Chapter 5
Nobu opened his eyes, overcome with exhaustion. He tried to process his surroundings, absorbing the sight of the hollow stone beneath his feet. Even tilting his head felt like a chore as he sluggishly examined the room. Symonne was sitting in front of him, its hands encased in cuffs. He instinctively tried to spread his own arms and was met with immediate resistance. Feeling the cold, hard metal press against his hands, he glanced down at the shackles.
His thoughts felt distant as he lethargically peered to the left, spotting iron bars caging them in the cell. A dark hallway lied beyond them, with various cells lining the opposite end of the room. Numerous torches stemmed from the walls, offering a dim protest to the otherwise pitch black room. The sounds of murmurs and grunts sounded from out of view, accompanied by the occasional jingling of metal.
“Late sleeper, aren't you?” asked Symonne.
“Where...where are we?” Nobu murmured.
“I've no idea,” Symonne replied simply. “All I know is that we were ambushed on the way to the Altium Trade, and now we're locked up somewhere.”
Nobu mustered all of his strength and slowly stood to his feet. Feeling slightly dizzy, he peered through the bars. He could discern a floor, but it was pitch black. Are we in Terrace? He thought.
He tried to summon his electricity, but could not feel the flow of magic. He looked down at his handcuffs, before shifting his gaze toward the hallway once again. As his sedation gradually expired, his thoughts became clearer.
There must be a way out of here...he thought.
Back in the clearing, Helix was standing near the cart, surveying its surroundings.
“Hello?” it hollered. “Anybody out there?”
It patrolled the trail, attentively scanning the woods. Its eyes settled on a small piece of green fabric lying between two of the bordering trees. It approached the cloth, scratching its chin, and picked it up. After briefly inspecting it, Helix slipped in between the trees. As the chilly breeze blew its hair back, its eyes rested on a winding path, which was littered with more stray remnants of green fabric.
“That must be it.”
It bolted across the trail at breakneck speed, challenged only by the frigid winds. Stirring the foliage and dirt into the air, it barreled down the path. The exit to the forest rapidly approached, before Helix weaved through another barricade of trees, emerging on the other side.
“What is this place?” it asked, alarmed.
Helix's eyes rested upon what appeared to be an entire city built atop a field. A broad, granite walkway traveled through the grass, feeding into a residential district in the distance. Dozens of stone towers stood taller than the trees, each of them sporting a massive door on the ground level. The tops of the towers were connected via stone bridges expanding from their upper entrances, forming a perimeter around the town. Guards patrolled the bridges, their armor illuminated in the moonlight.
Back in their cell, Nobu glared down at his feet, standing on the stone floor. Without being able to use their magic, he could not think of a way to escape. In just a few minutes, however, he heard footsteps coming from behind him. A man with black hair, tied up in a long pony tail that reached its back had approached, accompanied by two guards standing on either side. It faced Nobu and Symonne, its stern black eyes bearing into them, complemented by a crooked smile.
“Prince Tempest and Princess Floral...what an honor to finally meet you,” it spoke, its low voice accompanied by a light but eerie echo across the stone floors.
“Where are we?” Nobu asked harshly.
“Forgive me...I've forgotten my manners,” it said with sinister mirth. “You are in the city of Umbra.”
“I see,” said Symonne. “I've heard of you. Though 'city' is a charitable term for your cult.”
“What was that?” one of the guards asked indignantly, reaching for its sword. “Don't you dare speak to Master Spiral that way.”
“It's quite alright,” Spiral said, waving dismissively at the guard. “I'm in a pleasant mood...I happened to stumble across an exotic trinket: liquid fire, of all things.”
“What?” asked Symonne, its eyes quickly growing cold.
“I know! What are the odds?” Spiral taunted. “I do believe your kingdom had one just like it, didn't they?”
“Give it back,” Symonne ordered.
“That, I won't do,” Spiral said simply. “Would you believe that I've never been to the Altium Trade before? I've had my eye on a number of pieces there for a long time now. And as for you...” it turned toward Nobu, who was still glaring at it. “We sought only to procure the liquid fire. Imagine my surprise when I found the prince of Tempest as well! There's a hefty price on your head...I've already contacted Terrace and made arrangements for them to pick you up. They'll be holding a formal execution for you, being the celebrity that you are.”
“Terrace is coming here?” Nobu asked.
“Well, not the king himself,” Spiral specified. “He's traveling to the Altium Trade, but a representative is on their way now from Shellbreeze.”
