Chapter 32

"Follow me," Melany sang, her spirits high. 'I never knew spirit animals were so gullible,' she thought, 'After I take care of them, Phantom's end is in sight. From there…' Melany laughed, "It's all under control."

"Under control?" Ember asked, suspicious.

Melany coughed, "The escape plan, of course."

Ember raised an eyebrow but didn't dwell on her strange words any longer. They were nearing the exit of Arkas and it wouldn't be long until Rui and the others discovered them.

As if summoned by her thoughts, Ace stepped out in front of them. His face was darkened with anger, and emotion that Autumn and Ember hadn't seen him show.

"Melany." He spoke, his voice flat. "Just where do you think you're taking our spirit animals?"

"Your?" Ember hissed, "I don't believe we belong to anyone."

Melany shrugged, her eyes narrowed. "You heard her. You don't own them. They're here with me willingly, I don't think that's the case with your…" she paused, "…little group."

Ace glared at her, "I don't know what you told them, but-"

Melany cut him off, "I told them the truth."

She quickly drew a rune in the air, intricate strands of light weaving together into a teleportation spell.

Ace's eyes widened, "Don't let them leave!"

Lapis dashed forwards, her timely arrival cutting off Melany's spell.

Melany laughed, "Your mistaken. I never wanted to leave with them…"

They watched as the rune completed itself, drawing its power from the two spirit animals. With a bright flash they disappeared, leaving behind the underground city of Arkas.

"Dammit," Ace cursed. He looked towards Lapis, "I apologize. This was an oversight on my part…as leader I should've-"

Lapis cut him off, "You did what you thought was right. It's fine. Go find them, I'll take care of her."

Lapis bound Melany's hands and pulled her away, disgust evident in her gaze.

Melany laughed, she was a disposable pawn for a greater organization. Her death would help further their plans, even if it was just a little.

Meanwhile, Autumn and Ember were teleported back above ground, but due to limitations in energy and the distance between Arkas and the surface, they weren't able to go far.

"Where are we?" Autumn asked, looking around for any landmarks she could use. Her map was held tightly in her hands, currently useless.

"Let's head straight. We have a one in four chance of heading back where we came, and if you ask me, that's a pretty small margin of error."

Autumn sighed, "We don't have much of a choice right now, so let's trust your ideas once again."

"A 25% chance of failing is the equivalent of offering yourselves up on a silver platter in the adventuring world."

"Rui?" Autumn called out cautiously. "I'm sorry for breaking our deal, but we've decided that we can look for Ember's parents on our own. Consider this a goodbye."

Autumn grabbed Ember's hand and pulled her away from where Rui's voice just sounded.

"Hurry," she hissed.

Autumn turned her head, looking back. She froze, "Ember?"

The hand she was holding had disappeared, a thick fog obscuring her vision.

"Magic?" Autumn mumbled, "This wasn't here before…"

Autumn turned around, retracing her steps in hopes of finding Ember.

"Autumn, run!" Ember's panicked voice rang out.

"Not without you!" Autumn yelled back.

"I'm afraid you don't have a choice." An adventurers silhouette stood menacingly in the fog.

Autumn took a step back, turning and running away from the unfamiliar voice. Another silhouette appeared in front of her, and this time Autumn was close enough to see their features.

"I've got you!" The adventurer cried as she reached out towards Autumn.

"You weren't supposed to engage!" A male voice called out, his footsteps rapidly approaching.

"I know, but by the time they've been notified it would've been too late!"

Autumn dodged the clumsy attempts of capturing her easily. "Did they hire you?" Autumn hissed, "Have you no morals?"

Without another word Autumn shifted and ran, her small wolf form taking advantage of the fog and easily passing undetected by similar adventurers.

'It seems they really did ask for help,' Autumn thought, 'There's no way Ember was caught by them…was it Rui? Or Ace? Where did Khrona go?'

Autumn felt her frustration build up, her bubbling anger causing her to slip. She sucked in a breath as her head slammed against the rocky ground.

Soft footsteps approached her. "Just my luck," she mumbled, "an adventurer."

"Not just any adventurer. Your favorite one."

"Favorite? Least hateful, maybe. Where is Ember? Who are you?"

"You don't know? Maybe it's been too long since you heard my voice. It's me, Sol!"

Autumn stood up, shaking the dirt off her fur. She eyed the surrounding forest warily. "I don't remember. Maybe it'll jog my memory if I see you."

"Hmm…well, alright." Sol stepped out of the fog, his bow hanging behind him in place of where his quiver would be.

Autumn whirled around, turning to face him with her teeth bared. She had learned not to underestimate him even if he looked like an incompetent archer.

Sol lifted his hands. "I won't hurt you, come back with us, please?"

Autumn narrowed her eyes, her small form trembling as she inched backwards. "As if I would go back to that gilded birdcage."

"It'll be alright. What happened? We're not monsters…I heard you were with Melany? What did she tell you?"

"The truth," Autumn hissed, taking another step back.

Sol matched her steps, inching forward as she inched back.

"What was the truth? You can't condemn us to a crime we didn't know we committed."

Autumn stayed silent, glancing behind her and freezing as she saw the advancing adventurers.

'It was a trap. He's trying to buy time so they can catch me,' Autumn realized.

Sol realized it too, the sudden appearance of adventurers in this area was not ordered by anyone. There was manipulation at play.

"Wait! Autumn, you have to tell me what happened. And you three, who told you to come here?"

Autumn growled, her head was spinning. 'What is going on? Did she lie to us? Is Sol trying to convince me that we're on the same side once he got caught? Or…' Autumn shook her head. Was it possible she was wrong?

Autumn steeled her eyes. It didn't matter. If Sol wanted to play this game, then Autumn would see how it would play out. She ran towards Sol, whirling around and glaring at the three adventurers who attempted to take advantage of her distracted state.

Sol glanced down at Autumn, sighing in relief when he realized she was no longer running. He then turned his attention towards the others. "You know, there are consequences to your actions."

"We we're just trying to help-"

"I don't believe it is in your jurisdiction to interrupt me? After all, your rank is much, much lower."

The adventurer gaped. Sol's tolerance of his fellow adventurers far exceeded that of his teammates. This had led to more and more brave souls sticking their nose where it didn't belong.

Normally it wouldn't matter if they lost a few of his items or changed plans without his approval, but this matter was of upmost importance.

If he hadn't been able to persuade Autumn…Sol shook his head, his gaze cold. "See yourselves out. Arkas does not welcome those like you."