The emptiness reminded me of my visit to the Seer. The mere reminder of her—of her foul breath—sent a creepy shiver down my spine. But the darkness was too familiar not to imagine her face, expecting her amber viper eyes to appear out of nowhere. Except down here wasn’t all that silent. I could hear the fucking rats squeaking and scurrying. The hairs on my arms stood on end.
I looked back—the entrance was no longer in sight. That’s when I deemed it safe to take out the pocket flame.Light. I managed to suppress my scream, but I sure as hell was startled at the grey rat that stood in my path. We made eye contact. My blood rushed, giving me the will to stomp my foot and move the immortal flame towards it with a hiss. Thankfully, it fled, as did my next shaky breath.
Light from the flame illuminated the map. My eyes traced the length of the tunnel. I hadn’t reached the first crossing yet—or at least I thought not—so I kept moving through the seemingly endless passage.
Hours had passed. My body begged for rest, but this eerie place filled me with such unease, I knew I wouldn’t be closing both eyes in a squelching tunnel. So I stopped only once I reached the crossing. It led to five other canals, just as the map had promised.
At the crossing’s centre was a wide, circular gap—a sort of constructed, round reservoir. I looked down, with no end to see. At its centre was a flat, circular stone from which a large water valve emerged. I had no doubt that rats were excellent jumpers, but I’d rather rest on higher ground.
I threw my bag first, then leapt over the deadly gap. I climbed atop the stone’s apex and settled there, beneath the water valve. I left the pocket flame open, with the hopes of warding off the rats. I closed both eyes, hugging my bag to my chest.
I awoke with a gasp. “Agh!” A metallic note rang out, resonating through the vaulted chamber as I hit my head against the damned valve. I cursed it. Then made my way out from beneath it, rubbing my skull.
A soft chuckle of relief left me at the rays of sunlight that made their way through the overflow vents at the ceiling. I followed the light, noticing a wall-mounted ladder beneath the larger vent. It was tempting, but not yet, so I scratched the exit on the map and entered the third tunnel—the one that led to another crossing. I reached it hours later. More vents. More exits. Though my start of a grin faded at the realisation. My index finger traced the map. “Fuck,” I muttered, noticing a negative symbol before the tunnel entries, marking their sharp descent. One ran all the way down to the Depths, the other was a connection to the Fount.
I took small, careful steps towards the tunnel that led to the Depths, hand braced against the wall. I dared to peek my head into the abyss. Yep—it dropped dizzyingly down. I edged back, chest tight.
My exit was here.
I was still four days—give or take—away from Riptide Falls. And as much as I hated these rat-infested waterways, I’d rather stay hidden below ground than run around on Ilman land.
CHAPTER 42
Ireluctantly walked towards the closest ladder.
I grunted, pulling myself and my bag out through the vent. Kneeling, I shielded my eyes with my hand as they flickered and squinted against the radiant sunlight. I rose to my feet and spun around, taking in the long stretch of greenish-brown marshland that surrounded me.
I took out the compass. To the northwest was land that showed a remarkable blend of regeneration. Scars from the Naari flames remained—remnants of burnt trees, some still standing, others that had fallen into ashen logs. But close to them, new life thrived. Young trees and saplings made their way into the world, bringing with them colour and existence. To my left were the remains of the purification mills, all crumbled and forgotten. I vividly imagined the people of Ilma, powerless, screaming their throats out as they fled the flames of Pyrona. I blinked the image away.
Standing at the border of the woodland, I watched the leaves dance in the wind, their veins shimmering with sunlight. I looked back once, towards the Land I could no longer see—my homeland—before stepping into the dense forest.Forward, I told myself. Always forward.
My gaze roamed as I threaded amidst towering pine trees, their branches alive with the frantic chatter of birds. I frowned at the ones branded with burn marks. My objectives were simple: move fast and remain concealed.
For the night, I found refuge on a broad tree branch, suspended high above the forest floor. I obeyed my wary gut and scanned my surroundings as I climbed, threatened by every moving shadow, every snapping twig.
I hoped that the branch wasn’t burned at its core—that I wouldn’t be waking mid-fall, plunging into the darkness as it crumbled beneath me.
The branch did not break. I did not fall. Though the lingering sense of watchful eyes lurking somewhere in the distance persisted.
I hiked for hours.
I pieced the route together in my mind. Three days away, if my calculations were correct. I unfolded the map before me, careful not to lose my footing.
I glanced over my shoulder, letting paranoia get the better of me once more.See, no one,I assured myself. My gaze returned to the map and I gasped, eyes wide.
I thought it was a figment of my imagination, but no, it was very real. The map caught on fire. It started as a small circle at its centre, which grew wider and wider until I had to let go of its borders. I jerked my head up and looked beyond the floating paper ashes.
I quickly nocked an arrow.
I aimed it at the man who was leaning against a pine tree, chuckling under his breath. Not just a man—a Naari soldier.
“Oh, look what we have here. A lost little lamb with a bow and arrow.” Laughter echoed.
My aim shifted towards another soldier, who stepped out from behind an olive tree. He winked at me, clicking his tongue. Then it was directed towards a third man of flames, who emerged from behind another tree trunk, a grin spreading across his face.
“Do you really think that one little bow could save you from three men, including a Fire Wielder?” the one in the middle asked, pointing a finger at himself. “Do you even know how to use that thing, little lamb? Baa, baa, meh.” The others chuckled.
“Let me through,” I demanded. “I’m looking for my mother. She is very ill and is lost somewhere around here.”
