Chapter 13

The Ruins

Meredith couldn’t breathe in his presence. It was daunting, overwhelming, and so present, that she couldn’t help but remain on her knees. Vivian was the same, sweating for the first time since they’d met. It had to have been sheer awe on both their parts, and many of the other candidates and non-Guardian personnel in the stands reacted with the same surprise and reverence.

Marcus turned, the light disappearing from one hand while the other sheathed his sword. He looked at both of the girls before him and spoke a single phrase. “Please stand, ladies.”

They obeyed instantly, scrambling to their feet on the sand and snapping to attention. The animosity was still between them, but in the presence of this one man, they dropped it. Meredith’s body stiffened, waiting for the judgment that was coming. Marcus paced back and forth, his eyes flicking between the girls but never quite leaving them. While he did so, the other candidates stood at attention, themselves, while the Guardians sans Masters all saluted in deference towards their leader.

“Fighting amongst each other is unbecoming of Guardians,” Marcus finally said, and his voice was the only one heard. He stopped, staring straight at them (or through them, Meredith felt). “What the two of you have just decided to do is bring shame to your ultimate goal by squabbling over personal thoughts and feelings. It is disgraceful.”

“Yes, sir,” both said at once.

Marcus folded his hands behind his back, the clanking of his armor audible. He said nothing, and Meredith took her chance to survey the leader. He was every bit the man that she had imagined him to be from the various reports on the Corps. Someone to look up to and admire. His jaw was straight, and his gray eyes showed a clarity and purpose inside them. His smaller nose wrinkled, an offset to the rest of his bulky stature, while he considered his next words; words that he swiftly decided on.

“You are both aiming to be Guardians, and that means working in concert with one another,” he said. They weren’t the only ones absorbing his words. “No matter your history, your dreams, your family, your beliefs, you cannot waver from that single principle. To work as one body. A healthy arm does not decide to do whatever it wants when the rest of the body is doing something else. No, it works as part of the same organism, striving for the same purpose. Working in concert for the same purpose.”

“Yes, sir,” they repeated. Here, Marcus gave a sigh.

“I wish you to understand this because your actions right now have shown me that you believe otherwise.” Marcus stepped forward, hands still behind his back, and he became larger than life. He was a tall statue that loomed over them, yet was one they aspired to match. “What I see before me are two candidates with great potential and strength. When made a part of the greater body, they will serve its function magnificently to the whole. However, as they are, they will destroy each other before long and render that arm meaningless.

“Therefore, I am demoting both your ranks down to B-Rank.”

The declaration didn’t break the silence, but Meredith hung her head, teeth biting at her lip. Vivian didn’t bend in the declaration, but her trembling body language informed everything. Chief Commander Marcus was absolutely right, loathe as Meredith was to admit it. She’d reacted impulsively. She’d been reacting impulsively, and it was unbecoming of a Guardian. Shame flooded her veins, tinged with disappointment.

Marcus took notice of it, sighing louder.

“Do not be discouraged, ladies,” he said. His hands came out and clasped both of their shoulders. This made Meredith look up, towards the eyes wrinkling with kindness, yet firm in resolve. “I am doing this as a lesson, not an admonition. I want you to learn, not wallow in defeat. It is clear from this trial alone that you are both skilled in your own ways, even if those ways are different. All of our ways are different. Yet that is the Six Trials’ purpose: to iron out the imperfections and create a better person, a better Guardian.

“None of you here are weak; not if you’ve passed your trial. Whether it be an S-Rank or a D-Rank, that is irrelevant, for the rank merely indicates your strength as a Guardian. Perhaps you are meant to join us in the Corps, or perhaps…” Marcus paused here, removing his hands, and Meredith could swear that his eyes lingered on Eddie. Her best friend stood at attention with a rather lazy Emil. “Perhaps your skills are not meant for the trials. Perhaps they are something else. That is why the journey to these places, these sites, helps you find that meaning in who you are.”

