[METAPLOT] Awakening Spirits (Squires' Finale - Part 3)

[Guardian_Iris]

Awakening Spirits
Squires' Finale - Part 3

- Continuing from Part 2 here -

The room had shifted to an uneasy quiet, the frantic energy of combat drained away and instead the area filled with the heavy sense of loss. Another comrade had fallen, cut off and cut down by the forces of darkness. The Squires seemed to have hardly started their mission and they had only a fraction of the forces they'd entered with. These weren't merely forces or numbers either, but comrades they'd been raised alongside; brothers and sisters they'd lived with, shared meals and children's games, supported and squabbled with...

Many faces showed the true weight of this mission taking its toll, like a physical force pressing down on their shoulders and dragging down their spirits. They had lost four of their number already. How many more--? They risked their lives by continuing, but...what of the poor innocents they'd been sent to rescue? Those taken doing the work of the Guardians? Their own Knight Trainer remained missing as well. And what of this girl, taken by the heathens?

Too many lives remained in the balance to make the choice an easy one. But with Guardian-loyal innocents at risk, how could they possibly turn their backs on their duty?

While the Squires focused on their fallen comrade and taking care of those who remained, the near-forgotten foe made their escape beyond the rear exit of the room. Perhaps not cleanly, though. A loud, yelping cry echoed from what sounded like a hallway beyond the far doors, cut short by a heavy thud. Shortly after followed the crack of a whip and the sharp bark of orders. The voice was muffled by distance, but the sharp of hearing may have made out a few words. "Stop! Back th-....-to the others-! ...get outsid--!" There was a brief swelling of sound, hooves and claws scraping at stone, as if getting closer...then it faded again...

If any dared follow the enemy's retreat through the far door, they would find themselves in a long, nondescript stone hallway, much like those from the front foyer, also branching off in either direction. It was dark, but the sounds of retreat would lead them through a series of twists and turns. At first, it might seem like their imaginations getting away from them, but the ambient light in the hall slowly seemed to grow. Was it simply their eyes adjusting to the darkness? After a couple of turns, it became clear that the light was increasing, though it came from no discernible source.

**********

((Here we go again!, everyone! Take this chance to report in with your Squire(s), provide any responses to the end of the last challenge, then prep to move. Good luck, everyone!))

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Antidia

Alethea

Mizu_Taji

Clarux

Menelie

Dante

Teigra

Eligor | Lailah

Wolfs Heart

Genesis

Dementia Requiem Asumi

Harveer

Doof

Katya

 

[Wolfs Heart]

Eligor's touch and thankfulness had fallen on a numb mind and body. Genesis had always been closer to her books and studies than she had been to her fellow squires. It had only been recently that she had started to form attachments to the others as she learned that she couldn't rely solely on herself. Perhaps it had been for a good reason that she had remained so distant for so long. She thought about her last journey with Nephi, if she had just done the task on her own maybe the loss wouldn't sting as badly as it did.

It was Lailah's voice that was beckoning to Genesis, calling her out of the dark abyss that she was spiraling into. Lailah, the most independent of all of them, reminding them to stick together. Genesis' eyes narrowed now as they fell on Lailah. She took a deep breath, attempting to release her emotion without completely falling apart. Wasn't it she that had urged them to continue, that they still had to complete their mission? This was her fault, and they had likely already failed their mission. All these feelings needed to go away. Did she focus on vengeance to keep her going? No, she could not allow herself to succumb to such feelings.

"Lailah speaks truth." Genesis spoke, her voice cracking in her visible weakness over the loss. She was no longer going for rallying speeches of making their sacrifices worth it, now she was simply speaking the truth, or at least what she perceived to be the truth. "We need to keep moving forward. Whatever... broke... Nephi is behind us. Though there is likely more fearsome foe ahead. I do not believe turning around is an option now though." It probably would have been better if she hadn't spoken at all, but it was too late for that.  

[Antidia]

Oh no she did'n!

Alethea stumbled to stand and push herself towards Eligor to reach him before Genesis could touch him. There was fire in her eyes and her lip twitched. But something stopped her. A sudden rush of light and relief radiated from Dante's touch. Her expression changed and she softened when she looked towards her friend and bowed her head. "Thank you." she said sweetly.

