IGS #4, Chapter 15

Scorio

A sound tugged Scorio from sleep. Half aware, he leaped to his feet, blinking away his stupor as he glanced about the darkness.

No sign of Silverines pouring in through a chiseled gap. Instead, he saw Leonis risen to one elbow, hand to his temple, face cast into a deep frown.

Scorio knelt beside him. “Hey. You’re back.”

“What happened?” Leonis tone was gruff, his frown not entirely one of pain or confusion.

“The ground gave way under us. You fell and hit your head.” Scorio watched his friend intently. “How are you feeling? You’ve been out for a long while. We were starting to get worried.”

The others were waking up, and Leonis glanced at them, wincing as he forced himself to sit upright. “I’m fine. Where are we?”

“You sure?” Kelona’s tone was gentle yet probing. “The back of your head was nearly bust open. It’d only make sense to have a headache or something.”

“I’m fine,” growled Leonis. “And what is this place?”

“Home sweet home,” said Nyrix. “We paid premium mana to get the nicest spot in the Unfathom for our extended rest.”

Leonis stared at the man. “Extended? I’m awake now. I won’t need time to rest.”

“Extended because we’re trapped,” said Scorio. “You and Xandera fell into a swarm of Instinctuals. We managed to get away by holing up in here, but barely. They’re all around us now. We’ve got a plan to burrow out, but it’s going to take months.”

“Months?” Leonis stared at him, as if seeking some sign that it was a joke, then glanced to Jovis. “Is he being serious?”

“He is,” said Jova.

“And you’re saying this is my fault?” Leonis winced and touched the back of his head. “I don’t have the ability to fly, so how could you—”

“We’re not saying that,” cut in Scorio. “The entire floor gave away beneath us. You fell. You and Xandera. Nobody’s saying it’s your fault.”

Leonis glared at him suspiciously, then gave a grudging nod. “Food? Water?”

Scorio explained the situation in greater detail. “So that’s where we’re at. But in a sense, maybe it’s a blessing, of sorts. Moira warned me about pushing too hard, too fast. Said we need to get everybody ready for the challenges ahead.”

Leonis snorted. “That’s a first.”

Scorio raised a brow. “Moira being right?”

“Your bothering to slow down so the weaker parts of your group have a chance of surviving.”

“He didn’t just say that, did he?” asked Nyrix, looking to Kelona. “Out loud, I mean?”

Scorio inhaled deeply as he rested his balance on his heels. “I’m going to chalk up that statement to your head wound. But watch yourself, my friend. You don’t know half of what you obviously think you do.”

“Sure,” said Leonis, then shrugged one big shoulder. “My apologies. That was out of line. I’m just… frustrated.”

“Understandable. But we’re going to use our time here to train. With a little luck, by the time Xandera gets us out of here, we’ll be more than a match for whatever the Unfathom’s got in store for us.”

Leonis grunted. “I’m always up for some training. And that’s… that’s a lot of Silver mana in here.”

“Sure is.” Kelona smiled. “I’m still debating wringing out my Iron to try and saturate Silver. Not sure we have the time.”

“Saturate Silver?” Leonis rubbed at his bearded jaw. “Now that’s a thought.”

“A bad one,” said Jova, lying back down, head on her interlaced fingers. “We won’t have the time. You’ll just weaken your Iron saturation and have learned nothing by the time we get out of here.”

“Depends on how hard I work,” said Leonis quietly. “You’re right. This could be a blessing.”

“You thinking of going for it?” asked Kelona. “Maybe we could work on desaturating together.”

“I am. But it’ll be on your to keep up.”

Kelona made a face. “You think I’d have it any other way?”

“Don’t know, don’t care.” Leonis touched the back of his head gingerly and looked at his fingertips. “I’m going to Ignite and hurry up my healing. We have a schedule set up yet?”

“We were waiting to make sure you’d wake up first,” said Scorio.

Leonis snorted. “You should have never doubted. But fine. I’m going to look around this place. You all go back to sleep. I need to get strong.”

“Have fun,” said Jova, closing her eyes.

