"God? Their God? What's that mean?"
Naren had never heard of that before. But based on the reaction of his two peers, coupled with the shaky delivery of the curly haired girl he could make something up in his head. His mind immedately went to Thera, the tongue of the creature was enough of a threat, but that was just the tongue. Could whatever they were being fed to be comparable to that?
"Nun. It means absolutely nun but that these guys are looney."
Yuna spoke softly to the girl.
"How did you come up with that?"
She was still crawled into a ball, shivering, from something other than the cold.
"I-I saw it. I fell and they were."
She took a shaky breath.
"They c-cut him into cu-cubes. Then."
She couldn't finish. The memory of the scene brought up everything she had eaten, throwing up in the corner of her cell.
"We-we're in hell."
"Thought hell was 'posed to be hot."
Cairo seemed indifferent throughout the whole exchange. Whatever thing they called God didn't seem to make a difference to him.
"So what now? You wanna bust out of here before their God comes, Cairo?"
"Nah, I need my swords."
Naren thought for a second, yawning as he did.
"Alright, you get the swords, I'll leave. We can meetup after."
Naren was about to finish, then continued as a sudden thought went through his mind.
"Wait, we need Vera too."
He didn't really care for her. Or at least he didn't believe he did. However, the situation had changed now compared to the ship. He no longer had a guaranteed envoy to the Tomb of Atlas, so now he had to make due with whatever resources he did have.
"The little girl? Whatcha need her for?"
Yuna didn't say anything for a second. She remembered the girl on Thera. The bruises. The way she'd been moving — careful, like someone used to making herself small. Yuna had told herself it didn't matter, that she was just another doll, hollow and temporary like the rest of that city. It was easier that way. It usually was.
She wasn't so sure about that now.
"You're still pulling her along, pervert?"
"No she asked me to take her."
"As if. Why would a school girl ask your help?"
"Dunno, but she knows how to get to the Tomb of Atlas, so what do I care."
The mention of the word brought about a long silence in the room.
"The Tomb of Atlas? You're trying to go there too?"
"You too, Naren?"
The curly haired girl listened on to their idle chatter. Did these three not get it? Did they not understand the predicament they were in. Of course not, they hadn't seen what she had. That disgusting vile creature. The sight of it was enough to make her want to puke, but what they did to that man.
"Alright it's settled. We form a rescue team for Vera and get you're weapons along the way."
"A rescue team? Really, with you clowns?"
"Why're you complaining weed-head?"
The two were at each others throats. Naren having to mediate pulled them apart.
"Ladies ladies, no need to argue over me."
"What could you possibly be talking about?"
"Naren, you got a couple screws loose don't you?"
Naren yawned a long heavy yawn. His sleepy eyes barely fixed on the two in front of him.
"You two can kill each other later for all I care. I'm just not too keen on getting eaten yet."
Yuna sighed. She knew she wasn't strong enough to fight everyone here. It was a long cry from even being remotely possible. She didn't even have her weapons. If that's what it's come to then she was forced to comply.
Cairo didn't care for alliances or rescue operations. All he cared for at the moment was getting his sword. Whatever came in between that could be a trial from hell and he wouldn't mind one bit.
They both sternly looked into the glimmering eyes, filled with so much resolute but trapped in drowsiness.
"Aight."
"Fine."
"Great, great. So what now?"
The three looked at each other completely lost. Sure they formed a little party, but they didn't have even a minor semblance of a plan. The cell they were in seemed to be completely fortified with whatever the white material was. Completely indestructible, at least from their point of view.
Naren plopped down onto the floor, leaning back on his hands. His head swung back as he closed his eyes to think. Nothing. Slowly dozing off.
"How good are you at acting?"
Yuna's words was like a cold plunge to the drowsey Naren. His eyes blinked open, completely caught off guard.
"Huh?"
"I'ma natural."
The two looked at Cairo. Skepticism in their eyes. Yuna was the first to speak.
