Chapter 19

Deserts and canyons made up the majority of the south's landscape. In the north, where Concordia's capital was located, distant mountains and lakes were the primary topography. For the first time in his life, Micah witnessed the endless, grassy meadows and trees of the west.

There was also an abundance of hills. Many hills. Enormous mounds encased the train tracks on either side, dwarfing them as they passed. They also passed through several tunnels, reminding Micah the Terra people lived underground, just like the Igni Empire of old. He'd never seen so much green. So much wildlife.

Nature in such abundance was remarkable and wholly impressive. Micah sat stiffly on the bench, fully outfitted and equipped as he studied the passing scenery with rapt attention. The rest of his team sat with him, quiet and not quite enjoying the scenery like Micah.

They were nervous.

Fidgety.

"For being desert rats, you're probably overwhelmed with so much living nature," Kai observed, breaking the silence as he watched Micah, Keegan, and Aiden. "Your slack expressions say it all. Then again, your expressions are typically always slack."

"Concordia isn't exactly known for its greenery either," Cain muttered quietly.

Kai offered the older man a look of derision. "More so than the Igni Empire."

"They've never seen the Igni Empire," Talia amended smartly with a vicoritious smile twisting her mouth. "That was destroyed during the war, Edlen, and they're too young to have seen it before."

Micah smirked as Kai shifted with frustration. "You know what I meant, Talia. The more appropriate term would have been desert regions, then." Kai quickly took note of Micah's amusement and turned to him fully. "Is something funny, Egan?"

"I always find pleasure when you're corrected, that's all."

Kai's expression darkened and turned slack. "You—"

He immediately trailed off as the train screeched to a descending speed. They all peered out the windows, seeing a flash of brilliant blue sky and emerald greenery before it all went black. As the train stopped inside a dark tunnel, the engine hissed loudly, as if breathing with relief after the long trip. Micah stood up, touching his sword over his shoulder with apprehension.

"No reason to be alarmed!" Professor Arno declared loudly in the darkness. A pleasant and excited giggle accompanied the reassurance. "This is our stop. Just wait until you see their welcome!"

His enthusiastic voice came from the opposite end of the compartment, though Micah could not see a thing. Although Arno declared the situation harmless, he couldn't help but to panic as one of his major senses became useless. There was a certain vulnerability of being underground with no sense of direction.

He didn't like it.

He felt buried alive.

When the train hissed and decompressed, they waited in silence for what seemed like minutes. Micah twisted relentlessly, impatiently. The rest of his team stayed silent and still, most likely feeling just as agitated.

Dim lighting suddenly blinked on.

Micah stiffened in surprise when Josiah appeared right in front of him, somehow navigating stealthily and gracefully in the blanket of pitch-blackness. Some members of his team also flinched at Josiah's sudden appearance, just as unnerved over the unexpected appearance.

The man smirked and reached out to pat his cheek. "You wouldn't do well in Igni territory, Cadet Egan."

Micah grimaced, deciding not to remind the man he'd lived partially underground with Ember in Region 20. Then again, the underground apartment complex had working lightbulbs and a sense of home. A sense of familiarity. Even in pitch darkness, he could always find his way to his mother.

Something heavy pulled at his chest at the mere remembrance. A bittersweet reminiscence, a twisted betrayal.

He forced it away hastily.

No. He did not like the dark.

Josiah turned to look at the other members of the team, catching their eyes before they looked away in complete reverence. "I need to make one thing clear," he murmured. "King Calder has emphasized the top priority as being the safe return of the artifacts." Here, he looked pointedly at Micah. "Do you understand?"

Micah immediately comprehended the order.

The lives of the professors came second. The artifacts came first.

"I understand, sir."

Josiah smiled thinly at Micah's strict, professional tone. "For necessary backup, Instructor Candace will stay back with the military." He moved away from Micah and approached the door to the train's exit. "As I said before, we consider Terra a nonthreat as of now. The last thing we want to do is reveal our military force to a peaceful kingdom."

