With the girls and me cleaned up and satisfied, we left Amber’s home and made it to the meeting just before time was up. As we walked I accessed my MBD over Amber and looked at the options I had since we were bonded. She walked at the front of our line with Brandi in the middle and me in the back.

The MBD quickly displayed Amber’s information and I sorted through it while trying to keep pace with the girls.

Name: Amber Grasstap

Age: 21

BD: 2/15

Alignment: Physical/Air

Spells: Snap punch (Physical), Wind Arts (Air), Strike Gambit (Air)

Seeded Magic: Whirlwind (Physical/Wind), Keep Coven (Physical), Mirror Clone (Physical/wind), Blood For Blood (Physical)

Whirlwind(Physical/Wind) (Overcharged) -

Those of two alignments can take advantage of both, combining them into dangerous and deadly spells. Whirlwind is one such spell. Using the quickness granted by air and the damage of the physical, a whirlwind attack is an area of attack spell that can be controlled by the witch. The winds move so fast that they create a physical attack that once caught in is almost impossible to get away from.

Keep Coven (Physical) (Overcharged) -

A coven is the strongest of bonds and allows witches to reach their full potential through the application of a mage's talents. Using this bond, the witch can cause any buffs applied to her to be shared with others in the coven for twenty (sixty) seconds.

Mirror Clone (Physical) (Overcharged) -

Another spell that takes advantage of the two alignments. Mirror clone when used creates two (four) clones of the witch who will match her attacks and skills. Can be destroyed by most magic spells.

Blood For Blood (Physical) (Overcharged)

The witch that uses this spell is one that is not afraid of a fight that is up close and personal. Each bit of damage caused to the witch is turned into an increase of damage for the witch. Some witches have let themselves get close to death to be able to deliver a deadly one shot.

The skills fit what I knew of Amber. She seemed the type that wanted to be on the front lines of a fight. She also had the same energy that Brandi did after we first bonded and the same overcharged stats.

I followed the girls down the same path as we had come earlier, but at the Y we took the other route. It wasn’t long before the roofs of buildings began to appear above the gold and orange colored trees. Chimney stacks were pumping smoke toward the high ceiling, creating fast moving clouds that headed toward the entrance to the abyss.

The Wilkits of the town were already busy among the stalls and stores. The cobbled streets were filled with all sorts of animal humanoids. For such a small looking town, there were a lot of people about.

Most only spared us a glance, their eyes jumping between me and Amber. Amber kept her attention on the groups of academy students gathering near the center of town.

Cassie and Gaven were at the front of the group and a few other girls lingered around Gaven. They must have been part of his coven. The rest of the group milled about and chatted as if this was some sort of field trip. The dour look on Cassie’s face was enough to remind me that it wasn’t.

Her gaze shot to us as we came to the edge of the crowd. She made her way over to stand before Amber. “You’re late.”

Amber grinned and raked her fingers through her short brown hair. “Nope. We got a bit busy, but we’re right on time.”

Cassie looked at me and then back to Amber with a shake of her head. “You certainly didn’t waste any time.” She frowned and took a step to Amber and lowered her voice. “This isn’t going to cause us trouble, is it? A wilkit and a human being together is never seen in a good light around here and you being the daughter of—”

“Shush… I told you, it’ll be fine. Besides, after what I experienced with him there isn’t anything that would keep me from being his witch.”

Cassie glanced at me and noticed that I was leaning toward them to hear. She stepped back and smoothed her dress. “I just hope you know what you’re doing, is all.”

“What’s wrong?” Amber asked and placed a hand to Cassie’s upper arm. “You’re usually not this uptight. What happened?”

Cassie sighed and worried at her fingers. “It’s the scouts I borrowed from the 6th. They haven’t reported back yet and with the harvest now in full swing… I’m worried that we aren’t prepared for what’s coming.”

“And what is that?” I asked, stepping up to them.

Cassie dropped her eyes and then turned to the trees. “I’m afraid I’ve brought you on a higher risk delve than I intended.” When she looked back her gaze found me. “The spice draws the creatures from the surrounding area, makes them bold and angry. The wilkits do a good job keeping them down in numbers and away from town. But there has been talk of larger abyss creatures appearing from lower floors.”

“Father said that he lost a few hunting parties killing a Jigoria, but that was months ago,” Amber said.

“A Jigoria?” Brandi asked as she entered into the circle we stood in and pushed up agaisnt my arm. “That’s a level six creature… that shouldn’t anywhere near here.”

“You understand the issue,” Cassie said with a tight smile. “If my scouts haven’t returned then things may have—”

There was a shout from the otherside of the square and then others joined in. The group of academy students closed in around something. The four of us took off to see what was going on. Gaven stood in the middle of the group, shouting at people to give the girl room.

