Shield of Fire

The wooden torch fails to break through the gloom in the dark tunnel. The air is thick with humidity and a dominating smell of moss, making it hard to breathe. A few moments earlier the ‘fearless’ prince Tadal instead of going first - as he always chooses to do, given a chance - stepped aside and motioned for Crini to step forward. Having no other option to do otherwise, Crini did as instructed, with her heart beating fast and nervousness infecting every corner of her body.

She didn’t know where to look at. Ahead, watching out for unknown creatures? Or behind, where the danger was crystal clear and had the name of the fallen prince of Anive? And that was not the only thing to concern her. Ada and Ezpa were assisting him. Crini tried to remember the images from their previous encounter. They were both watching Tadal and reacting like soldiers ready to sacrifice themselves if their general instructed. As for Ada…

There was a strange shine in her eyes as they were growing wide every time she looked at him. She looked almost… in love. One more reason to do his bidding. How naive of her to think that Ada could be a friend. Though this was not her worry. Crini was worried about the strange behaviour of the rest of them, throwing dark glances at her at every instance. But Helion…

Crini was surprised at first with him. He was the only one of the royals to actually help her. With knowledge. Because of him, now she knew much more about this place, about this tournament and its importance. But he was also acting strange, and this only caused doubt to cloud her mind.

He helped me. Why help me if he wants me captured too? But he warned me.

“Shit,” Crini whispers under her breath, kicking a small piece of rock on the ground. The rock bounces on a side wall before it jolts forward and vanishes from sight. The short, clicking sound echoes through the tunnel.

“What did you say?” Tadal barks from behind. Crini rolls her eyes and instinctively she’s prepared to reply as he deserves but she gets hold of this sudden urge and tries to control it.

There will be time to speak my mind. Just not now.

“I said ‘shit’. It’s a word for droppings back on Earth but it could also be used to describe the situation we’re facing here. There’s no map, no proper light to see further ahead of our noses…”

“I see.” Tadal’s tone gets slightly softer.

Their conversation doesn’t last long. Crini is even afraid of addressing him. She tries to focus on her surroundings. There’s a hope within, that she’ll be more able to reflect any attempted attack of his if she concentrates on the noises around. Holding the metal cylinder tight within the pocket of her trousers, and the torch a bit higher than her head level with the other, she walks carefully getting deeper into the unknown.

Tadal would not try to do anything while we are here. He doesn’t know what lies ahead. He could easily be killed by someone attacking him or if these walls of rock collapse. Or, does he know?

“Have you been here before?” Crini asks out of the blue. Not even her mind could stop her mouth from speaking those words.

Silence falls between them for a few seconds making Crini think he didn’t want to answer her question.

Of course, you have!

“I’ve been to Friki Mountain again, but a lot has changed since the last time,” his answer caught her by surprise. Though at first, she wanted to believe him blindly, the doubt took suspicion by the hand.

“Really?” she responds, putting fake surprise in her tone and hoping he’ll get the bait.

“Apart from the giant doors at the entrance and the tunnels, all the rest up to now are the same.” He spits nonchalantly. “And I’ve been here pretty recently as part of my training.”

“You try to tell me that someone put a pair of iron doors into the mountain and carved numerous tunnels? If this is all done after your last visit, the person who did this must be much bigger and stronger than any Ethnian I’ve seen.”

“I have a theory, well, I’m almost certain of who might be. But you won’t believe me. Like the others.” His voice pinched with accusation.

“Try me. After all, I’m just a servant. I don’t think someone like you would be bothered whether a servant believes him or not.”

A strange sound echoes from his throat as he contemplates her words. “Maybe you’re right.” Tadal states. “Have you ever heard of the Mati?”

Crini’s pace abruptly stops. “I heard a man referring to them once. He said he met one of them once. The whole palace thought of him as a lunatic though, and the queen ordered the guards to throw him in the dungeons. We never saw him again.” Crini recalls the moment in her mind.

Tadal lets out a short laugh. “Mother never believed in their existence. But I do. They are gruesome forms of liquid dark matter with bright green eyes attached to their bodies. Reality shifters. They can easily be the ones who formed the tunnels and placed the iron gate at the mountain’s entrance.”

“You’ve seen anyone of them?”

“No, but I know they prefer to live under the surface.”

Crini felt an electric current passing through her, making the hair at the nape of her neck stand on. Maybe they can send me back to Earth!

“There’s a possibility to meet any of them in here?” her voice dressed with a hint of excitement.

“Maybe. But don’t get too overwhelmed about that. You don’t want to touch them unless you’re crazy or stupid enough to see your end.”

Any expectations building within Crini’s mind, fell all of a sudden, like a pyramid of playing cards.

And that’s the end of my dreams.

The disappointment was so evident when her shoulders sank and she silently sighed. Whatever Tadal may have said afterwards was just noise in the background as her grief pushed everything behind.

So stupid, so naïve. There’s no way to get out of here. I just have to accept it.

Lost in her thoughts and the inner wailing, Crini didn’t pay attention to the cracking sound that suddenly filled the tunnel, coming from beneath her feet. She just yelped when the ground under her collapsed, swallowing Tadal along with her.