Professors Arno and Firth hurried ungracefully to the front of the compartment in order to take position behind Josiah. Both professors seemed to shift eagerly with excitement for what was to come. Micah noticed Firth had changed clothing to something far more conservative. She donned a long-sleeved dress that fell to her ankles and a headscarf to cover her blonde locks.

Micah looked at his team and leaned down to their level. "You understand the orders, correct?" he inquired quietly, looking at each one of them. "No matter what happens, no matter whose life is at risk, our top priority is to safely return King Calder's artifacts."

"We all heard Lord Josiah," Kai drawled. "We're not thick, Egan." Yet, even as he said this, a look of sudden realization crossed Keegan and Aiden's faces. Just as Micah predicted, they hadn't understood Josiah's earlier order. "Well, some of us aren't that thick," Kai corrected, having seen their unsettled realization. "We understand and will follow your lead."

Dismissing his typical flare for animosity, Kai stood up and shouldered into a professional and authoritative role. An unofficial co-captain. He motioned the others to stand, seemingly impatient with their lack of alertness.

The door opened to the compartment and Josiah stepped out first.

Micah and the others followed behind the two professors, stepping into an earthy tunnel. Immediately, his nostrils flared, detecting something moist and rich. Clean. He could only assume it was rich, earthy soil. Above, lights knotted through twine, appearing like small, twinkling stars. He only allowed himself a moment to admire the illuminations, though he thought them particularly enthralling and peaceful.

"King Josiah," a man with a heavy, foreign accent bent at the waist. "Terra welcomes you and your troop. Unfortunately, Chief Heres could not make it today. I am Delegator Barth and I will be escorting you to the sacred vaults."

On the train, Micah learned a bit more about the Terra Kingdom from Professor Arno. Apparently, the Terra Kingdom did not title their ruler as King, but rather Chief. Their democracy was also far more informal than the Concordia royal court. Their citizens voted for the leaders who represented them. The Chief did not hold singular power like a monarch, yet he was a figurehead for all the people and all the delegators.

Micah also noticed they addressed Josiah as King, though the man was now a lord.

Micah ran a critical eye across Barth's plain, flowing robes. For being a delegator, he was dressed ordinarily. Earthy tones and commonplace material made up his wardrobe, along with the three men at his back. All men had very dark skin, far darker than the typical golden skin of the Igni people. Their heads were free of hair, bringing attention to the sharp and handsome planes of their face.

"Send Chief Heres my regards," Josiah responded evenly. "You've met Professors Arno and Firth, I believe?"

Firth and Arno clasped their hands to their chests and bowed simultaneously.

The Terra man laughed pleasantly and nodded. "Yes, yes," he bowed back. "A pleasure to see you both again."

"The pleasure is all ours, Delegator Barth."

"This…" Josiah placed a hand on Micah's shoulder and pulled him to his side. Claiming. Possessive. To an outsider, it was a casual gesture. "Is a group of cadets from Concordia Military Academy. They will be accompanying us to the vaults today."

Micah quirked a brow at Aiden as the boy bowed in a similar fashion as professors Firth and Arno. Upon seeing the rest of his teammates remaining solitary, and stiffly unbending, Aiden straightened quickly, a flush darkening his features. Military—swords—were not supposed to engage in political gestures. They were simply lethal decorations for the use of their kingdom.

Barth appeared taken aback at Josiah's words. He raised his palms and looked at Micah's sword. "No, no need for military."

"They are here under my direct orders." There was no room for arguments as Josiah dropped his hand from Micah's shoulder and stepped toward the exit of the tunnel. "I believe you are a busy man, Delegator Barth. We shouldn't take up too much of your time."

Still appearing unsettled with the presence of Micah and his team, Barth hurried after Josiah, falling into step with him as they walked out of the tunnel. The three men who accompanied Barth waited to take up the rear of the group. With Kai at his side, and the five others trailing at their heels, Micah followed close behind the two professors.

Josiah was right.