Eligor. She tripped before getting to him and watched in horror as Genesis touched him. Wait a second, what had Genesis said before molesting her man? Nephi had fallen? A swift spin to check the door behind them; why hadn't she noticed that open? It wasn't exactly a subtle door. Now that she thought about it, why was everything kind of dark and fuzzy. She dipped, feeling a pang of exhaustion. And pain, oh the pain. She was trying to push herself up to check on Nephi, but didn't feel wholly able to do that. The injuries she'd sustained caught up with her once the adrenaline faded.

But wait. She felt a warming sensation and strength returning to her beat up body. Eligor! He was looking in her eyes! But Nephi, but Eligor, but Nephi, but Eligor's eyes and his hand! Oh he was touching her!! eeee!! Eligor's heal helped Alethea feel so much better, and her thinking was clearer. She wanted to stare all day into those beautiful golden eyes. Her heart fluttered and she moved to put her hand over his in a romantic gesture.

But then Genesis. Again. That girl... Hold on, wait, what was happening here. Alethea took a deep breath, She still remained twitterpated at Eligor's touch, but she'd come to her senses, as best she could when Eligor was around. "Nephi, what ... what happened?" She moved to the doors and stopped as soon as she saw him. Another one of her friends' light extinguished before they'd had a chance to even see adulthood. This wasn't fair!

"I don't understand why we were thrown to the beasts. Are these missing pae more valuable than us?" A prideful statement. "I agree with Lailah and Genesis. We stick close together, no more stragglers. Let's move on and try to find the targets before anymore of us die." She moved directly towards Eligor's side. She'd protect him!

((Saving Alethea's MP for later fights where they will need it more since she's so low.))  

[Teigra]

The light faded from Eligor's hands as the last of Alethea's wounds closed and faded. Though she hadn't verbally answered his question, he'd noted that when their eyes met, her expression had cleared somewhat. Of course, they were all shaken, but the improvement from a moment ago was all he could hope for. Now that they all seemed to be mostly patched up from the last ordeal, perhaps they could think a bit clearer.

Though he didn't say it, he caught himself agreeing with Alethea's statement. Four of their fellows fallen. For what? A couple of lost Pae who may or may not still be alive, one Avalon fairy, and mere rumors of a mysterious little girl. The numbers seemed off-balance; based solely on statistics, they'd lost more than they could possibly gain already. The smart thing to do would be to cut their losses.

Though, at that point, they had gained nothing by this at all. They would have failed their mission and sacrificed their comrades for nothing. Eligor couldn't imagine him speaking for himself, but what would Knight Lord Andrei say if he heard them entertaining the thought of abandoning innocents in a place like this? Even if hope that they might still be alive was growing dimmer with each passing moment? After all, what hope could normal Pae'il have in this place when even the Guardians' Chosen were falling...?

Giving himself a mental slap, Eligor's expression hardened. Get ahold of yourself! They were in a dire situation indeed. The last thing he needed to do was allow the darkness to invade his thoughts and shake his faith. Guardians, please...lend us your strength. Your faithful are in need; aid us in bringing Light to the Darkness. Protect us so that we may all return safely to continue to do your will. He had bowed his head for only a moment, eyes closed. The heartfelt prayer delivered, he looked up with a curt nod to both Genesis and Alethea.

"Agreed. If we turn back now, we forsake our training and dishonor our comrades' sacrifices. However, we cannot afford anymore losses. Everyone keep alert. Be mindful of your companions and your surroundings."


Despite putting some distance between herself and the others, Lailah hadn't forgotten her own warning. She was easily within reaction distance, if only far enough to dull the conversation between her comrades in her ears. Her focus was seemingly aimed outward, on alert for any new threats to the Squires while they recovered and regrouped. In all honesty, she was waging war to keep that attention focused.

It seemed that for every step forward, they took three steps backward. This mission seemed doomed from the start. All they had done was stumble around clumsily and get themselves killed. It was frustratingly infuriating. Just once, couldn't something go to plan? She could feel the rage building, taking hold of her thoughts and guiding them towards fantasies of what she would do if they could catch that cocky heretic monster. He was a convenient target; though a tiny little doubt in the back of her mind whispered that perhaps he wasn't necessarily the sole blame behind the loss of their comrades, a much louder one declared that she didn't care and would enjoy taking the cost of their lives out of his miserable hide and any other foul creature that got in her way.

