Heroes Without A Plan

“Are you sure about this?” Eliot asked.

“I know you don’t have much of a life, but I do, and I’m not gonna throw it away just to play hero!” Alyssa snapped.

“Why are you being such a jerk? Isn’t saving people more important than getting paid to take your clothes off?”

“Hey! Let’s not get hostile here, shall we?” Mike interrupted.

“SHUT THE HELL UP! You think I like what I do! I live paycheck to paycheck and I HATE IT!”

“Then WHY don’t you want to stay?”

As Eliot and Alyssa began to fight, Agatha returned with a bundle of supplies in her arms, carrying them up the hill where they first arrived.

“Oh, hello. Need some help?” Mike asked, approaching her while trying to ignore them both.

“Ahaha hey, kid. Causing a ruckus, are they?” Agatha replied, handing Mike a knapsack full of supplies.

She explained that they would have to build another portal, which was considered very difficult.

“How did the portal open last time?” Alyssa asked, walking towards them as Agatha began to make a circle around the grass with a substance that looked like dirt.

“I’m tellin’ ya. It was the gods’ doing! They chose you!” Agatha cried, her eye on the rogue for a moment.

Mike sat down next to Pire as he watched Eliot and Alyssa fight again.

“I just don’t get it! WE were chosen for this!” Eliot brought up the subject again and approached her.

“Yes, and I’ve done so much, haven’t I?” Alyssa began to speak calmly, trying to control herself. “Besides, they don’t need any more help!”

“Yes, but don’t you like it? The power!”

“You’re the one with power!” Alyssa’s temper slowly dropped as she continued, “You can do whatever, but I’M GOING!”

“FINE! Your choice!” Eliot huffed. Alyssa walked downhill, trying to clear her head, and threw herself on the soft grass.

Agatha finished the circle and went to her backpack to get some jars. She opened one and began pouring fine sand, making a triangular pattern inside the circle.

“Anything I can help you with?” Mike asked, still with Pire. Agatha didn’t look up as she continued, answering with a “no,” and delicately placing some chickweed around.

The sky slowly darkened as Agatha completed the portal. Pire whimpered quietly and hid behind Mike as she began.

“To go beyond, you must go through.” Alyssa stepped inside without hesitation and Mike followed with Pyre beside him.

“Unfortunately, he can’t go with you, Mike.” Looking down at the dragon, Agatha turned to him.

“Wait, what? He can’t?” Mike asked in shock. She explained: “Magical creatures like him shouldn’t leave their world. He could die.”

Before Mike could protest, Agatha gently pushed Pire aside.

“He could ruin the portal,” Agatha dismissed further arguments and continued.

“Now you must be quiet, say nothing while I cast the spell.”

Alyssa drew a deep breath. Mike, on the other hand, had his eyes on Pire. He interrupted them just before Agatha started to read something from a book she had taken out of her bag.

“Eliot? What are you doing?” he called. They looked at Eliot, who was not yet part of the circle. There was an ambivalent look on his face as he stared at Alyssa.

“Don’t tell me you’re not coming!” Alyssa protested.

“I... I dunno...I like it here. Orcs...magic!...Right?” he looked at Mike for reassurance. The warrior glanced from Pire to Eliot before his eyes were on Agatha.

“You’ll have to make a decision, the magic energy is on the wane.”

The atmosphere had darkened heavily and there was a stillness in the wind. Mike slowly stepped away from the circle, breathing in the silence. Alyssa watched as he placed his hand on Pire’s head.

“All right, Alyssa, please be quiet, say nothing while I—.”

“You’re not coming?” He had no desire to leave, even though it hurt to see her go.

“I...I wanna stay here. But don’t let us hold you back, go see your family.”

A tear ran down Alyssa’s cheek as Agatha read from her spell book. Mike and Eliot watched silently from the side.

“Shrarg bezilius, blifus, ecloda, volar, ekishri, bluwe, rewocia. Igesil brucrezus, enope, arykejia.”

With every spoken word, the hill shook.

“Æleiri”

Mist surrounded the circle and Alyssa closed her eyes. The ground shook violently, and as it continued, Alyssa’s vision became blurred. Soon all she could hear were frantic, muffled voices as she passed out.

Agatha’s face became panicked as she began to pray.

“Obta, Obta, Obta”She continued, louder. They were extremely worried. Something had gone wrong.

“Is she okay?”