Shield of Fire

Crini was sitting on the dusty ground, watching silently as the group gathered around, eating the freshly roasted lizards Jato and Loftak had prepared. The lesson Helion gave her a few hours ago has been quite helpful. Now, she could understand more about the place she suddenly found herself in, which made her feel better.

However, her lesson had ended with the most unexpected news. General Tolm was the incarnation of Exalos, the demon who rules them all. From all the characters she learned about, he was living proof that the myth was true.

And that made her skin crawl, and dread stir inside her.

Throughout the whole time of the dinner, Helion kept checking on her - through brief glances he was giving towards her place. That was a lot to process and he seemed to understand it.

Crini kept silent, taking small bites here and there of her roasted lizard on a wooden stick in her hand. All the silence outside was balancing the screaming noises and mess in her head.

Would the tournament’s purpose be true? No, this cannot be. The tournament was mostly for fame. Prince Tadal had told her - the parts of Leukos’ armour were not found for many years now.

But, if Tolm was Exalos, then Leukos was real and therefore, his battle gear.

Crini’s mind raced back to any knowledge she had gathered while still on Earth. She remembered television documentaries that showed the discoveries of mummies. She was lucky to see one from close! And their precious things were most of the time intact along with them.

So, why not Leuko’s battle gear not have survived through time?

Her thoughts scatter when Ada’s voice resonates as she takes a seat next to her. “You haven’t touched your dinner. Are you all right?” she questions worriedly looking at Crini. “You need the strength that food provides. Friki mountain is tricky.”

“I’m good thank you.” her voice came out like a whisper. “I was just thinking and maybe I got lost in them.” Crini didn’t notice the melancholic tone in her voice, but Ada did.

“You miss your people?” Ada’s voice lowered to match hers. “From what I’ve heard, you’re the only one of your species here. Do you still remember them?”

A sigh leaves Crini’s lips. “Yes, I do remember them. You may say that after a decade - if I count correctly - I’ve been in this place, I still remember and miss them.”

Ada circled her hand around Crini’s free hand and gave a little squeeze. “I hope one day to find your way back home.”

Her voice was gentle and soothing, a balm on Crini’s ears. She nods at her giving a soft smile. Ada was the first to approach her and introduce herself, without the questioning looks and cautious distance-keeping - most of the rest of the group was doing - like she was a moving curse.

Could Crini consider her as a friend?

The group slowly spreads around. Now it’s time for Lura and Jato to keep watch. Helion asks Crini to be the ones watching the fire and make sure they loan more wood when needed to keep it alight, while the rest of the group is split in half, a team exploring further into the mountain, while the other team searches for resources to craft weapons.

On the Firfiri attack, they may have stood lucky, but they needed weapons and they needed them now. And Friki mountain could be a good source of sharp rocks that could be used to their advantage.

“I know it’s a lot to take in, but do not let it get you away from your purpose. It already affects you.” Helion’s voice resonates low from the other side of the fire.

Crini’s head snaps at his direction. “How did you-”

“I noticed. And if I do, so will the others.” Helion cuts her off. “You may need more time but we don’t have that luxury. You should adapt to anything that may come our way.”

Crini stood there, listening to his words like a precious survival manual for extraterrestrials. “I have a question.” she finally speaks.

Helion nods her to continue.

“If he is who he is, then how do you have titles and power? I mean… he is the one controlling the entire planet.”

Helion starts marching towards her, drawing a semi-circle around the fire. “Your question is reasonable. You see, when general Tolm presented as the ruler of Ethnos, those of noble ancestry at that time approached him.”

Helion stops, looking around him cautiously. His action triggered Crini’s curiosity even more than before. “Through negotiations, they recognised his rule over the cities and villages of Ethnos in exchange for their titles. In reality, though, they are nothing more than pawns of general Tolm. He announces the orders through them to the people.”

Crini’s eyes pinned on him, digesting his words. The memory of Queen Tesfira emerged from her memory tank.

She remembered the last time she stole a few minutes from her chores program to sneak into any available room on the upper floor with a view of the central balcony below, where Queen Tesfira was addressing the people of Anive.

She shivered at the mental picture of the people in the city, trembling in fear when she was announcing the increase in taxes and the gathering of a hundred young boys - once every year - to participate in a secret ritual in a place no one had knowledge of. The terror in the parents’ eyes when the reality that they will never see their children if so selected.

Crini felt a wave of detest for the nobles. How they could be so shallow - choosing to protect their titles and privileges and being puppets of general Tolm’s will - instead of fighting alongside the side of their people?

Helion was noble too. Would that mean that he embraces the same principles as the rest of his stock? Nonetheless, the way he spoke about it was like he had a bitter taste at the tip of his tongue.

Hard breaths vibrate through the rocky walls cutting their discussion abruptly. Loftak with Koniaak and Ezpa appear at the far depth of the trail, running hard. “We found it! Call the others, we found it!” they were screaming joyously.

Helion takes a rapid step in front towards them, motioning with his hands to keep quiet. Crini got surprised by how tensed he looked, though she could sympathise with his worry. The fact that they haven’t met any dangers yet, doesn’t mean they aren’t any.

“We found the cave. It’s truly magical!” Ezpa cried loudly in excitement, but when he met with the furious look Helion gave him, he silenced at once.

“I’ll find the others.” Helion intervenes. “Fold the tents, it would be better to sleep in there.” He instructs casually and Ezpa stands straight like he just took an order. “Crini, I suggest you fix a torch for the way. We may have a slight ability to see in the dark but you don’t.”

Before Crini could open her mouth to answer, Helion dashes forward from the other side the group came, searching for the others. Crini offered to help the others first taking down the tents. Then she took off the ribbon she had placed on her head for the sun and taking a piece of hardwood, she wrapped it around it before setting it on fire. The rest of the group approached a few moments later.

Helion was true, the path Ezpa, Koniaak and Loftak were guiding them was uneven. While the rest were tall enough to overcome any obstacles by taking wider steps, Crini was struggling, but luckily Helion, or Ada, or Lura - surprisingly- were staying behind in case she needed help.

Crini was ok with that. Although they had carried her - twice - on their way through the desert, each one was fighting for himself. They would offer some help but that wouldn’t mean that they genuinely wanted it. However, some may prove otherwise.

That feeling of uncertainty was making a strange feeling stir inside her. She wanted to trust, but something was holding her back. The group finally stops. Crini turns to find a small opening at the right wall of the mountain. Something glistens on the other side.

One by one, everyone enters through the opening, disappearing from view. Before she makes a move to enter, Lura blows away the torch by grabbing it and giving a sudden movement of his hand with a swish.

With hesitant steps, Crini approaches the opening.

Her mouth falls open in awe.