All around, she could feel their failures crowding in. Her failures. She wouldn't have to worry about being the best; right now, it felt more like competing for worst. Nothing went to plan. Whenever something seemed to go right, it's because something even worse lay around the corner in wait. Like a stalking beast, ready to pounce and devour them all. Closing in. Failure. Failure. Failu--

Lailah's eyes narrowed, focused intently on the door where the beasts had made their escape. Were they...coming back? No...the sounds were fading again...but what had that been about? She could have sworn she'd heard some kind of scuffle and the blue b*****d barking something about 'others' and...'outside'. What others? And was there a way forward that led out of this place?

Holding a hand up, Lailah curtly interrupted any further conversation. "Hey! Did anyone else hear that?"  

[Menelie]

"Of course," signed Dante in response, returning her smile with a soft one of his own. It didn't escape his notice that Alethea and Eligor seemed....even more taken with each other than usual. He stole a glance at Katya. Heat and color rose to his cheeks. Now was not the time for distractions. They were all exhausted, emotionally wrecked, and still in the thick of danger. It was important for him to keep his head. Dante sat down, closed his eyes, and took a centering breath, in and out.

The plan seemed to be "stay together no matter what". Dante could get behind that. They couldn't afford to lose anyone else. The lives this mission had cost were precious, and though he knew the Guardians honored their fallen comrades even in death, they would all be better off very much alive.

His ears pricked at a noise nearby. In one motion, he stood and held his staff at the ready, just as Lailah spoke. So she'd heard it too. "I heard," he signed to her, and moved closer to her. Dante felt that it was his turn to be at the front of the group. He'd followed safely in the pack up until now, and he certainly had more strength left than some of his companions. He'd take up a heavier burden so that they might save their strength for later.

"We go-follow? Or wait?" he signed to the group in general, but at Lailah in particular. He suspected he knew what her answer would be, but definitely wasn't going to assume and go barreling down the hallway.

((Edited because apparently Mene can't read?))  

[Doof]

Katya had heard the sound too. Now no longer lost in her thoughts, she had occupied herself the last couple of minutes after assisting Clarux by moving to the edge of the chamber and watching the door their adversary had fled through. At Lailah's question, Katya nodded towards that doorway. "I definitely heard something over there. We're not the only ones having scraps in this abysmal place." This fact actually heartened her slightly, since their enemies had fled in a disorderly fashion, and any further confusion in their camp could only mean good news for the squires.

The others had seemed to form the idea that they should stay close enough to support each other, with the added benefit that nobody be left behind to fend for themselves. They also needed to ensure that whatever formation they used was flexible enough to engage (or disengage) from any contact they might have. Katya checked her quiver and her bow, taking stock of her remaining arrows and making sure her equipment was still combat ready. So far so good.

The enemy had withdrawn and though they were down yet another one of their number, the small group of squires had the potential to redirect the tide of battle if they could regain their cohesion and move forward. As they could not afford to continue taking losses, they had to find some way to fight on their own terms and not be cornered, beseiged or ambushed. Again.

Whilst the other squires regathered themselves and checked over their equipment, Katya moved to the far doorway and pressed herself against the heavy wood, edging her yellow-eyed gaze around the door to peer into the darkened hallway beyond. Despite her keen vision, she could see very little. The little demon thought she perceived a faint light source further down, around the corner, but she wasn't sure. Still, there didn't seem to be anything there, and certainly no movement.

Upon seeing Dante's question, she coughed to draw his attention, and- having done her best to shed any visible sign of unease from her face- replied quietly but firmly. "We have to go. We've had enough time to regroup- let's not afford our opponents the same luxury." She then took herself over to Lailah's side and gently clapped her on the shoulder. "Are you ready to take point again?" Katya didn't wish any more danger upon the angel than she'd already subjected herself to, but she was the stealthiest member of their group, and was the least likely to be spotted if she was the first to make contact with the enemy again.  

[Teigra]

Lailah's gaze darted towards Dante for only a moment, her attention still riveted on the door ahead for signs of returning danger. "Of course, I say we go on," she whispered back. "But not without the rest of the group following." If only they'd hurry up and make a decision.


