27 White Coast

They didn't stay long in Neria. By the time dawn was breaking, Point Blank was already setting off in the wagon with a few supplies still inside it that the villagers generously left.

As strange as it was to have a blind man drive the wagon, Curt handed over Mahku the reins as he was the only one who knew the way to White Coast. Curt wondered how Mahku navigated the road, avoiding potholes and other travelers on the way. He was starting to wonder if the man was truly blind.

The days went by without incident, and by the end of the week, Curt could smell salt in the air. Mahku told them all they'd be at White Coast by the afternoon, and sure enough, the towering white peaks of the city's spires appeared in the horizon shortly after noon.

White Coast was a city that would rival Endyre in size, with pure white buildings that looked like they carved out of the coastline where it sat in, accented by colorful flags and banners that seemed to be strewn across every rooftop.

But it was the blue expanse that caused Curt's jaw to drop. He'd never seen so much water before in his life, and he could already hear the crash of waves on rock. He didn't Jesse looked similarly stunned, leaning out the side of the wagon, eyes wide.

"It's nice to see the ocean again," Xujen commented.

"The ocean?" Jesse asked, still looking entranced by the sight.

"Ah, I imagine it'd be similar to what the sea of clouds is for you two," Mahku said. "The ocean is a large body of water that wraps around the world. I've sailed on it quite a lot in my youth."

As the horses continued to pull the wagon closer to the city and the sea, the smell of the salt spray grew stronger. Curt had no idea something so clean looking could be so pungent. As they got closer to the city, they spotted a number of pitched tents sitting outside the city walls. The Holy Order's sigil decorated the fabrics and flew on the flags in the encampment.

"I guess those are the guys the Holy Order dispatched to help with the quarry issue," Bauph said. "Looks like they're not welcome though."

There was no way to avoid the encampment's notice if they wanted to enter the city. The tents crowded right outside the bridge that led to the city's gates, and the Order's soldiers looked bored as they passed. As Curt expected, the bored soldiers took great interest in the group.

One of them sauntered up and blocked them just before the gate. Mahku slowed the horses, stopping them right before the man. He wore the same uniform that most of the soldiers they passed by wore. He carried his mundane looking spear in a loose grip, and he looked up at Mahku who drove the wagon.

"A blind man driving a wagon, eh? Don't see that everyday," the soldier remarked. He glanced back at the rest of them, sitting in the wagon. He eyed the crates and sacks of supplies with particular interest.

Mahku smiled politely down at the man. "I've navigated the world without my eyes for quite some time. However, you might consider not stepping in front of a blind man's wagon next time."

The soldier flushed and cleared his throat nervously. Trying to sound more commanding this time, he said, "What business does your lot have in White Coast?"

"What does it matter to you?" Tera asked, looking impatient. "We're kind of tight on time, so move out of the way already."

The soldier looked miffed. "I'm under orders to check out any suspicious travelers on their way in or out of White Coast."

"Why's the Holy Order monitoring who comes and goes?" Curt asked.

"That's something you don't need to know." He ignored Lysse who rolled her eyes at him. The soldier stared at their supplies again. "What's in those?"

"Just supplies," Tera replied. "We're a guild and we're here on guild business, so move out of the way already."

"What guild?"

"Point Blank."

"Haven't heard that one," the soldier said suspiciously. He scanned their faces. He paused at Bauph, and Curt noticed he was looking straight at Bauph's large cross.

Before the soldier's dull mind could process what he was seeing, Curt spoke up, "We're a new guild, just on an escort job for the blind man —" Curt gestured toward Mahku. "— the stuff's in the back is just supplies." Curt pulled a few parcels of food out of one of the sacks and tossed it at the soldier. The soldier fumbled while catching it, letting his spear fall to the ground beside him.

"For the trouble," Curt said. And before the soldier could respond, Curt leaned forward and set the horses going again. The soldier had to stumble out of the way to avoid getting trampled, but his spear wasn't so lucky. Curt heard the crack of the wooden handle breaking under the wagon as the wheel rolled over it.

The soldier stared after them helplessly, clutching the food to his chest. But he wasn't their only obstacle. At the end of the bridge, a pair of White Coast's city guards stopped them. They were looking right at Bauph.

"No Order members are allowed into the city," the guard said in a monotone voice.

"He's with us," Curt said. "We're from a guild called Point Blank."

