The Missing Stone

Loophole

Fire.

It's everywhere, consuming people's homes and ravaging the fields, plumes of toxic smoke rising high. The scent of death permeates everything, and Mildred feels so tired. She's been running with Aelura, helping carry Mao through the village as Chester covers their backs from the invaders. She pants from exhaustion, lungs burning from smoke inhalation.

She'd exhausted most of her power to help herself, Mao, and Aelura out of a trap they had fallen in. It was too late, however, because as soon as the trappers spotted Mildred's bright hair, they've been pursuing them for hours. One of them had blasted Mao in the back with a strange spell, nearly killing her. Since then the trio have been working endlessly to keep Mao alive and away from the invaders.

Aelura suddenly drops, making Mildred yelp as she catches both Mao and Aelura's bodies. "Chester!" She yells, the lancer swiftly turning. "Help." He hoists Mao's body onto his back, leaving Mildred to carry Aelura bridal style into a nearby forest. Her body suddenly feels weak, sweat pouring down her back and face.

"Mil..." a voice says weakly, and Mildred snaps her head down. Aelura cracks her eyes open, revealing a sliver of cobalt before closing again as she coughs horrendously. The poison is getting to them...

"Hang on," Mildred whispers, leaning Aelura against a tree before yanking off her gloves. She reaches deep inside herself, drawing out the shreds of power she has left in her soul and pressing her hands against Aelura's chest. Slowly, wisps of the toxin flow from her body, dissipating when Mildred collapses backwards as she releases her hold on the magic. Aelura coughs again before breathing normally, falling unconscious but alive.

"Mildred," Chester takes her hand in his own. "What are you doing!?" He asks, fear seeping into his expression and tone. Mildred shakes her head, brushing his hand off and crawling towards Mao, her wounds partially healed courtesy to Chester's ability. Mildred repeats the same process she used on Aelura, and startled, Chester attempts to pull her back, but his efforts are in vain as the last of Mildred's magic is sapped from her soul, healing her friends.

She lies flat on her back, the forest canopy obscured by Chester's form. His voice echoes faintly in her ears, words indistinguishable through the haze in her head. Mildred's vision darkens, and the last thing she hears is Chester's mesmerizing voice...

"As long as I am with you, you will live. I promise."

-

That is most definitely a memory. Mildred braces herself for the oncoming headache, but nothing comes. Instead, the charm on her wrist burns again, although not as strongly as the first time.

"You okay, Mao?" Aelura asks, and Mildred notices how she's suddenly gone quiet. She can still feel her presence, however faded. A grunt and what sounds like Mao clearing her throat.

"Yeah." A cough. "All good." The hairs on her arms stand up, and Mildred senses something in the back of her mind move. Suddenly she remembers the name Aelura had said.

Chester?

A yawn, much louder than the first one. "What...what happened?" A voice, so similar to the voice from her memory and from her dreams that it suddenly has Mildred unbearably curious.

Chester. Sing something. A surprised breath.

"What?" He says, voice rough from sleep. A snicker in the background. Chester breathes, before clearing his throat. "We're different and the same..." Mildred's eyes widen, mouth parting in surprise.

It is you! A warm chuckle. "Who did you expect it to be?" Mao asks slyly, and Mildred can imagine the smirk on her face. Something is wrong, however. Very wrong.