Chapter Twenty-Five: It Begins
Later that night, after everything had settled down and Xaphile had finally returned to camp, everyone but Gus went back to sleep in the hopes of getting a few more hours of rest.
Their initial plan to sleep during the day had fizzled out because of the attacks, and after a quick discussion, it was decided that they would move whenever they were able to until they were fully out of danger.
After an hour and a half of lying down, Ella still couldn't even manage to close her eyes, and for the longest time, she merely lay glaring daggers at the sky, burdened by a very profound internal conflict.
Threats.
They were things she genuinely hated, but to have been threatened by Amelia, of all people... she hadn't been expecting it.
At all.
Amelia had changed.
Up until recent months, she'd been the type of girl who would shyly keep her eyes to the ground around others. Docile, kind, and loving... adorably clumsy and naive... she didn't have an angry bone in her body, so for her to have actually threatened someone else over a possible monster's well-being was totally unthinkable.
After all, it was Xaphile's fault that all of this had happened.
Not hers.
Ever since he had arrived, nothing but troublesome and complicated situations had presented themselves to everyone.
If it hadn't been for his magical bond with the land, and the fact that she genuinely wanted to see the memories of the girl who looked exactly like her, Ella probably would have had him banished or worse.
She grit her teeth when her irritation became too much and sat up in her sleeping bag, tucking a few strands of her messy white hair behind her ears as she glanced at the sleeping forms surrounding her.
Gus was nodding off despite the fact that he was on watch duty, and Amelia was lying curled up in her sleeping roll, fast asleep, so she gazed at the two of them for a long moment.
Gus was a bit of a nomad despite the fact that he was the Prime Minister of Nimika and had a great deal political responsibility to contend with. Ever since she'd been a child, he had often left the village on hunting trips, sometimes for weeks... and yet, he'd always returned to her.
He was gruff and very tough in battle, despite being a bit of a wuss when it came to social interactions, but a more tender and fatherly person couldn't be found anywhere. Out of everyone who could have come with them, he had been the best choice since he knew the land, knew how to survive in harsh conditions, and most important of all, he was trustworthy.
Amelia, on the other hand, was another story entirely since she and Ella had a bit of a history.
Back before the events of ten years ago... Amelia had been a role model to her, and they'd actually been really good friends, almost to the point of sisters. Despite their tense relationship after the massacre, Amelia had reluctantly forgiven her, but Ella had felt like it wasn't enough, so she'd tried to bring them closer together in later years by teaching her the art of swordplay.
Amelia was no soldier, especially not in comparison with her or even Gus, but she could definitely hold her own with a traditional rapier thanks to those lessons.
Ella glared at the ground, not wanting to think of that time, mostly because her attempts at truly reconciling had failed. Even now, despite her bitterness and hurt, Ella was trying to draw the girl closer to her by offering to look for her missing father, but the truth was that she and Amelia would never be close like they used to be.
In fact, they'd never been further apart considering as of right then, Amelia seemed to be angry with her over everything she'd done.
They were just acquaintances who lived near each other now.
Nothing more.
Ella's eyes drifted and came to rest on Xaphile, the most mysterious member of their group, and scowled since he was slightly hidden behind a tree only a short distance away. His eyes were closed and his chest was rising and falling rhythmically, but Ella didn't have to wonder whether or not he was asleep because she already knew.
She had watched him closely, just to be sure, and while at first it hadn't seemed like he was breathing at all, after a long hour those breaths had become visible and slow.
Her eyes fell, immediately being obscured by her long white lashes.
Up until the moment he'd saved her life, she'd genuinely hated him, and she still disliked him even now... almost unbearably so. He was an enigma, and his personality was unpleasant, which was not a good combination for her low-tolerance of problematic people.
Plus, she didn't understand how he could want to kill himself when nearly everyone else around her would have killed someone else, even their own children, just to stay alive, but again, he was an enigma since instead of fighting to keep his life he was fighting to end it.
