Spirit's Triangle

    The sun had just dipped below the horizon when the linnys landed, and the sky was tinged with lavender. Three curios dismounted, unloaded their belongings, fed the linnys, and began to set up camp. By the time Montevic had gotten the fire going, night had fallen, the desert air chilling rapidly. Norvan and Moria finished setting up the tent and went to join Montevic by the warmth of the campfire. 

    Moria stroked her violet kazi, Regalia, while Norvan wrestled with a can of preserved fruit.

    “Let me help you with that.” Montevic placed the end of Danti’s leash under a heavy rock and reached over, taking the can from Norvan. With a firm twist, the lid popped loose. They sniffed at the contents. “Hmm. Bloodfruit. It’s basically just sugar at this point. Excellent.”

    Montevic pulled out a fork and passed the jar around, everyone getting a chance to consume some of the bloodfruit.

    “So,” Moria began, gaze fixed on the structure that poked out of the sand half a mile away. “Are we going to get some rest before we go inside?”

    Norvan shook his head. “Better we tackle the place at night. Spiritual activity is typically stronger at night, and I’d rather not leave the linnys out in the sun for hours. We head over as soon as I finish prepping the equipment.” He passed Montevic a sheet of paper. “Here’s the backstory for this place. Maybe get it recorded before we go, will you?”

    Montevic shrugged and stood up. “Sure.” They headed to the tent to go grab one of the recorders.

    When they were gone, Norvan turned to Moria. “Okay. So. While they’re off doing that, I’m going to brief you a little.”

    “Mhm.” Moria took a sip from her canteen. “What about?”

    “This is the last stop on our trip together. We’re not too far from Paydo Moga.”

    “I know that.”

    “Yeah, sorry, my point being that you won’t have to put up with Montevic too much longer - so can you try not to make too much of a scene when we’re out there recording?” Norvan asked, quiet and earnest.

    “Yes, yes, you’ve already asked this of me.” Moria sighed. “I can’t promise, but I’ll do what I can.”

    “Good, I’ll hold you to that.” Norvan looked slightly relieved. 

    “So, where are we, anyway? Some old military installation?” Moria asked.

    Norvan nodded. “Fort Kudaya. This place was built during the Dawn wars, over an Ancient ruin, to extract and defend old technology used in battle. When the last scraps of useful tech were extracted, the fort was abandoned - but not before several bloody battles took the lives of dozens of curios, invaders and defenders alike. If there are spirits here, they are old and lonely.”

    Moria stared at the remains of the ruin, crumbling domes and smooth walls of Ancient architecture merged with adobe curio construction, all half-buried beneath the ever-shifting sands of the Great Desert. “Yes,” she murmured. “I think you may be right.”

    “Who’s first?” Norvan asked, feet shifting for purpose in the sand. The trio stood on a dune that reached nearly up to a window, which in the dim moonshadow looked like a black and empty abyss. “Montevic?”

    Montevic switched on their flashlight and strode forward. “Sure.” With only the slightest moment of hesitation, they ducked through the window and hopped down onto a sandy floor. “All clear!” they called.

    Cautiously, the others followed, first Norvan, then Moria, until all three stood within the confines of the ancient garrison. 

    The air within the stone was only slightly warmer than the cool desert night outside. Moria wrapped her arms around her chest, underneath her shawl.

    As the trio walked down a long, downward-sloping corridor, Norvan switched on the aurameter. Its bulb glowed faintly, casting a spherical halo into the darkness. “Hmm. We’ve got a fairly high initial reading.”

    Moria raised an eyebrow. “That means spirits, yes? I can definitely feel something.” She shivered, but whether it was due to cold or something else was unclear.

    Montevic sniffed the air. “Smells like old stone and distant metal.”

    “Poetic as always,” Norvan laughed. “How’s the EMF?”

    Montevic checked. “Fairly low...no, hold on, there’s something over here.” They walked towards what appeared to be a doorway blocked by rubble. “Hmm. Do you think we could move some of this?”

    Norvan came over to look. “Not sure. Some of that rock looks heavy - ah, yes, listeners, Montevic’s found a door blocked by fallen rock and rubble. Higher EMF here?”

    Montevic reached an arm through a gap in the rocks, waving the EMF reader around on the other side. It beeped appreciatively. “In the room behind here, yes.” They switched off the device and pocketed it. “Help me move these rocks!”

    Moria frowned at the pile. “Are you sure that’s safe? This place doesn’t look exactly stable.”

    “I’m sure everything that was supposed to collapse did so when this stuff fell,” Montevic argued. “Besides, the ghosts are likely back there. Don’t tell me you’re afraid of a little manual labor.”

    “Perhaps I am.” Moria crossed her arms. “So? We could try to coax the ghosts in here instead.”

    “Doesn’t always work like that,” Montevic said, shaking their head.

    Norvan dropped a rock on the ground with a thud. “Don’t turn this into an argument. Just move some rocks.”