“Y-yes,” Vivian said, her breaths hesitant. Marcus noticed, and he leveled his gaze for the last time towards the two ladies.

“That means becoming better.” Meredith flinched at his words. They were like knives, carving into her soul, reminding her of her shortcomings. “Candidate Lacroix. Candidate…Childs. Do not consider your fellow candidates beneath you, for what they have, you may lack. Yet what you have, they may lack. We make up for it. Strive for perfection, but do not hope to attain it. Strive for your ideal, but do not believe all will follow it. Instead, support one another.

“That is what it means to be a Guardian. That is what you ladies must come to understand, and I look forward to seeing when you do.”

His words were final. His statement, resounding. All Meredith could do was lower her head once again with shame. Her cheeks were flushed, even when the reassuring scolding had come from the leader of the Corps, himself. Marcus was turning away, but Meredith’s eyes could only slide over to Vivian, the object of her anger just as upset. Neither said a word, and neither continued with their argument.

A moment passed, and soft clapping was heard. Masters approached his superior with a light bow. “An excellent speech, sir.”

“Really?” Marcus asked, a laugh on his lips. He rubbed the back of his head, like he was embarrassed. “I was worried I’d gone a little overboard. Staying serious during these Lacardia negotiations may have put me on edge, and intervening in something you could have handled may have made me seem harsh.”

“Not at all, sir,” Masters said. He and his superior now stood opposite one another, each contemplating the other with a grin. “You are our leader, and every day you remind me as to why I follow you. Your speeches can be second to none, sir, and the inspiration these young candidates will no doubt gain from it shall, in the end, be immeasurable.”

“Well, if you say so.” The hand rubbing the back of his head switched to stroking his chin. “I’m not as silver-tongued or popular as you. Which, in fact, is the reason I came here to interrupt your recent trial visits.”

“I figured as much, sir,” Masters said. He nodded his head with emphasis. Meredith, letting her shame fade a little, watched the exchange while Eddie approached her. He showed no shame, but his lips were curled in thought. “I got your garbled missive this morning.”

“Well, communications hardly succeed in the desert. An in-person trip was necessary,” Marcus said. The two men looked so deeply concentrated that they didn’t even notice the stares. Or perhaps they did, but didn’t care. Their next words indicated as much to Meredith, being something of public knowledge, yet was a glimpse at the inner workings of the Corps at the same time. “Sorry I need to pull you away, Royston, but that silver tongue of yours is needed at the negotiations in Lacardia.”

“Not going smoothly, sir? I thought Amelia and Tempest Squad were dispatched with you.”

“Smoothly enough, but, well…you know Amelia. She spends more time investigating the underground magic competitions than actually partaking in negotiations. Hardly helps when we want to ally with Lacardia for a premier magic squad and the Ministers Baroné are very specific,” Marcus said, tacking a sigh on at the end. “Tempest Squad is there more for protection. I could really use your words of convincing. You hold far more sway in the public, especially at Lacardia, than I do.”

“I suppose so. The president and I have gone out for drinks once or twice, and I’m acquainted with Defense Minister Baroné well enough.” Masters nodded, tapping the side of his rapier. “Yes, of course. Maybe we should switch Amelia to doing trial checkups…though I fear she’d be more liable to fight the candidates than test them.”

“Ha ha, well, she’ll have her fill soon.” Marcus thumped his subordinate on the back. With the two men having come to an agreement, they broke apart and the whole room was set back into motion. People began to chat amongst themselves, with many preparing for departure. Vivian spun away, going towards her bag, while Meredith continued to watch the two uppermost members of the Corps.

“Uh…Mera…?” Eddie asked, waving a hand in front of her face. She barely saw it, continuing to stare. Now that the admonishment was past, she could fully absorb just who was standing before her.

“I can’t believe it!” she squealed under her breath. “Marcus. The Marcus is here! I never thought it would actually happen! I never thought I’d meet him!”

