Chapter 124: Underground

Alex’s POV

Just before I entered the underground mazes, Zeris taught me the basics of a special technique called orasi. It was pretty easy to pick up on, and Zeris instructed me about how orasi can be advantageous at times, as it can detect iris at just a glance when activated. He even said I'll continue to grow stronger by incorporating orasi into my combat style.

I also got a better feel for how much iris is needed for various attacks with Arid Inferno. All those combat levels really started to be applied more smoothly after I got into the swing of things.

When I entered the second maze, I immediately realized why Ember gave me these night vision goggles. I can create a flame myself, which would give me some light to work with. But in this dark, unclear environment, night vision goggles are the far better and more efficient option.

For one, I can see much further down the path while wearing them, as the goggles allow me to see areas my flame’s light could not reach. Also, using these goggles helps me conserve my iris quite significantly. I would’ve been burning through my iris much more quickly without them.

If I crossed paths with Scar while low on iris, I wouldn’t last long in a fight, and I’d never forgive myself for that. I’m fully aware of just how powerful Scar is. He went toe to toe with Zeris, but that doesn’t erase the fact that he’s malnourished and dehydrated. And while he’s far more skilled with iris than me, he’s undoubtedly running on a lower amount than I am currently. In terms of raw strength and speed… if we were both to fight at full strength, he’d beat me without even breaking a sweat.

But right now, even though my odds are still gravely slim, I have a chance… and that’s all that matters.

Refocusing my attention back on the path, I round a corner and examine what’s in front of me. Skeptically, I began walking down the pathway, and it didn’t take long before a small pack of flying squirrels emerged and separated themselves from the walls on either side of me.

And I guess these goggles also help me see these annoying bastards. There are four, two gliding down from each side. No… there’s a fifth behind me, a little more delayed in its’ approach than the rest.

Each squirrel primed and ready to sink their teeth into my flesh, I notice each course of attack is direct. Coalescing iris into my fingertips, I sharply snap them together. Holding up my thumb and index finger, four concentrated tiny fireballs quickly manifest and begin swirling above my fingertips. Reeling my arm back behind my head as if preparing to throw something, I carefully observe each squirrel and wait.

I haven’t been able to try this one out yet. Let’s see if this works…

As the squirrels drew closer, I steadied myself and focused on aiming each fireball. Once I felt the squirrels were within range, I threw my arm forward, launching each fireball along its own unique projection. Four fireballs for four squirrels, and as each fireball landed, I nearly cracked a grin at how well the attack played out.

But the job wasn’t finished, and I knew one more squirrel was sneaking up from behind me. Quickly transferring my iris from my right arm to my left, I channel most of it into my wrist and hand instead of my fingertips. I knew I didn’t have enough time to fully activate my sizzling technique, which would be ideal in such a situation, but this should still do the trick.

Heating up my wrist and hand as quickly as possible, I whip around and diagonally slash right through the squirrel’s main body just a second before it was able to strike me. Only as I watched the final squirrel’s green silhouette freeze and fade away did I allow myself to smirk.

Can’t believe that worked out so well. I mean, I’ve practiced this against stationary targets before, but this is the first time I've used it against moving targets.

Deactivating my iris, I stare down at my left hand.

I really need to figure out some cool names for these attacks…

Activating orasi, I see some silver residue on the ground. Approaching the silver remnants to get a closer look, I notice they lead toward the upcoming intersection. Walking up to the junction, I see a few more spots of silver iris trickling down the right-hand path.

I’ve been trying to track Scar for a little over a day now, and the only clues I have to go off are these scarce traces of his iris. Zeris said Scar could move at rapid speeds, which meant I’d never be able to track him down in a foot race. But bits of iris particles are left behind from wherever he uses his teleport-like ability, advising me of the direction he went. And with orasi, I’ve had no issues following his route through the maze so far.

Scar isn’t a normal human; he’s a monster. But even monsters need to rest… I’ll catch up to him eventually, and when I do, I will take his life. Just like he took theirs.

Hazel’s POV

“Not looking good… two hours in, and we still haven’t found this painting they were talking about. We could try switching strategies...” I say, glancing down at Sky’s watch as we walk side by side.

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“Yeah... we also haven’t heard from anyone over the radio either… should I try reaching out again?” asks Sky.

“That’s probably one of the better options now,” I respond, glancing behind me at some pink fog slowly progressing toward us. “I’m starting to think this pink fog is leading us away from where they were…”

“Same… screw it, I’m going to reach out again. Don’t worry, I won’t mention you’re with me,” says Sky, and I nod at her as we swing a left.

Bringing the radio close to her face, Sky says, “Hi everyone, Sky here. If anybody can hear this, please respond. I can’t find the painting and was hoping for some help. Thanks!”

Lowering the radio, we walk silently for a few seconds, waiting for a response, before Sky says, “Hey… Hazel.”

“What’s up?”