They didn't appreciate any sort of military encroaching on their terrain. If Instructor Candace and the rest of the military got off the train, Delegator Barth would have likely grew offended enough to block their access to the vaults. In any case, as Micah stepped out into the open, he could see no signs of impending civil war.

He blinked past the sudden onslaught of sun and light, raising a gloved hand to shield his eyes as he observed his surroundings. Sparse, stone buildings stood amongst high, grassy hills. Said grassy hills were lush with grass that waved tranquilly in the breeze, turning the deep green a shimmery silver. There were hardly any structures. It was so bare. So… desolate. But a beautiful desolate.

The air was fresh. The landscape vibrant and wild.

In the far distance, Micah could see a very large, imposing building on the horizon. Considering the vaults were located in Terra's outskirt village, Micah assumed the solitary building was the Terra Kingdom's palace. It stood out amongst the sea of isolated greenery, its structure impressive. A symbol of power and prestige, he supposed.

Delegator Barth led them up a hill and towards a deteriorating castle. The gray, stonewalls crumbled at the base of the structure and lay in abandoned piles amongst the fields. There was no longer a roof over the castle, but a solid door remained intact.

As they climbed up the decomposing staircase, they passed a statue that indicated it was once a majestic piece of work. Now, it was in shambles. The statue was a woman, beheaded and armless.

Micah assumed it was Prithvi, the goddess of earth.

Back at the capital, any sort of vandalism or mistreatment to Varuna or Agni statues resulted in serious penalties. Micah wondered if this kingdom merely lost interest in the goddess they worshipped, or perhaps they found little reason to construct statues when the majority of their living was underground.

Across the hilly landscape, disintegrating structures lay claim all over the overgrown meadows. Something told Micah they weren't recent demolitions, but rather deteriorated from the force of time itself.

Delegator Barth led them through the crumbled castle and towards a set of stairs. Micah hesitated just briefly as they descended down the steep steps and into a dark, fathomless hole. The temperature, which was mildly pleasant above ground, seemed rather cool the further they descended.

It was black again.

Micah grabbed the railing next to him, wondering why the others did not grab awkwardly for support or voice their discomfort. He supposed they were far more professional than that.

Ahead, a lantern lit and Barth lifted the small source of light.

"Only a bit further, mind you," he informed as they continued down the dark, earthy tunnel.

Micah didn't know what to expect when they reached the end of the tunnel. Yet, after what seemed like eternity, they finally reached a set of doors that Barth pushed open with a grandiose shove. Micah's pupils dilated as he took in the sight in front of him, realizing he hadn't prepared himself for what would lay in front of them.

"Varuna!" Viktor cursed loudly.

Josiah turned back to gaze at the boy coldly. He then looked to Micah, wordlessly telling him to control his men.

Micah could hardly blame the boy at his shoulder.

It was…

It was incredible.

He felt like a child, shell-shocked and speechless as he gazed around at his surroundings. They had entered an underground village. A village. Not just a simple structure. When he learned the citizens of the Terra Kingdom lived underground, he had assumed most of the markets and other various buildings remained above ground while living quarters were dug deep beneath the earth for cool climate.

But not here.

There were small homes made from earth with small fences to keep livestock at bay. Further down the way, Micah could see vendors and markets, their merchandise ranging from colorful fabric to massive pastries. As he gazed up, he had to crane his neck far back in order to stare at the… sky?

A sky created from earth.

It domed far, far above the village, appearing structurally solid. Small, twinkling lights decorated the earthly sky, the same ones he'd seen in the train tunnel. Near the tall, earthy ceiling, there were platforms of what appeared to be gardens. Several holes pierced through to above, pouring sunlight down upon the crops and upon the village below. Men and women stood high on these platforms, barely visible from where Micah stood. He watched in fascination as the ground parted with the movement of their hands, manipulating it expertly.

Earth Elementals!

They weren't pompous nobles who decided to build their own throne of self-importance. Oddly enough, they were getting their hands dirty and providing for their community with their powers.

Rich laughter greeted Micah's ears and a hand clapped solidly across his back. "It appears as if your men are wet behind the ears, King Josiah."

