Sulphur & Lightning Chapter 30: 029 - Fear the Yellow

Read chapter 30 of Sulphur & Lightning by anaugustauthor on NovelPedia.

“Oh.” He said simply, looking downward. It was gruesome – it looked like he had swallowed a miniature explosive, and the result was splayed guts and a deep red mess. Despite the graveness of the wound, he didn’t seem alarmed. No, his eyes were still distant, looking for something else. Is that possible? A cloud of volcanic ash dissolved, and the Lycan stepped out tiredly. It had taken some time, but tapping into his abilities allowed him to recover from the damage with scarcely any evidence of its occurrence. That mysterious metal was acting up in his system again. It was getting increasingly violent but, conversely, more manageable. Despite its brutality, he felt something. It was difficult to describe but akin to the feeling of ice melting. Like the metal was dissolving in his anatomy, as all metal did. He sighed and reclined on the bed, although it was already morning. After he had had some time, he recalled some details of his dream. Thinking about it made him run cold, but he still wanted to know what it was he had encountered there. Endure the black, for it is the beginning Embrace the white, for it is good Fear the yellow, for it is stagnation Follow the red, for it is perfection He had recalled those words only after he had woken up and reflected on the dream during his healing process. “You’re rather calm about having your innards on the outside.” Chaina didn’t seem as unbothered about the whole affair as he did, unsurprisingly. “Sorry to make you worry,” he said with effusion but still a bit of hollowness and distance. What could it all mean? “What happened?” He shook his head. “You’re not going to tell me?” “I wouldn’t know where to start.” “… at the beginning?” “Not a bad place to start, eh?” He said this and didn’t say anything but instead reached for a glass she had placed on the nightstand, emptying it gratefully but in the languorous motions he was wont to adopt at certain times. “Thank you.” “It’s nothing,” she said, not pressing him but not hiding her displeasure either. “I don’t want to drag you into this.” “You know I like to get my way.” “I know it very well, you tyrant,” he returned, matching the smile on her face. “So, are you going to tell me, or are we going to keep circling around it?” “Hmm, I don’t know what I’m even allowed to tell you, but I promise to… eventually.” “Eventually.” He closed his eyes with his scarred hand, prepared to get some more sleep. “The young mistress is very indulgent.” “Julnan.” The words snapped the young squad leader out of his mired thoughts as he turned to his familiar teammate. She wore the regular Jan Zaki uniform, but a certain accessory irresistibly caught his eye. It was a singular pendant with an image carved into soft, shiny metal. The image of a mountain. He tried to jog his memory to see if he could place it but found that he couldn’t. “Good morning, Yachit.” “Likewise.” He just noticed now that he hadn’t seen her much in the last couple of days. Usually, he would find her orbiting the sick bay where one of their teammates was still confined. That was actually his destination now. “You’ve been busy?” “Hmm?” “I haven’t seen you here in a while,” he said, keeping pace with her as they walked to check in on the recovering Elves. “Yes, I’ve been occupied with some private affairs.” “Is anything the matter?” “…Nothing. It’s just…” She didn’t finish her statement as they had arrived at their destination. She held the door open for him in an uncharacteristic display of respect, and he walked through, though his cocked brow showed he noticed her behaviour. The room was lit with a sharp fluorescence; the strong Red Engine Crystal lanterns determined to banish all shadows from this room of healing. That wasn’t the only interesting thing they were doing, though, as one in the centre of the room supported the weight of a familiar person. “You’re supposed to be resting, Iya.” Indeed, their Elf comrade hung from the roof of the room by his signature strings. “I’m just testing