“Where is this?” she asked, partly to distract herself from the pain. Partly because she was dying to know. The cavern they’d fallen into was unlike any she’d seen. The intricate stonework on the floor showed a great deal of care had been taken in crafting this place.
“I’d pay seric to answer that,” Yamal answered.
Looking up, Maiya saw the shaft they’d fallen through. It resembled a large well, though there was no water at the bottom. Only a trickle of light filtered from the opening in the copse above—the trees blocked most of the sunlight.
The light of the Magic Lamp orbs Yamal and the Silent One carried showed the tunnel was a perfect arch—not jagged like a mineshaft—and it spread away into the distance.
Kin’jal had no knowledge of any facilities buried beneath these plains. Had they stumbled upon ancient Kin’jal ruins? Or perhaps something even older?
Yamal lowered his voice, despite them being alone in the tunnel, “The Silent One scouted out the tunnel ahead… and, er…”
“What?”
“We’re not alone. He spotted some Children cultists.”
The Silent One retrieved his notebook, thrusting it in front of Maiya.
Four guards. Large door. Locked.
Her pain faded as the minutes passed, and Maiya finally stood. Her chest still hurt, but it wasn’t anything that would kill her. Or compromise her ability to fight. Rather, what remained was anger.
They tried to kill us! No, Maiya knew better. They’d tried to kill her. But who? And why? Was someone within the organization aware of her true identity? Or did someone take offense to her rise? Maiya thought of Camas, then dismissed the idea. He’d been cowed. He was no longer a threat.
“Lead the way,” she said, gesturing down the hall. Whoever it was, she’d have to investigate later. For now, they needed to escape.
It didn’t take long for them to reach the corner just before the room the Silent One had written about. There were no branching passages, nor did they see any stairs up or down, and the Magic Lantern braziers on the walls made navigation simple.
“I think you may want to handle this, Yamal,” Maiya whispered. If there really were elements in the Children who wished her harm, then having Yamal as their spokesperson might be a better idea. “Tell them you got lost and you’re looking for a way out.”
Yamal nodded, straightened his back, and walked around the corner.
“Hello, there! So happy to see you,” Yamal said, feigning relief. “I seem to have gotten lost! Would you be so kind as to show me the way—Maiya, help!”
Without hesitation, Maiya blurred around the corner.
The first guard was down even before he’d registered her presence. He’d been about to stab Yamal with a dagger. The second saw only a dark blur, and nothing more. The third and the fourth helpfully stared agape at their fallen comrades, allowing Maiya to dispatch them both at once.
By the time Yamal and the Silent One rounded the corner, all four guards lay in a heap, and Maiya was already rummaging through their robes for the key to the door.
“Found it!” she announced.
Yamal’s mouth hung open. “What are you? No, truly. I’d like some answers. First, you take down all those thugs on your own, and then you miraculously save us from that fall? You casually whip out a Life orb, and now these guards? Maiya, just who are you? I feel as though everything you’ve told us is a lie!”
“In due time, Yamal,” Maiya said, meeting his gaze. “Look, I understand you want answers. And I haven’t been honest with you. I admit all that. I’ll tell you everything. Just… not now. Not here. Okay?”
Yamal frowned, then nodded. “I shall hold you to that. Assuming we make it out of here alive.”
“We will.”
Maiya turned her attention to the heavy wooden door. What’s in this room that they’re protecting so closely? For them to attack us on sight… It must be something precious.
The key clicked into its slot, but of course, it was also locked magically.
Oh, well, she thought, retrieving a Wind Blade orb. She placed it against the lock and fired… And then there wasn’t a lock anymore.
Maiya swung the door open and stepped in. As such, she failed to notice the looks of amazement on her friends’ faces.
But Yamal and the Silent One were the last thing on her mind. The gnarled, low-roofed room commanded all of her attention. Dark green branches spread like vines across the floor. There were no walls; the vines snaked their way up, forming the ceiling itself. And at the very center sat a thick green tree trunk. But unlike most trees, the trunk was composed of dozens of small snaking branches, creating a ridged surface.
Maiya wasn’t quite sure what it was.
“Have you ever seen anything like this?” Yamal whispered.
“No,” Maiya replied, edging up to it.
Thin wisps of dark, black energy wisped from the tree trunk, emanating great power.
This is prana, Maiya realized. Ash prana! For me to see it… It must be so dense.
The quantity was nearly unbearable. The oppressive weight reminded her of when she’d trained near Ash Tears. There was also something else. Some other power, lurking within that trunk. If only she reached it. If only she could harness it…
“Maiya? I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Yamal said from far behind. “I think you should come back.”
Maiya turned, surprised to see her two companions a half dozen paces behind her.
When did I walk all this way?
She shook her head. “It’s fine.” Profound confidence filled her every pore. She knew this was right. It had to be. Part of her recognized these feelings as alien. That she really ought to be feeling scared, anxious. But whatever sensibilities she had were slipping away. Suppressed by some unseen force.
The tree was close now. So very close.
Maiya walked slowly up to it, her arm outstretched. She felt a… presence from the tree. It was calling to her. Beckoning to her.
No! Stop!
The voice in her head was overruled as her body moved on its own.
Unable to resist, her fingers crept closer… and finally touched.
76KARMIC REPRISE
Vir’s eyes struggled open as if waking from a thousand years of dreamless sleep.
Staring up, he found an unfamiliar ceiling. The ash-darkened skies Vir had grown accustomed to were nowhere to be found, and the same went for the ever-present lightning. They’d been replaced by… Vir couldn’t tell. It looked almost like night, though there were no stars. Nor, of course, was there any moon. Vir had only seen that in the vision Ashani once showed him.
Vir brought a hand to his face, expecting it to be blackened by soot, but to his surprise, they were clean.
Where in all the realms am I?
Sitting up, he found a grassy knoll, unblemished by even a speck of ash.
Vir simply stared at the beautiful green grass as it swayed gently in a light breeze. How long had it been since he’d seen flora like this?
His fingers brushed the thin reeds, just to make sure it was real. It was. It reminded him of the hill he’d once lounged on together with Maiya at Balindam, watching the sun rise.
Looking up, Vir stared at the pitch-black sky for a long moment before he realized he wasn’t looking at a sky at all, but a cavern. Distant cavern walls curved slowly up to the roof. One so enormous, he could scarcely even see the ceiling—only its dim prana signature gave it away.