Chương 43: For what it's worth, thank you

They pulled up to a gate staffed by two people who were obviously Witches. One of them had a massive claymore on his back while the other had a comical amount of guns strapped to his body. Even if she couldn't tell by their gear, there was a certain way a Witch held themselves. Every single person who was powerful was still human, they still held their trauma in the way they viewed the world, but they held themselves with surety. Grim had felt a taste of that when she'd embraced her authority for that short time.

In that moment, she knew her exact place in the world and what she had to do.

"Good evening. How can I help you?" The gunman spoke, cheerful in a way that didn't seem to match up with the drudgery of guarding a gate.

"Here for the Witching," Phil said, sounding very much the opposite.

"Oh, lovely. You'll go directly ahead past the trenches and stop before the minefield. From there, we'll have the spotter blindfold you and lead you through." Before the man with the guns could let them through, the woman wielding a claymore stood in front of him.

"You sure you're up for this, old man? There's better ways to retire than a coffin."

"I've already been buried before, kid. This place holds no secrets for me," Phil responded with a touch of scorn as he flashed his ID at them. Both of them backed up, and at the same time, the man with the guns noticed Grim in the backseat, and a look of recognition crossed his face.

"Ah, we're sorry about that, sir, we didn't realize."

"Yeah." They didn't delay as they signalled an armed soldier above them, and a large metal gate began opening. Once it had opened enough, they were given the signal and allowed to drive through. Inside the ruined city block, they were greeted by shelled out buildings and pockmarks of destruction. The road underneath them was functional as long as you avoided all the actual massive holes in the ground. To the right and left of the road were actual trenches dug into the ground.

They were reinforced with metal and wood but were unmanned. The telltale traits of warfare were littered all over the place, and she spent much of the drive trying to figure out the story of this place. What the hell were they fighting?

"What was that all about?" Grim asked.

"They thought I was a coffin chaser." Grim frowned, "What's that?"

"Sometimes the Elderly try their hand at the Witching to live longer. They liquidate all their assets to buy enough dice to roll for a good Boon and think it's enough to get through. It's not."

"Huh, I'd never heard of that. Why coffinchaser?"

"Because they want to live longer, but they end up dying sooner than they otherwise would've."

"What are you going to do?" Phil scoffed, "What am I going to do? Die. It's how things are meant to be. Besides, even if I wanted to go up a rank, I can't. I wasn't joking when I said I gave up advancing for Marissa."

"Why can't you go up a rank? You're definitely strong enough to get the shards."" Before I had even got to the Doctor, I had burnt up all my Boons. It's like a gun, kid. Barrel melted. Only, if you know what you're doing, you can make a barrel out of your soul. You know what happens to your Aura after you fire that enough times?" Phil laughed bitterly, "I've got barely a wick left." Grim raised her eyes in disbelief.

"Barely a wick? You went toe to toe with Hazel and she had a massive amount of stolen aura, hows that possible?" The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

"She wasted half of what she was using. Someone like me? I reckon I'm the most efficient Witch alive. Had to be if I wanted to be of any use at all," Phil explained.

"Speaking of that girl, she still silent?"

"Yeah. I know she's there, but she isn't answering me."

"Saints, well, we planned for this. Do whatever you can to get in close with the strongest person there, and if you can find out the name of their Boon, blitz them and take it. It's your only chance to survive if she's not helping."

"She will, I know it. She wouldn't just let me die."

"We hope. You ready? I see the spotter, we're gonna have to say our goodbyes soon." Grim checked her bag, it was full of rations and survival supplies along with another pouch with the most useful enchanted items she had, plus another couple that Phil had sprung the extra cash for. She was snug in the armour she'd been given, the material sturdy but flexible, allowing her to move freely while inside it.

As for weapons, she carried the broken chain dagger on her hip and her trusty bootknife in its namesake while her sword was in a sheath beside her. She was as ready as she could be.

"Yeah, I'm ready," she said as Phil parked and they both got out of the vehicle. The spotter was a member of the military dressed in fatigues and basic power armour, "Hello, I am Specialist Campbell. Which one of you will be partaking in the Witching?" He asked.

"That would be me," Grim said.

"Thought so. So, how this is going to work is you're going to be blindfolded as we lead you through the minefield. You are going to follow my each and every direction lest you want to blow yourself up. While my armour should keep me alive if we accidentally trigger one, I doubt yours will. Once we are past it, the blindfold will be removed and it will be a short jaunt to where the rest of the people taking the trial are," he spoke.

"Family is not permitted past this point. If you have not already, I will give you a short moment to say your goodbyes. I'd recommend leaving this conversation with no regrets."

"We're not-" Both of them tried to interject, but the soldier had already walked away. Close enough to be in sight, but far enough away that they could have the illusion of privacy. Grim shuffled the sword on her side, despite it not needing to be, while Phil looked to be in much the same predicament. She wished Louis were here. He'd know what to say, not even that, she wouldn't have had to say anything, and he'd understand. Maybe.

She couldn't be sure of that, he'd changed in the last year, or maybe he'd always been like that and she hadn't noticed. It didn't matter now, if she had anything important to say to him, she'd come back and say it to his face.

"If I don't make it..."

"Hey, don't be talking like that now. You're not allowed to die yet, you still haven't paid me back for all the damage you caused me."

"Yeah, yeah, you're right. How could I forget?" Phil checked his watch.

"Well, I'm no good at goodbyes, and there's not a ton of time before it starts." Grim nodded. What was right in a situation like this? She was grateful for all the help he'd given her, even if she knew he was doing it just as much for himself. They'd spent three months together, with him being just about the only person she saw, but she still barely knew anything about him. She could've tried harder, but actually getting to know someone was hard for her, and the Saints only knew Phil didn't make it any easier.

Still, there were moments where his mind would slip and for just a moment, the bitterness he held so close to his heart would disappear. Where his kindness would show for just a few seconds, before he realized it was Grim he was talking to, instead of whoever it was he'd pictured in his mind. Fuck it.

"What?" Phil jumped in surprise as Grim wrapped his arm around him. It was quick, awkward, but warm for a brief moment. Her eyes were closed, and for that small amount of time, she pretended it was Louis hugging her. That she was back at home and everything was normal. She backed off, escaping that illusion. She didn't know why she did that, she just... missed all of them. Louis, Jeremy, Chloe. Saints, maybe even Jin. She hadn't gone more than a couple of days without seeing them, and now it might be forever.

If Hazel were still talking to her, maybe she'd feel okay right now, but as it was, she felt very, very alone.

"Sorry," Grim said, looking away.

"I shouldn't have done that."

"It's fine," Phil grumbled.

"Just surprised me, is all."

"Just, thank you, I guess. For helping me."

"Well, it's for a purpose, so come back alive, alright? Now get going before the specialist makes you do the walk by yourself." Grim glanced behind her at the soldier who shifted from foot to foot, staring away from them at the minefield. They'd been talking for a few minutes already.

"Goodbye, Phil."

"Goodbye, Emily." Grim froze for a second before she nodded, forceful and too fast in an attempt to hide her awkward pause. She turned without looking back and walked towards the spotter, who handed her a blindfold.

"Are you ready, Miss?"

"Yes," Grim said.

"I am."