It was disturbing and definitely not natural... and and yet... and yet, somehow, even though she hated him, she was also grateful to him because as strange as he was, he was one of very few people who had ever attempted to save her life, and even more strangely, whenever things got rough he always stood fast and tried to protect everyone if he could help it.
First with Gus, and now with her, too, his behavior during crucial moments pointed to him being nothing short of a good soul. Despite his negativity, and despite the fact that he wasn't even human, she couldn't stay completely mad at him after what he'd done for her, no matter how stupid she was for it.
She was still skeptical, but not nearly as much as she'd been, and the anger she'd harbored had become much less intense. In fact, for the first time, she was truly thinking that the others were right. If she kept up with her hateful attitude, something bad might indeed happen, since he seemed mentally and emotionally unstable.
It wouldn't be so bad to treat him just a little better, right? He had needlessly suffered because of her, after all, and he already looked as though he'd been kicked down by life.
She didn't necessarily need to add to his suffering for it to continue, but admitting that she needed to change was the same as admitting she was wrong, and she hated being wrong with a passion, even if it could help her learn from her mistakes.
That was precisely why she was so frustrated all the time.
She spent a few more minutes mulling over the argument she'd had with Amelia, then reluctantly decided to take everything to heart. She would apologize to Xaphile whenever she had an opportunity to do so with the humility she knew was due until he decided to forgive her.
She wouldn't let herself be in the wrong when she needed to be right, for she knew that if things continued on, she would lose the faith and trust of those around her. Perhaps if she managed to convince him that she was sincere, things would be a little less tense between them.
With newfound resolve, Ella lay down again, figuring she should get herself some sleep while she could, but the next time she opened her eyes, the sun was up and the others were already awake and packing. Gus glanced at her when she sat up and blearily blinked at everything.
"Morning, My Lady," he greeted. "You look tired this morning. Did you get enough sleep?"
Ella yawned as she stood up and stalked over to her bag; grabbing a small loaf of bread, she started munching on it with glazed eyes.
She waited until she was finished chewing to respond.
"Yes, I'm quite awake," she groggily mumbled, shrugging her cloak on and dragging the hood up. "We can eat while we ride. We shouldn't tarry here for too long. The threat of being found by those bastards still worries me."
Stalking over to her horse, she gently stroked the beast's side before pulling an apple out of her pouch and treating the animal to it.
"All right," Gus chuckled, shaking his head in amusement; then he turned and looked over his shoulder. "Amelia! Make sure you've gotten everything packed up on your horse! Grab those books of yours, too! We'll be leaving soon."
There was no response.
Blinking, Gus turned around completely and looked for her, and Ella followed his gaze.
Amelia was squatting in front of Xaphile, who was still leaning against the tree. They were both out of hearing distance, but for some reason, the brunette's expression bothered Ella.
Her blue eyes looked rather worried.
"I'll go tell them we'll be departing soon," she said. "It seems they can't hear you."
"All right."
She trotted towards them with a small huff, wondering what the two of them were doing.
Amelia had actually let her hair down for once, and instead of a dress, she was wearing brown leather trousers and a forest green tunic, but when Xaphile's voice threaded into Ella's ears and she heard what it was they were talking about, she stopped in her tracks.
"--her a chance, can't you?" Amelia was in the middle of asking. "Please?"
"I can, but I also want her to leave me alone, Amelia. I can't handle stress like this."
Ella scowled darkly at his tone, but Amelia merely let out a disheveled sigh.
"Yes, I understand, but don't you think you should at least try to get along with her?" she asked. "Nothing she says can erase the scars she gave you, and she's quite aware of that, but I do wish the two of you could get along a little better with each other."
He snorted in disbelief.
"How can you get along with someone who considers your existence to be a pebble in their shoe? She enjoys watching me suffer."
"That's not true," Amelia soothed, gently setting a hand on his arm and rubbing it with a small smile. "I truly believe she wants you to forgive her. Ella is crude, and a bit foul-mouthed--"
"You forgot vindictive, spiteful, and cruel," he interrupted.
"Yes, she's also very mean, coarse, and unrefined," Amelia agreed, then leaned forward, "but the one thing she isn't is dishonest. She's never told a big lie to anyone, period."
