The Storming Plains were dark and loud. Tegen gave them a history lesson that long ago, Rovaneim had invented a way to cross the plains without being struck and killed by lightning: the tall metallic towers attracted the lightning strikes and when struck, transferred the force into powering energy shields over the road. The energy shields were only visible when struck by stray lightning strikes. Hail or rain was also blocked.

"Unfortunately, the shields cannot keep out the Fangril demons," Tegen finished.

Being half robotic, like Aeris, making lightning strikes follow her like a magnet, tested the shields' strength. The energy shields held up, sizzling like a bug zapper as lightning hit. If not for Zelenia's magic, adding another level of protection and lessening the stings of static electricity in the air, Aeris would've bolted for the entrance—only if a lightning strike hadn't killed her first.

Aeris was pulled taut, tighter than a string on a guitar. With a death grip on Zelenia's hand, her attention never left the boiling clouds, eyes shooting to every strike, fizzling out on the energy shield above them. She did her best to refrain from jumping at each crack of lightning, but her breath still caught in her throat.

When the first Fangril demons ambushed them, she froze. All those times before in her travels across Elemonsina, Aeris hadn't hesitated to jump into a fight with the creatures. Now, in the Storming Plains, she was unsure. Air had left her as soon as she crossed the boundaries because of her fear, so Aeris didn't have the power of her Element to use, and not knowing how much stress the energy shields could take—if she, the others, or the Fangril demons delivered a blow to the origin of the shields, and it collapsed—had her petrified.

She, Pica, and Zelenia stood behind the men and Kalisa as they took care of the demons. The size and ferocity of the Fangril demons varied: some were monstrous beings that drew power from lightning strikes; others were smaller than Aeris' knee, but attacked in groups of twenty. Resembling lemurs with long tails, large ears, and a jumpy, twitchy temperament, but their fur was yellow, had orange, glowing eyes, and their teeth hung like sharp, predatory fangs. Pica helped shoot the small yellow creatures if they got behind an Elemental, or disorientate the groups with Light.

No one carried on a conversation during the uncomfortable and nerve-wracking walk, too preoccupied watching for lightning strikes or fighting off demons. At first, Pica had been intrigued by the Storming Plains, but they had been walking for three hours, and now clung to Aeris' arm, flinching at every crack of lightning and boom of thunder.

In between strikes of lightning—as momentary as it was—and breaks of ambushing demons, Aeris replayed how her secret was revealed. Geryon was entirely at fault. If he had not grabbed her left arm, she wouldn't have had to expose herself. That was not the way she had expected to let them know.

Who was she kidding? She didn't want them to know. Aeris wanted to go to Ulat and meet up with the Elementals later, and they would be none-the-wiser. She had the thought that maybe they didn't need to know about her flaw; didn't need to be warned that she could endanger them around areas of high voltage; didn't need to be aware that Kalisa could kill her if she accidentally struck Aeris with lightning.

How foolish and self-centered it was for her to hope for such a thing! Heela would've been ashamed of her for not considering others.

So, in an odd way, Geryon was to thank for pushing her to do what she didn't want to do...

But she wasn't going to thank him right now. He deserved her anger for a bit longer.

No sun or moon told the time, but Aeris' weariness meant it was late. They had traveled a long distance since they left Nyan.

"That inn marks the halfway point," Tegen suddenly said.

Aeris glanced down to see the building before her eyes shot back up at the sound of another bolt of lightning striking above them. "We're only halfway through?"

"We've traveled much today; we should rest," Zelenia offered.

"I'm up for that," Helian said.

At the fork, they turned for the inn. A lightning tower near it provided extra protection but set away far enough to prevent residents feeling the shocks vibrating the ground. If the glows of multiple lamps powered by the energy from the nearby tower didn't draw attention in the bland landscape, the colorful walls of the building did. Bright blues, greens, and yellows were grouped together—it looked like Pica had chosen the color scheme. Seven Rovaneim patrolled the outside, on guard for Fangril demons.

"How could anyone miss seeing that?" Renuo said rhetorically.

"I think it's pretty," Pica said.

Kalisa mumbled, "I hope it's not a rainbow on the inside..."

Stepping in, Aeris was relieved, like the dark-skinned gypsy, that the colors had been dimmed—the interior had dull blues, reds, and browns. More people were in the inn than expected, but all the travelers had weapons and had armed-Rovaneim escorts.

After the door shut behind them, the air wasn't so thick with electricity. Aeris released a heavy sigh as her tensed body relaxed; her clenched hand opened to release Zelenia's hand. Thinking about how stiff her hand was, she looked down to find the slender hand red and marked with purpling bruises.

"Oh, Zelenia, I'm sorry."

The young Moon just smiled and shook her head. "There's no need to apologize." She lifted the hurt hand and the bruises and redness gradually disappeared. "Already healed."

Nothing edible could thrive in the dark and electrified-air of the Storming Plains, so food consisted of non-perishable goods that could be delivered from Maiva-Jomme. Soup with pieces of meat served with bread and ale was dinner.

Aeris ate quickly, not really tasting her food—she didn't want to leave an opening for the Elementals to ask questions. Revisiting her past was enough pain for one day. Plus, she wanted to get away from Geryon as soon as possible, and she was exhausted from the long day of travel.

To be polite, she bid them goodnight before she retired to the women's room. It wasn't long before Zelenia, Pica, and Kalisa entered; Aeris lay facing the wall, hoping that they would take the hint that she wasn't open to a late-night discussion. Either they did or were too tired to talk, for they went to sleep.

Even as worn-out as she was, sleep evaded Aeris. The faces of those that had perished in the café haunted her.