Chapter 18: Memory 6 / 8
Atlas gritted his teeth, his jaw tight with frustration as his eyes darted to Dune, who had just risen to his feet. "What's your plan?" Dune asked, his voice sharp but tinged with desperation.
Atlas sighed, running a hand through his disheveled hair. "We can't beat that guy," he admitted, his tone bitter. "The plan is to go to the portal and get out of here."
"But Ned... where did he go? Damn it!"
Their heated exchange was interrupted by a cold, mocking voice that sent shivers down their spines. "He's in another dimension, where he'll face the Trials of Life and Death, in other words, Blessings Ceremony" Matiane declared, stepping forward.
"What?" Dune and Atlas blurted out in unison, their faces twisted in shock. Matiane chuckled, his tone dripping with disdain. "Oh, you two will join him soon enough. There's no stopping it. It's the will of the gods."
"Gods don't exist," Dune retorted, his voice defiant. But his conviction wavered when Matiane laughed, a dark sound that echoed through the ruins around them.
"You've never been outside this city, have you, boy? How can you be so sure?" Matiane sneered. Dune clenched his fists, unable to argue. The truth of Matiane's words gnawed at him. He had never left the city's confines, and the weight of that realization rendered him silent.
"Well then," Matiane continued, his voice like a blade slicing through the tense air. "Let's end this."
Matiane blurred into motion, dashing between them with terrifying speed. His blade gleamed as it swung down toward them. But just before it struck, it collided with another sword, an icy blade that seemed to shimmer in the faint light.
"Cadogan!" Atlas exclaimed, relief flooding his voice.
Matiane's grin widened beneath his mask as he turned his head slightly, scanning the battlefield. His crimson eyes narrowed when he realized someone was missing.