"If that's the case, it proves my point," he sullenly countered. "On the night I was beaten and tossed into that awful cage, she actually said to my face that she enjoys watching me writhe in agony."
When Amelia blinked in shock, Ella swallowed hard, barely even noticing when Gus sidled up beside her. They watched as Amelia lifted her hands and drew her fingers along his horns, blue eyes fixed on the qualities that made him inhuman.
"People can have a change of heart," she gently reminded him. "Despite her faults, Lady Ella is a very proud young woman, and she rarely apologizes for anything, so the fact that she begged your forgiveness speaks volumes."
His temper visibly flared: Ella could see it in the way his long ears pulled back.
"Volumes of what?" he snapped. "Delusions of better treatment towards immigrants from other dimensions?"
She bit her lip.
"You know what I mean."
"No, I don't think I do," Xaphile growled, shoulders bunching. "I killed myself with self poisoning plus a deadly weapon to the head, but instead of dying, I woke up naked in the woods as a monster and now I'm totally surrounded by crazy people who actually think I'm hell bent on killing everyone around me!"
"We don't think that!" Amelia instantly protested. "Phil, Please! Cooperation is necessary for us to get along!"
"Get over yourself," Xaphile growled, shaking his head with a grim scowl. "I've been nothing but cooperative and everyone aside from you is still treating me like a short-fused bomb!"
"Won't you at least try?"
"When did I not?" he bluntly demanded. "I haven't actively gone out of my way to provoke her, have I?"
"Well, no, but..."
"Precisely," he snipped. "You've been a great help to me, Amelia, but all I want to do is find out where my real girlfriend's soul is, so you can put away those 'Ella is sorry' theories. She's not the type to regret her own actions."
That was it.
She'd heard enough.
"Don't presume to know me," Ella snapped, stomping forward and making the two of them jump. "I already apologized to you!"
"Bullshit. That wasn't an apology."
"Then I'll do it again!" she shot back. "I'm sorry for hurting you! I'm sorry for treating you so terribly! And I'm sorry that I said what I did! But if it helps, I don't actually want to be near you, either!"
"Then why are you?!" Xaphile roared, going red in the face. "If that's how you feel, don't freaking talk to me!"
Amelia stood up, sweeping her palms out, and with a golden flash, white flames exploded from the ground, cutting them off.
"Fighting won't get a single thing done," she said quietly, smiling a little in a shaky effort to diffuse the tension; Ella averted her eyes after a pause, sufficiently cowed.
"I can't take anymore of this," Xaphile muttered, shaking his head. "I've had enough."
"Phil, won't you at least try to forgive her?" Amelia asked, looking at him with a solemn expression. "Please? We all make mistakes... you won't truly condemn her for the things she's done, will you?"
He stiffened, looking stunned.
"What are you insinuating?" he snorted, making her blink. "I've already forgiven her!"
"Eh?" Amelia asked, looking a little confused. "Ella told me last night that she apologized, but you refused to accept it."
"She misread me," he scoffed, scowling darkly. "The moment she caused that whole mess, I forgave her even without an apology. I'm not the type of man who holds a grudge."
Ella whirled around with an incredulous expression.
"Lies!" she barked, clenching her fists. "If you forgave me, why did you act like that?!"
"BECAUSE I DON'T LIKE YOU!" he roared, making everyone in the general vicinity flinch backwards in shock; within seconds, he was on his feet and stalking forward.
"What are you doing?" Amelia squeaked. "Phil, calm down!"
He didn't even twitch, and before anyone could process his movements, he gripped Ella's cloak and jerked her face close to his own, baring his sharp fangs.
She met his gaze with alarm.
"I don't like you, Ella," he hissed, every single word enunciated with malice and venom. "I can forgive you, because it's like Amelia said: everyone makes mistakes. But just because I hold no grudge for the things you've done to me does not mean I have to like you. Or trust you."
"I'm sorry," Ella quietly retorted, glaring into his eyes. "I'm sorry for everything I've done."
