Louder than words

When Veretta next worked, she felt as though she had been in a long dream she couldn't recall. She found herself inside the cave with the others. The firelight had dwindled and there was only a light outside faintly reflecting against the cave walls. She began to rise. Her body felt weak and her head ached. What had happened?

Veretta glanced around the room. There was Yona and Tomas in one corner. Ace was still sprawled beside the fire with one hand over his face. Michael was gone...Had she imagined the whole thing? Maybe Michael hadn't returned. She could clearly remember him entering the cave and then they began to walk outside. After that everything was blank.

She pulled herself up and stumbled with a clatter over her bag. From the other side of the cave, she heard a corresponding groan.

"Gods, I just got to sleep," Ace lamented.

"I'm sorry," Veretta turned back hesitantly.

Ace's arm swung back from his face and he looked up at her, "Are you alright?"

"Yes, i'm fine," Veretta dusted herself down, "It's just Michael...do you know where he is?"

"Outside swinging his sword about, no doubt," Ace sighed, "I told him to lay off it, but he never listens. He apparently awoke fully recovered and felt a burning necessity to train. Maybe you can go and talk some sense into him?"

"I..." Veretta faltered, "No, I will leave him to it. If he has recovered that is good news. I'm sorry to have woken you. I think I will rest a bit longer myself,"

Ace's eyes remained on Veretta a moment longer, before he returned to his former position, "Suit yourself, miss witch,"

Veretta lay back and cuddled her knees. Why did she feel so uneasy? They were about to go into battle. That must be it. She decided the feeling would pass with a little more sleep. She closed her eyes and once more fell back to sleep.

IT wasn't until she heard voices that she rose again.

"VEretta? Veretta?" Tomas shook her gently.

Veretta rose slowly feeling a bit better.

Tomas was watching her with wide curious and serious eyes, "You don't look well. Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," Veretta reassured. She could see the camp was already backed away and it was only the two of them.

"The others are waiting outside. We tried to wake you, but we couldn't," Tomas said worriedly, "Are you certain you are okay?"

Veretta nodded, steadying herself against the rock wall and came to a stand. "I guess I was just really worn out," she chuckled lightly.

"You came in late last night," Tomas inhaled deeply, "Michael said you fell asleep looking at the stars,"

Veretta's eyes widened, "I see. Well, I do remember watching the stars with him. I must have dozed off. I feel fine now though,"

"Okay," Tomas said still with a hesitant glance.

They reached the entrance of the cave. The group was waiting. They started up the mountain path carved into the stone. Leading the charge Michael and Ace were walking side by side as the others trailed behind. The further they ascended, the colder and dimmer the light became. It was as if they were being swallowed by a plither of cloud. Inside, there was only silence aside from the sound of steps.

"Any memories coming back to you as to how you escaped?" Ace asked.

"No," Michael returned flatly, "Any intention of telling me what we're going to do when we reach the barrier?"

"No," Ace smiled.

"Then you'll be leaving it to my imagination," Michael smirked, "Are you sure that's wise?"

"As scary as your imagination is, there's no need to guess," Ace answered, "you'll know with the rest when we get there,"

"But I am inpatient," Michael sighed.

"That's a lie," Ace laughed, "you have more patience than anyone I've ever met. That's what makes your plots so hard to guess,"

"Since when did you become a demon lie detector?" Michael sighed.

"Since I met you," Ace smirked, "Call it self preservation,"

"Do demons have a sense of self-preservation? They always seemed like a reckless bunch to me," Michael scoffed.

"Well, they may not," Ace said quietly, "but I do,"

"Ah, yes," Michael nodded mockingly, "well, I knew the quiet forbidding of yours had to be building to something. It's always the quiet ones. Well, you're a lot more chatty now than back then. I'm glad. That weird dead fish look you used to have creeped me out,"

"I wish I could say that your venomous snake eyes have improved but unfortunately, I guess not even death can rid you of it," Ace glanced back with a smile.

"Well, you've gotten a lot better comebacks, I'll give you that," Michael conceded.

"Well, it doesn't look good if a 300-year-old demon bursts into tears every time someone calls him names," Ace chuckled.

"Really?" Michael mused, "I thought it was funny that you cried so easily. Part of your charm?"

Ace let out a hearty laugh, "I've missed you, Michael.,"

"Because no one dares to talk to the big bad red general like I do?" Michael scoffed.