"Wet would be an understatement," Viktor muttered behind Micah.

Micah blinked back to reality, grounding himself back in the present. He offered a small smile to Delegator Barth, acknowledging that his reaction, as well as his team's reaction, would indicate naivety and ignorance. "It's a beautiful village, Delegator Barth," Micah praised.

The man smiled and nodded his head. "That it is, my boy." He moved away from Micah and resumed his position next to Josiah. "If only you could stay and see the capital. It is far more extensive and spectacular."

Micah avoided looking in Josiah's direction, though he sensed the man's stare.

It was impossible not to be taken aback by their surroundings. Shrouded in mystery, the Terra Kingdom kept their world a closely guarded secret. At least Professors Firth and Arno seemed just as captivated and they'd seen this all before.

They continued down the dirt pathway and towards the heart of the village. Micah tried not to observe his surroundings too closely, though he smelt the baked bread and heard the excited chatter of the villagers as their group passed. He followed the professors, studying Josiah as he engaged Barth in light conversation. The Igni lord was professional and cold. Micah found he liked that about the man. Josiah did not sweeten his tone or actions to appear well-liked.

He was just Josiah, a decorated warrior and an esteemed royal from a conquered empire.

Childish laughter suddenly resonated through the air just before a small body knocked Josiah off course. The boy then pushed his way through the crowd of adults, forcing Arno to dodge rather comically.

Micah had no time to recover as the child knocked into his legs. He found himself falling to his knees and staring up at the child, instantly focused on the bright, green eyes. The boy was young, possibly around six or seven-years-old.

He laughed pleasantly down at Micah, his round, juvenile teeth flashing. "For you," the boy declared in a high-pitched voice.

Micah nearly had to go cross-eyed to look at the crystal thrust in his face. It was very pale blue and especially clear, almost ice-like. Looking away from the crystal, he studied the boy's face, realizing the laughter fell abruptly from the child's expression. Green eyes watched him closely, seeming far too old.

Micah could only stare, something odd and hot overcoming his mind and body.

A hand suddenly grabbed him from underneath his arm and hauled him none too gently to his feet. Micah floundered, his mind foggy as he looked up at Josiah. The man's expression was pinched and focused intently on Micah, as if searching for something.

The child laughed again and pressed the crystal into Micah's palm, offering a defiant look in Josiah's direction. "Like your eyes," the child claimed. "Like ice."

Without another word, the boy ran off, his tawny-colored robes flying after him.

"I apologize," Delegator Barth bemoaned with a nervous chuckle. He simpered toward Josiah and nodded his head subserviently. "The children rarely get outsiders visiting our kingdom. They are merely curious."

Micah glanced first to Josiah, who stared after the child with chilling concentration, then to Barth who appeared rather uncomfortable.

"No harm done," Micah reassured firmly, pulling his arm from Josiah's grip.

That seemed to spur the man to recollect himself and move back to the front of the group. All eyes watched the older man, taken aback at his uncharacteristic behavior. Lord Josiah never stepped outside his well-maintained boundaries in public. Micah glanced after the child, wondering what it was about the boy that shook Josiah from his political guise.

"How come I didn't get a crystal?" Viktor lamented to Aiden. "My eyes are blue."

"Silence," Kai instructed sharply.

The team continued through the market square without any further complications. Micah kept his fingers around the crystal, wondering at Josiah's reaction. More importantly, he wondered what danger—if any—the child posed. Besides that brief moment, with his eyes locked with the boy, he hadn't felt anything particularly threatening. The stone he clutched also felt harmless. Innocuous.

"Are you with us?" Kai inquired quietly. "Or should I have Keegan join my side?"

Micah refocused on the man to his right, sneering at the sarcastic tone. "The only way Keegan will be at your side is if I move you to the back, Edlen."

Kai smirked, pleased.

Strangely enough, Delegator Barth led them down a tight alleyway and towards a crude-looking lift. He took out a key from his robes and inserted it into the lift. With an ancient groan, the contraption's door slowly opened.

