The only sound audible was the faint breeze moving through the corridor.
Then Caelynn's eyes narrowed warily at the Sylph girls.
She'd already deduced that if she and Nivara gave them a chance, they would defeat them easily.
"Run," she muttered to her sister in a low voice, not taking her eyes off the girls.
Nivara glanced at her in confusion. She had expected them to stand their ground and fight.
"What?"
Caelynn's gaze remained fixed on the Sylphs.
"We're outnumbered, Nivara. Run."
Hoping it would spur her sister into action, Caelynn slowly stepped backward.
Nivara noticed the movement from the corner of her eye and swore.
So they were really doing this.
Watching the tense Sylph girls, she gritted her teeth, knowing her sister was right. The odds weren't in their favor.
The moment Caelynn turned and bolted down the corridor, Nivara was right beside her.
The Sylph girls watched in confusion.
"Are they... retreating?" Diamond asked in disbelief.
"Get them!" Nova yelled.
The Sylph girls immediately reacted.
Except for Lyrian.
As Nova, Seren, and Diamond shot into the air, chasing after the fleeing Dark Sylphs, Lyrian's sharp voice cut through the corridor.
"Girls, stop! Let them go."
At her words, the Sylphs stopped mid-flight and slowly turned, hovering in the air with confused expressions.
"What is it, Lyrian?" Diamond demanded.
"Yeah, they're getting away," Seren said urgently.
Lyrian pursed her lips and glanced back toward the corridor they had come from.
"We can't afford to waste time fighting. We need to focus on finding Mia. Remember, she's the reason we're here."
The girls stared at her for a moment.
None of them moved.
They looked conflicted.
Then Seren slowly lowered herself back to the ground.
"You're right," she admitted, disappointment clear in her voice. "Mia is more important."
Hearing that, Diamond looked at them in frustration.
"Seriously?"
In response, the others gave her looks that silently begged her to understand.
"Fine," she grumbled. "We'll go with your plan. But for the record, I am not happy about it."
"Neither are we," Nova said with a sigh.
She glanced back down the corridor.
"At least we know they don't have the Trident."
"That's something," Seren said quietly.
"We'll get them next time," Lyrian said, looking at them. "For now, let's focus on what we came here to do."
The others nodded.
"Come on," Lyrian said urgently. "There's no time to waste."
They began walking.
Lyrian was about to take off and fly through the corridors when she suddenly felt something beneath her foot.
She immediately stepped back.
A small circular object glinted on the floor.
"What is this?"
She bent down and picked it up.
The moment she held it in her hand, her eyes widened.
A sapphire ring.
Diamond immediately recognized it, a triumphant glint in her eye.
"That's Mia's wedding ring," she said matter-of-factly.
Lyrian looked at her.
"How do you know?"
Diamond gave her a small, knowing smile.
"Because Rhys asked me to help him choose it from the Echian royal jewelry collection. We picked this one because it matched her eyes."
Lyrian stared down at the ring, realization slowly settling in.
A small smile appeared.
"We're on the right path," she thought.
*****
VEYRA
"This isn't working, Veyra," Damon said, his voice filled with irritation as they once again came out of a room without a Trident. "We're never going to find this relic before the others do at this rate. We need a new plan."
Veyra let out a frustrated sigh, hating his whining even as she recognized he was right.
She turned to him and nodded to him diplomatically.
"Well, what do you suggest?"
Damon simply stared at her.
"I'm asking you."
At that, Veyra rolled her eyes, all pretense of neutrality gone from her face.
"Of course you are."
She wondered why she was surrounded by so many useless people.
Before she could say anything, Damon's head suddenly turned.
"Do you hear footsteps?"
Veyra immediately looked at him with suspicion.
Her first thought was that it was the temple spirits influencing him again.
She prayed that Damon, who'd already proved himself susceptible, wouldn't lead them straight into another trap.
But then she heard it too.
Definitely footsteps.
Coming from the corridor ahead.
Along with voices.
And one of them was unmistakably Reone's.
Veyra's eyes widened.
Damon had already tensed.
Decisively, she quickly looked around for somewhere to hide, but there was nowhere. The opposite corridor was too far away, and the approaching group was already close.
She cursed under her breath, knowing that if a fight broke out now, she and Damon were at a serious disadvantage, with their enemy outnumbering them five to one.
The voices grew louder.
Veyra exchanged a nervous glance with Damon. She despaired when she saw her thoughts reflected in those eyes she hated.
Damn it, Veyra thought. She was going to die. And after she had come so close to getting the Trident.
Veyra quickly put those thoughts out of her mind, preparing herself for battle, both mentally and physically.
She wasn't going without a fight.
