Chapter 337: The Chasm

Chapter 337: The Chasm

The cold rain drizzled down on the coliseum, yet it seemed to have little effect on the excitement of the spectators. The crowds screamed with passion and fear as golden and orange flames mixed and exploded in a cloud of smoke at the center of the arena.

The people of Undergrowth shouted confusedly and craned their necks over their friends, hoping to catch a glimmer of the duelists. As the smoke cleared the crowd cried out in shock. Stryg and Belle lay on the burned sand, unmoving, vacant eyes wide open.

~~~

The world was dark and silent, the sun nor moon etched the sky. There was no coliseum, crowds, nor voices. There was only silence and still water.

Belle and Stryg slowly drifted above the water with the quiet lull of unconsciousness.

The aurum aegis around Belles neck suddenly began to tremble and rattle, emitting specks of golden light that sputtered out of existence almost as soon as they appeared. Belles face contorted with pain and discomfort. She opened her scarlet eyes blearily.

The world felt slow and her body felt heavy. Water swashed in her ears and the sting of its cold touch felt like pin-pricks on her skin.This chapter is updated by nov(e)(l)biin.com

Im floating? she thought sleepily.

Her body jerked awake. She twisted in surprise and unintentionally went under the surface. Her limbs flailed for a moment but the cold rushed over her face and shocked her to her senses.

Belles muscles remembered her long hours of swim training. Her arms and legs moved instinctively and she kicked upwards. Her face rose above the water line once more and she took a deep breath of crisp air.

After a few more precious breaths, she gathered herself and glanced about, and spotted Stryg floating several meters away.

Oh, Im not alone, she sighed in relief. Hey! Stryg! Where are we? Oi! Wake up!

Strygs eyes didnt open, not even a flutter. Belle realized he was unconscious, though he otherwise seemed unharmed.

She frowned in frustration, Dammit, Stryg, I need you to wake up! Something feels off about this place her voice trailed off as she noticed there was nothing but darkness all around them.

Were in the Dreamscape Belle whispered in realization.

She had no idea how they had gotten here. The last thing she recalled was summoning her golden flames to attack Stryg and then she was here.

Her aurum aegis abruptly gave off a faint warmth. Had the aegis woken her up? In this place?

...Its not too bad, Belle whispered.

In fact, this was good she hoped. It wasnt the first time her soul had accidentally slipped into the Dreamscape. Then again, she had never taken someone else with her.

Its okay, were okay, she muttered to herself. Ive been here before and Ive gotten myself out before. First things first, I need to move us somewhere dry.

The Dreamscape was vast. There were plenty of comfortable spaces within its territory, and plenty of uncomfortable ones too. This place was clearly the latter.

Belle pulled off her aurum aegis and held the golden amulet up above her head. Take me somewhere with a campfire and some blankets, she commanded.

The aegis shook in her hand for a moment, before a single speck of light sparked off its metal edge.

Belle furrowed her brow, What the?

The aegis would usually shine bright in the Dreamscape. At her command, hundreds of golden particles of light should have blazed forth from the aegis in a burst of power that would transform into a dream portal.

Yet try as she might, the aegis did not respond.

Maybe theres not enough mana left? she wondered.

Had the aegis really used up most of its reserves waking her up? She could still feel some of her divine power emanating from the amulet, but it was dwindling.

Strange, she thought. The longer she held the aegis in her hand the less mana she sensed from within.

Belle stared into the darkness warily, Is this place draining the amulet?

But that didnt make sense, the Dreamscape could be dangerous but she had never heard of it draining mana before.

A small hint of blue filtered into her peripherals. Belle looked down and spotted a faint blue light deep in the water. As she watched, more lights emerged from the depths. The pattern of lights seemed almost like a reflection of the stars, but when Belle looked up there were no stars in the sky, nor even a hint of a cloud.

She had been in the Dreamscape plenty of times and each time it was a strange experience, but this this was different. Something felt off. An ominous feeling began growing in the pit of her stomach.

