Calm and gentle were the waters of the unknown plain. The long stretch of clouds ran off as far as the eye could see. Like a mirror, the calm waters reflected the world above with stunning perfection.
The light seemed to shine from above, but Exrite couldn’t tell from where exactly. Nothing existed in the shallow plains, apart from the endless pool surrounding the lone figure from every direction.
He allowed himself to wander aimlessly across the ethereal landscape. The only sense of direction he had were his wits and imagination. No matter how many times he’d been killed, not once had he awoken elsewhere than the darkness behind his eyelids.
Is this place some sort of limbo?
He had no concrete answer, but it wouldn’t be farfetched. Maybe for someone like him who had cheated death countless of times, he was banished from the gates of the afterlife. Only an endless voyage awaited him.
He hoped that it wouldn’t be for an eternity.
Every step caused ripples to gently form on the soothing surface of the shallow ocean. His reflection would distort, and with it, another image would form. It was himself, yet it also wasn’t. The strange paradox left him in awe as he watched the reflection smile and point above.
“Forward?”
The reflection kindly nodded, as if it understood him.
He finally had a grasp of what to do in this devoid world. His image disappeared as he carefully treaded around it and set off into the horizon. Echoes of each gentle splash resounded infinitely and became the subtle ambience.
What exactly is this place?
It wasn’t limbo, at least he hoped. The vast landscape was dreamlike, and he found himself delving into the surrounding beauty with soft eyes. Whatever this place was – it was undoubtably serene.
… did I really die?
The thought stuck to him for some time. Denial was something he expected from himself, but here, he was strangely calm. Whether it was a reflection of his surroundings, or something he truly felt, remained a mystery.
An unknown amount of time had passed. The world lacked anything to tell the time, and even the light above remained untouched.
Suddenly, in the distance, he saw something.
It was a gear.
Then, more began to invade the distance, replacing the clouds with their dark sheen. Excited by the sight, he quickened his pace.
The gears were like stars – from a distance they appeared tiny and fragmented, but as he approached he soon realised that they were enormous structures. The sea became fragmented, requiring him to make small hops across to avoid the infinite white void below.
“This whole thing is one giant cog?”
Baffled, he briefly glanced at the edges of the world and saw the recurring patterns of a gear. The wide path was riddled by stationary gears, some connected while others remained forgotten.
Some had even sunken deep into the shallow sea.
The graveyard was both stunning and uncanny. In the distance, the horizon stopped at a ledge. And there, he saw another figure.
He could tell immediately that it was a woman by the long, jet-black hair which fell past her knees. At the edge of the world, she stared off into the blank sun with no regard to his approach.
Manoeuvring the now desolated plains, he managed to reach the woman.
But before he could say a word, she spoke.
“You’re finally here, Frost.”
The sweet voice was familiar. Struck by wonder, he relaxed his tense body and asked:
“Have we met before?”
A sudden chuckle left the woman. She spun on her heels and softly smiled at the man. Her precious eyes were like jewels and shone a gentle light blue.
And in one eye, her iris was shaped like a gear.
“Has it been that long-? Ah! Sorry! It’s already been ten years, hasn’t it?”
Her dark blue dress elegantly fell to her ankles, the hems in the shape of a gear. The many frills were like sharpened blades, and the small hairclip holding her fringe aside resembled a black and white gem.
Exrite didn’t know how to respond to the woman. A part of him despised her, and the longer he stared, the sooner he realised why.
The hair, her face and even her eyes – it all matched the woman who appeared on the balcony on that faithful day.
It was the Maiden of Time.
“Yeah… I guess I would be mad if someone robbed me of my life.”
She understood his sentiment; the burning hatred towards her was a given, as she knew everything that had happened to him ever since she gave the fragment to him.
“My… ‘gift’ protected you until now. Although it must’ve hurt you in more ways than one. I’m sorry- “
“Don’t say anymore. Please...”