"No, it's not that," Ace paused, "it's just nice to be on the same side again,"

Michael's eyes widened slightly, but he returned his gaze straight ahead, "well, isn't life a strange thing? Who knows which way the tides will turn,"

They continued their ascent until the clouds of mist became almost blinding.

"Stay close," Ace called back.

Tomas felt his chest tighten. The air felt thin. He wondered how high they had come. He could no longer see the crowd below nor sense how much further they had to go. The steps up the mountain fell endlessly into a stream of clouds. They had grown so opaque and thick, you could hardly see more than a step ahead.

Tomas paused a moment. Yona stepped out of the shroud behind him.

"IT's dangerous," Tomas said averting his eyes. He held out his hand timidly, "it's best if you stay close - Ace said so,"

Yona gave a nod and took his hand. Yona glanced down at his hand wrapped in hers, "Your hand trembles, Tomas," she observed, "are you afraid?"

"Of the battle?" Tomas answered quietly, "I suppose, though I doubt that's why my hand is shaking,"

"Then what is the reason?" Yona glanced up at him uncomprehending.

"You don't know?" Tomas said, averting his eyes as they continued on.

"Humans are strange," Yona shook her head lightly, "I can't understand you, Tomas,"

Tomas halted upon the steps and looked back at Yona earnestly, "When you stopped talking to me, I felt afraid. I mean you hardly talk as it is, so it was really hard for me. So holding your hand, it's nice,"

"I wasn't ignoring you," Yona replied, "I simply had nothing to say to you,"

"Isn't that the same thing?" Tomas laughed, "But maybe you're right. Not everything can be explained with words. Sometimes actions are far simpler. Honestly, I don't know much about relationships. I don't know how it's supposed to be or what I'm supposed to do, but..."

He pulled Yona forward suddenly, catching her by surprise. His lips brushed her lightly. His large blue eyes waited sheepishly and he swallowed. Yona's usual expressionless features were wide in surprise as her red eyes met his.

"I think that explains it better than my words can," Tomas turned ahead just as abruptly and they continued up the stairs in silence.

The remaining journey interspersed with a thick screen of fog was finally brought to a halt as the whole group stopped behind Ace. They came to a platform of stone. It led into a dark hallway and another set of mountain carved steps. Finally, they emerged with a steep hill just above them. Upon it loom the great dark and gothic castle cloaked in fog.

At the base, Ace held up his hand. As he did so, a faint wall, translucent and illusory, came into view then faded in the same instance.

"We've reached the barrier," he said soberly, "this is it,"

Yona pulled out a ring from her receptacle and handed it to Ace. Michael stared at it curiously.

"Is that how you will break the barrier?"Michael enquired.

"Only holy magic can break the barrier," Ace smiled, "this is to provide passage for a friend of mine,"

"I see," Michael frowned, appearing to instantly comprehend, "Portal magic. `Seems you learnt much from Clover in my absence,"

"Don't be jealous, Michael," Ace smirked.

"So we came alone because you knew Silthus wouldn't attack that way. But with a portal, we can bring the army right here?" Veretta questioned following suit.

"That's right," Ace held out his hand, "You can see why I couldn't tell you about such a tactic beforehand. The element of surprise only works if it is a surprise,"

"Still, I'm surprised Silthus sent no one after us," Tomas commented anxiously.

"He wants me alive," Ace murmured grimly.

The ring on his hand began to sparkle. The utterly black hues lightened to a deep shade of blue. He drew his hand up in a circle and began to trace the passage of the portal. As he did, Michael stepped towards it.

"Impressive," he remarked, "I thought no one but Clover could do such a thing,"

"It took a lot of practice to learn, but even then I'm not the genius Clover was, I still need a bit of assistance," he motioned to the ring.

As he finished drawing the circular portal. A black miasma took the place of the empty air.

"Time to get this over with," Ace asserted decisively.

Michael was still standing looking deep within the depths of the portal. His expression seemed to grow dark and lifeless.

"What's the rush?" Michael said in a low voice.

"What are you talking about?" Ace's eyes narrowed.

Michael snapped his fingers and the portal suddenly closed, "A little trick I learned from Clover. You see, I was paying attention as well, Ace. You don't fight someone for 10 years without learning a trick or two,"

Ace's features stiffened and his jaw clenched, "Michael.."

"It's not what you think," Michael turned to the group staring at him with a blend of confusion and apprehension.

"Then what is it?" Ace's black eyes glared violently in the dark, consuming and demanding.

"Oh, well actually," Michael tilted his head to one side, " it's exactly what you're thinking."