“Shellbreeze?” Symonne repeated. “Why?”
“Haven't you heard?” Spiral asked condescendingly. “Terrace recently conquered that town. They're expanding their domain.”
“You're a fool,” Nobu scowled, before the guards reached for their swords again. “Terrace won't stop at some fishing town. They'll conquer every city in their path; not even your common slums will be spared.”
“I have little doubt that they'll try,” said Spiral. “But once I get my hands on the Void Instruments, even Terrace will bow before me. Your execution will be tomorrow evening at five, so enjoy your last breaths. As for you,” it added, turning toward Symonne. “I am an honorable man. Once the Trade is over, you'll be released. I don't want any trouble from Floral during my stay...you understand.”
It gave one last smile, before setting off down the hall with its guards, the clanking armor reverberating throughout the stone hallway. Nobu and Symonne sat in silence for a few moments after their footsteps faded.
“Damn it!” Nobu shouted, breaking the silence. “This is what happens when you throw away your royal status. Get used to this.”
“They'd target us eventually either way,” Symonne pointed out. “You said it yourself. Terrace won't stop until they've conquered every city in the world.”
“You'd be able to fight back with an entire army at your command.”
“And no command over my own life,” Symonne said. Royalty is little more than a prison.”
“And what do you call this?” Nobu spat, slamming his handcuffs into the iron bars, his anger boiling once again.
Symonne paused. “Can I offer you a pacifier?”
“Don't speak to me like that, vermin,” he retorted furiously. “I am a Tempest!”
“Yes, you are,” said Symonne. “And that's all you are: a last name.”
Nobu opened his mouth immediately, but no words escaped him.
Outside, Helix was idling behind one of the towers, peering around the structure. It spotted a few guards treading through the grass. It hurried into the tower, whose stone interior was furnished with a sprawling red carpet. A winding staircase traveled the border of the room, climbing to a higher floor. After a cautious glance behind it, Helix ascended the staircase and arrived on the second floor, before proceeding through an arched entrance. Stepping onto the sprawling bridge, it immediately spotted two guards.
“Halt! Who are you?”
“Intruder!”
Without hesitation, they bolted across the bridge, drawing their swords.
“Already?” asked Helix. It promptly jetted forward, its body becoming a blur.
“Where'd he go?”
Suddenly, the guards' armor shattered. They fell, landing on their backs, fragments of steel raining on the bridge.
“I've gotta find those two, and quick,” Helix thought aloud.
It examined the area, its eyes following the four structures connected by bridges. Beyond the formation stood a massive tower, standing taller than the rest of them. A precarious path stemming from the bottom of the tower orbited the building, leading to a balcony where its only entrance was located. The door was covered in chains and a massive padlock.
“What are they keeping in there?”
Helix looked down from the bridge and identified a lengthy building on the ground, conspicuous among the surrounding towers. Guards stood in front of the doors on either side.
“Guess I'll try there first.”
It headed across the bridge and into the connecting tower on the other side, before proceeding down the winding staircase. After traipsing across the red carpet, it headed back outside through the exit. The grass crunched beneath its feet as it crept toward the unusual building. Taking a deep breath, it approached the guards standing in front of the entrance. They met its gaze, before immediately drawing their swords.
“Halt!”
“Sorry about this,” Helix muttered, vanishing.
Back in their cell, Nobu and Symonne had been sitting in silence for several minutes, disrupted only by the crackling of flames and the occasional grunt from a nearby inmate. Eventually, Symonne spoke again.
“Your royal status can't be the only thing that's important to you,” it said. “Surely there was more to your life than just being a prince.”
“My royal responsibilities were my priority, as they should have been,” Nobu stated curtly.
“So you had no life outside of sitting around a study all day? You had no hobbies at all?”
“Of course I did,” Nobu replied irritably.
“Really?” Symonne asked skeptically. “What did you do?”
“When I was young, I explored a cave with a commoner,” said Nobu. “I also went to an art fair with my mother and father. It was home to several famous paintings, including 'Calm Forest' and 'Jaded Light.' Oh, and 'Entangled Web' was also on display. Crowded by philistines, of course. It's a good piece, but it doesn't earn its reputation. 'Midnight Dream' captured many of the same themes, but the symbolism was much more--”
Symonne raised its eyebrows, looking slightly amused.