Exrite’s voice trembled. His chest painfully thumped as he struggled to repress it. The pain reached his throat, and quickly rendered him speechless.
To hear the sorrowful words come from the person who had turned his home into a nightmare, caused him unredeemable suffering and burdened him with the curse of the fragment – he couldn’t help but to choke on the tears that desperately tried to escape.
“Raise your head, Frost. I know I’m unfair, and that I damned you to a decade of suffering. I killed off your ties with your family, and even sought for you to carry the burden of my Children of Balance.”
Her words were gentle, and her smile just as motherly.
“Sometimes, even the pain of one person can’t justify the fate of many. Don’t cry, Frost. After all, everything begins here.”
She approached the silent Exrite. Her soft hand melted against his damp cheeks as the weight of the past came crumbling down.
“I’ve been alive since the beginning of time, for I am time itself. But my silent reign has come to an end – and in my slumber, you will wake. Frost- no, Exrite, no matter how much you despise me, no matter how much you want to kill me – one day you’ll realise why I gave you my heart.”
In those words, he found a segment of her life. She was an immortal being, and the agony she had to face from living for so long made him realise that his despair was nothing but a grain of sand in comparison.
But he was still human – stubborn, and emotionally riled, even to the most trivial of things.
The warmth of the Maiden soothed his sadness as she drilled into his eyes. The wonderous gems in her eyes had barely aged over the countless years. And there, he saw himself.
While his tears continued to fall, he struggled to form a gentle smile.
“You’re right. I don’t know if I can forgive you, Maiden of Time… but honestly… I’m kind of happy it happened. I wouldn’t have met them if it weren’t for… yeah… I can only go forward from here.”
“… I’m glad I chose you.”
From those words alone, the Maiden seemed satisfied with her investment. The Gods, the Spirit of Balance, and even he had no insight to why he was given the fragment.
All he could do was put his faith in the Maiden’s wisdom.
“This world is my Domain. My home. Ever since I gave you my heart, the gears have stopped spinning.”
“What does that mean?”
“Time. Time can no longer be regulated from here. People from the other worlds weren’t supposed to come here on mass, and you have me to blame for that. Those with advanced knowledge weren’t sent to Northern Six Point, but instead have been spread thin across our sacred continent.”
She placed a hand on her geared eye.
“Exrite, I’m sorry. Are you ready to take yet another burden? – the burden of the Maiden of Time?”
“… I don’t have a choice, do I? Wait- but I’m dead, aren’t I?”
“This body is. But rest assured, it’s not lost. Your human body will regenerate while you’re in your new body.”
Exrite’s eyes broadened as she slipped her finger across the surface of her eye.
“W-what do you mean?”
“Naturally, a human body wouldn’t be enough to contain my powers. My heart will react with my eye and create the perfect vessel. Just don’t die while you’re in that body. You’ll die for real, and not even my heart can save you past that point.”
She slowly slithered her fingers deep behind her eye and gracefully plucked it out. Her painless face and gentle smile entangled him in a trance as he stared at the beautiful eye.
“No Maiden could ever fight one another, because they’re all bounded by the Domains. But you’re different, Exrite. You’re the Exrenity – the one who bears the will of the Children of Balance. No domain can imprison you like me, and the countless other Maidens of the past. So long as I’m here, you’re free.”
Her words were the truth. With her still within this world, Exrite was free from the shackles of the Domain of Time. When she sensed his refute, she hushed him with a finger and lovingly smiled.
“I’ve had enough of that world. It’s more fun being here in solitude. Just… come visit some time. We’re emotional creatures as well, and it tends to get lonely here. Also… thank you.”
“Why are you thanking me?”
He was more shocked than confused by her sudden thanks.
“Because I’m finally free. If you ever speak with the Children of Balance, tell them that… no, just tell them I said ‘hi’.”
She reluctantly changed her words as she inched her precious eye closer to his.