"I'm afraid we will need to take two trips."

There was a brief intermission as the group split into two groups. Micah and Kai accompanied the first group into the lift. As they descended deeper into the earth, he found the rest of his team watching their descent through apprehensive eyes.

For over centuries, these vaults remained located in Terra's Sanctuary Region. On the train, Professor Firth explained these vaults weren't only secure, but the Terra citizens were peacekeepers of the four kingdoms and welcomed visitors of all races after proper screening. Unlike the other kingdoms, no wars were ever recorded in their peaceful dominion.

Until now, the other three kingdoms saw no reason to change tradition. Moreover, while artifacts from various kingdoms stayed underground, nothing particularly priceless remained in the Terra Kingdom.

"It is unfortunate King Calder seeks to remove items from his vault," Delegator Barth said as the lift sluggishly jerked its way down. "Chief Heres considers it a sign of Concordia's mistrust in our abilities to guard century-old secrets."

"Nothing like that," Professor Firth reassured quickly. "King Calder simply wants repossession of a few items, nothing more."

"I'm sure there have been whispers," Barth continued quietly. "Whispers of unrest in our lands. We have heard these rumors as well. There are groups of radicals, yes, but nothing we haven't handled before. I hope you can relay this message to Calder, King Josiah."

Josiah was the perfect image of an understanding comrade. "It would be my pleasure."

The lift emerged from the darkness and stopped abruptly on the next level.

As they exited the lift and waited for the others to arrive, Micah observed his surroundings. The room wasn't nearly as large as the village above. The ceilings were lower and there seemed to be a large well in the middle of the chamber. It omitted a soft, blue glow, drawing attention to the four corridors leading separate directions. One north, one south, the others east and west.

Kai and Micah shared a look.

Behind them, the lift eventually came to a rocky halt, expelling the rest of their group. His team hastily filed behind him, their eyes cautious as they took in their surroundings.

Delegator Barth led them through the tunnel that stretched north. As they twisted through the winding tunnel, Micah felt the hairs on his neck stand. Small, dim torches lit the tunnel walls, creating odd and misshapen shadows. A glance over his shoulder confirmed his team, and the three Terra men, followed closely behind.

Nothing seemed amiss, though there was a hint of uncertainty Micah could not shake.

Several minutes passed before they reached the end of the tunnel.

A massive door with impressive, incarnate carvings stood opposite of them. Micah studied the carvings, unsure what they meant—if anything. The only thing that stood out were the three, separate keyholes.

Appearing acquainted with the proceedings, Professor Firth removed a key from her long robes and stepped up to the door. Inserting the key, she turned the lock and stepped aside. Unsurprisingly, Arno and Barth each had possession of the remaining keys. When all three locks were turned, the door leisurely creaked open. Micah strained his eyesight, catching sight of shelves upon shelves of old tomes.

As Kai and Micah attempted to follow the others inside, Barth held up a hand.

"This is as far as I will permit, gentlemen."

Micah resisted the temptation to scowl, though he understood the necessary precautions. He inclined his head, toeing the threshold inside the vault. It wasn't as large as he imagined it to be, though it was filled to the brim with items. A part of him whispered that everything inside that vault was his birthright. Just as well, so was the south corridor that would eventually lead to the Igni door.

It all belonged to him if he so desired.

All that knowledge… centuries and centuries of teachings were inside that room. Micah nearly trembled with the thought of obtaining even just a sliver of said information.

His gaze fell on a large mirror, instantly concentrating on the reflection. Within the confinements of an exquisite gold frame, a dark shape moved within the mirror. The shape appeared relatively human, though a sinking darkness settled in Micah's stomach as he watched it move. In the mirror, the figure turned and grabbed a pendant from a neighboring shelf. Said pendant caught the illumination of the wall torch and glimmered radiantly through the glass.

Micah stiffened as he recognized the five-pointed star.

He knew that pendant.

The leather-bound notebook he found in Clarence's living quarters contained a sketch of the exact same pendant. To cage a monster.

