Tamer stared at the hologram. A distant voice whispered an ominous warning in his ears and something clawed at his chest, scratching the walls that he had spent thirteen years of his life strengthening. He forced himself to calm down. He wasn’t going to let that voice destroy him again.

Once calm, he tore his gaze from the hologram and listened as Lady Alora asked Rigel what the symbols on the stone floor meant.

The alchemist moved to the hologram and pointed at an s-shaped mark with little dots bordering it. Stroking his goatee, he said, “That’s an Inferno sigil. It speeds up the combustion process. You see that?” He pointed at a circle with a smaller circle inside it and a cross within the smaller circle. “The Restricter sigil. It forms an invisible chamber so that whatever burns inside would not cross beyond a certain diameter. I don’t know what the other symbols mean. Only the alchemist who drew them would know.”

“So something was burnt, right?” Eryx asked.

“That’s correct. The alchemist must have used a catalyst to speed up the burning process. Whatever was burnt required extremely high temperatures. I don’t see any residue. Either it was completely scorched or the alchemist removed all the traces.”

“What would require such high temperatures?” Lady Alora inquired.

“I could come up with a short list of minerals and metals. There’s no absolute way to ascertain what was burnt.”

“Thank you, Rigel. Please make that list before you leave. It might give us clues,” Lady Alora said. “Umardt, Seren and Rigel, you may all leave.” The three Prima members left the office and the Guild Master handed Tamer and his companions a scroll tied by a black band. “You’ll find more details inside those scrolls.”

Tamer sighed and cursed under his breath. “I need to say something, Guild Master.” All eyes were on him. “I know what happened in that room.”

He told them of his dream and the green orb he had seen. Tamer couldn’t guess whether Lady Alora believed him or not. Her face was suppressed of emotions. He pinched the bridge of his nose.

“Are you certain? You never were a clairvoyant,” Rai said.

“Do I look like I’m joking?” he asked. “It wasn't a vision. Not in the normal sense. I either dreamt of it at the same time the event was happening or shortly after. I don’t think we’ll find anything in the temple. They got whatever they wanted.”

Lady Alora turned off the device and the hologram blinked out. She primped her silvery strands, a habit that meant she was getting anxious or impatient. Frowning, she said, “Alright, I choose to believe you for now, boy.  We need to know what was so special about that orb or lack thereof. The monk I spoke with would have told me if he knew the room existed. I need you to contact the Great Scribe in Kirisal. He should know. ”

The Great Scribe was the oldest sage in Aurion, having lived for eight hundred years. His knowledge was unparalleled. He knew the darkest events in history and the deepest secrets of kings. There had been a rumor that the man might be immortal but Tamer wasn’t one to believe in trivial gossip.

“I never said I would agree to go,” he said in defiance.

“You’re in this mission whether you like it or not. If you persist in defying me, let us duel. I will let you go free if you win.”

Tamer would have no chance against her. He was the best swordsman in Amarant but Lady Alora was the Guild Master and the title spoke for itself. He didn’t want to face her wrath either. He cast a scathing look at Rai when he chuckled.

“Fine, I’m in.”

--------

The changing room reeked of stale sweat and old leather. Guild members hovered over their lockers, some picking their weapons while others depositing them. Tamer took out his protective belt and slid his knives into their sheaths. He tied a black sash around his waist then donned the belt. A dagger went to the hidden casing in his right boot. Swords were his specialty.

He put on his leather greaves and tightened the vambraces on his forearms. Tamer adjusted the position of the twin scimitars on his back. Those, he could not do without. They were his favorite weapons.

The Guild Master had insisted that they shouldn’t return until they solved the case. She had also warned them to treat the mission with utmost caution. That meant they had to be in full gear. From what he had seen in his dream, he knew he would have to be careful.

He saw Eryx packing his traveling bag with vials and magic stones. Rai was checking his Sweeper to ensure everything was in place. Tamer snorted when his friend caressed it. It was a massive  rifle with a notable firepower.

When they walked out of the changing room, Clara rushed to them. Her stare drifted over their weapons before she said, “I spoke to Lady Alora and she told me to accompany you to the Great Scribe. She said he might have the answers as to how I ended up in Findora.”

Tamer wasn’t inclined to agree but the Guild Master’s orders were unconditional. For the sake of her own safety, he wanted her to stay in the fortress. The mission could prove to be dangerous. No matter, they would leave her at the guild post in Kirisal.

Nodding, he said, “Very well. Get dressed for travel. We’re leaving in ten minutes, Clara.”

----------

Fallen leaves scrunched under her knee-length boots. Ancient trees flecked the forest, glistening with morning dew. Drops of water cascaded over fragile fronds. An earthly scent wafted to Clara’s nostrils as a soft breeze drifted across the rainforest, swaying the branches. Her ears twitched when she heard the unremitting chirping of bugs. She leapt over sinuous roots worn with age and brushed aside strings of lichens that hang over the branches.

