Sure enough, the priest began circling the cliffs, hiking up its gently sloped backside, until they’d arrived at the very top.
“Pretty up here,” Yamal commented, taking in the sweeping views. Though not especially tall when compared to the mighty Bulwark Range that separated Kin’jal from Rani in the southwest, the relative flatness of the nearby terrain did offer quite a commanding vantage.
Grassy plains and gently rolling hills stretched all the way to the horizon, and Maiya could just barely make out the ghost town of Bahurai in the distance. She still had no idea why they were there.
Surely, they don’t expect us to jump? Not even the Children would be that crazy.
“Welcome to the Trial of Devotion!” the priest announced, raising his arms to the sky. The Childrens’ priests were quite fond of that gesture, Maiya noted.
“This is the simplest Trials you shall face. To prove your faith… You must jump!”
Frantic whispers broke out.
“Fear not! If you have formed a group, you may choose a champion for this task! Only one of you will have to brave the Trial. Note that groups are limited to four or smaller—Hmm?”
Someone—another priest—rushed up to the man and whispered in his ear.
“Ah, apologies! Rejoice, for our god has smiled upon you today! There shall be no champion. You will all participate in our glorious trial!”
Actually, Maiya thought, clutching her hair. They really are that insane.
“So, we’re going through with this?” Yamal asked, fidgeting.
“We are,” Maiya replied, her expression grim.
The Silent One simply looked at Maiya, who nodded. The big man nodded back and continued on as usual.
“What, one nod from her and you’ll jump off a grakking cliff!”
“He trusts me,” Maiya said solemnly. “I can only ask that you do, too.”
“Right… Trust,” Yamal said sarcastically. “It’s all so simple, isn’t it?”
Only two others stood in line before them. About half had chickened out—far too few, in Maiya’s opinion—but the ones who’d jumped had all screamed all the way down. Right up until their screams abruptly cut out.
The worst part? The priest told them nothing else. Not whether they would live, or if they were plunging to their deaths.
“We’re gonna die, aren’t we?” the Initiate at the front of the line said, sobbing. “This is it. Isn’t it?”
“Child, you must believe in our lord and savior. Have faith that the Swarm will bless your soul. Now, go. Show us your Devotion!”
The man took several deep breaths and walked up to the edge of the cliff. His breaths grew even deeper until he was hyperventilating, his steps trembling and unsteady.
Maiya couldn’t tell if he jumped intentionally, or simply fell off, but the moment he did, his half-sob, half-scream turned into an all-out shriek as he fell.
Like the others, his voice was also mercilessly cut short.
The man after him bailed, collapsing on the ground in a pool of his own urine, and then they were up.
“Look. You have to trust me, alright?” Maiya said, locking eyes with Yamal and the Silent One. “We do this together, okay? Arms locked. I’ll be in the center.”
“Oh, yes. That makes this much better,” Yamal said bitterly, tears streaking down his face.
Maiya linked up with the Silent One, who took her arm firmly and reached out to Yamal.
He hesitated, looking at her hand with suspicion, before relenting.
“Ash damn it! If I die here, I will reincarnate as a demon to haunt you!”
Maiya smiled. “Demons don’t scare me.”
They stepped off the cliff together. Yamal immediately screamed, though Maiya could hardly blame him. A hundred paces didn’t sound like much—she’d fallen from a greater height fighting Cirayus when they’d jumped from Frumpy—but unlike before, Maiya had no Vir to slow her fall. A hundred paces was plenty to scare the living daylight out of her.
Even the Silent One clutched her tighter. Maiya wondered if he planned to protect her from the impact with his own body, should it come to that.
Heroic, but unnecessary. For within Maiya’s boots and clothing were four C Grade Enhance Blunt Force Protection orbs, which she’d discreetly slotted the moment they’d started hiking up the back of the cliff.
If the Silent One took the fall, the cushion of his body might save her, but it’d surely doom him and Yamal. If Maiya were the one to absorb the impact, however… Well, while they wouldn’t walk away unscathed, she was at least confident they’d be alive.
The ground rushed up, closer and faster, Maiya forced herself to concentrate—to keep her eyes focused on the ground beneath them—and then she finally saw it.
So. Not as insane as I thought… The Children had devised a cushion of sorts. An enormous pool at the base of the cliff. Filled, of course, with blood. Even before she could sigh in relief, she noticed something was off.
The pool… it’s off?
Rather, they were off. Dread coursed through Maiya’s veins, and her heart skipped a beat.
Is it because we’re holding onto each other? It’s changed our trajectory! Wait, no.
The Children had moved the pool. It was on wheels. They’d moved it. Specifically so Maiya would miss it!
They’re trying to kill us!
Too late to do anything about their path, Maiya did the only thing she could. She pulled Yamal and the Silent Man toward her… and she cursed.
Ash damn it all!
It wasn’t the ground that got them, but an errant branch.
Maiya felt the impact against her custom robe, and felt the magic orb flare to life, absorbing the impact.
Though, while it prevented her chest from caving in, it did nothing to ease the discomfort of having her breath sucked right out of her.
Heaving, she bounced off the branch, just barely maintaining her grip on her friends.
When they finally hit the ground, it wasn’t the hard jolt Maiya expected, but rather softer. She felt them slam into the ground… and then, the sensation was gone. The pain never came.
We’re falling again!
They continued through the forested floor, down. Falling farther and faster, until finally, they met cold, hard stone with a sickening crunch.
Maiya got the pain she’d expected. Just before the world went dark.
When Maiya finally came to, her body ached all over.
“Hello, princess. Finally awake?”
“What… happened?” Maiya asked, gingerly sitting up. That she could sit up was a good sign. The pain told her she’d surely broken some bones, but at least she wasn’t crippled.
“I was hoping you could tell us,” Yamal replied. “Whatever you did saved us both. No idea how, but we landed without even a scratch! You, on the other hand… You’re quite the mess.”
Maiya stood and winced. “Tell me about it.”
Broken leg, for sure. Some broken ribs, too.
Maiya fumbled with the two Mend Bone orbs she carried on her, hoping against hope they hadn’t shattered.
The moment her fingers felt the sharp shards in her pocket, she knew it’d been crushed. Gingerly, she retrieved the other, which was thankfully intact.
Not bothering to hide it any longer, she brought it to her leg as Yamal and the Silent One watched, then activated it. The pain multiplied, forcing her onto her knees, and Maiya gritted her teeth and hissed as the orb worked its magic.
No one commented about how she just happened to have an incredibly expensive Life orb on her.