Leonis rose to his feet with a grunt. For a moment he swayed, then Scorio felt his Heart Ignite. Leonis inhaled deeply and smiled in dangerous satisfaction. “There. That’s better. I could get used to burning Silver.”

“You won’t,” said Nyrix. “Not if you’re desaturating.”

“Tell me something I don’t know,” said Leonis, and stalked away.

They watched him go.

Nyrix lay back down. “You know, I think I liked him better when he was knocked out and on the verge of death.”

“Nyrix,” chided Kelona.

“Just saying. If I had to pick another person to be trapped for months in a small, lightless cavern, Leonis would be close to the top of my list.”

Scorio snorted and shook his head. “Give him time.”

“Time?” Nyrix sighed. “That we have.”

“Enough,” said Jova. “We need to establish the same sleeping pattern or this will be a mess. Everyone go to sleep.”

“Yes ma’am,” said Kelona, and Scorio honestly couldn’t tell if she was being sarcastic or not.

For a moment he remained crouching, staring off at Leonis’ back as the man stopped to examine the partially sealed cavern in which the corpses had been sealed. He realized he was frowning, and smoothed the expression away.

Well, for better or worse, the next few months down here would be the crucible he and Leonis needed to sort their problems out.

* * *

Disorientation was rife over the next few periods of waking. It was the inverse of the Unfathom’s unceasing silver light, but instead perpetual darkness that required the constant usage of darkvision. Scorio found himself more at ease, given the expansive nature of his Pyre Lord ability, but he recalled the limited field that Flame Vault provided, and could only sympathize with Leonis and Kelona’s experience.

A strange listlessness pervaded their little group when they first gathered after a full night or morning or whatever it had been of sleeping. With Leonis awoken, there was no longer a focal point around which to gather, and the very emptiness of the cave only added to their sense of malaise and uncertainty. Where did you choose to stand or sit when the cavern was mostly shallow pools and the occasional upward thrusting spear of damp stone? There was nothing with which to build a fire, nothing with which to imprint their mark upon the cave, which only rendered it more alien and disconcerting.

Jova took off of her own accord to run a few laps, her pace easy and mile-eating, and she didn’t complain when Kelona and Leonis fell in with her. Nyrix set to exploring the shallower alcoves high up on the more inaccessible ridges, loosing blazing bolts of light that seared the darkness before opening portals to his destinations.

Xandera cast around, pausing here and there to press her palm to the stone floor, no doubt seeking the best place with which to begin digging.

Leaving Scorio alone, arms crossed, considering their situation, and the tenuous sense of calm under which he could feel a rising consternation.

If he didn’t handle this, and handle this now, their time here would become hell.

He thought of his years trapped in the Crucible. The burning magma that had enveloped him even as he’d been constrained and unable to do anything more than stare out into nothingness. The madness that had stalked him, that had, for unguessable periods of time, claimed his mind.

No.

He’d not let that be their fate.

Then words returned to him, offered by Taron. “They look to us higher-ranked Great Souls to set the tone and elevate the mood. Watch your language in public. If you need to vent your frustration or despair, make sure you do so in private. Morale is a serious matter, and we need to set the example.”

Words that he had to internalize. He wasn’t one of the crew here. Amidst equals. Perhaps Jova had the mental and emotional fortitude to withstand the pressures this isolation would subject them too, but the others?

They were going to look to him.

Which meant he needed to exemplify what he wanted from them. They needed to stay busy, they need a regimen, the very schedule Leonis had asked about.

Where to begin?

Food. They’d tap the Silverine Instinctuals every second day. Not just for the nourishment, but for the excitement and anticipation it would bring them. No, every third day. One day to reflect on the excitement of the previous action, the next to look forward to the next fight.

Sleeping hours would be regimented. They had no sunwire to mark the passage of time, but no doubt they’d simply fall into a rhythm if they bedded and awoke together. Which meant they needed to formally claim their own caves. Xandera could tailor them as desired, providing walls for privacy, perhaps raised surfaces for beds. Shelves. Whatever gave each occupant a sense of ownership.

Mealtimes would be communal and regular. They would rotate shifts. Every two Silverine fights they’d swap responsibilities. Cooking, cleaning, washing clothing, harvesting meat and pink fronds.

