The Quest for Normania #1: The Door of Andrios

20. A Search-and-Attack Party

After lunch, without much ado, Norin went back to the library with Mithra, Cassandra, and Teresa.

"All right, so here's what I've been thinking," he told them. "I will sit here and build my project. In the meantime, Cassandra and Mithra will practice together – wherever you want."

"What about me?" asked Teresa.

"Well, I don't think you can fight very well, can you?"

She shook her head. "Not really – just paltry, I suppose. Wouldn't be much of help."

"Good. So, if you want, you can stay here and assist me. I may need it." He smiled pleasantly at her.

She smiled back. "I'd like that, thank you."

"But do beware that there will be a lot of magic flying around. I shall try to give you protection as much as I possibly can, though."

"Thank you."

"Good. Now, Mithra, I told you I had something to show you. I will in due time. The thing is, I want you to go scouting around for the Dark summoner at night-time. Do you know what tonight is?"

She shook her head. "Full Moon?"

"No. It's Red Moon Night—a most auspicious time to perform Dark magic and very powerful ones, too. It is as inauspicious to us as Blue Moon is auspicious."

"I see. Yes, I remember that from our lessons." She turned to mutter to the others, "He, on the other hand, found it out on his own, long before we ever did that lesson with Yela Rumin!"

Cassandra found herself chuckling with Teresa.

Norin rolled his eyes, but didn't comment on it. "Right. So, that's the deal. It's why we need to hurry up. Try to gather as much information as you can tonight and try not to have to go again tomorrow."

"Aye, Captain!" Mithra saluted to the amusement of the others.

Norin, however, didn't look so. "I'm glad you recognise me as your superior, twenty years though it took. Appreciated."

The other two women burst into peals of laughter now, unable to control themselves any longer. Mithra just stuck her tongue at her Sanguine, who was grinning cheerily.

"All right. Meeting dismissed!" he declared.

Mithra, still with a frown on her face, dragged Cassandra with her out of the library. Teresa gazed at him.

"You two are like siblings, eh?" she remarked, trying to sober up.

"Yes!" he replied. "We grew up together, our parents were friends before we were born... it's almost like we're one big family."

"That's so nice. My family... Well, let's just say I miss them." She paused, trying to think of another topic to change to. "So, what will you do first?" she asked.

He didn't seem to detect it. "Well, first, just to be on the safe side, I shall be doing this outside. You, Teresa, will take an amulet of protection and stay inside. You'll probably have to hand me books, so that makes sense. Doesn't it?"

She nodded. "Sure, I can do that."

From around his neck, Norin pulled out his amulet and handed it to her. "Here, you can borrow this."

She took it slowly, as a thought occurred to her, making her feel guilty. "Oh... what about you? Haven't you got any protection?"

He lifted his arm and twisted it to show the red amulet he wore like a bracelet, which she had noticed when she first saw him at a close distance. "I have this. Also, I'm very handy with spells." He winked at her. "Don't worry, I'm going to be fine." He rubbed his hands together in glee. "Now! – let's get this show on the road!"

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It was nearing sunset, but still, there was no sign of the attacker who ambushed Ayesha just a few hours ago.

She began to wonder if it was a day creature. Or worse, if it escaped back to Ahala. 'How did it even get here? Did it use another portal? Or, was its summoner powerful enough to create one just to send a Darkarous creature after me?'

Agatha looked up at the sky. "We should be going now," she suggested. "Even a summer's day would not last any longer than this. Come, let us go while we can still see."

Ayesha nodded and the two made their way cautiously back to the way they came. "No, this won't do," she said. "What if that creature is hiding from us all this time? It's going to follow us back."

"Right. Do you propose we use your magic again?"

"I'm afraid we must." Ayesha recalled the urgent desperation in Norin's voice after she tried to very casually – in vain – slid in the story of her attack. She couldn't keep it from him anyway, by the way her mind kept going back to it. Then, he calmed down just as suddenly, which had to be due to some sort of external influence.

She took Agatha's hand and closed her eyes.

"Now, do not move unless I tell you it's okay to. Understood?"

"Yes." Agatha's voice sounded confident, but her hands were trembling.

"Good." She concentrated like before, pulling up some energy from the ball of magic at her centre and picturing the hut that was her destination. She felt a wave of energy washing over her and across her bond towards Agatha. Suddenly, she felt light as air.

When she felt herself on solid ground again, she opened her eyes. Agatha was looking at her as though she was afraid but trusted her, which she was relieved about. She smiled.

"It's over. We're back."

Agatha smiled suddenly and let go. She reeled a little and Ayesha was quick to catch her.

"There, there. Easy."

Agatha put her hands to her head and closed her eyes, willing herself to be steady. "Sorry. Thank you so much. We should be getting back inside. I wonder how –"

"Ah – you're finally back!" Ayesha looked up to see Lawrence rushing towards them. He took Agatha from her easily. "There, easy now." He turned to Ayesha. "Did you find it?"

She shook her head. "No. What about you?"

"Not a hair of its head, if you know what I mean." She nodded. "Cecil was pretty tired, though, so I made him some dinner and told him he could sleep if he wanted. But he insisted to stay awake until you came back. Glad you did before it was too late in the night." He chuckled.

They crossed the threshold and Cecil instantly jumped; but when he realised who it was, he rushed forward to help his sister. Together, the three of them set her down in Ayesha's bed, since it was the closest and the easiest to get to.

"So, we have one more day at the most," gasped Agatha, "to find that creature and kill it."

Ayesha nodded thoughtfully. "I hope the other side is ready, though. I should've told him of these suspicions if they had crossed my mind sooner! Shit!"

"It's all right now," Lawrence assured her. "It's all in the past—done and gone. Now, would you like some soup or directly the meal?"