Excerpt: Tales of Vigilance

~Tales of Vigilance: Prologue~

“I thought I would find you here.”

“The invite wasn’t enough?”

“You never could be subtle, could you.”

“If I was, you’d never pay attention to me.”

~*~

In the prosperous country of Myrillia, there is a place that scarcely anyone visits. Partially because it was discouraged by tradition, partially because it was just a set of ruins, and partially because anything of value had been looted already. Today was a special day though.

For the first time in many years, people had come.

“Ugh, it's freezing in here,” muttered Kyril Carax.

“Why’re you complaining? Noobs like you don’t know how good you have it,” a man named Isaac said scornfully. “Do you know what sorts of places Fire Cross had to investigate before you joined up? We ended up in Viena of all places. You want ‘freezing’? Now that is freezing. Anyone ever tell you about when we had to go check out that guy smuggling contraband fruit into the country…”

Kyril felt a hard jab at her ribs. She rolled her eyes and met a ‘look what you’ve done’ gaze from Max. She shrugged sheepishly. Like everyone else in the squad they were well acquainted with the idea that once someone got Isaac going, he’s keep going for about another hour at least and they’d be stuck listening to it whether they wanted to or not.

Fortunately, they were saved by the arrival of the group’s archer, Rayna. “Did you guys finish checking the east wing?”

“We didn’t see anything out of the ordinary,” Kyril answered. “There doesn’t look like there’s been signs of recent activity.”

“Just rocks, rubble, debris, and a lots and lots of rats,” Max added. He paused dramatically, as though remembering something. “And more rocks. You?”

Rayna shook her head. “Nothing in the left wing either. Looks like the rumor of break in was just that.”

“Ten gald says that commander Styx sent us out here for laughs,” Isaac grumbled. “Just like with Viena. We were gone for five months looking for his precious artifact and-”

“Has anyone seen the Captain?” Kyril quickly cut in.

“I think he’s still checking the roof,” the archer said.

“How long does it take to check a roof?” Isaac asked.

~*~

“What do you want?”

“A lot of things. My face on a coin of gald for one.”

“I cannot afford to be away for long, you know that. Why did you call me here?”

“I just wanted to talk with my opposite. No one else is like this you know, just us. And considering the company I’ve had to deal with a some-what intelligent conversation would be a blessing.”

“You shouldn’t talk about them that way. I’ve lived among them too.”

“Then you should understand exactly what I’m going to say.”

~*~

They waited for another twenty minutes before it was decided someone had better go see what was taking Captain McCoy so long.

Unsurprisingly, or at least for Kyril, the job got foisted onto her because as Isaac put it, she lacked seniority. Isaac claimed that he was too weary from scouring the basement and as for Rayna…no one wanted to force her into doing anything. Not unless they were the Captain.

“Why do I have to come along?” Max complained as they climbed the stairs.

“Max, you volunteered to come with me,” Kyril said.

“That was before I knew that this was going to turn into marathon,” he panted. “The only thing that would make this all worth it is if it was Rayna climbing in front of me. It’s amazing how she can walk around in a skirt like that and not freeze.”

“She’d kick your ass if you before you get a peek.”

“I don’t know why. It’s not like I’m pursuing after her or something. I hear she’s got an older bro with as big as temper as her in one of the other squads. After the last incident I’d rather avoid ladies with paranoid brothers.”

Fire Cross was among the small, specialized squads that worked alongside the Myrillian military under commander Styx. Usually, after the basic training it is decided what the enlistees’ talents or lack of talents belong. Usually, once placed into a certain area it doesn’t change unless something drastic happens like disgrace or replacement.

Maximilien Adalya fell into the latter for reasons he always claimed were completely misinterpreted.

“Feel that?” Max said after a while.

Kyril stopped her ascent. There was a slight breeze blowing down the corridor. They had to be close to the top.

As Kyril stepped forward again a heavy pressure hit her full force, nearly throwing her backwards until she caught one of the holds in the wall.

Behind her she heard Max coughing hard. She was about to ask if he was alright but the words wouldn’t come out.

What the hell!? Kyril thought, eyes wide with panic. Why couldn’t she breathe properly?

As quickly as the pressure appeared, it suddenly lessened. She sucked in a big gasp of air and saw dots blur her vision for a few seconds. She looked back to Max, who seemed to be doing a better job at controlling his breathing. They exchanged a knowing glance. That blast had come from the roof, that was where Captain McCoy was.

Kyril unhooked her glaive from her back while Max slipped his claws on.

They began their ascent once again, this time running.

~*~

“You can feel it. It’s the End. It’s coming.”

“Not for long time.”

“But it is. Maybe not for another few decades, maybe not for a few centuries, but it is coming. You’d have a to a delusional twit not to notice. Look what happened after the Isle of Ceres disaster.”

“She might change Her mind.”

“Why would She? I’d say she’s justified.”

~*~

“Whoa!”

Another pulse ran down the corridor. It was weaker than the previous wave of energy but it still forced them back a little.

They’d have to manage; they were almost to the top. They were close to getting to McCoy.

~*~

“What are you saying? It is our duty to-”

“Play babysitter for a bunch of ungrateful brats? You should understand as well as I do. Things aren’t changing; they haven’t changed in years. It was easy to dismiss before but after being among them for so long I just want to puke. Doesn’t it frustrate you?”

“Sometimes.”

~*~

When they reached the top, Kyril had to briefly shield her eyes from the sun’s rays.

The roof was shaped in a sort of circular shape with twelve pillar raised an equal distance from one another. At the center of the roof was an elaborate pattern of circles and markings in a language she didn’t recognize. Encircled by the patterns was a smaller circle that looked similar to the roof’s construct with the twelve pillars carved into the floor.

And at the center of that, clutching at his face in agony was Captain McCoy.

~*~

“It pisses me off. That’s why I wanted to tell you. I’m not just waiting for the end anymore…

“I’m embracing it.”

~*~

“Captain!”

Kyril and Max rushed to meet their fallen captain. McCoy let out a grunt, as though to acknowledge their presence. He didn’t look injured. There was nothing up there except the three of them.

When he finally looked at them, Kyril gasped in surprise.

His eyes had become pupiless silver.