"I really hope so."
————————————
In the deep dark prison that was gated off from the rest of the village, deep inside an ice canyon, a quite noise started. At first it was the flickering of embers, quietly dancing. Then it grew more rapid, more dense, hotter. Smoke bellowed out slowly from the enormous caved out dungeon.
"ARGHHHHHHAGHHHH"
The sudden blood curdling screams startled the two guards on night watch. They were already a bit drowsy, nothing ever happens here. Nothing notable at least. But this was new.
As they turned back to the direction of the screams, deep inside the cavernous prison, the black smoke began blowing out. Indiscernible at first through the darkness, but with the warm orange glow that now radiated throughout the cave, it was impossible to miss.
The guards looked at each other, the hollow eyes of their animal inspired masks not showing any emotion. Without a word, two went in: An owl and a deer.
The two walked closer to through the large hall, hands over their mouths to keep from inhaling too much smoke. The screams were getting more pronounced. More dread inducing. Until they finally came upon a singular cell: Two bodies were on the ground, completely motionless by the entrance. In the far corner of the cell was a single man burning alive. Thrashing and screaming as he endured his skin melting off.
"HEELP PLEASEE IT BURNS!"
"What the hell?!"
"Quick! We have to put him out. We can't let the ice melt."
The deer fumbled through her keyring, fiddling with various keys in the hole until one finally clicked. They both entered the cell, shielding themselves from the violent heat. However, they realized by now that they had no means of putting him out.
Actually there was no reason to. There would be no way for the fire to escape the cavern. Once the man burned up, the fire would go with him, nothing to latch onto. So why were they so adamant on getting in. In fact who ordered them to put him out?
"Why did you give the order to come in?"
"I thought that was you?"
A forearm enclosed over the throat of one guard. Squeezing tight as her eyes rolled back. The other one had a single swift kick hit the side of her head, knocking her out instantly. The girl with curly hair peered through only slightly. Completely stunned by what was happening before her.
"They weren't all that."
The screams continued on.
"Knock it off you fossil, we're done."
The embers slowly dissipated as the figure of Cairo became more and more visible. His clothes were slightly burned, but other than that he was completely unscathed.
"How was it? Natural wasn't I?"
Naren put up ten fingers, yawning. While Yuna put up three.
"Not enough thrashing."
The three slowly exited their cell. Yuna taking the mask and coat from one of the guards before doing so. She stopped the other two before leaving.
"There's two more guards out there, so be wary."
—————————
Vera sat in a room carved deep into the ice, her hands quivered slightly by her said. She hadn't noticed though, it was completely unconscious.
The walls were smooth, polished, catching the light from lanterns hung at intervals along the perimeter. The ice itself was translucent, glowing faintly with a pale blue hue that shifted with the flickering flames. Shadows danced across the surface, distorted and multiplied by the reflections.
Thick fur carpets covered the floor, layered pelts stitched together, dark and heavy, muffling sound. The walls were lined with mounted animal heads: wolves, something with curved horns, a massive bird with its beak frozen mid-cry.
A long table sat at the center, carved from dark wood reinforced with animal bone. Chairs surrounded it, mismatched but sturdy, their backs etched with symbols, the same symbol could be seen etched into the wall behind the table. A symbol Vera knew all too well. An emblem, one that belonged to the rulers of the Tomb of Atlas.
The air was warmer here than outside. A brazier burned near the corner, vented carefully through the ice above. The heat made the walls glisten faintly, droplets forming and refreezing in slow cycles.
It felt important. Deliberate. A place where decisions were made.
And before her, at the far end of the table she sat, was a woman, old and husky. Her mask was different from the others she'd seen. It was as if it was still alive. The creature caught in it's final moments. Though, it wasn't an animal or non that she could recognized. Instead it was carved out in the shape of a very crude human face.
"Little girl, tell me."
The hollow eyes of the mask reflected no emotion.
"Will you submit to our God?"