Chapter 20 : Cool Down

The group walks back out from the wall onto the streets, Lisa turns Christ, “Well we have opened Terrortow Gate, so what next?”

Christ walks down the street in front of the group, “Well, now that the gate is open, we need to enter into the valve control station and drain one of the sub-level dungeons.” He pulls out several daggers from underneath his cloak counting them.

Luize stops a moment, “Sub-level dungeons?” He watches his brother count the daggers several times.

Lisa passes Luize, approaching Christ. Raising her finger, “I don't mean to sound accusatory, but what is the point of draining a dungeon and how do you know that will get us out, not to mention isn't there---”

Christ stamps the ground, slinging his arms down, “Kick me in the shin! I forgot two of my daggers in the wall, wait a second, Luize you son of a goblin. You melted one of my daggers in our fight didn’t you.” Not asking a question, Christ points a handful of daggers at Lisa, “Enough, didn't I say I had a way out?”

She freezes in place, You don’t have to take your anger out on me, just because you're incapable of keeping track of your things. Looking down at the ground, she says under her breath, “Yes.”

Christ puts the daggers away, “Okay then,” turning his head to his brother with a much more chipper tone, “but yes deep beneath the districts are a series of dungeons that the city set in place for sieges and to protect the royal family.”

Scrunching her face, “If they have measures against sieges, why aren't they using it.”

Christ pulls his pack off looking through it as he walks, “Most of the dungeon from what I heard is suffocation and drowning tactics which wouldn't be much help down there. . .not to mention they may have released a series of monsters down there.”

Luize starts to stretch, “Excuse you? Did you say monsters?” He leans slightly to the side, his bushy eyebrows pressing up against his forehead.

Christ spins on his heels, looking at his wavering crew, “Yes i did. It is the key to our futures if we want to make it out of here alive.”

Luize ears perk at his brothers words and gets a small smirk, “Oh okay well if it is what we got to go then so be it.” Taking a minute to scan Lisa from bottom to top, he keys in on what little form her armor gives away, “You ready. . .what was your name?”

She turns her head, with a polite smile, “Li—-”

Christ rockets a finger into the air, “Her name is Lisa, she is apprentice in work.”

Really, Christ I can speak for myself. You aren’t my keeper, wait. . . why is he acting this way? Glancing over to Luize and back to Christ, “Thank you, but I am able to say my own name.”

Luize gives a closed eyes smile, dimples forming in his cheeks, “Well Lisa, it is a pleasure to observe you.”

“Don't you mean meet?”

Luize chuckles, “No.”

Christ flaps his wrist toward the two behind him, “Alright, you too can get to know each other on the way to the next location. We have to move all the way to the Supply and Support District.”

Luize pulls out a map, looking it over, “Hey wasn't the Supply and Support District overtaken by raiders?”

Christ doesnt’ respond, and keeps quiet. Luize trots up behind him, reaching out to touch his shoulder. Nixon pops his head from the back with a “Bock!”

Christ jerks back, tripping over his feet, tumbling backward with a squeal that would be equal that of a pre-teen female. Landing on his butt with a thud, “What the Teril is that?”

Lisa snickers, but lets a snort slip. Her face turns a bright red before covering her mouth, Did I really just snort? I forgot how gross that was, how long has it been since I laughed like that? Clearing her thought, “That Mr. Luize is Nixon, the what I am certain is our non-ordinary clucker.”

Luize pushes himself off of the ground, blushing himself off, “Why the hells are you carrying that around Christ?

Christ turns around flicking his wrist with a pointed finger, “Every group needs a mascot, and I am working on a team name. I am thinking of something based off of our early victories, so I am working with Gate right now. Gate crashers. . .Gate’s Blade. . .noo. Oh well I will keep working at it.”

***

Moving across town Christ walks several passes in front of the group, as Lisa and Luize walk side by side. Luize looks over the map, “Hey, it looks like we are three blocks from the district gate. What's the plan?”