Then, just as she could practically feel the adrenaline rushing through her body, five silhouettes rushed past the entrance of their corridor.
One of them held something that briefly caught the light.
Something square.
But none of them noticed Damon and Veyra.
They didn't even look in their direction.
Veyra stayed frozen for a moment, confused.
"Well, that was lucky," Damon whispered after they'd passed, pulling her from her state of shock.
Veyra released a breath she hadn't realized she was holding, her confusion turning into relief.
She was so relieved, she couldn't properly consider why there were only five of their opponents instead of the ten she had expected.
For several seconds, the two simply stood there, trying to process how close they had come to being discovered.
Veyra was about to suggest that they go in the opposite direction when a female voice echoed from the corridor ahead.
"What does the map say, Mickey? Which way is the Trident?"
Her mouth fell open at this world-shattering news.
But she couldn't have heard that correctly, right?
It was too much luck.
The universe wasn't that kind.
But Damon's shell-shocked face told her otherwise.
"A map to the Trident?" he mouthed.
Veyra didn't answer.
She only listened harder to hear what their enemies were saying, but the voices were already fading, the group having moved farther away.
Veyra didn't mind in the slightest.
She had heard everything she could ever have wanted to hear.
Damon looked toward the corridor where the group had disappeared.
"We're following them, right?"
His voice was surprisingly calm.
Veyra stared at him for a moment before a slow smile spread across her face.
"Definitely."
She flew both of them down the corridor.
Her smile widened.
"Hello, new plan."
*****
MIA
An hour after she arrived, Mia decided that she definitely hated this temple.
"Damn it!" Her cry echoed through the empty corridors. Then looking down in desperation, "How could I lose it now?"
Her eyes frantically searched the floors of the temple, no longer for Damon, but for her wedding ring, which she had only realized was missing about half an hour ago.
She had been searching ever since, retracing her steps, but so far she hadn't seen so much as a trace of it. Her back ached from constantly bending down to inspect the floors, and eventually she couldn't take it anymore. She straightened with a small groan before letting out a frustrated yell, looking around her surroundings again.
"Where is it?" she barked to no one in particular.
She took a deep breath to calm herself down before speaking to herself again.
"I know I came through this corridor. It has to be here, right?"
She looked around once more, this time with an uncertain expression.
These corridors all looked the same, she realized.
Was this really the same one she had walked through before?
Mia found that she wasn't certain.
She ran a frustrated hand through her red hair, thinking about Rhys. If he woke up... When he woke up, she would have to tell him she had lost the ring he gave her a few days ago on their wedding day.
A ring that was also a prized family heirloom.
Mia cursed again, feeling lost in more ways than one.
Then she shook her head in determination.
"No. I can't give up."
She forced herself forward, flying through the temple while continuing to retrace her steps.
She turned into another corridor she thought was familiar, only to freeze when she spotted a room she had never seen before.
She knew she hadn't seen it before because, unlike the others, this one had a pool.
She entered the room reluctantly, wanting to be mistaken. Wanting it to disappear before her eyes.
But it didn't.
"No," she whispered in frustration, tears thickening her voice. "This... this isn't the way I came."
Confusion clouded Mia's mind.
Where had she taken a wrong turn?
Mia wondered, but again, she had no answer.
Looking around the room, panic began to set in.
Her breathing grew heavier.
"What should I do? What should I do?" she whispered to herself.
For a brief moment, she considered abandoning the search for the ring and returning to her hunt for Damon.
But her mind immediately rejected the idea.
This temple was impossibly huge. So far, she hadn't even seen a single person, even though there were plenty of others inside.
She would never find him.
And even if she did, he had the Sisterhood protecting him.
Meanwhile, she was alone.
Without a single friend or ally.
At that thought, Mia sank down beside the pool, not caring about the cold stone beneath her.
Nothing could make her feel worse than she already did.
She stared at her reflection in the rippling water.
She looked like a failure.
But other than that, everything seemed the same.
Her bright blue eyes.
Her red hair.
Her pale skin.
Yet Mia knew everything was different.
The changes were just not visible. They still managed to make her hate herself.
She stared at her reflection with disgust. Disgusted because that face belonged to the person who had failed to kill Damon.
The person who had failed to avenge Rhys.
But more importantly...
The person who had refused to help Lyrian.
Her friend.
Someone who was like a sister.
It was also the face of someone who had put Anika in danger, threatened the livelihood of the Temple Watch, and said horrible things to the people who cared about her.
Her recent transgressions against others hit her all at once.
Mia suddenly burst into tears.
She couldn't believe she had done all those things.
It felt like the actions of another person.
But she knew the truth.
It was her.
