The Heritor of Illipia

Chapter 27

It's probably going to be a few more chapters than last book. I haven't gotten the story to the point I want it yet...I think...
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        (Y/n) landed his attack right on the seal just as he had planned. He let himself freefall as he watched it shatter effectively freeing Artea. Thankfully, (y/n) landed first and was able to just barely catch the falling earth priestess. Before he could move from his spot, Zhu slid into his view and stood firmly with a menacing growl. He was protecting him from his mother, but (y/n) noticed that something was wrong.

        "Zhu you're..." he began to say as he saw the deep wound in the fox's side. It wasn't healing and that fact alone sent (y/n)'s mind into panic. "Quickly. Wake her up and make her help us. You can worry later," Zhu snapped as he stood his ground. Ara landed near him moments afterwards with just as much worry. "Artea, please wake up. We need your help," Ara spoke to the earth priestess.

        Artea woke up within seconds of Ara's request, but the earth priestess was confused and immediately got scared thinking that she was in danger. Luckily, General Zhen made no attempt to interfere and simply watched. It was odd, but (y/n) was relieved that he didn't have to defend against her. "Who are you people? What do you want?" the priestess yelped as she tried to escape (y/n)'s hold. He let her go but Ara was quick to catch hold of her wrist.

        "Calm down Miss Artea. We are here to help but we need your power and quickly. This volcano could erupt any second now. Ignia needs your help to stop it. She's in Lanox holding it off for as long as she can," Ara explained as quickly as she could. As if on cue, the ground below them shifted and began to mildy quake. Artea seemed to at least realize that she was the only one capable of saving them from the volcano.

        She stood up and used her priestess power to quell the eruption process. It seemed all too easy, but there were no complaints. The moment it had been done, General Zhen began to clap her hands in approval. (Y/n) looked over to her seeing that she held a smile much like his real mother would. "Well done. You've succeeded," she cheered.

        As strange as it seemed, (y/n)'s real mother had resurfaced which could explain why she hadn't attacked. "Mother? You there?" (y/n) asked. He cautiously stepped just ahead of Zhu who was still ready to pounce despite the strange unhealimg wound he still had. "Indeed I am. Only for a short time, I am able to speak to you. Consider yourself lucky. There is enough time to escort you out and tell you what I want you to know before Scar gets here. No doubt he is on his was even now," his mother said.

        "With all due respect, I'd like to know what's going on here. I can at least see that I'm being rescued, but who are all of you? And why are you suddenly willing to help me?" Artea spoke, reffering to General Zhen in her last question. "No offense Miss Artea, but there isn't much time to explain that. Please just trust us until we make it back to Lanox," Ara said. Artea seemed a but skeptical, yet she gave in with a nod of agreeance.

        "Follow me as best as you can. Your fox friend will need my help in a moment. That wound of his won't heal until I remove the curse from it," (y/n)'s mother spoke. She began to show them a different way out of the volcano, and she wasn't being slow about it either. "Wait, we need to make sure Ain s alright," (y/n) remembered. He was about to express his concerns, but was stopped by the voice of the goddess he was connected with.

        "Your comrade is just fine. He has Ishmael to guide him. I already informed her to lead him out," Illipia said. Ara and Artea had already gone ahead, so (y/n) followed with Zhu closeby. The volcanic eruption had been stopped, but (y/n) noticed something strange. He could still hear and even feel slight tremors heading in their direction.