Rising Shards

“I apologize for adding more work to your plate,” Caya said.

After a report from some students, Caya had to investigate a mysterious section of the caves on the campus beach for herself. With her was Tik Moonheart, with her companions Kara and Mars Valor. The group had just reached the mouth of the cave. Tik leaned against a wall as Mars helped her swap out the ends of her cane from a beach ready one to one fit for a rocky terrain. Mars had his typical attire of an eccentric coat on, today’s being one drawn like a road map with toy cars attached to magnetized tracks on it.

“It’s not a problem, we haven’t been too busy lately,” Mars said. “I mean, teaching art is fun. But not really busy. And we haven’t had a lead on this Kathron thing in a while.”

“Dude,” Kara said.

“What?” Mars said.

Kara gestured to Tik. This was a personal case for her. Caya couldn’t imagine how tough it would be to hit a wall in something so close.

“He’s not technically wrong,” Tik sighed.

“I’m sorry it hasn’t been more fruitful,” Caya said. “This may offer some clues, if it’s true that a student was speaking to Octa.”

From the report her students had given her, Caeda Firae met with a woman that called herself ‘Anastasia’ that matched Octa’s description. The two had gone into a cave that the students explored later. She had been trying to get Caeda alone for a meeting, but she was proving elusive, which was troubling.

“For reference, what did the kids say they saw in here?” Tik asked.

”A boulder that couldn’t be moved,” Caya said. “One with teleporting powers went past the barricade. They described hearing voices and seeing eyes in a pit of darkness.”

“Hm,” Mars said. “Sounds like something the Kathrons would be involved in.”

Tik didn’t answer.

Caya used her bloodsaber to light the way. The lights strung up provided some illumination, but Caya wanted to make sure she didn’t miss anything. When they reached the boulder, Caya and Tik looked around the room for any clues for the mechanism. The boulder could apparently move out of the way, and there was a mechanism on the other side that could potentially open it. Aira had gotten too spooked by something inside to figure that out, but Caya didn’t blame her. After how badly Caya’s attempt to get intel on Wildfire Hearts’ current machinations went by using students, she knew she shouldn’t put so much pressure on them.

She put a boot on the boulder and tried to move it, but it didn’t budge.

“I’ve lifted plenty of boulders bigger than this,” Kara said, cracking her knuckles. “Allow me. Er, and stand back.”

The wolf Kanibari took her coat off, stretching a bit before tackling the rock from the side. At first, she looked like she was having as much luck as Caya had in moving it. Then Kara started grunting, gradually building up to a shout as she strained. A metal rending sound cried out beneath their feet, and Kara pushed the boulder forward, bringing metal beams under it with it.

She dusted herself off as Mars peered over at the mangled metal.

“I don’t think we’ll have to figure out the mechanics of this now,” Mars said. “Good job.”

“Don’t be an ass, I got it open, didn’t I?”

“I was being completely genuine,” Mars said. “Impressed as always by your strength.”

“And we won’t have to worry about it closing behind us,” Tik said. “Caya, I’m sure I know the answer already, but to verify; this isn’t anything that Rising Shards staff knew about?”

“It isn’t,” Caya said. She liked to think she understood her school, so something strange like this on the campus grounds filled her with a strange kind of dread. She swallowed the fear and continued in.

By Aira’s description, it sounded like there was some kind of Elka pit in this secret chamber. But when they entered, they found…nothing.

”It’s empty,” Kara said.

It looked like any other part of the cave. Just with a keypad on the wall that presumably controlled the hidden door.

“Is it possible this girl made it up?” Mars asked.

“No, she isn’t the type,” Caya said.

There was a pit in the center as Aira had described. But it wasn’t filled with any dark substances. And was only about a foot deep. Mars took a step into it.

“Was kinda expecting to get portal-ed somewhere,” he shrugged and stepped back out.

“It’s possible Octa became aware that others were snooping around,” Tik said. “And drained whatever was in this chamber.” She frowned.

“What’s wrong?” Caya asked.

“Everything Octa’s doing…it doesn’t add up,” Tik said. “If we could corner her, we could solve a major hold up in understanding the Kathrons and their scheming.”

“I have let security know her appearance,” Caya said. “If she tries to approach campus again, we’ll find her this time.”

Tik nodded.

Cay hated coming to another dead end. Surely there was something they could find now.

”Could you use your power here?” Caya asked.

Tik’s Cani power allowed her to generate a vision of the past.

“Without Octa or anyone with her here, I can’t guarantee we’ll find anything of note,” Tik said. “But I will gladly try.”