She thought back to what Caelynn had told her in the snowy forest.
That she was becoming a monster.
For the first time, Mia considered the thought that she might be right.
Fresh tears rolled down her face as she thought about her friends.
Lyrian.
Reone.
Everyone.
They must all hate her.
"Painful, isn't it?"
A voice suddenly spoke beside her.
Mia froze.
Slowly, she turned.
Another gasp escaped her.
Because sitting beside her was...
herself.
"Hey, Mia," the other girl said.
The real Mia—at least, she thought she was the real Mia—stared in horror.
The other her raised a finger to her lips.
"Shh. I'm not here to hurt you."
She smiled reassuringly.
"After all, I'm you."
Mia immediately stood, looking at the clone nervously, warily.
"No. This isn't possible. You're... you're not real."
The copy grinned now.
"I'm very real, Mia. You can see that."
She gestured to herself.
Her body was identical.
Her clothes.
Her voice.
Everything.
Mia shook her head while backing away.
"You're not me. Even if you look like me and sound like me."
She looked around frantically.
"This is some kind of trick. Damon's? Caelynn's? Maybe I'm losing my mind, but—"
"Ugh, can you just listen?"
The clone's sharp tone made Mia stop.
Seeing her expression, the copy softened her voice.
"Look, it doesn't matter where I came from. What matters is that I'm here to help you."
Mia narrowed her eyes.
"Help with what?"
"With the pain you're feeling."
The clone placed a hand over her chest.
"I feel it too, you know. I know exactly how much it hurts."
Mia's brows furrowed.
"And I know how you can end it."
At this, Mia scoffed.
"I bet you do."
Her powers then ignited around her, her eyes matching their color of flame.
Wariness flashed across the clone's face as it stepped back.
"Alright now. Don't do anything rash, Mia."
Against her better judgment, Mia waited held herself back.
The clone smiled.
"Good of you to listen to reason."
"You said you're here to help?"
"Yes, Mia. And you don't have to look far for a solution to all your problems. It is right beside you."
The clone gestured toward the pool.
"All you have to do is get inside."
Mia looked at her in confusion.
"And drown yourself."
The moment the words left its mouth, Mia growled and launched a huge fireball at it.
The clone's expression turned to shock before quickly raising a dark shield, blocking the attack.
Then it looked at her with exasperation.
"Come on, Mia. I'm trying to help you."
"I don't need your help, thanks."
Another fireball.
Then another.
The clone dodged each one, rising into the air with identical wings.
"Yes, you do."
It tilted its head.
"Think about it? Will you really be able to face Rhys when he wakes up and sees what you've become?"
Mia froze.
The fireball around her hands flickered out of existence.
Triumph flickered on the clone's face when it saw this .
"You think he won't be horrified? It continues. "How you're acting? How similar you've become to Damon?"
Mia's jaw clenched.
"You're wrong."
"Am I?"
The clone's voice became softer.
"You've already lost your friends, haven't you?"
Mia's mouth trembled.
"After Rhys leaves you, which he obviuosly will, you'll have no one."
"That's not true. That won't happen."
The tears forming in her eyes betrayed her true thoughts.
The clone looked at her with faked pity.
"You know I'm right."
Mia screamed and sent another wave of fire toward it.
At the same time, the clone unleashed a blast of dark energy.
The two powers collided.
Mia gritted her teeth.
The clone was stronger than she expected it to be.
"Even your sister and Lyrian with their all-accepting natures were repulsed by you," the clone continued.
Mia's strength faltered as she considered this.
She considered the last times she saw Lyrian and Seren, horrified expression back in the forest as they gazed at her.
The clone noticed her increasing uncertainty.
"Stop being in denial already, Mia. Jump into the pool."
"No," Mia said in a low and weak voice.
Her twin chuckled.
"I think you want to. You just need a little push."
Suddenly, the clone increased its attack.
Mia's eyes widened.
Her panic messed with her concentration all the more.
The dark energy struck her chest the next moment.
Pain exploded through her body.
She screamed as she was thrown backward.
Into the pool.
The freezing water immediately swallowed her.
Inside it, Mia held her breath instinctively.
She started forcing herself upward, but before she could reach the surface, a hand grabbed the back of her head.
And forced her under again.
Terror exploded through her.
She fought against the grip, managing to rise once more, just enough to see the creature above her.
It still had her shape.
But its body was now made of darkness.
It looked at her with a cold expression.
"You'll never get the Trident of Axis."
Its voice was distorted.
Mia finally understood.
It was one of the temple spirits.
But knowing that didn't help.
It was too strong, pushing her in the pool again.
Underwater, Mia found that her powers were practically useless.
"Die, Mia," the creature whispered.
