She heard distinct fluttering whispers, echoing from around them (her and the unconscious boy).
Who were they?
And why didn't they come to his help when he needed it?
She felt outraged at their selfishness.
Just then, it occurred to her that they might have not been humans.
She shuddered involuntarily.
This place was charged with mysteries. Far beyond what Aunt Dora might even comprehend.
She tried to hear what they were saying, but it made no sense to her.
It seemed like they were speaking another language.
But they didn't do any more than whisper. So therefore she felt safe for now.
She cleansed that worry from her mind. Saving that boy remained her top priority for now.
She held her arm tightly again and pulled.
He didn't budge, but she wasn't letting go.
She pulled…
The heat burnt her hands but she held on.
His sweaty body made gripping her too hard but still…
Harder…
Then…
Suddenly, she fell backwards heavily, rolling away.
She looked up in despair, thinking of failure.
At that moment, she felt a thud close to her.
There was no standing figure visible in the gloom. And that meant…
She did it!
The purple aura still loomed around.
But no longer did it loom above, hovering in the air like some ominous pregnant cloud.
But it now looked serene at least.
She stood up shakily. Even remaining upright proved almost a herculean task.
The effort of pulling the guy away, coupled with the impact of her crashing, really took its toll on her.
She looked around for the boy, but in the clearing haze, she couldn't see him yet.
She decided to wait; after all nothing really affected apart from the heat.
Just then, the whole aura vanished in a giant wisp of smoke.
The temple became visible from end to end.
All the lamps were lit.
The boy lay still on the ground metres away from her unmoving. Only his chest heaved.
But she knew that he was now conscious.
"Excuse me…"
She approached him carefully.
She couldn't really gauge his manners, and was in no mood for rueful assumptions.
She studied him carefully, still keeping a safe distance.
His black hair fluttered around his face, in the eerie breeze, keeping his identity hidden.
She had a feeling that she'd seen him before, but couldn't really place that appearance in her memory.
No matter how hard she tried. She just decided to give up and ask.
Around his neck, she could see a heavy locket (it obviously looked heavy).
It was supposed to crack open due to impact, since he fell with his chest.
But it remained firmly closed. Like it had no opening at all.
Really strange choice of jewelry.
As she studied him again, he stirred.
She waited apprehensively. He subconsciously stretched himself, as though he just woke up from a deep slumber.
Was this his way of awakening from death?
What kind of powerful god lay before her at this moment?
Random thoughts ran through her mind, filling her with dread.
The boy looked up, and pulled himself in a sitting position.
He moved gingerly in a manner that suggested severe pain.
He must have gone through a lot.
Umbra looked at his hands, scrutinizing them.
He rubbed his shoulders subconsciously.
A behavior he didn't know how he got and why he did it.
It just felt right.
"Hello…"
He raised his head.
A very strange beautiful girl stood a few metres from him.
Her eyes swept over him, not in contempt but concern. Genuine concern.
From these alone, Umbra knew that she had no idea who he was.
Also, from her jewelry and dress, Umbra guessed that she must be a princess.
"What are you doing here?" His cold steely eyes flashed dangerously.
The moment he asked that, he realized that she must have been the one who pulled him from that circle.
His savior.
Because when he last checked, he couldn't actually pull back.
After then…he had no idea what happened next.
All he recalled was waking up now.
Elsa shuddered noticeably due to the cold tone of the boy she had just saved.
But, she expected it.
Not that she knew him as a bully, but she knew that he would be curious.
And she was clearly older than him. By a year or two.
Umbra glanced at the princess, realizing her discomfort and mild fear.
He decided to rephrase his earlier statement. Maybe something more gentle.
"How did you get in?"
"I don't really know", Elsa calmed down. She noted the kind tone that crept into his voice.
"I just found you in great need of help…so I –"
Umbra nodded. He didn't need to ask what she meant by great need of help.
"You were dying…few moments ago, you were greatly weakened and –"
Umbra held up a hand to quieten her. He could sense something strange here.
However, he had a reserved compliment.
"Forgive my earlier coldness," he half-smiled, "but you're really beautiful."
Elsa blushed deeply, and looked away.
Despite his cold eyes, his teasing hit deep.
His cold eyes. She'd only just noticed, but they seemed to draw in whoever looked at them.
Umbra's head still throbbed slightly, but he had more questions.
"Who alerted you of my…misfortune?"
Elsa nearly laughed. Misfortune? Is that what he could call it?
"I don't really know how I got here. I actually hoped that you will have answers to my questions."
Umbra threw her a quizzical look.
"As you can see, I don't."
He looked away again, his expression resembling one of deep thinking.
He looked extremely worried, and so looked away, his face locked in.
Elsa took that time to study him. Running her eyes over his body with any fear of being caught.
This was the first time she'd actually felt shy doing such a thing. And she couldn't explain it.
His purple eyes looked so pitiless. Again conveying that feeling of being drowned in dark depths.
She nearly shuddered just by looking at them.
Umbra noticed her watching him, and then shuddering.
Using his senses, he checked for any intruder close by, but found nothing.
"What's wrong?"
Elsa recomposed herself immediately. "Nothing. Nice jewelry."
Umbra cast her a suspicious eye before replying.
"I could say the same for you. Are you Cruceni?"
Elsa wondered where that question came from. And how she should answer it.
The boy before her hadn't any inclination of being either Cruceni or Incarnas.
"Yes"
Umbra's eyes narrowed but he didn't do nor say any other thing.
On seeing his reaction, Elsa cast her mind around for a change of topic.
As she glanced at him again, she was again struck by something.
She had definitely seen this face before. From somewhere distant.
She tried to recollect but her mind drew a blank.
"I'm sorry, but have we met?"
Umbra glanced at her again, his expression changing from suspicion to slight disdain. But he remained wary.
"Never…I don't even have an inkling of who –"
He broke off, looking around.
His senses were picking up something, so he became alert.
He saw it before it hit.
A strange ripple through the air, approaching the both of them at breakneck speed.
He couldn't fathom how he could see it, but at once he leapt to his feet, and slashed his hand in one direction.
He didn't know what he did, but it just seemed the most logical thing to do.
The worst of it got deflected hitting a couple of pillars and sending deep gorges on them.
He didn't do much of a good job.
Something ethereal hit them, throwing them to the ground.
A soft curtain like air blanket shielded the impact, leaving Elsa grateful.
Umbra didn't even linger a moment on her, before he leapt up, taking a defensive stance.
A Wind technique.
Umbra recognized it immediately, but had no idea where it came from.
"Go!" He ordered her without turning.
He couldn't dare do that, in the face of such danger.
The wind technique seemed very powerful. Despite all his efforts to deflect, it could still send both him and the princess tumbling.
He chanced a glance back, and saw the princess's outline dissolving slowly with a parting smile on her face.
He still marveled at her beauty, but reminded himself that she was a Cruceni.
He didn't know how she got in here, but she'd saved his life.
She smiled, raising a hand in farewell.
Umbra didn't smile back, but nodded.
He would never meet her again.
Probably.
He turned back again.
He had a new mission on his hands.
Time to check out who that attacker was.