Arc One: Awakening

Chapter 32: Home

Lilith hoisted her foot higher. Thorny brambles stretched to snag her ankles, and she struggled to keep pace with the professor marching ahead unhindered. He moved through the forest with a touch of purpose, effortlessly avoiding the snaring clutches of the dark vines, as though guided by an unseen force.

Each footfall squelched, and she could feel the soil beneath her giving way. She managed to find some wedged flagstones to save her shoes from sinking into the mud.

Everything seemed to lean towards her, with a mix of curiosity and despair, unfolding within the fungus and spores to plea for sympathy. All remnants of its former splendour were gone, yet Lilith made an effort to picture it. Fronds reaching high, sun beating down. Mischievous scampers rustling the undergrowth and the crisp, powdery scent of blossom. Witnessing the beauty and marvel of Skuld's forest, it disheartened her to observe the neglect and desolation of this one.

Competing with the professor's flurried strides, she worked to stay upright and stick to the path he set, fearing she would be swallowed by the unknown if she strayed.

Gnarled and mauled, the trees creaked as they passed. Similar to desperate lovers clinging onto each other to prevent their fall, they continued to beckon to the professor, but their cries went unanswered and Bartholomew disregarded their noise.

He retained a steady concentration on the road ahead, swinging his cane with his onward motion. He glimpsed the mage behind him to ensure she hadn't got lost and was still trailing after him. Although she often focused on the ground below, she stole occasional glances at her surroundings, likely sensing the raw magic and tapping into the energy. Constantly alert and dissecting. Aware of how tiring a mind like that was, he admired Lilith's resilience as she pressed on, unfazed by any obstacles.

"We will not be here long," he assured her, tapering his speed to allow her to match his strides. "Once we obtain the mineral, we can return to the laboratory."

"What exactly is this mineral we're looking for?" Lilith asked. Gathering the hem of her lengthy jacket, she sidestepped a swampy puddle and shuffled around the stagnant pool.

"The proper term for it is an Ocher Ore. While unremarkable in appearance, it is rather rare and only develops under immense pressure, which has the potential to lead to destructive rockslides. The Core imbued them with its power, making them easier to locate. Specialists here identify and remove them in order to limit additional damage to our natural formations."

He studied the branching pathways and choose the farthest, ushering her on along the narrow pathway and into gloomier stretches of forest.

Lilith paid close attention to his navigational skills, noticing how he deliberately steered them into increasingly isolated areas, even at the expense of their speed. His voice lost all fascination, and his main concern appeared to be getting the ore and leaving, rather than expressing his adventurous side.

As they arrived at a sprawling clearing, a colossal skeleton greeted them, collapsed tree boughs sprouting from its centre. A ring of smaller, identical skeletons enclosed the rib cage.

Much to Lilith's astonishment, Bartholomew came to a halt for the first time in hours. He hadn't even bothered to take stock of the gateway they had landed on, but now he paused, inhaled as though exhausted, and inclined his head to the remains.

Vigilant steps drove him to the monumental skull, the holes where eyes had once watched the world empty and wind crossing through like an open doorway. His flat palm met the smooth, off-white bone. Cracks shot like lightning forks in the carcass of that magnificent creature, fractured yet holding on, denying time's wish for them to wither and fade to dust.