Annabelle’s Bastion

As Aria expected, it took a while for everyone to calm down after seeing the state of their camp. Something she was happy to have stayed back to wait on. They likely hadn’t seen blood outside the confines of controlled matches, with a few even puking at the sight.

Not only that, but the realization quickly dawned on most; they were trapped.

But Aria wouldn’t keep them forever. Keeping the return spell in her pocket was only to ensure they remained until the expedition’s maximum allotted time. After the 5th day, she’d stay behind and let them leave. She just didn’t trust them to care to wait for Annabelle.

When the others returned to Bastion, Alisha would save them with all the resources she could muster. If not for Aria, then for Annabelle.

Aria watched from the treeline, waiting for them to gather.

Cole took the reigns of the group during their confusion, his aid proving valuable. He gave them order, and nobody questioned it.

He had them cleaning up the camp and moving it further away from the destruction.

There wasn’t much to move back, given the destruction of most of the camp items, so it would be completed quickly.

While they did that, she looked around for a tree with a sizeable enough room for her to sleep in and absorb the Apex Sigil.

From the story Cole told, its ability seemed like it could manifest mana into weapons. That was perfect for her… it was, and yet she felt vile about absorbing it. She was eating the fruit of someone else’s grueling labor. She hated it. She had never before felt so disgusted with herself.

But she needed the power if she was to even have a hope of being able to do anything to help Annabelle. Furthermore, the power could give her control over the group if the need arose.

Annabelle was her partner—they could get things for each other. If asked, Aria would get her an Apex Sigil, too.

Yet even saying that to herself didn’t do much to ease her mind. She felt like a freeloader. All that talk about how she’d overcome the corruption, just to fall victim to it at the worst possible time. Then, to stay fallen throughout was nothing less of disgraceful.

She sighed as she softly landed, having found the home she would use for the absorption. It was close to the edge but inconspicuous enough to work. The entrance and only visible part was on the back, a place nobody would be looking.

Once they began gathering for discussions, Aria emerged from the forest to the sounds of arguing. They were clearly angry at Cole, who was at the head of the group.

“What are you saying, Cole?”

“Yeah, this is fucking stupid!”

“You ain’t helpin’ shit by making us do that.”

The man in question had a wry grin, but he seemed annoyed.

“Aria, you’re here,” Cole said in relief as she approached. “Thank god. Did you find anything?”

Simultaneously, all the eyes landed on her.

She got the hint.

“I was looking for Annabelle,” she answered and moved to stand behind him.

“And?”

“Nothing. And no signs of Jaxon or the battle he fought.”

Technically true, as she was careful to watch for any obvious signs of battle.

“In other words,” he said and raised his voice, “we can safely assume they aren’t in close enough proximity to find easily.”

“And, what?” A man scoffed as he gestured toward the previous site. “Look at those fucking craters! Craters! And you want us to search the fucking forest? What the fuck are we gonna do if we run into whatever can hurt fucking Jaxon?! You’re asking us to die for him.”

“Agreed,” a woman shouted. “We should stick together at camp.”

“Either Jaxon won and returns, or we’re dead anyway,” another man said depressingly.

That received many agreements, sharing similar sentiments to those who objected.

Interestingly, Ashton was off to the side, fidgeting with something in his pockets. She had observed him doing that before. Aria watched him earlier, and he was more surprised at the camp’s destruction than fearful of its meaning.

“Are you fine being useless pieces of shit?” Cole spat, his fists clenched at his sides. “Sitting here like fucking children. Us. The top-performing students in the academy. Sitting here and waiting for Daddy to return? Did your time in the academy mean nothing? Are you that much of a fucking coward?”

“Uh... I wasn’t a top performer...” a shyer-sounding girl said. “I… I lost every fight… I don’t even know why I’m here.”

What?

“What?” Cole exclaimed, staring at the shorter, brown-haired woman who said that. “Is that true?”

“Y-yeah,” she said, nodding.

Aria was just as shocked; the announcement clearly said the participants had to be among the best performers. Admittedly, most of the expedition didn’t look the part. But visual discrepancies weren’t something she cared to focus on.

“M… me, too!” another added.

“Same!”

Quite a few others shared their agreement.

“This...” Cole paused, lost for words. He looked over the group, specifically those who had said they weren’t strong. Finally, he resolutely shook his head. “That doesn’t matter. Whether you performed well or poorly—you’re Bastion students! Think about what’s expected of us once we graduate; situations like these will be common! Worse than this, even!”

“And we’d have a way to evacuate if that was the case!”

Aria resisted the urge to fiddle with the device in her pocket.

“They can’t expect us to know what to do in a situation like this.”

“The best thing to do is stay here,” said a tall man with messy brow hair and blue eyes. He seemed unfocused, with droopy eyes. He continued, “She was nice, but I’m not about to risk running into whatever did… that.” He pointed toward the old campsite.

“Exactly!”

This is why Aria needed the Apex Sigil—they needed an absolute authority.

“You… insufferable cowards,” Cole spat. “Once we make it out of this place, I intend to report every fucking one of you. We’ll see how they feel about cowards joining their ranks.”

