The Night Rider

Chapter 59 - Arbiter

Slowly, like waking up from a long sleep, Mantis' features began to soften just a fraction, her cold laugh making her sniff, rubbing her eyes even as the mess of heat signatures distracted his attention. The bright blaring orange marker surrounding the runes kept blinding Hawkins in the face, his senses overwhelmed enough to feel the traces of a migraine creep over his temple.

Trying to ignore where he had seen such a loud Fire Trait, his mouth filled with the sour taste of something unfamiliar, the hazy memory of an empty bottle on the ground even as drips of silver liquid dripped off the side. He rubbed at his forehead, trying to refocus without the strange mix of abilities plaguing his brain and took a deep breath before forcing himself to look away as the Triad kept directing them towards its missing master.

“It’s not even a coincidence at this point. How I missed it after all these…you already knew?” Mantis said, half stunned half annoyed at how she had missed such a simple set up despite all she had done to hide her history.

Hawkins couldn’t help but notice how smooth the trek was considering how many potholes the two wolves had dug to drain out as much rainwater they could without damaging the Spirit Grove or the supports underneath more than they already had. It seems Mantis’ Casting had more of an effect on Axis than he thought.

Hawkins couldn’t help but glance back at how far they’d moved, barely able to distinguish anything except the darkness behind them without the help of Cull’s Triad. Its faint glow despite being in front of them allowed his Fire Trait to decipher the different heat signatures much like the Tinker Moles could whenever they had the minerals available to use their Craft. The mesh of colours behind him were muddled with every step they took away from it, like a painting hidden over by frosted glass even as their Traits collided together.

Mantis’ conflicting sky blue and cerulean aura overwhelmed the hints of the mottled brown and autumn coloured mix of Craft and then Trait in dark reds, oranges, misty purples and a bleak, darker hue of his usual metallic Trait. He flinched, taken aback by the Triads discovery as it reminded him of the threatening thunderstorm above even as the Divide darkened their doors but pushed his thoughts of necromancy and Memoriam out of his mind.

“Here I thought Cricket was blind…”

Hack couldn't help but snort.

“Did you honestly forget I met Blaize in Nocturus, Manny? We’re practically swimming in Neridian gossip. Besides, she’s an ex Vargar. She knows everything about that side of the Brink. So quit acting stupid about it and tell them. They’ve been through enough without your shit getting involved.” Cull continued, mildly annoyed at the Air Traited as he jerked his head toward the group behind him.

He gave her a look, gesturing to the rather large clue resting on top her shoulder who squawked loudly at him as August demanded to be anything more than a giant giveaway in someone’s deduction. Odi growled at the Fire Traited for being so rude but even as he held up his hands in surrender towards the dragon Mantis couldn’t help but start laughing, almost falling off the dragon’s back in the process.

“Rin would’ve kicked your ass for keeping that from her. Not to mention dissing your Trait like that, Cullian.” Odi began, trying to continue on despite the unruly passenger on her back.

The Scale Shrieker let out a strangled yep, the half elf brushing against her wing bone as she tried to catch herself before getting hurt but Odi grit her teeth and caught her with her tail, the elf quietly apologising as much as she could. The blue runes emblazoned on every part of Axis’ walls began to warp from blue to green, Hawkins anxiety spiking as he was reminded of a certain hostile Traited nearby.

"My Trait is fucking basic compared to the leaps Rin’s made with hers. Heck, the only reason we made this Triad thing in the first place is because she had the guts to do something I couldn't." Cull reminded him glumly, his face clearly showing more guilt than his gruff tone ever could.