“Anyway,” said Nobu, annoyed. “I need to find a way out of here. When Terrace's gofer arrives, they'll let me out...then, if I can only find the keys to these cuffs, I'll kill it and make my escape.”
“Best of luck with that,” said Symonne.
Just then, they heard footsteps down the hallway, as Nobu quickly turned to look outside the bars. He clenched his fists, apprehension coursing through him. The footsteps grew louder, before a figure stepped in front of their cell, and turned to look inside.
“There you are!” Helix said. “Yo!”
“Helix?” Symonne asked in disbelief. “You came back for us?”
“Of course!” it said. “Glad I was able to find you.”
“Hurry and get us out,” Nobu ordered. “Tell me you found the keys.”
“Something like that,” said Helix.
It withdrew one of its swords, and slashed through the cell. The iron bars were cleaved in two, before they fell on the floor, the metal clangs loudly echoing through the hall.
“Why?” Nobu shouted, outraged.
“Keep it down!” Helix urged, bringing its finger to its mouth. “You trying to get us caught?”
Nobu stared at it in disbelief.
“Thank you, Helix,” Symonne said with a mixture of gratitude and exhaustion.
“No problem,” it responded. “I had to fight through a few guards to get here, but it was worth it.”
“And I don't suppose any of their armor fit you?” Nobu muttered.
“Hmm? Oh yeah! Didn't think of that.”
“We need to find the keys to these handcuffs. Let's go. Quietly.”
“On it,” said Helix, as the three of them set off down the hallway.
They opened the door and left, immediately confronted by the cold wind. Two guards were lying on the ground, motionless, remnants of their armor scattered next to them. Nobu spotted three figures approaching a distant tower. He recognized Spiral sauntering through the entrance, accompanied by its two guards. Nobu glanced to the side, as two more guards slipped into view, monitoring the outside of the tower.
“There,” he said. “I have a plan. Listen carefully.”
Spiral and its guards traveled up the staircase, arriving at the second story of the tower. Glowing orbs shone from the walls, illuminating the stone floor, while several chairs lined an array of wooden desks. On their surface rested notebooks, papers, and a jar of keys. Spiral opened the jar and tossed two more keys into the pile, before closing it and taking a seat in a chair at an oak table. It sighed.
“Is everything alright, Master Spiral?” one of the guards asked. “You're about to get a big payday.”
“I am,” Spiral replied. “My son is still a concern, however.”
“He'll come to his senses one day,” the guard assured it.
“I should hope so.”
Suddenly, they heard footsteps sounding from the bottom floor, growing louder with each passing second.
“Who is it?” Spiral asked uncertainly.
Another guard emerged from the staircase, with Nobu and Symonne trailing closely behind.
“What in the world?”
“I've brought the prisoners as you asked,” Helix's voice sounded through the helmet.
“What are you on about?” Spiral asked in disbelief.
“Oh! Well, one of the other guards said you asked me to bring you these guys, so--”
“Who told you that?” Spiral demanded, raising its voice. “How did you unlock their cell?”
“I didn't,” Helix replied, sounding bemused. “I found them a guard near the north gates. Seemed like he was going to the forest? I asked him what was up. Turns out he was ordered to bring you these prisoners, but the poor guy got lost.”
“You fool!” Spiral shouted. “He was clearly an imposter! Where did he go?”
“I think he was heading toward the prison,” Helix said uncertainly.
“A diversion!” Spiral deduced. “Damn! You're telling me that a shifty guard was walking around with two valuable prisoners and you believed his nonsense and left? You didn't even ask for his ID? What kind of moron would do that?”
“A pretty big one,” said Helix.
“You,” it said, pointing to one of the guards. “Alert all units that there's an intruder trying to free our prisoners! And you,” it turned toward the other guard. “Send a squad out to the forest beyond the north gate. Make sure their cart isn't nearby and cut off their escape route. I'll head down to the prison.” It turned toward Helix. “You said this imposter was at the north gate? Take the prisoners to the south gate. You and I are going to have a long talk when I get back.”
“I understand,” said Helix.
“Let's go!” it ordered.
The guards opened the door for Spiral, before briskly leaving the tower with their leader.
“You heard the man! Move it!” Helix shouted, pushing Nobu.
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“Get your hands off me!” Nobu ordered, stumbling forward.
Helix, Symonne, and Nobu set off down the staircase, listening intently.
“I want you to find him quickly!” Spiral's voice emitted from outside.
“Yes sir!”
