The next day, they made for the Fallen Wood.
Despite their distance from the Midnight Tower, it struck a dark presence into their souls. The corruption of the land didn’t end at the crumbling spires or large Nether Rifts below it. With the armies in the barren land, the black sand of the bay, and chunks of falling earth being torn away by the Grim Herald, the Dark Consul’s influence over Crystalia was a stark contrast to the noble grandeur of Crystalia Castle.
The sea behind the Midnight Queen’s army roiled and churned, the Rifts in the center acting like the core of a fierce whirlpool. The waves crashed upon the rocks, extending from the Rifts with the Dark Consul’s presence. Its oppressive influence over the minds of Otto and the others grew as they descended, skirting around the ally’s army camp.
These men here are under this influence all day and night . . . How can they stand it? No wonder some of the elves go mad.
They eventually came to the beach of black sand where the boiling water seemed to chip away at the land. Otto looked down at the water, wondering if it was drinkable. He was about to put his finger in to see how hot the water really was when he felt a hand on his shoulder, pulling him back.
“I wouldn’t,” Aelyph said. Otto stood to face him. “The water itself is corrupted by the Nether Rifts.”
“Really? The water, too? By the Goddess . . .” Otto stood and walked down the beach with the princesses.
Despite the many battles that had taken place there, walking down the coast with his companions almost felt serene in the silence. Their heavy boots left footprints on the black sand, marking their passage. If they hadn’t gone through the Blackroot Grotto, they would have stayed off the sand to avoid their prints being tracked down by the Rangers.
I never realized how easy it would be to find an enemy that way until Princess Emerald pointed it out in the Fae Wood.
Otto felt he had changed much since the beginning of their journey, and he wouldn’t have been surprised if the same went for the others. Behind him, Aelyph was silent, and although the princesses were talking loudly in front of them, the Riftling Warrior’s silence spoke more words than their cheery tones could.
“Everyone . . .”
Hearing Aelyph’s cold tone, Otto and the princesses stopped and turned to him.
“I have a confession to make. After I show you the gateway to the Midnight Tower, I will be parting ways with you. I’m sorry, but I refuse to return to the Midnight Tower.” He looked down, his face troubled. “I hope you can understand.”
There was silence between them as the scalding waves continued to wash against the black shore.
“We understand,” Princess Sapphire finally said. “You were trapped in there for two years, and after what you had to do to escape, it only makes sense that you wouldn’t go back. Although we are disappointed that you won’t be with us to guide us through, we do understand.”
Funny, before I would have been jumping for joy that Aelyph was parting ways with us. Now I’m not so sure.
“Thank you.” Aelyph started walking again, quickening his pace to get ahead of them.
Otto could only assume he didn’t want them to see his face. Nevertheless, Princess Sapphire ran to catch up and console him on his decision, leaving Otto with Princess Emerald.
“Well . . . it’s sure going to be a lot harder . . . without him to show us the way,” Princess Emerald said, her uneven voice revealing her nervousness.
Otto smirked at her. “I say, aren’t you the one who’s always asking me where my sense of adventure is?”
“This is different! We’re going to be entering the Midnight Tower—one of the most dangerous, if not the most dangerous, place in Crystalia. It would have been smarter to at least go with a guide.”
“I’m not disagreeing with you there, but Aelyph is a free Riftling now.” He looked up to see Princess Sapphire and Aelyph walking ahead of them. “Who are we to tell him where to go?”
Princess Emerald pouted and crossed her arms “I guess so.”
Still, I don’t think he wants to leave, because he feels it would put us at a disadvantage. He must have his reasons—reasons he must be ashamed of if he doesn’t want to bring them up with us.