Shield of Fire

Crini was expecting to see the usual map of Anive with the dry lands and Friki Mountain behind them. Maybe a bit of difference in the landscape as Encree was close, the outpost was at the borders with the golden tree city. Instead of this, a three-dimensional blueprint of a tall spiral structure appears on the holographic map.

“What is this?” Triana requires as her attention falls on the new map in Crini’s hands. The latter wants so much to roll her eyes at her and tell her a bitter comment about her authoritative attitude - even when she doesn’t have an answer for everything - but she made a mental note to give her another piece of her mind later when they will be in the safety of the checkpoint on Encree.

“Bless the pantheon!” Jato and Poinary speak in unison turning to her.

“What is it for?” Lura approaches with caution.

Helion follows, standing right behind Crini, watching over her and the map in her hands. “The map has been proved to be a precious part of our journey. If it changes it must be for a reason.”

Narrowing her eyes, Crini brings her face closer to the map. “Do you see that line?” she stabilises the weight of the map in one hand before she points at a barely visible vertical line intercepting the rocky plate they stand on, in the middle. The different colour depicting the engraved plate intrigues her. “Can all step off it for a second?” Crini asks turning to the group gathered around her. “I want to try something.”

Some obey her request immediately, others finally do after they can’t have a word on it, boiling in their own oil. Tadal and Triana are obvious examples of that. Looking around to make sure everyone stepped away from the plate, Crini moves her free hand to the interior of the map, attempting to touch it with one finger on the blueprint. Her eyes grow wide when she feels something strange at the tip of her finger when she finally makes contact with it. It’s just a holograph, a projection. How can I touch it? If this is possible, then I may be right. Please gods prove me right.

Moving slightly her finger, she drags the plate very slowly on the vertical line, lifting it a tiny bit off the ground. Gasps fill the air around them as everyone begins to hear gears turning again from the ground below. With a sudden move - like something being stuck for a long time sets to motion again - the plate lifts up, moving exactly as far as Crini had guided it on the map seconds ago.

All of them blinked, unable to comprehend how this is possible. Some of them, they’ve touched the map and all the time, their hands just went through the projection, mirroring the image on their skin. Like touching air. Though now, the map could be touched and there was an elevator that could be controlled by it.

Delighted by the discovery, everyone step back onto the plate. Helion and Poinary help Crini climb on the elevated platform. When everyone is in, Crini touches the object once more on the map, dragging it up, following the vertical line. The engraved platform responds to the guidance, lifting more and more, all the way to the top of the spiral structure.

The platform stops abruptly with a bump once it reaches the top. Carefully, one by one they step out, looking at the new surroundings. The top appears to be much larger than they thought. The questions rampaging their minds are infinite, plastered like a second coat of skin on their faces.

The area looks like the footprint of a battle, with half-destroyed battlements, rusty axes and swords and shields scattered around, depicting the final moments of courageous soldiers, fighting against the great evil infecting these lands.

Walking closer to some of the weaponry prince Tadal bends, grabbing the hilt of a double axe. “Take with you as much as you can carry. The guardian might be close.” he plainly speaks averting his gaze from everyone.

Crini finds a relatively closer to her size shield. The exposure to nature for over a century has made its frame rusty. I could use this one. Grabbing the handle on the inner side, she moves her arm weighing the shield on her hand. Better than nothing.

Triana takes a spear pinned on the ground. Poinary goes for a sword. Lura finds a pair of daggers while Helion walks further, to a bow balancing on the edge of one of the battlements. Searching around for a while, he finds three arrows - their tips piercing the wall.

Crini follows the others as they split, looking around for the guardian. It was a long pastime without a challenge or an attack and that was making Crini worried. Split into two teams the group spread searching the corridors of the outpost’s top. Until they meet again after a few minutes facing each other.

“Strange…” Jato whispers. “Where’s the guardian?”

His questions remain unanswered as instantly the floor becomes liquid, swallowing them all.

When she opens her eyes Crini feels her body, painful and cold, like crashed on ice. There’s darkness all around and she cannot see the others. Although she can hear groans and gasps here and there. No screams or calls for help. They’re either dead or all right. Please be the latter.

Reaching for the cylinder in her pocket, she takes it out and presses one edge of it, expanding the metal to a sword, glowing pale green light. “Everyone’s all right?” she shouts. Moving the sword carefully around, she spots the rest landed close by. “Stay close” she checks, finding her shield and picking it up. The air is chilly wherever it may be. As they gather around, the darkness slowly fades away revealing the room they’ve been standing in. The walls are dark blue, rippling slightly if you’d pay attention to them. Are these real walls?