“Do you ever wonder… what your life was like?” asks Sky, and I don’t say anything.

“I know we don’t remember anything, but… we weren’t always here, were we?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Yeah, I don’t either. I was just thinking about… like… was I- was I happy?”

I knit my eyebrows together, “What do you mean?”

“Like… was I happy? Did I enjoy my life? Did I have people I cared about?”

“Sky… are you okay?”

“It’s just…” she shakes her head. “Why are we here? Did I wake up at that camp because I chose to come here? If I wasn’t happy before… did I see this as a way out? I mean… did I come here to die?”

I once again don’t say anything.

“And what about the people from before, the people I could have cared about? Where are they? What do they think? Do they even know I’m here?” rambles Sky.

“Of course they do, Sky. I’m sure loads of people know and love you for who you are,” I say to console her.

But my statement backfired, and for the first time, Sky showed a side of her that I’d never seen.

“Then why aren’t they coming to help us?! If they knew about this place, where people are dying… why- why would they leave me here to die if they cared about me?!”

“Sky…”

Sky stops and turns toward me, “I don’t get it! I don’t! Was I such a shitty person before that nobody left cares about me?! Hazel, tell me! Is there anybody out there who cares about me, you, or anybody else here?! What if I’ve done… something terrible, and I was sent here to be killed?! What if- what if…”

She’s cracking. Is this who Sky truly is, or are the elements around us finally getting to her?

“Sky, I need you to try and relax. Take some deep breaths,” I say, attempting to calm her back down.

“Relax?!” she smiles, but not her usual smile. It’s a smile of distrust and uneasiness. “How can anybody relax? How can you possibly relax?! We got a ticking time bomb on my wrist that’ll kill us as soon as the countdown reaches zero! I only brought food for myself, and we’re damn close to being out of food cause we’ve been sharing what little I brought! The water in my canteen is almost gone! Nobody is replying on the radio! The fog is getting closer and closer and I’m getting more and more tired, and above all else, we’re still stuck in the first maze when you already told me there’s more after this! Don’t you realize our time is running out?! We’re going to die here!”

That’s it. I’ve tried being nice about this.

“You’re right!” I yell back, my raised voice shocking her. “This shit sucks! And who the hell knows why we’re here?! Seems nobody cares that I’m here either, but I’m not whining about that now, am I?! Sky, to be honest, I could never tell if your outgoing, optimistic personality was genuine. Props to you if you’ve upheld that persona this far, but shit’s hit the fan now, and if who I’m speaking with is the real Sky, I’m going to be real with you.”

Taken aback, it’s Sky’s turn to be speechless.

“You’re a great person, and I bet people care about you from wherever you came from before this. Frankly, I don’t mind seeing this part of you; seeing you frustrated makes you appear far more human than being constantly optimistic to me. But damn it, Sky, I won’t put up with this sappy shit for the rest of the time we’re stuck together! I’ll just leave you behind if you’re going to go on whining about meaningless shit because I’d rather spend the last hours of my life alone than hear you wish things were different. Cause guess what? Things aren’t different! Things are exactly as you see them! For whatever reason, we are here, and we are being tested. Who knows why? All that matters is we are! We can die; others have died! But I, for one, don’t plan on dying down here! So either pull yourself together and start acting like you want to live, or we’re going our separate ways.”

Wow, I said way more than I thought I would…

Forcing myself to break eye contact and walk away, I pressure Sky into making a decision. Wasting any more time doing whatever this is… isn’t going to help either of us.

After a few seconds, I hear her footsteps catch up to me.

“Hazel… I’m s-”

“Don’t apologize.”

“What?”

“You deciding to come with me… is enough of an apology already. We’re human, and we all make mistakes. This is the first time I’ve seen you act like this, and maybe those thoughts have been lurking around for a while, but that doesn’t change much for me. I wasn’t mad at you for being frustrated. I was upset that you were giving up on me,” I say, pausing for a moment before giving her a quick smile. “And you catching up to me this quickly means you already saw your mistake. Thanks for that. And honestly, feel free to speak your mind more often.”

Smiling back at me, this was again a smile uncharacteristic of Sky. It didn’t appear forced where it strained her cheeks; this one was of genuine comprehension.

“No problem.”

Approaching a forced right turn, we take a right and enter a short hallway. A three-way intersection was at the end of the hallway, and a large painting was displayed on the wall.

“Would you look at that…” I say, nudging her. “Seems we don’t need the others' help after all.”

Grinning from ear to ear, Sky gleefully replies, “Yeah... looks like it.”

Wrapping my arm around her, I tug Sky toward me close for a quick hug.

“Like I said, we are not dying down here today!” I say, looking at her with joy.

She looks back at me and grins, “Damn right, we aren’t.”

The warrior in the painting was pointing his sword off to the left, so we began down the hallway going left.

“And… Hazel…”

“Hm?”

“Thank you.”