Their Loyalty to Legend by M. A. Morales

Author:M. A. Morales
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: M. A. Morales
Published: 2024-03-29T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

Atlas Lurio observes their landing as they exit the marble ruin containing the gateway. A previous journey to the druidic realm documented the positioning to be in a different location. Atlas does not doubt that the cartographer was accurate in their scaling of the realm, assuredly utilizing life force to map the region as they traveled through the ruined city. Atlas pauses to wonder if the landscape shifts when no one is present. Or perhaps it moves under their feet in this very moment.

“I’ve located Tanten and Horne,” Naht says, fists clenched and squinting in their supposed direction.

“Back down. We’re not continuing the chase,” Atlas says, his tone cold and authoritative.

“What do you mean, Red? They just killed some of our troops. We can’t...”

“I said back down.”

Keniph straightens his posture and solemnly eyes the wounded from the attack they faced before entering this realm. He forces down the bile leeching up his throat and sighs. Naht releases his fists and stares at the ground, redirecting his life force to other matters.

Atlas bites his bottom lip.

“Damn...”

He rolls up the map, no longer viable in the ruined city they’ve found themselves in, and replaces it in a pocket of Keniph’s bag.

“Red, we can’t just back down,” Keniph whispers, his words meant for only Atlas’s ears. “Their loyalty to our mission will slowly fade if they feel we’ve given up on the fight.”

“And should a fight come, I’d rather have rested and recharged troops as opposed to injured and anxious ones.” Venom laces Atlas’s voice as his eyes, showing through no more than the slits his eyelids make, find Keniph. “And I would think my second-in-command refuting my orders would cause a greater effect on their loyalty to the mission. Wouldn’t you say so, Jet?”

Keniph bobs his head and steps back.

“Assist Leda for the mean time. We must move out immediately.”

“Aye, Red.”

His greasy, blonde hair droops over his eyes as he leaves Atlas’s side. As he follows his general’s movement, the burned flesh and singed skin of those injured enter his vision. Atlas quickly turns away, eyes closed.

“That bastard,” Atlas whispers.

He focuses his hearing as a breeze brushes by them. Debris dances by its command, sand, dirt, and marble grains mixing with other sediments of the landscape. But the wind does not speak to him. No message can be found in its current. Atlas exhales profoundly and peers about. It is not a simple breeze. It is a breath. The realm is breathing.

“Though some may hear a hum...” Atlas mumbles and attempts to identify direction. But it’s all about them.

“Do you hear something?” Naht asks, noting Atlas’s focus as he approaches.

“This realm is alive. There is no space within that exists without life force. It may as well be an intricate mirage.”

Naht expresses a short-lived grin and peers at the troops assisting one another at the door of the gateway.

“This may not be the best place for that,” the assassin nods in their direction. “We never know when another team will enter. Undoubtedly any nearby heard the explosion and rushed to the site.

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