บท 16: Chapter 14:
The faint glow of dawn barely touched the castle's high windows as Alohi and I moved swiftly through the quiet corridors. My pulse was still erratic, and my arm ached where Citrus had grabbed me. Alohi kept close, her usual lighthearted attitude replaced by a protective energy that almost seemed out of place for her.
"We need to get to Xenos," she said, her voice low but urgent. "I don't trust that big cat to stay gone. And if I see him again, Sage, I swear—"
"I know," I interrupted, trying to force calm into my voice. "But we can't lose focus. Xenos will kill us both if we're late."
Alohi gave me a sideways glance, her lips twitching into a smirk. "He's lucky I like him. Otherwise, I'd have ditched his grumpy butt ages ago."
Despite everything, I let out a small laugh. Alohi had that effect—able to pull me back from the brink, even when I felt like I was unraveling.
As we turned another corner, the faint sound of footsteps echoed ahead. We froze, my heart lurching in my chest. Alohi grabbed my arm, pulling me into a shadowy alcove as the steps grew louder.
Two guards strode by, their polished armor gleaming faintly in the dim light. They didn't seem to notice us, their conversation casual.
"Another dead-end shift," one of them muttered. "Nothing ever happens here."
"Count yourself lucky," the other replied. "I'd rather be bored than cleaning up after one of those freak accidents in the lab again."
They passed without incident, their voices fading into the distance. Alohi exhaled softly, a grin tugging at her lips.
"Dead-end shift, huh? Poor guys don't know what's coming," she whispered, peeking out to ensure the coast was clear.
I stepped out of the alcove, glancing nervously down the hallway. "Let's just hope we're not the ones they 'clean up after.'"
We pressed on, navigating the labyrinthine halls with growing urgency. Each turn felt like a gamble, the shadows playing tricks on my mind. I couldn't shake the feeling that Citrus was still lurking somewhere, watching, waiting.
By the time we reached the underground door, Xenos was already there, his arms crossed and his expression stormy.
"You're late," he said curtly, his eyes flicking between the two of us.
"Blame Sage," Alohi quipped, brushing past him and leaning casually against the wall. "She's the one who got herself into trouble."
Xenos' gaze snapped to me, his eyes narrowing. "What happened?"
I hesitated, the memory of Citrus' hands on me making my stomach churn. "It's… nothing. I'm fine now."
"Nothing?" Alohi said sharply, pushing off the wall. "That slimy idiot grabbed her, Xenos. And if I hadn't walked in—"
"I said I'm fine," I interrupted, my voice firmer this time. "We need to focus on the mission."
Xenos stared at me for a long moment, his jaw tight. Finally, he nodded. "Fine. But this isn't over."
Alohi rolled her eyes, muttering something under her breath, but I ignored her.
We turned toward the door, its iron surface cold and imposing. This was it—the moment we'd been preparing for. Whatever lay beyond would test us in ways we couldn't predict.
"Ready?" Xenos asked, his hand resting on the door's handle.
I nodded, my pulse quickening. "Let's get this over with."
And with that, the door creaked open, revealing the darkness waiting below.
Xenos stepped into the dimly lit passageway, his torch casting flickering shadows along the stone walls. The air was damp and heavy, carrying the faint scent of earth and mildew. He turned to us, his expression grave.
"This tunnel leads directly to the maze in the castle's gardens," he said, his voice low and steady. "It's the safest way to avoid detection, but it's not without its dangers. There will be traps—some magical, some physical. And the creatures down here… they're not exactly friendly."
Alohi groaned dramatically, adjusting her bag. "Fantastic. I love a good death trap first thing in the morning."
Xenos shot her a warning look before continuing. "Stay alert. And if something happens, don't hesitate. Fight or run—those are your only options."
I nodded, gripping the straps of my satchel tightly. Aurora perched on my shoulder, her tiny form radiating a faint, reassuring warmth.
"I'll keep an eye out," she said softly, her small voice cutting through the oppressive silence.
We moved cautiously through the passage, our footsteps muffled by the damp ground. The walls seemed to close in the deeper we went, and the faint hum of magic buzzed in the air, prickling at my skin.
The first trap was easy to spot—an array of glowing runes etched into the floor. Xenos disabled it with a few precise gestures, his knowledge of ancient magic proving invaluable.
The second trap was more subtle, nearly catching us off guard. Alohi stumbled into a tripwire, but before it could trigger whatever lay in wait, Xenos grabbed her arm and yanked her back.
"Careful," he snapped, his tone harsher than usual.
Alohi winced, muttering an apology under her breath.
We continued in tense silence until the tunnel opened into a small, cavernous chamber. That's when we heard it—a low, guttural growl that sent a shiver down my spine.
"Something's here," Aurora whispered, her wings twitching.
From the shadows emerged a goblin, its hunched form illuminated by the faint glow of our torches. Its eyes gleamed with malice, and it let out a snarling laugh as it lunged toward us.
Aurora darted forward, a burst of light flashing from her tiny hands, but the goblin was quick. It swatted her out of the air, sending her crashing into the wall. She fell to the ground, motionless.
"Aurora!" I screamed, dropping to my knees beside her. Her small body was still, her glow dimmed. Rage bubbled up inside me, hot and uncontrollable.
The goblin cackled, advancing toward us with a wicked grin.
Something inside me snapped. I felt a surge of energy course through my veins, raw and untamed. My hands began to glow, heat radiating from my fingertips as the magic within me erupted.
"Get away from her!" I shouted, thrusting my hands forward.
