Chapter 20: Mole-beasts
1510 Words
Inside, the Sky Border was a world unto itself.
The scale of it dwarfed anything I’d ever known. Towers of crystal and xylnaziom steel rose high above, their surfaces shimmering as if kissed by perpetual sunlight. The air was charged with a vibrant energy, and the hum of machinery mixed with the distant murmur of voices.
Watchers moved with purpose, their capes flowing behind them. Those of higher rank wore the black combat attire I had seen before, complete with hoods and the iconic eagle-wing tattoo. They were the heart of the Border—its protectors and its soul.
'No wonder the Oldlings called them mole-beasts,' I thought. 'They live in the walls, part of the very structure itself.'
The scarred mage led me through wide corridors carved from gleaming stone, each turn revealing something more incredible than the last.
“How big is this place?” I asked, my voice echoing faintly.
“Big enough to host the Royal Palace five times over,” she replied without looking back.
I stopped walking for a moment, stunned by the sheer size she described. “It’s unbelievable.”
“It’s the legacy of Gyrange,” she said simply. “But don’t lose yourself in awe. You’re here for a reason.”
I nodded and hurried to catch up, but her words lingered. As magnificent as the Sky Border was, it carried an unsettling weight. A faint unease crept over me, a feeling I couldn’t quite place.
The corridors stretched endlessly, their stone walls shimmering like liquid light. My footsteps trailed behind the mage faintly as I did my best to contain my wonder. The deeper we went, the more I felt the Border’s pulse—a steady, rhythmic vibration that resonated in my chest.
“Gyrange was brilliant,” I said quietly. “But he must’ve been a little mad, too.”
The mage gave a faint smile, her scar twitching as she replied, “Aren’t all geniuses?”
We entered a chamber bathed in soft blue light. Intricate carvings covered the walls, shifting and twinkling as though alive. The air was cooler here, almost serene, and yet my heart raced.
At the center of the room stood Kema.
He hadn’t changed since the day he found me in the forest. His presence was still magnetic, his golden eyes as piercing as ever. He turned to face me, and for a moment, the weight of everything I’d endured melted away.
“Jade,” he said, his voice warm and steady. “You’ve come far.”
“I—” Words failed me. Emotion clogged my throat.
“You’re safe now,” he said, stepping closer. “Welcome to the Sky Border.”
And in that moment, I believed him. That I was finally safe.
“Yes, yes,” I said, grabbing Kema’s arm and pulling him to one side. “I must tell you this . . . please, come.”
He followed, his expression unreadable as I began spilling everything in a rush.
“Gyrange’s Cave . . . I got lost in it on my way here. I was with some mercenaries who helped me to Kreel, but we were ambushed by orc-monkeys and ended up in Gyrange’s Cave.”
At the mention of the cave, Kema’s golden eyes widened.
“You went through all that just to get here?” His voice was calm, but disbelief lingered beneath it. “But . . . Gyrange’s Cave? Are you certain? No one makes it out of Gyrange’s Cave alive.”
“That’s just it—I don’t know how I got out.” I raised my palm, showing him the wound of the tortoise symbol etched into my skin. “A machine killed Butcher and Gidon, and then I . . . I don’t remember. I passed out and woke up in front of Kreel.”
Kema’s gaze darkened as he stared at the scar. “This symbol . . . Is this what you showed me last week, Lieutenant Lasha?”
The scarred mage, standing quietly to the side, nodded. “Yes, Commander. It’s the mark of the rebels.”
“Rebels?” I blinked, confused. “What does that mean?”
Kema ignored my question, his tone sharpening as he turned back to me. “Listen carefully, Jade. No one—no one—can see this symbol on you.”
“But Lydia and the boss,” I pleaded. “We need to save them. I don’t believe the machine let them go.”
“I don’t know who these people are, Jade. But you need to forget about that place.” His commanding tone left no room for argument. “Forget about those people and that cave.”
“But Commander, does this mean the rebels are tied to Gyrange’s Cave?” Lasha interjected cautiously. “Should we investigate further?”
Kema’s gaze snapped to her, the air between them thick with tension. “Not another word.”
The lieutenant stiffened, then gave a sharp nod. “Understood, Commander.” Without another glance, she turned on her heel and left.
“You don’t understand,” I said, my voice breaking. “We have to save them.”
“I’ll handle it,” Kema said firmly, his eyes softening just enough to make me believe him. “But you need to focus on what’s coming. The selection exams begin in two days. If you don’t pass, you can’t train, and if you can’t train, I can’t protect you.”
'Why are you so intent on protecting me?' I wanted to ask, but Naila’s voice echoed in my mind.
'Would you, please, let this beautiful man protect us . . . Don’t question it.'
:~*~:
As Kema walked me through the towering halls of the Border, whispers followed us like shadows.
“Who is she?”
“Another awakened from Kreel?”
“Why is she with the Commander?”
“Does he . . . care about her?”
The questions buzzed around me, but I focused on my surroundings, trying to suppress the rising anxiety in my chest. For the first time, I noticed others with eyes like mine—bright, clear, and tinged with mystery.
“You see?” Kema said, glancing at me. “You’re not an outcast here.”
Before I could respond, a man rushed toward us, his expression alight with excitement. He scooped Blooby off the ground, holding him up as if he’d found a lost treasure.
“Hey! That’s mine!” I said sharply, stepping forward to take Blooby back.
“Professor Usevhar,” Kema said, his voice laced with warning. “What’s this about?”
“Commander, don’t you see it?” Usevhar exclaimed, practically giddy. “This . . . this machine—it’s extraordinary! It’s as though Gyrange himself crafted it!”
I tensed, holding out my hand. “Give him back. Now.”
“A girl like you doesn’t deserve such a marvelous creation,” he said dismissively.
“Excuse me?” My anger flared. “You have no right to decide what I do or don’t deserve!”
“It’s a masterpiece,” he continued, ignoring me. “The precision, the craftsmanship—years of work must’ve gone into this.”
Naila’s voice was sharp in my mind. 'If he’s impressed by Blooby, imagine what he’d do if he saw the machine from Gyrange’s Cave.'
“Put. Him. Down.” Kema’s voice was low and calm, but there was no mistaking the authority in his tone.
“Commander,” Usevhar protested. “This machine belongs in my lab, not with a—”
“Now, Usevhar.”
The engineer hesitated, then reluctantly placed Blooby back on the ground.
“My master . . . bloob . . . Jade. Blooby like Jade. Blooby hate arrogant man . . . bloob . . . with goat beards.”
“It can reason,” Usevhar whispered, his eyes wide with awe. “Commander, I must—”
“You will not,” Kema interrupted, his composure slipping just enough to reveal a flash of anger. “It’s hers. Leave it at that.”
Usevhar clenched his fists, his face a storm of frustration. “You disgrace me for this child, Commander. I’ll take my leave.”
As he walked away, Kema turned to me, his voice quieter. “He isn’t the kind of man who gives up easily.”
“I figured as much,” I muttered.
Kema crouched to meet Blooby’s glowing eyes. “Blooby, I need you to stay with me while Jade undergoes the selection exams. It’s safer this way.”
“Blooby can’t . . . bloob . . . leave master.”
'Tell him it’s for your protection,' Naila urged.
“It’s for my protection,” I said hesitantly.
Blooby blinked, his voice soft. “Blooby obey . . . bloob . . . master.”
Kema smiled faintly as he picked up the machine. “I’ll keep him safe.”
- Writer
