Hell's Gate (Part 1)

"The Red General?" Neve balked, feeling her stomach drop. She turned to look at Reed, who nervously met her gaze. "Are you certain?"

"That's what I heard," the boy confirmed.

Neve shook her head, turning back to face the road ahead. She did not want to believe the information that had just been shared with her. It was bad news for Asteria, should it prove to be true.

The Red General was a household name across the continent. He was a greatly feared man. Notoriously brutal, powerful, and–above all else–unbeatable. The Red General was the mastermind behind every defeat Asteria faced against Bluhera.

He received his moniker, the Red General, after a touchstone victory over Asteria at the Battle of Tunora Lake. Apparently, the Red General had single-handedly slaughtered so many of Asteria's men that the lake ran red.

Neve could only hope that history would not repeat itself so cruelly.

"But why invade through the north?" Neve pondered aloud. "The end of summer is approaching. It will be difficult enough to survive the winter, let alone wage a war in it."

"They must have something up their sleeves," Reed replied. "Bluhera can be a frightening place. They're unbelievably strong."

"I can only imagine," Neve murmured.

They rode in silence for a time, pausing only to replenish the oils of their torches. The sky was still dark, as the nights were beginning to grow longer as autumn approached. The air was cool and peaceful, but the darkness surrounding them was too eerie to feel safe.

Neve remained focused on staying awake and alert, watchful of any potential threats lurking in the trees. Unbeknownst to her, Reed was brimming with curiosity.

"Lady Neve?" Reed blurted out, his loud voice cutting through the quiet night. "I can't help but ask. I promise I won't utter a word about this. But how do you possess magic? Are you somehow related to the Royal Family?"

Neve glanced at the boy through the corner of her eye. His curiosity was warranted, but she wondered if she could trust him enough to disclose the secrets of her magic. She supposed it was only fair, since Reed was trusting her with some of his own secrets.

"I am not related to the Royal Family," Neve began carefully. "But, long ago, they weren't the only people who had magic abilities. In fact, all the founding families of Asteria were magic users."

Reed nodded. This information was commonly known, as Asteria's magic was revered throughout the continent. The Royal Family was considered almost holy, since they were the only remaining magic users in the world.

"House Rosentine is one of those founding families," Neve continued. "Like the others, we haven't possessed magic for generations. But for some reason, I do."

Neve glanced down, looking at her sheathed sword. The mana stones embedded in the sword's hilt glistened even in the darkness.

"My family preserved our magical relics, like this sword," she explained. Reed followed Neve's gaze, his eyes lighting up in recognition.

"Mana stones!" he exclaimed.

Neve's head shot up. "You recognize them?"

"Of course," Reed replied. "They're a commodity in Bluhera. The, uh, organization I worked with managed an underground market for mana stones. Since they're so uncommon, they're worth quite a lot."

Neve raised an eyebrow. "What purpose does a mana stone serve if the user doesn't possess any magic?"

"It's a status symbol, I suppose," Reed shrugged.

She paused to consider this. Mana stones weren't as beautiful as other jewels, unless they were activated by magic. They seemed like a strange material to covet, but the nobility often valued rarity more than anything else.

"So is that why the Royal Family decided to send you to Hell's Gate?" the boy asked. "Because they discovered your magic abilities?"

"No, we didn't realize the family retained its hereditary magic until after the decree was made," Neve replied, though uncertainty began to fill her mind.

'How much did the Royal Family know about the Rosentine's?' she wondered. 'Could they have known we were a threat to them?'

Neve shook her head. These suspicions would do her no good. She would write a letter to Vale upon her arrival and quell any doubts she had.

After all, Neve was an anomaly in the long lineage of House Rosentine.

–––

The sun crept into the horizon, staining the sky pale purple. Neve felt her eyelids growing heavy. They still had several hours ahead of them before they reached their destination, so she wanted to push forward.

Neve rolled her shoulders back, ignoring her aching muscles, and kept her attention on the road. At least she no longer had the added difficulty of holding a torch while she rode.

Their horses had been holding up as well, though Neve knew they must be exhausted. Eventually, they would have to rest. Hell's Gate was still too far away.

"Um, Lady Neve?" Reed spoke uncertainly, his voice scratchy after hours of silence. "Are you alright?"

Neve turned to look at Reed, confused. "What do you mean? I'm fine."

"I didn't notice when it was dark, but you look quite pale," the boy replied, frowning. "And you're sweating a lot."

Neve furrowed her brow. She certainly didn't feel great, but she assumed her physical state was due to fatigue.

"Maybe we should take a break," Reed suggested tentatively. "You really seem unwell."

A long stretch of silence followed. Reed could sense Neve's hesitation and continued to appeal to her hurriedly.

"We also need to eat," the boy rambled. "And the horses probably need water. It's been a long time since we departed. We're risking injury by pushing–"

"Alright!" Neve interrupted. "Fine. We'll rest at the nearest water source."

"Great," Reed chirped. "I'll listen for running water."

Neve raised an eyebrow. "And this isn't because you want to escape?"

"Well, I do want to. But I think it's a little late for that, right?" Reed replied, offering Neve a boyish grin.

She resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "Far too late."