The guard narrowed his eyes as he kept them on Bauph's cross. "Sorry, but we've had quite a few attempts of Order members attempting to get inside illegally. He stays out."

Curt opened his mouth to protest, but Bauph sighed and said, "I'll just stay behind guys. We don't have time to waste out here. I'll see if the Holy Order camp will let me stay with them for a while."

Bauph hopped off the wagon and began walking back to the Order with only his cross with him. Vanessa handed him one of their sacks of supplies. "Just in case," she said. Bauph thanked her and took it gratefully.

As Curt watched Bauph recede into the distance, he asked the guard, "So why aren't Holy Order members allowed inside?"

The guard shrugged. He seemed like he genuinely didn't know, so Curt let it be. Mahku drove the wagon through the city gates, and with that, they were in White Coast. The white stones of the buildings were almost blinding in the sunlight.

The horses strode through the entrance, pulling the wagon behind them. The moment Curt passed under the stone arch, he felt a jolt through his very core. The feeling reminded him of the shocks Jinpuhn and Mahku gave him when he was tested, except this one was unrelenting and far more intense. He felt his muscles seize and his whole body tense as a burning sensation flooded his being.

He felt like he was burning from the inside out. Curt was only vaguely aware of Mahku slowing down the wagon cart as guild members leaned toward him, echoing concerned words in muted voices. He felt Bauph place a hand on his back, then withdrawing like he had touched a hot stove. With the way he currently felt, Curt wouldn't be surprised if he did feel like one.

The concerned voices rose in volume and then nothing. Curt had passed out.

----

He woke reluctantly in the middle of the night, but Curt could only hear the soft, steady breathing of Jesse, and the near inaudible ones of Xujen in the same room. He wondered what woke him.

He scanned the room. It looked like they decided to rest at a simple inn, and Jesse and Xujen were his only roommates. They each had a bed of their own, and Curt's was nearest to the window, which was open to let a cool, ocean breeze in. Curt tossed the blanket off of him. His throat felt dry, but at least he no longer felt like he was being roasted by a fire.

There was a thoughtfully placed glass of water beside his bed, which he took gratefully. Curt wasn't used to having people care about his wellbeing. He glanced at the sleeping forms of his companions. Jesse slept in a sprawl of limbs and sheets, and Xujen wasn't even lying down on his bed. He had his sword resting on his shoulder as he slept leaning the wall.

Curt threw his legs off the bed and stepped lightly onto the wooden floor.

"Feeling better?" Xujen raised his head slightly. He was still wearing his strange, conical hat. The low rim made it difficult to read Xujen's expression in the dark.

Curt nodded. "Yeah. Thanks for hauling me to a bed. And the water."

"You should keep resting," Xujen said. "Vanessa said you had an abnormally high fever."

Curt shrugged. "Can't sleep. Figured I'd take a walk outside and come back to try again. I feel better now anyways." The feeling of restlessness inside him was growing, and quickly eclipsing any sleepiness that he initially had.

Curt made his way quietly to the door. "I'll only be out for a bit."

Xujen seemed reluctant to let a man who had just fainted earlier that day just leave in the middle of the night. He sighed. "Wait, I'll come with you." Xujen barely made a sound as he left his bed.

"You sure?" Curt wasn't sure how Xujen managed to get any kind of rest with the way he slept.

Xujen nodded. "In case you pass out again."

"Well, hopefully that doesn't happen."

Together Curt and Xujen walked out of the inn. The hour was incredibly late, or early depending on one's perspective. Very few people were out on the streets, and the crash of waves on shore was the loudest thing Curt could hear.

That is, until a piercing scream nearly deafened Curt. He reflexively clutched his head. The inhuman shriek subsided after only a moment, but it had left him feeling dazed. His head ached in its aftermath.

Xujen wore a worried expression as he stared at Curt. "What's wrong?"

"That scream… didn't you hear it?"

Xujen frowned further. "Scream? I heard nothing."

Curt turned toward the direction he thought it had come from. "It came from over there," he said. "I definitely heard something."

"I think we should go back," Xujen said. "You clearly need more rest."

Curt shook his head. Something about that scream had been incredibly unsettling. There was no way he'd be able to fall asleep after hearing that. More importantly, whatever made that noise was undoubtedly in a lot of pain. The keening sound was just as heartbreaking to hear as it was shrill.