He let out a snort and clenched his jaw. His mane stood on end, tail fluffing out as yet another animalistic growl erupted from his throat.
"Those words sour on your tongue," he hissed. "You're not sorry, Ella. Your expression always speaks more than your words ever do, and for someone who supposedly hates lies... that was a pretty damn big one."
Ella flinched when he abruptly shoved her back a step and stormed past her, tail angrily smacking her arm as he departed.
Amelia pressed a hand to her forehead and sighed, looking more than a little dismayed.
"A bit of tact would have been appreciated," she muttered, getting to her feet and dusting her tunic off. "Now he'll probably be in a foul temper for the rest of the day."
"You're right," Ella muttered, scowling at the ground. "I should have been a little more patient."
Amelia looked at her in surprise.
"There's always a next time," Gus said soothingly. "Just wait until his ire has died down."
Ella took a deep, calming breath before exhaling with more force than she really needed.
"I still don't fully trust him," she quietly admitted, making both of them pause. "Even though I have a bit proof that he means us no harm, I can't trust him until I get more proof."
"Why?" Amelia asked in dismay. "Can't you simply have a little faith in him?"
"Blindly putting my faith into someone else was what led to Chisago's ruin ten years ago," she heatedly shot back. "It would be very irresponsible to trust him without probable cause, and I won't do that."
"Then," Gus muttered pensively, "what proof do you need to make you trust him?"
"Proof that he's not an enemy, or even a liar. Unfortunately, there's no way to get that information until I find a dream walker."
"What are you saying?"
"I'm saying I'm caught in an endless cycle of doubting him, and I can't truly apologize to him and mean it from the bottom of my heart until those doubts are gone."
Amelia looked worried.
"That doesn't sound like it means anything good for Phil."
"I know," Ella muttered, shaking her head; puzzlement and frustration made her face grow dark, but then she froze. "Wait... oh, Gods. There might be another way! In fact... it might even be more beneficial... although, it could be dangerous, too... but we do have a powerful mage, and I do feel confident enough..."
Amelia frowned, then walked over and set a hand on her shoulder.
"What are you thinking of doing that involves magic?" she quietly demanded. "Tell me."
"Astral magic!" Ella breathed, eyes growing bright with a wicked gleam. "Astral magic is a form of illusion magic, isn't it?! Amelia, with your help, I could truly discover whether or not I can trust Xaphile! I wouldn't have to force anything!"
Amelia stiffened, eyes widening in shock behind her glasses.
"No!" she squeaked, lifting her hands in horror. "That's not... it's not a good idea at all, Ella! It's a serious invasion of privacy! Not to mention, we would lose a big reason for taking this journey!"
"There are many reasons for this trip and most are unrelated to his strange situation," Ella retorted, cocking her hip. "We don't know whether or not he's even our ally and we all want this trip to go as smoothly as possible, so I think it would be better if we hold back on the morals for once."
"You don't understand!" Amelia vehemently protested. "Traveling into the mind of another using astral magic is an experience that nobody should ever undergo! You'll witness everything that they keep tucked away inside them, not just specifics!"
Ella was honestly just too tired and emotionally conflicted to really care.
"I'm willing to undergo the burden of his history if it can give me a clean-cut answer," Ella sighed. "I grow unbearably weary of this grudge we hold against each other. Will you aid me? Or not?"
Amelia frowned at her.
"I can't invade his mind like that. No matter how much I want to help you, I made him a promise."
"A promise?"
"He told me not to ever ask about his history unless he was the one who brought it up... and since his mind is his last sanctuary, I cannot go there. I'd be breaking my promise."
"Not even if it means he could betray us?" Ella scoffed, frowning at her. "Why not simply use the magic on me?"
"Because you have no magic ability within you," she explained. "If you delve into his mind using the power of someone else's Astral Magic, particularly someone as inexperienced as me, you could get trapped there."
Gus's brows rose.
"Trapped?" he asked. "How?"
"You need the one sending your consciousness in to guide you back, too," Amelia informed him, "but with my limited skills, doing so without me being right there with you is literally impossible. It would be like watching a fish slide off a hook in a deep river."
"So you're saying her mind would disappear forever?" Gus asked, face growing pale; he ran a hand through his beard, definitely not liking the sound of it. "Astral Magic seems like a very dangerous thing to be messing with."
"Is there no other way?" Ella asked. "Any way around it?"
Amelia's mouth pressed into a thin line, and almost habitually, she reached into her shirt and clutched her cross.
"There is," she quietly admitted, "but it would be much more dangerous than a normal astral projection."
"Dangerous or not," Ella said hopefully, "if there's a path to my goal, I will take it! Tell me what I must do."
"It is not what you must do," Amelia corrected. "The one who will be doing everything of importance is old Gus."
"EH?!" the man squeaked, eyes widening in shock; he blinked, then gestured at himself. "Me?!"
"What are you saying?!" Ella demanded, eyebrows flying into her hair. "He can't use magic! What makes you think he would be capable of Astral projection?!"
"You misunderstand," Amelia replied, keeping such a level expression that everyone paused. "I will be performing the magic, but I will be using Gus as a tether."
"A... a tether?"
"Indeed. I know an enchantment that could, in theory, be used to temporarily tie your minds together, but in order for it to work, I'll have to keep my concentration since I'm the only one here who can keep you from spiraling into nothingness. You'll need Gus to be the link that keeps you rooted to your body."
"Oh," Ella murmured, looking a little surprised. "Well, okay... but, how is that dangerous?"
"If I run out of magic before you discover what you need to," Amelia mumbled, "I could die."
She stared in shock for almost half a minute.
"I... I don't wish to run that risk," she reluctantly muttered, letting out a defeated sigh. "It was simply a thought."
Just as she turned around and started to walk towards the horses, Amelia clasped her wrist.
"You and I both know that what you just said is an absolute lie," she instantly murmured. "Don't write it off just yet. There is, after all, a chance: all you must do is say you are willing."
Ella slowly turned around.
"Are you willing?" she demanded. "Would you willingly risk your life for it?"
"If it can really fix things between you and Phil," Amelia sighed, furrowing her brows, "of course. I am tired of the conflict, as well. However, if you have anymore issues with him after this, you had better be prepared to deal with the consequences, because you and I... we will have problems as well. Big ones."
Ella nodded, then let out a reluctant sigh.
"I am indeed willing," she said firmly, although a little unhappily. "As much as I regret saying it, I don't feel like anything will change unless I do this. In fact, it's liable to continue into a downward spiral before we manage to really start traveling."
"Then, when we have an opportunity to do so," Amelia murmured, looking at Ella and Gus with solemn eyes, "I will help you see into Phil's mind, but I hope you know what you're getting yourself into. This isn't a game."
With a sigh, she walked off towards the horses, where Xaphile was already waiting.
He had long since donned a new shirt and was pointedly glaring at everything.
It was definitely going to be a long day.
🌓🌔🌕🌖🌗
And so it went.
Gently digging their heels into the animals' sides, the four of them moved out, riding through the woods at an easy canter.
Gus pulled a map out of his shirt and unfolded it before burying himself in it. Amelia pulled a book out of her bag and flipped it open, then ushered her horse to ride beside Xaphile's.
"Hey," she murmured, looking at him with a tentative expression. "If you're up for it... do you want to learn a little about something other than magic? Or shall we continue our previous lessons?"
He didn't look at her, merely stared straight ahead with a blank face.
"Let's finish what we started before trying something new," he finally said. "That way it'll be less confusing."
"Okay, then let's begin with the known magical abilities of primordial sprites," Amelia murmured, then paused and gave him a sideways glance. "You aren't feeling sick or lightheaded, are you?"
The question caught him off guard.
"I told you earlier... I'm fine," he quietly rasped out. "I feel pretty much back to normal."
"Wonderful," she sighed, shaking her head. "I guess the healing magic was sufficient. It must have been the blood loss."
