[Art by karumkin on Twitter]
Y/n's POV
I'm quickly gaining on the Guard, hair flying behind me as I whip through the caves. But for what he lacks in speed, he makes up for in agility. He circles and curves like a cardinal in flight while I get slowed by the narrow walls and large rocks. He manages to dodge my spells, but I'll be close enough to hop onto his staff soon.
The Guard smashes through a row of stalactites, causing the ceiling to shake dangerously, but I make it through before anything can collapse. Okay, maybe he's less agile, more reckless. But he's running from me, he's scared. Good.
I mentally scold myself for giving him a chance in the first place. If there's one thing Eda's constantly telling me, it's that I can't trust the Emperor, and I was stupid enough to think she could have been wrong. I just hope the others are holding up.
Who am I kidding? This is Eda and Amity we're talking about.
I'm practically on his tail at this point, but as I'm turning the corner to grab his cape, I smash into his body instead.
We fall to the ground in a tangle of limbs, and I wince as I land harshly on my ankle. Ignoring the pain, I scramble away from him, kicking his palisman across the floor while pulling my own closer. I briefly register the large cavern around us as I stand, but my eyes stay pinned on the Guard, who's still sprawled on the ground.
He attempts to get up, but I have the upper hand, knocking him to the ground face-first and sitting on his back, my palisman pointed firmly at his neck. To my surprise, he doesn't even fight back.
"It doesn't matter anymore," he says, defeat ringing clear in his voice. But I know better than to trust his tone, I learnt that the hard way. He somehow manages to sigh, which I can imagine is a little hard to do with a whole witch sitting on your back. "Look around us."
Who does he think I am? Of course I'm not falling for that.
"The lake's dried up." A spike of anxiety ties my stomach up in knots. I allow myself a quick glance around the cavern, my breath hitching at the sight. A sign to my left reads 'Eclipse Lake', but the lake-shaped hole next to it contains nothing but dirt.
"No." I say, my voice barely a whisper. What happened here? What's going to happen to Luz? Have I failed my best friend?
I give the Guard an extra shove for good measure and scramble to the lake. I run a hand along the floor of the cavern. Nothing. I sit down in the dirt, defeated.
It's okay Y/n, I try to reason with myself. After all, we only came here to give Amity peace of mind. I'm sure there's another way to heal Luz. There's always another way with her. She wouldn't want me to give up.
I watch silently as the Guard scrambles around, desperately digging through the dirt. He shakes his head, muttering to himself. But no, I shouldn't feel bad for him.
Luz wouldn't want me to give up on him either.
I groan and throw back my head, but even then I can't help smiling. Even when she's not here, Luz still has an influence.
I move closer to the Guard, keeping my defences up. I take a seat next to him. He continues to dig, though we both know it's in vain.
"What did you want it for? The blood, I mean?" His hands stop for a moment, magenta eyes moving to mine. It might be a trick of the light, but they seem to glint with tears. He sighs (he does that a lot) and draws circles in the dirt.
"It's not for me, it's for Un- uh, Emperor Belos." I can't help but tense at the mention of the Emperor, but the Guard continues with his dirt drawings. I know he's affiliated with Belos, but right now all he looks like is a lost little kid. "He needs Titan's blood to make a new portal key. Can't get to the human realm without it!"
Wait, there's Titan's blood in the key? I try my best not to let my reaction anywhere outside of my own head, and I can feel my heart racing. Not only could this cure Luz, but it could also help her get back to the human realm!
The Guard shrugs, and I notice he's drawn the key in the dirt. "Since I failed my last mission, I thought: 'Hey, a chance to make up for it!' But I can't go back empty handed." He laughs somewhat hysterically. I sense he needs to take his anger out on something and brace for another fight. Instead, he wipes out the drawing of the key and starts digging again. "Long story short, this is my grave. Want me to make you one too?"
"You need a therapist, not a grave, dumbass. Now come on, you have plenty of time to suffer at the hands of Eda and I, and I'll be damned if your face is the last one I see."
I pick the Guard up by the back of his shirt. He flails around for a few second before slumping to the ground. Ugh, this guy is such a sore loser.
Casting a quick Abomination spell that Amity taught me I start trudging through the caves, pulling the Guard along with my magic like one of those kids on leashes. It's not long before the cardinal palisman from earlier is back on the Guard's head, much to his dismay. And my amusement.
"Go find a better witch to be with," he groans.
"Keep annoying him," I tell the cardinal. "He loves it, especially when you make nests in his hair."
"Hey!" The Guard tries his best to shoo the bird away but it's clearly happy with its perch. It nips affectionately at his ear. "Ow!" I don't bother to stifle my laugh.
___
"Dear diary. I've been tied up and forced to exercise twice today. We've been walking through the caves with no end in sight. I can't feel my feet. Or my legs. Are we there yet? Is there even a there?"
