Avice’s breath quivered with every step she took. A strange, freezing sensation bit at her fingertips. Cold sweat drenched her back. She honestly had no clue what was forcing her body to tremble like this. A calm, soothing light shone down on her, yet she felt anything but calm. She bit her lip. Stop being scared, she grumbled in her head. Stop. Stop. Despite her heart’s wishes, her instincts screamed at her to run away - anywhere other than up. A rush of dangerous thoughts and scenarios filled her mind, and she shook her head. Everything’s going to be okay. Hopefully… She breathed in and out. In any other situation, she would’ve listened to herself - either find another way out without confronting Achaea or just shut down and give everything up right then and there. But she couldn’t. She wanted to trust her heart for a change. It has to be…
“Avice,” Dall whispered, slightly startling her. “We’re close to the top. Make sure you’re ready.”
She bit her lip. “I-I know,” she responded. “You better be, too.”
Dall nodded, and the two of them anxiously stepped foot on the final floor of the tower.
Avice had expected this final floor to be unlike the ones below. Different to the uniform, blindingly white walls that encircled around them before, she thought that the top floor would have been just a tad bit more grandiose - possibly a room sporting another color, filled with fancy furniture, or maybe even a slightly bigger room. But what lay before her blew away all of her expectations.
They stood in the center of a massive, dim chamber. Avice’s jaw dropped as she looked up at the concaved, dome-like ceiling reached high above them. Dozens of intricately fashioned chandeliers hung from long, silver chains. The stoned walls encircling them spread seemingly miles away from them. Hundreds of beautifully engraved white pillars as thick as trees sprouted from the smooth, carpeted floor, every single one of them touching the ceiling. Burning ivory gold sconces hung on the sides of the pillars, and shimmering bronze braziers lined around the circular room. Despite the amount of light, however, the room was oddly dim.
Avice slowly spun around, taking in the breath-taking, fantastical nature of this room.
This is… amazing, she thought.
Never had she ever been in a room so large and so beautiful. She nearly teared up.
Then a high-pitched ring shattered her ears. Shutting her eyes, she fell to the ground as the sound grew intense, and she slammed her hands against her ears. The pain reached her heart. She couldn’t even hear herself scream. Avice wrenched her eyes open and glanced at Dall. He too had his hands covering his ears.
What the hell is happening?!
Then it stopped.
Dall and Avice panted heavily, each of them clawing at their chests. Sweat poured down their cheeks. Before she could talk to him, an intense shiver ran down her spine. This feeling… she thought. Her heart jumped to her throat, and she scrambled to get up. Dangerous. Something dangerous.
She leaped to her feet, grabbed her wooden club, and spun around in circles. Dall followed her lead. He unsheathed his sword and pushed his back against hers. Together they scanned the room, searching for the source of their discomfort. Her heart raced faster and faster. Her face grew hot, and her arms shook. A sharp pain stung her eyes, and her breath cut short. “Who’s-!”
“Avice, my dear.”
They both gasped in surprise and turned at the same time. “What the… how?!” Dall whispered in disbelief.
Achaea sat on a huge stone throne right before them. Dall’s surprise proved warranted, as neither of them had even seen an inkling of this stoned monument, let alone Achaea herself. Two such things could not have appeared out of nowhere like that. Avice put a hand over her heart, and clenched her fist. Relief? Terror? She didn’t know what she was feeling. Her skin grew cold as Achaea gracefully rose from her chair.
“You’ve done a wonderful job, darling,” Achaea’s smooth voice filled Avice’s heart with warmth. “I knew that you could make it.” Avice’s knees buckled, and she took a small step backward. Achaea smiled gently and approached the two of them, her silky lavender gown blowing gently behind her. Dall nervously gripped the hilt of his sword and moved in front of Avice, a hostile glint in his eyes. “Dall, my boy,” Achaea said. “Lower your weapon. There is no need for caution here.”
“I find no reason to listen to you. I’ll do what I must,” Dall said, lowering his stance. “There is always room for caution.”
