CHAPTER XVI
near future.
Claire: "I saw vague memories in my head left over from Morgana."
"You're saying, Jim should destroy his amulet 'cause you think you saw same old man put a map inside of it?" Toby asked, wanting to be sured.
"It was Merlin. The key for finding his tomb, to finding his staff, is inside his amulet." Claire said, certain, pointing at Jim's amulet.
"The girl-child may be on to something," the Galadrigal brother interrupted. "The amulet and the staff are connected".
"Both fueled by the magic of Merlin" Blink finishes his brother's statement.
"But if Jim breaks open his amulet, he can't armor up! And if he can't armor up, 'Goodbye, Eclipse Blade!' How's he supposed to kill Gunmar?" Toby quoted.
"If we don't get the staff first, none of that will matter anyway." argued Claire.
"You guys, Claire has a point. Besides, when we get to Merlin, he could just fix it back up, and we'll have another ally." you spoke.
"Well, I can't argue with that," says Blinky and turn towards Jim. "Master Jim, it seem as that the two ladies have won this argument."
"Maybe I don't have to destroy the amulet," Jim turn towards Blink's brother. "You said Ganmar has Aargh captive." Dictatious nodded.
"And Aargh could be used as an emotional anchor." Blinky finishes it off.
And so, the plan to save Aargh has begun.
･｡ﾟ★:*.✦ .*:★.
"I can't say we approve of all your life choices," uncle talks to Claire, "But, if you're going to run off, you're going prepared. And you too, Y/N." Javier hands the both of you a backpack, each.
You send them a smile, and ask for a request, "Actually uncle, aunt, can you maybe not tell mom about this? I'm sure that once she finds out, she's gonna call dad, and demand an army to guard over me."
Claire laughs, "I almost forgot that your dad is the mayor of Paris."
"Shhh, be quiet." you told her off (in a friendly way) as you gently elbow her to her side causing her to let out another laugh.
"Anyway," uncle cuts off, "It's got a poncho in there, waterproof matches, a flashlight, chorizo —" whispering the last part.
"Dad," Claire rolls her eyes, "Jim's got a sword made of daylight, and your give us chorizo?"
"You're lucky your dad is giving us chorizo. If it were MY dad, we'd be followed by secret agents, and butlers to carry our things. Talking about being overboard." you stated.
She let out a giggle, "I guess you have a point." she whisper to you.
Your aunt Ophelia and uncle Javier engulf the both of you into a group hug. "It'll be a little taste of home." said Ophelia.
"I packed your favorite, Diablo Maximus breakfast burrito, along with some extra pair of undies." Mrs.Domdsalski says to her grandson.
You nudge Toby's arm, trying not to burst out of laughter, "Take it, you might need those." you teased.
Toby swipes the bag from his grandmother. "Uh... thank you, Nana. I will take these two things that are completely unrelated."
A few moments later, the four teens gathered around, as well did Blinky.
"Are you guys ready?" Claire asked.
"For the glory of Merlin, Daylight is mine to command." Jim transforms into his suit of armor, and Claire creates a portal that's supposed to lead you to Aargh.
･｡ﾟ★:*.✦ .*:★.
"Stay alert. Gunmar could be anywhere." warned Jim.
"Where are we?" asked Claire.
"Beats me, you teleported us here." you said.
You all continue to walk ahead, eventually, seeing the place where Aargh is being held captive.
"Aargh!" Jim yells.
Toby gasp, "Wingman!" he shouted. Toby started running, reaching his friend if it weren't for Blinky who held him up.
"No, stop! It's a trap!" Blinky informed.
You all run up to the front, but not close enough to fall for the trap.
Toby gasp, "A stasis trap! But that's..."
"The work of Angor Rot, and he's upgraded it!" Blinky stated after studying it.
"It's deadly alright. Aargh's surrounded by exploding Dwarkstones." you pointed out.
"And if we deactivate the stasis, this place is gonna blow!" says Claire.
"Aargh, my friend, they've used you as bait to kill us." Blink said, stating the obvious to our imprisoned friend. Aargh only groans in response.
"We gotta get him out of there!" Toby insisted.
Strained, Aargh manages to speak, "No, wingman. You leave." he said.
"No, we're not giving up!" fights Toby.
All of a sudden, you heard Jim let out a gasp as a rat came out from the ground. "Guys, I got an idea." he told, catching all of your attentions.
･｡ﾟ★:*.✦ .*:★.
"Okay. Toby drops the hammer, we drop into the room below." Jim repeated, for the tenth time.
"The hammer's power and weight might be enough to override the trap. Or it'll fail, Toby will disintegrate into nothingness, and we'll die with the explosion." Blinky lays out another possible outcome.
"Even if it works, what if we drop into something worse?" asked Claire.
"Than this? I'll take my chances," Jim replied. "Tobes, are you ready?"
"Ready to possibly kill us all and die in failure? Yeah. For Aargh!" Toby shouted the last sentence and proceed with the plan.
'Please, make it work! Please, make it work!' you chanted in your head.
After the hammer dropped, the stasis deactivated, and the Dwarkstones activated, the ground below haven't collapsed yet, making you, Toby, Claire, Jim, Blinky and Aargh trapped in the same room as those killer stones.
"Oh god." Toby said with fear.
Before those activated Dwärkstones fully activated and turn all of you into ashes, the ground beneath all of you crumbled, falling into the unknown. As you land safely into the ground, Aargh uses his ginormous body to protect all of you from harm.
"Is everyone alright?" Jim questioned, summoning his sword of daylight.
"Wingman!" shouts Toby, flinging his arms around Aargh.
"Wingman." Aargh replied and hug him back.
You all let out a chuckle and hug one another. Another success of escaping death.
"What is this place?" Blinky questioned as he broke away from the group hug.
"Smells old." said Aargh.
Toby took a step forward, almost falling down if Aargh wasn't fast enough to catch him.
"Remarkable. An ancient gyre." Blinky told as you all look what's down there.
"Why would there be a gyre here?" asked Jim.
"It doesn't even have any controls." replied Blinky then gaps, "Master Jim, your amulet!"
Blinky step aside as Jim took out his amulet. He tried placing it in, but it wouldn't fit.
"It won't fit!" Blink announces.
"No, but the blue stone inside will," says Jim. "Claire, it's what you saw in your visions. If I break the amulet, it will lead us to Merlin's tomb."