The Rifts of Psyche by Kyle West (i love reading .txt) 📕

keep it down, man?” Fergus asked. “You would make us food for the wyverns.”

“They aren’t awake, anyway. But as you will.”

“They will be awake if you keep it up.”

“It’s hard to imagine anything surviving up here,” Lucian said. With luck, they would be distracted from arguing with each other.

“Nothing but wyverns,” Fergus said. “They shelter here in the Upper Reaches. We will need to be especially wary when the land rises again. There’s still a few thousand meters before there are any peaks.”

“You’ll suffocate, first,” Cleon said. “They can’t be far ahead, and not much higher.”

“So, there’s nothing up here,” Lucian said. “Just a cold, barren wasteland.”

“That about sums it up,” Cleon said. “Shall we?”

They continued. The land began to slope even higher, until they were climbing at an almost forty-five-degree angle. How long they climbed, Lucian couldn’t say. They paused for breath numerous times, until the sun had lowered dangerously. He didn’t want to ask what the plan was for nightfall. Any cave up here could be the lair of a wyvern. The sooner darkness fell, the sooner they would come out.

They climbed yet another ledge, this one leading into a cave. Lucian almost called for a stop to shelter for the night, until Cleon wandered along the precipice, seemingly finding something.

“Wait!” Fergus said. “What are you doing?”

Cleon held up a hand. He seemed to be on the scent like a bloodhound. He kept walking, faster and faster around the mountainside, until he came to a sudden stop at a cliff.

Once Lucian had caught up, he looked over the edge only to see a layer of thick gray clouds.

“The trail ends here,” Cleon said.

Fergus looked around in disbelief. “That can’t be, unless you’re saying they jumped off here.”

“No,” Cleon said, his eyes cunning. “I think they may have been picked up. It’s a bit high for the Zephyr, but it’s the only real possibility.”

“You mean, they were airlifted out of here?”

“Yes,” Cleon said. “And likely, our friend was with them. Unless her trail branches off somewhere in the last few kilometers, without me picking up on it.”

“Wait,” Lucian said. He pointed downward. “She went over.” He broke into a smile. “She led them here, to a dead end.”

“I don’t understand,” Fergus said.

“She’s a Gravitist. She bragged to me how she was so good she might as well fly. Well, what if she did fly, right over the edge?”

“Clever, if true,” Cleon said. “Though no Gravitist is good enough to fly. The sheer amount of ether to pull off a stunt like that is too much. But perhaps she’s good enough to break her fall, even from such a height. If so, that leaves one question. How do we pick up a trail where there is none?”

“You don’t,” came a female voice from behind them.

At once, all three men turned to the sight of Serah, one eyebrow arched quizzically and shockspear in hand. Unlike before, she had boots on now, though her leather clothing seemed far too light for the cold weather. And yet, she showed no sign of being cold. Her blonde hair blew in the wind while a slight smile tugged at her lips.

“Serah,” Fergus said. “We’ve been looking for you. We have things to discuss.”

She looked around, taking in the cold, howling wind. “Must we?”

“Circumstances have changed,” Fergus said. “Do you have a place you’re staying around here?”

“If I did, why would I invite you?” Her eyes went to Cleon. “Who is this?”

“Cleon Coley, at your service.”

She rolled her eyes. “I very much doubt that.” Last of all, she noted Lucian. “And how did you get mixed up in this? Don’t tell me Kiro wanted to hunt me down after my act of charity.”

“This isn’t a hunt,” Lucian said. Serah’s blue eyes went to him, and were mistrustful. “Fergus is right. We do need to talk. It’s important.”

She watched him for a moment and gave a small laugh. “Well, normally I’d say no, but I can’t leave you three out for the wyverns.” She looked up. “I’m staying up there, and we’d better get moving before the Zephyr comes trawling back. I can give you a boost.” As she approached, she gave Lucian a sly wink. “Couldn’t stay away from me, could you?”

“Something like that.”

“All right, enough yapping,” Cleon said. “Where are you boosting us to?”

“That ledge over there,” she said, pointing about ten meters above them. “Wind’s down a bit, so should be safe. Who’s going first? Lucian? Fergie?”

“Don’t call me that,” Fergus said, expression darkening. “You can send me first.”

“Ah, you’re the brave, esteemed leader, no doubt. Well, it makes sense to do the heaviest first. It’ll take more ether.”

Before anyone could say anything, Fergus suddenly glowed with silvery light.

“Aim for that ledge up there,” she said. “There’s a cave entrance you can’t really see from here. And try not to get off course. I really don’t want to waste my ether pulling you over there.”

“What do you take me for?”

“Never change, Fergie.”

With a growl, Fergus knelt and gave a mighty leap. Lucian’s eyes widened as he sailed upward, far above the cliff they were standing on, and onto the ledge above.

“I can tether everyone else up,” Lucian said.

“That’s sweet,” Serah said. “I’ve got this, though.”

“I guess I’m next,” Cleon said.

She streamed, wrapping him in an aura of silvery light. Cleon leaped, slightly overshooting the ledge. Lucian almost had to tether him to keep him from falling, but Serah did something to adjust the gravity pulling him, making him fall more quickly once he was over the edge.

“A little too eager, that one,” Serah said. She turned to Lucian and smiled. “Alone at last. Miss me?”

Lucian blinked. “Maybe now’s not the time.”

She sighed. “I should’ve expected that. Well, you ready for the leap of faith?”

“Is there any trick to it?”

“Yeah,” she said. “Just keep your eye on the goal.”

“Sounds simple enough.”

Instead of standing at a distance to stream, she touched his arm. He was surprised at how warm her hand was. It was well below