“I know this, dear. You don’t have to listen to me,” Achaea whispered. “But what I say is the truth.” She stood in front of him and lifted her arm. He tightened his muscles and prepared to cut her down when she placed her hand on the top of his head. Dall blinked in surprise. Achaea then ran her fingers through his dirtied hair. “Look at you,” she said, her voice cracking. “You’ve been through so much, haven’t you. So exhausted. So tired.”
The second those words left her lips, every ounce of strength he had slipped away. He stared wide-eyed at his loosened limbs and gazed up at her. “W-What did you do…?” he muttered.
“Nothing, darling. Just relax, you’re fine. You are safe.”
“I-I…” Dall stuttered. His grip slackened, and his sword clanged against the ground.
Something’s wrong, Avice thought. What just happened…?
Achaea moved past Dall and now stood in front of her. Avice’s heart pounded in her ears. A deep, uneasy feeling swirled around in her stomach. Avice herself was ready to follow Dall’s lead and be ready to strike her down. But then, the warning bells in her mind went silent. Her body soon relaxed, and she held her breath as she gazed at the woman in front of her.
Achaea seemed so much more beautiful than before. She no longer appeared to be like a ghost; she was much more physical - real. A sweet, mind-numbing aroma filled Avice’s nose. It was as if everything sweet in the world jammed up her nostrils. The more she breathed in, the more Avice grew dizzier.
“You’ve done well, Avice,” Achaea spoke softly.
“A-Achaea,” Avice responded, her voice breaking. Achaea stroked Avice’s cheek with her pale finger. “I… I’m here.”
“Of course,” she said. “Of course you are. Here. In my home.”
Just standing here in her presence made Avice feel warm - made her feel like everything dangerous in the world completely disappeared. All of the negative thoughts piling up and festering inside of her head blew away. For once, she felt calm. She felt safe.
The second that thought entered her head, an electric zing poked at her back. No, no, no, she thought. No matter how much you want to trust her, you can’t be too relaxed. Keep your guard up a little. Avice scanned the space behind Achaea, trying to find any hint of danger that could be approaching them. Her eyes widened as dozens of huge Spirits danced in the air around them.
They were surrounded.
She shot a wary glance at Dall, but he seemed too dazed to even lift his head. Avice clicked her tongue.
If they ever made a mistake, both of them would be done for. If Dall had died in here because of some stupid mistakes, she wouldn’t forgive herself. So for now, she thought it best to entertain Achaea, and lead the discussion toward her favor.
Avice bowed her head. “Achaea,” she said. “Thank you for everything you’ve done for me.”
“Oh my, Avice. There’s no need to be so formal.”
“No, please. I would’ve died if it weren’t for you. You saved me.”
“Avice, raise your head.” She did as she was told. “I only did what was needed. What kind of monster must I be to turn a blind eye to the needs of my kin?” Achaea said. “I also have received your aid, dear. You, too, have saved me. You brought my home from the wretched underground. I don’t even know how long it’s been since I’ve breathed true, fresh air. So there’s no need for such stuffiness, dear. Please. Relax.”
“I can’t do that,” Avice whispered. Achaea turned her head curiously, and with as much courage as she could muster, Avice said, “I’ve done my part of the deal, Achaea. I want to go home.” Her voice quivered and her nails dug into her palms. “Please… I’ve had enough.”
“My dear,” Achaea wrapped her arms around her. Avice’s face reddened, and her chest ached. “I will of course uphold my part. You deserve no less than my full cooperation. But…” She removed herself and stood before both Avice and Dall. “Not yet.”
Her face fell. It felt like a blade pierced her heart. “W-Why not?” Avice asked.
“There is no need to rush,” she said, grinning. “This is cause for a celebration, dear. It would tarnish the Alder name if I do not give the last of my kind a proper farewell. Do you not agree?”
Avice nearly spoke against Achaea’s reasoning when a terrifying chill wrapped around her heart. Her instincts told her to listen - otherwise, she’d be killed on the spot. “O-Oh, yeah,” Avice responded, forcing a smile. “Of course.” She nodded.
This is the woman I’m leaving my life too…? she thought. I don’t want to be wrong… I can’t be.
“Fantastic. Now then.” Achaea turned around, faced her stone throne, and snapped her fingers. The air around her flashed a dark green, and the throne melted into the floor. With a deep, low hum, the walls across the room split into two and formed a gaping opening. “If you will.” Achaea smiled, gestured towards the newly created door, then proceeded to make her way towards it.