“Yeah, what luck, right?” Emil’s voice broke in. He seemed less than impressed, but she ignored his dour attitude.

“I wonder if he knows anything about Ray…”

Meredith found no chance to ask him, for a yelling Guardian came thundering down the exterior stairs and skidded into the room. “Chief Commander! Chief Commander!”

“Hm?” Like Marcus’ mere presence, when he turned, everyone in the room was riveted on the new arrival, too, even if he wasn’t anyone of note. He still saluted, waiting for his leader to speak before he said more. “What’s wrong?”

“S-sandstorm incoming! The sensors on the skyship are picking it up. Moving in fast. If we don’t leave immediately, there’s no telling how long we’ll be grounded.” The news was unwelcomed to more than just Marcus, but he reacted first.

“Very well. All non-essential trial personnel, prepare for immediate departure!” Marcus’ booming order was automatically heeded. Many of those Guardians not attached to the trial began to rush, gathering up their things and following the herald up the stairs. Marcus remained behind but a moment. “Royston, I take it you’ll use your own ship?”

“Don’t want it damaged in a sandstorm. I’ll be right behind you.”

“I’ll see you in Lacardia, then.” Marcus gave one last nod and whipped around to depart. As he did so, his eyes looked towards both Meredith and Eddie, staying on them long enough to see what looked like curious recognition in his gaze. He didn’t let it give him pause, though.

Nor was Masters paused by it, too busy ordering around both his own squad of Guardians and those administering the trial. Meredith tried to watch both of them, as if doing so would give her some clue on how to be the best Guardian there was. She didn’t glean much and Eddie put an end to it by shaking her shoulder.

“Mera, we have to decide our next course of action,” he said. Well, more like repeated until she finally turned to him and smiled. “Wipe that giddy smile off your face. The news that’s making those big guys leave affects us, too.”

“Ooh, sandstorm…right…”

“Yeah, I don’t know about you, but sandstorms aren’t my thing,” Emil said. He looked cheerier than while in the presence of Marcus, and Meredith gave him a rather sly glance.

“Oh, think you’re sticking with us, do you?” she asked, elbowing him. He slung an arm around her, his face close to hers.

“If you’ll have me.” His breath tickled her ear, the jest making her more annoyed than flattered. She extended a hand to his face and pushed him off. Eddie steered the conversation back to normal topics, even though Meredith could see Vivian and her band of cheerleaders prepping for departure.

“I have no problem with you sticking around. Your magic is handy for getting places quickly,” Eddie said. True to form, he was already reading a map…or two maps. Meredith craned her neck over to see which the two maps were, and whatever route Eddie was tracing. One of them traced towards the large drawing of the giant city to the northeast: the Metropolis.

“Ah, that’s right!” Meredith perked up, head rotating so fast she felt like she’d get whiplash in looking for Masters. Upon noticing he was no longer in the room, though, she realized where he’d gone to. “Be right back!”

“Mmhmm,” Eddie said. Emil appeared a little more concerned than her best friend, but she didn’t have the time to deal with that.

Her legs carried her to the exit and towards the large stairs. No more sunlight was streaming in, leaving the torchlit stairs a bit more treacherous to traverse. The sand made things no easier, but Meredith still decided to jump them by two or three at a time to catch up to the party near the top. The closer she got, the more the faint light outside became apparent as moonlight. Even that was being obscured by wisps of sand in the air.

“Commander Masters!” Her voice bellowed louder than she expected it to, unsure if the winds of the sandstorm had picked up yet. He heard her and turned, flashing a reserved smile.

“Miss Childs, congratulations on your rank improvement,” he said in acknowledgement of her. She stopped herself and saluted without thought. “Your brother will be very proud to hear, I’m sure.”

“Thank you, sir, but I have a lot of room to grow, it appears,” she said. Masters’s smile grew a bit wider at that, proud that she was acknowledging her shortcomings. While she would have ruminated on them more, there was a far more pressing issue at hand. “Sir, there is something I need to tell you.”