Helix stopped as the sound of their armor faded into the distance.
“It worked!” it said triumphantly.
“Now return and find the keys,” Nobu instructed.
They headed back up the flight of stairs and returned to the office. After locating the jar of keys, Helix twisted the cap and tossed it to the side. It turned to face Symonne, retrieving a key.
“Here. Hold out your hands?”
Symonne raised its arms as Helix attempted to unlock it, but it did not budge. It tossed the key on the table before returning to the jar. After unavailingly trying several keys, it eventually found the correct one and was able to unlock Symonne's handcuffs, which fell to the floor.
“Thank you,” said Symonne.
“Now hurry up and find the key to mine,” said Nobu.
“No need,” Symonne assured him.
Suddenly, a vine protruded from the stone floor beneath Nobu's feet, before slithering beneath his cuffs. Thorns then jetted out from the vines, piercing the cuffs and shattering them. As they fell to the floor, Nobu could feel the familiar rush of magic coursing eagerly through his body.
“Good.”
“Alright. Let's make our escape,” said Symonne.
“Hold on—I can't fight with this thing on,” Helix stated.
After it took off its suit of armor, the three of them pushed open the tower door and headed onto the connecting bridge. Nobu peered down. Guards were flooding the roads, their hollers emitting through the night sky. Looking up, Nobu's eyes caught a tower that stood taller than the others, its door blocked by massive chains.
“I noticed that, too,” said Helix. “I wonder what's in there?”
“Probably something incredibly valuable,” said Nobu. “We'll need to steal it.”
“Seriously? You think now's the time for treasure hunting?”
“There are guards at every corner, and Terrace filth is on the way,” Nobu explained. “If they have something in that tower that they won't risk destroying, I can use it as a hostage. Hurry.”
Nobu began sprinting forward, the others following suit. They descended from the bridge via a connected tower, before proceeding toward the locked structure, with a line of guards in formation in front of it. The men faced them, gripping their swords.
“There they are! Get them!”
Nobu unleashed a wave of electricity toward the pursuing sentries, engulfing them. Their shadows flickered on the monumental building, before the storm elapsed and they dropped to the ground.
“This path is kinda narrow,” said Helix.
“Tread carefully,” Symonne advised.
Nobu stepped onto the spiraling path that swerved around the structure, Symonne and Helix close behind. He hesitated for a moment, stealing a glance behind him to check for pursuers, and cautiously traveled the path. Placing his hands on the cold, stone tower for support, he steadily climbed toward its peak. The silence was disrupted only by the sound of his breathing as they made their way around the building. After what felt like several minutes, they reached the diminutive balcony. The door to the tower was concealed with heavy chains and an iron padlock bolted across the surface.
Nobu raised his arm and began to generate electricity, summoning a stream of restless lighting. He targeted the massive door, the surge of magic shattering it immediately. The boisterous sound drilled into their ears as its remnants plummeted to the balcony. Nobu swiftly checked his surroundings again, before stepping over the debris and into the dimly lit tower.
They were immediately greeted by a pungent odor as they strolled into the room. Their eyes were drawn to a man around Nobu's age with long, dark hair falling to its shoulders. Its hollow, defeated eyes showed only a hint of shock while glaring at the intruders. It was sitting upright in a modest bed, on top of stray covers trailing onto the floor. A few books littered the surface of the bed; however, the single, humble light orb on the wall offered little visibility for reading. Dirty clothes and loose papers were scattered across the room, surrounding a small doorway. There were a few moments of silence as the man stared at them, looking confused.
“Who are you?” Helix finally spoke.
The man paused. “My name is Reed,” it said hoarsely. “Reed Spiral.”
“'Spiral'”? Symonne asked. “You're related to the leader here?”
“He's my dad.”
“Your old man's keeping you locked up in here?” asked Helix. “Damn.”
“Yes,” said Reed. “Well, he was,” it added, looking at the destroyed entrance.
“If you're the son of Spiral, you should be able to use magic, no?” Symonne asked. “Could you not have broken out yourself?”
“I don't have the same magic as my dad,” Reed explained. “Mine is mostly useless.”
“Useless magic?” Helix asked. “How so?”
Reed hesitated, before a rusted smile spread across its face. “I'll show you.”
They could vaguely discern it lifting its hand, which was quickly enveloped by a light blue flame, illuminating the bed. Thrusting its hand out, he flame shot toward Helix, swelling into a massive pillar.