“Don’t move, Exrite. It’ll be over before you know it.”
With that, she finally pushed the eye into his socket with only a finger.
He grit his teeth, expecting the excruciating pain to overcome him, like what happened with the Eye of Despair. However – an overbearing calmness suddenly flooded his veins instead.
The gears within him churned as his heart groaned to the presence of the eye.
The procedure was successful. She swiftly retracted her hand and flicked a ball into her empty socket. When Exrite went to see what it was, he saw his own dark brown eye staring back at him.
And in its reflection, he witnessed his contrasting eyes – one of blood-red, and the other of a sky-blue. Unlike the Maiden, there was no visible gear in the eye.
The Maiden took a step back and watched only a single gear within the graveyard slowly turn. As Exrite silently stood in the calming waters, the Maiden summoned many light blue magical circles to surround him.
“Don’t be startled.” She nearly laughed. “I’m going to finalise the eye. Just close your eyes. When you wake up, you’ll be back where you left.”
As the circles began to glow with intriguing layers of symbols, he restlessly called for her.
“Wait-! You never told me your name!”
The woman chuckled and wondered how long it had been since she’d last mentioned it. With a bright smile, the young-looking woman pleasantly replied:
“Gaia Timeless!”
Exrite heartfully smiled and etched that name deep into his heart. Before he could offer his thanks, a sudden explosion of light consumed his vision. And with it, all his senses disappeared from the world.
The gears of the dreamscape roared in their wake, slowly turning as the sky-blue light began to devour the entirety of the world.
The desolate world was now back in motion.
And with it, so was time.
* * *
The shrouded sky suddenly split into two. What was supposed to be a day of celebration, turned into a silent standstill. Every person in the Captial paused as they paid homage to the massive blue beam that tore the skies apart.
The light banished the setting sun into obscurity as the world was engulfed in light blue. Cities, big and small from across the region of Colight witnessed the second coming of the benevolent beam, the first appearing only a month ago.
But this one was different – this was only a single column of light, which connected the world with the heavens above.
On the dreaded airship, high above the clouds, the infamous pair stared at the light with mixed emotions. It was the same thing they saw ravaging the skies the same time the otherworlders were brought into the sacred lands of Six Point.
They knew, however, that it was connected with the Maiden of Time, who had perished on that night. And for it to occur once more – was proof of either her final departure, or –
The birth of her next of kin.
“You can feel it from here.” White touched the light beyond the giant deck of their airship. “It’s so calm, soothing, and beautiful.”
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
Her crimson eyes shimmered, the reflection becoming slits in her eyes.
Black didn’t respond. Only a smile came from her as she wondered what the group were up to. Checking the colourless fob watch, her eyes mellowed before they devoured the light with utter delight.
Back in the Capital of Truebrith –
Within the towering castle, an array of shuffling footsteps hurriedly travelled the many floors. There wasn’t a single guard or person who wasn’t scurrying off somewhere. Soon, the vertic-ports were congested by the traffic, and the stars became so cluttered, that even the royal family had trouble moving through.
King Inclark’s sudden appearance into the golden lounge of the heroes sparked an immediate response from the white knights. Breaking away from Talia, they wholeheartedly bowed in the presence of their great king and his son, Clark.
The gifted young man possessed an incredible knack for reading the mood, noticing the infuriated Talia and the depressed Inkshard lying beside her on the couch.
It seemed like they were in the middle of an argument – which was baffling considering they were the trained knights of the priestesses.
“Your majesty-!” Talia shot up and too, bowed before them. “For what reason are you disallowing your men from mobilising into the western mountains!?”
“Stop mother!” Inkshard shuffled to grasp onto the hems of her mother’s robes as the heroes peered from the balcony. “You’re only going to make things worse!”
“Things will get worse if we idly stand around!”
From the balcony, the heroes keenly listened to their conversation as they stared out at the all-consuming light.