Her attention shifts when a swirl of white smoke appears in front of them making everyone step back and their fists clench around their weapons. The smoke soon gives away, revealing the form of a tall Ethnian that Crini bet none had seen before. Ash covered his skin. Pointy ears and silver eyes pinning them. His armour was pure white, shining brightly and blinding them. A hand was circling around a spear standing beside him, made out of a material so blindly bright as the armour.

“What is the purpose you summoned me?” his eerie voice makes Crini’s skin crawl in fear.

“We summoned you?” Triana steps forward. “We need no business with you. We just want to make it to Encree.”

“Then you summoned me.” the guardian states. “Only true intentions are allowed to pass the outpost. What are your intentions Triana?” the guardian adds making her gasp in shock and her eyes pop open wide.

Crini was shocked too - as everyone - but she couldn’t decide if it was more from the fact that the guardian knew their names or Triana’s reaction. “H-How you know my name?” Triana stutters.

“I know all contestants’ names. Those walking alive. Those floating in the spirit realm. I know all.”

“Bring your worst!” Tadal spits clenching harder on his double axe, ready for attack.

The guardian lets a hearty laugh making all fall silent. “Don’t get ready for physical battle Tadal. You may have been warned wrongly. The time I was defending this place with my body has long gone. Now I guard it with my spirit. So keep your weapons for later.”

“So, what do we have to do to get the passage to Encree?” Helion asks.

Poinary follows “the time restricts us, honourable guardian” he gives a slight bow to him.

“Then I won’t waste more. Those of you who are worthy will be granted the passage and the rest to the city of the golden tree.” the guardian gives a small smirk as he speaks. Though his expression contrasts the very next second. “But those not worthy will be kept captive in the illusionary realm for the time being, before the rest are out of the city.”

Crini tenses upon hearing the guardian’s last words. She’s been to the illusionary realm and her experience is not one to be treasured. The memories flooded her vision. She remembers Tadal running after her. The complete darkness covered his eyes. And the hate coating his very breath.

“Let’s start, shall we?” The guardian rhetorically asks.

In a blink of an eye, the group vanishes from Crini’s vision leaving only her and the guardian in the room. Out of instinct, the fingers around the hilt of her sword press harder, her nails entering the flesh at the base of her palm.

“Where did you take them?”

“Relax” the guardian speaks with calmness surrounding his tone. “They are in their own challenge with a version of myself.”

“You brought an old friend and comrade-in-arms.” the guardians add after a short pause between them.

Crini stands still in shock but the voice of Xepo reassures her. “He knows.”

Crini stands speechless before the guardian, not having an idea what to say or do.

“We fought great battles with Xepo and his kin. The sacrifice he made for Lefkos will always be remembered. Nevertheless, I have to test you although if he has chosen you, then you are more than worthy to pass this test. Speak the truth and you’re free to go. What is your purpose for this tournament?

And she told him everything. How from a servant in Queen Tesfira’s palace ended up as a bodyguard for her precious and arrogant prince Tadal. Her thoughts of leaving the tournament and seeking refuge in the wild until the tournament thing is off so she can slowly step back from the shadows. She also told him about her desire to find a way one day and get back home. Speaking to him felt like a balm to her soul and though she was holding her guard up at the beginning, his presence was calming her down. Xepo was helping too.

When she answered all his questions the guard gives her a nod, stepping to the side and behind him appears an opening of light. “You’re true to your intentions.” the guardian smiles. “Your purpose here is far beyond your comprehension but soon you will learn. You may go.”

With that, the guardian vanishes in the same way as he appeared before her, in a swirl of white smoke. Without further thought, Crini walks towards the light. Looking around her when she steps out, she spots the opening shrinking until vanishing from vision. Her mouth drops open as she finds herself outside the outpost’s arched entrance.

The next moment another two portals open and Helion with Loftak step out of each of them. Moments later, another portal appears and Poinary steps out. He looks tired - almost exhausted - and the darker blue on the skin under his eyes makes it evident. “Where are the others?” Crini asks throwing a glance around in case another portal opens but the reality is against her hopes. They wait a bit more but none appears.

“I suppose we should be on our way” Loftak looks up to the sky where the sun is getting almost directly above them. “Midday is approaching and we should be past the borders. Come on, let us begin and if anyone else comes they will meet us there” she points towards a set of large thin poles with the flags of both capital cities, signalling the end of Anive and its vast desert and the beginning of Encree.

A/N: Aaand that concludes book 1. I hope you had a good time reading it. I also want to thank all for your kind words in your comments and reviews. You really give me strength and motivation. See you soon!