“Woah, woah, hey!” Helix shouted, before the inferno engulfed it.
“What are you doing?” Symonne asked angrily, lifting its own arm.
“Hang on,” said Helix, inspecting its body surrounded by flames. “I don't feel anything.”
Reed lowered its hand as the flames promptly vanished. “Yeah,” it said. “My magic flies right through ordinary beings. Doesn't work on my surroundings, either, so I had no way out of here.”
“Ordinary beings?” Symonne echoed curiously.
“It's purification magic,” Reed elaborated. “It puts an end to ethereal creatures. Otherworldly beasts, demons, restless spirits...things like that. Doesn't do anything to people, though.”
Nobu felt a jolt of surprise rush through him as he quickly turned toward Reed, which responded with a puzzled stare.
“All good?”
“What do you mean by 'restless spirits?'” Nobu asked. “Can your magic kill zombies?”
“Zombies?” Reed repeated. “You mean reanimated corpses, right? Yeah, I can do that.”
Nobu felt a surge of hope soar through him. He had spent so much time fruitlessly searching for the perfect weapon, only to stumble into one by accident.
“Perfect,” he said. “You're coming with us.”
“Huh?”
“My enemy used a zombie to destroy my kingdom. We had no way of fighting back against it. If you can truly vanquish these beasts, then we've no choice.”
“Sorry to hear about that,” said Reed. “But I'm not getting involved.”
Nobu's excitement was briefly drowned by a wave of fury. He raised his hand, the flickering electricity sporadically lighting the darkness. “I've no time for this. If you don't help us, I'll kill you.”
“Have at it,” said Reed, glaring impassively at Nobu.
Nobu paused. “You've no idea who you're messing with.”
“Why do you think my folks locked me up in here? I made an attempt on my own life. They imprisoned me here so I couldn't do it again. If you want to threaten me, you're gonna need to do better than that.”
“What?” asked Symonne. “Why?”
“This world is a cesspool,” Reed started. “Constant power struggles, wars...and I was never strong enough to handle it. I've always been worthless. I just want it to end.”
“Don't say that,” said Symonne sympathetically.
“HEY!” a voice from outside sounded. “The door to the tower was blown off! They're after Reed!”
“HURRY AND GET UP THERE!”
Nobu hastily turned around and peered outside. A squad of guards was running toward the tower, their swords raised. His thoughts racing, he faced Reed again.
“If you try to escape, the guards will bring you right back,” Nobu stated. “We'll get you out of this city, and in exchange, you'll destroy that zombie. After that, you can die if you'd like.”
A smile spread across Reed's face. “Do you mean it?”
“But if you try to betray us, I'll make sure you suffer,” Nobu said darkly. “Am I understood?”
“No,” said Symonne. “Reed, your family will never--”
“Right now, the best thing we can do is get him out of this tower,” Helix interrupted.
“You can't be serious,” Symonne protested. “You're willing to let him die, too?”
“I'm not gonna let that happen,” Helix assured it. “But for now, being holed up in this cave isn't helping. He's innocent. He should be free.”
Reed glared at them, before turning back to Nobu. “I'll help you out, but there's something you should know: my magic only works at night. It uses void particles in the air, but they die in the sunlight...”
“We'll have to plan around that,” said Nobu. “Fine. Let's go.”
Reed stepped onto the floor, the eerie creaking of the bed briefly haunting the room. Leaving the tower, Nobu welcomed the fresh scent of the chilly air. He glanced over the balcony, the guards below drawing closer.
“There they are!”
“Get them!”
Nobu launched them back with an electric bolt, watching as they scattered across the grass. He heard a small crack in the balcony, before familiar vines slithered up from the stone.
“What is that?” Reed asked apprehensively.
“I'm bringing us down,” Symonne stated.
The vines began to circle Nobu, Helix, and Reed, grasping them and lifting them from the balcony. Nobu could feel the cold embrace of the plants as they descended, the ground gradually drawing closer. Once they reached the grass, the vines retracted, before Symonne jumped down, holding onto a vine that had wrapped around the balcony's guard railing.
“Thank you,” said Reed, as the vines loosened their grip.
“You are quite welcome,” Symonne replied.
The sound of clanking armor emitted from the distance again, as another group of guards pursued them.
“Let's go!” Helix exclaimed, before they sprinted toward the four connecting towers.
“It's been so long since I ran,” Reed panted, audibly winded. “I don't know if I'm up to this...”
