Chuck reshaped himself to humanoid mid-dodge and bounced to his feet. “Woah! We’re on the same side. Why are you trying to take me out?”

  The blonde sneered as she pulled her white wings behind her. “Same side? I saw you let the ewofla through before you blocked me.” She shifted her weight from one booted foot to the other, holding the slender sword steadily in her hand.

  "The ewofla? You mean the bugs? We're fighting them too. Didn't you see my friends?" Chuck gestured behind him, expecting to see his companions poised for battle. Instead, his finger pointed at a blank, solid rock wall. He blinked, his eyes scanning for the familiar archway that had been there moments ago. His voice wavered as he murmured, "Hey, where did the entrance go? It was just..."

  A high-pitched gasp brought Chuck’s attention back to the Vylkra. Glyrgaph had ensnared both hands with his tentacles, preventing her from swinging the sword.

  “She would’ve cleaved you in twain whilst your back was turned.” Glyrgaph announced.

  “You must release me…”

  “I think you lost your right to demand anything.” Chuck glared at the Vylkra, then looking up he grinned at his friend, “Thank you. Where did you pick up those words?”

  Glyrgaph shuddered. “I have been studying the archives. I am currently reading missives from what your people call the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.”

  "Impressive how fast you picked that up," Chuck remarked, nodding with admiration. "Switching gears for a moment, have you any idea what happened to the entryway?"

  "There are as many beings as possible on the path," the Vylkra stated tersely. "However, there seems to be an issue with the floating one," she indicated the Marnovian with a nod, "since your friend makes it four."

  Chuck took a second to process. “Ah, we’re bonded somehow. The Structure told me Glyrgaph would count as an extension on myself as far as the path maximum.”

  The captive's eyebrows knitted together, casting a shadow of suspicion across her face. Her eyes narrowed as she studied Chuck. “Okay, you seem to be honest, and your story rings true. Now, if you we’re both fighting the ewofla, you should let me go and we pursue him.”

  “Are you going to be swinging at me?”

  "No. We've been desperately trying to stop the Brythnar from..."

  Chuck interrupted, "Tampering more with the source again?"

  "It's far beyond mere tampering," the Vylkra announced with a grim intensity. "They believe they can seal it shut forever."

  "That bug has the power to close the spring forever?" Chuck's voice rose in alarm.

  "Yes! We must stop him at all costs."

  Chuck looked up at Glyrgaph with a sense of urgency. "Release her now. We need to track down that bug immediately!"

  The Vylkra rubbed at her wrists, turning to run down the path. She unfurled her wings, then brought them back in. “What I thought. It is too narrow for me to fly through here.”

  Glyrgaph floated behind her. “You would not be able to fly much higher than myself. There are silver needles that fly above me. They are hard to see, but they are there and do not feel good.”

  Looking up at the air, Chuck commented. “Good to know. Better get going. Lead the way—um—what is your name? I’m Chuck.”

  “I’m known as Brytha. Well met and let’s go.” She pivoted gracefully and broke into a brisk jog, her feet crunching against the crushed stone that lined the winding path.

  Shaking his head, Chuck followed. It just gets stranger and stranger. And maybe a little prettier. Status check.

  << STATUS -

  Health: 76/80

  Magic: 98/108 >>

  Anything else to share? Hints, loopholes, anything?

  The Structure remained silent. Chuck picked up his pace in order to catch up with Brytha.

  “Brytha, anyone tell you your name…”

  “Sounds a little like I’m Bythnar?”

  Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

  “That’s a little farther than I’d take it, but yeah, something like that. Sounds like you have.”

  “Yes, Chuck and I have, but only by people who haven’t seen or heard a Bythie.”

  And stop that line of questioning. Chuck trailed behind, his eyes captivated by the graceful sweep of her wings, a blend of white and gray that tapered elegantly to a point just below her knees. They fluttered with a gentle rhythm. His gaze lingered for a moment on her shapely calves, appreciating the way they complemented the ethereal beauty of her wings. Suddenly, her voice, melodic and enchanting, drew his attention upward, breaking the spell of his admiration.

  “This may be too personal, but what are you?”

  “Considering we’re running into battle together, it’s not too personal.” Chuck gave her an abbreviated version of the shredder and his introduction to Crawtna, and what he’d been doing.

  “So that,” Brytha pointed upward, “Is a Marnovian?”

  “Glyrgaph was transporting me here when we got attacked. We barely survived and in the process we bonded and he changed dramatically.”

  “You are a strange one, Chuck. One would think the Structure brought you to us for this purpose.”

  Should I tell her about my relationship with the Structure and don’t worry Spi, I won’t tell her that there is more than one Structure. Chuck paused for a few seconds. The Structure didn’t reply. I’ll take that as approval.

  “I wasn’t chosen, per se, but the Structure took advantage. I have what seems to be a more direct connection with the Structure than my friends. But it hasn’t talked to me or answered me since we got past the entry.”

