Chapter 10: Golem

Eli had to slow to match Alice's pace. She walked stiffly and breathed unsteadily. She went close to the red, Eli realized. He ground his teeth at the thought.

Using magic was counterintuitive. It was necessary for life and if depleted the individual would die. Of course, people passed out before they truly entered the red but that didn't prevent damages. Like passing out after a thousand-mile run; you're still going to wake up with a hell of a sore.

Alice stumbled.

"Alice!"

"I'm fine, I'm fine, geez."

"Maybe we should stop."

"No, let's go -aagh," she stumbled again. "Alright," she sat heavily. "Five minutes," she said between labored breaths.

"Ten," Eli said. She didn't argue.

Alice leaned against one of the lights that lit the path. Eli sat across from her at the other. Even in the soft glow, he could see how pale she was. Sweat pasted her hair to her neck and forehead, and each shallow breath seemed to bring her pain. It could be worse, Eli reminded himself, it could be worse.

***

He hurt. Every inch. Every fiber. Why did he hurt? Eli opened his eyes and he wasn't where he was before. Before, He was outside. Now, he was inside. It was white and clinical and the air smelled like medicine. He felt pressure on his legs. He lifted his thousand-pound head and saw his mother sleeping at the foot of the bed.

"Mom," he croaked, and for the first time tasted blood in his mouth. She rose slowly, unaware. Then she saw him.

"Kitten!" She pounced and pulled him into a hug, crushing him. There were tears in her eyes. Eli heard a knock, a knob turning, and saw a man in a white coat. He gave a shallow smile. The kind doctors gave patients when their lives were over. His mother glanced at the doctor but didn't let go.

"How are you feeling? Son," the doctor asked.

"Sore."

"I thought so. I'll prescribe some pills. You gave us quite a scare. If your mother wasn't such an accomplished healer I doubt we'd be speaking now." His mother shot the doctor a glare. He cleared his throat. "Anyhow, you're slated to make a full recovery." His face hardened. "Miss Wisp, a word." They left the room but Eli could still see his mother's face through the narrow window in the door. She was calm but somber. She nodded as though she already knew what the doctor was saying.

A few days had gone by before he could leave, but not before the doctor had a word.

"Do you understand?" He asked. Eli didn't answer. How could he? It wasn't an easy topic for a six-year-old mind to wrap around. "You can't use magic. Actively anyway. You don't have enough to spare. I'm baffled as to how you could draw on any in the first place." His mother shifted.

"You survived this time because of your mother. But if you somehow manage to use magic again, you will die."

***

"Eli?" Alice pulled him out of his thought.

"Hm, what?"

"Geez, you look worse than me," Eli observed her. Colour had returned to her face, and her breathing was steady.

"I bet, you look better."

"I feel better. Eli?"

"Yeah?"

"What's wrong."

"Nothing." He said gently.

Silence.

"I might be ready in a few," Alice said. Eli looked at the direction they were headed. Towards the impossible darkness.

More silence.

"You were happy back at the academy," Eli looked towards her. "Like, hella happy."

"Well duh, that's like, the frontier academy for Maestros. The best of the best."

"Do you want to be a maestro?" She leaned in.

"No. I'm going to be a maestro. I'm going to be the best there ever was," Eli's voice had fire. There was no pomp. Just resolve. Alice smiled. She jumped up, only momentarily swaying. Eli rose to catch her if she fell. "Ready?" He asked.

"Ready." She pet him and laughed at the purr.

"Are you going to do that every time I get close!"

"Every opportunity."

They continued on the path, laughing and chatting until they approached a door. It was large but openable. They stared at it.

"So," Alice said, "what's behind door number one?"

"Besides an undead horde? Unicorns."

"The only logical answer," Alice mocked thoughtfulness.

"Well," Eli put his hands on the door. Alice hesitated before following suit. "On three." Alice nodded.

"One," she took a deep breath.

"Two," a bead of sweat fell from his chin.

Three, they said together as they pushed. The door opened easily and they were left to the mercy of what lay behind.

"Oh. My. God." Alice said.

"This, this is actually kinda nice." The door opened to a massive white stone room. The floor swirled with bright and dark spots. The ceiling had chandeliers made from the same crystals that lit their path. Only far larger. At the center of the room sat a mound of boulders and beyond that, directly across from where they stood, was another door. Eli shrugged and stepped forward. Alice grabbed him.

"Whoa, hey, wheredya think you're going?"

"The door?"

"The. Door. You're kidding me. We almost get eaten by a hoard of walking bones and bad smells and you think we get an empty room? No way, something's up."

"Maybe whoever built this place thought that the hoard was overkill enough and skimped out on the rest."