“You've no choice!” said Nobu. “Keep running!”
“You can do this,” Symonne said calmly. “Just don't give up.”
“THERE THEY ARE!”
Men began to pour from the entrance to one of the far towers, helmed by Spiral. Its fierce gaze was fixed on Nobu, discernible even from the distance.
“You,” it snarled. “No one makes a fool of me! What do you want with Reed?”
It lifted its right hand and stretched out its arm. Flowing black lines began to swirl in front of its palm, forming a circle. Black wings sprouted from the sides as white fangs jetted from underneath their vacant eyes. It soared toward them, closely followed by a cauldron of identical beasts, racing through the air. Nobu thrust his arm out, electricity piercing the shadow creatures and causing them to disperse into tiny, black fragments. However, Spiral did not let up; it unleashed another colony of monsters, which continued their pursuit. Nobu noticed other groups of soldiers closing in on them from all sides.
“We're surrounded!” said Helix. “We've gotta go up!”
They scrambled to the closest tower and swung the door open, before running up the winding staircase. After progressing about halfway up, Spiral and its men rushed in through the door below.
“You can't escape!”
Nobu fired a few more bolts of electricity behind him, but Spiral leaped out of the way as the lightning struck the floor, singing the red carpet. They reached the top of the staircase and hurled the door open, arriving at the bridge. As they sprinted toward the other connecting tower, Spiral and its guards poured out from the door behind them.
“Give me back my son!” Spiral roared.
“Sorry, Dad...” Reed whispered between deep breaths.
“Stand down or it dies!” Nobu furiously yelled, shooting another jolt of electricity back at them.
“That's not going to happen!” Spiral bellowed as it leaped to the side, causing the lighting to strike the guards behind it.
The door to the tower in front of them was thrown open, more guards bolting toward them as Nobu blasted them with another surge of lightning. Their cries pierced the night sky as they fell off the bridge, followed by the sound of shattering armor from the ground.
“This is no good,” said Helix. “These guys are everywhere.”
“We need a way to hold them back,” Symonne thought aloud.
“I can't at the moment,” Nobu said bitterly.
“At the moment?”
“I know a powerful barrier spell, but I can't use it right now.”
“Why not?” Symonne asked in disbelief.
“It requires a human sacrifice,” Nobu replied, shooting another bolt of electricity behind them. “You're royalty; I can still use you as a hostage, and I need it to kill that zombie.” He gestured toward Reed.
“And?” asked Helix. “You don't want to kill me because I'm so useful in a fight, right?”
“You're quick on your feet,” Nobu said. “I don't have time to kill you.”
“I'll take it.”
“We have to do something,” Symonne said desperately.
“Yes,” Nobu glanced behind them at the pursuing guards. “I know.”
They hurried through the door and into the tower, rushing across the floor to the left entrance, as Spiral and the guards passed through.
“Don't hurt my son!” Spiral roared. “Give him back!”
It released several more bats, while also producing a four-legged monster with six white eyes, which sprinted toward them. Nobu stopped, as Symonne, Helix, and Reed reached the entrance on the other side.
“What are you doing?” Helix asked.
“Finally given up, have we?” Spiral asked, breathing heavily as the guards rushed past it.
Nobu shot forth another wave of electricity, dispersing the shadows and striking some of the guards.
“Symonne! Helix!” Nobu shouted. “Take Reed and run! Don't let it die! It may be my only weapon against Terrace!”
“What about you?” asked Symonne.
Electricity flickered around Nobu's arm, as he thrust it toward the floor. The lightning struck it, as the floor quickly cracked.
“Hey!” Spiral yelled. “What are you doing?”
It leered at the floor, terror etched into its eyes as the fissure spread across the room. Suddenly, the floor shattered. Nobu could feel himself plummet as the stone crumbled beneath his feet, rapidly approaching the floor below. He was struck with a sharp pain as he hit the ground, rolling across the red carpet. Spiral and its men hit the floor on the other side of the room, accompanied by the stone remnants of the upper floor, which unleashed a flurry of dust on impact. The cloud began to rise as Nobu quickly climbed to his feet.
“You alright down there?” Helix's voice echoed from the top floor.
“Get it out of here!” Nobu ordered. “Once I've disposed of this trash, we'll regroup in the forest.”
“Alright,” said Helix. “Let's go!”
“Don't hurt my dad!” Reed demanded. “If anything happens to him, the deal's off! You understand?”
