Chapter 194 - Vanishing Trick

“We can compromise- Minnie and I will head back to headquarters and requisition more sapphire if we can. When we return we can head to that temple.” Finn stared down Yuzu, not budging from his position. 

It was clear that this suggestion didn’t appeal to Yuzu at all. The teenage girl’s eyes were calm and her expression neutral, but an aura of repressed frustration emanated off of her.

Beside them, Minnie glanced back and forth nervously. She opened her mouth several times to speak up but was unable to utter a sound.

At length, Yuzu’s lips tightened. She clasped her hands over her waist and bowed slightly. “Very well.”

Finn noticed the tension in her shoulders and how her fingers tensed up ever so slightly. She didn’t make eye contact as she took off at a quick pace, walking past Finn and Minnie and heading back to the temple building without further ceremony.

Finn watched her leave with a critical gaze. He felt a little incredulous at her abrupt departure. This was the representative that the White Maiden chose? Some young, rash teenage girl without any manners?

“Finn-!” Minnie spoke in a hushed voice as she stepped up beside him. She’d waited until Yuzu was far out of earshot before moving from her spot, “What was that about?”

“I was merely being responsible as the leader of this team.” Finn said calmly, “Venturing far into enemy territory and exploring ancient ruins without adequate preparation is too risky.”

“What happened to our orders to support the Maiden?” Minnie asked, “If you upset Her and She withdraws Her support of Noga, what then? Chief Gwynn made it clear that we need Her support.”

“In my opinion, a goddess wouldn’t take offense to our actions.” Finn replied, “We’re here to offer our help. We’re not her servants, nor can we do more than we are capable of. She wouldn’t force us to do something.”

Nor is she capable of forcing us. Finn muttered inwardly, in a minor epiphany. For all Chief Gwynn said about the mysterious power of Fate, the White Maiden had Her limitations just like any other powerful being. After all, if She really had the power to control their ‘fate’, then wouldn’t Finn be unable to refuse Yuzu’s request?

Finn felt a part of himself relax at this realization. 

“We’re here to offer our support.” He repeated, “If anything, her representative was the one that was rude.”

Minnie didn’t respond, her eyes locked on silhouette of the temple in the distance that was illuminated softly by the crescent moon. Finn turned his attention to her, quietly gauging her reaction. She was clearly not happy with the arrangement, but kept her thoughts to herself. From his understanding of Minnie, despite her outgoing and flamboyant personality, when it came to work she took her role extremely seriously. 

This was apparent by how readily she accepted Finn’s appointment to team captain. To Minnie, the hierarchy was the law. The other Exalted members in the team begrudgingly accepted his appointment - Finn was sure that they were talking amongst each other behind his back - but despite being more senior than the others, Minnie happily accepted his command.

“We should go back right away.” Finn said, “We can make our report and then return immediately to assist Yuzu and the White Maiden. Thus we are still fulfilling our duties, and providing the best assistance that we can.” 

“Yes, sir.” Minnie replied quietly.

“Since we’re heading back, let’s find Char Char as well and get a team member to take her home.” Finn said, taking off toward the tents. “She should be in the organizer’s pavilions.”

When they reached the pavilion and checked inside, there were still a number of men discussing plans for the next day. After a quick search of the tent Finn and Minnie quickly discovered that Char Char was missing and that no one had seen her slip away.

“She should be nearby.” A man in a white robe said, “I saw her only a few minutes ago.”

Finn had a frown on his face as he stepped out of the tent. 

“Should we look for her?” Minnie asked with some hesitation in her voice, “There’s not a lot of places to go.”

“I’d rather not waste the time.” Finn muttered, “I’m half considering just leaving Char Char behind.”

“We promised to take her back, and if we’re returning to assist the White Maiden then this might be the only convenient chance.” Minnie said, looking somewhat anxious, “If we split up we should be able to find her quickly.”

“Alright.” Finn nodded reluctantly, “You check the woman’s tents. I’ll look around the immediate area.”

