Web of Blades - Chapter 12: The Cult of Trelian

“What?” Relia rounded on Glim. “You’re sure?”

“Positive,” Glim said. “I know another mana spirit when I see one.”

“We need to warn them.” Relia leapt off the ridge and fell three stories into the courtyard below. The stone cracked when she landed, but she barely felt the impact with her Master body.

Four years ago, these ruins had hummed with purpose and possibility. The workers had begun clearing out the vines, building mana conduits and shield Constructs along the outer walls. Cars and airships had filled the landing zone, and sigil grids had reinforced the stone.

Now, the temple looked abandoned. The jungle had reclaimed the courtyard in dense clusters of green, and a thick web of vines covered the front of the ziggurat like a burial shroud. The landing zone sat empty, littered with fallen leaves and broken stone. Even the turrets had been scavenged for parts

But there must be someone left. Why else would Storm’s Eye be here?

Relia bolted up the staircase toward the temple proper. Her feet pounded the ancient bricks, and carnivorous vines shrank back with every step.

“Stop right there!” A guard appeared on the battlements twenty feet over the main gate, his rifle trained on her chest. Half a dozen more popped up a second later, armed with guns and Missile rods. Most were only Apprentices. They were also far younger than Relia remembered. Younger than her, even. 

She put up her hands and tried to look non-threatening. “I’m Relia Dawnfire. I came to warn you—“

“That’s Moonfire’s daughter!” someone interrupted. 

“Storm’s Eye is coming,” Relia said. “You need to evacuate before—”

“We know,” a third guard cut in. “The spirit can’t touch us here.” The rest spoke amongst themselves, but Relia couldn’t make out their words over the storm winds.

“Your defenses won’t be enough,” Relia told them. “I’ve been here before. I was Lyraina Trelian’s apprentice.”

The first guard laughed at this. “I don’t care if you’re the Aeon bitch herself. We don’t work for her. Not anymore.”

Relia’s chest tightened at that. She’d expected resistance, but not this level of hostility. What had happened to these people?

“Is Javier still here?” He’d always been loyal to her grandmother, and he would remember Relia’s face. He might even listen to her. 

“Dead,” the guard snapped back.

Relia felt her shoulders slump, but she pressed on. “What about Noctis?” Five years ago, her grandmother had brought him back to life at this very temple. 

“You must be new here,” another guard said. The others shifted uncomfortably, and no one elaborated.

So much for that idea. 

She didn’t bother asking about Caster Serrano after that. Even if he were hiding in the temple, these people wouldn’t tell her. It might even make things worse; the Sons of Talek were hunting Serrano, and these guys clearly suspected Relia of working with them.

She could unveil her soul, but what good would that do? Even a Master couldn’t move an entire group by force. Not before Storm’s Eye destroyed the temple.

‘We could use dream mana,’ Glim suggested. ‘They’re just Apprentices.’

‘No,’ Relia replied. ‘That’s not the kind of mana artist I want to be.’

“Now!” the guard shouted over his shoulder. 

No sooner had he given the order than a burst of pale blue energy erupted from the top of the ziggurat. Relia almost braced herself for an attack, but this didn’t look like a weapon. The Construct formed into a dome, expanding outward like a giant soap bubble until it encased the temple and its surrounding walls.

Relia stepped forward and pressed a hand to the shield’s crystalline surface, feeling the power within. This wasn’t Moonshard, but she felt the Angelic mana at work. Lyraina must have built this before she left.

Typical. They spat on her name, but they still used her gifts.

Unfortunately, this shield wouldn’t be enough to save them. Angelic mana ran on Etherite, and she doubted they had more than one or two shards in their vault. Besides, the Aegis of Koreldon hadn’t stopped Kalden’s father, and he was only a Mystic. 

Storm’s Eye was far stronger.

By now, the guards had vanished from the wall, retreating inside the temple. Arturo and Lena still hadn’t caught up with her, so Relia stepped around toward the north side. ‘Any ideas?’

Glim’s transparent form flickered to life beside her, dressed in blue camouflage fatigues and a matching hat. “Lena said they took prisoners before. I’m guessing Storm’s Eye will break the shield, then send its spawn inside.”

That sounded about right.

Footsteps echoed on the stone floor behind her. Relia glanced over her shoulder and saw Arturo and Lena catching up.