The others hurried out the other side, as Spiral climbed to its feet, its guards lying motionless beside it.
“You aren't taking my son,” it growled menacingly.
Nobu shot an array of lighting bolts at Spiral, but the Umbra leader leaped to the side, causing them to strike the stone wall behind it. Suddenly, a shadow expanded from Spiral's feet, gliding across the red carpet toward Nobu. As it progressed, several beasts emerged from its surface, hastening toward Nobu.
He blasted several of them with electricity, but the monsters quickly scattered. Evading the series of flashes, the shadow creatures regrouped and lunged at Nobu. He quickly launched a few of them back, but one managed to sink its teeth into his arm. Nobu yelped before quickly shocking the beast, watching as it dissolved into black residue. Furious, he charged forward, sending an arc of lightning soaring toward Spiral. The latter yelled out in pain as the lightning struck its chest, causing it to drop to its knee. After hastily scrambling to its feet, it glared at Nobu, panting.
“Return my son at once!” it yelled.
Nobu raised his arm, electricity coursing through him.
Meanwhile, Symonne, Helix, and Reed had arrived at the city's outskirts. Reed was clutching its knees, panting, as the wind rustled the trees behind them.
“I...I can't move another step,” said Reed, breathing heavily. “This is...too much...running...”
“Looks like we lost them,” Helix observed aloud.
“Yes, but I'm worried about my guards,” Symonne said. “Helix, could you check on them?”
“Sure thing.”
Helix darted into the woods, vanishing in an instant. Reed jerked its head to the side, startled. After a few moments, it turned to face Symonne.
“Your men are in the woods?” Reed questioned.
“They were,” said Symonne apprehensively. “Your father sent his guards there to cut off our escape route. If they found our cart, my men may be in danger.”
“I don't understand,” said Reed, bemused. “Isn't that your cart?” It pointed to its left.
Symonne followed Reed's gesture and spotted a smaller, four-wheeled vehicle in the distance. “No,” it replied, perplexed. “Who is that?”
Nobu and Spiral continued to fire magic at each other, blasting holes in the tower as more debris spilled onto the floor. Nobu reached into his pocket, but found himself grasping the air.
They took my knife, he thought.
Spiral was panting, dirt covering its clothes and face, while Nobu's arm continued to bleed. Spiral unleashed another storm of shadow beasts, which began to surround Nobu.
“It's over!” Spiral declared.
A torrent of electricity engulfed Nobu, forming a barrier. He swung his arms outward, directing the lightning to expand. The shadow creatures were caught in the insatiable storm, dissolving into pitch black fragments. A petrified glare was all Spiral could muster before finding itself caught in the field. Its ensuing howls echoed throughout the tower, as its shadow flickered against the dilapidated stone wall. After the sparks dispersed, Spiral fell to the floor, its skin singed.
“Please...give back Reed...” it breathed heavily. “Please bring him back...please...”
Nobu turned to walk away.
“Stop!” it yelled hoarsely, as black lines encircled its arm once again.
Nobu raised his hand, again summoning his electricity.
“Do not give me orders.”
He raised his hand high in the air, but was interrupted by another voice from behind.
“There's an awful lot of commotion here, wouldn't you say?”
Nobu froze, lowering his hand. He recognized the carefree voice as the sound of footsteps grew closer. He quickly pivoted, glaring at the entrance to the tower as a figure emerged. Placid, green eyes pierced the darkness as it strolled in, its white robes trailing the red carpet.
“Nobu Tempest,” Alban said casually, its blithe voice amplified by the tower's walls. “It's been awhile, hasn't it? You're looking in better spirits.”
Another figure then headed through the entrance. Fear immediately raced through him, freezing him in place. He watched as Minerva wandered over to Alban, its vacant white eyes glaring aimlessly ahead. Nobu's gaze was fixed on the zombie, his hairs standing on end.
There's nothing I can do against this thing, he thought.
Alban peered around Nobu, seeing Spiral resting on the floor.
“Forgive me. I intended to arrive sooner.”
“Please...stop him...” Spiral pleaded meekly.
Alban's eyes rested on Nobu. “Do me a favor and make this easy on both of us. Surrender in peace, and we can be on our way.”
Nobu tried to collect himself, planting his feet firmly on the ground.
Calm down, he thought. I just need to kill Terrace's lackey and make my escape...
Mustering his courage, he thrust his arm toward Alban, sending jolts through the air.
