The snow outside was deep and we drove thought it for a while; my truck was bloody freezing thanks to that stupid creature’s hole. We stopped at a deserted industrial building that looked like it had been through the wars.
Fane, Allanon and Cordelia left to arrange to pick up more guns, whilst Static and I moved to the warm truck to thaw ourselves out. Hou-Jin joined me later as Cordelia's armour allowed her to keep warm in the cold truck. Fane and Allanon joined her, fine, more room for us. We drove to a manned factory where we collect more gun things before moving on. As the clock neared 12 we stopped for a break.
I got out of the truck before the 13th hour occurred so that I could move about freely without having to worry about frozen doors. When I heard the gongs and the saw the world halt I stood there and pondered on why this occurs, even after all the weird things that happened it was still doesn’t make sense to me. I was brought out of my thoughts with a strange sense; something was out there. Looking at the trees I saw a blur of movement through the branches, and then a figure emerged. It was tall, bony and greyish purple in colour. It didn't look good, but of course just because it looked a little evil doesn’t necessarily mean that it was and I didn't show any hostility as yet.
More of these people emerged and I asked them if they needed any help. They did not respond, nor did they show any sign of having heard me, but they kept walking towards me. As one got too close I was forced to duck its attack and go on the offence with a swift kick which pushed it to the ground. I looked over to see Fane attempting to use his gun which, of course, didn't work. Allanon however, was wielding a sword. Without my mogwai or some kind of weapon I had to admit to myself that I was pretty much useless right then. Useless and more importantly, vulnerable. I wanted to fight but I knew it would be foolish, and so I moved back behind Allanon whom, despite being a magicless mage, looked like he could use a sword.
Allanon seemed to be good with his swordmanship and was fighting well. Fane had somehow changed his hands into monstrous claws and was also fighting well by stabbing his claws into the attackers and by ripping their heads off. As I watched him I saw a demon fighting other demons and wondered why he was with us when he seemed much more suited to the other side. Perhaps I would have even asked him myself if I hadn't just witnessed him killing with his bare hands with so much ease, whilst I stood there looking as intimidating as my curled up, frozen mogwai.
The 13th gong sounded and the world came back to life once more. Strange, how the bodies of the demons had disappeared.
Diary, We drove for about an hour before stopping, Cordelia said she will have to find a way into the castle and I offer my help. Fane and Allanon join us as we come across our first obstacle, a cliff. Cordelia abseils down with ease, followed by Allanon. Fane offered to help me down which I hastily declined, the image of him ripping flesh with his bare hands was still fresh in my mind. It wasn't easy, especially in the darkness, but I can do just about anything if I set my mind to it. We walked, climbed, dodged patrols and slipped through a long half man-made crack where we arrived at a room with a man called Luke, an Amberite.
He talked to Cordelia about the guns as we walked to a loading bay. Here Cordelia left us to go down a long tunnel and we are told that we can go to a hall for refreshments.
Feeling a little uneasy in this new place, I decided to summon my mogwai out to keep me company. This seemed to startle Luke who drew his blade at my dears. I managed to restrain my first instinct (which was to hit the man) and went for the more tactful approach of convincing him that they are harmless which resulted, happily, in nobody getting speared or killed by fire and lightning.
Luke lead us down to the food hall where we gratefully ate our meals, we passed the pattern on the way. It was larger than I thought it would be, and oval in shape. After we ate our fill Allanon managed to produce a light above his palm, it was beautiful, real magic! I wanted to see more but Cordelia arrived to say that she was going back to fetch the trucks, I was restless so I offered to go with her again.
When we arrived at the trucks I was pleased to see that Isocretes was up and on his feet, that box has done wonders for his leg! We clambered back onto the trucks and drove back to the castle via the loading bay. When we got back Cordelia promised to show us to the pattern after a rest. I was shown to a room to rest myself after I had memorised the room, as requested to do by Cordelia.
A knock awoke me from my dozing and a man led me up to the pattern room where Cordelia awaited us with a cup of coffee. "Welcome to my father's pattern", she said. I was looking forward to this, with the power of this pattern I'm sure I can figure out what's going on here and save Japan.
She gave us a few tips beforehand, and asked who'd like to go first and I volunteered. I hesitated a little before starting, after all if I wasn't really the daughter of an Amberite this would have killed me, but mother did say my father was called Random and if he's the king of Amber then he must be an Amberite and so must I.
Well, I didn't explode when I stepped onto the pattern so I must have been right. Walking the pattern was easy at first, but got harder as I continued. Each time I reached a veil it would get a little easier and then harder than ever before. Flames licked at my ankles, then my legs, then my whole body making my skin tingle uncomfortably but not burn.
As I neared the middle I felt like the air was as thick as treacle, if Cordelia hadn't warned me never to stop then I would have stopped to rest many times. When I was almost finished, it took an enormous amount of effort to take each single step. When I finally made it to the middle I fell to my knees and concentrated on my room in the castle and then there I was, in my room. I smiled triumphantly as floor rose to greet me with a thud and there was darkness.
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| Hero of the Hour - Kohaku | The Keep of the Thirteenth Hour |