Christ taps his lips “I remember a famous saying that you use to say as a kid, ‘You only get one life so no need to waste it planning when somebody is going to ruin it.’ so living by that, we will see what the situation looks like and go from there.”

Luize undoes his sash to rearranging it, “I think you are gossing misquoting me, but I get what your going at?”

Christ scratches his chin, “Hey, since your a full mage now, what do you have ready?”

“At the peak level, I got a Fire Dome spell, and about eight more lesser spells left in me.“

Christ whistles turning back to look at him, “You know know Fire Dome? Wow, you have come a long way. How long did it take you to learn that?”

Luize finishes tightening the sash, “About six years once I started taking magic seriously, I will never not have a Fire Dome ready. I tapped into the power right at the last moment during one mission. It saved our whole team against a horde of goblins.”

Lisa stands several inches shorter than Luize, looking up at him, “If you don't mind me asking, I have never been able to talk to an actual mage. I have heard legends that you needed to have a spell book in order to. . .you know.”

Luize slyly takes a step closer to her, placing hand on her shoulder and having his hand out in front of them, “Much like love, magic is a tricky and complicated lover. She expresses herself in many ways, such as a partner of intellent. Those who are willing to dedicate their minds and bodies to the art---”

Christ turns back looking down the road, “Come on man just tell her the basics. What he means is, there are several types of casters. Wizards keep their knowledge and use spellbooks, while sorcerers like him use their bloodline or pacts as a power source. Don’t be impressed by him being a mage as there are plenty of them. I am honestly surprised by the fact you have never met one before, but remember this you put a fighter, rogue, or barbarian class in his face and he will probably yelf his pants. “

Luize puffs his cheeks, “Not always, it's true my fair lady that I ain't good at close combat, but it doesn't mean I wont kill your friends on the way to me.”

Lisa looks at his hand on her shoulder, “So there is no way for someone like me to learn magic?”

Luize removes his hand stroking his chin, “You could always try to take the path of a wizard, but that requires a huge dedication to studying. Why would you want to learn magic?” Don't get me wrong its useful, but it is limiting as well.”

Lisa thinks back to all the times that having magic could have helped her out. I wouldn’t need to rely on a weapon or my own strength if I could learn magic. I could just teleport out of dangerous situations, or burn my enemies to death with a flick of my wrist. Losing her smile and a small heat burn in her eyes, “It's a tool that could never be taken away from me.”

Luize’s mouth opens in an O shape, “Not true, if you lose your voice, materials, or ability to move your hands, you lose your spells. Each spell requires certain channelling and manipulation methods, and if you can't do them, then your out of luck.”

“Oh I didn't know that you had those limitations. I would still like to possibly learn some form of magic if I am able.”

Luize casts a sun filled gaze at her, “There are other ways to gain my type of casting. . .I would be willing to show you how to channel certain methods.”

Christ rolls his eyes, “Oh boy here we go again.”

Luize shoots a look at Christ, “What was that?”

“Nothing, just saying you should keep it in your pants. She probably has more experience than you will get in a lifetime.”

Lisa’s head sinks staring at the ground, his words cut like a dagger. Was that meant to be a joke? The memories come back to her, she can feel the phantom hands rubbing along her flesh. Her skin crawls as she tries to push the memories away.

Luize frowns placing a comforting hand on her back, “Are you okay?”

Lisa stares at the ground, pushing back the memories. She hand feel the hands glide down her stomach and around her thighs. Her chest tightens as she tries to focus on creating a happy place, but the vistages of the hundreds of faceless men crowd her mind. Her pace slows down, closing her eyes she breathes deep. The darkness of her mind slowing starts to envelope the figures granting her with a miniscule peace.

Luize slows down with her, looking at her face. He turns to Christ “ Hey, whats going on?”

Christ still hadn’t slowed down his pace, “She was an old---”

Lisa takes a deep breathe, opening her eyes. Small sweet bubbles dot her face, “How about we just move forward and focus on the mission before us.” Christ I don’t know what happened to you, but you aren’t my master yet. I would watch yourself.