“Hey.” Arturo ducked beneath a stone archway, using his machete to cut down a hungry vine. “I’m guessing it didn’t go so well with the cultists?”

“They aren’t cultists anymore.” Relia gave a helpless shrug. “I don’t even know what they are. They just seem young and scared.”

Lena frowned as she followed Arturo through the archway. “You think their leaders left them behind?”

“Maybe.” Relia gestured back at the temple beneath the massive blue dome. “We didn’t talk for long.”

“They might know something about the other locations,” Lena said. “We should do our best to keep them alive.”

Relia had planned to help them regardless, but it was good to have everyone on the same page.

“What about my parents?” Arturo asked. “What do I tell ‘em?”

“They should be fine to land,” Relia said. “Those anti-air guns won’t be a problem anymore. I’ll hold off the mana spawn until then.”

Arturo nodded. “Where do you want us?”

“Find some cover and hit the spawn from range.” Relia glanced at the temple again. “And they might need your help inside once the shield breaks.

“Sounds good.” Arturo looked worried, but he covered it quickly as he jogged off toward the temple’s south side. 

Relia made her way around the shield to the north side of the courtyard. The temple stood directly on the cliff’s edge, so she couldn’t stand between Storm’s Eye and its target. But this seemed like the next best thing. 

Glim floated along beside her, her blue form dimmer than usual against the gathering storm clouds. “Please tell me you don’t have a death wish.”

Relia shook her head as she wove through the maze of broken stone walls. “We both know I’m too useful to die.”

Glim wilted. “You don’t have to say it like that.”

“You can literally read my thoughts,” Relia said. “I can’t just pretend everything’s fine.”

Glim didn’t reply, but Relia felt her emotions through their bond—worry and frustration tangled up in a tight knot. She wanted to help, but she had no idea what to do.

“Let’s just win this fight.” Relia forced out a smile. “We can handle some mana spawn, right?”

“What about Storm’s Eye?” Glim asked in a low voice. 

“My father won’t let it kill me.” She’d meant for the words to sound reassuring, but they came out flat and empty.

Storm clouds swirled overhead as their enemy approached on the horizon. Rain struck her face like cold needles, and thunder shook the ground beneath her boots. Relia reached the cliff’s edge and looked out over the churning sea.

Storm’s Eye floated less than a mile offshore. Its massive blue form dominated the horizon, with the head of a dragon and the body of a serpent. Lightning crackled along its scales, and the ocean beneath it turned to foam.

The creature slithered through the air for several heartbeats, surrounded by a perfect circle of dark blue clouds. A year ago, Relia had frozen at this sight. Now, she felt strangely calm despite its overwhelming power.

The next few seconds played out just like she’d imagined. Storm’s Eye stretched open its massive jaw and unleashed a torrent of blinding mana at the temple. The sea parted in its wake, water vaporizing into steam. Several smaller islands exploded to dust as the beam passed through.

Relia shielded her eyes as the technique struck the temple’s shield. Blinding white light filled the world, and the ground bucked beneath her feet. 

The shield held for ten heartbeats, then it broke in another flash of blinding light.

The ground shook as fragments of the cliff crumbled away into the sea, and Relia steadied herself against a nearby stone pillar. Remnants of broken mana drifted through the air like falling ash.

Storm’s Eye waited in the distance, slithering its massive body through the clouds. Its pale white eyes seemed to fix directly on Relia. If Glim was right, then it would unleash its spawn next.

Relia cycled her mana and waited for that to happen. These spawn had nearly overwhelmed her team in Koreldon City  last year. But she was a Master now, and she didn’t expect any problems from them.

Instead, a helicopter flew over the jungle to the north. 

“Who’s that?” Relia hollered to Glim.

“Black and jade,” she replied. “Clan Kazaru’s colors.”

Relia blinked away the rain in her eyes. “What’s a North Shokenese clan doing here?”

The helicopter hovered above the courtyard, maybe a hundred feet over her head. Its rotors fought against the storm, holding position despite the gusts that whipped Relia’s braid across her face. A metal door slid open on one side, spilling golden light into the gray haze.

Three Masters dropped from the opening. Two men and one woman.

Cracks spread beneath their boots as they hit the stone floor. All three wore fitted armor of black and jade that covered them from head to heel.

They didn’t even glance at the dangerous mana spirit behind them

Instead, they all cycled their mana and turned straight toward Relia.