Cervato - Girl On Fire (Part 1 of Cervato's Saga)

Steps to a God - Part 1

How long had it been since she deserted the Ebon Vanguard?

Returning to Ebonhawke had been daring. Admittedly, she tended to avoid the place ever since Ti'lay had begged her and Atreyu to help find her lost Pact soldier in the Magumma Jungle. Though she figured her resignation went without much notice. For a Krytan Dog had no business being part of the Ascalonian army in the first place. She'd returned afterwards, to attend Kari and Bjorn's wedding. To touch the memorial wall, covered in names she once fought beside. Her last visit had been with Elijah, before he had left without a word to Elona with the Shining Blade. She took him to the Overlook. This place was where she had first declared her love to Zarek. Where she mourned Arvanna's death and watched her funeral pyre. It was the constant reminder of her failure. The Overlook was a place where she had attempted to take her own life, all for the Oath, her Queen, and her duty as a Shining Blade. And her last confession to Elijah went unanswered. Perhaps his mind was elsewhere, but Cervato saw the ravine between them.

If she jumped, she'd risk her heart again.

And his feet were firmly on the edge. Not compelled to move.

She wondered if the compass she had given him had helped at all. Was he safe and still alive? All she'd left him was a letter pinned to the door of his farmhouse. Did he think of her? Did he recall their promise to see each other in the desert?

Now, she was here to make her own journey. Plenty citizens of the last Stronghold of Ascalon looked on as the group ambled without structure towards the gates that never opened. Tracking through mud, the light chill drizzle dotted their armor, packs, and supplies being carried by Melitta's caravan dolyaks. Anxious eyes were focused upon those forbidden doors, as the Vanguard soldiers posted to protect it appeared to recognize her. Their attention soon diverted to the large Ascalonian lord, and their leader, Luminary Drake Griggs, who offered the sentinel the key to open the door.

Who knew what strings Drake had managed to pull within the Order of Whispers. She always questioned his ability to obtain resources. And wondered why the Order trusted this man, and their guild, with such responsibility. Perhaps it was due to the dedication of Drake and his father, Martin. Did it have anything to do with her father's past associated with them?

There was little left to ponder, as the heavy doors began to part, being pushed open and leading into a cavern. The tunnel would take them to Elona. It was to be a long journey by foot, where others had risked the sea or the sky. This was where their story of triumphs and falls would begin. Her hand brushed against the back of Kurai's. The pirate she had loathed until she found herself enjoying his eccentric presents. How she'd come to expect him appearing in the Grotto after discovering a new flaw in their security system. How his insistent smile was very different from Saromire's, in that it never fell. He'd stolen her kisses several times before, as a joke, which she always protested. Her final protests occurred in her office back in the Grotto. Weeks since he had returned from some strange hole in the Mists. He hadn't changed, as she had asked why his behavior was so drastically different. It was that he had finally come to terms with 'something' on his mind the past year.

He wanted her to be happy. He wanted to keep her from pain. It was the most selfless thing ever said to her by a potential suitor. And so she accepted his advances. Not quite believing that this could last. But after suffering so much tragedy this year, she welcomed a change. Cervato would be the night sky, and Kurai the stars.

Kurai's hand took hold of hers for but a moment, offering a reassuring squeeze and a smile.

The group stepped into the cavern, the air stale inside the path carved through a mountain range. Soil and stone marked the path, with plenty of winding tunnels that split off at different intersections. Drake would examine some markings on the wall, before choosing their path. Sigils would light the way, a soft glow produced from magics long sealed into them to guide the weary travelers. Time was hard to keep track of, without any view of the outside world. It was plenty of days and nights and eventually Cervato herself felt the restlessness from the guild to escape the tunnels.

The low rumble had disturbed them all, as they were once more faced with two paths. Drake busy interpreting, as the rest looked behind them for a source. The chattering sounds of creatures echoed along the tunnel's walls, before suddenly one of their number cried out.

"Branded!"

They had felt the small pull of static and the sickening feeling of the constant Brandstorm that must have been raging above for the past several hours. As the sensation faded, they thought that they must have passed through the scar upon the land caused by the dragon Kralkatorrik.

How had they gotten into the tunnel? There was no time to theorize as Branded Devourers quickly began to claw, stab, and kill some of the supply dolyaks. The others began to cry out sharply in panic, and there was no time to hesitate.

Cervato looked down the two tunnel paths as others readied their magics, afraid to fight in such an enclosed space, but trying to buy the group time. What if one lead to a dead end? She'd have to live with that choice as she began to run, waving her arm for the rest of the Accord to follow. Fire burned in her lungs, her heart bursting with pain, warning her that her body had limits and she was short on time. Someone called out, seeing the literal light at the end of the tunnel. Before the ground began to quake, and portions of the tunnel's ceiling fell between them.

The Branded were still nearly upon them, as others threw more obstacles in their way along with the collapsing tunnel. She cried out, the light blinding as she finally escaped the darkness. The roar of rocks and debris falling sounded from within the mouth of the cavern, and suddenly all she could feel was a wave of choking dust and rock spray over her form.

With the exception of two dolyaks, they all had survived. The sun was bearing down upon them high in the blue sky. Waterfalls offered fresh water into a nearby stream. Within the hour, a rather upset Elonian woman, dressed in numerous cloaks and claiming to be part of an order of Cavaliers, chewed them out for causing the destruction of the ancient path. Drake spent his time calming the woman down and assuring her that his contacts could assist at the very least.

Cervato finally caught her breath, resting upon a boulder.

They had reached the Elona Desert. They had arrived in the land plagued by the God, Balthazar. They were about to face their greatest adversary to date.

They were about to lose someone they held dear.