The hundreds of blue glimmers began to grow, from specks to the size of coins. The lights grew brighter and larger as they rose from the oceans depths.

Stryg Now would be a great time to wake up, like seeeriously great, Belle said anxiously.

The glimmers light began to coalesce around themselves, forming a faint azure aura that illuminated the gloomy waters. Belle glanced around the ocean, finally able to see past the darkness.

Belle glanced towards her unconscious friend and bit her lip. She shook her head, took a deep breath, and screamed at the top of her lungs, Im coming, Stryg! Just hold on!

Belle kicked the water with her legs and swam towards him, but the wisps were faster, they glided across the water with ease. Several wisps had already reached Stryg before she was even halfway there.

No, stop! Get away from him! Belle cried out.

The wisps ignored her and with cold hands they grabbed Stryg.

Suddenly, a wisp burst from the water and sliced apart the others ghostly arms with a pair of short ethereal blades.

Belle frowned in confusion, Its fighting them?

This wisp was different. It wasnt trying to drag Stryg to the deep depths. It was defending Stryg He was defending Stryg.

As Belle swam closer she began to make out the wisps form. It was a young man, a vampire, she realized. He fought with a peculiar sword style she had never seen before. He danced around Strygs body, his twin short blades slashing apart any other wisp that drew too close.

Who is that?

Why is he fighting against his own kind?

What is happening!?

Belle wanted answers but the other wisps were enclosing on Stryg. Hundreds of the dead hungered for the goblin. The single odd wisp turned to the horde of enemies, but he did not run, he stepped in front of Stryg, swords at the ready.

The waters shook beneath Stryg and dozens of knight-shaped wisps arose around him. Each donned a scarlet cloak over their ethereal silver armor. In one hand they held longswords and in the other, they carried shields with an emblazoned crest of a woman in a warriors stance.

Belles eyes widened with recognition, she knew that crest. She had seen Strygs swordmaster carry it proudly on the back of her cloak.

The House of Gale Belle whispered.

The scarlet knights moved in a synchronous order and formed a protective circle around Stryg. The horde of hungry wisps attacked them with a frenzy, but the knights held their ground and cut them down with silent blade strokes.

She didnt understand what was happening but there was no time to hesitate. Hey! Warriors of Gale! Belle waved to the knights, We need to bring Stryg over here! To the portal!

The young vampire wisp stared at the portal briefly before he sheathed his shortswords and threw Stryg over his back. The scarlet knights glanced at each other and nodded. They shifted their stance and began moving towards the portal while staying in their circle formation, cutting down the countless wisps that continued to attack.

Belle watched them, dumbfounded. Theyre listening Theyre really listening! Shit, I need to move too!

She spun around and swam back to the portal with the last of her remaining strength.

Despite the horde's attacks, the knights moved quickly over the waters and reached the portal seconds after Belle.

The young vampire wisp pulled Stryg off his back and handed him to Belle. She stared at the wisp warily, before she wrapped her arm around Stryg and pulled him away.

Belle swam back a little and looked the wisp over, T-thank you Sir?

The wisp said nothing and merely nodded.

Stryg grumbled in discomfort and his eyes faintly opened.

Clypeus smiled softly and gently pushed Belle and Stryg into the portal behind them.

~~~

Belles eyes snapped open. She shouted in shock and sat up on the sand. Rain drizzled down on her and she cried in relief. She glanced around at the coliseum and then at the confused crowd.

Im back were back! Belle burst into laughter, tears in her eyes.

Stryg groaned from across the arena and sat up. He shook his head, sand falling out of his pale grey hair. He stared at his hands and frowned in consternation, What just happened? I thought I thought I saw no it cant be

Look whos finally awake, Belle smiled, annoyed. She wasnt sure if she should have been angry or happy.

Belle remembered the Gale wisps and her smile fell. She looked Stryg over carefully, unsure of what to make of it all.

...Who are you, Stryg? she wondered.

The blue goblin stared at her and then at the battered arena. He narrowed his eyes and hissed, This duel isnt over.

Belle couldnt help but grin excitedly.

I wouldnt have it any other way, she growled.