Curt began to head down the streets, not knowing exactly where he had to go, only the general direction. He felt desperate, and he wasn't sure why. The sound had unnerved him, and he had no idea what made it. He had never heard such a thing before, and yet there was something about it he found almost nostalgic.

Before he knew it, he was racing through White Coast, with Xujen jogging behind him to keep up. Dimly, he heard Xujen telling him to wait, but Curt kept going. He didn't know why, but he felt like he was running short on time.

The shriek came again. And again. Each time it grew louder, more pained, and more shrill. Curt knew he was getting closer. He couldn't help but wince each time as the screams came.

Curt came to a stop in front of locked gate at the edge of the city. The city's walls wrapped around it, indicating that the gate led outside. A sign hung from above.

WHITE COAST QUARRY, it read.

The screaming was coming from past the gate, and Curt was close now. He had to get over it somehow. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he was wondered if the screams were tied to whatever was halting the quarry's shipments. But he more concerned with getting over the wall right now.

Xujen came up beside Curt. He was staring at the sign that indicated the quarry was just up ahead. "So this is where the quarry is," Xujen said.

"I have to get inside," Curt said.

He tested the lock. It was made of heavy steel, and looked pretty sturdy. He might be able to blast the lock open with Otto's guns, but that would cause a lot of noise. Curt side-eyed the guard watchtower that stood not too far away. He could see the relaxed silhouette of a guard facing the other direction. In a few moments, the guard might turn and see them loitering suspiciously in front of a clearly blocked quarry.

"Can you get it open?" Curt asked Xujen.

Xujen looked like he was about to refuse, but seeing the determined look in Curt's eye made him pause. Curt realized he probably seemed mad right now, rushing off after hearing something that only he could apparently hear, and now trying to break into a quarry, which was likely an illegal action. For a second, Curt thought Xujen really would refuse, but then Xujen seemed to make up his mind.

"Alright. Stand back," Xujen sighed.

Curt stepped back, and watched as Xujen drew Shrieking Vapor.

"I know this is below you, but please help my friend," Xujen whispered to his blade. Then he made a clean cut through the steel, and the lock silently began to fall apart. Before it could fall to the ground with a clang, Curt caught it.

"Thanks," Curt said. He carefully pushed just enough of the gate open for him to squeeze through. He looked back at Xujen, who seemed to hesitate. "If you don't want to come any further, that's fine."

Xujen shook his head. "No, I'll come. I don't know what has possessed you, Curt, but since I'm complicit in aiding you in this illegal activity, I might as well see things through. If there is a menace in the quarry, it would be dishonorable for me to leave you to face it."

Curt nodded, and made room for Xujen to enter as well. He shut the gate slowly once the swordsman was inside. The quarry didn't look all too different from the quarries Curt had seen up in the Dusts. A deeper mine entrance sat in the back against the cliff.

Curt headed straight for it. Whatever he was hearing was coming from deeper inside. Xujen wordlessly followed, knowing that Curt probably couldn't elaborate on why that was the right way. Or maybe Xujen was resigned to the fact that Curt was probably crazy from the fever and he was stuck as a chaperone.

The mine went deep into the earth, and if it weren't for soft, glowing lanterns along the way, it would've been pitch black inside.

"Strange," Curt murmured as he passed another glowing lantern. They barely emitted any light, and from the outside, he couldn't even see their glow. "Wonder why they're keeping this place lit up."

"This place is not as abandoned as we were led to believe," Xujen whispered. "The footprints on the path are recent."

Curt hadn't heard another scream in a while. The silence made him uneasy. He wanted to rush ahead, but something warned him to be cautious. It paid off. He nearly rounded the next corner until the sound of a voice, real and not imagined, spoke.

"How much longer?" A man demanded.

Curt pressed against the side of the mine's wall. Xujen followed suit. Leaning forward carefully, Curt tried to get a peek around the corner.

A large cavern was just up ahead, its edges glittering with magic crystals. The glowing lanterns lined the walls of the room, casting the place in an eerie light. A few robed figures were standing, backs to Curt, facing whatever was in the center of the room.

Curt daringly leaned forward just a bit more to catch a glimpse of what they were looking at. The moment he saw it, he knew it was the source of the screams he had heard. Bound in chains inside a magic circle was a phoenix, its plumage pure white, and its neck bent in defeat.

As if sensing Curt's stare, one eye opened slightly, and stared back.

[I've been waiting.]