Apparently Dall had come back to his senses, because he picked up his weapon and prepared to follow after her. Avice grabbed onto his arm and yanked him backward. He gave her a questioning look and asked, “What is it?”
“What is it?” Avice scoffed. “That’s what I should be asking you. Are you okay?” she asked.
“I’m fine,” he said, rubbing the back of his head. “It was just… overwhelming…” Dall took a deep breath and stabilized himself. Glancing at her, he said, “What about you? Did she do anything to you?”
“No. Not that I’m aware of,” Avice said, patting herself down and making sure that everything felt the same. She ran her eyes over Dall’s figure and fully understood what Achaea said.
He did seem tired. His eyelids batted over and over, and his overall posture seemed loose and sloppy. She wanted him to rest, but they were so close to her goal. If only she could do something for him…
“Hey…” Avice mumbled and her eyes widened. “Hey, you said you wanted to get out of here, right?” He nodded. “I can ask Achaea to let you go free if you want now. You need to get out there and save your people, right?”
Dall frowned and shook his head. “You don’t have to do that.”
“Huh? Why not?”
“I’m worried about you.”
“Hahaha!” Avice burst out laughing. “W-What do you mean?!” Tears sprung from her eyes and her breath stuttered. She didn’t think she’d ever hear something so ridiculous in her life.
Worried about her? She realized that he was kind and that he genuinely wanted her to be safe, but the extent he's going was something she'd never anticipated. He'd said he'd rather stay here and make sure she's safe rather than him go out and do what he needed.
Nonsense. Nobody would ever do that. It even took her a couple of years to get to that level with her closest friends. She would’ve continued cackling if it weren’t for Dall staring at her with a sympathetic, unwavering gaze. Wiping the droplets away from her eyes, she said, “You’re serious…”
“I am.”
“Y’know, I’m flattered and all, but when did I end up at the top of your priority list, Dall?” she said. “I won’t like it if you pull a douchey move and be all, ‘alas, I’ve fallen in love with you and I cannot allow you to go alone!’. I’ll actually punch you if you do that.”
Her voice echoed in the room. Dall just stood there, a surprised look on his face. Then, “Quite self-centered aren’t you, Avice?” he said with a smirk.
Her cheeks flushed red and she stomped her foot. “S-Shut up! Just answer my question!”
Dall nodded and put his hand on his sword. “I have little to no choice here in this tower, Avice. The only thing I can do right now is to listen to whoever’s in charge and follow their orders. Even if Achaea permits me to leave, there would be no guarantee for my safety. I’ve experienced my fair share of some tricky enemies. She could very well kill me, throw my body out of this tower, and say that she’s fulfilled her promise.”
Avice grimaced.
“I let my guard down once, and I regret it. I can’t trust her. I don’t trust you yet. But I know you have no ill intentions. As long as I’m here, I won’t let harm come to the people around me - and that means you.”
“Maybe you can go right before I leave,” Avice suggested.
“No. I have to see this whole thing through.”
“But-”
“Stop Avice,” he said. “I’ve made up my mind. If you ended up in danger right after I leave, it wouldn’t sit right with me.”
“You wouldn’t know that,” she said.
“I would know no danger comes if I’m there the entire time.”
“Wow,” Avice said. “Um… okay then. Thanks.” She smiled. “But what will you do when I leave?”
“Good question,” he responded. “I best hope Achaea will be reasonable. Otherwise, I’m fighting my way out of here.”
“That sounds stupid,” she said.
“My friends usually say that about my plans.” Dall grinned.
“How do you think I’d feel if you ended up in danger and I’m gone?”
Dall pursed his lips and put a hand to his chin. “You’re right,” He shut his eyes and stretched. “I guess we’ll figure it out later,” he groaned. "She was right, y’know. I’ve been so tired since Fora. I feel so stiff and cranky. I’m sorry that this is the only side of me that you’re seeing.”
“Well, I’m getting glimpses of other stuff about you right now, I guess,” Avice said. “Now, then. How about we stop wasting time and get moving?”
