Music is Grandma from the NiER OST, composed by Keiichi Okabe. Play it!
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"Come on," I tell Gilbert, distracting myself from the foreboding sensation comfortably settling itself upon my shoulders. "You'd be able to sense the wards, but you are a Champion of Pst. Ailith, so you'd be granted immediate access."
Gilbert nods. He takes the first step forward; I trail a little behind. Sure enough, just like yesterday, magic singes my skin. It immediately fades once I'm inside the Cave of Three Souls. The shadows spring towards me. I push them away, wiling them to quiet down; they slither back into the nooks and crevices of the tunnel.
"Was that—" Under the dim lighting, I see Gilbert's posture straightening in surprise. "Your shadows."
I give a single nod.
Gilbert gives me an unreadable side-glance. "It's the first time I've seen it so...alive."
"Only because of that ritual," I say. Then as an afterthought: "I really hope that the shadows don't come alive in front of Sir Kendrick and the men. Everest is already suspicious enough of me as it is."
"No other way around it then—you'll have to learn how to control that power," Gilbert replies, surprisingly practical.
"Alvina did promise me..." Yes, Alvina did promise me. However, does her usage of magic extend to not only actual necromancy, but the reverse version of it? Then again, she is descended from the main Lorelay line. Plus, she's the Head Seer—not Grand Seer, who in reality is only in charge with the general welfare of the entire clan, and isn't really involved with actual Seeing. If anyone would know anything about magic, it would have to be her.
Maya comes to mind as well. Still, I'm not sure if I'm entirely disposed to trusting the Marshem girl.
"Right. I believe it was more along the lines of your Champion powers, but I'm sure that she can teach you some necromancy as well."
"She won't be able to instruct me out of theory, of course," I agree slowly, "but it'll do. Her parents were necromancers. She'd know something of the art."
"Looks like you've found yourself an instructor. So that settles one part of your problem." Gilbert pauses for a bit. "Alas, I myself have a problem: I can't see anything."
"Oh, right." We've already reached the point where no sunlight touches the inside of the cave. The shadows whisper to me; I instinctively reach out towards Gilbert, summoning a string of shadows to tug him towards the right direction.
"What on—" My shadow nudges him forward. "Ah. Thank you."
"You're very much welcome."
Gilbert's temporary problem solved, we proceed deeper into the Cave of Three Souls, with nothing but the echoes of our boots crunching against rocks and the occasional cave-dwelling creature's skitter. I guide us towards the tunnel on the far right at the intersection, relying solely on my shadows to probe my surroundings. At the same time though, my hearing seems to sharpen, as if it were absorbing every little movement, every shift in the air.
Eventually, my ears pick up on distant chanting, training into the distance. Gilbert must have heard it too, for his demeanour perks up with excitement. Yet he doesn't say anything, not even a single squawk. Perhaps he too is very much aware that we're treading upon sacred ground, and that the silence isn't there because we refuse to break it—but because it's meant to be there, undisturbed, untouched.
A few minutes later, and the first speck of light twinkles in the distance. Gilbert's excitement is rolling off him in waves now—it's almost overbearing, really. I suppose that I shouldn't be surprised. He should be eager to learn how to master his growing abilities, finally learn how they work—obtaining knowledge asides from the cryptic ones our guides give us.
YOU ARE READING
Legacy (Daughter of War #2)
Fantasy**ON HOLD INDEFINITELY** It's been two years since the great battle in the shrine. However, as Perinus strives to recover from its losses, shadows continue to grow throughout the land... A dangerous sickness is spreading throughout the country--one...
