“Hopefully, we’ll have the blessing of the Fates,” JP mentions.
With how the Fates have been helping me so far, the Fates can fuck off, respectfully, of course.
CHAPTER 24
Ever Woods
Rez
As we wait to be called to the portals, Ryker takes the opportunity to tell us what we missed while Gus was talking. Since this Gauntlet mirrors the very first one, we will visit the Fae Realm, Tranquil Waters, Ever Woods, and Hell. Apparently, the natural elements we might find that look carved might as well have been made by the first students, so Ryker reminds us to use them well.
My night prior was so chaotic that I didn’t have a chance to share my information with everyone, plus I was a mess from the bloody arm that Reaper found, so I just went home and went to sleep.
I tell Levi the bad news that our memories will soon leave him, and that he will eventually actually seek out Emer, and he goes slightly pale at the news. I’m sure he’s realizing that’s why he allowed the sea serpent around him last night.
I continue to tell them that L.A.M.B. is one of our sponsors and that Murmur named the same places Gus did. Ryker has read up on them, but no one has ever been to them, so, exceptfor Hell, we are pretty much going in blind. That’s practically our backyard now and shouldn’t be a problem for us, theoretically. I also share the news that my magic will be unreliable from here on out, but I was able to place a small, yet thin shield around everyone this morning with the help of the healing waters.
As groups pass through the portals ahead of us, I watch a few brazen supes approach JP and Moni, offering them a spot on their teams. The first couple of people to ask, it’s obvious that Moni and JP are surprised and somewhat flustered by the request, but after the fourth time, Chester and Zeke start running interference. Let’s just say, a lot of teeth and cross words are used until groups just start to give us a wide berth.
“Princes of Nova, you’re up.”
As we turn towards our portal, I notice we’re the last group moving into position. There’s no one else waiting for a portal besides us.So much for being important.Picking up Reaper, I step through and immediately put him down, but before I can grab his leash, he runs… straight into an invisible force field that intercepts him and makes him yelp.
“Teaches you to just up and run off. You know better. We’re at war, buddy,” I reprimand as I pick up his leash and step to the side, making room for the rest.
“What’s going on?” Zeke comes out with his rings activated.
“Easy, slasher.” I put a hand on his arm, pushing it back down. “Reaper is just picking a fight with the shield,” I point out as we look over and see Reaper slowly slide down the invisible wall while his tongue stays stuck to the shield.
“Well, it looks like we have a minute before we’re set free,” Levi comments.
“How do you know?” Chester asks, and Levi simply points up.
Above us, in red, is a counter, ticking down the seconds.
“Oh, well, that makes sense,” Chester agrees, pushing up his glasses. “So how are we going to do this?”
“Hell worked out pretty well for us, so let’s take up those same roles. Defense, Healer, Warrior, that kind of thing, and improvise where we can,” Knox throws out.
“For private matters, use JP and Knots so whatever cameras are around here don’t pick it up. I don’t like the idea of us being watched 24/7,” Levi adds.
We all agree, and a chime rings out right when I get assaulted by a temperature change from a comfortable yet warm summer morning to a downright chill running down to my bones, and the sky darkens to dusk.
“Fuck. I forgot how cold this place could be,” Ryker howls, rubbing his arms.
“At least you listened to me and wore leathers and not the shit you wanted to,” Knox chuckles as he takes a step forward and starts sniffing. “If we’re meant to live off the land, we might as well look for sources of water and shelter, right?”
“I’d rather figure out which way the portal is first,” Levi states.
“Can we find shelter?” Moni asks.
Before we can agree, Fluffers is in front of me, being tackled by Reaper. *SIGH* Boys will be boys.
At least Reaper is a glowing torch for us to see by.
I don’t know how long we walk as we head north, in the direction of the portal, according to Levi’s calculations, until we run into a group of four students, a mixture of all our academies, going west. A few pause for a moment, assessing us, before nodding and continuing their way west. I assume they don’t see us as competition or worth their fight to take us on, and we don’t need the distraction. Storm clouds are rolling in, and the fog is thickening around our feet and creeping up our calves, making visibility harder.
“I wish I had fucking wings. This shit is for the damn harbingers,” Zeke complains, yanking his foot free of a patch of weeds.
