Mother always told me that power blinds a person. That is can be either a blessing or a curse.
What she didn't tell me that often times, the two are the same.
--
For this year's first class at Ruxnorth Academy, it's abundantly clear that this year w...
That's when she realizes that the voices have gone silent. It's as though they'd never been there in the first place.
They're waiting. Xara realizes.
She licks her lips, then reaches out to them with her mind. She plunges past her barrier.
I'm ready.
There's another moment of eerie, pin drop silence, then the silk ball around Xara shatters, like pieces of glass. She yelps, surprised, and for the third time today, falls. She quickly casts her wind just as her toes skim the ground.
"You're clever, little storm."
Xara whips around, and nearly screams. She claps a hand over her mouth.
Standing before her is a colossal spider. Somehow, the spider seems to be smiling, amused.
"You have not seen my kind before."
Xara can hardly find the strength to shake her head, let alone stutter out an answer.
"Ah." the spider adjusts her-or his?- position, crouched comfortably on the side of the chamber. It's a wonder it even fits down here. "I scare you."
"No, no," Xara rushes out. "I'm just shocked, is all."
"Hmm." The spider observes her curiously, with it's black orbs of eyes. "Your words say something, but your eyes speak something else."
Silence unfolds for a long moment before Xara works up her nerve. "Release my friends."
The spider laughs, a harsh sound. "So petulant, little storm." The orbs shine. "Why should I? You have come into my domain, landed in my web... there is no reason for me to do what you say."
"We're searching for something really-"
"Oh, I know exactly what you are searching for." She clicks her pointers together angrily. "The thing you seek is the reason I'm imprisoned here."
Xara's eyes widen. "Imprisoned?"
Something dark and deadly festers in the spider's eyes. "I had a name. A family. A home. The Founders took it all from me."
"The Founders?" Xara asks, bewildered. "They would never do such a thing."
The spider angles it's head. "This land's blatant adoration and faith of the Founders are a poison." It draws itself up. "They are not saints. They do not deserve such respect."
"But they've done great things too." Xara argues.
"Great for you, perhaps. The narrowmindedness of humankind astounds me."
Good, Xara. Maybe they'll find a way to get out if I keep it talking.
"I don't believe you."
"I'm not-" the spider stops speaking abruptly. Then she laughs again, low and visceral.
"Oh, little storm, I underestimated you."
Naked fear shoots through her, like a lightning bolt. Her intentions have been uncovered.
"I told you to release my friends." Xara speaks with a strength that she most definitely doesn't feel inside.
"And I told you why I wouldn't," counters the spider, it's voice drenched with cold amusement.
They stare off, and her eyes flick over every one of the spider's eerie eyes.
"Can I walk you through a hypothetical?" Xara inquires after sometime, infusing her voice with an edge of gentleness.
"It won't change my decision."
Xara forges ahead. "You manage to stop us, and stop the Warlord from getting whatever it is that's down there. You do your job. Then you do it again. Again. And again. Tell me, what has been promised to you that you carry out your job so faithfully?"
"My freedom," the spider whispers, it's voice a shadow.
"I see." Xara's arms begin to shudder from the strain. She's nearly out of time. "What assurance has been given to you that you'll get your freedom?"
The spider barks a bitter laugh. "I know what you are trying to tell me, little storm. I was naive then. I'm not now."
"I can give you what you desire." Xara inhales softly as the words leave her mouth. She's taking a large gamble.
"You can't," the spider counters, though Xara can hear the wistfulness in it's tone.
"I can. I am in the good graces of Liira Casktalon herself. I will convince her."
The spider peers at Xara impassively. It goes on for so long that Xara nearly cries out from the agony of holding her wind.
"You are sly, little storm. Just like he is." Xara's shoulder's tense, and her magic falters. "But I accept. Keep in mind as you continue that I know not what or who waits ahead of you. But I will be waiting for you to carry out your word."
With that, like when she'd burst free, there's a shattering above her, and the shards rain down upon her, slicing her skin slightly. Xara hisses between her teeth, desperately fighting to hold her magic and not wince in pain.
Her friends fall, flying past her.
Xara releases her magic, and then she's falling too, hurtling to whatever or whoever awaits them next.
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>>AUTHOR'S NOTES:
this may be the longest chapter I've ever written, which is why it took me this long. I'm really sorry for the delay in writing this, but these past few weeks have been an absolute CRAZY HOLE. anyways, we're nearly done, so look forward to the ending! it's getting spicy;)
