Brady Tyson's Walk Along the Precipice

The Things That Humans Cannot Bear - 9

1, 2, 3,

1, 2, 3...

My feet step hurriedly across the ground. I haven't danced like this since... I made Mr. Argyros pay for those ballroom lessons when I was 16. Surprisingly, I stuck with it for several months. I can never seem to stick to a hobby outside of reading, but those lessons captivated me for a while. Maybe something about it reminded me of the rush when Mr. Argyros was training me how to fight.

Regardless, I fractured my shin when my partner dropped me one day. He insisted it wasn't the case, but I still think he did it intentionally. I wasn't the pretty girl he hoped to dance with, most likely. When I recovered I didn't go back.

So why am I here, now? Dancing in this pure white expanse.

With Mold.

Her left hand is holding firmly on to my hip, while her right is gently caressing my ribs. My hand is on her hip. My severed bicep hangs limply over her right hand. She's smiling, just like always.

"I thought I couldn't dream anymore?" I try everything in my power, but I can't muster any rage. A deep, numbing calm is all that fills my body.

"A couple restless nights is all it takes for you to jump to the dramatic, huh?" She jerks her head up. Those gray locks of hair flip upwards, revealing that terrifying, inhuman, starry eye. "That's so like you, Brady."

My ax is lodged deep into her chest. A thin pool of golden blood trails down from it.

Didn't she bleed red, though?

"You didn't want to see me?" She pouts.

"I just want to know why Týr left me."

"Maybe you're right." She twirls me. The handle of my ax hits my right shoulder blade. "You can't dream. If this isn't what you want to see, then it must be a nightmare."

I sit bolt upright; "It was too familiar."

Eight's burly, gentle hand rests softly on my back. "What was?"

My eyes dart around... the cabin. The small, luxury airline sways slightly in the night air. Tarrance is a few rows behind me, his cheek pressed up against a window. Akil is in the front row ahead of me, seemingly asleep.

Well, I only assume this is an airplane based on what I've seen in magazines and movies. I've never actually been in one before.

Just to double check, I look out the window. I can't really see much in the darkness, but yeah, there are occasional clouds down there. So this is what being in an airplane is like.

...Although, it doesn't really compare to gliding around in Mold's arms.

"Brady." Eight says, nudging my back a little roughly. I blink. "What was familiar?"

"That leg!" Everything is rushing back to me now. "Did we win?"

"...You severed one of the remaining six limbs of Eien, yes. However if our theory about Eien having a central core location is correct, then that wasn't it. And if the theory is wrong anyway then you still have four more branches to fell."

"Wow, sorry that I did such a good job."

"Forgive me, I suppose I must have sounded a bit tart. What the three of you did was no small feat. You're the first team that has gotten rid of one of these things without any casualties... to that..." He passes a hand over his eyes. "I am truly grateful. Thank you, Brady Tyson."

"..."

"My earlier point was that I don't want you to feel as though this is over. Not by a long shot. You won't get much rest either, I'm afraid. We're heading straight to the next location as we speak."