Amy’s loud sigh was followed with soft footsteps from behind. Under the muffled breeze, a dignified man emerged from beside. But it quickly crumbled as he threw himself onto the pale railing.
“They’re always fighting. My dad doesn’t know how to handle that Talia even if his life depended on it.”
Clark’s muffled voice was amusing to Haiyoto, who smiled as he threw an arm around him.
“Reminds me of my parents as well.”
“Can you idiots please act seriously for once?” Lizen, who discretely spied on the commotion within, spoke with an annoyed voice. “It’s not often you see Inkshard’s mother angry like that.”
“She’s been like that ever since yesterday, remember? It all started when she couldn’t find Exrite.” Amy chimed in with puffed cheeks. “Lizen, you’re nosy. We’re going to get in trouble because of you.”
“What’s wrong with wanting to know what they’re talking about!?” She loudly disregarded her warning.
“But it’s got nothing to do with us.”
“Not yet, but I’m sure it will later on when we’re strong enough to head out.”
Haiyoto’s response was optimistic at best, but he knew that as Truebirth’s Heroes, they would eventually become entwined with future events.
A depressed moan came from Clark as he leaned onto Haiyoto.
“How nice – being able to travel to exciting places and witness amazing sights.”
His complaints came from his boredom and restricted access to the outside world. As the only son of Truebirth’s king, he was expected to take over the throne when the time came. And because of that, he was pushed to study hard and mingle with the other nobles.
He hated that kind of life and wished to explore the world far and beyond what the books taught.
The fantastic light shimmered in his eyes. It was a beacon of hope – one that had brought upon the many otherworlders into Six Point in the past. As he thought of such things, Talia’s sharp voice erupted once again.
“I’m begging you, Inclark, please send your men to the mountains!”
“… Talia, I cannot send my men to their deaths, even for the Exrenity. Please, put some faith into them. I do not think that the Gods would be foolish enough to allow someone weak to carry their will.”
“I’m not concerned about their weaknesses. You know what that light entails, don’t you your majesty?”
Her deep voice struck Lizen with fear as she turned towards the pillar of light.
The city lit up like it was midday, but everyone’s uneventful silence from the streets remained uncanny. The many showers of beams from a month ago failed to compare to the might of the one before them.
Unaware of what it meant, the Heroes could only wildly speculate. Inevitably, they all arrived at one conclusion.
“It’s the Exrenity, right?”
Haiyoto spoke.
A few nods sprouted from the group. They seemed to agree as well.
“You know, Talia’s right about sending troops to the mountains, but we don’t want to involve ourselves with Pathfist’s war.”
“Hmm? But that’s within Truebirth’s territory, is it not?”
Lizen wondered what he meant.
He didn’t clarify any further than that, instead, allowing the group to gaze at the light as it slowly began to dim. The world grew dark with the light thinning down into only a faint, thin line in the horizon. Soon, the world became enveloped in darkness.
The stars remerged from their late slumber, quickly populating the evening sky as the clouds far beyond remained hollow and distended. It was as if an eye was peering from the heavens above.
Little by little, light began to spread within the city, and soon, people wandered again. Dazed by the spectacular sight, the celebrative mood kicked back in, but this time by twofold.
A miracle of the Exrenity, as they would hope to call the light.
“Clark, are you saying that the light will attract the attention of Di-Lock?”
“Without a doubt. Only the old kings know whatever that thing is, and I’m sure they wouldn’t want to miss out on it. If we send our soldiers there, it’ll get messy.”
“… I see.”
Lizen, along with the rest, continued to stare out in awe, captivated by the fleeting light. In the midst of the calming silence, Haiyoto silently laughed to himself.
“I can’t imagine what the future will be like, but there’s no point in delving in it now, is there?”
“You’re funny, you know that?” Clark stared into the teen’s dark brown eyes and envied his free spirit. “But I guess that’s why you’re not as gloomy as this fellow. Hey, are you guys allowed to drink?”
