Coalesce: The Escape

A cold wind whips around me as I trudge through deep snow. I see a frozen lake just ahead and a dark figure standing by a single tree. Determined to find out who it is, I pick up my pace and hold my arm up in front of my face. The snow starts to thin and crunch under my boots. The figure moves away from the tree and comes closer to me. I cannot make out a face from where I am, but I can tell it is a man.

“Hello, child,” He says, his voice so familiar to me. And the way he calls me a child... I must have seen him before somewhere.

“Who are you?” I look at him, the swirling snow stinging my cheeks.

“That is not a priority now. You must listen to me. You and your friends are in grave danger. Jalladias is near you, he knows where you are. You must be careful. Remember to find the cure to save the precious life you lead now. I must go, child,” He turns away from me, glancing behind me. I look over my shoulder, frowning. I turn back towards him as he starts walking away.

“Wait, what do you mean by cure? What’s wrong?” SHouting over the distance and the howling wind, I reach out towards him. I struggle to follow him, my legs refusing to carry me forward. No acknowledgment comes from the man as he fades in the torrent of white.

The snow and lake and tree all fade and I open my eyes to a stone ceiling and Kylon’s snoring.

“Just a dream...” I murmur and sit up. His voice... I can’t get over it. I know I’ve heard it somewhere before. What does this Jalladias want from me? I’m not that special, am I? Oh, nevermind that’s not important. What is important is figuring it all out, especially the cure. It could be life or death. I don’t even know where to start though. I have nothing to go off of, I don’t even know what I’m supposed to cure.

As quietly as I can manage, I pull out my thick black cloak and put it on. I make sure Kylon is still asleep and sneak out of the room and out of the school. The air is cold and the sky is dark. I see my breath swirl out in front of me and snow makes a soft crunch under my feet as I walk. The wind blows softly through the branches of the trees, sounding like some form of song. A shiver runs down my spine as I take my map out of my pocket and find an old inn not too far away. I start down the path to the Gray Lantern trying to make sense of anything the man told me. I fold the map back up and put it in my pocket. A quick glance over my shoulder to make sure no one is watching me and I break into a run down the path. Various jumps over fallen trees and rocks slow me down only slightly. I smile triumphantly when I make it to the inn and push the door open, a bit breathless. The innkeeper looks at me and nods slightly.

“Don’t have too many people ’round here no more.” She says in a thick accent.

“I was wondering if you knew a man by the name Jalladias by any chance?” I sit on a stool and keep my face shadowed with my hood.

“Jalladias? What’s ’e done now?” She leans on the wood countertop and looks at me suspiciously.

“I’m just a concerned friend, someone told me he was targeting a young mage at Pounit. Said he was coming soon.” I cross my arms on the wood and look up at her. “Happen to know if any of this is true?”

“Last time I spoke to him he was headed to Galeiseth on business with the Princess...” She straightens up and takes a cautious step back, glancing towards a corner of the room.

“That’s right, I was.” A male voice comes from the corner and I turn cautiously, trying to keep my eyes covered.

“What sort of business did you have with her?” I stand up slowly as he crosses the floor toward me, slightly lowering my voice. Hopefully he hasn’t ever heard my voice before. I don’t have any clue who he is though.

“Who’s asking?” He puts a hand on the counter and looks down at me.

“A concerned friend.” I put a hand on the counter behind me and take a small step back. Putting a palm on the bar beside me he steps in front of me menacingly. He slowly leans closer, I can just see his dark blue eyes as they meet mine. I hold my breath, swallowing a lump in my throat. Please don’t recognize me...

“I was trying to get her alone. So I could tell her something...” His eyes narrow, I can feel his breath against my face as he speaks and my heart pounds in my chest. Straightening up, he turns away and strides over to the door and leaves after glancing back towards me suspiciously. I sigh deeply when he leaves, slumping back against the bar a bit.

“Thank you, for your hospitality.” I mutter weakly and go to the door. After a slight pause I open the door and walk into the bitter night air. In the short time I was inside the inn my tracks have been covered with fresh snow. A sigh escapes me and I start up the path making fresh tracks in the soft powder. The wind picks up and blows my hood off and I stumble over a rock. A hand grabs my arm and drags me up. Jalladias stands there with a thick black eyebrow raised at me.

“Concerned friend, huh?” He narrows his eyes, his voice harsh, grip tightening on my arm.

“Uh, hi... I’m guessing you know who I am?” I try feebly. Adrenaline rushes through my veins, every instinct screaming. My whole body is tense, shaking.

“Don’t be so naive. Everyone knows who you are by now. You’re wanted in all the kingdoms of Valley Forge and the capital. You’re quite stupid to come out here,” He shakes his head.

“Eh, yeah... I guess I am.” I look down slightly to hide a smirk, my voice weaker than I thought it would be. He grunts and lifts my chin.

“When I’m talking to you, look at me.” He brings his hand up as though to slap me, and I hook my leg around his and pull him off balance and duck. He loses his grip on my arm as he tries to catch himself.

“Know who your opponent is,” I hissed and got up quickly, starting back up the path as fast as I could manage in the conditions. If he catches me again, my blood will stain this land. A quick glance back lets me see him running after me with a fierce determination. A low branch catches my eye, I start to think. Jump, grab the branch, I tell myself and reach out my arms and spring upwards. I just barely catch the branch and have only a few seconds to swing myself up and onto the branch. Jalladias looks up at me as I stand on the thin branch, I’ll have to get to a thicker branch, this one won’t hold much longer. I grab the nearest branch and pull myself up using the other branches and trunk of the tree.

“Can’t stay up there forever, and you can’t keep climbing forever either.” He calls up and swings himself onto the lowest branch and starts climbing after me. This is not going to end well for either one of us. I keep climbing up, Jalladias follows me. I’m quickly gaining an advantage, the branches are getting thinner and thinner. I have nowhere to go now, unless I jump. This was a bad idea, I should’ve stayed at the school. If I make it out of this alive, and I doubt I will, Kylon will make sure I never hear the end of it. I carefully draw my sword with my right hand and hang on to the tree with my left, I can’t risk falling from this high up.

“That’s not going to help you,” He chides, a sinister lilt to his voice. I can see the bloodlust in his eyes and my heart tightens. I have no idea what he is capable of.

“How do you know?” I inch towards the end of the branch and let out a deep sigh. “I hope this works...” I say to myself and spread my arms out and jump off the branch. In midair I grab the sword’s hilt in both hands and point it down. A burst of blue light erupts around me and the sword leaves my hands and buries itself deep in the snow. My feet hit the hilt of the sword moments later, a hysterical laugh leaves me.

“I can’t believe that worked... I thought Xavier lied about this sword being special somehow.” The blue light fades as I draw the sword from the ground. “I am never doing that again.” I murmur breathlessly and wave at Jalladias, who is stuck in the tree. How graceful. I can’t help but laugh at my victory.