“Ah, yes, you were trying to say something before the trial. What about, Miss Childs?”

A pause inserted itself into Meredith’s breath. “I think the Metropolis is going to be attacked.”

Wind and sand buffeted the pair of them, the hum of skyships joining in. One had already lifted off, and Marcus could be seen looking out of it. Masters stared at her. “Where have you heard this?”

“Someone we ran into at Frostfall Cavern. He mentioned the Metropolis, and then he attacked us with a monster. Those same monsters hit the oasis, too,” Meredith said, her words tripping over themselves to get the message out. “I’m certain he’s going to launch an attack.”

“Have you any idea why?” She shook her head, hair flying back and forth. “It’s not much to go on, Miss Childs. You don’t know why or when but you know for a fact this person will strike the Metropolis. Can you at least tell me who?”

“A Beastmaster. I think a poster called him Caleb,” she answered. This time, Masters’s face scrunched up, showing some sign of recognition. “He-he did mention something about looking for weapons.”

“Those can be found in many places,” Masters said. Meredith felt herself sink a little. She wasn’t making very convincing arguments. The commander gave a labored sigh. “Hm, well, thank you for the information. I’ll inform Metro Regiment to be more alert, but without details, there’s not much that can be done. I won’t dispatch further forces, especially on a place as well-defended and fortified as the Metropolis.”

“Oh…all right,” Meredith said. Another buffet of wind. She’d said the only thing she could say, and it was up to Masters to decide the next course, whether she agreed with it or not. Meredith offered one more salute. “Thank you for your time, sir. Please inform Raymond that his sister is doing well, and she’ll see him soon.”

“Will do. Take care, Miss Childs. I look forward to seeing your rank continue to rise.” He saluted her in turn, signaling the end of the conversation. Both their backs turned around, heading in opposite directions as the stream of sand picked up.

The winds battered at Meredith’s back, nearly pitching her down the stairs. She was stopped by the form of Vivian, her group flagged out behind her. “Would you mind not getting in my way? I’m in a hurry. I need to make up for the shame you caused me.”

“Um…okay…?” Meredith said. Vivian ignored that, her reaction tempered from earlier as she made her way towards the desert exterior. “You’re not seriously planning on going out there, are you?”

“I need to get to my skyship, and the desert is the only way out,” Vivian said, turning her nose up at Meredith. “I’m not waiting around for a sandstorm to subside.”

“Fine. Don’t blame me if you don’t make it out when there are other options.” Meredith began her procession down the stairs once again, squeezing past the group of faceless goons that were with Vivian. It didn’t take long for her rival’s voice to reach her once more.

“What other options?”

“You know…ruins. There are a bunch of ‘em underground. Even I can tell that, and I’d usually be the first running into the sandstorm like you.”

“But are those ruins even stable?” sniffled Vivian’s attendant. He didn’t get to keep his smug look for long as Vivian pushed him aside to approach Meredith.

“Shut up, Max,” Vivian said. The man frowned, but the blonde continued to address Meredith, instead. “Do you know where they lead?”

“Not a clue. But I trust Eddie.” She left those words to stew, turning and making her way down the stairs to join her friends. Just as she’d left them, Eddie and Emil were huddled together, though their rations and packs were restored and gathered. “What’s the good word, guys?”

“There’s a safe way out, so we’re not anchored here for days,” Eddie informed her. She couldn’t help the cheer inside at her random gamble paying off. The smile must have shown, because Eddie arched an eyebrow, one that went higher at Vivian crossing back over the threshold to the room. “It’ll be a long journey underground and deposit us at the other end of the Desert Loop…I think.”

“Eddie would know best; maps aren’t my forte,” Emil said. He was back to floating and giving a lazy yawn. “But it looks close enough to the Metropolis if we compare the two maps and all that.”

