Bab 78: Devil's Peak
---Aaron---
The days passed by quickly, bland and devoid of the usual laughter and chatter. Ashley withdrew from the rest of us, often sitting alone to the side with her knees up to her chest, rocking herself gently and staring into the distance. I had no idea that Jason meant so much to her. It's amazing how much emotion a girl can keep hidden. Sometimes at night, before I retreated to the tent I shared with Lucian, I'd see Ashley's lone figure by our campfire, and a great sadness would fall on me. I wondered, briefly, that if I were to die as suddenly and as unexpected as Jason, would anyone mourn my passing as Ashley does for Jason?
Indigo expressed her worry about Ashley to me. "Sometimes I hear her talking to herself at night," Indigo said once, when we were on night duty. "I'm so worried about her health."
"Poor Ashley. She seems so sad." I shook my head lightly and poked at our campfire with a stick. "Lucian's been acting weird lately too. He barely speaks and always looks to his side, as if expecting Jason to still be there."
"Jason's death isn't easy on any of us," Indigo sighed. "But what I'm worried about is, if Lord Victor were to tempt us as a way to break the team up, would Ashley be able to resist?"
"You mean, if Lord Victor promised her he could bring Jason back if she followed his orders?"
"Exactly. Seeing her this distraught, I'm beginning to have doubts if Ashley could resist such an offer. She loved Jason, you know." Indigo stared into the fire, looking but not seeing.
"Honestly, I don't know. I'm worried that I won't be able to resist either." I bit my bottom lip, suddenly very worried about our futures. "Ever since Jason's death, I've been so restless and worried about everything. Suddenly we seem so vulnerable, just as everyone else."
"Everything we do seem very dangerous now," Indigo agreed. "But we have to keep fighting on, right? What other choices do we have?"
We didn't speak of Ashley's probable weakness and Lucian's growing depression after that. But it was always at the back of my mind, nagging, returning to haunt my dreams in the dark and silent nights.
* * * * *
It took us three more days to arrive in the forest surrounding the base of Devil's Peak. We set up camp in the forest with Devil's Peak looming up above us. There was no sign of Lord Victor, except for the occasional sighting of guards or Evils. Our camp was shifted back into the depths of the forest to avoid being seen. How I missed Jason's elemental powers! He would've been able to plant a grove of tall trees around our campsite or create a cave to block us from sight and harm. But now all we had were shadows and bushes that we can't move.
We spent another day scouting the area and searching for a way up. There was a narrow trail along the side of the mountain that spiraled up to the top. We couldn't see that high up, but Rachel predicted that Lord Victor's stronghold was inside the mountain, carved from magic.
"All we need to do is to follow the trail up to the top. There has to be a door or an entrance of some sort. Bypass the guards, and then we'll be in to rescue Katherine," said Indigo, looking at the sketch Rachel made of Devil's Peak. A small X was drawn at the top to mark the entrance.
"Sounds easy. So, who's going?" Lucian asked. We looked at each other.
"I say we send two people. If we all go, it'll be easier to be spotted." Rachel said.
"I volunteer." Ashley spoke up for the first time in days. We all looked at her.
"Are you sure?" Indigo creased her brows worriedly. "I mean, didn't you say—that is, what if Lord Victor—?"
"I need to go on this mission," Ashley interrupted. "I couldn't save Jason back in the Desederium Forest, but Katherine still has hope. I want to save her the way I could've saved Jason. Please, let me help rescue my best friend."
"But Lord Victor—" Indigo started again. Ashley waved her off.
"I can resist. I know that I can. After all, like you said: no one can raise the dead." Ashley leveled her gaze at Indigo, strong but pleading. Indigo gazed back, conflicted.
"I'll go too then. That way I can help if anything happens." Indigo finally said. Ashley shook her head.
"No, no, Indigo, you're the leader, you can't go. What if something happens to you?"
"That's right," I agreed. "I'll go instead. My wind powers might come in handy up there."
"No, I abdicated, I gave my leadership position to Aaron," Indigo argued. "Aaron, you stay, I'll go."
"Why don't both of you stay, and I'll go," Rachel volunteered.
Ashley shook her head. "It's too dangerous. We need your healing powers, so you can't go."
"I'll go then," offered Lucian. "I'm not a leader nor do I have very important powers."
"No, Lucian, you have to stay." I looked at him. "You're my best friend, and the only buddy I have left. I can't let you go on this dangerous mission. I can't watch another friend put their life on the line."
"I can't watch you die either! I'm not saying that this is suicide, but do you know how dangerous this mission is?" Lucian argued. "And Indigo says you're the leader! You can't go!"
"If all of you say I'm the leader then I'm going to act like one! I have to go risk my neck, not any of you! I have to be the one to lead the mission and be at the forefront of the battle!" I exclaimed in frustration. Everyone all stopped arguing and looked at me. I took a deep breath and continued.
"If I'm truly the leader now, then you will all do as I say. And I say that the two people to go on this mission are Ashley and me. The rest of you will stay here. Is that understood?"
Indigo looked like she was ready to argue. Lucian was absolutely fuming. But no one said anything. After a long silence, Indigo lowered her piercing gaze with a soft sigh.
"Yes."
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone