by J E Reed
“He’ll be here in a bit. I told him to see the doctor. Check on that arm. It’s been causing some pain. Better to be sure there’s nothing to worry about.” She chewed her lip. If he got an infection, things could take a turn for the worst.
“What are we learning?” Kiuno asked as a means of distraction.
“Swordsmanship.”
She groaned. “We’ve fallen back a few centuries.”
Elliott laughed. “In a sense we have, but it’s all we have to work with. With any luck, we won’t be forced to stay here long enough to develop any further.”
She followed in silence until a question she’d been burning to ask couldn’t be held back. “You and Kikyo. Isn’t there anyone you’re worried about?”
He paused. “I didn’t play long, so I don’t remember anyone. As far as Kikyo goes, I couldn’t say, but given his personality I doubt he connected much.” He turned to her. “Honestly, we’re the lucky ones. I wouldn’t want my daughter in a place like this.”
No, he wouldn’t. But it explained why he was so protective of her. She was someone’s daughter. What was her family thinking now? Maybe with so many people missing in the real world, her fate was obvious.
“We’re meeting a guy named Hodge. He’s with a group at the front.”
“Why’d he come back?”
“Wanted a break and to help others prepare for the coming realms.”
“And he just happens to know how to use a sword?” she asked. What person in the modern age had that kind of knowledge?
“I imagine he has a background in martial arts. Doesn’t matter, as long as it’s practical.”
Groups of people stood huddled at the back wall. Some held weapons, while others practiced hand to hand combat.
“You must be Elliott.” They turned to the male voice. Someone much younger than she’d been expecting.
“I am. Nice to meet you. This is Kiuno.” She gave a small wave. “Kikyo will join us shortly.”
“I heard what happened. Glad everything turned out well.” Hodge carried a bright smile, but his eyes looked worn. Dark circles clung above his cheeks, and a scar ran behind one ear. She swallowed the lump in her throat.
“So am I.” Elliott glanced at her. “We’ll be better prepared should something like that come up again.”
“And it will.” His tone. How many battles had he fought? How many had he—
“I heard you can manipulate fire?” Hodge interrupted her thoughts.
She nodded.
“They welcome people like you at the front. You’ve no idea how much magic is respected there.” He turned back to Elliott. “I have two weeks with you, right?”
“Is that enough time?” Elliott asked.
“To learn yes, but practice is necessary to perfect any skill.”
Hodge turned to pick up three sheathed swords and handed one to her. It was heavier than she expected. “Go ahead and get a feel for the weight. That might be a bit heavy for you Kiuno, but it’s the smallest we have. I can teach you the basics, but I wouldn’t recommend combat until we find something lighter.”
She pulled the long weapon from its sheath, the sound of steel against steel making her teeth grind. It was heavy. Foreign. Something that didn’t belong in her hands.
They mimicked the way Hodge held the blade and followed his instruction. Avoid your opponent’s swing. Strike when there was an opening. Never collide with someone stronger than yourself.
She listened. Moved. Swung. But it wasn’t right. The weapon felt off.
“What have I missed?” She turned to Kikyo’s voice, his arm still bandaged but no longer in a sling.
“What did she say?” Kiuno asked.
“No infection, just some irritation, it’s normal. I’m free to move around as long as I continue to take it easy.”
She smiled, relieved.
Hodge took the sword from her and replaced it with a stick a bit taller than herself. “We call it a staff. It might be more your style. At least until we find a sword suited for your stature.”
Kiuno ran her fingers down the wooden shaft. It felt more natural but— “How is this going to help me?”
Wood against steel?
He smirked. “Allow me to show you.”
That night she crawled into bed with an aching body. Kiuno loved the weapon. It was designed to disable your opponent rather than kill them. When she questioned its effectiveness, Hodge showed no mercy.
Kikyo went through the motions, but they took care to watch his arm. The bruising made the marks look worse than they were.
Two weeks flew by.
It felt as though time had its own agenda. They spent every morning either training or hunting. During the evening hours they asked those in passing if they’d heard about her husband. Whoever was looking for her had to be far ahead by now. She hated waiting, but Kikyo needed time to heal. She wouldn’t risk his life to catch up.
Kikyo, like herself, preferred the staff. It was a light weapon and enabled them to move around their opponents with an elegance the sword lacked. She still practiced with the sword, but everything about the staff felt better. The balance. The fluidity.
That afternoon they sat in the small room at the inn, impatiently awaiting Elliott’s return. It was time to move on. Time to see what progress had been made. Kiuno hoped they were almost to the final realm. They both turned when the door opened. “Finally,” she huffed.
Elliott’s arms were full of an array of items. He’d made them stay, saying he had things to take care of. She imagined his ‘things’ were probably friends. Elliott was sacrificing so much. Would he be moving forward if she’d never met him?
“Sorry, took longer than I thought. I got some dried food for the road and warmer clothes. The third realm is a great deal cooler.”
“Do the realms have varying weather patterns?”
“They don’t know.” Autumn had set in, but it still felt too early for winter. As if they needed things to be any more difficult.
“What are those?” She pointed to the long, wrapped packages.
“A small token of appreciation.” He pulled two sheathed blades from under the cloth, a third already attached to his waist. Elliott handed her one, and she drew the weapon. It was almost light enough to wield with one hand.
“Where did you get them?” she asked.
“Hodge found them, said they’d be put to better use in our hands. I think he was just looking out for you.”
“They’re wonderful.”
“I’d rather not use them unless absolutely necessary,” Elliott added.
Even if they were thieves, or bandits, or whatever people wanted to refer to them as, the thought of killing someone still felt wrong. She doubted she’d be able to. If they came across another monster, however, Kiuno welcomed the use of a blade.
Elliott handed them a new set of clothes, and she moved into the smaller room to change. The shirt had long sleeves and squared at the neck, hanging loose around her center. She used the wide belt to hold it in place. The pants were made of thick leather and tied at the sides, lacing all the way down her leg.
Kiuno braided her hair to one side and looked herself over. Despite trying to escape this world, she felt as though it was transforming her. A heavy cloak was the only thing left, but she simply draped it across her arm and walked out.
“Is this necessary?” Kikyo asked.
Kiuno couldn’t suppress her giggle. “It looks good on you Kikyo. You look like a bad-ass elf. Even have the skills to match.”
He cringed. “Kiuno just referred to me as a mystical creature. I’m changing.”
Elliott chuckled. “We needed new clothes, and this is the best they can do. Most will be wearing something similar before we reach where we’re headed so don’t worry too much. They’ll keep us warm.”
Kikyo sighed and put the last bit of dried food into his pack before slinging it over his shoulder. She did the same, tying the sword to her belt as Elliott demonstrated.
>
After being among them so long, a small crowd gathered to bid them farewell. This included Kikyo’s fangirls, and Kiuno couldn’t help but laugh when they started crying. Kikyo’s embarrassment was worth the repercussions she’d face later.
When the noise faded, she felt back in her element. The air shifted through the grass in a silent greeting, and she noted the cool touch it brought over her skin. The breeze didn’t warrant the heavy cloak, but it was clear winter was headed their way.
They only walked a few hours before the spinning vortex came into view, the icy air taunting her. Dead trees lined the area around the grass, and she wondered why it had such a negative impact on the environment. Perhaps it wasn’t in their best interest to go through, but it wasn’t as if they had much of a choice.
Kikyo stepped through first, but she didn’t hesitate this time. Better to get it done and over with. Only eight more to go.
Outside the icy prison it was much cooler, and she thanked Elliott for getting them new clothes. Just as before, it took her mind a few minutes to stop spinning, and Elliott helped her to her feet.
“Seems they were right about the weather.” She wasn’t the only one pulling her cloak from the bag.
Elliott made a face. “We won’t be able to avoid a fire at night.” They’d planned to stay hidden, afraid bandits might ambush them, but without a fire the group might very well freeze to death.
“Are we staying on the road?” Kikyo asked and looked between her and Elliott.
Elliott pulled a piece of paper from his inside pocket and examined it. “The nearest town is empty. From there the path follows along the mountains and turns westward before the next portal. If we did, we’d be wasting time.”
“So, we’ll just travel this way and cut through,” Kiuno said, pointing at the map.
Elliott agreed.
Slippery rock formations surrounded them. Trees grew at the edges of cliffs with their roots dangling down and cutting into the rock. The air was humid, and water seemed to trickle over every surface. Ferns grew in abundance, their feathery leaves hiding the roots as they climbed from one platform to the next. Seldom did the ground settle enough for an easy trip.
At sunset, they followed Elliott down a ravine and settled for the night, laying their packs and weapons against a boulder. Their clothes were damp and cold, but being down in the valley would help protect against the wind. They gathered firewood in the waning light and piled it beside the small stream.
Both men stared at her.
“What?”
“You’re the one with the fire,” Elliott said.
“Fire I can’t control.”
“It’s just like we practiced.” Kiuno looked at Kikyo then back at the wood. What practice? She had done nothing with the magic in two weeks.
Taking a deep breath, Kiuno fought the cold to search for that small spark that would lead her to the flow of energy. She imagined microscopic tunnels running through her veins until she felt the shift.
Kiuno grabbed it and shoved the sensation through her arm. The flame, though a little too big, was instant. She pushed the fire that trailed up her elbow down through her wrist and into the palm, touching her hand to the wood. It was a mystery that the fire never seemed to scorch her clothes.
“Such amazing talent,” Elliott whispered.
“I have a good teacher.” She looked at Kikyo who seated himself against the rock. It was too early for sleep, but the three were content to warm their damp bodies by the fire. With winter coming, days were sure to be shorter and it would take extra planning to be sure they’d survive each night.
There were storms coming. Bandits, monsters, cold.
Yes. A storm was coming, and Kiuno questioned whether they’d have the strength to break through.
REALM: 3
DAY: 61
The trio fell asleep after a long talk about home. It seemed food was the first thing on everyone’s mind. Elliott wanted a steak smothered in butter while Kikyo said he’d kill for a cheeseburger. Kiuno was going after something sweet, just thinking about it made her mouth water.
One thing she hadn’t been happy about was Elliott’s prediction. He reasoned they might be in this place a few more months. The thought was daunting, but it was much better than Kikyo’s guess of them being stuck in this hell over a year. That was, of course, if they made it out at all.
Days passed as they climbed over slippery rocks, doing their best to maintain a straight path. The terrain proved treacherous, and Kikyo prevented Kiuno’s fall more than once. She’d never been a fan of heights and this was testing that fear. The only positive aspect was an abundant supply of water.
Kikyo grabbed her arm and pulled her up the final ledge where she collapsed and steadied her racing heart. Barren land spread before them. It might have been a meadow once, but the cold had killed everything green. It left hard clumps of dead grass that tried to trip them as they continued.
In the distance, a steady stream of smoke rose to the sky. A town. Finally.
The sun was beginning to dip below the horizon when they reached the bottom of the hill. Over the top resided what she hoped to be another prosperous village, but the scent in the air was rancid, almost familiar. Whatever they were burning clouded her lungs and made her gag.
Kiuno ran ahead, leaving the two behind to discuss their sleeping arrangements, should this place have no room. It didn’t matter, they hadn’t come across anyone in days. She just wanted information. Maybe someone could update them on the realms. Would this town be larger than the last or—
Kiuno froze.
“What do you see?” Kikyo called, but she couldn’t respond, she couldn’t move as she gazed over the burnt land in horror.
Skeletal remnants stood where buildings once did, ash covering everything in the vicinity. Small flickers fought to stay alive between the mounds of bodies. They were thrown across the ground as if part of the rubble. Charred. Contorted.
Her stomach twisted from the scent lingering through the air as weak legs carried her forward. Had anyone survived? Should they bury—
“It’s best we go around.” Elliott’s gentle hand wrapped around her shoulder.
How could someone be so cruel? They were warned of bandits…but not this.
“The fires will finish what they started.” Elliott pulled her a little harder this time, but she resisted. What if Elite…
Both men followed her in silence.
How many were dead? For what purpose? It was impossible to tell male from female, but the small bodies were easy to distinguish. No mercy.
A glint of silver caught her eye and she bent to touch the familiar band that wrapped around a blackened wrist, the material unmarred. It wasn’t a name she recognized.
How many?
“We shouldn’t linger.” Elliott tried again. From her peripheral she could see Kikyo searching the bracelets, no doubt for her husband, but her feet stayed glued to the ground.
“Elliott.” They both turned to Kikyo and her heart leapt into her throat. Elliott eyed her before investigating Kikyo’s find.
Please no…
Kiuno wanted to run, but her body wouldn’t obey. She couldn’t tear her eyes away from the scene. Is this why Kikyo protected her back in the forest? Is this how he’d felt?
Elliott grabbed her arm and turned her back to the hill. “Let’s go.”
“Elite,” she whispered. He’d understand.
His jaw clenched. “He’s not here.”
“How do you know?” He couldn’t convince her by simply saying Elite was strong, that he wouldn’t succumb to something like this. It didn’t matter how strong a person was. To survive such a massacre would be nothing short of a miracle.
“Because,” his voice shook, “Kikyo found Eldridge.”
A FEW days later, the first snowflake fell from a gray sky.
Kiuno sat curled into her companions, all of them fighting for warmth. After seeing Eldridge’s group butchered, Elliott kept their fi
res low. Tonight, they’d been lucky enough to stumble across a cave, but the mouth of it had a wide entrance, allowing the chilling breeze to flow through.
Nightmares plagued her mind as she fumbled with a reason for such cruelty, knowing there were murders and no one to stop them. They could be anywhere. Do anything they pleased without consequence.
Rena. Now Eldridge and everyone from the village. Who would be next? Kiuno curled tighter into her companions.
The following afternoon they were climbing across rocky slopes once again. It led them to another cliff-side where they looked out onto barren grassland. Scattered pines were the only bit of life, save a small village at the base of the rocks, a fire burning in its core.
None spoke. She wasn’t the only one hesitant. If this group had been the cause of such pain…
Her blood boiled. Strange how one encounter could open your eyes to hidden danger.
They backed away from the edge and set up for the night. The structure that stood twenty feet below them paled in comparison to the few they’d seen. The walls were made from tree trunks tied together, and it had spikes that jutted from the ground around the perimeter. She assumed this was meant to ward off predators. Two silhouettes stood at the gate, but no one guarded the top or rear.
“What do you want to do?” Elliott asked.
Despite the danger, she was torn. Skipping this village contradicted their search, but she didn’t want to risk their lives either. What would make the next village safer than this one? The appearance?
“We watch them tonight and decide in the morning,” Kikyo said.
Elliott waited on her answer. “That sounds good.”
Both had been worrying over her since finding Eldridge’s group. She’d been quiet. Light hearted conversation didn’t feel right, not yet.
They hid themselves behind a rock that protruded from the ground like a guardian statue and avoided a fire for fear of disclosing their location. Each wrapped themselves in blankets and huddled together. She hoped it wouldn’t snow.
Elliott offered first watch, but it was no secret they’d all struggle with sleep anyway. With the biting wind and no fire, it was all they could do to keep warm.