Of course, that got an eruption of arguments and insults.

He didn’t wait, stepping off the stone and gesturing for Aria to follow.

“Stay out, too, fucker!” Someone shouted after.

Cole paused for a moment, but his better judgment prevailed.

He punched the tree. “What the fuck is wrong with them?”

“A few will join us in searching and the others in time,” Aria assured. Guilt was a powerful motivator, as was feeling useless.

“Maybe…” he sighed, then shook his head. “But the longer wait, the higher the chances...” He left the last bit unsaid.

“Jaxon, perhaps. But Annabelle wasn’t killed.”

If she was, then having the Apex Sigil placed in her pocket made little sense.

Which gave Aria an epiphany.

There were two possibilities.

Jaxon won his battle, destroyed the core, and gave Aria the Sigil before disappearing with Annabelle. The interloper could have led to him making that decision. Or, he made it hastily because he didn’t win. He may have realized Annabelle was the target, so he fled with her, still being chased by their attacker. But, then, why would he leave the teleporter behind? Unless he had another, specifically given to him by Alisha because of Annabelle’s importance. It was possible, and Alisha would do that.

The second possibility was far worse; Annabelle had no choice but to go with the interloper.

Regardless of which possibility was true, Annabelle shouldn’t have been able to destroy the core. Whatever attacked was clearly heading toward them and likely made it. Annabelle may have gone willingly under the condition that whoever it was destroyed the core for her.

That would explain the Sigil in her pocket and Annabelle’s absence. But, there was not enough blood to indicate Jaxon’s death, nor was his body nearby. Then again, the trees were so tall and wide that his remains could be shoved into any of the holes.

But… why Annabelle?

“What’s up?” Cole asked.

Aria explained both possibilities to Cole.

“Both make sense,” Cole said, nodding. “Whatever attacked was stronger than Jaxon, given how close it managed to get to us. And Jaxon wouldn’t lead the fight toward us. But that could mean...” He left it unsaid, but Aria knew.

“Why Annabelle?” She asked, more to herself again.

“Remember what Jaxon said?” Cole leaned against a tree with his head down in thought. “If all of us were in danger, he’d save Frost first. Her value might be astronomical. It could be possible he fled immediately with her and left us, knowing we weren’t targets. Even if we did die, so what? We aren’t as valuable—such a decision is one those in his position can be expected to make.”

A decision Jaxon wouldn’t make lightly, despite his words. But since they were all under an illusion, he would have had little choice.

“They may still be on the planet.”

“You have the teleporter on you,” Cole said, no change in his tone. Aria squinted at him, but he just shrugged. “Saw it. Worst case, we send the rest back and continue searching ourselves until a rescue party arrives.”

“You don’t disagree with my actions?”

“If they knew about the device, they’d push to return immediately. Bunch of cowards. I will not leave anybody behind unless I have no choice.”

Aria lightly nodded. “I will allow them to return once the expedition has reached its allotted time.”

“Then we’re in agreement.”

She shook her head. “You will return as well—I don’t trust them.”

He raised a brow. “But you trust me?”

“Annabelle did, so I will.”

He chuckled wryly. “Well, alright. I’m fine with that. I wasn’t joking; I will make sure the professors know of their cowardly actions.”

“Their records are important,” Aria said. She didn’t think anything would come of it, but even a remark on their profiles would be disadvantageous for them in the future.

He sighed and pushed off the tree. “Admittedly, I was too hotheaded. The same thing I used to threaten could be used to persuade.”

“Do you desire a commanding role?”

“Yes,” he immediately replied.

“Then go lead them.”

They couldn’t see the camp from where they were, but each student was likely just basking in their collective uselessness.

“And you?”

“I will absorb the Sigil. I should be finished by tonight.”

Without waiting for his response, Aria made her way deeper into the forest.

“Good luck!” Cole shouted after.

She had the tree marked by a stick dug into the ground, so it was easy to find. Once there, she activated her enhancements and launched upward.

The room within the tree she had chosen was larger than the others, with more than enough room for her to lie down and even stand. Laying by the wall was the Sigil.

It emitted an almost unnoticeable hum.

Unlike ordinary Sigils, which appeared like a chaotic mess of intangible runes bouncing around, the Apex Sigil had order. In the center of the odd, 12-faced shape was a large symbol with innumerable smaller symbols orbiting around it in a ring. It resembled a planet, though warped.

She momentarily paused before touching it, reconsidering her choices.

Absorbing the Sigil had to be the correct decision.

If her first theory was correct, then she could help.

Alisha had said it before—without the barrier, even a new mage with a good Sigil could kill the untrained.

So, she touched it with her ring out, starting the absorption process.

Only to feel like a knife went up her arm.

The pain was unlike anything she had ever experienced.

It started as a burning sensation atop her palm, only for the burn to spread to her arm, then her chest, then to the rest of her body.

A sharp pain assaulted her head, bringing her to her knees with a barely contained grunt.

Even she couldn’t hold back her groans, trying desperately to prevent herself from screaming.