And training. He would devise regiments for everybody. Make it extra punishing. If everyone was being pushed to their limit each day and exhausted when the hour to sleep arrived, they’d be less liable to argue.

Competitions. Both against their own records and each other. They were six, which meant they could form three teams of two, two teams of three. He’d have to come up with competitions where victory came with perks. Relay races hauling rocks. Races, push-ups, climbing, obstacle courses. And they’d have to keep track so that people knew what they were striving for.

Scorio felt himself warm up to the idea. As long as he kept everyone busy, as long as he remained confident and in control, they’d survive. But he had to maintain his Pyre Lord status, he had to remain an authority figure. Which meant keeping a tight rein on his own despair or boredom, and brooking no dissension. His word had to be law even as he did his utmost to cater to his companion’s needs.

But it couldn’t all be just work. There would be time for relaxation, for games, for whatever else might momentarily make the evening hours enjoyable. A balance.

Scorio grimaced. This was going to be a treacherous tightrope to walk.

When Jova and her crew had run enough laps, Scorio called everyone together. He’d purposefully chosen a ridge of rock on which to stand so that he was slightly elevated above them, and waited till his five companions were assembled.

“All right. We’ve perhaps three months in this cavern, and this how we’re going to operate.” And he explained his plan, keeping his tone amicable but firm. He explained the schedule for harvesting Silverine fiends and how everything would revolve around the three day cycle. How chores would rotate, how every other harvesting day they’d also hold tournaments to see how people’s growth was progressing, and how each day would be divided into mana training, combat drills, and physical exercise.

To his relief—though he hid the emotion ruthlessly—everyone seemed on board.

“We’re going to assume ninety days down here,” he said as he drew his overview to a close. “That’s three months in which everyone here should do their absolute best to advance at least one rank.”

“At least?” asked Nyrix, raising a brow in mild skepticism.

“At least.” Scorio kept his tone firm. “We’ve all the Silver mana we could need and the time in the world. When we’re not training we’ll either be sleeping or eating. Jova and I will generally run the training sessions, but each of you will have an opportunity to share your own wisdom and experience with the rest by running a training session every fourth day. None of us wanted to be trapped here, but since we are, we’re going to wring every single moment of advantage from this time. Finally, we’re each also going to take time to keep Xandera company as she works.”

Xandera brightened at this last, a smile animating her face. “You will?”

“Of course,” grinned Scorio. “You think we’d forget about you saving us all down in that tunnel?”

“Yay,” said Xandera, and clapped her hands.

“So, to review: we awaken, have a moment to get ready, then Jova will lead us through a rigorous morning workout. Up to her what we do each day.”

“Don’t come crawling back to me with regret,” said Jova, crossing her arms. “I won’t go easy on you all.”

“Then we break our fast and spend a couple of hours working on our mana techniques. Lunch, then a short break, followed by combat training for a few hours more. We’ll focus on meditation before our final meal of the day, after which we’ll all do chores to keep this cave livable, and have some time to ourselves.”

Leonis raised his chin. “And if I choose to desaturate this entire time instead?”

“Then I’ll break a small mountain of rocks apart for you,” said Scorio, “and task you to carry them all across the cavern each day by hand. If you complete this task, I’ll add bigger rocks. You’ll finish your day wrestling me in my scaled form while you’re not allowed to Ignite. We’ll do that for however long it takes to make you vomit, and then you can eat and knock out.”

Leonis didn’t quite dry swallow, but his lips tightened into a seam.

“We’ll do that every day for you,” continued Scorio. “You’ll not take part in the combat training nor the Silverine harvesting. You’ll carry rocks until you can’t breathe, then wrestle till you want to die.”

“Try not to sound eager,” said Leonis.

“I’m not. That’s what I did for five months. I know what it takes, and you only have three. If you want to Saturate Silver, I’ll do my absolute best to help you, but you’ll have to work even harder than I did to make sure you complete it in time.”

Kelona shook her head. “I think I’ll pass. I’ll do the regular training with everyone else.”

Scorio nodded and looked to Leonis, expecting the man to reach the same conclusion.

