"So you didn't learn anything?" Eli asked, incredulously, "neither of you, seriously?"
"I learned she's a squirmy little shit," Autumn huffed.
"I learned not to piss her off," Iris said.
Eli put his head in his hands and groaned. They were back at the Flopping Fish, sitting at their usual table while they waited for Titus to return with their take-out dinner. After Iris and Autumn recovered from their sparring match the party had stayed in the clearing for several more hours to practice and train, but Eli had instructed the two of them to think over their experience until they got home to discuss it.
"Vic?" Eli said with a hint of desperation.
"He wanted you to learn to be creative, strategic," she picked up the lecture, "Autumn, you have to stop thinking you can solve every problem by throwing yourself at it harder. Iris was already tiring, instead of exhausting yourself on your big attack you could have kept up a steady pressure and waited for her to drop or slip up."
Autumn avoided eye contact and kept her arms folded, but seemed receptive to the lesson.
"And Iris," Victoria continued, "you're 20 levels lower, you were never meant to win. Honestly, it's amazing you managed a tie. The thing is, you were landing hits. You might not have been doing much damage, but you had the mana to keep it up. Instead you chose to run away and put yourself at a disadvantage that ultimately exhausted you."
"I get it," Iris said, "in my defense, running away seemed smart at the time."
Victoria laughed, "if you're ever in a real fight with Autumn it probably will be the smart choice."
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The sun crept below the horizon as Commander Bridge soared over the redwood forest with black and silver grey feathered wings. He banked to the right to catch a strong wind from the south that carried him out into the plains and towards the ziggurat. His aura vision revealed a broad wave of blue energy exploding outwards from the structure with each aura pulse.
He came in fast but landed softly after a powerful beat of his wings sent a gust of wind through the open air platform at the top of the ziggurat. As his feet hit the steps, the wings shrunk and disappeared into his back. He adjusted his coat and climbed the final steps to the platform.
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
He was greeted by his lieutenant, a young Champion in dark leather armor much like his own. Behind him two others in gear like his were standing guard in the center of the structure, while two brass-masked Agents of Morose kept their distance on the edge of the platform. Several bedrolls had been laid out along the sides of the platform, and an unlit fire was crammed into a corner.
"Commander," the lieutenant acknowledged. He was usually professional and stoic, but Bridge could see unease in his eyes and aura.
"What are we dealing with, lieutenant?"
"The aura pulse is originating deep beneath this structure. The agents determined a way to close the entrance, but it was open when they got here. While the structure is sealed the pulse seems to be dampened to below detectable levels."
"I can still feel it," the commander said, "whatever it was must have been dormant until the structure was opened or we'd have detected it sooner. Any attempts to enter?"
"We tried, sir, but the pulse gets stronger the deeper we go. None of us here have been able to handle it."
The commander nodded, then stepped away to look out over the plains while he thought. He turned towards one of the agents and spoke without addressing them.
"Open it."
The teary eyed brass mask stared back at him for a moment, then turned to the other agent and nodded. One of them pressed a brick into the wall and the stone slab in the center of the platform began to lower into the floor and split into steps that lead to a deeper stairway.
"Seriously? That's all it takes to open?" The commander scoffed, "some stupid kids on their way the Hunt probably opened this place."
The next pulse came. With the structure unsealed the force of the aura alone was enough to vibrate his bones.
"It's steadily growing stronger," one of the masked men said.
"Let's hope they didn't stick around," Bridge said grimly, stepping half way into the darkness before speaking to his lieutenant, "if I'm not back in twenty minutes something is very, very wrong. Your orders if I don't return are to contact the Mayor General immediately and have him call a Council of Titans."
He continued into the darkness, trailing his hand along the wall as he went. His darksight effortlessly pierced the darkness, though all color faded. As he walked he closely observed the carvings on the walls and followed along with the story they told of a recurring battle, an ever-present enemy, and the visits of a dragon in the aftermath of each battle. All the while the enemy cast an unending ritual spanning ages with untold effects.
For the first two flights of stairs the aura pulse reverberated through him harmlessly. By the end of the third flight he was staggering, and by the fourth he leaned on the wall as he felt each pulse as a punch to his heart. He had no doubt that any Champion that ventured this deep would be dropped dead by a single pulse. He pressed on, and soon he found himself on a flight of stairs that continued straight down far deeper into the depths.
A few hundred feet down this flight of stairs an unnatural darkness obscured his vision. Only powerful magic could override his darksight, yet a bright blue flash briefly pierced the pitch black veil. The next aura pulse followed like a shockwave and cast an ache through his bones. For the first time in decades, the Titan felt fear.