Chapter 5: Prepare (Part 1)
1356 Words
The next day, Belle waited for Axel in the local tavern in Raysig around the time of day they had agreed upon. The two had split and had temporarily gone into hiding as the entire city was in unrest immediately after the Ascension Trials. Guards had begun patrolling the streets and arresting anyone they suspected was a part of that audience.
By now things had simmered down. It was noon and the outside was brightly lit up. The taverns were the only few places in Rayfort where people of all kinds existed together without any form of conflict. Folk from all parts of the town came to these places to meet each other, talk about the state of affairs, plan an event, temporarily escape their lives or to just drown their sorrows. Outside the tavern some were engaged in a local fist-fighting tournament.
After a few more minutes, Axel entered the tavern, dressed in regular clothes. A random human offered him a drink, which he quickly refused and continued towards Belle. He sat on the chair opposite to her, with a wooden table between them.
“You sure took your time,” Belle said, waving her mug towards him, then taking a sip.
“I had to do something important,” Axel replied.
“What was it?”
“Can’t discuss here.”
“Oh, come on,” Belle said, putting her mug down on the table. “Half of the people here couldn’t care less about what we say and the other half is too drunk to sit straight.”
“And what of the spies?”
“You heard that stupid announcer. Ender killed the spies who told him you were alive. I’m sure no spy would dare go up to the king and tell him you were planning to assassinate him.” She took another sip from her mug. “And besides, after the ruckus we caused at the arena, there’s no point in you being discreet.”
“Actually, there is.” Axel rested his arms on the table. “Half the town knows who I am because of the trials. If Ender didn’t believe I was alive before, he will now.”
Belle sighed. “I guess you’re right.”
Axel looked around for a quick second, then turned to Belle and said, “Remember when I told yesterday that I had friends in high places? The ones that contacted me?”
“Ah, right,” Belle said, realising he was talking about the twins in Bluegate. She knew he was talking cryptically on purpose to confuse potential spies.
“I’ve been trying to get in touch with them for some time now,” Axel explained. “I tried contacting them through a device.” Belle understood that he referred to a Blue Emerald; special gemstones that could connect with each other and project images of their surroundings to each other, a common form of communication amongst wealthy people. “That didn’t work. Then I tried talking to them a different way.” He tapped his temple. Belle realised he meant through telepathy. “They blocked me out. I fear they’ve either run into some trouble, or betrayed me.”
“You really think they betrayed you?”
“It’s a possibility.”
“Wow.” She took another sip from her mug. “They delayed your participation for four years,” she said, referring to the trials. “And you trusted them enough to agree. Why did you trust them then?”
“They showed me proof that they did indeed participate in the trials,” he said. “They had the keys.” He referred to the two cubes Axel and Belle received after winning the trial. “Residents of the city and any royal members, whether up above or below-” he referred to Bluegate and Rayfort respectively, “-Don’t need keys; so I knew they were telling me the truth. But they’re not responding now. I don’t conclusively believe that they betrayed me; but like I said, it’s a possibility.”
“I’d say it’s a very small possibility. They don’t really stand to gain anything from shutting you out like that. If they really were to betray you, they would at least first leverage you for their own gain. I think they might’ve been caught, or worse; and if that’s the case, we need to get to Bluegate as soon as possible.”
“You’re not wrong,” Axel said. “But we can’t leave immediately. We need to prepare.”
“What, you mean train again?” Belle snickered. “I seriously hope you don’t mean that.”
“Not at all. We need supplies.”
“Can’t get many more supplies than the ones we already have. Especially with the imperial presence on high alert right now.” She took a final sip and then put the empty mug on the table. “And besides, we don’t have enough money for weapons and armour.”
“We don’t?”
“I sure don’t. And you had to steal that armour, so I’m assuming you don’t either.”
Axel sat back. “I was hoping you would have some money left. Come on, I need to show you something.” He got up.
“What is it?”
“I’ll explain on the way.”
“Oh well.” She got up. “I guess I don’t have anything else to do right now. It’s not too far, is it?”
“No.”
They both walked out of the tavern. Axel walked towards his house, and Belle followed.
As they approached the small house, Belle said, “Yes, I know your house sits in a giant crater. It is indeed fascinating.”
“There will be time for jests later,” Axel said. “We’re almost there.”
Axel opened the creaking door to his house and they both entered into a small room. It had a very tidy bed with a small cupboard near its end. Next to the bed were few buckets. There was a shelf above the buckets with various utensils kept on it. Despite the poor conditions of the house, however, everything was very clean and perfectly arranged. There were other small rooms on the side. There was a set of shelves next to the bed with a modest collection of books.
While Axel started going through his books, Belle said, “You know, I never gave it much thought. How did you even get a house in a crater?”
“I built it,” Axel quickly replied, still fumbling around his books.
“How?”
“With magic,” Axel said, smiling.
“Well, if you were to build a house with magic, you might as well have made it luxurious.”
“With the permanent dent on the ground, a luxurious house in the middle of Raysig would stand out too much.”
Belle continued examining the house. “Was there any way through magic you could make the inside of the house bigger than it appears? Like a small house that’s enormous and beautiful from the inside?”
“In a fictional novel, maybe.”
A few more minutes passed. Belle was starting to get sick of waiting.
“How much longer, Axel?”
“Just a… Just a second. I can’t find that damn book…” He continued scrambling through his books, occasionally flipping through some of the pages.
“We’re wasting time here.”
“Just… Be patient. I’m almost…” He began slowly flipping through the pages of the red book he held in his hands.
Belle slowly noticed that every single book Axel had was completely identical. They were all red books with black designs on the spine, and no titles. They were all of the exact same thickness as well.
“Uh, why are all your books identical?” Belle asked, pointing towards them.
“I put an illusion that makes them appear as such.” Axel kept flipping the pages, quickly going through the text.”
“Why?”
“For privacy concerns.”
“And you say Ender’s the paranoid one.” Belle leaned on a nearby wall. “If it’s this difficult finding your special book, then just remove the illusion.”
“It would take too long.”
“As opposed to going through every single book you have. That doesn’t take long at all.”
“I usually keep it in one place. Yesterday they all fell and got mixed. I thought I put it back in the same place…” Axel stopped talking and continued searching intensely through his books.
“How did they fall anyway? I don’t remember anyone talking about an earthquake.”
“Target practice.”
“Target practice? In here?”
No reply.
“Axel, why are you searching through your books in the first place?”
“Got it!”
He picked up a book, holding it open on a specific page, and turned towards his bookshelf.
“Stand back,” Axel said. Belle walked back near the door.
Axel read a spell out loud from the book he held, and suddenly each brick on the wall he was facing started randomly blinking light blue.
“Uh, what’s happening?” Belle asked, to no reply. The bricks started dissolving, revealing a tunnel that led downwards.
- Writer