  They kept on jogging, their feet crunching on the gravel, echoing off the granite and sand colored rock walls. Glyrgaph floating above them like a balloon.

  “The Structure cannot talk to us on this side. That would be a fourth entity. It can only do the passive stuff it does for us at all times.”

  “That explains that, then. There is still so much I don’t know. Like how far until we get to the spring?”

  “No idea, but we probably have a way to go, so we must pace ourselves. I want to be ready to eviscerate the ewofla when we catch up to the focsaging bug.” Brytha spat out the last words.

  They took a sharp right around a stone outcropping. Chuck glimpsed sky above the tall stone walls of the path. The path widened, allowing him to jog shoulder to shoulder with Brytha. With her at his side, he snuck a few glances her way. She is quite attractive, in that natural—not trying, not aware way. Maybe we can get some quieter time later. I think I’d like…

  Brytha slid to a stop, her arm outstretched to keep Chuck from going on further. “There it is.” She pointed to the dark bug looking ewofla facing them in a defensive crouch.

  “Ugly little sucker, ain’t it?” Chuck couldn’t decide it if was a cicada mixed with a cockroach or the other way around. Either way, it mastered the ugly look.

  “Ugly and deadly if they get that stinger in you, but as long as it can’t fly, it’s at a disadvantage.”

  As if it waited for the cue, it flapped its upper pair of—leathery, almost batlike—wings.

  “Dodge the tail, got it. Did you hear that, Glyrgaph?”

  “I did Chuck. I shall avoid the ovipositor.”

  “Still in the seventeenth century?”

  “I have discovered the riches of a book you know as a thesaurus.”

  Chuck faked a moan, then chuckled. “This bodes ill for all of us.”

  "Could you focus on the current threat, please?" Brytha grumbled, her voice tinged with both urgency and doubt.

  “I am,” Chuck replied. “Do you realize the damage he can do with a thesaurus?”

  “The ewofla!” Brytha hissed, frustration in her tone. “How the Structure thought you were the answer, I do not understand.” Her shoulder-length hair swayed as she shook her head.

  “Been watching it. Seems to be scared. I think it’s figuring the best way to take one of us out before he dies. Not sure he’s got a way forward there.” Chuck squared to face the bug. He noticed Brytha had her sword at the ready. “Plus, you’d keep him from getting to me.”

  “I wouldn’t count on that.” She sounded serious, but the faint smile gave her away.

  “Fine, I’ll take care of it. Don’t do anything for a moment. Spatial Leap for the win!”

  Glyrgaph shouted at Chuck, but he’d already leapt.

  Needles of fire ripped through Chuck’s body. Forgot about these things! Ouch. The pain only lasted a few seconds as he landed on top of the ewofla. An audible crunching sounded as it collapsed under Chuck’s weight. The ichor and its stench made both Chuck and Brytha gag.

  “Dang, no Siibtis. Status check.”

  << STATUS -

  Health: 68/80

  Magic: 91/108 >>

  “Took a bit of damage, but I think I’m actually charging this side of the arch.”

  “Yes, you should charge as normal. What did you do?” Brytha asked.

  “A spell I absorbed. It’s called Spatial Leap. Then if I do all the damage, I might get some hit points or magic point improvements—didn’t this time.”

  “Whatever you did, it was impressive. How often can you do that?”

  “As long as I have magic points, no limits other than that, that I know of,” Chuck answered.

  “I apologize for doubting you.” Brytha reached out her hand.

  “Apology accepted, but not really needed. I can understand how I worried you.” Chuck reached out his hand, Brytha clasped his forearm.

  “That squishy feeling is unusual.”

  “So I’ve been told, many times.” Chuck grinned. Arms clasped, Chuck seized the moment to study Brytha. He estimated her height to be just under six feet, her figure exuding a lithe and athletic grace. His gaze traveled upwards to her face, taking in her sharp features and the subtle hint of confidence in her posture. Her eyes, deep and probing, met his, prompting him to quickly divert his gaze, a flush of warmth creeping up his neck.

  “Let's get going.” Brytha pivoted and started to walk along the path. She let out a grunt as she collided with an unseen barrier. “What? Why?” She kept pushing and pressing, trying to find a way to continue down the path. She failed.

  “Looks like we found why the bug was waiting for us,” Chuck said. “Glyrgaph, how high does it go up?”

  “I flew as high as I could before taking damage, then let my filaments climb as high as possible—the blockade went higher.”

  Brytha glanced at Chuck, lifting an eyebrow. “Filaments?”

  “I told you the thesaurus was the greater danger. My guess is he’s talking about his roots, which he uses like tendrils or appendages or…”

  Brytha laughed. “I understand both now, filaments and the danger of a thesaurus. Now, we have to figure out how to get over our blockade.”