Chapter 149: Chapter 149: See the future
Few hours later....
Amelia sat cross-legged on the soft grass, slowly chewing on a piece of dried food she’d taken from the supply bag. She’d hoped it would taste better than it looked, but after a few bites, she was beginning to regret that decision. The thing was so dry that she could barely taste anything at all.
Across from her, Caleb was having the same problem, though he seemed determined not to let a miserable piece of food get the better of him. He chewed with a frown, his eyes drifting toward the four glowing portals behind them every few seconds. Eventually, he swallowed and let out an impatient breath.
"It’s been ages. Why haven’t they come out yet?"
Amelia glanced at the portals before returning her attention to the food in her hand. "It’s only been two hours."
"Two hours," he repeated, giving her a look as though she’d just told him they’d been waiting for two days. He tipped his head back and stared at the sky. "How are you so relaxed about this? We have four people in there, and we have no idea what they’re going through."
"They’re taking trials to bond with divine beasts. It’s not supposed to be a walk in the park."
"That’s reassuring."
"Would you prefer I told you they’re probably being chased by their worst nightmares right now?"
Caleb lowered his head and stared at her.
Amelia popped another piece of the tasteless snack into her mouth. "Thought so."
He muttered something under his breath, then turned his attention back to the portals. The colors shimmered softly against the green landscape, but none of them showed any sign of opening. He looked as though he wanted to get up and do something about it, except there wasn’t anything he could actually do.
"We could pass the time by looking around a little," Amelia suggested.
Caleb’s head turned toward her so quickly that she almost laughed.
"Absolutely not. I’ve seen enough of this place."
"You’ve barely seen anything."
"And that’s exactly how I’d like to keep it." He gestured toward the white wolf resting a short distance away. "Besides, I’m not interested in running into any more of those beasts. Even that thing makes me feel like I should attack it already."
The wolf lifted its head.
A low rumble escaped its throat, and its pale eyes settled on Caleb with unmistakable displeasure.
Amelia paused mid-chew, then looked at the wolf. After a moment, she gave a small nod, as though she’d just received a perfectly reasonable complaint.
"Yeah, I can see why you’re offended."
Caleb’s eyes narrowed.
"How did you know it was offended?"
Amelia swallowed her food and brushed a few crumbs from her fingers. "I didn’t say I knew. I just picked up on the general feeling."
"Can you understand what they’re saying?"
"Not really. I can sense their emotions at the time, but that’s about it." She glanced at the wolf, whose head had settled back onto its paws. "My own beast is different. I can actually understand Swifty."
"Speaking of your bird, where is it? I haven’t seen that bird since we arrived."
Amelia’s chewing slowed. She glanced toward the distant mountains, where the sunlight spilled over their peaks, then looked back at him.
"Well, he is recovering."
"Recovering from what?"
"Using up too much energy. It’ll need plenty of it to get us out of this territory later, so it’s saving what it has left."
Caleb gave a small nod, accepting the explanation without asking any more questions. For once, he seemed content to leave something alone.
They ate in silence for a few moments. Amelia turned the last piece of dried food between her fingers, inspecting it as if she expected to discover some hidden flavor if she looked hard enough. Then she took another bite and immediately grimaced.
"This is awful." She stared at him. "Do you people actually eat this stuff on missions?"
"It’s designed to keep you alive, not make you happy."
"There’s no reason it can’t do both."
"There’s every reason it can’t. Food that keeps well, travels easily, and fills your stomach is more useful in the field than something prepared to satisfy your tongue." He folded the empty wrapper and tucked it away. "You get too comfortable, and that’s how people make stupid decisions and get themselves killed."
Amelia slowly lowered the remaining food.
"They really did a thorough job of grooming your head, didn’t they?"
Caleb’s jaw tightened. Amelia met his gaze without the slightest hint of remorse.
"Anyway," she said, deciding to let him suffer in peace for a little longer, "since you don’t want to explore, I suppose you’ll miss out."
Caleb continued chewing. "On what?"
"There’s a place in this territory where someone can look into the future and things like that."
He stopped chewing.
"Apparently, it can reveal quite a lot. But it’s not particularly important."
Caleb swallowed the bite he’d been holding in his mouth. Then he sat up straighter, his earlier irritation momentarily forgotten.
"Hold on. Repeat what you just said."
She finally looked at him. "You heard me perfectly clearly."
"Someone can look into the future?"
"That’s what I said."
"Amelia."
"What?"
His eyes searched her face, looking for some sign that she was teasing him. She only returned his stare with an innocent expression that fooled absolutely no one.
Amelia watched him put the pieces together.
He knew her well enough by now to understand that she didn’t share information without a reason. If she was telling him about a place that could reveal the future, then either she wanted something from it herself or she had a very particular reason for bringing it to his attention.
His gaze sharpened. "Why are you telling me this?"
Amelia rested her hands on her knees. "I thought it might get your attention."
"It has. That still doesn’t explain why you’re telling me."
"Do I need a reason to share something interesting?"
"With you? Yes."
They held each other’s gaze for a moment. He wasn’t going to let this go now that he’d heard it, and Amelia had known that before she’d opened her mouth.
"I’m also telling you because I want to use you."
Caleb went still.
"Obviously, someone like you isn’t going to keep every piece of information you find here to yourself. You’re going to report what you learn to the upper-ups when we get back, aren’t you?"