It took two more days of climbing to reach the summit of Mt. Krals. Two more days of narrow passes and step faces. Two more days of desperate fights and freezing weather. Two more days of conversation.

Those two days, Alexia talked more than Rachel had ever heard her in the three years she had known the apprentice. After the night on the neck, Alexia seemed to be a different person. Instead of the cold, distant person that Rachel had known, Alexia was, almost friendly. She told Rachel of her life growing up as the prophesized savior of the world, of the difficulty she had with people, of feeling alone and isolated.

The pair hiked up the mountain, battling freezing winds and frozen ground in addition to the monsters that roamed the icy slopes. Each step was a challenge, forcing the two to work together in ways they had never before. When the path ended on broken rocks, Alexia would use Fortify Bone on Al’tun, allowing the chimera to carry the neophytes across the dangerous ground.  When ice beasts attacked in the night, Rachel would distract them while Alexia prepared their death.

***

The seventh morning-the last of the Trials- Rachel and Alexia reached the summit of Mt. Krals. It was a beautiful sight, the morning sun gleaming on the frozen stones around them turning them stunning shades of red and orange, each one brighter than the last. The brightest light of all, however, glowed blue.

The glo-bulb was nestled in a small alcove of rocks on the very top of Mt. Krals. Rachel scrambled up the last few yards to the orb while Alexia and Al’tun waited on the ledge below. The rock was cold, and the wind bit into her clothes, but Rachel hardly felt them as she reached the glo-bulb. They had done it, they had completed the Trials and now she was all that closer to being a full Hero.

“We did it!” Rachel called out as she pulled the small orb free. It was no bigger than her fist and glowed with pale blue light as she held it up for Alexia to see. “I can’t believe we did it.”  She slipped the glo-bulb into her side pouch and started back down.

“Isn’t that a sight.”

The voice surprised Rachel, nearly causing her to lose her footing. She looked down and saw Professor Saroc standing on the ledge with Alexia and Al’tun. The old Battlemage looked tired, his huge spectacles magnifying weary eyes. He hardly glanced at Rachel, his attention focused on Alexia.

“Congratulations on completing the Trials,” he said. “This is day to remember. It’s just a shame that it will be your last.”

With a speed that would have made Ezah proud, Professor Saroc’s hand shot out from under his robes and grabbed Alexia by the throat, hosting her up into the air. Before Rachel could react, Al’tun rushed at the Professor, his scaled legs propelling him across the frozen ground.

Saroc raised his other hand and in booming voice, called out “Gale!” Immediately the wind became howling storm. Rachel had to dig her fingers into the rocky ground to keep from being thrown off the summit. Al’tun was not so lucky; the direct force of the wind was more than he could stand. Rachel managed to raise her head just in time to watch his gold and red body tumble off the ledge and down the cliff below.

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“Al’tun!” she cried out, but her voice was lost in Saroc’s wind.

As suddenly as it had started, the Gale ended, leaving Rachel gasping against the rocks. Tears ran down her checks as the image of Al’tun plummeting off the cliff ran through her mind. He had been the first Beast she had tamed, and had been with her through thick and thin. Now he was lying on the bottom of Mt. Karls.

“I had hoped it wouldn’t have come to this,” Saroc’s voice was soft, at odds with his actions. Rachel edged around the rocks and saw the Professor still holding Alexia. “Many aspiring Heroes have died on Trials much easier than this. It would have been simpler if one of the monsters had killed you. But what is done, is done. If I must kill you myself, so be it.

He stepped closer to the edge, holding Alexia over the drop. Rachel could see the fear in Alexia’s eyes as they darted between Saroc and the empty space below her.

“Why?” Alexia managed to croak out.

“Why?” Saroc said, a hint of laughter in his voice. “Why else? The prophecy, my dear child, the prophecy. I’ve worked my entire life to bring about the second life of the Great Lord of the Depths. I have put down more demons and cults than anyone else. All or the sake of ensuring that the way is open for him. I will not have some mere slip of a girl stop my plans because of some fool prophecy. No, I will not let you…”

Rachel didn’t listen to the rest of Saroc’s speech. Quietly, she worked her way down from the summit and back to the ledge Alexia and Saroc were on. Loose gravel fell in small waves as she maneuvered down the slope. Rachel was sure that the professor would notice her, but all his focus was on Alexia as he held her over the lip of the ledge. The small Elemantist, unable to get enough air for a spell, frantically clawed at Saroc’s arm, but the Battlemage didn’t care.

Her boots crunching on the gravel below her, Rachel slid down to the ledge. She had to do something to distract Saroc and free Alexia. She cast about her, searching for something she could use, but all she saw were rocks and ice. Then she remembered the glo-bulb. Slipping a hand into her pouch, she removed the blue orb, still emitting its soft light.

 “This is for Al’tun!” she yelled as she threw it at Saroc.

The professor whirled, raising his free hand as he prepared a magical defense. Before he could utter a word, the glo-bulb hit him square in the face. Magelight exploded out, creating a point of light brighter than the sun. The light blinded Rachel and she turned away with her hands over her face. Slowly, her vision returned and Rachel was able to make out the world again. She could see Saroc, bent over and stumbling near the ledge. There was no sign of Alexia.

“You’ve blinded me!” Saroc screamed. “You’ll pay for this! Seismos!”

The ground shook as a wave of boulders roiled towards Rachel, crushing her against the face of the summit. She let out a cry as the rocks closed in around her. Rachel struggled, trying to remove herself from the boulders, but she was penned in tight. Saroc stumbled towards her, holding one hand to his face as he reached out towards her.

“Now you die!”

Rachel closed her eyes, bracing herself for the worst.

“Permafrost!”

Rachel opened her eyes, and let out gasp of surprise. Saroc stood in front of her, icicles hanging from his frozen body. A moment later, Al’tun flew passed the frozen professor. The chimera swooped low, stopping just long enough for Alexia to dismount before the pair rushed over and started digging Rachel out of the rocks.

Rachel collapsed as she was freed from her restraints, but Alexia caught her before she could hit the ground. The prophesied savior of the world looked a little worse for wear. Her neck was marked where Saroc had held her and her robes were torn. Her smile, however, was perfect as she helped Rachel to her feet.

“You saved me,” Rachel said.

“Yeah,” Alexia said, her smile growing wider as Al’tun nuzzled her with his beak. She ruffled the chimera’s feathers as she spoke. “I guess if I’m going to save the whole world, I might as well start by saving a friend.”