"Die and be free."
Mia refused to give in.
But again, her body betrayed her spirit.
Her movements became slower.
She became dizzy.
Her strength faded.
And darkness began to close in.
And just as she was losing consciousness, she thought she heard a familiar voice.
Lyrian.
But that couldn't be real.
It was just her mind searching for something to hold onto.
This was really it, she thought.
And after everything she had done to Lyrian...
Mia thought she deserved it.
*****
LYRIAN
She stumbled into the pool room almost by sheer luck.
At first, she thought she imagined the sounds of a struggle and was about to turn back from the corridor. But there was something in the air of the place, something that she didn't like, that made her want to continue.
Also desperate for a lead, the others hadn't needed a lot of convincing to check out the place, thank the stars.
Lyrian's eyes widened at what she saw in the room.
"Guys, she's in here!" Lyrian shouted to the others.
They had split up from her, searching in other after realizing just how many rooms were in the corridor.
Lyrian felt a mixture of relief and terror when her instincts turned out to be right and she finally found Mia.
Because Mia was getting drowned.
A dark spirit held her beneath the water.
"Mia!" Lyrian cried.
The creature turned toward her.
It hissed, almost annoyed by her interruption.
Then it released Mia.
Her body immediately sank deeper into the pool.
The spirit turned back to Lyrian, a twisted smile appearing on its face.
As if it was telling her that she was too late.
Lyrian didn't think.
She raised her hands and sent a blast of energy toward it.
The spirit vanished from the pool, appearing behind her instead.
Lyrian spun around just in time to throw up a shield.
The creature's attack crashed into it endlessly.
It was extremely relentless, much more than Lyrian could have ever imagined.
"None of you will get the Trident," it said.
Lyrian gritted her teeth, ignoring it and focusing on holding the barrier together.
Then the figures of Nova, Seren and Diamond appeared at the entrance. Lyrian noted this with relief, wanting the creature defeated as soon as possible through their help. Then she could get to Mia who Lyrian knew was running out of time.
Seren's eyes widened when she saw what was happening insde.
She and Nova immediately prepared to attack, but Diamond stopped them.
Lyrian understood.
Light magic was more effective against creatures of darkness.
Diamond raised her hands, eyes glowing.
"Solar blast."
The next moment, a beam of light shot forward from her and struck the spirit which didnt see the attck.
The creature let out an awful sound before its form started flickering.
Then it vanished out of existence.
Lyrian didn't pause to thank Diamond.
She dove into the pool after Mia.
The cold water surrounded her immediately.
Holding her breath, she searched frantically through the darkness until she saw Mia.
At the very bottom.
Lyrian's heart dropped.
She pushed herself hard, swimming like she was part mermaid.
Once she grabbed Mia, she pulled her upward with all her strength.
They broke through the surface.
Lyrian gasped, immediately looking down at her.
"Mia?"
No response.
Fear gripped her chest.
Had she been too late?
"Bring her to me. Hurry, Lyrian," Seren ordered.
The command snapped her out of her panic.
Lyrian swam toward the edge, where Nova, Seren and Diamond helped pull Mia out.
"Move back," Seren instructed.
They obeyed immediately.
Lyrian expected her to attempt some kind of physical rescue, but instead Seren placed her hands over Mia's body.
Her magic glowed.
Slowly, water began to flow from Mia's mouth, out of her lungs. Seren then deposited it into the pool.
Mia began coughing suddenly.
For a moment, the girls froze, unsure if they had imagined it.
Another cough.
Then another.
Relief washed over them.
Diamond broke out into a tearful smile when Mia's gaze finally focused.
"Mia?" she asked softly. "Are you okay?"
Mia looked around weakly.
"Girls... is it really you?"
Seren smiled.
"It's us, sis."
Mia stared at them.
"I can't believe it."
Lyrian, still in the pool, gave a small smile.
"Well, believe my wet hair."
Mia looked at her.
"You came too?"
"Of course I came."
Mia gave her a nervous smile.
"I thought you hated me by now."
Lyrian's expression softened.
"Mia, you could set me on fire and I still couldn't hate you."
She reached out her hand.
"You're my family."
For a moment, Mia just stared at her.
Then she took her hand. She then extended her own hand to the three other girls. When they took it, a small, broken smile appeared on her lips.
"You guys are the best friends I could've ever asked for."
Her voice shook.
"And I'm sorry. For everything."
"Already forgiven," Nova said immediately, smiling.
Mia laughed softly, looking at her.
But then her expression changed.
"Wait..."
She looked around.
"Where are Reone, Anika, Primi, Sire and Mickey?"
The four other girls exchanged an awkward glance at the question.