Page 96 of Oracle of Ruin

According to Mavis’s map, we should only be an hour or so from the Oracle. The Bone Wood was a shortcut that we hadn’t intended on taking due to the rumors surrounding the place, but it shaved several days off our journey regardless.

The mountains surrounding us grow steeper until we find ourselves in a valley, the dark and hulking figures of the steep cliff edge blocking the new day’s light from sight. Dim light guides our path, coming from where I do not know. Suddenly, I find myself missing my light powers more than ever. Will I ever get them back, or was Derrín right? Have I finally killed the light? I try to shove the thought down, as I’ve gotten so good at doing lately, but it remains in the back of my mind. Taunting me.

“Hey, Vera?”

“Hmm?”

“I was right.”

I trail his gaze to a junction in the cliffside. At least seven dark shapes mindlessly wander, their elongated arms dragging against the ground. Their talons spark when they hit the stone in front of the cave mouth. The Kijova meander together, almost in a pack, standing between us and what I can only assume is the Oracle.

I crouch down behind a boulder, studying the clearest path past the monsters. Derrín settles next to me, placing his hand atop the boulder. Then he shrieks and waves his hand, nearly tipping over and alerting every Kijova of our presence. I grab his elbow to steady him and he hisses in rage and panic.

“Spiders. Evil spawn of hell…”

I nearly snort in amusement at the mechanic’s creative insults that he slews at the tiny arachnid. He settles quietly a few moments later, squatting beside me to study the cave entrance. A few of the Kijova mingle just before it, the remainder patrolling the woods. The cave mouth is sealed shut, save for a crack. Derrín will need to open it in order for me to slip in and find the Oracle.

Then a tug in my stomach. Not the pull of dark magic, but a familiar burning sensation. Something I thought I’d lost pulling me towards the Oracle. Hope flutters in my chest and I test it out. My veins in my wrist begin to glow. Silencing the light quickly, I turn to the Nightwalker, suddenly more confident that we can actually pull this off.

“Do we understand the plan?”

Derrín raises his hand, but I cut him off.

“I asked do we understand, not do we agree.”

He huffs and brings out the small blade I gave him this morning. “Kya is going to be mad.”

“She will have to get over it. Fingers bleed more.”

Derrín will have to slice his finger to draw the rune on the stone while I take care of the Kijova and clear a path for his escape while I enter the cave.

“Let’s go.”

Derrín nods and I don’t waste a second before sprinting down the hill, sliding to a stop in front of one of the beasts. It hardly has time to raise its claws before my fists are up. I call forth that well of power and…

Nothing. No light. No darkness.

I try again, demanding light to come forth, but nothing happens.

I hear Derrín cry out behind me. I hear his warning moments before the blow hits, and manage to jump to the side right as those claws rake the dirt where I stood moments before.

“Use your powers!”

“I can’t!” I shriek in a panic. I thought I felt that light, I’d been able to make a small spark back in the Bone Wood, and a few moments ago, I glowed, so why can’t I make it now?

A panicking realization settles in my stomach. I reallymighthave killed the last bit of light in me. That bit of light was the last of it warning me to turn back, but I ignored it.

Pushing past the dull ache in my chest, I face the beast before me. “Fuck it,” I grumble, unfurling my fingers.

I ignore how Derrín shouts as I raise my hand. A dark wave emits, temporarily slicing the Kijova in half and stunning me with pain.

“We don’t have long before they reform, and this magic is unstable without a sacrifice. I’ll do the best I can, but once that cave is open, run. Don’t wait for me.”

Derrín’s face is pale as he drags his finger along the stone. A crimson and silver trail follows the path his digit takes and before long, the rune is finished. The ground rumbles and debris falls from the cave as the entrance groans in opening.

“Run!” I shout as I cut down the last Kijova while the first one begins to reform.

The mechanic looks between me and the beast, hesitating for just a moment.

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