We stood in front of a large tree, dead, twisted and mangled. The cursed city. At least that's what Luca called it. I wondered what the story behind it was. Names like that usually meant a good story. 

The wind picked up dust, as I scanned the horizon. It wasn't raining here. The sun falling behind the horizon. The sky fading red and purple. It would get dark soon. With the dark it would get colder.

 "I've never heard of this place." I muttered. Luca adjusted his grip on the bag. "Part of the lore is It’s bad luck to talk about it." He muttered, scanning over the horizon.

 A wide cobblestone street running down the middle, surrounded by half-standing buildings, the frames sticking out and stones tossed about. They were built in a style I was less familiar with.

We started walking down the street.The wind whistling through the buildings, making the whole place feel more empty. An atmosphere that seemed to steal our words, it was hard to talk over a whisper.

"What happened here?" I asked, stopping, watching him size up our surroundings. He turned, catching my eyes, "I'm not sure. No one’s ever dared to say."

I fought back a shiver, "Whatever it was, it must be worth keeping it a secret." 

"Probably bad enough to warrant it, yes."

The street ran into the center square. Luca stopped as we reached it looking around at the buildings.  Peering into the windows, he stared with focus. I tried to figure out what he was looking for, matching his movements. Luca tossed down the bag of crossbows. Wiping his brow, he took a sigh. 

I bit my lip looking up,  "What is it?" I asked, continuing my searching. Luca paused, running something through his mind, "I'm trying to work out the plan I saw." 

I stared out at the space, "What do we need?"

"We have to set up an ambush…" Luca started, pacing, "We can aim a few of these out to the square. When he comes, we'll have them ready, and you can teleport to each of them and set them off." He picked up one of the crossbows. 

“Huh. That might actually work.” I stepped back, visualizing it. “We can hit him with multiple arrows at once.” 

Luca grinned, “Ya, I don’t think he’ll expect it.”

"How will we get him here?" 

I watched Luca load the crossbow. "I don't know but, he'll come. Once he's here I can draw him out or something." 

He handed me the first crossbow, "You can try to find a place for this in the first building. Something that aims out into the street. " He pointed up to it. I nodded, taking the crossbow from him.

I looked back at the building, half the wall falling down. These structures weren't sound. I walked over to the other side of the square, crossing the distance. A strange sort of destruction in this place. Dreamlike in its atmosphere, this place felt suspended.

Reaching the door of the building, I stepped over a fallen beam. Finding myself inside the entryway, I frowned at the rickety stairs. This would take some caution. I tip-toed up them, trying to limit the amount of weight I placed on each step. 

I walked out into what looked like the common room. All belongings still in their spots. Age was the only thing that touched them. The people living here left in a hurry. I shivered, walking around a smashed vase.

I dragged a small table over to the window. Resting the crossbow down, I propped it up aiming towards the big leather bag in the square. I pulled my hands off, stepping back. I think it was a good spot. 

I backed up, walking back the steps. It was strange to think this might soon be over. The days blurring into one another. This weight was exhausting.

I carefully made my way down. Jumping back over the beam, I caught Luca walking out of the building on the other side. Meeting back at the bag, he pointed at the building on the opposite corner. "I put one in the lower window there." He said, getting another crossbow ready. 

"We need one in that building and I'll find a place in the other." He handed it to me. I took it, holding it carefully.

 I headed to the building on the other side. It didn't look like a house, more tower-like. It stood up better than the other buildings, straight with no sign of leaning.

 Reaching the entrance, I started up the winding stairs. I made sure I didn't miss a step, stopping at the first window.  The crossbow would sit nicely on the ledge. I just needed something to prop it up with. Maybe there was something at the top.

Leaving it there, I followed the stairs further up. The tower opened up to a large room, the whole place was a mess of papers and books. Some papers pinned up on the walls, others scattered across the floor. This room looked more lived in than the others. On the center wall, scratched into the stone were words. It took me a second to sound them out. Death to the Remedy. 

I frowned, picking up a couple of books. What was this place? Maybe whoever lived here tried to attack the Remedy. It could explain how the whole city ended up cursed. Just more questions I'd never get answered. 