“The train station shouldn’t be far from here,” Rai said.

The wind whistled, beckoning them to walk further into the forest. The foliage thickened and the golden seams of light found it harder to penetrate the green canopy overhead. Insects buzzed from their hiding spots and a flock of twittering birds wheeled above them, maneuvering through the twisted twigs. Rodents scurried through the undergrowth, joining the symphony of the woods.

Clara listened to the forest sounds and fell into a chain of thoughts until they came upon a glade. At the center of the clearing was a pair of lightless lamp posts covered with cobwebs. A set of concrete stairs writhed between them, disappearing into the underground.

Eryx led the way and smiled as he said, “I remember the first time I boarded the train. I was just a young boy. The railway system used to transport miners from Kirisal to Veletia and back but years later, it stopped.”

“What happened?” she asked.

“The mineral they extracted was depleted and the train station was abandoned.”

“How long has it been in disuse?”

“Eighty years.”

Clara’s jaw dropped and a gasp forced its way out of her lips. Eighty years? Narrowing her eyes, she watched Eryx to see if he was joking but his impassive expression told her he was not. He looked like he was in his late twenties, an unlikely age for someone who had visited the station prior to its closure. “How old are you?”

Rai chuckled and poked Tamer in the ribs with his elbow. She could see Tamer was trying his best to stifle a laugh and failing at it as his lips perked up into a restrained smile. Rai walked past Eryx, tapped him on the back and said, “Tell her, you sly old man!”

Eryx growled and crossed his arms over his chest. “I’m a hundred and two years old.” Shaking his head at her puzzled look, he insisted: “I am not old. The Zamari can maintain a youthful appearance for hundreds of years because of slow aging. A Zamari of my age would be considered to be a man in his prime youth.”

To be blessed with such longevity was a magnificent gift.

“It’s unfortunate that Humans and Mirians have the shortest lifespan,” Rai remarked.

Mirians? They must be a different race, she thought.

Fishing for a flashlight from her rucksack, she contemplated on telling the three men about her necklace. A nervous sensation tingled in the pit of her stomach. She wasn’t ready to tell them. There would be no reason for them to take an interest in her magical necklace, would they? No, she wasn’t ready. She stepped into the unwelcoming darkness and used her flashlight to light the way.

They descended the stairs. The overpowering smell of mold and animal droppings assailed her nose. The train consisted of a series of oval-shaped passenger cars with little windows providing a view of blackness hovering inside. Gangways connected one coach to the next and two wagons trailed the rear of the train. As they stepped in, Clara pointed at the front with her torch, where a cacophony of machines lay abandoned and laden with dust.

“How are we going to power the train?” she asked.

“With this,” Eryx replied. He removed a bag from his rucksack and opened it to show them its contents. White crystals twinkled, bouncing their light from prism to prism and reflecting it back to their faces. “Felicinite. A mineral with high concentration of energy. It absorbs magic from the air and stores it as energy.”

Eryx emptied the bag into a compartment, pressed a few buttons and the machine lit up in a multitude of colors. Tube lights flickered and a deep rumble brought the engine to life. He set the machine on autopilot and followed her to the first passenger car as the train began moving on its course. Dust had percolated the seats, infested the chinks in the metalwork and formed a layer of grime on the glass windows. Rai scowled at the invading dust while Tamer unwound his black sash to begin wiping his seat.

“Hold your breaths, everyone,” Eryx said. He brought his hands forward and raised them. Wisps of dirt were levitated into the air against their will and coalesced into a billowy cloud. The magician flicked his hands to the side and the cloud of dust was sent hurtling out of an open window and into the darkness beyond. “Much better.”

Clara took a seat and closed her eyes. Before they had left, Lady Alora had called her in her office and asked her several questions about her world. The Guild Master had wanted to know about the type of leadership in her country, the  transport system, the culture, the forms of employment among other things.

As they moved farther from Veletia, her anxiety grew stronger. She was looking forward to meeting the Great Scribe but she was afraid to know the truth. Would she be able to go back to her world? A stab of apprehension took hold of her. She stood up and moved along the aisle, towards the end of the car.

“I’m going to look around,” she said.

A webbing of wild roots had made its home inside the next coach. The vegetation had broken one of the windows and spread over the seats. She peered out of the window.  Vines sprawled over the wall of the train and puffy pods sagged from the stems.

Unfazed, Clara sauntered to the next car and leaned against the closed door. She pulled the silver chain out of the shirt and examined the locket. The ruby gems glittered and the arcane patterns felt familiar between her fingers. When she opened the locket, she noticed that the watch was working. The last time she had checked it, the hands of time had been motionless.