The burning sensation spread through her body like wildfire, and the sharp, twisting pain in her head felt like a knife being driven through her skull.

Her groans threatened to turn into cries of anguish.

She shoved herself against the wall and bit into a large branch, doing her best to hold in any noise.

Her vision blurred as tears filled her eyes, and her body trembled. The burning and stabbing sensations felt endless, but she held on, focusing on the texture of the branch and the taste of the wood. Her breaths came in ragged gasps through her nose as she endured the torment.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the pain began to subside.

The burning sensation ebbed, and the knife-like pain in her head dulled to a throbbing ache. Slowly, she released the branch from her teeth, panting heavily as she tried to regain her composure.

Right when she thought it was over and tried to stand, her vision darkened.

“D-Damn...”

She collapsed against the wall.

---

“Are you sure about this, Ashton?”

“What do you mean? This is what we have to do!”

“Absolutely,” Ashton said as he flipped the device around in his palm. “Jaxon left this behind for us in case something went wrong—such is standard practice in expeditions.”

“Jaxon himself didn’t want us to get stranded. We’re fuckin’ students, dude.”

“But what about Annabelle, Cole, and Aria?” Rose interrupted, interjecting into Ashton’s conversation.

“As I’ve said, Rose. Annabelle has one as well—she is a supporter—and those two won’t leave without her anyway. Worst case scenario, we leave this to the professors.” He held out the device so everyone could see it. He shook his head. “Regardless, we are not qualified. Look at that destruction. What can we possibly do? Cole’s resolution is admirable, but what happened here goes beyond what is expected of us. I can’t knowingly agree to our deaths.”

“Still...” Rose muttered.

“Way I see it,” Fredrick, Ashton’s newest subordinate, added, “the sooner we get back, the sooner qualified help saves them.” He had an annoyingly nasal voice, but he was easy to convince to work for him.

“Ask yourself this; can you really do anything here?” Ashton shook his head and sighed sadly. “The answer is no. I want to get Bastion back here as soon as possible, not play hero. I will not be responsible for their deaths because I chose to delay calling in aid. Will you?”

“He’s right!”

“Yeah, let them stay behind while we get real help!”

“Don’t forget! Aria got here on her own—she can get back!”

Perfect.

Everyone was too easy to convince. Understandably, of course. They didn’t sign up to be a search party for an overzealous professor and a few arrogant students. Even if the remaining few’s morals told them to stay, they wouldn’t risk being trapped forever if he had the only teleporter. Which he did. Shadow gave it to him in secret before the expedition started.

Eclipse changed the plans laid by Shadow—likely without the latter’s knowledge—but he was certain he had the only one.

He was still shocked about what happened, but he needed to use this obvious chance. He didn’t care if Eclipse got Annabelle before Shadow; their interpersonal drama meant little to him.

With Aria keen on staying behind, his mission would be successful.

And unless Eclipse was a moron, he destroyed Jaxon’s teleporter. In other words, despite the changes to it, his mission was completed.

Finally.

He would return and get a few Sigils, instantly jumping to the peak of the academy and gaining every top spot. That record would then translate into the real organization. He would participate in the next excursion as a front to explain his new powers. As for the teleporter? He found it. A weak excuse, but Earthling humans weren’t to be prosecuted so easily. If they get a little too close, he’d use the escape teleporter given to him.

His future was looking brighter than it had ever been, and he didn’t even do much.

He just needed to serve as a catalyst to set things in motion. Motions that he didn’t know, other than them involving Annabelle. Originally, she was to get sent to Shadow, but Eclipse seemed to have other ideas. Aria was just a well-timed bonus for his own mission.

“We can’t waste time—we need to report this and get help,” another man said. A man whose name Ashton didn’t know.

Plus, the two would get back soon.

Too bad about Cole; he was a strong man. Ashton created a silly story to gauge how he’d react to a bit more underhanded tactics and knew immediately the man wouldn’t work for him.

Ashton had no doubts Cole, Aria, Annabelle, and Jaxon would either be killed by Eclipse and his men or just be stranded in whatever the madman needed them for. Even if Jaxon and Cole survived, they couldn’t do anything to him.

Furthermore, Eclipse assured him building a gate back would take a long while. It could take over a year even. That was without his people actively halting the process as much as possible. He had no worry about them finding their way back anytime soon.

On the off chance they did somehow return before graduation, he’d just flee—he had another teleporter to leave the island. As a cautious man, he ensured his safety as part of their agreements!

And Bastion wasn’t the only organization he could work with.

His future was bright, no matter where it went.

“I’m activating the gate—you can stay behind if you want.”

Another lie. The gate was like an area of effect spell that would take them all, whether they wanted it or not.

“I’m gonna stay, just in case,” Rose said, backing up.

Ashton silently scoffed as he sent some mana to the device.

Time to finally teach Bastion the power of the Wells family and to rob the Frosts of their prize jewel. A long road he was finally stepping on, thanks to the lunacy of his benefactors. And just like his parents and the damned Frosts, they’d learn he wasn’t a mere toad.

“Let’s go.”