I shrugged my shoulders, walking back to the window. The title of the top book caught my eye. It had a big word on it. "The age of im-mor-tal-it-y." I said,out loud, brushing the dust off it. Immortality. I frowned at the book, a silly title. No one could live forever. 

I got back to the window, angling the crossbow just right. 

"You doing okay Phyn?" Luca called up, his voice echoing off the walls. "Ya I'm heading down." I called back, leaving the crossbow where it was. Luca waited for me at the bottom, a weight in his eyes. He was probably running on less sleep than me. 

"Second window on the top floor." Luca said, pointing up to it. I nodded, taking note. I would have to remember all their places. We reached the bag, Luca gathering it up. 

"Is that all?" I asked, pausing. Luca shrugged, pulling out the sword Wren gave me earlier. 

"If the arrows don't do the trick you can always come down from the sky with this and slay him." He smirked, handing me back the blade. I snorted, he was half joking but it really wasn't a bad idea. If the height was great enough I could probably kill him with one fell swoop. It might be a good backup plan if the arrows failed. I slipped the blade in my belt, holding onto it for later. Luca closed the bag, taking it on his shoulder.

"I think we should camp outside the city." He suggested, looking towards the forest. 

"Ya probably a good plan with all the suspense attached to this place." I shivered, pulling my arms in. Luca laughed, "That's what I figured. I would rather not find out the secrets of this place through experience." His voice echoing out across the hollowness. 

I stayed close to him as we kept down the street. The shadows playing tricks on my eyes. There was something dead about this place. Cursed was almost too tame. A ring around the city of dead grass. Not a tree with a single leaf within the circle. Only dead twisted branches poking out between buildings. A sick feeling set in my stomach.

We turned the corner of a larger building coming into view, crumbling walls and the roof caving in. Considering the damage, it stood up surprisingly well. Built with the same sort of stones as the tower in Arcane, it was more ornate. Decorated in bronze, the palace was covered in metal twisting vines. Various fruits, which I assumed were local, or used to be, darted between the vines. The art is more distinct than anything I had seen in other cities. "It’s strangely beautiful." Luca mused. I nodded, taken aback by it. Like stepping into a history book, these ruins were old. A lost ancient world.

Satisfied with his view, he kept walking. I followed, thundering up the stone steps till we reached a new height. I turned my head, the barren landscape extending as far as I could see. A border before the wastelands, I turned my head opposite to see the forested hills rolling over. A stark contrast, it looked so strange. 

Luca raised his eyebrows, "I can see why this place freaks people out." He remarked, turning out towards the forested side. My heartbeat was heavy in my head. The sick feeling grew worse, it reminded me of that punch in the gut my gifting used to give me before.

"Let's get out of here." I muttered. This place was weighing on me. Luca frowned, looking at my uneasiness, "We are losing light fast. " He agreed, starting our pace again. 

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

I pulled my arms in, as we continued. The buildings grew more scarce as we went. Reaching the edge, the remnants of a wall lay scattered across the divide. Luca hopped over a large portion of the rumble, holding his hand out to me. I hesitated, stretching my arm out and took it. Luca pulled me up onto the rock. 

Pursed lips, he looked at war with himself. "Why did Diggery stay back?" He asked quietly.

I stayed with my eyes for a second, "I don't know." I shrugged, not willing to admit it was because of what I said. I moved my eyes away. "Why do you ask?"

He let go of my hand hopping, down. "Just curious" He looked back, his eyes stopped me for a second. Was there something behind that question? I slid off the stone, clearing the wall. The air tense as we wandered away.

"I'm going to start gathering firewood." Luca interrupted the silence. "Good plan."I crouched, starting to pick up sticks as well. 

"At least the sky is clear, we should get a good view of the stars." I paused, staring up at the sky. The first ones, beginning to peek out. 

Wandering up this little path, it led us uphill into the forest. Under the cover of trees, the air turned colder. Luca looked around, his arms full of sticks."I think this is a good spot." Even ground, a short clearing for the smoke to escape through the trees. I nodded, tossing down my pack and the sticks I'd gathered.

 "If we don't get a fire soon I'm going to freeze to death." I laughed, through a fake frown.