“Of course-!”
“You’re not even eighteen!”
“Hey! Different world, different rules! If you’re not caught, then nothing’s illegal!”
Despite Amy’s protest, she found herself struggling to contain her laughter.
Distracted by the humour, and Inkshard’s struggles to keep her mother in check – the moon slowly crept into the night sky.
* * *
At the place where the light struck, a giant hole bore straight through the tallest mountain of the valley. Each floor suffered from the newfound hole; the maze suffered from a collapse, the staircase of the library was no longer existent, and the overgrown graveyard lost a section of the room.
And deep within the halls, residing in Uru’s prison, were the few who remained within the mountain. Khaos sat against the lump of limeite, his back soothed by the cool surface of the metal as his sister tended to the light wounds of an unconscious Allen.
Bailey remained silently asleep beside him, her face wincing to the nightmares of earlier.
The room where they fought had caved in entirely. A wall of rubble remained as a reminder of their lucky escape. Uru blamed the collapse on Khaos for destroying the pillars in the first place. Had they still been up, the beam would’ve done little to the hallway.
But he didn’t care. He was just glad that they all made it out from there. If it weren’t for Uru, they all would’ve been buried alive. Following the radiant beam, she got to work by safely placing Exrite within the treasury first, before carrying them all with sprouted, black tentacles.
Exrite soundlessly slept in the centre of their watchful eyes. Uru sat beside the figure, occasionally brushing a hand against their soft cheek. She was amazed by the sudden light that enveloped Exrite, and immediately knew that his words were the truth –
He was given the Heart of Time, and now, he was the Maiden of time.
Her awe grew with every touch, and every breath she inhaled was savoured.
Only few would ever have the luxury, the pleasure, of setting their eyes on a Maiden. And to be beside one, let alone touch one – it was unheard of.
Frosty groaned as she sat herself across the demon.
“Don’t touch him. You might have saved us, but we still don’t trust you”
She shoved Uru’s hand away.
“You’re awfully rude for a Frostbitten.”
“I’m realistic. After what you tried to do to us, do you think we’ll trust another word from you?”
Frosty’s guard was up to the maximum, wary of the demon who lurked beside the sleeping Exrite. She stared down at him with clenched teeth and riled fists, which laid beside her knees.
Exrite’s body had considerably shrunk, to the point where he was at least her height. She didn’t know what to make out of it and refused to ask Uru for answers.
But Khaos was different.
“Frosty, you’re not really helping. Please, tell us what’s going on, Uru.”
She softly smiled.
“The Heart of Time reacted with his death. No human, or other creature could ever dream of harnessing the powers of a Maiden. A new body was necessary to wield those powers.
Her eyes never left Exrite, who’s long hair sprawled across the unkempt ground.
“A Maiden… wait-! A Maiden!?” Khaos cried as he realised what she said.
“There’s a limit to how much nonsense you can spout!” Frosty drilled her eyes into the demon’s sharp slits.
Unfazed by their remarks, she looked up at her and pressed a hand against Exrite’s soft cheek again.
“So you also didn’t know the nature of that ‘fragment’. It was inevitable, Frosty. You’ve felt the gears, and heard the ticking of his heart, haven’t you?”
“But just from that alone doesn’t mean that he’s a Maiden!”
“Take a good look, Frostbitten. Does this look like Exrite’s body to you?”
She growled and reluctantly studied the sleeping figure. His long hair and dangerously feminine face rendered her unable to answer back immediately. But even so, she denied it with everything she had.
“You’re wrong, Uru… You’re wrong.”
She knew that a Maiden could never be a man.
And when she looked at his face and chest, she cursed the Gods with gruelling spite. She slammed a fist into the broken stone as Khaos aimlessly stared at the glowing gems above.
Uru’s smile grew. The tempered Frosty became fuel for her excitement – and an excuse to further inspect the Maiden.
