CHAPTER 18 - Separated
Alarie and Noelis reacted instinctively, as if drawn by the same thread of purpose. Both women grounded their feet, closed their eyes, and reached inward, pulling at the Manna that was pulsing from inside. The air trembled around them. While they focused, Emon and Fabien stood guard next to each Tribute — swords raised, bodies braced against the gale of debris and the nightmarish creature which lunged towards them with snapping pincers.
The beast swerved suddenly, turning its grotesque head towards Alarie and Emon. Its scorpion-like mandibles snapped in anticipation. Emon stepped forward without hesitation, blade meeting the creature's strike with a sharp ring of metal. Sparks scattered over the ground but Alarie did not flinch; she pushed herself deeper into her concentration, Manna spiralling around her palms like threads of blue flame.
With the monster occupied, Noelis saw her chance.
I need to get to the Shield.
She wasn't sure if she had spoken aloud — she couldn't hear her own voice through the roaring wind — but Fabien had heard. She felt his presence behind her even before his fingers wrapped around her wrist pulling her away from the creature.
This way. She heard him — in her head. Could Fabien also speak through his mind? This was not the moment to question. Later—if there was a later—she could be shocked. For now, survival came first.
Fabien moved with strength and agility, navigating the chaos with the assurance of a trained soldier. He had memorised the Shield's layout upon arrival — a habit drilled into him over years of service. The closest segment of the Shield lay up a steep, rocky rise. But the wind was flinging loose stones from the ridge, and climbing would be suicide. The other option was the far side of the lake where it touched a sliver of the Shield.
"The lake," he shouted, breath ragged. "We go there."
They sprinted. The winds clawed at their clothes and hair all the way to the water's edge. But the moment they reached it—
Silence.
The howling stopped. The debris fell still. Only a low rumbling of the ground they stood on and a slight rippling of water.
Noelis felt her skin prickle. Fabien's hand tightened slightly on her arm.
"We need to swim across," he said quietly. "Can you swim?"
She swallowed hard and after a short pause nodded. She could swim, technically. But swimming across a large mountain lake was another matter entirely.
Fabien noticed her doubt. "You can hold onto my arm if you need to. Or climb on my back. Whatever keeps you afloat." He paused, eyeing her clothes. "You'll need to take off most of that. It'll drag you under."
Noelis stared at him, the awkwardness of the request briefly cutting through her fear. Fabien, stripped off his boots and stepped into the dark water his jaws clenched as he submerged into the water.
He caught her look and raised an eyebrow. "Do you know how strong the currents are in Arabel's ravines? I've swum through worse wearing much much more since I was a boy. This is a piece of cake but you…"
"I get the message," she muttered, cheeks warming. She removed everything except her blouse. She refused to be that naked.
The moment she plunged into the lake, the cold bit into her bones. She gasped but forced her legs and arms to move if only to keep herself from freezing — the lake which was warm earlier was now icy cold. Fabien circled back, staying close, letting her set the pace but never drifting far away. By the time she reached him to grasp his arm, her limbs were numb and sluggish.
At last, after what felt like ages, they reached the far bank. Noelis staggered onto the rocks, teeth chattering. But then she saw it, the shimmering fragment of the Shield stretching across a jagged wall of air.
She rushed forward, pressing her palms against the smooth surface. Her breath steadied. Her eyes slid shut as she reached for the Manna deep inside her.
Light pulsed beneath her fingertips—soft at first, then brighter, stronger. The red mist returned, swirling around her body. Fabien watched in awe as the cracks spidering through the Shield healed themselves, glowing white before sealing seamlessly. The hum of the Shield resonated like a heartbeat, matching the rhythm of Noelis's breathing.
Then, without warning, everything stopped.
The hum vanished.
The shimmer faded.
The world fell still.
Sound, movement, even light seemed suspended—like time itself had paused around them.
Noelis opened her eyes slowly. "Something's wrong."
Fabien didn't argue, he sensed it too. "We should get down this mountain and inform the others."
He guided her towards a narrow path branching away from the lake.
"But Alarie—"
"We don't have time to go back," he said, more sharply than intended. He softened his tone. "Emon's with her. He's the best soldier in my legion. If anyone can keep her safe, it's him."
Noelis nodded.
They descended the mountain, each step cautious and painfully slow. The forest was pitch black—thick canopies blocking moonlight and mist swirling low around the roots. Noelis cupped her palms, coaxing a faint glow from the last dredges of her Manna. It barely illuminated more than a few feet ahead, but it was all they had.
Fabien looked around and collected some twisted leaves, bark and tore strips off his tunic. Getting to his knees he crafted around her feet some makeshift footwear.
"Less than ideal but these will do."
They were crude, but they kept the sharp stones from slicing their soles open. They had been wandering in the dark for a good half hour when Noelis heard the deep grunting of a large beast. Fabien heard it too and they froze.
They could only see its glowing eyes but they sensed the presence of a large nocturnal animal just a few steps ahead of the path they were on. Fabien instantly reached for the dagger at his hip, positioning himself between Noelis and the creature.
The beast inched closer. Fabien was now fully covering Noelis and readied himself to attack once the beast moved a few more steps forward.
Please. We mean no harm. We need to get down and help our friends. Noelis pleaded in her head. Noelis felt her Manna flicker instinctively in her fingertips.
And just like that, the beast sniffed the air and then slowly backed away, disappearing into the trees.
It wasn't the last one.
Three more creatures crossed their path on the way down—silent, watchful, but as before, none approached. It was as if the forest itself had been thrown off balance, and every living thing was more interested in fleeing than fighting.
Eventually they realised they were not making progress. The path forked without warning, disappearing under the extremely dense undergrowth. Several times they found themselves looping back upwards instead of descending.
Fabien cursed himself for not memorising the mountain paths. He had been too fixated on the routes around the Shield.
Frustration mounted. Exhaustion too.
"Let's rest," he finally said. "Just for a few hours until dawn hits us and we get a better view of the path."
Noelis sank against the trunk of an enormous tree, large enough for two people to shelter beneath. Fabien settled beside her, dagger still in hand.
"I'll stay awake for a bit," he said. "Recharge your Manna. We may need it."
Noelis nodded, closed her eyes… and tried to sleep. Her body was beyond tired, but her mind refused to quieten. Fatigue, fear, and the strange stillness of the forest ate at her.
Bald… are you there?
No response.
The Voice that had been her companion for the past months — comforting, guiding, teasing — remained silent.
"Hey, I don't know if you're angry or have just tired of me. But if you're there… please say something. This might be the last chance I get."
Silence. Only the rustle of leaves stirred in the air.
"I'm cold…and scared. I just… want to speak with you again. To hear your voice before… before it becomes impossible. I don't know if we're going to make it down this mountain."
More silence.
Her chest tightened painfully.
"Maybe you were just in my head after all," she thought.
A long, hollow pause.
Then —
Where are you? a low voice answered.