Ch #14

"A Night of Flames and Shadows"

Sniff, sniff. Her stomach rumbled. Shifting on the grassy bed, she stirred awake. Blink. Dark, cold, and damp. She shivered. Lumi wasn't in her room. Feeling a little warmth from somewhere near her, she sat up, turning towards the crackling sounds and warmth. A yellow-orange light reflected in her eyes, lighting up her face in the darkness.

Papa? No, someone else... A pale figure, dark black hair. The flames reflected from his face. Glimmering amethyst eyes. A long brownish coat, cut and patched up with many cloths draped over him. Who? He was holding some sticks over the fire, something hung from them, being roasted. The smell tickled her tummy. She could not look away. Rumble.

"Hungry? Here, have some meat. They're bland but enough to fill your stomach."

The guy picked up one of the sticks, holding it towards her. A kindling sparked, popping, making a crackling sound. A flash of her father's head on the hands of the black man, the white ball of fire erasing her world. Ahh... She moved away, stumbling backward. Falling. Something gripped her hand.

"Hey! Be careful. You're safe, you're safe here, no one's going to hurt you..."

She struggled, her arms hitting her captor. Incomprehensible sounds coming out of her mouth. A Sob. A scuffed scream, choking her, not getting out of her throat. A pair of arms wrapped around her. Her struggle futile.

"It's okay, it's okay... don't cry, kid. It's okay."

Cry? Was she crying? Why? Holding the torn and battered patchwork of a coat, she cried and cried.

Kai sighed, feeding a piece of dry branch into the flames. The girl had woken up fine, and then became abnormally scared. What's up with her? He thought he would give her some food and talk about how she ended up here. But no, she just had to go crazy... The girl had cried for what felt like hours.

Kai observed her, sitting in front of the fire. They had been below a large patch of woods in the ruins, the south of which the grasslands ended. They'd be upon the Ashen Mountain traveling north in about a day. The Dryad, Icthea, had said there was a city on top of the mountain, on one of its ridges. He'd have to find it.

Casting an Analysis on the girl revealed her condition to him.

/***

Dormant Luminara (9)

Core: Gold

Attributes: {Light-bringer}; {Arcane Lifeblood}

Condition: {Hungry}; {Traumatized}

***/

The blood curse was gone, replaced by Arcane lifeblood. The improved ability now showed her age as well as her current condition.

9 years of age, way too young to survive in this world. Had the records dropped her off to the dryad knowing it would keep her safe? That given the chance it would sacrifice itself to cure her curse? He didn't want to go on that train of thought; it led nowhere good.

Her condition made him frown. She was hungry, he could tell that much. She was nibbling away at a piece of meat quietly right now, not having spoken since... well since she woke up. He didn't know what was going on inside her little head.

The other one, though. Traumatized? What had happened to scar the little girl? He'd remembered reading the effect of the blood curse. An eternal dream... What had she seen? He'd have to ask her slowly, when she trusted him better.

He picked up two more sticks of roasted murkeep meat, walking to the kid. Sitting down beside her, he nudged her slightly. She reacted meekly, almost dropping the skewer in her hand.

"Here, have some more. There's a good amount left."

Waving the skewers in front of her seemed to have an effect. Extending her arm, she grabbed the ends of the sticks, taking them. Hopefully, she'd be okay.

Watching her eat, he remembered his own time in the outer walls. Eleven years old and no one to call home. All alone in a broken world... He'd worked for a shady aquaponics company at that time, growing seaweed, lettuce, and tomatoes in huge tanks underground.

They didn't pay him, but left him some food they couldn't sell. What a time they were, he thought. Long hours of just tending to plants and going back home with nothing but a few bags of vegetables and seaweed. Still, he was out of work after the law enforcement shut the place down. Cases made against all the employees. Kai had gotten a pass, though. No one wanted to kick the orphan when he was down, it seemed.

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A few months with no food other than scraps, with winter on its way. He'd been so sure of his death back then. Lucky for him, a couple had picked him up. Not to raise him, no, that would have been too much luck for one lifetime... He chuckled at that thought.

No, they'd taken him to join their scavenging scheme. He was their porter and go-to person for sending into cracks and holes—dangerous stuff. He missed the old noona and her husband who ran that scheme. They'd taken advantage of him, sure, but they'd also left him enough to live. A place to sleep and eat, what else could he have wanted?

Well, the scheme had fallen apart after noona's husband died in a storm. The group simply did not cajole together without him. Noona had tried a lot too, but once again he was out of a job. She'd still bought off the books from him when he needed money. Didn't tell him why, though. Probably out of pity, he thought.

The little girl stirred around him. A raspy voice, but barely audible.

"Water."

"What? Did you say something?" His voice as gently as he could.

"Some water..."