How odd, she thought. Turning the necklace to the side, she examined the exotic markings. Chips of dried blood were indented into the markings. Blood? I don’t remember getting cut.

A memory that had been entombed by the past occurences was hauled to her attention. She remembered the glass fragment that had cut her hand when she had fallen on the deck. She had touched her necklace and marked the locket with her blood. It had been unintentional.

A dark shadow slipped between the armchairs.

In her haste to uncover the mystery of the necklace, she hadn’t paid attention to the passenger car. Putting her foot back to the shoe, she searched around with her eyes. There were overgrown vines in this section as well and they had completely blocked the next door. Gourd-like fruits were perched on one corner, their yellow shells creased with vertical lines.

Walking over to the fruits, she touched one of them. The fruit quivered and one of the lines opened to reveal a set of sharp yellow teeth. A pair of gangly legs extended out of the shell. It shrilled and snapped its needle-like teeth at her. Frightened, Clara yelped and backed away. It made small searching steps towards her. She vaulted to the seats, adrenaline surging through her veins. As its clattering footsteps neared her position, Clara jumped. Her feet trampled over its shell, squashing it to a dripping pulp. Seeds scattered over the floor and pieces of succulent flesh stained her boots.

The clattering noises behind her were a warning a little too late for as she swung back, another monstrous fruit leapt off the wall and bit into her right wrist. She hissed in pain as the thing hooked onto her skin. Clara pushed it with her free hand but it only bit harder. She cried out in pain as blood trickled from the bite marks. Staggering to a window, she flicked her hand, ramming it against the glass over and over until it loosened its hold. Glass gave way against the assault and it shattered, its jagged ends piercing into the fruit and pulling it back. With a shrilling cry, the fruit-thing was tossed into the dark tunnel by the sailing winds.

Her injured hand fell limply to her side. More of the fruits pulsated from their little corner. Clara had leave before they woke. Slamming the door shut, she ran past the iron bridge and bumped into Tamer. She stumbled back.

“You angered them,” he said, steadying her. “Eryx will heal you.”

“What were those things?” she asked.

“Beelzeroots. Nasty carnivorous plants. When you provoke one of them, they will all attack."

They reached the first compartment. Clara sat down and let Eryx heal her. He placed his right palm above the wound, threads of blue light leeching into the bite marks. Clara felt the pangs of pain quelling and watched with surprise as her skin mended itself until the wound closed.

"Thank you," she said.

“Did it hurt you anywhere else?” Eryx asked.

She shook her head. A noisy bang thundered through the door. They retreated to the front of the coach. Eryx took out a gold coin from his pocket turned to the two men. Tamer picked “tails” and Rai picked “heads”. A second bang boomed and she kept her eyes glued to the other end of the passenger car. She couldn’t believe these men. They weren’t even concerned of the danger that lay waiting behind that door. The magician threw the coin into the air and caught it.

“Tough luck, brother. Now, step aside,” Rai said, giving Tamer a smug look.

The door swung open and in came the beelzeroots, their teeth chattering, and their spindly legs rattling. Rai took out his dual steelguns from his shoulder holster and fired. Sapient plants exploded. One of its brethren flung itself at his feet, shrieking in fury. Rai kicked it and as it was swept into the air like a ball, he squeezed the trigger and blasted it to pieces.

Clara ducked, hugging herself in the small space between the seats as volleys were fired one after another. A beelzeroot crawled over the ceiling, attempting a sneak attack against Rai. Pointing his gun at the roof, he shot it. He sidestepped as the tender remains of the dead plant fell at the exact position he had been standing before. More shots rang in the air.

Hands over her ears and head bowed low, Clara heard Tamer telling her not to move. She saw a beelzeroot scuttling on top of a chair, its teeth snapping. Her instincts told her to get away from it before it attacked but Tamer grabbed her ankle, holding her in place. A moment later, two shots echoed and the beelzeroot was thrust to the seat behind her.

Silence swathed the passenger car.

“All clear,” Rai said, putting his steelguns back to the holster.

Clara stood up  and inspected the scene. Dead plants were strewn on the aisle, forming a squishy carpet. Sticky fluids were splattered on the chipped paint of the train and the armchairs were doused in plant remains. A rotten odor permeated the air. She had to admit, Rai was remarkable with guns. The train grumbled then came to a screeching halt.

“Good thing we don’t have to sit around and admire the carnage.” Rai winked at her, walking out of the train.

They exited the platform and climbed up the metallic stairs fortified to the wall. It led to the surface ground. The main stairs had been sealed off. Tamer pushed a circular lid open and hauled himself up. Eryx followed and then it was her turn. She blinked as blinding light struck her eyes.

“Kirisal,” Tamer said. “The city of scholars.”