“Want to check for yourself?”
“… but he’s asleep. You know that we can’t get him to use magic until he’s up.” Her voice was sharp as she narrowly gazed at the demon.
She chuckled at Frosty’s naivety and slowly slid a hand onto Exrite’s stomach.
“I meant her body. I’m sure it’s an easier alternative than having her use magic.”
“Don’t touch him! I’ll do it. I don’t know what your plan is, Uru, but you’re not going to meddle with Exrite.”
She flicked Uru’s hand again and quickly slid it into the sleeping figure’s loose shirt. Uru was persistent and joined her anyway, despite her protests. She was not going to give up a chance to view the bare body of a Maiden – and Time’s no less.
“… Damn Gods.”
“Hey… is that really ok?” Khaos’ voice went unnoticed by the two as he watched with mixed emotions.
It wasn’t long before Exrite groaned to their exploring hands and loud voices. With a silent squint, ‘she’ opened her eyes and was met with the focused faces of Uru and Frosty –
And the cold hands rummaging through her clothes. One of them dove into her loose trousers, causing her to jolt up in fright as she cried:
“What are you two doing!?”
Her voice was immensely different than before, surprising even herself as the duo reacted appropriately. Their hands immediately disappeared from her body, save for Uru who stayed a second longer.
“T-this isn’t what it looks like! I- we just wanted to confirm something about your body!”
Frosty’s guilty conscience spilled as Uru savoured the tenderness between her fingers and smiled.
“Confirm what about my bo… dy…?” Exrite’s voice suddenly faded when she glanced down at herself.
The two small hills on her chest failed to hide her new slender body. Her baggy clothes and armour were proof of her transformation of becoming the Maiden of Time – or at least the vessel for it.
Exrite didn’t need to check to figure out that her sword had detached as a result. And her sheathed sword beside her wasn’t what she had in mind.
With only a wry smile and a look of defeat, she stared back up at the two with a sigh.
“Exrite- that eye-! What happened!?”
Frosty suddenly clutched onto her shoulders as she dove into her face. Uru hummed as she moved closer as well, wanting to study Exrite’s benevolent eye which glimmered in a gentle light blue.
Unlike Gaia’s iris, she had no gear. At face value, it was any ordinary eye.
But for Uru, it was something to behold. After all, her ancient race knew well of the Maidens and their quirks, even after all this time. To them, the Maidens were the physical Gods of Six Point.
Their power, their strength and their absolute control over the sacred magics made them indomitable. She almost prostrated herself in front of Exrite to show her utmost respect to the juvenile Maiden of Time. Her race’s loyalty and worship remained etched into her soul, even after a thousand years in solitude.
“Desire, help me.” She whispered and offered a prayer to the forbidden Overlord.
Exrite pulled a slender finger to her eye and spoke:
“It’s a weird story.” She oddly looked away, spotting the injured Khaos by the limeite. “I met the Maiden of Time in her Domain, I think. She’s the one who gave me this eye.”
“… was that all?”
Frosty inched closer.
She wanted to know whether the previous Maiden was also hiding something from them, much like the Gods. But when she saw Exrite’s warm smile at the mention of her, she felt relieved.
“Yeah.”
“Exrite! Is that really you?” Khaos’ voice made her chuckle as she felt for her neck.
“Of course it is! I might be… this, but I’m still me.”
Exrite didn’t want to call herself a girl just yet. Even the thought of it was awkward. But that was the extent of her displeasure. Above all else, the body felt lighter than her counterpart, and she could instinctively sense the absurdly massive mana capacity residing within.
The body of a Maiden wasn’t something to be trifled with. It was as powerful as his ‘normal’ body in every shape and form, apart from raw strength.
But magic could easily close that gap. At least she believed that to be the case. She purely based it around two things – body-strengthening magic, and Frosty’s absurd strength and agility when the time called for it.
