We sped up as we were approaching the area where the spell was cast from. It was somewhere on the mountain side. If we're lucky we'll find only the body of the Prophesized One.

We used the covers of bushes to search the place. We couldn't do it without sneaking as even though we sped up on our way, it didn't change the fact that we had to take a longer path. So, that the soldiers don't see us.

They were searching the place with small wisps floating around each of them, lighting up their surroundings. They dispersed at the foot of the mountain and we're searching every inch of it.

"Try not to make any noise. If you'll find a body then get me and I'll burn it." I whispered to her – it is unnecessary as the search group shouldn’t hear us from that far away as they too are talking. But it never hurts to be more cautious.

“Why?” Kali whispered back in kind.

“That’s the only way they can find out about us besides outright seeing us.”

"Got it. If I find the body of just the Prophesized One?"

"Don't do anything with it, make it seem like we weren't even here. After all, if some beast - as they talked - got him it wouldn't pick his pockets."

"Ok, then I'll take the left side. Take care."

"You too."

We split up and started searching, we kept our distance some forty meters in front of the search team.

It was a quick work. It seemed that the soldiers weren't that keen on going for an outing in the middle of the night into the mountain. It didn't play well into our plan as we were only two people searching.

All the more in darkness with stars and the five moons being our providers of light.

But there was no time for me to admire the scenery as I continued looking for the possible bodies. If we're lucky it was already dragged away by wild beasts and all this search is just us wasting time.

But it couldn't be that way. It would be too easy for us that way. I saw as Kali stood in front of something, before she fell to the ground.

The searching lights brought the ends of their light rays to the spot.

She laid there in the arms of some woman and near them, on the ground the bare and bloody body of the Prophesized One.

I came as close as I could, but the light was approaching and I knew I wouldn't have a choice if I don't hide right now. I brought my arms up to my face, bandaged and with no real power.

And so I hid, hid like the rat I was. I hid in the far away bushes as I looked on at the soldiers as they encircled the scene.

All kinds of ugly emotions were tearing out of my body, my inability, the cowardice it brought, I knew I mustn't let it end up like this.

If I don't face death here it would be a disgrace to myself. My freedom I grasped thanks to the possibility of death.

With my wounded arms I took my daggers and while crouching came to the soldiers from behind.

"So, it's this waste of the house of Blue Library. And what does he have here with himself? Two fuck-toys. What a life." One of the soldiers said as he crouched towards the bodies.

"Remember the lections. Don't approach them. First of try if all of them are dead."

In that moment I made my move and ran the distance of two meters, from my hiding spot. In one hand I had a fireball while in the other a dagger.

I pointed the fireball at one of the soldiers and willed it to fly at him. But nothing happened. That didn't disturb my attack as I leapt at another soldier and hit him in the shoulder.

I followed it with the fireball to the face. As I was done, I leapt back and got back my bearing. All the soldiers were turned to me.

The one I hit was toast. Steam was rising for his head; his body was still standing when a gust of wind blew and smashed him against the ground. It woke them up and they started acting while I was retreating.

The attack served well enough for them to lose interest in the bodies and Kali. Instead, now I was their target.

Spells were being cast at me; their hands lit up by the glow of the forming magic circles. Kali alongside the woman took that moment and attacked the soldiers.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

Yet it didn't change the fact that the spells still went flying at me. Three at that. I dodged the two fireballs that came for me by leaping to the side when I came face to face with one of the escapees.

The third spell hit me, a thunderbolt that came straight for me.

I was left there convulsing on the ground as my muscles refused to obey me. Then a sound of metal colliding of weapons was heard.

The scent of mud filled my nostrils and I looked upon the stars. Constellations that I never seen, never knew. I was on a planet that I only know the name of.

I couldn't help but laugh as the ridiculousness set in.

Yet I still enjoyed the fresh scent wafting on my face, even if my fate is destined.

Cries were heard, interrupting my peace and quiet. These weren't any kind of cries, but war cries. Footsteps reverberated on the ground as I saw people swarming towards the soldiers.

The last thing I felt as my mind shut off was the soft touch of someone against my hair. Rustling it as if to tell me I did enough.

I let myself be taken by dreams.

---

Rocky ceiling, splitting headache and an acidic feeling on my tongue with slight paralysis to it. That was what I noticed at first.

Waking up... well was surprising and a welcome surprise at that. I must say I didn't expect this.

And I don't mean now that I'm alive and well, but the fact Kali is here sleeping on the side of this makeshift bed made from grasses.

