The night didn't soothe Jessica. She lay awake in bed. Each time she closed her eyes, the horrifying duel played in her head. Keeping her eyes open didn't help. "What awful power," she whispered in the dark. But it was power, real power. Stronger than any mist ability. She sighed, "I understand what the Grandmaster was trying to do now." She sat on the bed, "A threat is coming, and we're not ready."
She walked to the window and gazed at the night. It was so dark it felt like staring at the void. "We need all the power we can get." She clenched her fist and closed her eyes. She felt the pain of her nails digging into her flesh. She forced down the tears. "I'll do my part," she said with a shaky voice.
Morning came, and when Chala was about to knock, Jessica opened the door. "I'm ready," she said. The hunter froze in surprise for a second, then he smiled, "I know you are." He led the way, and she followed.
They walked deeper and deeper into the mountain. Some faint light from outside came through the vents on the ceiling and the walls. Chala was carrying an oil lamp, but it was turned off. "It's better if we get used to the darkness," he said, answering Jessica's silent question. After a while, they reached a stone door. Chala produced a big, dark key. After unlocking it, the door slid easily to the side. Jessica stopped to marvel at the engineering. "If you're impressed by that, you're in for a big surprise," he said, amusement in his voice. Jessica muttered, "Sorry," and rushed to his side. After a dramatic pause, Chala opened his arms and declared, "The Relics Vault!"
Jessica squinted in the dim light. The vault was massive. Even bigger than the College experience room. She distinguished the shape of pedestals, racks, and weapons. But everything was so dark. "Can we get more light?" Chala moved through the room, lighting torches against the wall. The hall soon danced in ever-changing flames. Jessica could feel the room vibrate with magic. It was different from the mist magic, but it was powerful. "So, how does it work?" She asked. Chala hesitated an instant before saying, "Now you choose a relic, or rather the relic chooses you. It happens sometimes that none wants to bind with a recruit." Jessica looked at him in disbelief. "Don't worry," said Chala, "I'm sure one will choose you." But his eyes didn't hold the same certainty.
Chala softly invited Jessica to step forward. "Go, take your time," he said softly. He remained by the entrance, arms crossed.
Jessica walked down the few steps leading to the chamber. She approached the closest relic: A towering shield. A deep hum emanated from it. She almost touched it, but then the hum disappeared, and she withdrew her hands. She slowly walked through the room, seeing all the types of relics, hammers, axes, swords, daggers, spears… When her exploration led her closer to Chala again, she said, "There are so many of them." The hunter nodded, "There used to be way more hunters than today. When a hunter dies, we retrieve his relic and bring it back to the chamber." Jessica frowned, "You must have lost some relic over the years. "We never lost one, we always find them back." Said Chala. Jessica didn't push further. After all, it made sense; she could detect the power from the relics, others probably could too. As she resumed her slow inspection of the shadow weapons, Chala sat on the stairs. He began looking at some relics, his eyes lost in the past.
The relics hummed softly in the vault. Jessica could feel that each of them had a personality. It's not that they choose, it's that they need someone compatible. A shiver ran down her spine at the realisation. I wonder if the hunters know? Maybe no one can feel them as clearly as I do. She listened distractedly to the soft tap of her feet on the stone ground. It sounded like a rhythm, and the relic's humming was the melody. She felt the pull of the strange, magical music and closed her eyes, opening her senses. Maybe when no relic chooses a hunter, it's not that the hunter is unworthy. It's that there was no good match, a bit like finding love. She walked more slowly, her eyes still closed. So, where are you, my shadow mate? She giggled at her silly thoughts, but something answered. Another hum, strong and soft at the same time, echoed in her soul, Jessica… She cocked her head, not sure if she imagined it. Jessica… Her heartbeat quickened; she could feel it, as if she were meeting a long-lost friend. She hurried toward the feeling. Jessica…
Her steps led her toward the center of the room.
On a lone pedestal, a dark, smooth sphere was laid on a white cushion.
Chala, still deep in thought, didn't notice where Jessica was going.
With her eyes closed, Jessica could see the sphere glow a dark light. The humming had become a vibration that made her whole body tremble. She forced herself to stay upright; her balance was off. She couldn't hear anything apart from the sphere calling her. Her right hand reached for the relic. She wasn't sure if she was moving her arm or if it was the sphere moving her. She didn't care. All that mattered was that they were together as it was meant to be.
Chala's eyes moved from relic to relic, remembering lost companions and honoring their memory. His eyes stopped on a long sword, and he allowed himself a sad smile. "Etheon, may your name burn forever." With a sigh, he forced himself away from the bittersweet memories and looked for his apprentice.
When he saw her reaching for the sphere, Chala jumped to his feet. He ran as fast as he could toward the woman. He screamed, "GET AWAY, JESSICA, NOT THIS ON, GET AWAY FROM IT!"
But he was too late, Jessica's pale hand wrapped around the smooth, dark sphere.