hey Plexus," Zelle replied theatrically waving, we both looked up.

"Plexus?" I stood up.

"Zelle," the small snake excitedly nodded. "Back again?"

"Yeah-yeah, don't get 'too' happy. Where's it at?"

"What's happening," I asked.

"Don't worry, he's cool, trust me," She replied, gesturing her hand to the side.

I quickly turned my head down the left path, realizing the vines had returned.

Sticking his tongue out, he hummed. "Oh my."

"Can't find it," she teased, placing her hands on her hips.

"Rather the contrary... closer than last time."

"How 'close' is closer?"

"They're straight ahead..."

"They're...," I interjected.

"How many," Zelle continued.

"That would ruin the fun wouldn't it," he replied, giving a devious grin.

"Where's the one 'out'?"

"Among them," he laughed.

"*Sigh* Thanks then. I'm leavin again, so if there's anything 'nice' you'd wanna say, here's your chance."

"Again..."

"Kill a s-snake for me!"

"Gotcha," Zelle joyously replied, giving him a thumbs up.

"Watch your back around that thing," he warned me, nodding towards Zelle before slithering back into his hole.

"What thing," I quickly responded. "Does it mean Zelle?!"

"Don't do that, he just started trustin me," Zelle yelled, waving her blade towards him.

Plexus laughed a long ominous breath.

"Don't let him get to you, he has a grudge and confidence issues."

"Confidence issues?"

"'Not' important, before I tell you the plan, should I explain what happened-" Zelle swirled her finger in the air. "-with the loop?"

"I nodded my head.