We pushed through the crowd, but I was behind everyone. As I neared, Brandi froze and looked back at me, eyes wide. She broke from the group and came to me, her hands going to my chest and pushing back slightly.

“Wait a second,” she said, her voice taking a worried tone that sent my skin prickling.

“Why?”

“Just… she’s in a bad way and you won’t want to see her like this. I know you won’t.” I pushed forward and she struggled to keep me back. She shoved as hard as she could and I went back a few steps. “Trust me on this, Aidan. Please.

“Move,” I said, but she didn’t. Amber came over and stepped in front of me. She was only a few inches taller than Brandi, but she was somehow much more imposing.

“What’s this all about?” she asked and kept her attention on Brandi.

“He… the girl is someone we both know,” Brandi said.

That prickling feeling turned into a burning, itching heat. My stomach turned sour and I swallowed back at the worry that bubbled up.

Amber gave a tiny nod. “Got it. She’s gonna be okay. Cassie is with—”

I shoved Amber aside and felt both girls grab at my arms. It wasn’t enough and I pushed my way through to a small clearing. Gavin glanced at me and Cassie looked up from where she was knelt down beside a girl who had been beaten and broken by something much larger.

The girl’s left eye was swollen and blood splattered her bruised cheeks. She cradled her arm. It was turned the wrong way. Her clothes were shredded and bloody. If she didn’t give a small breath every few seconds it would have been impossible to tell if she was still alive.

I fell to my knees beside her, my hands shaking as I wanted to gather her up in a hug, but knew it would be a mistake. I never, ever expected to see her like she was. My heart ached just to be beside her. It was Natalie.

“What happened?” I asked, my voice catching. Cassie looked up from where she was working on a bandage. “Who did this to her?”

“What we were worried about,” Cassie said and went back to work. “She was part of the scouts. If she’s here then…”

Then the rest of her group was killed. I looked around at the crowd and found no brave faces. The fear was plain on all of them. Even Gaven was concerned which looked strange on his normally bored face.

A…a group,” Natalie said and coughed up a glob of blood. “They’re...”

“We’ll look for your group, just worry about yourself.”

“No… not… they’re coming. A group… a group of Hil—ill-gar.”

“Did she just say Hilgar?” Gaven said. “There’s no way.”

“We’ll worry about that later.” Cassie stood up, her black dress flowing around her like water. “I’ll hear no talk of any of this. Do you lot understand? Until we know more it won’t do to start stoking the flames of fear.”

The group all turned to her and gave small nods, but it seemed the flames were already flourishing. I didn’t know what kind of things these Hilgar were, but if they could kill scouts from higher groups they were not something I wanted to tangle with. “What are you going to do with her?”

Cassie turned to me. “I’ll take her back to the bunkhouse and get a healer to look after her. She has been through a lot and the more rest she has, the sooner she’ll be able to tell us what happened.”

“And if it is these Hilgar? Don’t we have to prepare?” I asked.

Cassie nodded. “Yes, we do.” She nodded to Gaven who bent down and gently lifted Natalie from the ground. “Our job is still to protect the harvest. Hilgar or no, the creatures of this floor will start their frezied attacks soon enough.”

“Meaning what?” one of the students around us said, seemingly finding her voice. “We can’t fight hilgar and if it is such a creature, then the little ones we fight off will be meaningless.”

“As I said, this changes a few things, but not everything. I’ve already split you all into groups.” She tapped her WBD on her temple and a small map with a marker appeared in my MBD. “Your mages have their locations. Those not on first watch will stay here and help with the harvest. The first group will be relieved around evening, so grab the prepared packs and head out the moment you are ready.” The crowd parted as she stepped into it and Gaven followed her toward the bunk house.

I watched them go, a part of me wanting to chase after them but I knew it wouldn’t matter. Cassie would toss me out on my ass and if I continuned to try I’d probably end up in the bed next to Natalie after Cassie was done.

“So she’s an old friend?” Amber asked as she came up to my left side. I said nothing and she sighed. “Well, there’s nothing for it. We got our orders. With luck, your friend just took a hard knock to the head and was seeing things.”

“You wish,” Brandi said as she returned, a large pack over her shoulder. “Her mage was pretty powerful which means so were his witches. If they’re all gone… well, I don’t think she made it up or was seeing things.” She dropped the bag from her shoulder and held it out to me. “You can carry this.”

I looked down at the pack and then took it. “Do I look like a pack mule here?”

“What else are you for when we have our magic seeded?” Brandi asked and then stuck out her tongue. “I’m kidding. Lead the way.”

I adjusted the strap of the bag and walked off, following a group of other students into the high stems of the spice and toward the trees. “I got a bad feeling about this.”

“We all do,” Amber said.