Chapter 54: Dead End [Free]

Kaius tapped her shoulder. He must've noticed she was spacing out again, "We need to go before they see us."

Allyria could spare no time for argument so she nodded in response, "Let's go."

The stairs were just beside the chest. Kaius went up first, slowly, trying to avoid the wood from creaking. He pushed the trapdoor open but it wouldn't move. He tried again for the second attempt, still, no use. "We're locked from the inside."

"Do you think you'll be able to burn it?" he asked.

"Yeah but so will I burn the whole cabin. We can't afford being seen."

"You could focus your magic on the door," he suggested.

"I don't even know how to control it. I can't risk it, Kaius."

Kaius nodded and climbed down from the stairs. "We need to find another way," he said, "We could use any firm steel to break the lock," his eyes went to the chest, pointing it; "There must be something there that we can use."

Allyria went towards the chest, "I'll look here. Search for the armory."

"Okay."

Allyria rummaged for anything she can find inside. There were a lot of stuffs from the Royal Guards, some were from the camp. She placed the weapons one by one on the table quietly not to disturb or wake up whoever monster lived above where they were.

"Is this okay?" Allyria asked, holding the axe in front of him.

"Good. We can try it," Kaius grabbed the axe from her and went to the trap door, "This might really make a noise. Let's just hope no one hears us."

Kaius hit the gap between the trapdoor and the floor, aiming for the lock. It clanged with the impact as he repeated it for several times but nothing happened.

He did it again only to split the head from the handle.

CLANK!

The axe head fell to the floor. 

They stood there for several seconds, staring at each other. Someone could come here anytime as soon as they heard the sound.

But a few minutes have already passed and no one came.

Allyria heaved a sigh of relief, "That was close."

Kaius went down and grabbed the head, placing it back on the chest, "We need to find another one."

Allyria went for the chest again and ransacked its contents, "There's nothing to see here anymore."

"Here too," Kaius replied, "We have no other choice, Allyria. We have to try your magic."

"But..."

Kaius looked at her with pleading eyes.

"Fine. I'll try. But if we burn everything and get caught, it's all on you."

"Then do everything not to get caught."

Allyria only groaned. It's the first time she's used whatever power she had inside and now she felt like it was being abused in a single day. 

She climbed on the stairs, facing the trapdoor. She didn't want to burn the wood so she focused on the lock that was concealed from the inside. 

This will be harder than she thought.

Allyria raised her hands to meet the door, her mind directed to the lock that she couldn't even touch nor see. She channeled her powers, constantly reminding herself not to burn the wood but the thing she wanted most to turn into ashes.

'Please make this work.'

Allyria inhaled a deep breath. Focusing her entire energy on the fire, she closed her eyes. She could feel the fire flowing from her body. It traveled from the core to the tip of her stretched out fingers. It was excruciating like being pricked by a thousand pins and needles, her skin being ripped to shreds. The pain compelled her to stop but she didn't.

'Focus, Allyria. Focus.'

Cold sweat glistened on her furrowed brow. With hands congealed, she ignored the heat raining down on her like a breath of hell. The sweat trickled down her back, free flowing like condensation on a window pane, it beaded on her forehead and dripped from her chin.

She could feel the energy being constantly drained out of her, as though she's leaking electricity. Her arms were beginning to tire but if she placed her hands down, the magic might vanish. 

After a few minutes, she dropped her hand, her breathing ragged as she tried to catch up the air she felt her lungs lost as if she was running a marathon. She shook her head from the exhaustion. Using her magic several times today drained her enough but she had to go on.

She placed her hand on the trapdoor, "Let's hope this works."

Allyria pushed the trapdoor open and a bright light met her gaze. It almost blinded her but the warmth of it was the thing she missed the most so much.

She beamed after realizing the success of her first attempt. She could see the iron lock melted on the side of the floor. Allyria raised her head higher, looking back and forth. When there wasn't anyone around, she went out and called for him, "Come on up."

The first floor was just as how she envisioned it to be. Like Silas' cabin but larger and more livable. The armor stand beside the trapdoor was the first thing she noticed as soon as she went out. But there wasn't any armor hung on it. She whirled left and a dining table situated on the corner. Across it was a fireplace and large woolen couch.

The stairs on the far right corner indicated there was more to see upstairs but she didn't come here for a field trip.

A wooden door situated between the living and dining room and two large windows were placed on one side of the wall. Although people from the outside couldn't see them as a tree covered half of the window.

Kaius pointed the back door, whispering her to use that way. Allyria followed him as they tiptoed across the cabin. From the distance, she could see tents put up. The same ones she saw on the opposite side weeks before.

Allyria was about to take another step when she stumbled on the floor, pushing all the objects from the table near her when she tried to hold on to it.

"Brother?" A kid's voice came from the upper floor.

She raised his head to meet Kaius, the look on her face saying they're screwed.

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Written and edited by ephemery.

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author.

Allyria will hunt you down to the ends of Arde Terra and cast you out together with the Undying in the Islands of the Cursed. You've been warned.

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