Chapter six
“Use your legs as leverage,” Raiden called from below me.
The huge lava wall was never ending. We had been climbing for the last four hours, and my legs were burning in defiance.
Gripping any part of the wall my hands could find, I willed my body to move.
“You can do this, Alora. We’re almost there. ”
We had small axes that we could fix into the lava stone if there was nothing to grab hold of. Raiden was a few metres below, telling me which direction to take. Free climbing had never been something I enjoyed, but I was grateful for my petite frame that had hardly any weight to it.
“Does this wall ever end?” I pleaded, looking down at him.
“Focus above. We’re almost there. I promise.” Using my axe, I chipped away at the stone, anchoring it before I used it to pull my body weight up further.
With my face practically pressed up against the rock, I could make out a red tinge within the formation.
Swinging my axe again, I plunged it back into the stone above.
To my horror, the surface above me started to crumble.
“ALORA!” Raiden yelled as I began to slip.
One moment I was falling down the rock face, and the next, Raiden had gripped my arm tightly, pulling me back up towards him with one arm.
“Climb up my body. I’ll carry you the rest of the way. ”
“No, it’s too much!”
“You almost fell. Get on my damn back and clip yourself in!” he ordered, giving me a firm stare. Reluctantly, I fastened myself to him.
An hour later, we cleared the wall. Standing up to take in the scenery in front of me, I gasped.
I had never seen the sky this dark before.
It was nearly dusk, but I could almost make out.
..stars. For the first time in my life, I was gazing at stars!
After catching my breath, I took in a lush, tall, green mountain, surrounded by clear blue water.
The most beautiful waterfalls cascaded off the cliffs to the left of it.
If that wasn’t enough, the twilight sky above was full of colours.
Vivid greens, deep purples, yellows with a hint of red, all danced in ribbons above us.
The darkness of the night only enhanced its colours.
“What is this place?” I choked. This was one of the most beautiful places I had ever seen.
“The Mountain of Life,” Raiden muttered, moving to stand at my side. “The water comes in from The Sea of Napheros. It’s known to have healing powers and is a portal to another veil at certain times in the year, when the moon and our suns are in balance.”
“Why was I never told about this place?”
“There are many things and places you’ll learn about on this pilgrimage, Alora.
This is a right of passage for all Dylin.
Males have their own trials to complete.
They may be more brutal, but we take away the same lessons.
Do you think anyone could even describe its beauty if we were allowed to talk about it? ”
“It’s something that has to be seen with your own eyes.” It was beginning to make sense to me now. This wasn’t simply about getting to the sacred mountain. It was about learning the wonder of Afterlight Veil, seeing its beauty and power. “I’ve never seen anything as beautiful as this.”
“On my trial, I stayed here for almost a week. When the sky gets a little darker, I can’t even explain it.”
“Can we stay for the night at least?”
“You want to witness the power of the darkness?” Raiden looked surprised, running his hand through his curly, dirty blond hair.
“How dark are we talking?”
“A little darker than our dusk back home. Full darkness doesn’t appear until we reach the sacred mountain.”
“I would like to stay here for a little while.”
“We can stay as long as you wish, Alora. Did you want to get closer to the waterfalls?” My beaming smile must have answered his question.
****
WE ENDED UP STAYING near the Mountain of Life for almost a week.
It was a difficult place to leave. On our last night, I made sure to memorise every dance of the multicoloured sky above me.
Raiden and I bathed in the warm water that cascaded from the waterfall.
It was invigorating. The water seemed to restore my stressed body.
Even my mind felt lighter as we sat around the fire, eating some fruit we had scavenged from the bottom of the mountain.
“What is it like to wield a light sword?” I asked, gazing at the weapon beside Raiden.
“The power that it channels in battle is unlike anything I’ve ever felt before.”
“Do you think my father will consider allowing me to train with you when we return?”
“Can I be truthful with you?”
“Of course. Raiden, we’ve been through so much together. I want you to always be open with me. I consider you a friend now. Nell, Noor, Luz and Fynn never have an issue being honest with me.”
“I agree with Xavier and your father. I do not think females should wield a light sword.”