Eligor was mentally checking through the list of remaining Squires, noting their physical and emotional states for cause of concern, noting who was ready for action and who might need a break, when he caught Dante staring at him oddly. Dante's gaze had quickly turned towards Katya and a blush deepened his facial coloration. What...was that all about? He raised an eyebrow, about to question Dante when Katya spoke up instead, turning his attention back to the situation at large. Surely whatever it was Dante had been preoccupied with wouldn't compromise the mission...he hoped. Big picture in mind, Eligor nodded and moved on, making a silent note to keep an eye out for any further signs of something that might need addressed.

Allowing himself only one more glance over his shoulder towards the foyer where Nephi's body lay, Eligor took a deep breath before speaking. When this was all over, they'd come back. It was disconcerting how 'easy' it was becoming to leave their fallen comrades behind...

"Katya is right. Katya? Lailah? You two take point. Harveer, Dante, and Alethea? You three follow close behind, be ready to support in case our scouts find something. Genesis, Clarux, and myself will cover our rear guard in case of any surprises. Keep chatter to a minimum and remember our training, team."


Finally! With a flourish, Lailah's blades returned to the ready and the angel nodded sharply. With a glance towards Katya, she met her gaze long enough to nod towards the doors. They'd each take one side, check that the coast was clear beyond, then proceed. The door had been left half open, so there was no need to breech the portal. Lailah flattened herself against one side of the door frame, peering through the opening and down the hall in the opposite direction. She held up a hand, signalling 'clear' to the other Squires, then met eyes with Katya to coordinate their entrance to the hallway beyond.  

[Dementia Requiem Asumi]

Nephi had fallen.. Nephi, one of them. That was their fourth fallen companion during this mission. How many more would they loose before this was over? Despite Genesis telling them all not to look, Harveer had to. To forever remember the way his friend looked at the end. To forever honor the few memories they shared. It was a gruesome sight, but he took it in. The sight would remain there, next to Agnus, Inferno and Elda. Four friends lost to this wretched place.

The thought made his blood boil. By the time he managed to rip his eyes away from their friend, everyone had very well healed and cleansed one another. A slight twinge of regret made him realize he'd chosen himself over helping the others. They were a team, not a singularity. His ears picked up on a fading noise, which apparently the other squires did as well. At least, judging from their conversation. It was about then Harveer finally tuned into it. He would do whatever was necessary to complete this task. For the sake of their fallen comrades, for the sake of the missing girl and their trainer. For the Guardians. They needed them to complete this mission.

"Sounds good Eli." He agreed, taking the few steps needed to position himself among the front line. He waited for the signal from Lailah, and for her and Katya to enter the hall before slipping in after them. They had all done this a million times in training. This part at least, was second nature to him. At least this way, they could and would avenge the fallen. Even if by saving one life.  

[Wolfs Heart]

So they were all in agreement, it seemed. Genesis was slightly surprised that no one had objected, perhaps because some small part of her wanted to turn around. She was trying not to get swallowed back into the depths of her own mind and it wasn't an easy task. Genesis really needed more time than their situation allowed to grieve and find her focus. As Lailah called their attention to something she had heard, Genesis had heard nothing. She needed to be at the top of her game right now, and she wasn't. How could she be mindful of her surroundings, like Eligor had suggested, if her mind was somewhere else?

As Katya took turn to speak, Genesis' golden eyes fell upon her. Enough time to regroup? Genesis took yet another deep breath, thankful for the other's taking charge. She had done a lot of the talking so far, and right now it just wasn't in her. This was it though, this was all the time she had to give to her grief. She traced the hilt of her sword with her thumb, letting the rhythmic motion and texture slow down and empty her racing mind. She continued to do so as she fell into place beside Eligor and Clarux. 'Guardians, help me to not falter.' Genesis mentally pleaded as she followed the others.  

[Doof]

With the team getting their readiness back up, Katya nodded at Lailah and quietly moved into the darkness beyond the door, pressing herself against the left wall and advancing down the length of the hallway, slowly at first then with more confidence as her eyes adjusted to the dim surroundings. She had come through the door bow drawn, in case she had missed something or someone in the low light but with no apparent immediate threat, she gradually released the tension on the weapon and noted that it had become a lot easier to hold the bow drawn since her private 'lessons' with Lailah.