Her beady eyes reflected in his. It seemed like her throat had gotten dry eating. Kai had forgotten to procure water... A miscalculation on his part. Heck, he'd need water himself! He wondered if any of the trees here held water. He'd read somewhere that some trees held onto water from rain and stuff. But where would he find such trees?

"Dammit..."

His mind went back to the shallow pond he'd drunk from in front of the dryad's resting place. Where would he find water? Well, why of course in the dark and damp ruins underneath... He got up, grimacing.

"Wait here, I'll bring some water."

The girl didn't say anything. Kai went back to the hole he'd climbed out of a few hours earlier. He'd marked it to not fall into it mistakenly. He never thought he'd be going back in on his own volition again. He sighed. The worst thing he could have overlooked...

Still, it would be easier with him going alone. Cutting off a few vines from the trees around him, he fastened one end around his waist. He tied the other end of the vine rope to a tree and pulled. Should be able to keep his weight, he

thought. Satisfied, he jumped into the hole.

Making his way down, he cast an illumination spell as required to traverse the darkness in the ruins. The water was still there. Phew, didn't know why but... he was really scared whether the pond would grow legs and just run away, leaving him scratching his head on how to give water to the poor girl.

Taking his now-empty pouch, he filled it with water. The water seemed to hold pretty well, considering he'd dried and made it on the fly. He needed to make a proper flask soon though. This thing was going to leak water over time. Already the outside was getting wet.

Tying it on his waist, he gave a look to the desiccated grave of the once cheerful dryad. He jumped, clutching onto the vine, about to climb out again.

Whoosh, slam.

"Fuck... Ow," Kai cursed, clutching his head. Picking himself up, he looked at the vine in his hand, examining it. It seems the knot had come undone... he cursed. He'd have to climb up using the chains and roots again.

Huff, huff.

"I'm out!" Kai breathed in, tired from the climb.

Sitting beneath the trees, he thought about this endeavor. This had been more troublesome than he'd thought it would be. Still, it would be worth it if... The girl!

Wide-eyed, he jumped up, rushing to the camp. Empty. The skewers he'd prepared were gone. The girl along with them.

A howl rang out through the woods.

"Dammit, kid."

Lumi ran through the woods. The light of the camp far behind her. The meat on her, were food she'd taken away. She ran towards the mountains. The man had said there were people there. They'd take her to her papa. They must.

She clenched her fists, pulling her hands inwards. White mist flowing with every breath. Her already dry throat cracking, her lungs burning. Lumi was strong. SHE was strong. She could do it, come cold, come fire. She could escape from this place.

It was all a dream, it had to be. Right? No way they could have destroyed her country! A white ball of fire... No, she wouldn't think about it. They must have captured her. Papa must be so worried. She'd run away first, all the way up to the mountain, then find her way to her people. She was a princess. Surely they would help her?

A howl, echoing through the woods. She froze, her heart beating loudly. The loud sound... It was near her. She stepped forward, her hands shaking. Slowly, the sound of leaves murmured. A loud snapping sound came from near her.

Lumi rushed through the woods. Hide. She had to hide... A fallen log. Hollow! Her eyes lit up. A pale light illuminated the inside of the log, flowing in from a hole in its bark. She crawled inside, waiting.

A thud. Murmurs of leaves rang inside her head. Had it found her? The fear rose to her throat. She peeked through a hole. Nothing... She shivered. She wouldn't get eaten here, right? She didn't know.

A snarl, a beast walked out of the woods. She could barely see it, illuminated so dimly by the moonlight. Moving around, it seemed to stop nearby. Looking around, probably for her... Her breath stilled, her hands shook incessantly. She tried to be as quiet as she could.

The beast sniffed, walking towards the log. Snarl. A wide menacing grin revealing its large jagged fangs. It growled. A leap.

It smashed a part of the log with its paws. Crack. The wood caved in. She moved. She had to get out; the beast had found her. The beast continued to smash the rest of the log behind her as she moved.

Out of the log, she ran. A loud roar echoed through the woods. Her body froze, stumbling. She tumbled to the ground.

A white snarling wolf, many times her size, its eyes red, staring at her, foaming at its mouth. She crawled backward. Get up! she urged her feet. A slow malevolent grin spread on the beast's face. Get up! Her heart pounded like a drum in her ear. Tears and snot streaming down her face.

It was upon her. So close she could smell its disgusting breath. She closed her eyes. A shout. Fire...

"Hey mutt, take on someone your own size."

The beast turned, baring its teeth to see what had disturbed it from its meal. A giant ball of fire straight at it, blasting it away. Lumi saw the orange tongues of flame, the city in its embers. The fireball lit its plume aflame. Howling, it died a dog's death.

"Who carries meat when chased by a dog, kid."