“You don’t think we should be able to protect ourselves?” My tone was sharp. Raiden was so open minded, I hadn’t expected this reaction from him.
“It’s not about that! Female Dylin have some of the strongest light powers.
Look at Noor. She can control storms. Luz can make life grow.
Nell...well, her powers are endless. If we let you go into the front line of battle, we could lose everything.
Your powers haven’t even manifested yet, but Uri has already seen that you will be the most powerful Dylin we have ever seen. ”
“We don’t necessarily want to be on the front line. All we want is to be seen and train alongside you. We carry the power of the light, too. Why shouldn’t we be allowed to wield a light sword?”
“You need to take that up with your father.”
“You could show me a few moves...or at least allow me to hold it.”
“That’s not happening, Alora. Female Dylin do not wield a light sword. That is the law. I will not betray my king. Can we please change the subject?”
“I was going to get some rest anyway,” I sulked, pulling my cloak over my body.
We had a long walk ahead of us in the morning. We would be making our way across the scorched, cracked land that lay behind the Mountain of Life. After that, it was a week’s walk over rocky terrain until we reached the base of the sacred mountain. Half of our pilgrimage was almost complete.
The closer we got to the sacred mountain, the darker the night sky became. The first glimpse of the moon made me feel closer to Nantu. Her moonlight would lead the way and keep me safe.
The eerie night wasn’t something I enjoyed, though.
Raiden and I had already witnessed several mimic souls.
Their screams were the sounds straight from a nightmare.
I had never been so happy to have my gold enchanted bracelet around my wrist. Packs of night howlers were becoming more regular, too.
They had prowled around our camp on more than one occasion.
Seeing Noor one day was the most surreal thing I had witnessed, until I realised she was a dread shifter. With one swing of Raiden’s light sword, she scurried away into the darkness.
“Keep close to me tonight, Alora,” Raiden muttered from beside me, gazing out into the darkness.
“If anything happens, you must climb to the top of that tree. Do you understand?” Looking over his shoulder, I saw a large tall tree in the distance.
Wrapping the hood of my cloak tighter around my head and body, I nodded.
Even with the fire, it was cold tonight.
“I’m not sure if that pack of night howlers is thinking of attacking, but I saw them circling us earlier. I counted at least twenty.”
“Can you take that many on?”
“I should be able to. If they attack, you head for the tree. Use your arrows once you are safe. Do you understand? I can heal from their bites. You haven’t manifested your light powers yet, so it will take you longer to heal.”
“You don’t need to remind me of how useless I am,” I sighed, closing my eyes. Raiden wrapped his arm around me. It was a platonic gesture to keep us both warm. In all my weeks with him, as strong and handsome as he was, I felt no desire at all. I knew it was the same for him.
“Try to sleep, Alora.”
****
THE GROWLS WERE THE first thing that startled me awake, followed by a nipping at my shoes and my cloak being pulled. Night howlers had invaded our camp.
Kicking one away with my foot, I grabbed my bow, smacking another one in the face as I swung my weapon.
“Alora, the tree! Now! Use the fire to keep them away from you!” Raiden was already on his feet, his light sword in his hand.
“I can fight better knowing you’re safe!
RUN!” There were already a few dead beasts at his feet.
Grabbing a branch from the fire in front of me, I used it to keep the few beasts away that surrounded me as I collected my arrows.
Raiden was further away from the fire, which meant most of the creatures were targeting him.
I had to get to the tree so I could take out the howlers that were behind him. Charging for the trunk as fast as my feet could carry me, I leaped up onto the first branch and then climbed swiftly.
Raiden was fighting well as I got in position on one of the top branches.
With no hesitation, I took a few shots, killing three beasts that were moving to attack him from behind.
Raiden gave me a quick glance of awe and appreciation.
There had to be much more than twenty. The beasts had him completely surrounded.
One jumped onto his back and dug its teeth into his shoulder.
Raiden yelled out, grabbing it with his bare hand and strangling it.
His pure strength was incredible. A few of the beasts stepped back as his light sword glowed in a pure, white light.
That’s it! Take them all down, Raiden! I continued to take out as many as I could with the arrows I had left.
With the hood of my cloak over my head, it helped me focus on the targets.