“I’ll desaturate,” said Leonis, clearly trying to sound more confident than he felt. “This is my one opportunity. This life is only worth something if I make Imperator. I won’t take short cuts to end up a Pyre Lord.”

“Are you listening to the man?” asked Jova. “You—”

“I have made my decision,” growled Leonis. “I’m not a child. I understand the risk. But we’re all of us out of time. Us here, us Great Souls in all of hell. This might be my very last life before the Archspire is consumed and we all die forever. So I’m going to make my bid for greatness. And if I fail?” He stared at Kelona. “It won’t be because I lacked the courage to try.”

Kelona’s brows shot up, and then she rounded on Leonis as she transformed into her golden form.

“STOP,” commanded Scorio, blasting them all with his command aura. Kelona froze midstep, Leonis in the process of opening his arms wide as if to welcome her. “There will be absolutely no fighting without my sanction.”

Kelona glanced back at him and reverted to her human form, expression at once furious yet guilty. Leonis crossed his arms and sneered in amusement.

“Leonis.” Scorio hopped off his shelf of rock and moved to stand before the bigger man. “If we’re going to train in here for the next three months, you’re going to change to your attitude. The single greatest threat to our survival is strife.”

“I’m not saying anything I don’t believe—”

Scorio resisted the urge to let slip the leash on his growing anger. “I don’t care what you believe. It literally doesn’t matter. What I want from you, and what I will have, is your willingness to be part of this team. In spirit as well as action. If you think it fine to insult or mock others because they don’t meet your standards or behave as you think they should, then this is your notice: it’s not fine.”

“Oh yeah?” Leonis looked Scorio up and down. “We afraid of speaking the truth now?”

Jova clucked her tongue in obvious annoyance.

“This is the truth. I am a Pyre Lord. I am the most powerful Great Soul here and the leader of this expedition. When you agreed to travel south with me, it was under my leadership, and I am telling you now in no uncertain terms that if you mock or belittle or damage the morale of this group then I will take issue with your behavior and steps to ensure you fall in line.” Scorio met Leonis’s stare full on. “You will not bring us down with your negativity or attitude.”

Leonis crossed his arms and loomed over Scorio. “And if I disagree with your leadership style? What are you going to do, Scorio? Kill me?”

Scorio smiled. “I could. And you know it. But no. That kind of violence is the refuge of the weak. I don’t know what I’ll do if you act like an ass and make everything harder for everyone. But I’ll prioritize the group’s well being over your own pride. So test me only if you want to learn the answer first hand. For now? I’m telling you politely to be respectful of the rest of the group. Understood?”

Leonis’s lips were curled into a contemptuous sneer, but Scorio held his gaze with ease. Allowed the wealth of experience to arise within him, the pain, the resolve that had seen him through countless battles, the ferocity that lurked just beneath the surface of his skin, the strength that was his now as a Pyre Lord.

And Leonis must have seen some sign of that power, for he inclined his head and had the grace to look abashed. “Of course. We’re all in this together.”

“That’s right.” Scorio allowed the intensity of the moment to fade away. “We’re all in this together.”

And with that Scorio turned away from Leonis to smile at the others. “For now, let’s get busy choosing caves and seeing how Xandera can help us make them a little homier.”

“Yes!” Xandera beamed. “I can heat the rock till it grows soft, and then perhaps Jova can will it to flatten out and grow smooth?”

“Interesting idea,” allowed Jova. “I’ve never tried to work my power on lava before.”

Xandera let the others down the length of the cave to where the bigger caverns were hidden just out of view. “In the hive we use special, processed stone that is passed through lower blazeborns so that it’s extra receptive to our manipulation, but even here I can fashion something that will be like the homes you Great Souls enjoy. Smooth floor, raised beds, perhaps even a table…?”

“A main dining table we can all share,” said Kelona eagerly. “Perhaps with stone stools? Not in a cave, but on the ground floor below them?”

Scorio watched the group move away. Hands on hips, lips pursed, he reviewed the meeting, the tenor of the group, the way Leonis had silenced everyone else’s possible complaints by just being an idiot.

Leonis.

Something was going to have to happen there. Something that would either break or mend their friendship altogether.

And soon.