Yom looked at me with a terrified expression, nobody else but Cael and him had heard us speak at the same time, so I just put my hand forward to claim the scabbard which he gave carefully.
"It's not that I can see y'all's systems and shit, but this scabbard has its name engraved right here."
I pointed my finger to the Laithath engravings that were clearly visible on the scabbard and was pleasantly surprised that both the young men could see it.
"You mean those are not decorations, but a whole ass language?" -Yom
"Something like that, the original name should be something like Draivon'sel"
When the true name in Laithath left my mouth, the scabbard shone faintly, I took it as a sign to give it back to Yom and free myself of possible curses.
"Where did you learn that language? I've never heard something like that…" -Cael
"And you should forget you heard it. Let's just go the the next floor, you're the only one that will do the fighting anyway."
When I stepped forward in the direction of the stairs that would bring us to the 5th floor, the young heirs tried to stop me and asked for a break after the tough fight, but I couldn't be bothered.
Only Cael could fight anyway, and whatever happened, short for saving his life and run away, we couldn't really act.
That was enough motivation for everyone to let the matter go and just proceed.
___________________
The fifth floor was exactly how I imagined a deep underground maze to be like.
Earthen tunnels with luminescent stones along the walls, paths so narrow only two people at a time could pass through.
Air so still it felt like no living being had stepped inside for ages.
"A reminder, all monsters must be killed by Cael or we will immediately be thrown out. Also, avoid using fire magic, I don't know how much oxygen we actually have here."
They nodded and we proceeded in pairs with me at the spearhead. I knew I was the one that had the best chance at defending myself without killing, and I didn't really want the others to be alone. Gods forbid the traitor decided to act on his own and kill a monster, all our efforts would be wasted.
We kept walking and walking, the silence stretched eerily between us. It wasn't bothersome to me, but I knew others couldn't possibly tolerate it much longer.
Lucky for us, we soon found an opening were we could all regroup. The room was quite large, but there was something bothering me.
The air around us shimmered with intensity as if waiting for something or someone, but that wasn't even the worst thing.
In a wide circle formation on the ground, were engraved 13 circles, each with writings in Laithath calling for the heir, and mine with instructions on how to summon the adversary Cael would need to fight.
"I can feel it. This is the place, right?" -Cael
"Yes."
I walked around in circles, recording and analysing the entire formation, trying to decipher it and maybe recreate it outside.
Nobody tried to stop me, nor asked questions. I knew I was suspicious as hell, but what else could I have done?
This was simply too fun to miss out.
The only thing that somewhat bothered me was if my actions could hold me accountable in case Cael died.
But that too was outweighed by the enjoyment of discovering new things, especially since it was related to my kin.
"I think we need to do some kind of ritual to summon the best possible monster to serve as Cael's test of worth…"
"I know a little about summoning magic, but we don't specialise in that field… my family leans towards offensive magic…" -Selan
"Well, lucky for us, one of my doppelgängers had been doing nothing but studying summoning magic, a ritual of 13 components is unusual, but not unheard of."
The feeling of lying was so refreshing.
Of course I didn't even open a book on summoning magic, it was just the the instructions were written on every circle.
I started guiding the heirs to their rightful place, of course I had already covered the circles with my illusions, Cael and Yom knew I could read those weird runes and I didn't want them to jump on my fun train.
When we all got to our positions I felt like something wasn't right and immediately realised what it was.
How could an Error stand to belong with symmetry?!
I quickly sidestepped and broke the circle before telling everyone how to proceed.
"Push your mana to the ground and repeatedly call for: a worthy warrior to fight our champion; I'll take care of the rest."
Everyone did as I ordered, the chant increasing in intensity the more mana they pushed to the invisible circles below their feet.
I on the other hand, started a full chant in Laithath.
"By the will of the mistaken
Bring forth the wind we hated,
Let the filthy correction awaken
To prove this champion's fated."
When my invocation was completed, the shimmering air stilled once more. Eleven of the twelve heir fell to their knees, completely drained of mana.
Cael however, he stood tall. Filled to the brim with energy and anticipation.
When the creature I had called for started materialising, my smile grew wild. A mirror naturally appeared beside me and I turned to Cael.
"It's time."
_____________________
As soon as we entered the open space, I felt it.
The wind was crying, rebelling. There even was a sense of dread coming from it. Then Crow took control of the situation.
He positioned each of us in certain points, gave us instructions and after some minor adjustments, he even started chanting in that language that gave my soul a rush of adrenaline.
Then something changed. The wind, a scared entity before, now felt like it was ready to kill everyone and finally be freed, that's when both Crow and my system chimed in.
"It's time."
[Emergency quest!
Kill the elemental: Wind of Correction.
Reward: Ritual of binding (elemental contract)
Failure: death.]
This was an absurd opportunity.
Nobody had ever contracted an elemental before being a Trailer.
It would boost my abilities to new heights. With it, I would definitely be even stronger than Crow.
Without even taking in consideration the artefact I'd get for clearing the floor.
Why is he doing this for me?
"Focus young Zephyrian, I don't want to save your ass." -Crow
How could he even say that when everyone was clearly voided of all their mana? He was a mystery, I tried to look in his direction, but just as I was about to turn, I felt a shiver running down my spine, the wind was blowing in unnatural ways and I moved away from my position as soon as I felt the threat.
Where I once stood, a longsword that seemed to be perfectly made out of wind was embedded on the ground and slow soundless steps approached it.
The creature was everything you'd imagine a wind elemental to be and more.
Humanoid, six pairs of wings each of a different kind, wind gently swaying around it.
If this was the Wind of Correction I couldn't really find anything that needed to be corrected in it, except the feeling it left in my heart.
It felt like… like it belonged to the Beyond.
It started speaking in that same language that Crow was using before, but when he used it, all I felt was fear.
I couldn't just stand like that. The beast in front of me, whatever it was, needed to be killed by me and me alone. There were too many things at stake.
I started circulating my mana and have it resonate with my primordial rune.
Wind and electricity danced around my body enhancing it, making me faster and I jumped in action.
My twin blades ready, pumping with mana that wished for nothing more than to destroy the monster facing me that was now smirking.
My swords struck true, but there was no resistance whatsoever.
What…?
Just when I thought I needed to jump back, the Wind of Correction exploded. His body scattered in every direction and the wind became so furious and violent it even cut through my armor and flesh.
I felt like I had made a mistake, if this wind was so strong to hurt me with all my mana, what would happen to the others?
I tried to look for my companions but a mirror shard manifested in front of me.
"Focus on your fight. I'll handle the rest." -Crow
My body shook releasing tension I didn't know it was holding.
Crow had all his mana.