Katya made sure to stay several yards behind the taller angel. The two had formed the point element for different reasons. Lailah was an infiltrator; an obvious choice for taking the lead position, being silent, stealthy and agile enough to evade traps along the way. For Katya's part, she frequently played the scout on previous missions, her sharp eyesight allowing her to pick out important locations or targets from high in the sky. Sneaking around indoors however, her large, conspicuous wings were more of a hindrance, hence her staying back so far. Still, her vision was very, very good. Enough so that staying back that far didn't impede her ability to spot danger as well as Lailah could. Further, her bow could support Lailah from a distance without having to rush in herself.

Up ahead, a corner in the hallway prompted her to take the far wall, opposite the tunnel's change of direction and leaving the opposite wall to Lailah. Leaning against a buttress, she covertly leaned out to check the hallway ahead, again looking for any sign of trouble.  

[Guardian_Iris]

The ambient light continued to grow as the hallways twisted and turned, though the sounds of their foes had faded. Had they eluded them? There didn't seem to be any side paths along the way. Perhaps they'd just pulled away...or gotten outside, as their heretic leader had instructed. It would make sense for the noise to fade if they escaped the resonance of the long stone halls. And it was fairly light by now...

The assumption would prove true, as the hallway turned one last time and revealed a heavy wooden door, left cracked open with late afternoon sunlight streaming in. Was it only afternoon? One could lose track of time in the darkness within the stone fortress. Beyond the door, a vast courtyard spread before the Squires, though still entirely enclosed by stone walls. Though it was clear it was not being cared for at present, the scraggly, bare trees and weed-ridden patches of earth were placed in such a way to show that at one time, very long ago, this may have been a well-tended garden of sorts. The wilds had seemed to reclaim it, though at least it seemed more solid than the swampy marsh outside had been.

The meager foliage, however, was dwarfed by the courtyard's primary resident: a massive stone column, many times a Pae's height in diameter, and reaching up towards the clouds far above. Carved glyphs, in several styles, covered the column's surface, interrupted periodically by images of strange creatures going about some sorts of tasks or rituals. Closer inspection would reveal some of the figures to resemble Faun and Naiad, with their hooves and fins providing the primary characteristics of their races. Other figures would appear completely alien.

Each Squire would feel a strange, but easily dismissed sensation as they crossed the threshold of the door and entered the garden. A faint ripple of energy, like a feather-light brush against one's skin, quickly forgotten as the column seemed to forcibly wrest one's attention to focus solely upon itself. The column's sheer size dwarfed not only the nearby trees, but a couple of dark shapes huddled near its base.

Any Squires nearing the column would receive a double surprise. The figures huddled near the base of the column were none other than Kurt and Malek, unconscious and seeming a bit worse for wear, but clearly still alive, as someone had taken the effort to bind them thoroughly with rope. They were slumped over, held up by the ropes that kept them captive and bound to the pillar, but were breathing shallowly and evenly.

The second surprise would come when anyone attempted to free the captives. The Squires would be able to get no more than a couple of feet away from the captives before hitting an invisible barrier. A brief ripple of magic would pulse at the contact, synchronized with several runes on the column lighting up with an echoed pulse before all went still again. Explorations would reveal that the barrier seemed to exist as a sphere solely around the two captives, keeping anyone from reaching them. The rest of the column could be approached freely.

However, any attempts to leave the garden either back the way they came, or by flying upward, would meet a similar magical barrier. Again, the column would pulse with light while the barrier is touched and seemed to extend in a similar sphere encompassing the entire garden at both ground level, and in the air, halting progress above the top of the column.

Seems that it's easy to enter the garden, but not so easy to leave again.

*********

((Uh oh! Some interesting developments here! What will the Squires do now? It might be time to do some investigating.))  

[Doof]

The receding darkness buoyed Katya's mood as much as it would rise under the current circumstances. The final stretch of corridor, though long, did a good job of bouncing golden dusk light off its somewhat reflective, aged stonework. Ahead, her comrade Lailah cast a graceful silhouette briefly before her form flattened itself against a far wall. Katya once again marveled at the simple but effective disappearing act. The demon followed a short distance behind, coming to the exit herself seconds later.