“Hah… thank fuck you’re still here.” Khaos sighed in relief and closed his eyes. “I really thought you died there, Exrite. Please don’t do that again.”
“Sorry. I just didn’t expect my regeneration to fail like that.”
“Exrite. Remember what Inkshard said? You need to stop fighting like you’re still immortal. And – “
Frosty slapped both hands against Exrite’s cheeks and squashed them in between. Startled, the helpless girl continued to remain silent.
“Don’t scare us like that. It’s good to be selfless, but sometimes being selfish is better. You have us who’ll grieve if you go.”
Exrite’s eyes drowned in moisture as those sincere words left Frosty’s lips. With a smile, she chuckled.
“Right. Who’ll keep you guys from walking in circles.”
“Not this again – I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.”
Khaos crossed his arms, sounding somewhat bitter, but deep down, he was thankful that Exrite was still ‘Exrite’.
The two girls heartfully giggled in each other’s company, with Uru silently watching them warmly from aside. She didn’t want to interrupt their syrupy moment. For a second, envy tinged at her heart as she remembered her time in Demora.
A time when things were… simpler.
When it seemed like the two were finished with their gentle skinship, she cleared her throat and too, snatched Exrite’s face into her hands.
Surprised by the golden pupils before her, she wondered what Uru wanted. The fear of the demon was non-existent at this point. She knew straight away that it was her who had brought them all here, seeing that Khaos and Frosty were still in a compromised state.
For some reason, she kept them all alive.
“Exrite, please let me embark on your journey.”
“W-what are you saying!? Don’t listen to her, Exrite! Remember, she wanted to kill you and force Khaos and I to join her!”
Exrite was surprised by Uru’s request, and considered it, despite Frosty’s pleads and what had happened earlier. She believed that Uru wasn’t exactly as menacing as the others made her out to be, but she couldn’t disregard the fact that she was manipulative by nature.
However – with her knowledge of a thousand years, her astounding manipulation of magic and most importantly, her prospects as a demon made her a perfect addition to their party.
Even so, Exrite couldn’t overlook the internal conflicts she’d bring.
With a silent gulp, she asked Uru a simple question.
“What do you have to offer us?”
“Are you crazy!? Please reconsider and think it through!”
“Frosty, if Uru truly came from Demora, then you know that she travelled all the way from the north.”
“Even so-!”
“Uru, if we let you join, then what is in it for us?”
Exrite had complete control over the situation. Her status as a Maiden was too steep for Uru to try to talk her way out of. A mistake now would be irrecoverable and would force her to take matters into her own hands.
Even if it was by force.
But to do so would be a betrayal to her race as a whole.
Softly chuckling to her checkmate, she brushed a thumb across Exrite’s lip.
Uru needed them more than they needed her.
“My wisdom, my strength – my body and soul. I doubt there’d be another race, let alone another demon in Colight to teach you what we know about the Maidens and this world.”
Exrite grinned. Her sickly-sweet words were exactly what she wanted to hear.
With a glance at the hesitant Frosty and the unfazed Khaos, she had no reason to decline her request.
“Frosty, if anything happens, it’s all on me. I’ll take full responsibility.”
“… keep a leash on her. I hope you won’t regret this.”
Frosty crossed her arms, shook her head and vented a frustrated sigh.
“I’m putting my trust on your call, Exrite. You haven’t failed us since we left Enthile.”
“Until now.” Frosty added and glared at the demon.
Khaos pressed his back harder against the crystal and wryly smiled at his sister’s demeanour.
Staring deeply into the eyes of Uru, Exrite pushed her thumb away from her mouth before turning to the others. With a bright smile and eyes filled with shimmering life, she announced:
“Let’s grab the metal and get out of here!”
After all, their primary reason for venturing the ancient tomb was for the dense cobalt, and the fabled limeite. She wondered how Acacia would react to the giant lump of glowing ore.
Lost to the amusing thought – she nonchalantly placed a hand on Uru’s head.