It was a replica.

Micah watched as the dark figure pocketed the pendant and turned around, locking eyes with him through the reflection. The figure's eyes smoldered like a fire. Micah stared, every single hair on his body rising with horror and unexplainable alarm. He blinked rapidly and the figure morphed into Josiah.

Just Josiah.

Micah's breath shuddered shakily as Josiah smiled knowingly. Orange eyes—not red—narrowed in contemplation, as if he knew exactly what Micah witnessed in that mirror.

However, not even Micah knew what he had observed. Quickly, he ducked further away from the Unda vault, trying to steady his racing and uneven pulse. Clearly, the mirror was enchanted. How, he did not know. Evidently, it could play tricks on his mind and his emotions. He'd never felt such power before, such sheer darkness.

Was the pendant cursed? Alternatively, did the mirror reflect Josiah's corrupted soul?

That, he did not doubt, yet he knew there was more to it than that. Had this all been an elaborate ruse? Josiah couldn't get into this vault without Calder's expressed permission. The two professors had the keys, as did the Chief of the Terra Kingdom, who had passed it on to Delegator Barth for the day.

Whispers of rebellion and civil uprising, indeed.

For a moment, Micah wondered if there really was such a thing, or if Josiah constructed a clever deception. While Professor Firth indicated there was nothing particularly priceless in these vaults, Josiah found something important.

He laughed softly.

He couldn't help it.

"Egan," Kai called, squinting at him. "What's so funny?"

Micah shook his head, gazing back at the vault. The man could be brilliantly deceptive if he wanted to be. As much as it frustrated Micah to remain in the dark, he couldn't help but to appreciate the man's cleverness. Such darkness and inexplicable deceptiveness should have unnerved Micah.

It only thrilled him.

If Josiah truly wanted Micah to remain ignorant, he would have tightened the blindfold. He wouldn't have brought him and his team to the Terra Kingdom. Moreover, he wouldn't have risked Micah catching sight of the pocketed pendant. Instead, the man's wrists flicked intentionally as he lobbed crumbs of finely wrapped hints and signals in Micah's direction. Like a master luring and training a pet. He had high expectations of Micah collecting and assembling the thrown morsels in their proper place.

Rumors of a civil uprising would have to be elaborate enough to convince Calder of the severity. Elaborate enough that others would believe the anecdotes and forgo century-old traditions by extracting items from the Unda vault.

Micah marveled at the preplanning it must have taken on Josiah's end. Just to get his hands on a meager pendant.

However, it wasn't just a meager pendant, was it? It was Josiah's planning… wasn't it? Delegator Barth indicated he'd heard the same rumors and disagreed with what they entailed. There was no civil uprising. Nothing more than typical. Who else would spur disbelief over the stability of the Terra Kingdom? Disbelief enough that even King Calder would believe? Moreover, how did the pendant correlate with the diagram in the notebook? Did Josiah even know Micah had possession of the notebook? After the apparition in the academy corridor, Micah was leery of even touching the book again.

Perhaps he needed to reconsider his decision.

He needed to know what the pendant was and understand the coincidence. Someone was playing him and he did not appreciate it.

"Micah."

"It's nothing," Micah responded to Kai distantly.

Something inhuman suddenly screeched through the tunnels, grating uncomfortably against Micah's senses. His hands twitched at his sides, wanting to cover his ears, but managing to keep them firmly near his holster.

Turning abruptly, he stared into the dark tunnel.

The screech tapered off, though the offsetting presence remained. A cold, deathly chill swept down the tunnel, strong enough to ruffle Micah's hair and extinguish the torches on the wall. He stood immobile in the dark, glad the others had enough sense to remain quiet. A blinding light suddenly blinked into existence behind Micah, shedding light on two hooded figures further down the tunnel.

Two of the three Terra men sprinted after them and Micah cursed. He turned, spying Josiah holding the new source of light. The man then flicked his fingers, sending flames to each individual torch. Behind the Igni lord, the two professors scrambled out of the vault, their knapsacks appearing full.

