Eladea: A Hopeless Age

Chapter 34: Liam

Chapter 34: Liam

Sorry for the sudden disappearance. I had to deal with some things and if I'm being honest the break was nice. I was gonna write last week but then my birthday happened and I just gave up. Anyway, I'm here now and I guess that's what matters, right?

Off we go!

》* 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ • 。* 。° 。* 。 • ˚《

"Are you sure this is it?" Reid asks hesitantly.

"It has to be," I say with confidence I know I don't have. My fists clench as a layer of dread settled into my stomach, tears burning the back of my eyes. "It just has to be."

"Well I mean The Teller said we would find it near a 'broken tower' and if that isn't a broken tower I don't know what is." Amber muses, gliding on the winds towards the crumbling watchtower in the distance.

"I hope that Frosty Tide plant is here so we can get out of this freaking snow," Reid calls through clattering teeth, his white hair looking even brighter in the blank landscape around us.

I look down to see myself shivering, though I don't feel the cold. Though the snowfall pecks gently at my face as we fly along, I can't feel the wetness from the flakes. My mind is somewhere else, occupied with thoughts and worries and feels I can't shake. What if we're too late? What if I can't save her?

Soon enough the crumbling tower of stone passes by and beyond it is nothing but never-ending snow. Anxiety creeps up my spine as I stare at the white tundra before us.

"Well…" Amber tries to start. "I'm not seeing a 'deepest valley'....how about you guys?" She tries to be sarcastic but her voice trembles with fear. We're all thinking the same thing: what if we can't find it?

I feel my body shrink with hopelessness, my eyes glazing over the barren white expanse of land that flies by below us. The weight that had been steadily growing on my chest, ever pressing, ever swelling, seems to come to a climax - a wonderful crescendo. It feels as if it's crushing my insides, pressing my organs tighter on themselves and squeezing my ribs together. My shoulders drop and I feel myself doubling over. I can't breathe. I can't breathe, I can't breathe, I can't breathe.

I failed her. My goddesses…I failed her. It was a hopeless endeavor, trying to find a practically extinct flower on the other side of the world within a couple months. Yet still I tried, still I carried on with my damned optimism. I thought I had finally, finally done something right. But there was no use. I couldn't be as good as her, and I never will be. Thanks to me, I'll never get the chance to apologize for never paying attention to her lessons, I'll never get the chance to learn, I'll never get the chance to be better. I failed her.

In the back of my mind I register a hand on my shoulder, but I don't care enough to acknowledge them. A dry sob escapes my throat and I can't help but wrench my eyes shut in hopes of blocking out the cold that's seeping through my body, and it's not just from the snow.

"Liam! Liam, look!" Someone's shaking my shoulder. I think it's Kate, who had been practically silent since we left Willow Isle. I squeeze my eyes shut tighter, trying to shut out everything. I can't face them right now, especially not whatever elaborate ruse they've thought up to try and cheer me up.

"Liam!" Reid now. Can't they just give me a moment?

"For the goddesses sake Liam, would you just look?!" Something in the way Kate says it makes me raise my head and peel open my eyes to the blasting cold. Once my eyes adjust to the temperature my breath is ripped from my lungs.

Below, down on the ground, the snow gives away. Like a tidal wave it falls in front of us, feet of cold powder plunging from its prior home. With an ear-shattering boom the final part of the wide cavern gives way, a mist of snowflakes being shot into the air as the snow settles. Amber flutters a bit, adjusting to the wave of forceful air flowing by us. She hovers there, letting us all take in the sight we're seeing.