Fleeting Memories

Chapter 20: What's the plan?

With fleeting speeds, we sped through the forests. Crashing straight through the fog that obscured our view and all the way toward the direction in which we had entered.

The barrier behind us crashed down loudly, sending an abundance of scattered debris flying in every direction, causing small dust storms to stir up instantaneously. The wreckage left the landscape ruined, tarnishing the small hills and surrounding trees there.

We were running as fast as we could with the remaining time on our bracelets; the time ticking away faster than we'd liked it to proceed at. It was a shame to leave the site behind due to our time constraints as there was very much more we could've done and investigated.

Yet it couldn't be helped. We didn't want to risk dying a horrible death under the effect of black magic after all. I kept up with the others, dashing through small paths and over obstacles that I struggled to get over with how little time we really had left.

But soon enough, we made it. I looked up to see the overarching wall of fog before us all and one by one, we sunk into the thick grey barrier where we then found ourselves standing on the other side. I took a heavy inhale of air, breathing in the fresh air derived from the choking hazards.

"Haah! That felt like forever in there, maybe I should've used my specialized gear after all... I wouldn't have to struggle running back like that if I just activated it..." Alfred said as he fell to the ground exhausted beyond belief; his unfit body of an inventor not fit for physical exertion.

"Haha, do it, it sounds like a spectacular idea! You'll end up turning into a pile of red before you even manage to make it out of there... Place is brimming of hostiles..." Raymond laughed as he proceeded to walk over beyond a bush and find Alex and the others standing there.

"Took your sweet time did you all? Made it around twelve seconds left before you flopped over and croaked in there... We were betting what time you guys were going to get back, and you all had to arrive in less than thirty seconds did ya?" Dhargan said in a slightly annoyed tone.

"It's your fault for deciding on such a bed, though I guess it is still on me that I chose for them to arrive less than thirty seconds, hand over it now at this instance!" Alex said with a grin on his face and after a reluctant second, the dwarf handed over a cloth-covered weapon.

"What took you all so long!? I was worried sick out here... Honestly, do you people not value your lives in the slightest, you even endangered the life of Erica here..." Mary scolded in an outburst to everyone except for me.

"Calm down Mary, it couldn't be helped, we were caught in an ambush... We were suddenly hit with a spell and were hit with a sudden encounter of creatures sent by the black magician... It was inevitable that we were late..." Maxel said aloud, trying to calm down the angered elder.

"Maxel's correct, they weren't trying to stall any time or anything... We were suddenly ambushed and if it wasn't for everyone's help, we wouldn't have made it back in time..." I added as the light spirit popped out of my blade to affirm my stance.

"Is that so... but really, it was risky for every one of you to come back this late. I'll be tagging along in the next expedition, we can't afford to lose anyone at this point... There's still no telling when that Lich will fully transform into its fullest state..." She said with a concerned look.

With everyone present including Emily who stood by the sidelines with a weary expression, we all took off back into headquarters; our pace quickened as the morning moved to the afternoon, limiting the time we had left to use for the rest of the day.

Arriving back in the house belonging to the two brothers, a meeting quickly took place, and after many discussions, everyone came to the concisest of what needed to be done as soon as possible... That is to send an expedition team to scout out the area towards the west.