“Minerva,” it said.
The zombie leaped in front of Alban, the lightning striking it. Its otherworldly cries reverberated throughout the tower, as its rotten flesh began to disintegrate. Moments later, its familiar black flames engulfed it, restoring its body.
“Stop hiding,” Nobu growled.
“Get him,” Alban ordered, unabashed.
Minerva lunged forward with a piercing shriek. A black, pulsating orb formed in its decrepit palm, before careening through the air. Nobu pounced to the side, hearing the projectile collide with the tower walls, followed by an explosion. Minerva swung its arm, its blank eyes tunneling into Nobu's.
“Get away from me!” he shouted shakily, stepping back to avoid its hand.
He blasted it with another current of electricity, watching as its arms disintegrated, but they were quickly salvaged by the dark flame. Before Nobu could react, the zombie hurled another black sphere toward him. He felt an eerie chill as the orb approached, but he had little time to process it; the magic suddenly detonated, as the sensation of being struck with a thousand clubs poured through him. He yelled as he was hurled through the air before striking the tower wall, the pain piercing his bones.
After stumbling to the ground, he quickly scrambled to his feet, trying to ignore the throbbing. He charged toward Minerva, blasting it with electricity and triggering its resounding wails. Rushing past the withering corpse, Nobu sent a current of lightning jetting toward Alban. The latter tilted its head to the side, the lightning striking the stone wall behind it. He raised his arm again, but heard the sound of crackling flames behind him. He turned to face the monster, but it was too late.
Nobu heard the roaring explosion as he was launched skyward once again, the crushing pain searing through him. His ears were ringing as he landed on the stone floor, the punishment spreading to his back. He tried to climb to his feet, but Alban pushed him to the ground, its hand anchoring him to the stone floor. Nobu glared in horrified rage as its arm began to glow.
“I told you to surrender in peace,” said Alban, its voice losing a bit of its levity.
Suddenly, Nobu's ears were assaulted with another thunderous blast and the sound of stone shattering around him. He could hear himself howl through the tower, but it was drowned out by the persistent ringing. Dizziness began to eclipse his pain as he met Alban's indifferent gaze.
“Are you going to calm down now?” it asked quietly.
“Get off, common filth,” Nobu muttered through his confusion, feeling blood trickle down his face.
Alban continued to glare at him, its smile slightly fading. Then, it lifted Nobu and tossed him through the air. He felt weightless as he soared, absorbing the sights of the ruinous tower before crashing into the floor once again. He began to feel disoriented as he slowly climbed to his feet, pushing through the pain. After tilting his head, he found himself face-to-face with Minerva's horrifying visage glaring right at him.
“Get...get away from me,” Nobu said shakily. “Get! Move!”
The zombie slowly approached as fear coursed through him, accompanying the pain. Its eerie growls and grunts petrified him as it wandered closer, its empty stare threatening to dismantle his very spirit. Pitch black mist surrounded its arm, gradually ascending. He tried to escape, but his legs were frozen in place. He attempted to summon his magic, but his arm only trembled. His gaze was fixed on the deteriorating zombie in front of him; all he could do was watch as he was struck with the dark magic.
Launched through the tower once again, his focus was stirred. The feeling in his arms was starting to fade, his eyelids growing heavy. He found himself crashing into the stone floor, Alban and Minerva hovering on either side of him. The ringing in his ears was intensifying, making it difficult to discern Alban's voice.
“Time to go.”
Nobu desperately tried to grasp the stone floor with his hand, and pushed himself to his feet. He wobbled forward, raising his arm to conjure his electricity, his eyes fixed on Alban. He stepped forward, his legs shaking, before his vision began to fade. Suddenly, he lost his balance, his energy sapped. He felt himself fall toward the floor as everything went black.
Meanwhile, Symonne and Reed continued to wait on the outskirts of the the city, hiding behind a tree.
“That might be Terrace,” said Symonne.
“Terrace?” asked Reed.
“I'll explain later.”
They continued to wait, examining the cart. Several minutes later, three figures emerged from Umbra, proceeding toward the cart. Nobu was slumped over Alban's shoulder, Minerva trailing aimlessly behind.
“Is that the zombie?” Symonne asked, with a hint of sadness in its voice.
They watched as Alban tossed Nobu unceremoniously into the cart, before boarding the cart with Minerva. Symonne clenched its fists as the wheels began to turn, carrying the cart away from the city.