Although the late afternoon sun lay low on the horizon and cast long shadows along the wide courtyard, the difference in lighting between that and the dimly lit corridor they had just navigated was enough to force Katya to pause in the darkened archway to let her eyes adjust once more. She remained in place for several seconds as she scanned the open area ahead, hopefully out of sight (or at least hard enough to spot). There was enough foliage about to hide potential dangers, but she thought better of immediately taking wing and spotting from the sky. Without the rest of the team in position to follow up and support, such a move would only serve to alert anyone hiding outside and put their mission in jeopardy. Instead she quickly swung her tip of her tail out into the sunlight, and upon sensing no reaction, she tentatively poked her head out just far enough to check beyond the edge of the stone doorway, peering around the corners to check the blind spots previously beyond her vision before swiftly running out, advancing through the courtyard in a low stance, trying to keep as much of her body hidden behind bushes as she did so.

As she stepped out into the light, she certainly felt the strange energy that surrounded them, but unlike most of her peers, Katya's magical understanding was marginal, and she didn't recognize that there might be a spell or aura in the vicinity. Her eyes traced their gaze down the tall column at the centre of the courtyard, before the silhouetted forms at the base of it became easier to see as she got closer. A look of recognition spread over her features and she held up a fist to signal the others to stop. Despite her desire to rush over, call in the others and retrieve some of the very souls they had come to rescue, the terrible toll of the mission thus far had made her either wary or paranoid. Two prisoners bound in the open for all to see, with no apparent guards anywhere close by? It practically screamed 'trap'.

For anyone who had entered the courtyard already, she made a hand signal for them to stay low and a separate one to cover the area as she cautiously advanced beyond the column to see if an enemy ambush lay anywhere ahead. Someone else could retrieve the prisoners in the meantime. Katya's eyes scanned the ground, walls and sky relentlessly, her wings low but tensed, ready to take flight again.
 

[Teigra]

The two scouts had moved fluidly through the twisting corridors, remaining in silence and communicating only with hand gestures and passing glances. Though the two had taken point, Lailah kept just slightly ahead of Katya, eyes constantly darting to detect any movement or signs of traps while the angel made full use of the lingering shadows. She wasn't sure if she was more or less unnerved at not having found trouble along the way. Rationalizing that their foe had continued fleeing in defeat rather than taking time to set up traps in their wake, her wariness still did not wane when they reached the open door.

Though the angel made frequent use of the darkness, even she had to acknowledge the temptation offered by the portal and the glowing light beyond.

But training reigned in foolishness. Lailah held fast at the edge of the doorway until Katya tested the waters, so to speak. No reaction to her tail's decoy maneuver, the demon risked a look before moving. Lailah was short on her heels, staying close, but fanning out a few feet to one side before taking cover in a crouch behind the low foliage. Not being particularly magically inclined either, she'd dismissed the sensation upon emerging as merely the welcome feeling of sunlight on her skin once more, even if it was fleeing for the horizon. She scanned what they could see of the courtyard, her eyes lingering on a broken stone here, a tangled shrub there. Enemies could be anywhere. They'd definitely followed their foes here...now where had they gone?

She had not missed the massive pillar, of course, but she would not be distracted and taken by surprise if their foe lie in wait. No immediate threat presented itself, and she paused now to survey the pillar. Though she hated to admit it, the demon's eyes were sharper than her own. When Katya signaled for the group to stop, Lailah noted her expression and lifted an eyebrow curiously before squinting at the pillar. Katya's eyes may be better, but Lailah's were still pretty sharp. Two figures, slumped over at the pillar's base. Their forms were still and hard to make out for sure, but she could see the broken outline of disheveled feathers in the shadows behind them. Feathered wings, if somewhat different shapes from what she could tell from here. The angel and the shetani? Could it be? Could this be the Guardians' faithful they had been sent to rescue? Had they finally found them? Would it be this easy?

Yep, definitely a trap.

She shared a quick glance with Katya before adding her own hand signals to the others. They were going to continue scouting ahead. Circle the perimeter and locate any possible lurking ambush. Another series of quick hand signals to convey that they should hold back and let them lead, but fan out behind to cover the area. Be alert for ambush.

*****

Hanging back behind the others, Eligor took the rear guard with Genesis and Clarux. Between the two sword-wielding women, he was sure that anything trying to take them by surprise would be surprised in turn. Nevertheless, he prepared by charging his magic, gathering the energy around his hands and readying himself to throw a pair of swift bolts if any foe dared make a move. Fortunately, his preparations seemed to be for naught. They encountered no foes in the corridors and were soon presented with an open door to the outside. He waited patiently as the scouts cautiously surveyed the area beyond before passing through, keeping his own eyes on the darkness they'd left behind. As welcome as the fading sunlight was, this was no time to throw caution to the wind and behave foolishly.

