The Parallel Universe.

Chapter 9.

Chapter Nine.

Michael and I make our way to the Trading Quarter shortly after Azuridian leaves. The strange occurrence in the training room has taken its toll on my body, it seems. Michael being who he is, he offers numerous times to support me as we make our way there.

And I smile and reassure him that I can do fine on my own.

The strange experience has left me a little dizzy, but other than that, I feel completely fine.

Even so, Michael is by my side in less than a second, gripping my waist with one hand and heaving my arm over his shoulders with the other.

"I-I'm not going to touch you anyplace weird, I promise," he blurts out while turning red as a beet. "Just, don't strain yourself, okay? I've got you."

"I'm fine, Michael," I assure him with a smile while gently disentangling myself from him. "I promise."

He raises an eyebrow in suspicion, but in the end, he decides to trust me.

A couple of people rush past us, one of them elbowing Michael on the way. I half expect him to call them out on it, but instead, his jaw sets tightly and he keeps trudging along in silence.

It's not wholly surprising, though; considering how the inhabitants here view humans, it makes sense that he'd not want to bring more attention to himself.

The Trading Quarter appears a bit different from how it previously looked; more torches have been set up, yet surprisingly, the increasing light in the area doesn't help settle the growing tension in the air. On the contrary, the high, flickering flames that are placed along the stone walls give an impression of uncertainty, again and again giving way to the darkness of the shadows they help create.

Michael doesn't venture far into the crowd of people present in the quarter. Instead, he presses himself against one of the walls as though he's trying to merge with it.

He gives me a sheepish look. "I'd rather not have anyone try and spit at me for just existing today."

I do a quick scan of the room, but I can't spot any of the four faces I've come to grow so familiar with in the sea of people chattering nervously among themselves. I find it odd that Azuridian, who is the tallest out of the group, is invisible in the crowd as well.

I don't have time to do a thorough sweep, however. A man steps up on a table placed in one of the far corners of the quarter, where he hovers above everyone—though I suspect that even if he had stayed on the ground, people would have instantly turned their attention to him as soon as he opened his mouth.

"Everyone," he says, his resonant voice carrying across the space with no issue, "it is not often I call you here in this fashion. Today, however, my wife and I have a big announcement to make."

Eager whispering breaks out as he turns to the side and reaches down to Cercha, who takes his hand and climbs up onto the table to join him.

"As you all very well know at this point, it is easy to forget the toll life underground can take on a person," Cercha says, the smile on her face expanding as she speaks. "Every single one of us gathered here have one thing in common; we have refused to accept the current state of our society and the way those in power treat their people."

Unsettled mumbling break out at her words, though a few people nod along to what she is saying. Cercha raises her hands in a reassuring gesture.

"Now, Vherian du Valeric and the people behind him do possess a lot of power, it's true," she continues. "But we are making progress every day in making sure that that power reduces, slowly but surely."