37 Blind Step Forward (1/2)

As they were cast into the unfamiliar darkness, Leo never let go of Bianca's hand. Though she had already felt this feeling of vertigo once before, she was grateful she could experience it with a friend.

The last time Bianca was cast into darkness, she was chained to a wall with dozens of wraiths around her waiting for Will to come for her. The sense of importance hit her finally as she realized this time she was on her way to rescue Will.

As the darkness subsided, they found themselves within a green wooded area. Bianca saw Leo blink in disbelief. She may have had his feeling towards the experience had she not felt it once herself. Smiling, she took a look around.

”Will rested at this exact spot.” Leo stated as if it was a fact.

”Is your aura responding to remnants of his or something?” Bianca figured that was the case, they had just gotten there. How else could he have known?

Leo raised an eyebrow and pointed to the ground. As she followed the direction, she saw an empty pack of jerky on the ground. She resisted the urge to laugh.

Bringing herself further on into the densely wooded area, the smell of oak assaulting her nose, she and Leo found a gravel road.

The road was surrounded by trees on either side, as Leo looked around he saw something that didn't belong. A tree that had a fist sized hole in it stood out amongst it's brothers.

Walking over to the tree, Bianca noticed the hole was singed on the edges. ”I think it's safe to say he used this road.” Leo said as he continues down the road a ways.

”Will must have started out here when he first got to Crystallia.” Bianca said as she looked back at the tree.

Looking around, she could see the battle that must have played out in the area. Even though it must have been half a year ago, she could still see the scorch marks on the ground followed by a crater in the center of the road. This is where Will's power came to life, she thought as she looked at the wall scorched platform within the gravel.

”We probably have three hours of daylight.” Leo said as he checked the suns location in the sky. Bianca silently thanked Leo's dad for giving him even menial survival skills.

As he walked side by side with Bianca on the gravel road, Leo surveyed the area. The road gave no more clues of Will's passing. The burn marks on the trees had already stopped or any other signs of his brothers fight.

Though the indicators of Will's passing had long but disappeared, Leo kept his eyes open on the road. So far as Will had told him of his travels, he has woken up in Maya's cottage. If that were true, she would have had to take him there himself. Unless this girl is more burly than I imagine, she wouldn't have had to take him far, He thought as he kept his eyes open.

A few minutes later, Leo found a break in the wood line. It only looked like a small path, wide enough for two people to walk side by side. He motioned Bianca to take the trail.

As they turned, both Bianca and Leo noticed two straight lines within the trail which looked as though a cart had been through it.

”It almost feels like we are watching the remnants of Will's adventure play out in front of us.” Bianca said as she looked at the wheel marks. It was almost as if everything had been preserved for months just for them to follow. She figured the weather would have washed the tracks, or brush grown over the marks. It made her wonder what Crystallia had that was different from their own world.

Following the path for ten or so minutes, they stopped at a small cottage. It looked inviting enough with one window in front, a stack of wood stacked at the side and a well on the other side. If Maya did live in this small homey little house, Bianca figured it was a comfortable life.

”You check the inside, I'll look around out here.” Leo said as he nodded to the cottage. ”If everything turns out clear, we'll bunk down here for the night.”

”Shouldn't we keep going?” Bianca asked, she was anxious to keep searching for her boyfriend. Who knew what was happening to him while they were sleeping. ”You said we have at least a few hours left of light, we should use it.”

Leo shook his head. ”We should be rested for tomorrow, besides we would have to follow the roads and I have no idea what the guards patrol time is.”

Bianca raised an eyebrow. Of course she knew that the crimson knights patrolled the area, but if Will could handle them, she could as well. ”You're worried about a few knights?” She huffed sarcastically. ”If Will could send them running, don't you think we could?”

Leo chuckled as he adjusted his glasses. ”That's not the point.” he said while scanning the area. ”The point is that no one knows we are here.” He assumed that was obvious. Looking at bianca, it was clear she didn't understand. Letting out a sight, he continued. ”Sure we could take out a few guards, but if we did that and the patrol was late it would be reported. If we scared them away, they would inform their supervisors and our element of surprise would be gone. We could kill them, but then the patrols would increase. The best way to go about this is to keep invisible. Use the wood line in the day time so we can see without our aura and sleep at night to avoid detection. If Will is here, I'm sure he will find a way to tell us what he wants.”

”We already know what he wants Leo,” Bianca was getting annoyed. ”He told us to find him.” She waved a hand at the cottage in agitation. ”Is this finding him?”

Rubbing his temples, Leo looked at Bianca with a tired expression. ”What do you plan on doing when we find him?” he stared her down. Bianca shifted her feet uncomfortably. ”Do you know how many enemies there are? Maya isn't an original corrupt flame user, couldn't that be proof enough that they can make more?” Leo paced back and forth while lecturing the girl who seemed to be losing her previous determination. ”Would you be willing to risk Will's life by jumping into a fight you know nothing about? We only have one chance you know.”

”Fine!” Bianca shouted, her patience finally broke. ”You win, we do nothing then. Enjoy your nap!”

”I didn't say we would do nothing.” Leo said as he turned towards the cottage. ”How strange would it be to see two people traveling at night wearing the get ups we have on right now?”

”It would be like a spot light pointing at us.” Bianca sighed, she was utterly defeated by Leo's logic. Looking down at her shoes, she thought about what would happen if they continued. No matter what She thought of, the result was the same. ”So what should we do?” Bianca looked up at Leo and brushed her hair from her eyes, determination shining once again from within.