Inverted Deck

Inverted Deck (Chapter 33)

Chapter 33

"Where- where are you taking me?!" I ask in confusion.

"Just follow me, I need you for something." Ca'lum says, maintaining his grip on my wrist, as he drags me through the hallways of the first floor of the Stone Ocean.

He never said what he needed me for, all he said before he grabbed my arm and took me off was "You're not doing anything right? I need your assistance with something, important." I could've said no but it wasn't like I could just say "Hey I've got to make my way over to the princess because I sense she's in danger" I wouldn't be suprised if they didn't lock me up in here as well.

Last time I seen the Princess before I was drug off, the multicolored thread of Aether between us had vanished, and so did the armored winged black being, but the last thing I saw did create sone unease inside of me. Right before Calum took me through two large, wooden, double doors I caught one last glimpse of the Princess' face. She held a still and frozen face, calm to most, but I could tell what was beneath that frozen expression, her Aether Signature went from a radiant and bright one, to a darker, chaotic light, beaming with angst and worry. In that quick time I dove deeper with my Nexus, she portrayed feelings of wanting to escape or wanting to be saved from the current situation or setting she was in.

Was she signaling for somebody to save her? Did she do that on purpose, or am I reading too far into it? Should I have acted differently?

Questions and self-doubt begin to plague my mind, before Calum brings me out into a large grass and dirt filled courtyard outside, surrounded by Stone Ocean's walls. As my eyes focus and adapt to the sudden sunlight I notice various injured Knights in the courtyard, wrapped in bandages.

We walk out into the courtyard, Calum closing the wooden door behind us before I hear another familiar voice.

"YOU!!" The voice says to my right.

I turn right to see Jothermus, with bandages wrapped around his arm, and nose.

"I haven't seen your mug in a while, not since you..." Jothermus pauses before clicking his teeth. "Fight me right now."

"What!?" I ask back in confusion.

"I said what I said, now FIGHT ME!!" Jothermus roars, clearly in pain, as he begins to slowly walk towards me with his fist balled. "I won't let you and your kind, keep triumphing over me like I'm lower than you, I'm not!! And I can prove that right now and h-!!"

"NGHH!!" Jothermus grunts while gripping his bandaged arm.

Calum walks past me towards Jothermus.

"Jothermus, relax you're injured. I brought Finn to help us."

"TO HELP US!! NGHHH?!" Jothermus erupts. "He's not even a Knight Officer though. How could he possibly-!"

"Because of what he is, Jothermus. He stands a better chance out there than all of us. We NEED him. Or she'll get away with what she's done."

"Need me for what!? And what happened to you guys!?" I ask in a mix of frustration and confusion.

Calum let's put a deep exhalation from his nostrils as he steps away from Jothermus.

"A fugitive from the Kingdom of Ingwaz, whose been identified as Rosaleen Blanchette of the former Blanchette house. As her notoriety has risen she has gone through many names, first she was known as The Girl Shrouded in Red..." Calum says as a tall, brown furred and injured Wolf Beastian walks up to Calum holding a large, rolled up sheet of paper.

"... then she became known as The Woman bathed in Blood..."

The tall Wolf Beastian hands the rolled sheet of paper to Calum.