Azure Dune, Chapter 7 - ORANGE

The mountain loomed before us, daring us to come closer.

“So how are we doing this? Same as last time?” Ellen asked, sneaking a peak at Xeron.

“I would like to speak to her first,” Xeron said with a frown. “I am sure she is just like I used to be. Lashing out in confusion and misplaced anger.”

Trevor and Devon didn’t seem to like the idea by the way they grimaced.

“How would we even do that though? Do we need to get to the core?”

Xeron nodded. “That would be ideal, yes.”

“There’s no way we can do that,” Devon declared with a shake of his head. “Getting that close is way too dangerous. It’s much safer to attack from afar.”

“I have developed a long-ranged spell exactly for this occasion,” Trevor added. “I just need line of sight and we can wipe it out from a safe distance.”

Xeron glared at the two men.

“Hold up, here!” Ellen raised her palm drawing everyone’s attention. “I get you two are all about destroying the danger, but I’m with Ms. Apocalypse. We should try diplomacy if possible.”

“Diplomacy?” Devon scowled. “Ellen, this is much more serious than last time. The only reason why we were able to seal Xeron back then was because she hadn’t spread far enough yet.”

“I agree. It’s too much of a risk to take.” Trevor argued as he eyed Xeron. “Not to mention, this could all be Xeron’s trap. Bring us all closer to feed us to her spawn.”

Xeron’s glare intensified. “It’s not a trap. I merely wish to dissuade my daughter from making the same mistake that I did in the past.”

“I don’t believe you. You’ve been awfully helpful and forthcoming, all this time. Completely the opposite of what you used to be. It’s suspicious,” Trevor said, venom lacing his words.

I flinched at the unexpected emotion and looked between my companions with wide eyes. I wasn’t sure what to say in this situation.

“Okay, hold up!” Ellen stopped between the two, raising her hands. “How about we save our breath for dealing with that, instead?” She pointed at the mountain.

“Ellen, you really believe that Xeron had a change of heart?” Devon asked, staring at her hard.

Ellen met his gaze with her own. “I think there’s more to it than that, but… Yes, I believe her.”

The two continued to stare at each other for a moment, while Xeron and Trevor traded hateful glares.

Then, Devon sighed. “I see. Then it’s two votes for diplomacy and two votes for an all-out assault.” Then he turned to me. “Then Azure will be the tiebreaker. What is your opinion on all this? You spent the most time with Xeron. Is she really trustworthy? Do you think we should try diplomacy too?”

I was going to say yes right away, but instead, I stopped, and seriously thought about it. I wasn’t exactly an impulsive teenager anymore and even if my gut was telling me Xeron was trustworthy, I still at least wanted to go over the facts.

“When Xeron first spoke to me after all this time, I was suspicious,” I admitted. “The more we talked, the more placid she seemed. A complete opposite of what I was used to.”

I lidded my eyes.

“Not too long after that, though, she told me that she suspected her daughter was corrupting the connection between our worlds. Looking back, it’s something she must have known even before she first spoke to me. For all I know, this could all have been an elaborate ruse.”

I saw Xeron twitch from the corner of my eye. She was hurt by my words.

Not annoyed or angry because I figured out her scheme. Hurt because I suggested she was scheming something in the first place.

And that, more than anything, confirmed my gut feeling.

“But I don’t believe it is,” I finally concluded, feeling a bit guilty for putting Xeron on the spot. “I have worked with many people over the years and I think I have a good eye for people. Xeron, right now, doesn’t strike me as a malicious schemer. She’s genuine.”

Both Devon and Ellen looked contemplative. However…

“I still don’t believe it. What if you’re wrong? What if she’s just faking it all?” Trevor grumbled.

“Look at it like this.” I nodded at Xeron. “Xeron learned how to be human from me and the decades she had been with me. Before then? She was barely sapient when we sealed her. In other words, you could almost say that I raised her.” I gave a little wry smile at Xeron’s embarrassed pout. “So now the question is… do you trust me? And if you do, you should trust her as well.”

There was a moment of silence as my companions took that in. Then, Ellen burst into a laugh.

“Ahh, and there it is! Azure, the wise, makes their return! Man, this takes me back…”

Devon sighed once again, but I spied a small smile on his lips.

“Well, the great summoned hero has spoken.” He looked me in the eye. “I do trust you, Azure. I’m still uneasy about this, but I relent. Let’s try diplomacy first then.”

“I don’t like this…” Trevor murmured whilst shaking his head. When everyone turned their attention to him, he continued. “Fine, I’m on board. But if we all die, I’m blaming you, Azure.”

I chuckled.

“Of course.”

“Alright then! Let’s get this party started, shall we?” Ellen yelled out while holding up her greatsword.

“The path of light shall guide us!” she chanted and our surroundings lit up in bright golden light, enveloping us all.

Devon held his shield in front of him and similarly used his red Aether to envelop us, combining with Ellen’s and coating us in fiery orange protective cloaks.

Lastly, I gathered as much snow as I could from the surroundings and made it swirl around us protectively.

With our old defensive formation in place, we marched into the territory of the mountain.