    Montevic shrugged and turned their back to Moria. They heaved one of the larger chunks of rock aside with a grunt.

    Moria made a small noise of disapproval and sat down on the floor. “Do that, if you like, but I’m not helping.”

    Norvan sighed. “Sure, sure, whatever - unf.” He shoved at a particularly heavy chunk of rock, wedged firmly into the doorway. “I can’t move this one. Montevic?”

    “Right.” Montevic joined Norvan in pushing against the rock. There was a loud, slow, scraping noise, then the rock shifted and clattered loudly against the floor of the other room. The entire room began to rumble ominously as dust rained down from the ceiling.

    Moria yelped and leaped to her feet, running for the exit, but a slab of stone fell from the ceiling and crashed across the doorway, sealing it off. She swore in disbelief.

    Norvan let out a small cry as another chunk of rock broke off and slammed into skull. He crumpled to the floor like a limp ragdoll, and the rumbling ceased, leaving the trio trapped, surrounded by rubble.

    Montevic knelt next to Norvan and checked his breathing before letting out a slow, raggedy sigh of relief. “He’s still alive.”

    Moria turned and walked over. “I told you this place wasn’t stable! Why did you insist on doing that?”

    “Norvan - “ Montevic’s breath hitched. “Nevermind. You were right. You were right, and I didn’t listen, and now my best friend is injured.” Their voice was bitter.

    Moria looked down at Norvan and softened slightly. “I...nevermind. It doesn’t matter.” She crouched down across from Montevic. “Is he going to be okay?”

    “I don’t know! I’m not a doctor.” Montevic swallowed and touched Norvan’s chest, which rose and fell slowly. “But I think if he doesn’t wake up soon, there’s a chance he might not wake up at all.”

    “Saints help him,” Moria murmured, and the two of them fell silent, though Moria’s lips silently formed a prayer.

    Suddenly, a chill swept through the room. The aurameter, which had been set on the floor and knocked over during the collapse, glowed brightly. Moria gasped slightly.

    Tiny, glowing green flecks of light blinked into existence above Norvan’s fur. His eyelids slowly parted and he let out a small groan.

    “I’m...seeing...stars,” Norvan mumbled.

    Moria stared, wide-eyed. “So are we.”

    “Norvan!” Montevic exclaimed, wrapping their hand around Norvan’s. “Norvan, are you all right? You got hit pretty bad.”

    Norvan lifted his other hand slowly and waved it in front of his face. The glowing particles rippled as if in an invisible current. “I’m...things are...fuzzy. Hurts. Are...ss s’posed to be green?”

    “I’ve seen this before,” Moria answered. “It’s some kind of auric manifestation, I think. I’ve heard cranial trauma can cause disruptions in the aura; it’s probably the result of...that.”

    “I sure feel disrupted.” Norvan tried to sit up, moaned, and flopped back to the floor.

    “Easy, Norvan,” Montevic urged. “You need a doctor...speaking of. How do we get out?”

    Moria stood up and gave the chunk of rock blocking the exit an experimental shove. It didn’t budge. “Don’t ask me. I’m not the one who caused the collapse.”

    Montevic didn’t argue. “Watch Norvan. I’ll see if I can move it.”

    Moria nodded, and the two exchanged places.

    Norvan tried to focus his eyes on Moria. “Heyyy sooo. What happened? Things are...unclear.”

    Moria grimaced. “There was a collapse. You got hit by a rock. Hopefully your friend will be able to unblock the door, because if not, we’re stuck here.”

    “Ohboy.” Norvan closed his eyes. “Ow.”

    Montevic, meanwhile, was struggling with the large rock. It had gotten wedged in the doorway in such a way that it would have to be pulled out, but there wasn’t anywhere for a curio’s fingers to find adequate purchase. Montevic gave up after a few minutes, walked over to Norvan and Moria, and sat back down. “We have a problem.”

    “Couldn’t move it?” Moria guessed. Montevic nodded.

    “Maybe someone on the other side could push it inward, but I can’t. I’d need like some kind of crowbar or lever, something to give me leverage...I don’t know.”

    Moria picked up her cane. “Would this do?”

    Montevic shook their head. “There’s a few small cracks, but nothing something that thick would fit through.” They sighed. “Maybe I should see if I can rig the recording equipment into a radio to signal for help.”

    “Can you do that?” Moria asked.

    Montevic shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe. I’m not even sure I could get a signal out.”

    “Well, get on it. It’s the best option we’ve got.”

    “Hang on,” Norvan said, frowning faintly. “What about...your shadow?”

    “What?” Montevic looked confused.

    “Your shadow. The live one. It can move stuff, right?” Norvan struggled with the words. “And it’s...it changes shape. Can fit in the cracks?”

    Montevic sighed. “It doesn’t work like that. I don’t have much control over it - I can only get it to do what I want sometimes, and even then it isn’t very strong.”

    “Well? What else can we try?” Moria crossed her arms. “Maybe all it needs is a nudge in the right direction.”

    “I don’t know...” Montevic’s head turned away.

