Kingdom of the Nine: Hail (I)

Chapter 5

"Mia!" I yell back and open my eyes, jumping from my back into an upright position. I look over to see Mia still asleep and the fire extinguished. The sun shines through the windows into the room.

"Just a dream, just a dream." I say as I walk towards a basin of water in the corner and splash my face.

I take a deep breath, letting the cool water splash across my face ground me. The remnants of the dream cling to my mind like fog, and I can still hear Vermidia's voice echoing in my ears. I look back toward Mia, who is still sleeping peacefully, oblivious to everything that just happened.

Glancing around the dimly lit room, I take stock of our surroundings. The once welcoming dining hall now feels heavy with shadows, the aftermath of my dream lurking in every corner. The warmth of the sun filtering through the windows feels comforting, but I know better than to let my guard down.

I step back toward Mia, kneeling beside her. I gently shake her shoulder.

"Mia, wake up. It's morning." I whisper.

Her eyelids flutter open, and she blinks a few times, still groggy. "Hail?" she murmurs, her voice soft and laced with confusion. "How did you sleep?"

"Alright, just a nightmare," I say, forcing a smile despite the lingering unease in my chest. "But it felt so real."

She sits up slowly, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. "Was it bad?"

I nod, the memory still fresh. "Vermidia was there. She..." I pause, considering how to explain the depths of my fear without overwhelming her. "She threatened you."

Mia's expression shifts, concern knitting her brows together. "I don't want to know."

I nod. "I don't blame you." I wish I didn't.

As she stretches, I catch a glimpse of determination in her eyes. "Let's check the book," she says, her voice steadying.

"Right," I agree, rising to my feet. "It's time we uncovered its secrets."

We move to the table where the book lies, its ancient pages glimmering faintly in the sunlight. I reach for it, feeling the weight of the knowledge it holds.

"Whatever's in here could change everything," I say, opening it cautiously.

The pages flutter in the light, revealing intricate illustrations and script that seem to pulse with energy.
Millions of ideas and images flash in my eyes. The books pages sweep faster and faster as they turn. I lean closer and then the pages stop.

"What the hell? I've never seen a book do that before." Mia is shocked.

"Definitely not a normal book." I say as I glance at the page. I notice a diagram of the Crux of Amerei, surrounded by runes that I can't quite decipher.

"Mia, look at this!" I say, tracing my finger over the illustration. "This must be the Crux. But these runes... I need your help."

She leans in, her eyes scanning the page with a focus that ignites my hope. "I've never seen this language before, we might need a translator. Here I'll write them down."

As she says it, the pages shift again and the runes become words we can understand. "Or I guess you can translate yourself. Weird." Mia is motionless now at my shoulder.

As we pour over the pages, the shadows in the room seem to retreat, if only for a moment. But I can't shake the feeling that they are just waiting for their chance to strike.

The air feels charged with possibility, but I can't ignore the warning bells ringing in my mind. Time is of the essence, and Vermidia will not wait for us to unravel the secrets of the past.