Tales of Six

Chapter 3 : Winged company

"The training grounds".

Ortelius now shares Maximilien's horror.

Ortelius- You go, take a telepath. I'll take care of the meeting. *short pause* Protect it at all costs.

A grim look obscures Maximilien's face for a second.

Maximilien- I know.

He then heads to the telepath room and comes out with a young man in a dark green uniform. They both rush outside towards the stables, take horses and ride out of the city through the south gate. After a few hours of riding, they approach a clearing in the forest. Two small hills can be seen from where they are, and Maximilien aims his horse at one of them, barely slowing down, followed by the other rider. They both climb down from their horses as they see a wooden door on the steep side of the hill

Maximilien- Relay that we've arrived, and that the door does not seem to have been broken.

He puts his hand on the door, it glimmers a little, then the light fades. Maximilien looks at the telepath in the eyes and puts his hands on his shoulders.

Maximilien- What's your name ?

Evan, unsure and a bit scared- ... Evan... My name is Evan. It's my first mission, and my first time this far from the city. *he looks around a lot, at the trees, at the door* I've.. I've never spent much time outside the Citadelle, I'm not even sure...

Maximilien- Look at me. Evan, look at me. Everything is going to be fine. Make the link.

Evan- I don't know if... Usually we have much more stable conditions and...

Maximilien- Evan, make the link. Now.

After a small hesitation, Evan silently nods then puts his hand on Maximilien's forehead as he closes his eyes. Maximilien stays on guard and observes the edge of the forest, expecting something to come out. Something, or someone. Evan eventually removes his hand and breathes heavily

Evan- It's done. It should last a few hours I think. *mumbling to himself* Two counts as "a few", right ? I hope it'll at least last one. Why are my hands shaking ?

The sound of broken branches interrupts his thoughts and he screams, but quickly gets muffled by Maximilien's hand on his mouth. They look at each other in silence, then Maximilien turns him to where the sound came from.

Maximilien- Look, it's just a deer. *he removes his hand* Focus, I need you to stand guard. Warn me if you see or sense anyone.

Evan, fighting against the stutter and the shakes- Y-yes sir !

And Maximilien starts heading down the stairs beyond the door. He opens another door hidden in the wall, completely ignoring the corridor to his right. More stairs, very little light. Maximilien blinks, turning his eyes bright purple, and starts heading down. The shadows line the floor and the walls, detailing each crack and imperfection of the stone. Maximilien has seen these stairs so many times, he barely even needs the vision. He arrives at the bottom, and returns to his regular eyes as a faint glow illuminates the rune room. The word room is but a name, as it spans over fifty steps in both directions with columns at regular intervals, holding the low ceiling on which are engraved the runes for the rooms above.

And at the centre, the power source of it all. A single drop of mercury.

---

Kaen finds herself alone in the great hall again, as both Maximilien and Ortelius left in a hurry, each in a different direction.