 "Then I better get on it. I don't need an icicle for an ally." Luca smirked back, stacking up the sticks to a point. 

"Do you have a flint?" He muttered, looking up. "Yes, just in my pack." I mumbled picking it back up, I shuffled through it. The little mementos of the journey getting in the way. An arrow head, the amulet, and the bandana I wore to impersonate a kitchen maid.

Once found, I tossed it to him. He caught it with a grin, "Thanks." He knelt down, flicking it till he created sparks. I sat on the forest floor, crossing my legs.

 A little flame emerged. Luca blew on it, tossing some of the dry brush onto the flames.

 A small fire formed, glowing bright. I smiled, happy for its warmth.

 Scooting closer, I held my fingers out. The firefight danced over Luca's eyes. His messy hair and tired eyes only served to make him look more wild. 

He handed me back my flint, sitting next to me. I slipped it back in my pack beneath the atlas.

Sparks flying up, the crackling fire. Luca stared into it, his expression turned serious.

"What would you do if you didn't have to worry about any of this?" 

"Like what? If I didn't have to worry about prophecies, catastrophes and a certain murderous bird-like wizard?" I raised my eyebrows. He cracked a grin, "That about sums it up,  yes." 

 I paused, feeling stuck on no particular answer.

 "I don't know. I've never actually thought about what I'd do if I didn't have to run." I changed up how I was sitting. "I wouldn't be a thief though." I concluded.

 Luca chuckled, "No? Stealing isn't your passion?" 

I rolled my eyes, "What about you? What would you do if that prophecy wasn't directing you?" 

He tilted his head, "I think maybe I'd keep traveling, find something new worth fighting for. Now that I've caught a taste of heroics I don't think I could give it up." 

I nodded, "It certainly is addictive. We could always keep our alliance going. When all this is said and done, take down the evil-doers of Tetrad." 

Luca's eyes brightened, "I would like that." His smile fading, something still troubled stuck in his eyes.

I was afraid of what it was. Valerie's strange warning came to mind. I didn't know what it meant, or which one of us she was referring to exactly. I watched the flames dance, something in it memorizing. 

"What did Valerie mean with the whole, loving someone meant for sheol thing?" I turned my eyes to Luca. He blinked, looking up from the fire.

"Oh that…well… um, every time I show up in one of my prophecies, there's a little mark on me." He leaned down, tracing a little asterix in the dirt. He gave it a tail almost like a shooting star.

"It roughly refers to a phrase that means, meant for or destined for sheol. It sounds very ominous but what it really means is unclear." He echoed, his voice less convinced. 

"That's kinda scary." I met his eyes, watching him shrug dully.

 "Everyone dies sooner or later. It's a part of life." He frowned, looking back at the fire. I stared at him, not knowing how to react. There was nothing I could say. I had been so focused on the thought of losing my own life, I hadn’t thought about his.

 "She's wrong though, I'm not afraid of that." 

I swallowed my concern, "What are you afraid of then?" Luca moved his eyes back to me.

"Isn’t it obvious?" He gave an exasperated grin. I stared dumbfounded.

He sighed, "I’m afraid of losing you Phyn. I got you in this mess. If you die...It's my fault." 

"Luca…" I tried to catch his eyes. He shook his head. "It's still my fault. Even if you understand. I would've failed to protect you." He tightened his fists. 

 I shook my head, "If failing to protect me means saving everyone else, you've done the right thing." 

"That's what makes this so difficult." His eyes, caught in anger. He stared down at the flames. 

"How can I choose between saving the world and saving the girl I love?"

I froze, my mouth gaping open. The girl he loved?

"I'm... in love with you Phyn." He met my eyes, a sudden vulnerable look in them, "and because of that, I'm tempted to just let the world burn." 

My mind blank, I lost all my words. I stared at him, wide-eyed. 

His eyes faltered, looking back at the fire. He pushed down a piece of his messy hair. His face turning red, as he furrowed his brow.

 "I think I need some air." He mumbled, leaving me alone with the flames. The sparks crackled, jolting me up. "Wait, Luca." I chased after him, following him out. 

