Taboo Online

Luke drove the spear into the opening left by the last knot. The larger weakness lay directly beyond it, but he had no time to gather another full skill.

He forced an ordinary Arcane Thrust through the hole his spear had already opened. The attack left his remaining mana dangerously low.

The hidden knot shattered, but the support root dropped with it.

Lauren cried out as green light burst from beneath her palm. Living roots rose from the floor, caught the falling weight, and bent beneath it.

Luke grabbed her around the waist. "Move!"

They ran through the opening as the corrupted wall collapsed behind them. Dead roots struck the ground where they had been standing, while soil poured through the ceiling and filled the passage with dust. The remaining corruption writhed inside the wreckage.

A black strand shot through the falling earth and wrapped around Lauren’s ankle.

She stumbled, but Luke caught her arm and drove his spear through the strand. Dark liquid splashed across his boots as he pulled her free.

The living roots behind them gave way, and the tunnel collapsed.

Luke threw himself forward with Lauren against his chest. The ground shook beneath them, and a wave of dust followed them into the next section of the passage.

For several seconds, neither of them moved. Luke lay partly on top of her with one arm beneath her shoulders and the other braced against the floor.

Lauren drew a slow breath. "Are you hurt?"

"I was about to ask you that."

"You landed on me."

"You fell."

"A root grabbed me."

"I noticed."

She shifted beneath him, and Luke suddenly became aware of how close they were. Her body felt warm against his, while a faint chill still clung to the leather around her ankle. One of her legs rested between his, and her hands had tightened around the front of his clothes during the fall.

The faint green light beneath her skin had returned.

Luke carefully lifted some of his weight from her, but Lauren did not release his shirt.

"You may stop staring."

"I’m checking whether the corruption reached you."

"That excuse is becoming less convincing."

Luke looked toward her ankle. Black residue streaked the leather around it, and a thin line of corruption had seeped through a tear in the material. Faint green light moved beneath her skin, slowing the darkness before it could spread farther.

Lauren followed his attention and finally released him. "Help me sit."

He moved beside her and supported her back while she raised her leg. Luke carefully pulled the torn leather aside. The darkness beneath her skin had already faded to a thin gray trace, though the flesh around it remained cold and tender.

"That bloodline works fast," Luke said.

"It is minor resistance, not immunity."

"I know."

"You sound disappointed."

"I’m relieved."

Lauren touched his face with the backs of her fingers. "You did well."

"We almost got buried."

"We did not."

"Because you held the tunnel together."

"And because you followed my warning."

Luke looked back at the collapsed passage. Rapid Magic Flurry had continued through the original sequence even after the final knot moved. Without Lauren’s warning and his adjustment, the spear would have struck the support root.

"The skill doesn’t correct itself," he said. "Once it starts, I have to finish the pattern."

"Yes."

"That’s dangerous."

"It is." Lauren’s fingers remained against his cheek. "You can still use it."

Luke looked at her. "You mean that?"

"I do. We know more about it now, and we will learn more the next time you use it."

"That sounds almost reckless."

"Be careful, young man."

"I’m injured."

"That will not protect you."

"It should."

"It does not."

Some of the tension left his chest.

Luke helped Lauren to her feet and kept an arm around her until her balance returned.

"Can you walk?"

"Yes."

"Can you walk without pretending you’re not exhausted?"

Lauren considered the question. "Probably not."

"Good. At least you’re honest."

She leaned some of her weight against him. "Do not make me regret it."

They turned toward the passage ahead.

The roots here were alive again, and their pale veins brightened one after another, carrying light into the distance. The path sloped steeply downward before dividing around a massive trunk buried beneath the earth.

Lauren moved toward it immediately and placed her palm against the bark. Her expression changed the moment green light gathered around her fingers.

"What is it?" Luke asked.

"The village."

"You can feel it?"

"Not clearly."

Green veins spread through the trunk. Most pulsed weakly, but one golden current moved among them with the steady rhythm of a heartbeat.

Lauren’s breath caught.

"The Queen is connected to the Heartroot."

"Is she alive?"

"Yes."

Another pulse traveled through the trunk and shook the ground beneath Luke’s boots. Lauren flinched at the anger and pain carried within it. Far ahead, roots cracked under a sudden surge of power.

Lauren pressed both hands against the bark.

Luke was not touching her, so the images did not reach him. He still saw their effect on her face as her jaw tightened and the green light around her fingers trembled.

"What did you see?" he asked.

"Fire. Broken roots. Elves fighting near a silver tree." She pulled away from the trunk. "They are still alive, but the corruption has already reached the inner village."

Luke offered her his hand, and Lauren took it without hesitation.

Behind them, the corruption continued scratching through the collapsed tunnel as it searched for another path. Ahead, the golden pulse came again, weaker than before.

Lauren started down the passage, but Luke held her back for half a second.

She turned toward him.

"We’re getting there," he said.

"You cannot promise that."

"No, but I can promise I won’t stop."

Lauren studied him before tightening her fingers around his.

"Neither will I."

Luke lowered his spear and moved beside her rather than ahead.

"Then show me where to go."

Luke tightened his hold on her hand, and they hurried deeper toward Lethariel.