Chapter 118: Hero
The valley entrance looked exactly as ominous as Grace remembered before her excruciating training sessions. It had only been like a week but it felt like an eternity. Black rock walls rose up on both sides like the world’s most depressing welcome sign. Heat waves danced off everything, making the air thick enough to chew.
[Why does every important moment in my life involve walking toward certain death?]
Grace checked her armor straps for the fifth time.
Then the sixth.
Then got started on the seventh before catching herself.
"You sure about this?" Seraph asked.
They stood at the threshold. Grace felt like she was stepping into a sauna. Seraph looked ready to charge in at the first sign of trouble. Valkyrie had her arms crossed and her usual ’everyone’s an idiot’ expression. Alia and Zephyr were holding hands, trying to look brave.
"No." Grace adjusted her sword belt again. The thing kept sliding. "But I’m doing it anyway. It’s clear the Flame isn’t willing to wait much longer for our, uh, reunion."
[I wonder if I should even try to convince her I’m not Eternia. Might actually make my incoming torture session even worse,] she thought, swallowing.
"I could come with you." Seraph stepped forward. "Watch your back. Make sure she doesn’t—"
"Get your head cut off again?" Grace shook her head hard enough to make her white hair whip around. She’d spent the last hour arguing against this and apparently Seraph had no problem wasting another 60 minutes. "Hard pass. One talking head was enough for a lifetime."