Delegator Barth hurriedly shut the vault door with a slam. "Who—"

"Now is not the time for speculations," Josiah interrupted, pushing past Micah. "Unless we want to remain cornered prey, I suggest we move."

Micah stayed behind and trailed the two professors as closely as possible. Their trinkets, after all, were his main priority, even if this might be an elaborate setup by Josiah.

His team fell into place around him, taking up the rear and both sides. He cast a look in their direction, taking note of their alert postures and their focused eyes. They moved together as one and they remained collected despite the situation.

A significant improvement from their first mission. Micah grabbed the hilt of his sword, ready to withdraw it as they neared the entrance of the underground tunnels. In the middle of the chamber, the blue hue from the well-like contraption radiated across the tunnels and illuminated two limp figures.

"No!" Barth tore apart from the others and ran toward his two, downed men.

Micah lunged away from his team and grabbed the very edge of Barth's flailing robe. As soon as his hand tightened around the fabric, the man stumbled awkwardly. Dust rose violently in the air, as did a disbelieving hiss of infraction as Barth made heavy contact with the ground.

"Do not," Micah warned vehemently, looking down at the shell-shocked man. "Charge straight into danger, Delegator Barth."

As soon as the words left his mouth, an invisible force knocked into Micah, sending him soaring off his feet. He flew through the air and hit the ground hard, rolling several times before coming to an abrupt halt. The world spun and he squinted past the nausea. Figures with dark-colored clothing crept stealthily from the shadows. They carried swords, though Micah assumed they had the ability to extract damage using other means.

Noir Users?

His sore body protested as he scrambled quickly to his feet. His attention immediately honed in on an object tossed towards his team, resembling a hand-held explosive. It was modified, however, as it spiraled with an intelligent sense of purpose. A familiar-sounding screech resonated through the tunnels as the airborne weapon closed in on his team.

Fierce panic set in.

As he rushed forward, he knew he'd lose them.

They were powerless against something like this.

Throwing his hands out desperately, frantically, he vaguely recognized the temperature across the tunnels plummeting significantly. Through the visible cloud of his breath, he witnessed the water well shudder violently in the middle of the chamber.

Water abruptly burst from the well's depths and Micah reached towards it hysterically, urging it to swallow the explosive. A sensation of sheer power overcame him as the water obediently followed his command. Only, as it curled into the air and engulfed the weapon, time stopped. The water solidified and creaked until it was a frozen tendril emerging from the deep well.

Not quite acknowledging the feat he'd just accomplished, Micah tore across the tunnel and withdrew his sword.

With a frenzy, he attacked the first enemy, refusing to let them recover. Kai joined him immediately, and surprisingly enough, Keegan was next to recover. There were only three adversaries, but they were dangerous enemies with unfamiliar gifts and weapons. It made him feel uncertain and cautious, which only made him fight harder. He never wanted an enemy to take control over him or his emotions. Only, as Micah brought back his blade to gut his opponent, the man disappeared.

They all did.

Micah whirled around, frantically looking around the tunnel and trying to spy the shadowy figures. His adrenaline was high and his breathing was deep and heavy. With his bloodlust roused, it was a jarring sensation to have it suddenly stifled.

Barth stated the obvious. "They're gone."

It was if they were never there in the first place. Only, the evidence of their presence remained behind. The two Terra men stayed motionless on the ground and the frozen spiral of water remained unmoving. Micah's attention fell on the chunk of ice, locking eyes with Josiah who stood underneath the frozen sculpture. The man's stare smoldered. Micah's spine stiffened at his profound attention, never having seen the man appear so…

Hungry.

Josiah's lips thinned and he smiled sinfully.

Alarm spread through Micah and he stopped breathing. Uncertainty settled inside him, resting and familiarizing itself within him. Its heavy weight quickly turned warm and mutated into something akin to anticipation.

Wicked intrigue.

