Charter 24: Snow Gusts

The Guardian was watching her closely: –Are you going to take revenge?

She shook her head.: –I'm going to get mine back.

Her gaze fell on the tablet. Now that the seal was broken, the magical symbols on its surface began to disappear, revealing... a void.

Calcium held out her hand, and the tablet shone blue. There were words in the depths.

"The key to the Story is lost. Find the Source and restore what you've lost."

She frowned: – The Source?

The Keeper nodded.

–You know where he is. Remember.

Calcium clenched her fists.And then the city flashed in her mind's eye. Unusual roofs, white stone pavements, tall towers reaching into the sky.

El Mora.

A legendary city that disappeared hundreds of years ago. And she knew that her path led there. The name sounded in her head like the echo of a distant dream. She knew this city, even though she had never set foot on its streets before.

Calcium took a deep breath.

–El Mora disappeared a long time ago. It's a legend.

The Guardian tilted his head slightly: –And yet you know that's not true.

She bit her lip. Fragments of memories surfaced inside – ruins covered with vines, a crystal tower emitting a faint bluish light.

–It's... not just a city.

The Guardian nodded: – This is the Source.

Calcium clenched her fists: – So I have to go there.

The tattoo on his palm flashed, and the system's message appeared in front of his eyes.

[Assignment received: The Path to El Mora]

[Goal: Find a vanished city and restore the lost history.]

[Reward: ???]

Three question marks. Calcium chuckled.

– I love surprises.

She turned around, ready to leave the temple, but the Guardian said:

–They'll be waiting for you there.

She stopped: –Who? Witches?

– Not only that.

Calcium felt a chill run down her spine. Something told her that there was more to El Mora than just a Coven of Witches.

***

Take a deep breath. Calcium opened her eyes.

The sharp, frosty air burned her lungs, making her shiver. There were mountains all around again, covered with a thick layer of snow, and a cold wind whipped at his face.

She was standing in the same place, but everything inside had changed.She remembered.

Standing in front of her, sheltered from the wind, was Lian – her unexpected companion. He stared at her intently, concern flickering in his eyes.

–You haven't moved for a long time. – He said, crossing his arms over his chest: – I already thought that you…

He stopped, not knowing how to finish his sentence. Calcium swallowed, feeling her fingers still tremble. Her head was in chaosb – memories, thoughts, the feeling that she had just torn something important apart.

She slowly looked at her palm.

The tattoo has changed. Now it glowed with a faint blue glow, and a new pattern appeared in its center – a symbol that had not been there before.

"Follow the stars."

At that moment, something flashed in the sky. Calcium raised her head and saw... a shooting star. It glided across the sky, leaving a silver plume behind it, and faded away... somewhere in the north.

Calcium frowned.

Lian noticed her gaze and narrowed his eyes: – What happened?

She took a deep breath: – I... remembered something.

Lian raised an eyebrow, waiting for her to continue:

–We need to move. I know where to go.

Lian smiled incredulously, but did not argue: – Well, then go ahead.

They turned around and stepped into the snowy gloom, leaving deep footprints in the white pall.

Gusts of snow howled around, whipped at his face, making their way under his clothes. Calcium walked forward, clenching her palm into a fist. The tattoo was still glowing with a faint blue light, as if it was pointing the way.

Lian walked beside her, glancing at her from time to time. He clearly wanted to ask her something, but he remained silent, as if letting her collect her thoughts on her own.

Calcium, on the other hand, was trying to put everything she had learned in order.

El Mora. A Coven of Witches. Lost memories...

A feeling of anxiety gnawed at her from the inside, but determination was superimposed on top of it. Now that she knew exactly what had been taken from her, she wasn't going to stop. But what did the words "Follow the stars" mean?

She raised her head, peering into the overcast sky. There were no stars in sight.

–Are you sure you know where to go?– Lian finally couldn't stand it.

Calcium froze for a second, then slowly opened her hand.

At the same moment, the tattoo flashed brighter, and the system's message appeared in the air in front of her.:

[History Navigation Activated]

[The goal: To find the Star Trek.]

Calcium raised an eyebrow: –Um... star Trek?

Lian frowned: – Does that mean something to you?

She was about to reply, but suddenly the tattoo vibrated again, and the snow began to glow right under their feet.

Calcium and Lian froze.

Faint blue lights were making their way out from under the snow cover, forming a line going somewhere ahead.

– It looks like I know where to go now. Calcium chuckled.

Lian snorted: – Of course, where without magic.

Calcium took a deep breath and took the first step along the glowing path.

With each step, the blue lights under the snow grew brighter, illuminating the path among the snow-capped mountains. Calcium could feel her tattoo throbbing in time with their steps, as if reacting to the approach to the goal.

Lian walked beside her, silently but cautiously. His hand slid to the hilt of his dagger from time to time, as if he expected trouble at any second.

Calcium wasn't surprised. She felt that someone was watching them.

– Do you feel it too? Lian asked softly without stopping.

Calcium nodded: – Yes.We are not alone.

She looked back. Behind them, the darkness was thickening, dragging out the path they had traveled. The glowing lights went out as soon as they moved further away, leaving behind only cold white snow.

Calcium clenched her teeth. Something wants them to move forward.

–I hope this star trek of yours isn't leading us into the jaws of a monster. –Lian grumbled, speeding up his pace.

–And if it does? – Calcium chuckled.

–Then you go first.

Calcium laughed, but worry was brewing inside her. Each step made a strange echo in his chest, and the air around him became heavy.

And then…The system has been activated again.

[Anomaly detected.]

[Warning: There is a spatial rift ahead.]

[Recommended: Exercise caution.]

Calcium stopped abruptly: – Lian…

But he had already noticed it too. Right in front of them, the snow began to cave in, as if the ground beneath it was disappearing into the void. The lights that had guided them now twinkled at the edges of the black abyss, like stars at the edge of space.

Calcium swallowed: – Well, now it's definitely a trap.

Lian gripped the hilt of his dagger.

– And what are we going to do?

Calcium looked down.The abyss beckoned to her.

The tattoo throbbed again.

She took a deep breath.

– Let's jump.

Lian abruptly turned his head to Calcium, his eyes narrowed: – Are you serious?

She looked at her tattoo – the blue light became even brighter, and the pattern began to slowly rotate, as if drawing in the surrounding energy.

Lian exhaled through clenched teeth: – I knew it would end in something crazy... it was nice to meet you, just in case.

Calcium just grinned.

–Welcome to my life.

She took a step forward and fell. Instantly, silence enveloped her body. The cold air was replaced by a strange, viscous feeling of emptiness. The wind, the snow, even the sound of her breathing disappeared.

//To be continued, please like and save.