When Good Loses Its Grip {Grishaverse Big Bang 2021}

Chapter 18

Alina’s eyes fluttered open. 

"They're awake," a voice spoke. Alina struggled to sit up, but soon pushed themselves up. They groaned. "Ugh, my head." She looked at the triforce of wisdom and the triforce of courage. "I'm dead." 

"You're not." Alina watched as the knight got to his feet. "We saved you by connecting our powers." 

Alina stood up. Her movements became immediately frantic. Their head whipped to and fro, eyes wide. "Where's my orb?" 

They suddenly heard a scoff. "That's your first question?" 

The fortune teller looked to the side. Her eyes widened slightly, but then she smiled. 

"Leoni." 

"Princess, not Leoni." The triforce of wisdom looked at her. "You ruined my life." 

Alina cocked her head to the side, still smiling. She cackled. "That's an understatement." 

Leoni pursed her lips and got to her feet and Alina watched her. They shook their head and turned back, shifting into a kneeling position. Whatever. I need to find my orb. 

The Zonai began to dig into the rubble. Stone flew into the air. "Come on," Alina muttered. "Come on!" 

Out of the corner of their eye, Alina saw Dimitri tug on Leoni's arm and pull her back. Alina wanted to scoff at the knight's action, but there was no point. She needed to find her orb. It was the only thing she had. 

Finally, Alina pulled the orb out of the rubble. "Yes," she whispered as she held it in her hands. There. The orb came to life with Malice, and Alina grinned. They stood up. Immediately, Leoni and Dimitri stepped back. Alina didn't turn to look at them. 

"I'm not going to hurt you," the fortune teller spoke. "I guess I'm stuck with you two for the time being." They blew out a breath, irritation setting into their features. 

"Yes, you're stuck with us," Dimitri spoke. Now Alina turned around, her eyes alight with curiosity. 

"I didn't know you spoke that much." 

Dimitri shrugged. "If we're stuck together, we have to communicate. So we need to set down some rules. First off, no using the orb to attack unnecessarily...or whatever it is you do with it." 

Alina gave Dimitri a deadpan look. "I use it to see the future. Nothing more." 

Alina looked over at Leoni. She was practically clinging onto the knight. They felt a bit sorry for her, even if they were working with her enemy. 

"I won't hurt you." 

Leoni looked at the fortune teller. Alina stared back at her. Slowly, the triforce of wisdom relaxed her grip and let go of Dimitri's arm. She began to walk, and Dimitri and Alina followed.

"We can figure out more rules on the way," Leoni spoke. 

Alina groaned. "Noooo." She hated unnecessary rules. They got in the way and did nothing to help her achieve her goal. ...What is my goal, now that Volcra has awakened? 

Alina pushed the thought to the back of their mind. They didn't want to think about that right now. 

"Yes," Dimitri replied to Alina, walking up to them. Alina looked at Dimitri and Leoni, then turned her eyes to the dungeons in front of them. They had opened. Despite knowing this would happen, Alina sucked in a breath. The Malice had left to revive Volcra. But something tugged on the back of Alina's mind. Somehow, they felt they needed answers to a question they didn't have.  

Alina walked up to the dungeon and pressed their hand to it. The metal door swung open. Inside, mist covered the place. A straight path led to the other end of the room. Four big chunks of crystal sat on the wall ahead. Dimitri and Leoni stood behind her.

"For what it's worth," Alina started, staring at the dungeon before them, "even though I predicted the Calamity...I wish you'd been given the ability to summon your power earlier." 

With that, Alina stepped into the mist.