Chapter 47

With ward fires lit and one central pyre burning, the people began to sing.

Riley watched in amazement from a distance as they all came together, warming themselves around the fire, huddling close for the protection that it offered.

It reminded her much of the few evenings she had with Tobias' family. Singing was just something the people did here; in a world without radio, television, or high literacy, it made sense.

Under the might of the Thirteen Gods' light, we delight in all the good they have given us,

Oh sweet light, of the Thirteen Gods might, we delight in the hope you have given us

By magic and sage, do we stand against the rage of chaos and all the death it has brought us

We sing to those on high, in the dark of the night, and claim the deliverance they've given us.

The sound of the song, in chanted and easy refrain, felt soothing to her ears, a moment of peace among the chaos of the last few weeks. She rocked and swayed, listening to the music. Her eyes opened only to witness a swelling of magic, pooling underneath the people, bubbling effervescent as sparks drifted up towards the sky.

"Wow…" She marveled, following those sparks up. They appeared like lighting bugs interspersed amidst a sea of stars as Riley noticed a second moon rising in the west.

"That song is a prayer, and that prayer is going somewhere," She realized, her eyes widening as she witnessed a miracle.

"There are Thirteen Gods out there, but is that at all surprising? Given, well… Me? The fact that I still exist at all?" She thought to herself.

Riley noticed Tobias and Cid off and to her left, separate from both the crowd and the fire, watching stoically as Maritha led the song.

As they went through the song the third time, Riley watched as Cid grabbed Tobias by the arm, pointed towards her, then pointed back towards the wood, an angry look forming like hardened steel across his face, as he trudged towards her.

"Oh dear," She swallowed hard, her instincts telling her to run and hide.

At that moment, she wished life was so simple that obliging them would've been an answer.

Things seemed cleaner in the rearview mirror. The idea, a fallacy really, that she could always run, run forever, whispered like an ancestral deception, one that her species had suffered under for time immemorial.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

It was true until it wasn't, and that wasn't was total.

Knowing this, her reason battling back the tide of adrenaline and instinctual impulse, she braced and prepared for the storm called Cid to hit her and Tobias full bore.

The elder ranger stormed past her, with Tobias following just behind.

He beckoned. "Come on, Riley."

Dutifully, she followed until they were out of sight of the survivors.

"Do you have any more secrets you want to keep from me, boy?" Cid growled, pointing an accusing finger at Riley.

"In truth, more than a few, Sir," Tobias answered back, unflinching in his honesty, staring straight ahead and at attention.

Riley winced.

"God dammit, do you think that's an acceptable answer? That beast is no normal beast. You've a dimensional power, curative ability, and I've heard whispers of your trial. We're going to be neck deep in shit on the morrow. I need to know your capabilities, your full capabilities, or so help me, I will send you back to Ashenvale in chains for disobeying an order!" Cid quaked in rage.

Tobias looked at Riley, his face pained.

"Do we take the risk, or do we ride with the consequences? You make the call, and I'll back you up," Riley pressed up against his legs in support.

Tobias looked back toward Cid with a long, heavy sigh.

"Alright, Riley's a liminal, and I was ordered by Grandmaster Silas himself to keep that close to my chest for a lot of reasons. There's no second tier companion like her that's been born in this age. She's gifted with celestial and chaos magics resulting in the life confluence," Tobias admitted.

Cid narrowed his eyes, "Any reason why you didn't choose to disclose this to me, boy?"

"Permission to speak freely?" Tobias asked as Cid's hands clenched into shaking fists.

For a moment, Riley thought he was going to go for her sorcerer's neck.

"Granted," he spit through clenched teeth.

"Were you not, just a few hours ago, telling me to not trust people and make my own decisions?" Tobias replied pointedly.

Cid opened his mouth to speak but found no words before his eyes shifted left and right, finally finding something to grip onto, "You're saying you don't trust me?"

"Not completely, no, I'm fairly certain the event that brought me to your attention was my combat trial. The Duke of Ashenvale, Chadrick, had always been my bully. We were paired up for our trial, and not only did I survive, I saved him, which he took as humiliation. Now the awful son of a bitch wants me dead, and I don't know yet if he's tasked you to do it for him and make it look like a training accident. Though, at this point, I doubt it," Tobias said, laying out his cards.

"You do?" Cid's eyebrow ticked up from behind his eyepatch again.

"You've had more than enough chances and come close enough to it on your own," Tobias shrugged.

"True, true," Cid nodded, "That's quite the enemy to have, son, and quite the pickle," Cid rubbed at his chin in thought, his mood shifting like the weather.

"So yes, I'm playing things close. I'm keeping my secrets and holding onto my advantages where I can find them. There has never been a time in my life when I wanted to be a ranger, but we don't get to pick our path. I've given you the best I know to give and will continue until you try to kill me, then I suppose we'll see where we stand," Tobias let his hand rest on his sword as Cid's eyes glanced down, then met his.

"Easy, son, I don't mean to kill you, and I'm not keen on serving any noble prick. I like my wilds for a reason. As to your suspicion, that's good. You're already thinking like a Ranger, living in hostile territory and picking your path. Don't lose that edge," Cid slapped him on the shoulder with a grin.

No matter how hard she tried, Riley couldn't figure him out.

"But if your companion is truly a liminal, that means she's a thinking beast, is she not, just like the first tiers, so why don't we drop the pretense?" Cid said, locking his gaze on Riley.

"Go ahead, Riley," Tobias decided, trusting his instincts.

"Hello Cid," she projected.

The old instructor grinned malevolently.

"So it seems then I have two rangers to train."

"Shit," Riley replied with a sigh.