He let the rest go first, nodding to his fellow rear guard to continue through with the others. He had not let down his guard and kept his magic charged and ready to fire. Seasons of practice and meditation had honed his magical skills, perhaps more than any of the others. He could maintain the charged energy for a long time, now, with little effort. Perhaps he had spent a bit too much time engrossed in study rather than training his body, he thought to himself, recalling the previous battle. However, no such effort was wasted. He would simply have to make compensations if conflict arose again. Strategy, tactics, support. Those were where his strengths lay. He had his part to play as did those with faster reflexes and stronger defenses.

With these thoughts, he finally turned to follow the others through the portal. The sensation as he entered the courtyard nearly made his hair stand on end. Goose bumps prickled his skin and he barely stopped short of stumbling into Genesis before he caught himself with his staff. What in the Guardians' names was that? He hadn't noticed any such reactions from his comrades, but a frown creased his forehead as he turned and looked back at the doorway. Had no one else felt that? It felt...magical in nature. The doorway seemed innocent on sight, however. Was it his study? Was he simply more in tune with...whatever magic that was? Should he be concerned?

The massive column ahead had become the point of focus and still seeming troubled, Eligor turned back to the group in time to catch the last of the hand gestures from the scouts before they began to move again. Something about 'beware of ambush' and to 'keep to cover'. Right. That was the smart thing to do now. Figure out where they were and assess the situation. Tightening his grip on his staff, Eligor kept to cover, giving the scouts time to progress before moving. He looked at the massive pillar ahead. What could it be? What was its significance? Clearly, it held some place of honor and respect, if this garden had once been dutifully cared for. And what...were those dark shapes at the base? No...it couldn't be...

He wouldn't know for sure until he got closer, but Eligor could feel the tension growing in his shoulders and he silently shifted his wings to relieve some of the restless feeling. His stomach was turning with anxiety he couldn't pinpoint. Could it be the ones from the City? Or, could it perhaps be some new trap? An illusion? He was struggling to keep from getting his hopes up, all while too aware of just how perfect this would be if it were the missing faithful.

Too perfect.  

[Mizu_Taji]

Clarux remained quiet through this whole ordeal, only nodding when asked to take rear guard with the other two squires. Her hands gripped her spear tightly, ears and eyes on lookout for anything out of the ordinary, or well, more out of the ordinary. Still, she could help but find this whole thing a bit, well, exciting. Sure they were here for a reason, and unfortunately many had met their untimely end, but the adrenaline definitely was helping in keeping her spirits up.

The feeling she got as she crossed the threshold curbed this.

While it was brief, it was a sinking feeling, a feeling she did not like in the slightest. This place put her on edge in a bad way. Her wings pressed against her back as if she was trying to make herself smaller, a harder target to hit.

The two near the center gave her no concern at the moment. She was more concerned that as she took a step back to asses the situation that she ran into a barrier stopping her from going the way she just came from.  

[Menelie]

Dante took his place with Alethea and Harveer. A worry gnawed in the pit of his stomach about Katya taking point. He didn't like the idea at all, though he knew she was there for good reason. She was the best scout. Her and Lailah. He gripped his staff tightly. He'd be ready if anything tried to hurt her.

Down and down the corridors they went. Truly, Dante had lost track of their whereabouts by the time they found the courtyard; he was lost in thought, planning, and, if he were honest, grief. But a strange sensation that prickled the hair on the back of his neck made him snap back to reality in a damn hurry. Quickly he took stock of where they were. No enemies, no easily-observed traps, no nothing, except for a giant column, and...were those them? The Pae'il they had been sent to rescue? Dante squinted at the figures huddled at the base of the column. It was them! It had to be! Excitedly he signed as much to Alethea and Harveer, who were nearest to him. Finally, a turn in their favor!

Why...why wasn't everyone going to them? This was a rescue mission, after all, wasn't it? He looked around, perplexed and with a furrowed brow. The coast was clear. Katya and Lailah had already confirmed they were alone in the room. Dante couldn't stand it, the missing faithful just within their reach and no one was doing anything. "We explore?" he signed to anyone who could see him. He pointed to the column. "We rescue them, yes? Bring them home?" Growing agitated, he started to carefully make his way toward them.