"Mm..." Xaphile mumbled in a noncommittal tone; then his stomach growled voraciously and he winced. "Hey... do we... have anything to eat?"
"Yes, actually, we do," Amelia instantly confirmed, leaning down and opening her backpack again; reaching into one of the pouches, she pulled out some bread before holding it out to him. "Here..."
"Thanks," he mumbled, snatching it. "I appreciate it."
"Make sure to eat every single bite," she told him. "You need to get your strength back. That incident with the arrow... it really did give all of us a scare."
"Sorry," Xaphile murmured, feeling somewhat haunted as his mind drifted over the dreadful memories of the last few days. "Thanks for breakfast."
"You're very welcome," Amelia sighed, smiling at him. "I heard you mumbling in your sleep, by the way... bad dream?"
He stopped with the bread right in front of his mouth.
Then he pulled it away.
"Not really," Xaphile admitted, not meeting her eyes. "I slept pretty soundly for once."
She gave him an uncertain glance, but he honestly hadn't had any memorable dreams.
Then again, who would after all the stress?
"At least one of us did," Ella's voice grunted from up front, making him stiffen. "Mercy, I'm tired."
In a flash, the fight from the previous evening came rushing back, and he scowled, but Amelia waved a hand in front of his eyes and beamed when he blinked at her.
"Now that you have breakfast," she chirped, nodding at him with clear blue eyes, "let's begin your lessons."
"All right."
With steadfast resolve, she began to explain his so-called magic.
"Your magical abilities are fueled by emotion, that much I was accurate on," she recited, reading from the book. "Unlike most species of faerie, sprites have a vast, inherent attunement with elemental energies, but none of them can use any magic type that isn't in tune with their species element. Primordial sprites, however, can control three."
Gus actually blinked and looked up from the map, brows raised.
"Three?" he scoffed in disbelief. "Preposterous. Mages spend their whole lives devoting themselves to one elemental line of skill since it takes years to to efficiently master. And even then, once they do become an Arch Mage, it becomes impossible for them to learn any other elemental line of magic... either too much time has passed or they're out of tune with the other elements."
"Very true, Gus," Amelia laughed, flashing him a bright grin, "but you're forgetting that we, who are among the younger races, are different than the faeries!"
"Different?" Xaphile asked. "How?"
"Instead of being born with magic power inside them, humans, elves, and orcs merely bend the magic that already exists in the world to their will," Amelia explained. "For example, primordial sprites have power over the wind, earth, and water because they're internally connected to the land. Life by itself makes them what they are."
"Interesting," Ella murmured. "You sure are knowledgeable."
"Knowledge is a form of power all on its own," Amelia noted. "Anyway, back to the lesson."
Xaphile paid close attention when she began to explain how the sprites of old managed to keep the land alive, beginning with their cultural traditions and ending with their actual abilities, as well as how their powers affected the world around them.
Plants could be grown at a shockingly rapid rate, but they would also grow unhealthy. The faster the growth, the more weak and sickly the plant. As for wind and water, she didn't go into much description there since she felt it was better to save those elements for actual practice.
According to her, malleable magic was unstable and could do strange things at the weirdest moments if one was unfocused.
"So, when will I actually get to practice?" he asked, giving her a strange look. "I don't think we've gotten to that yet."
"Not for a long while," Amelia told him. "You still need to learn the basic stages of using magic. First off will be meditation, to clear your mind of unneeded thoughts. Later on tonight, I'll try my hand at walking you through it once we set up camp. How does that sound?"
He furrowed his brows as he thought about it, then he shrugged, figuring it would at the very least serve as a decent distraction.
"Not thinking about things is what I've been trying to do constantly for the last few weeks," he told her honestly, looking up at the sky just as a couple of dark birds flew by. "If you know a way to help me do that for real, sign me up. That would be a life saver."
Her smile faltered for a moment, but then it came back, albeit a little forced.
"Well, don't you worry, then," she said firmly, patting his arm. "I'll make sure you know how to mediate if it's the last thing I do!"
Unfortunately, she didn't know how much she was going to regret those words later.
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