"You know she stayed with you for the whole night like that." I turned to where the voice was coming from and saw Kaiya with an open map.

"Somehow I really doubt that she would do such a thing. I was being a cunt to her. I wouldn't be surprised if she stabbed me in my sleep though." The last joke nearly cost my nuts.

She giggled at that. "Then you're quite lucky. You saved her sister from our previous Lord."

"So, that's what's letting me keep my life."

"Please, don't be so dramatic no one's from our people out to get you. By the way is it okay if I borrowed the map?"

"Yeah, fine by me." I said. "After all, I brought it with me so that it could be used and not just rot in my pockets."

One of the people came inside and informed Kaiya. “Duchess, the dead are being buried your presence is required.”

Wait ...what?

"I'll be right there." She said and the guard went away. “Don't look at me like that. Like I'm some kind of never-before-seen species.”

"But you're a Duchess how did that happen? When?"

"At my birth obviously I'm the daughter of the previous Duke of the Greenery."

"The space habitat?"

"Yes."

"But a Duchess?"

"I had to tell them to get them to follow me and in a way in their eyes it makes me more qualified to be a leader."

"As you say."

She looked into the tunnel further and saw the previous guard, waiting for her. "We'll continue this discussion at another time for now my duty calls."

"You really did get into the role quickly."

"Wasn't taught it, but picked up a thing or two from the Duke."

"Why not call him dad?" I leaned in to sit better. "He's your dad, right?"

Rather than answering she went away. And so, I was left alone. I tried sleeping a bit more, but found myself unable to reign in my restlessness.

I got off the bed and put Kali instead on it. She does require it more than me.

My body was aching from the events of the last night, but I still persevered and limped through the tunnels. I had to hold the wall so I wouldn't fall. They took me to a mountain side where the people were gathered around a pile of seven bodies.

Some people were crying, some sobbing. While others were clenching their fists as hard as they could.

But there were some, who didn't show any of that like Brad. He was standing further back, away from the crowd that was muttering their prayers with Kaiya guiding them.

I wobbled to him as he looked at me with weary eyes. "How's it going?" I asked.

"Could be better. I see that you're doing fine, guessing by your mood."

"Yeah, glad I'm not on that pile." I shook my head and we ended up silent, looking at the final goodbyes.

"What were you all doing there?" I asked.

"It was Kaiya's idea to lure them out eliminate them all in one fell swoop."

"Why?"

"We wanted to get into the tower and through there further down. But that was a plan with the least amount of succeeding, as below that is their city."

"So, you wanted to lure away as many people as possible from the encampment before capturing it." I looked at him to see if he was joking, but judging by his unchanging face that seemed unlikely.

"But Kali has guided us here to this cave and now we have a bigger chance of succeeding."

"More like now you have a chance, before it was only a plan to tell the people so they have hope. Right?"

"No, some would be able sneak there, act like the slaves. That way they'd get in." He looked at me with a knowing smile. I guess I could do that, but I don't know if my appearance is up to their standards.

"But why do they don't go back into their town right away. Why wait at all?"

"That's simple." Said Alan, I looked as Alan alongside with Kaiya joined us. The others were piling dirt upon the bodies of the deceased. "They're waiting for the seventh day only then can they go downward. The same stands for us. It's all because there's a seal between the layers that gets unlocked when the natural disasters come."

"So, if so. How's it about going upward?" I asked.

"They can, but they must pay some price. It should have something to do with the loss of mana if they do get out. Not sure though." Alan explained.

"So, we shouldn't worry about them you say."

"Yes, that's right. After all, why should they do it. Even if they learn that we are here." Great now we're letting dumb luck decide our fate.

"This is stupid." I shook my head.

"They don't know where we are. And I'll make sure it stays that way." Kaiya joined in; determination evident in her voice. "As for you. You'll be resting in the cave. You don't have to worry we will dig our way out."

"But-"

"I don't want to hear any of it. You're barely standing. You either will go there by yourself or I'll make you." She started walking away.

"What gives you the right to command me? Just because you're a Duchess of a station that if it even exists is overrun with others." All the twenty or so people turned to me observed how's the situation.

"It's not a right it's my duty as your friend to make sure you don't fuck up and die somewhere." She said straight to my face.

“I don’t need it.”

“You do. You just don’t realise it.”

Soon the comments of the people got to me.

"She went looking for us all."

"She came up with plans to get out of here."

"She saved us."

And similar comments were hurled at me. Yes, they were true, but I didn’t think she would take all the credit for it.

In the end seeing as I was unwelcome here, I went back into the cave.