Standing on the edge of the hill facing the expanse of stars. He hung his head, the darkness hiding the agony on his face. 

"Luca." I repeated, stopping behind him. He sighed, looking back at me, "You can ignore what I just said. I-"

"What if I don't want to ignore it." I bit back. His eyes grew wide, caught in surprise. Overwhelmed, I stepped beside him. We faced the brilliant mountain peak silhouetted beneath the starry sky. 

"I just might be in love with you too." I breathed, focusing up on the glorious beads of light dotted across the sky. 

Luca grabbed my hand, locking his fingers in mine. His eyes, still heavy with sorrow. 

My heart ached, watching him like this. This didn't change things. It didn't make things easier. If anything it made it worse. 

"We both could die tomorrow." Luca echoed my thoughts. I held his hand tighter. "Yes, but we don't need to think about that now." 

 "Even if It's reality?" He let out a growl.

"Worrying over it won't change it."

“What will then?” The pain staying on his face as he stared up at the sky. I didn’t know what to say. We both knew we weren’t giving up, even if it was tempting.

I pointed up at the stars, "I heard somewhere that the night sky is just a giant piece of parchment with holes poked into it." 

I watched him, darting his eyes over. I hid my smirk as he raised his eyebrows. 

"Yes and that's why they move course and you can keep track of them."

 I nodded confidently, "Yes, because someone shifts the paper." 

"That’s an interesting theory." He replied carefully.

 I shook my head, "It's not a theory. "

"Oh good, you were starting to worry me." 

 "It's the truth." I matched his smirk. Luca shook his head, laughing. "Ah well I must be wrong then." The joking grin slowly left his face, staring at me with those hurricane calming eyes.

"I know you're just trying to make me feel better." He whispered.

"Is it working?" I asked, matching the intensity in his gaze. 

He stepped closer, taking my head in his hands, "It's starting to." 

He brushed away the little hairs from my face. I wrinkled my nose, lost in that look. 

He leaned his head down, breaking the space between us. I lifted my chin, meeting his lips. 

He pressed his lips to mine, first softly. I kissed him back with greater intensity. His hands caught in my hair, locked between curls. The energy building to desperation. A rhythm that didn't care about oxygen. My heart pounding like fire, I leaned into it. Suddenly afraid I would fall into the pulse and end up who knows where. 

I let the kiss close, taking a breath for my lungs. He leaned his forehead against mine, keeping me close. My heart beat slowly steadied. His thumb running gently across my cheek. 

My legs felt weak, aching the longer we stood. The day was catching up with me. My tiredness pulled me back to reality.  

"I think I'm going to collapse from exhaustion." I muttered, his forehead still resting on mine.

"Please don't." He sighed, pressing a short kiss on my lips. I held him tighter, shutting my eyes tight. My heart ached for things to be different. 

"We should probably get some sleep." He forced out the words, slipping his hand from my hair. I nodded, reluctantly lifting my head. He gave me a half grin, tearing himself away.

I paused before following him back towards the fire. Trying to imprint everything in my mind. Tomorrow held no guarantees.

Luca threw another log on the fire, looking up at me warily. "We're ill prepared for camping but we'll make do, I guess." He sighed, shuffling through his bag.

 "You can have my extra coat if you want it." He offered, holding it up.

 "No you need it." I said chattering through my teeth. Luca kept it held up, raising a skeptical eyebrow. 

"I'm not going to use it." He argued, holding it out to me. I sighed, shaking my head, "Fine." I said, taking it. If I wasn't so cold I would've argued further. I hoped he was telling the truth. 

I threw it on, pulling up the sleeves. "Thank you." I settled down by the fire, using my pack as a pillow. Luca found a spot opposite to me, behind the firelight. I made myself as comfortable as I could. The hard ground made that difficult. I closed my eyes. 

Tomorrow promised a cruel reality. I pushed back the rising panic in my chest. I didn't know that.  This plan could work. 

Maybe this whole thing would soon be over and I could try for that dream with Luca. We just had to live through this. 

I opened an eye, staring at him through the flames. His eyes slowly falling, unable to stay open. My own eyes, heavy with the same weight as sleep stole me away from consciousness.