"Oh, really. And I guess that pile of rocks is just leftovers, huh?"

"Well, What else can we do?"

"Fine." She looked across the room. "Fine." They inched forward. Eyes peeled for the first sign of danger. Alice seemed to be particularly defensive approaching the pile of boulders.

"The heck are those?" She asked as they passed close. Eli looked at the strange markings etched in elaborate patterns into the stone. He touched them, running his fingers over a few.

"Runes," he said. Alice approached.

"I heard about those." She said, "don't they make magic infusion easier?"

"Yes," Eli answered slowly. With a screech and slam the door they had come through shut.

"I don't suppose that was the wind." Eli glanced around. The boulders at the center were etched with runes. Runes used for infusion. Why infuse magic into rock? Eli knew several purposes. None were good.

"Alice," Eli said. The rocks began to shift as a deep red light began flowing in the runes. "Alice, run!"

"What—holy shit. Hold up, Eli!" They ran for the other door. Eli got there first. It might as well have been a wall. It was made from huge stone slabs fitted so closely together that Eli doubted that even a hair could fit between.

A bone quaking sound made them turn. There it stood. A five-meter tall stone-cold creature of murder. A golem.

"Maybe we can outrun it?" Alice said.

That's right, Eli thought, the things made from stone how fast can it be. The golem knelt. One knee pulled to its chest, its other leg stretched out behind, much like a sprinter's starter position. It launched with a vengeance. Eli heaved his jaw off the floor before he and Alice bolted in opposite directions.

The golem slammed into the stone doors sending dust and debris flying. Without spending a moment of consideration it bolted for Eli. Eli was fast but the ten-meter stride of the beast meant that it could cover the distance. Eli pressed forward but the golem closed in.

Eli ran, eyes forward. A tingle ran down his tail prompting him to dodge to the right. He felt the wind from the golem's hand as it slapped the ground where he once was, missing him by a hair.

Eli stumbled as the golem swung at him. It wasted no time. The monster pulled up to Eli and held its fist up high. Before it could bring it down a speck hit the side of its face and burst into a dozen colors. It turned.

Alice was on her hands and knees heaving, her sketchpad splayed out in front of her. She hadn't fully recovered from earlier. The golem retreated from Eli and made for Alice. She rose as she saw it approach then stumbled. Eli's heart leaped into his throat.

He saw the creature stampede for Alice. Think he thought. There was a way around the zombies there's a way around this. At that moment he noticed it. A depression in the nape of the golem's neck. The runes seemed to radiate from it. Eli dipped into his bag and pulled out the orb from the room before. Maybe.

He set off, running as fast as his legs could allow. "Hey!" Eli roared as he lifted a loose stone from the floor. "Hey!" He heaved the stone. The golem froze when it hit its head. It turned, rubbing the sore spot. It glared at Eli but made no move towards him. With no other option, Eli flipped it the bird.

The golem jolted then dashed for Eli. Eli didn't move. Okay, okay, come on, the golem was on him. I'm insane. The golem kicked.

He was in the air. High above the golem. Mostly unhurt. He had jumped at the last moment and the golem's kick only added to his momentum. He fell with a purpose. The golem swung at him. Eli twisted from the blow which sent him tumbling at the golem's head. It swung again. Eli slid down the back, causing the golem to hit nothing but itself, and grabbed onto the depression. He held the battery and felt relief. It would fit. The golem readied the palm of its hand and swung it at Eli.

Eli slammed the orb into the depression.

"Eli!" Alice screamed when the golem hit its mark.

It was dark. Dark and hard. Eli felt the jerk of movement when the golem moved its hand and squinted at the light when the golem unfurled it. He gazed at the golem's face which, although being made of stone, seemed soft somehow. Perhaps it was the light of the runes which was now soft and blue.

He stepped off the palm and onto the ground. Alice approached. "How'd you know that was going to work?"

"I-," he stuttered, "I didn't." The golem shifted, stood, and started for the large stone doors, stopping for a moment to gaze at them before continuing. They followed.

The golem stopped at the door, turned, and knelt before Eli with an offered hand. There was something there. Eli reached and realized that it was a dagger. It was rudimentary but from the length and sturdiness of the blade, Eli knew it was effective. The only ornament was a plume of fur tied to the end of the hilt. It was off-white with the distinct stain of red. This was enough to tell him that this blade was meant to be used. But against what, he thought.

He hesitated with the blade and held it as though it was going to bite him. The golem nodded before turning back to the door and opening it. The path ahead seemed brighter than that before. Alice and Eli only shared a glance before venturing forth. With a slam, the doors shut behind them.