Chapter 70: Unexpected Support (1/2)

Sera spoke in a quiet, defeated voice. ”The Cabal has nearly finished their ritual. Soon, all of us will die.”

She paused, and in a pained whisper muttered, ”I can't see it.”

”What can't you see?” Mike asked, trying to coax her into explaining further.

She shook her head. ”I can't see how to stop it. Every vision I have had is more horrible than the last, nothing but death and destruction.”

She clutched at him then, anger and grief warring in her face. ”No matter how many times I go through it, we die....we all die......we're destined to die.” She trailed off, sinking once more into her depression.

”I'm going to need more than that. What exactly is going to happen?”

She sagged back, her momentary energy once again subsiding.

”...Once the ritual is complete, The Cabal will summon a demon prince of the highest order. One who is but a step away from godhood. It will destroy, kill, and consume everything in its path. Nothing on this continent can stand against, and its unclear if anything in this world can stop it.”

”Sounds like a serious problem, but we just need to stop the ritual, then. Do you know where its being held?”

She shook her head with sullen anger, ”It doesn't work like that, I can't just summon visions on command-”

A sudden convulsion passed through her. She gripped her head and fell over sideways onto the ground.

[Is she having a vision? Or is it a seizure? What am I supposed to do when someone has a seizure, again? Something to do with raising the feet?]

After a few minutes, Sera opened her eyes with a groan, and fought her way back up into a sitting position. She looked at Mike with an astonished expression. ”I know where it is. I just had another vision, and it showed me exactly where to go. I can't believe it.”

[Well, it seems my protagonist powers are still fully active.]

”That's convenient, where-”

Another voice broke in, ”When do we leave?”

”F***! Stop doing that you damn ninja dog!” Mike exclaimed as he tried to calm his heart rate.

After a few deep breaths, he glared at the beastman. ”How much of that did you hear?”

Brenden just grinned unapologetically, ”We heard pretty much all of it. Everything from all of us being destined to die, to the point when she figured out where to go.” He motioned towards Tal who had apparently followed him up. ”Don't worry, though. We'll keep her secret. You, of all people, should know very well how good we are at that.”

Mike looked between the two of them. ”Are you two sure?”

Brenden merely smiled in a relaxed way, obviously not concerned with the danger of the mission.

The elf returned Mike's gaze with a look of determination, probably. Not showing a hint of doubt, or so he could tell.

The two of them were apparently willing to follow him on this potentially lethal quest. He wasn't sure how to feel about it. As far as he was aware, he hadn't done anything to inspire that kind of loyalty.

His heart was filled with an odd mix of gratitude and guilt.

Sera broke in at this point, ”As touching as this moment is, we will need to move fast if we want to stop that ritual.”

Mike nodded, ”Agreed, but I think we should at least make contact with the Guild first. There is a strike force made of high ranking adventurers operating as we speak. If we can get them to redirect towards the ritual site, it might make the difference.”

”That makes sense,” Sera agreed, ”But anything we do needs to be fast.”

They moved as a group to speak with James, who was still overseeing the defense of the barricade, and quickly explained the situation.

”So your telling me that unless you four go off into enemy territory, this world and everyone in it is destined to perish. That about right?”

Mike nodded, ”Yeah that pretty much sums it up.”

James sighed. ”And you got this information, which no one else has, from a source that you can't disclose?”

”Yep.”

Sighing again, the older adventurer shook his head. He looked Mike in the eyes. ”I hope you know that this sounds insane. Do you really believe it?”

Holding his gaze steady, and speaking with conviction, Mike answered simply, ”Yes.”

James nodded resignedly, ”Alright, I'll pass the word along, but I can't guarantee that the Guild higher ups will actually listen.”

”Do you mean it?” Mike asked, bewildered by the veteran's sudden acquiescence.