    “Why do you seem so goddamn reluctant? You’re stuck with the thing, aren’t you? Might as well make some use of it.”

    “I don’t - I don’t want -” Montevic’s tail twitched anxiously.

    “Marsa.” Norvan struggled into an upright seated position. “Right?”

    Montevic said nothing.

    “What?”

    “Marsa,” Norvan repeated. “The only other curio with their...uhhh...condition. Knowing Montevic, they’ve probably...got it into their thick skull that...that using the shadow will turn them evil or something. ‘Cause they’re...a dumbass, aren’t you, Monty?”

    “Hmmrrnh,” Montevic groaned. “Can you blame me? The last time I saw one of those things at full power, it was when you...”

    “I was being strangled, I know.” Norvan rubbed the side of his head. “Nice to know you care. But hey...guess what? Not doing so hot. Again. Get over it and...help. ow”

    “I - yeah okay. Fine.” Montevic let their shoulders fall. “Okay. I’ll try.” They turned and took a step closer to the doorway. Closed their eyes. Took a breath. And...nothing happened. “Can you two not stare at me while I do this?”

    “Ah!” Moria nodded. “I understand.” She turned around to face the other direction.

    Norvan followed suit. “Good luck!”

    “Thanks,” Montevic muttered.

    Moria turned her attention back to Norvan. “So. How are you feeling?” she murmured. “Anything we should be worried about?”

    Norvan opened his eyes. “Uh...my head hurts. And I’m still seeing the glowing spots. But you said...you see them too?”

    “Hmmm. Yes.” Moria reached out a hand to touch a crowd of the green glimmering shapes. They flowed and shifted around her fingertips. “Auric particles, I think they’re called. Harmless, as far as I know. But an auric doctor would 

know better than I would.”

    Norvan exhaled. “That’s good. I guess I can join Montevic in the Spontaneous Manifestation of Glowing Club.”

    A loud sigh came from behind. “Can you two keep it down? I’m trying to concentrate.”

    “Sorry!” Norvan yelped. “Will do.”

    The two fell silent. Nothing to do but wait.

    Montevic knelt down in front of the stone and closed their eyes, unsure of how to proceed. This is our only option, they reminded themself, ...except for the radio idea. But that would take a while, and I don’t know if we have that. So hurry up, idiot. Figure it out.

    Montevic reached their senses out into the dark mass of particles lying on the ground around them, trying to move them like a part of their body. They opened an eye to see if the shadow had moved. It had shifted, but only slightly. Saints, what was the matter with them? It seemed to become more difficult the harder they tried. Perhaps...they needed another approach.

    Montevic let out a deep breath and tried to relax. Open their mind or something, yeah? Saints, this wasn’t really something they were any good at. Still, at least they were trying. Montevic envisioned reaching deep down, to the core of the thing that had fused itself with them. It felt like a tightness in their chest, or some kind of wall keeping them out...or something in. Warily, Montevic eased it away, trying to relax.

    Something stirred.

    Montevic fought down the urge to squash it. Instead, they focused on the whatever-it-was, bringing it to the surface of their thoughts.

    and

    it

    spoke

    or something like that, almost words but not quite. A greeting? Confusion? A query -

    I need your help, Montevic told it. Please.

    It asked something along the lines of “why.”

    Because if we don’t move this rock, we’ll be trapped here. We’ll die.

    Death was not a concept the entity understood, but it was sharing Montevic’s mind, and that was enough to tell it that death was bad. And the entity understood bad.

    Montevic communicated what they wanted the entity to do.

    It agreed.

    Outside of Montevic’s mind, Norvan and Moria watched anxiously. Suddenly, Montevic’s crack-like markings glowed a sickly green. The shadow loomed up around them, then split, sinking tendrils into the cracks around the stone that barred the exit. Slowly, the stone began to move - and then all at once, it fell inward, smashing to the ground where Montevic had just leapt out of the way. “Holy shit!”

    Norvan and Moria jumped to their feet. The former instantly regretted it, swaying and leaning against Moria for support.

    “You did it!” Moria exclaimed, amazed. “I wasn’t sure if you could.”

    Montevic leaned against the wall, looking exhausted. “I...I think I may have made a mistake.”

    “What do you mean?” Norvan asked. “You saved us! We can get out of here!”

    Montevic shook their head. “No...it saved us.” They gestured at the shadow, which roiled and swirled around their feet. It looked more alive than it ever had. Montevic scratched at their forearm. “It’s - nevermind. I don’t know how to explain. Let’s get out of here.”

    Moria nodded. “Right. Norvan, can you walk?”

    Norvan took a cautious step. “I think so.”

    “Good. Take this. I can do without it for now.” Moria passed Norvan her cane. “And you?” She looked up and Montevic. “You look...worse.”

    Montevic coughed. “Thanks. I just...need a nap. I’ll manage.”

    “Then let’s go.” Moria picked up the radio equipment and headed through the newly unblocked passage. 

    To freedom.