Finn parted ways with Minnie, walking around the pavilion. The tents formed a small grid of pathways, with the occasional area lit by a lantern or torch. Although most of the tents were dark and quiet, filled with slumbering citizens, there was no shortage of small groups gathered and chatting quietly around the doorways or next to a light source. 

Finn wandered up and down the tents, asking the occasional person if they’d seen the elusive Char Char. After ten minutes he returned to the pavilion and checked back inside, with no luck. With a bit of an exaggerated sigh he stood at the cross paths just outside the organizer’s pavilion and stood watch for several minutes.

As time passed, something nagged at his mind, a feeling that he’d missed something. 

“Just my luck that Char Char pulled another vanishing trick at this time.” Finn grumbled. He pulled out his pocket watch and examined it idly, “Minnie’s taking her time too.”

He paused. His throat tightened as he cast a concerned look toward the darkened tents where the women were sleeping on the other side of the field.

Suspicions grew in his mind as he took off toward the tents, first at a quickened pace, until he broke into a light jog. As he crossed the central field he grabbed a lantern off of a post and used it to light the way forward. 

Finn peeked into the tents, shining the light on the sleeping women within. He didn’t step inside, but scanned the tent quickly before leaving. A few times the light disturbed someone and he took the chance to inquire about his partner.

“Good evening, have you seen a female officer?”

“Apologies to bother you, have you seen a female officer around?” 

After making the rounds he discovered that no one had seen Minnie. 

Was she searching a different section of the shrine? Or perhaps she just walked around and didn’t disturb anyone? Perhaps he had passed her in the darkness of the night and she was back at the organizer’s pavilion.

Just as he was about to turn back, a person emerged from the shadows. Her long hair was tied up in a tall ponytail, and she was wearing a battle-damaged coat and a long sword hung in its sheath at her waist. Despite her ragged apparel, in the warm light of the lantern the attractive girl still gave off a charismatic and even heroic aura. 

“Finn, what are you doing in this section?” Char Char asked inquisitively.

“Looking for you.” Finn said, somewhat shocked to see the kumin girl appear at this exact timing, “Where have you been?”

“I went with one of the patrols on a walk around the perimeter.” Char Char said.

Finn’s eyes narrowed as he focused on her, “Why?”

“What, is there a reason I can’t?” Char Char rebutted, looking somewhat cross from being interrogated.

“The organizers said that you disappeared in the middle of planning with them.” Finn replied, “I don’t believe you just randomly decided to leave.”

Char Char blinked a few times as she read between the lines. She thought for a moment before nodding, “You’re right. I was asked to go for the walk.”

“By who?” Finn frowned.

Char Char’s gaze flickered toward the shrine across the field, confirming Finn’s suspicions. 

“No…” Finn gripped the lantern handle tightly as he swivelled his gaze in the direction of the shrine. Behind it, the blocky silhouette of the temple was dark and silent.

He broke into a dead run, sprinting across the field. After a moment of confusion Char Char ran after him, following several paces behind.

As he approached the temple, the darkened entrance suddenly flickered with an eerie silver light from within.

Dry, crackling leaves flew out of the doorway on a cold, whistling wind.

Finn nearly slammed into the wall as he reached the doorway. He dropped the lantern, letting it clatter on the ground as he turned the corner into the main room of the temple.

In the center of the room a glowing blue portal revealed a scene on top of a mountain. A dark cobblestone road wound its way up a path surrounded by crumbling village ruins. The silver light of the crescent moon shone unnaturally on the scene, hilighting a sea of stone slabs of various shapes and sizes that were erected all over the mountain side.

Minnie was on the other side of the portal already with her arms raised to maintain the spell. The blue sapphire crystal shone vibrantly in between her clasped hands.

As Finn ran into the room, Yuzu was just stepping through the portal.

“Yuzu!” Finn yelled in a growl, dashing toward the portal.

The long black hair of the teenage girl swirled majestically around her as she turned to face Finn. 

A look of victory glimmered in her eyes as she stuck her tongue out at him just before the portal blinked shut.