“The Metropolis, huh…” Her mind flashed back to the conversation mere minutes before. Despite Masters’s insistence that he’d do at least a little something, the dread of what could happen in the Metropolis still weighed on her. There had to be more she could do, and now, it felt like a path was presenting itself. “You think we can do it? There’s no reason to stay in the desert.”

“We can try. What did Commander Masters say?” Eddie asked. He was rolling up his maps, eyes flicking over to the blatant eavesdropping done by Vivian.

“I don’t think there’s much he can do. Not like even we know much, except that it’ll happen.” Emil flipped over at her words, nearly in her face.

“What are you both talking about?” Meredith hesitated in whether she should say anything, but shrugged.

“There might be an attack on the Metropolis by the same monsters that attacked us at the oasis and in Frostfall.” The statement had minimal effect on Emil, other than a thoughtful finger to his lips.

“I see…so that’s why he…hmm…” His muttered thoughts streamed out in a near incomprehensible babble until his head hit the sand and brought him back to reality. “I wanna say to trust the Corps but even they can’t be everywhere at once if they don’t really think something’s gonna happen. Let me guess, you want to help out.”

“Don’t you?” He didn’t answer that. “I do want to leave it to the Corps, but I…”

“You want to play hero.” Vivian’s sharp remark made Meredith wear a look of disgust. “You’re so easy to read. Running to tell the commander, getting angry at me for something that you think of as dishonorable. I can read you like an open book.”

“Viv, you’re talkin’ to a mirror,” Emil said. Vivian glared at him, and Meredith joined her, the two united for the first time. “Whatever. Can we just decide? The longer we stay here, the more time we lose, whether it be for the next trial or this attack that may or may not happen.”

Meredith took a second to think.

It was a wasted second.

“Heroes, mirrors, doesn’t matter. If you guys keep standing around, I’m leaving without you!” Eddie said, already on his way out of the room. The three teens blinked, surprised he’d nearly left them without so much as a sound.

Their course decided, Meredith grabbed her bag and chased after her best friend, the other two and the ensuing entourage right behind her.

The journey through the ruins beyond the trial site was long and arduous, Meredith soon found. It was easier than trying to traverse the desert in a sandstorm. However, the lack of light combined with the large group that they dragged along with them, from Vivian’s party to some stray trial candidates tagging along, made the two days underneath the sands a trial, itself. The uphill orientation of the halls didn’t help, either. For the most part, that wasn’t a problem…unless one counted that Vivian was at the head of her party and right behind the advance trio.

“Are you sure we’re not lost? It’s already been days and I don’t trust anyone’s map-reading skills in this group.”

“It’s been a straight line. Or are you saying you get lost in a straight hallway?” Meredith pointed out, the glare almost painted onto her face at this point. Emil snorted while Eddie ignored them both, illuminating the passage ahead.

“Actually, she did get lost one day at-”

“Emil, you want to keep your limbs?” Emil’s response was a laugh. Not wanting to deal with their bickering, which was only picking up, Meredith increased her pace to reach Eddie.

“You guys never shut up. She’s really gotten under your skin,” he said, checking the map. As indicated, they had crossed through many hallways and rooms by this point, including some that had a security system which had long gone defunct. Meredith couldn’t be bothered with it.

“I hate prissy rich girls who think…well, okay, she is better than me in some aspects.”

“And here I thought you’d be best friends,” Eddie laughed. Meredith slapped him on the back of the head. His laughter continued before abruptly stopping. They had entered a large, circular room with many different directions to go, some vanishing in the darkness. Eddie checked his map, but his frown told her that he couldn’t quite figure out the path to take.

“Hey, what’s the hold up?!”

“My feet are tired!”

“So hungry…”

“Lady Vivian, shall I prepare some food?” That one had to be Max.

“No thank you. Your cooking last night was abominable. There’s a reason father hired you as an attendant, not a chef.” A pair of rolled eyes later and Meredith noticed that Vivian had come up to them, clutching a half-eaten apple. Where they’d entered the room, some people were setting up a makeshift camp, either from exhaustion, hunger or any other reason. “Please tell me you haven’t gotten us lost. I followed you because I wanted out of the desert, not locked in.”

