Revolutions

122 - Walumaq

A deafening roar shakes the ground as our icy barrage meets the barrier, only to be absorbed in a blinding flash of light. The air hums with thick and oppressive dark energy, as the barrier pulses with newfound strength. My heart races as I watch the monstrous creature, now more menacing than before. Its molten core glows blindingly brighter, releasing the screams of the melting faces contained within. I'm filled with a deep, gnawing dread as the cultists' chanting escalates, echoing off the remains of ancient stone walls. I glance at my companions, their faces pale with fear, but also with determination, knowing that if we don't act quickly, this dark magic will consume us all.

I feel the fleeting hope starting to drift away from me like a feather in the wind. We have done so much to save this city, to rescue the people of Analoixan, yet the challenge has started to feel insurmountable. The relentlessness of this beast, of this cult, is more than I can take on. What more can we do to put an end to this suffering once and for all?

Saqatli hurries to me, clutching my shoulder to grab my attention. I'm startled at the sight of him, remembering that he was a jaguar only moments before. Was I hallucinating this? Did that happen?

Dangling from his neck is a jade and onyx amulet. Is that the one that belonged to me? Reflexively, my hand is drawn to my chest, and I feel the amulet missing. He looks at my hand feeling around for the jewelry, then holds up the amulet and nods. I'm washed over with relief, knowing it's in his possession, and not that of the Eye in the Flame.

He's shouting something and pointing toward the ruins of the temple. Yet he isn't speaking inside my mind as he's done before. I can't help but look at him with curiosity, trying to see where he's pointing.

"Where is Noch?" I ask slowly, punctuating each word with the hopes that he'll understand me.

He frowns, looking gravely concerned, then shakes his head and shrugs. "Do you not know where she is?" I question, again slowly drawing out the words in Merchant's Tongue. Unfortunately, he doesn't seem to understand this part, yet his grief is apparent. Has she vanished? Or worse?

Saqatli adamantly points toward the temple. "You're right," I say, clearing my thoughts. "We need to defeat this monstrosity. What's over by the temple?"

The boy says something emphatically in Auilqa, but I still don't know of what he speaks. There must be something terribly important over there, but it's difficult to discern what that is when an enormous monster is terrorizing the remnants of Analoixan. And without a way to effectively communicate, I can't tell if he's leading me to a solution or more danger.

Even when you fight, you know deep down you're just playing at heroics.

The phantom voice of Pahua rings in my ears. There must be dark magic nearby, the same magic that caused this sensation when I broke down another protective ward before.

I expected more from my daughter. Your mother would have been incredibly disappointed.

More whispers, now from my father, Siunqi. 'Would have'? My mother is not deceased. These voices are trying to distort the world in order to get to me, to knock me down.

I shake my head as if to clear water from my ears after a dive. No, I will not allow these voices to win. I know what's happening here. The dark magic, it must be close. That must be what Saqatli is alerting me to. There must be something that is bound to the protective ward that shields this beast.

As soon as the realization occurs to me, a series of shouts breaks my concentration. The lava serpent flails its craggy tail, shattering the remains of the temple to pieces. Stone flies in every direction, slamming into Ulxa warriors and cultists aimlessly. Looking up at the beast, it's getting noticeably taller, bigger, stronger. If it isn't stopped soon, it will be the size of Analoixan. And what more treacherous feats could it achieve if it reaches that point?