Garrus’ threat had come true.
Demons had been sighted.
No matter how hard the Excelliars tried to dispel the rumours the more people panicked and Aria had no choice but to start regular demon patrols. Aria had wanted to return to Opalis in case the demons broke through but Moralez had assured her to leave it in his capable hands. Ethros had volunteered to go with him.
Aria trudged around the same block of flats she had seen fourteen times. The endless dreariness grated on her nerves, jumping at every little sound and whispering within the dead of night. She wasn’t used to the winding streets or the cramped alleyways of the Bolthole. She longed for the clearly mapped out roads marked with signposts and pristine, marble walkways.
Aria knew her home like the back of her hand, even the houses had been built to slot together to minimise damage and allow dragons to fly without harming bystanders. She had been in the process of reinforcing Scholar’s Keep before the disaster had derailed her plans completely. The demon sightings had only solidified that.
“Hey, Ixy. Where are we-?”
Aria turned around to find herself alone. Her breath hitched. Her Light Trait began to dim within her palm, the darkness edging closer with every dim street light that refused to glow. She had forgotten Ixis was on medical leave and Ethros wasn’t here.
“Come on, come on…”
Her Trait had never failed her before. Every shadow turned into the face of her enemy, warping into the familiar peaked hat and steely eyes of her traitorous ex Regent. Every Traited who leered against the dormant lamps drillled Garrus’ warning into her head. The dark scared her. A hand rested on her shoulder, suppressing a scream.
“My Lady? Are you alright?”
Her eyes adjusted to the sudden flash of light, suddenly caught within the familiar glow of a Lightning Traited.
“Skyla? What’re you…”
Aria’s wheezy breaths came out forced, clenching her teeth in an attempt to stay upright. Crouched with her hands over her ears, the Throneholder stared
at the mud staining her boots but she didn’t care. All she could do was listen to Skyla’s voice.
“Well, I know you said to head back to Peddler’s Inn but you ordered everyone to patrol in pairs and…well, I figured once I left Lady Ixis home you would be on your own. No one wants to be on their own, right?”
She let out a shaky laugh, unaware of her armour dematerialising around her without her Light Trait keeping it going. Her fear overwhelmed her concentration. Most Traited couldn’t summon armour or Trait weapons on command but battle instinct normally caused the grimoire to trigger it. A panic attack did not.
“Thank you, Skyla.”
Aria sniffed, clearing her eyes with the sleeves of her jumper. The Lightning Traited anchored herself to the Throneholder, Aria clinging to her and letting her take her weight. She had no time to be embarrassed. Skyla had her back to any passers-by, protecting Aria’s dignity and helped her to her feet.
“Can you stand?”
Aria nodded, burying her head into Skyla’s chest.
“Who are they? I haven’t seen them before.” She mumbled, the dwindling lights gently providing them light.
Skyla expertly manoeuvred them forwards, her Light Trait reforging her armour piece by piece with every step she took. Aria took a deep breath, her hands still shaking but Skyla’s arm linked with hers seemed to steady her. The Lightning Traited acted like her superior was helping her with a well acted limp. She’d never live it down if they found out their Throneholder needed help from a rookie.
“They’re Shadecaller’s, my Lady. Have you not seen them before?”
“Admittedly, no.” Aria said, smiling ruefully.
Skyla didn’t tease her for not knowing, the streets a little easier to walk on with her by Aria’s side.
“Well, the Shadecaller’s are responsible for turning the lights on and off in the Undercity. Fire and Shadow Traited work in tandem to help out during special occasions or the Trollian migrations. They don’t have the same technology in Opalis and I think they used to be used for funerals too. But I’m not sure why they stopped…”
Skyla’s rambling set her at ease, the threatening shadows retreating while Shadecaller’s worked diligently to prepare what they could. Connecting pieces, wick length and timing were expertly measured like a well oiled machine. Aria had rarely seen different Traited work together before.
Opalian’s remained within their own clusters of similar Traited. She would’ve never guessed to pair fire and shadow together. The rumour they would be too volatile was extinguished the moment a Fire Traited nearest them gave a flicked their hand. The flame bloomed to life. The Shadow Traited tempered the bright, romantic glow with a lazy gesture and chatted with their companions.
“Trollian migration?” She asked the Lightning Traited, basking in her positive aura.
Her easy smile made Aria want to learn more about the Undercity, wanting this moment to last forever even if Skyla explained things she already knew.
“Yeah. It’s how I met my Oathed.” Skyla said, a tinge of sadness in her voice.
Before she could inquire further, the lanterns suddenly blared to life. All the Shadecaller’s took a few nervous steps backward, staring in confusion at the bright, lilac flame emitting from every single row of street lamps. Aria slowly headed toward the lamp nearest to them, enraptured by the soft glow. The soft, warm, comforting fire was eerily recognisable but also felt sad.
“Skyla…didn't you say that these things used to be for funerals?”
“Yeah but I’ve never seen it flare purple before. Normally, it’s called the Bluestone ceremony so…blue flame is kinda its thing. But if this is a Traited then they just lit up the whole street and that’s…amazing.”
“Amazingly powerful, you mean.”
Skyla changed instantly, her stern look made Aria take a step back. For a moment, the Lightning Traited had been an entirely different person. She had turned her attention to the nearby Shadecaller’s, her likability shining like the sun. They kept looking down warily at her white and gold armour but her welcoming nature had already relaxed them.
“Like, I grew up in Nocturus and travelled all the way from Caldor and even got stationed in Griffin’s Point but I’ve never seen anything like this. Not even during the Brinehearth…”
All Aria could do was stand there and listen, her intimidating stance was more standoffish than the bubbly Lightning Traited. The scatters of mumbling made Aria join her companions' side, Skyla acting more of a leader than she ever was.
The Shadecaller’s began to gather around them, some casually leaning against lanterns or bits of broken wall to take what breaks they could.
“Help!”
Aria flinched, charging towards the sound and leaving the other Shadecaller’s dumbstruck. She could hear the pounding of footsteps behind her, Skyla only a few paces behind but she was mouthing something she couldn’t hear. Her eyes were wide with fear, gesturing wildly to a vague direction.
Skyla wanted them to turn back.
Aria shook her head, surging forwards to turn a narrow corner and managed to find her way in the gloom. Somehow, some way, Skyla’s voice carried over the cacophony of noise.
“Run!”
Aria’s breath hitched.
The demons had arrived.
YOU ARE READING
Who The Fire Favours (ONC2023) gxg
Romance#SHORTLISTED 2023 When Ixis became the second in command to the Throneholder of Opalis she expected rules, patrols and structure for her Fire Trait to shine. Not being caught in the middle of a looming war and a botched assassination she should've s...
