Chapter 37

CHAPTER 37

T he rendezvous building was in a rural part of the rims where the nearest settlement was abandoned and dilapidated. The gray had done its work here, leaving the ground barren and the buildings scarred and ruined.

Our destination looked like an old school, an academy of some kind.

I clung to Serath as he flew us closer. We'd be fine. Orix had eyes on us from the rise to our east at the edge of some woodland. The faction was undoubtedly watching us too, and they'd probably find Orix soon enough, hopefully diverting their forces and allowing our extraction team to get to us.

"It'll be all right," Serath said. "The plan will work."

"This doesn't look like a faction facility."

"We won't know till we get inside," Serath said. "Even if it's not one of their bases, we can still capture whoever comes to meet us."

I hugged him tighter as my stomach dipped on descent.

We landed in a quad on a cracked path bordered by the twisted corpses of several trees.

Serath dropped back into his human form. "Are you ready?" He took my hand in his as we turned to face the main building which would have probably been majestic before the gray. But now most of its red slate tiles were dust on the ground, leaving gaping wounds in the roof, and the sweeping steps leading up to the dark entrance were missing huge chunks of stone.

We had to go inside.

I didn't want to.

Serath squeezed my hand.

I took a deep breath and allowed him to lead me into the building. Into the gloom.

The only light spilled in from behind us, leaving the entranceway shrouded in darkness. Serath's grip on my hand flexed, and a moment later I caught movement in my periphery.

I stepped closer to Serath, into the cage of his arms as a hooded figure emerged from the shadow.

An alchemist.

Our suspicions had been right. They were involved.

"Well, we're here. Where's Yarrow?" Serath asked.

The alchemist didn't reply.

There was no sign of anyone else. Had he come alone? This didn't make sense. Something was off, and Serath must have sensed it too, because he took a step back, taking me with him.

The alchemist tensed, then he ran toward us, drawing something from the bell sleeves of his cloak.

An orb.

"No!" Serath boomed.

The orb smashed, and the world shattered.