“You didn’t have to follow us,” Meredith said. Vivian glared back, and the two were ready to battle it out again when Eddie spoke.

“I think I might know the path, but…I’m a little too hungry to think. How about some food first? My treat.” Vivian’s nose wrinkled at that, but Eddie took no offense. He looked mortified, instead. Meredith was just watering at the mouth.

“Well, if you must…” Vivian’s dismissal was the permission needed, and Eddie set about going to work. Some of the other trial candidates watched him, as did members of Vivian’s posse. She retreated to an isolated portion of the room to meditate. Meredith blanched at the sight.

“Like looking at a reflection,” Emil commented from above her.

“Shut up. Me and Vivian aren’t alike. I’ll be glad to be rid of her once we’re out of these ruins. I still have no idea why she decided to tag along.” There was a pause. Then, “Speaking of, why are you tagging along?”

“I like you guys. Do I need another reason?” Emil flipped through the air and landed in front of Meredith. “You’re a cool girl and a great battle partner. Eddie’s pretty awesome, too. I’d love to introduce him to Lacardia, especially if Vivian can’t stomach the thought.”

“I’m surprised you care so much,” Meredith said, unable to stop the sarcasm from dripping in. After a moment of watching Eddie cook as marvelously as ever, she had a different thought to voice. “Eddie is pretty awesome. I wouldn’t be even halfway here if it wasn’t for him. I mean, I can handle myself, but…”

“Yeah, I get it. He said the same, you know. That you help push him forward.”

She smiled at that. Watching him now, in his absolute element, she could see the joy on Eddie’s face, especially when he served the first meal he had prepared in this dusty, sprawling ruin. Even Vivian broke out of her meditation to take the prepared food. The only thing that betrayed something being on his mind, beyond the map, was her years of experience that read his body language. Marcus’ words were something he was considering closely.

“You two ever, you know…?” Emil asked, just as Eddie approached them. Meredith quickly got the drift.

“Nope. Never will.” His look indicated that he didn’t believe it, but Meredith was resolute. She turned her gaze around the room’s ceiling, once a great window now covered with metal and sand, deep below the desert. It was an odd construct for being right in the middle of one long hallway. “I love Eddie. Just not…romantically. I think we know each other too much, and our dreams are too different.”

“Not sure on that last part, but I won’t push.” He walked away, intercepting Eddie for food.

Meredith kept on surveying the room, absentmindedly taking a plate from Eddie before her eyes landed on the floor. Sand trickled down from above, but what she noticed most of all were the grooves that were etched into the ground, stretching in towards the center. It was like the room was cut into sections or wedges. It was an odd design, one that baffled her, until Meredith saw the sand that rested on the floor slipping downwards, as if through a crack. Her eyes widened.

“Eddie, that map! You said you may have figured it out?” Meredith yelled. The shout garnered attention, particularly Vivian’s, who went to join her as she reached Eddie.

“Sure, there are two paths, and I think I know the one to take out-uh…Mera?” The map left his belongings as she looked at the ruins. The visions she’d had before, with the core, came back to her. There were indeed two paths forward, yet the sight that Meredith had been shown featured the one above.

“And one below…Everyone, pack up!” Most didn’t listen, looking at her like she was crazy. No surprise there, but Meredith wasn’t about to leave everyone behind. She decided to lead by example, nabbing her pack and hauling Eddie up. “This room’s a trap.”

“Is it? What’s the trigger, then?” Emil asked from above, out of range.

“I have no idea, and I don’t want to find out. We were careless.” With those words, she shoved Eddie’s pack onto him. He looked over the maps and his eyes widened in realization. That led him to check one of the exits and back away as suddenly as he’d arrived. “It’s hard to tell, but that’s a dead end.”