He could see the aura of malevolence around Josiah. It was palpable and directed keenly towards Micah. Instead of shying away, Micah wanted to walk into it, submerge himself with it and become familiar with the depravity. He wanted to mirror it with his own. Standing across from Josiah, he realized the man was shroud in mystery and carried enthralling secrets. Somehow, with the intensity he watched Micah, he felt as if he were the center of those enigmas.

Prized and possessed.

"Micah?" Keegan's voice inquired somewhere in the distance.

Josiah's expression altered into his typical, cool façade and he turned away, instantly grounding Micah back into the mundane hum of reality. Feeling as though he were severed from a strange, but compelling bond, he turned, disorientated. There were times he felt a strange sensation come over him. He'd only experienced it once before, but it was as if he and Josiah were the only ones existing in this world.

Others were mere entertainment.

Insignificant.

The sensation unnerved him, simply because he did not feel as if it stemmed from his own conscience. No, he knew he did not feel that way about others. The sentiment was strong, however, and it threatened to consume him whole at times.

"Micah." A hand landed on his shoulder, pulling him further back.

He exhaled evenly, forcing the fog to dispense. His attention landed on Keegan, watching as the boy looked between him and Josiah.

"Are you alright?" Keegan asked quietly.

Micah adjusted his stance and sheathed his sword into his back holster. "Just fine considering the circumstances." He peered at Keegan, noticing the boy's tenseness. "Relax, Keegan."

Turning away, he studied his surroundings, realizing the others still appeared rather dazed at the mysterious enemies. Their breath, he realized, still came out in visible clouds, though the temperature had warmed considerably.

"What was that?" Barth demanded. "Noir Users!" He crouched next to his motionless men and pressed his fingers into their pulse points. From his expression, they were dead. "You brought them here," he accused loudly, looking between Josiah and the two professors. "For years they remain inactive, their numbers too small! Now all of a sudden, they come here. The same day you wish to withdraw items from the Unda vault?"

Micah pondered the man's words.

He'd assumed the Magi were great in numbers, not small.

Inactive, yes, but…

The delegator stood up and violently motioned to the solid block of ice. "Who did this?" he demanded loudly. "Which one of you did this trickery?"

Trickery?

Micah's team stared listlessly at the man before glancing around at the others. He caught Kai's eyes and noticed the boy's heavy frown.

"That's more than enough, Delegator Barth," Josiah ordered sharply. "We are taking our leave." He looked at the two professors who lagged behind. "Now."

Arno and Firth clutched their knapsacks, staring at the sheet of ice with awe. Distractedly, they followed Josiah to the lift, though it appeared as if they wanted to stay behind and study the frozen tendril of water.

"Yes," Barth nodded sharply. "Leave. I don't want you returning! Ever!"

Micah motioned for his team to follow. Quickly. They hurried to the lift, marching inside with Josiah and the professors. After making certain they were all accounted for, and unharmed, he joined them.

It was nearly anticlimactic as the lift sluggishly jerked its way back towards the village. Micah stared straight ahead, mulling over the situation. Delegator Barth was correct. They'd lured the Magi into the Terra Kingdom. Not they, he supposed, but Josiah. Micah had no doubts that the Noir Users were after that pendant. He wondered again how Clarence knew the Magi. It had to be some connection, considering the leather-bound book in his private quarters.

Moreover, how did Josiah tie into everything?

Micah figured he'd eventually find out, though the curiosity ate at him.

As they traveled back to the train, Micah also pondered over his feat today with the water—with the ice. A part of him denied the fact he was responsible. After all, he would have had to manipulate the water as well. That would have made him a water Elemental.

Or an ice Elemental.

In which case, Josiah was lying about their status as Chosen. Because only Elementals could feel the bond, could acknowledge the irresistible connection, not commoners. However, the more he thought about it, the more he realized that his attraction to Josiah was getting fanatical and rather distracting. Could he be experiencing the instant bond Elementals felt towards their Chosen?

He felt better thinking that was the case.

Yet, as they boarded the train, Micah couldn't shake the uncertainty that things weren't exactly how they seemed.