A wave of energy shot out, slamming into the goblin. It shrieked in pain as the magic consumed it, its body disintegrating into ash. The chamber fell silent, the only sound my ragged breathing.
I collapsed to the ground, my body trembling from the exertion. The power had drained me, leaving me weak and lightheaded.
Xenos and Alohi rushed to my side, their faces etched with concern.
"Sage, are you okay?" Alohi asked, kneeling beside me.
"I'm fine," I said weakly, my voice barely above a whisper. My gaze shifted to Aurora, who was beginning to stir. Relief washed over me as her eyes fluttered open.
"Sage…" Aurora's voice was faint, but she managed a small smile. "You… you were amazing."
I reached out, gently cradling her in my hands. "You scared me," I whispered, my throat tightening.
Xenos' voice cut through the moment, firm but not unkind. "You used magic. Strong magic. That wasn't just anger—it was something more."
I looked up at him, determination hardening my gaze. "I don't care what it was. I'm not stopping now. I need to know the truth, no matter what."
Xenos studied me for a moment before nodding. "Then get up. We have a maze to cross and a secret room to find."
Alohi offered me her hand, helping me to my feet. My legs wobbled, but I steadied myself, focusing on the goal ahead.
"We're with you, Sage," Aurora said softly, her glow returning as she perched on my shoulder.
With renewed resolve, I followed Xenos and Alohi deeper into the tunnel, my heart set on uncovering the secrets that awaited us in the castle's depths.
I crouched down, gently cupping Aurora in my hands. Her glow was faint, her tiny wings drooping as she looked up at me with tired eyes.
"Aurora," I said softly, brushing my thumb over her fragile frame. "You need to rest. I don't want you getting hurt again. Please, hide in Alohi's bag for now."
Her expression shifted to one of protest, her small hands curling into fists. "But Sage, you need me—"
"I need you safe," I interrupted, my voice firmer this time. "I can't focus if I'm worried about you. Please, trust me. Just for now."
Aurora hesitated, her glow dimming slightly, before finally nodding. "Alright. But only because I know you'll be careful. Promise me you won't do anything reckless."
"I promise," I whispered, placing a soft kiss on her tiny head. I handed her carefully to Alohi, who opened her satchel with an exaggerated flourish.
"Don't worry, little glowbug," Alohi said, her grin playful yet reassuring. "You'll be snug as a bug in here. Plus, you get a front-row seat to my brilliance."
Aurora gave a faint laugh as she settled into the bag, and I felt a small pang of relief.
We reached the wooden door leading to the garden. Xenos pushed it open slightly, peering through the gap.
"There are at least six guards," he said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper. "Armed and stationed in pairs. Getting through unnoticed won't be easy."
I bit my lip, my heart sinking. "What do we do? We can't fight them all."
Before Xenos could answer, Alohi stepped forward, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "Oh, don't worry about that. I've got an idea."
Xenos sighed audibly. "Alohi, this isn't the time for one of your—"
"Shh!" Alohi waved a hand, rummaging through her bag with purpose. "Trust me, this is going to be amazing. Just follow my lead."
She pulled out a small vial filled with shimmering pink liquid. Without hesitation, she drank it in one gulp, and her transformation began almost instantly. Her hair grew impossibly long, flowing like liquid gold, and her skin shimmered with a divine radiance. A gown spun from starlight draped her form, and an ethereal glow surrounded her.
I stared, utterly dumbfounded. "Alohi… what in the world did you just do?"
She winked at me. "I call it the 'Divine Distraction.' Sit back and enjoy the show."
Before I could stop her, she flung the door open and stepped into the garden.
"BEHOLD!" Alohi's voice boomed, echoing dramatically across the courtyard. "It is I, the Goddess of Eternal Radiance! Bow before me, mortals!"
The guards froze, their weapons clattering to the ground as they gawked at her. One of them actually dropped to his knees, muttering something about divine blessings.
Another guard whispered frantically, "What do we do? She's obviously here for an offering!"
Alohi struck a regal pose, her arms outstretched. "Yes, you pathetic fools! Offer me your finest treasures! And form a line! No shoving!"
I pressed a hand over my mouth to stifle a laugh. It was ridiculous, but somehow, it was working.
Xenos nudged me, his expression unreadable but faintly amused. "Let's move while they're distracted. Quickly."
I nodded, slipping through the door behind him. The guards were so enraptured by Alohi's performance that they didn't even notice us.
As we entered the towering hedges of the maze, I glanced back one last time. Alohi was now pointing dramatically at one of the guards, who was scrambling to gather flowers from a nearby bush.
"She's… really into this," I whispered, shaking my head.
Xenos smirked faintly, his voice low. "That's Alohi for you. But at least it worked."
We pressed on into the maze, the faint sound of Alohi's exaggerated proclamations fading into the distance. Despite the tension ahead, I couldn't help but feel a flicker of hope. We might actually pull this off.
We stopped in front of the maze's gate, its iron bars twisted with age and magic. The faint glow of runes etched into the metal pulsed softly, as if alive. I felt my breath hitch, the weight of what lay ahead pressing heavily on my chest.
Xenos stood beside me, his gaze fixed on the gate. "This is it," he said quietly, his voice steady.
I nodded, gripping the dagger at my side for comfort. The gate loomed before us, an unspoken challenge. Whatever was waiting beyond it, I had to face it. For the truth. For myself.
"We go in together," I said, my voice firm despite the nervous knot in my stomach.
Xenos glanced at me, his expression unreadable, and then, with a slight nod, he pushed the gate open. The sound of creaking metal echoed into the still night as we stepped into the shadow of the maze.
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