"You forgot to mention the bird."
"And my hair has been turned into a nest for a palisman. What cruel torture is this? I'm sure it looks as bad as it feels."
"Really? I think you look ravishing."
The Guard groans. I would have been dragging him all the way through the caves if I hadn't spelled his legs to keep on walking. Genius, if I do say so myself. Although the Guard wasn't too fond.
I stop as we approach a fork in the path. "Stay." The magic keeps the Golden Guard in place, but he doesn't seem so happy about this new development.
"You could at least let me sit down."
"I've been kind enough to let you keep your legs at all, Guard. Now stay put before I change my mind." I expect a witty quip but instead I receive grumbling. Seems he's learnt his lesson from when I kicked his ass earlier, he's got the black eye to prove it.
Turning my attention back to the two paths, I hold my hands out in front of each cave. Nothing happens on my left, but I catch a slight breeze from the right tunnel. Perfect. I pull the Guard along with me despite his complaints. The cave starts off narrow, opening to a large room full of precariously balanced stalactites and the occasional broken-down machine. I steer clear of the machines.
The Guard goes unusually quiet, and I turn back to investigate. Realising I'm watching him he quickly moves his gaze to mine, but Eda has always told me to watch people's eyes. "Most of the time it leads to some pretty good junk!"
I turn my head to where he was looking a second ago and smile. A light darting out from behind a machine resembling a large slingshot. In other words, our way out.
"Looks like we've reached the end of our journey, Goldie."
"Thank Titan. I thought I'd pass out if I had to spend another second in your presence."
"That does sound entertaining. Should I stay longer?"
"Oh, that would be wonderful." I whip my head around at the new, shrilly voice.
"Kikimora." The Guard's voice is low and laced with venom. Kikimora descends the stairs, surrounded by scouts from the Emperor's Coven. A few who were slouching stand up straight as soon as they see me.
"I'll do you a deal, witch," Kikimora grins. "Hand over the Guard, and you go free."
I stretch nonchalantly, spinning my staff in my hand. "I'm good. In fact, I've been waiting for a real fight." I quickly glance at the Guard. "Get to the exit," I whisper, only loud enough for him to hear. He seems to consider this, glancing at Kikimora's group then back at me. He nods.
I undo the binding spell. Kikimora steps forward. Then all hell breaks loose.
I rush straight towards her while the Guard takes on the goons. I briefly notice the cardinal palisman transforming into a staff.
I shoot a spell at Kikimora, but one of the scouts deflects it with an Abomination that rushes towards me. I dodge and spell it out of existence, kicking the scout in the stomach and smacking another one on the head with my staff. More scouts rush to protect their leader and it's like playing a life size game of Whack-A-Mole.
A familiar cry quickly turns my attention and I see the Guard being strangled by a coven scout. I quickly shoot a knock-out spell at the scout and the Guard breaks free, bonking their helmet for good measure.
"Oh, so the Golden Guard finally made a friend? That's a first." While Kikimora's attention is on him, I use an ice spell to shoot me over the crowd and towards the exit. I land on the slingshot machine with a thud. This better work.
"Heads!" I hit the machine with all my might and... it doesn't move. Not an inch. "Oh, c'mon!" I quickly scramble around to find a large rock or anything to help this thing work. But before I can move an inch, a sharp pain hits my head and my vision goes black.
Golden Guard's POV
"Heads!" The battle stops as everybody turns to face Y/n, who's standing on top of a giant slingshot. I allow myself a smile and take this as my chance to run for the exit. I hop on my newly formed staff and zip through the scouts, heading straight towards the light. I brace myself for the moment the ammo is released, but it never comes. Instead, I see a bolt of magic shoot through the cave – right into Y/n's forehead.
They fall to the ground with a heavy thump, and for a moment I forget where I'm supposed to be headed. Come on, this is your chance! You can be free of Y/n forever! No more fights! No more wild magic! Just get out the door!
I turn around to see everyone in the crowd running my way, staffs drawn. I hear my brain screaming at me to get out. Despite myself, I shoot one more glance at Y/n's limp body.
Damn it.
As fast as I can I fly towards Y/n, pick up their body and sail towards the exit. I dodge and swerve as much as I can while carrying an extra person on my staff. I hear a spell coming straight towards me and quickly dart left, slamming into a stalactite.
I ignore the shaking ceiling as I fly through the stalactites. I ignore my brain scolding me for going back for Y/n. I ignore the crash behind me as I burst out of the cave.
I ignore the smile on my face.
♡ ♡ ♡
Sorry this chapter took so long to get out! I've been trying to write it for months but was too scared to start the battle scene lol. I've also been swamped with schoolwork, mental health dramas, etc. I wrote most of it tonight and it's currently quarter past midnight so I hope I don't sound too sleep deprived. Love you all, stay hydrated!