“Yeah, might be an emphasis on ‘dead’,” Meredith said. The other exit looked immediately appealing, and she led herself and Eddie over the center of the room.

A sound emanated, a plate clicking into place with pressure as their feet hit the center.

That was when the rumbling started, shaking the construct. She didn’t stop, but the others in the group began to scramble, running away from the room. Some left for the way they’d came, while others, including Vivian, were in pursuit of the Lumarina pair, aiming for the safest way out of there.

They were the only ones to make it.

As they got over the edge to the hall beyond, the whole bottom of the floor opened up, and anyone who remained in the room began to tumble downwards. In the darkness, it was hard to tell, but Meredith was certain they’d landed on a spiraling slide. The only one to remain above it all was Emil, clasping to a rather unwilling Vivian. They’d soon joined Eddie and Meredith in the hall, and Vivian ran to the edge.

“Max, you better not be dead down there!”

“I’m…fine…Lady Vivian…” Max’s voice wheezed from below. Meredith expelled a breath of relief. “This merely seems to have thrown us off course. I’m afraid we won’t join you in moving forward.”

“Yeah, what’s the deal? This hall looks like it goes backwards!” another yelled from below

“Someone clearly wanted to protect access to the way we’re going,” Emil said, touching down. If that had been meant as a comfort, it was a very small one. It only told Meredith that they were moving in the right direction.

“Ugh, he’s as useless as ever,” Vivian hissed. “Max, you take that path back and get to the skyship. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I’ll go the rest of the way to the Metropolis with these idiots.”

“Yes, Lady Vivian.”

Vivian stood, knocking into the three and proceeding down the hall as leader this time. The trio let her do so and followed after. It wasn’t long before the sounds of their previous companions vanished, leaving just the four of them along an empty hall, eyes peeled for more traps. No more came, but the tension was there, if only created by Vivian.

“How far do you think we have to travel through this hellhole?” she asked after they’d traveled for a time in the silence and darkness.

“Don’t know, but it must be soon. The air feels cooler, and the ruins don’t make an exact loop like the desert, so the trek would be shorter,” Eddie commented. It was the first mention of temperature, but Meredith had to note that he was right. The air was crisp rather than musty; cool rather than humid. They were passing out of the climate zone.

“Huh…guess you’re not just some tagalong.”

“Why are you even here again?” Meredith asked. “I should’ve just left you to shrivel up in that sandstorm.”

“That’s not very Guardian-like of you,” Vivian said. Meredith picked her steps up and tried to trip the girl, but the blonde rebalanced herself. “And I’m here because you’re heading for the Metropolis. The Trial of Power is nearby.”

“It’s true. There’s a stadium right outside the main city,” Emil informed them.

“In other words, when we see the stadium, we’re close, and Vivian is only in this for herself. Got it. How much longer do we have to deal with her?”

“I could ask the same. Your goody-two-shoes act is annoying at best. Monsters and an attack on the Metropolis! You must be kidding me!” Vivian’s steps grew louder, the substance of the floor changing. Whether it had been hours or days, the place they were in seemed different now than where they’d been. More modern. “I mean, really, we haven’t even seen a single monster, and we’re in ancient ruins. If they’d be anywhere they’d be he…re…”

Vivian’s tapered off statement led all of them to the appearance of a door, plain and wooden instead of the metal that had been their guide. It was the second indication that they had arrived at someplace different. Emil, as usual, was the first to open the door into another rounded chamber. This one was well-lit, stocked with boxes, bags and a ladder that led all the way upwards.

“Grrr…” The quartet stopped, and looked to the foot of the ladder. There was a familiar, red-eyed, snarling dog there, at least as far as how it looked. It wasn’t quite the same dog as the one Meredith had seen before, though, considering there was more than one, each with its teeth bared and snarling in their direction.

Meredith turned to Vivian, who grimaced as their bodies grew defensive. “You were saying? I’m pretty sure the Metropolis might be in for a rude awakening.”