Heavenly Mortals-Act One

XXII-Calum

Calum's vision turned black after summoning that meteor to help Aetos. To his luck, his heart didn't stop from the exhaustion.

He was half-expecting dreams, but nothing prepared him for a highly realistic vision of Katari monastery.

He felt like he really was there.

"What..." Calum began.

"Calum?"

Calum whirled around.

"Qi'ra?" He jumped, "You can see me? And can you hear me?"

"Y-yeah. I can. Is this some sort of dream? Are we... sharing a dream?" Qi'ra's eyes darted around, as if expecting something to jump out and scare them until they were pale.

Before Calum could say anything else, he heard the voice of Usoara.

This is not a dream. I brought you here using magic.

Usoara? But why? We need to help the Prasidiei at the Sword of the Sky!

You have done your part, Usoara replied, The rest is up to your friend, Aetos. I brought you here because, well, it would be unfair,

What would be unfair? Calum asked.

Usoara didn't answer.

Usoara?

"That was Usoara, right?" Qi'ra asked.

"Wait, you heard her too?"

"She spoke in my mind too. Told me she brought us here with magic, and that we did our part at the Sword of the Sky,"

Calum nodded, "She told me the same thing,"

They stood at the entrance to Katari monastery, the circular wooden gates and the stone walls looming over them. It was early in the morning, around the time Calum usually woke up.

"So, what do we do?" Qi'ra asked, uncertain.

Calum didn't know what to do either. Taking a deep breath, he decided to knock.

No response.

"Hello?" He called, "Is anyone there?"

Immediately after he finished, a cold feeling crept up his back. Qi'ra must have felt it too, because she jumped and looked around. Calum laced his fingers around the hilt of his sword.

Calum blocked a strike from behind and swung his sword in counter. His attacker melted into the shadows.

Qi'ra darted towards Calum, "Something attacked me, too,"

They stood, back-to-back with each other. That didn't dispel the cold feeling creeping up his spine.

The creepiest part? It was physically there.

Calum parried another strike, then another, and another. Barely able to keep up, he realised multiple people were attacking him. Qi'ra was struggling against her own attackers as well.

Calum willed his Chakra to flow, but he did it in a dangerous manner. He didn't have a choice. He would be too slow otherwise.

His attacker reappeared, a dark, shadowy silhouette engulfed in darkness. Their silver blade reflected the moonlight.

Calum parried the strike, and in that split-second pause, he willed it to fly forward. He ran his attacker through, along with the other one behind the first.

He willed his sword to fly in a wide arc, impaling one of Qi'ra's attackers. She took advantage and cut down the one behind. They panted, their hearts racing with adrenaline.