Out of time.

Kresley’s legs were threatening to pull her down to her death.

It had been around 25 minutes and she was no closer to the road Kresley morbidly mused.

Taking apart the skeleton took energy and more importantly more time than she had.

And all she had to show was a measly orb-

Ducking under a tree branch her eyes lost the dirt trail for a moment, until a brisk of brown was found, her feet already stomping past it.

Imp.

Brute.

Flock.

Passing them by like it was nothing she knew the potion was more important than the captain let on, but would it be enough?

Pushing her feet to the limit, she did what Waynev would’ve called a barrel roll over a sizzling brute corpse.

“If it’s still burning-” Her eyes quickly looked for the attacker but instead found a road, hidden behind the tree’s flanking her, made of gravel and sto-

“It’s the supply road!” Nearly collapsing at the sight she urged her body on.

Her legs were now constantly shaking as she burst out of the forest and onto the road.

Half the people nearby flinched while the other half raised their weapons at another demon ambush.

“Demon! Spells at the re-” One of the group leaders already began organising his squad until he noticed the red faced woman nearly collapse onto the road.

“-False alarm, keep your spells ready mages.” Not even bothering a second longer the squad continued their retreat among the other adventurers and common folk.

Seeing Kresley the majority of them ignored her and continued hurrying on but a few checked the surrounding forest for any other threats.

They knew they weren’t safe until they were out of the forest, and so did Kresley.

As her eyes began trying to close it didn’t matter, her legs were still racing, as was her heart and lungs trying to keep her speed consistent.

But as her body began to collapse she saw a figure in the trees-

She forced herself awake as she sprinted with a purpose.

“Waynev!” As she got off the gravel road Kresley tumbled towards the three crouching figures, looking at their faces briefly one was teary eyed while the other two looked resigned.

All however were surprised as Kresley nearly dived into Waynev.

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Her eyes blinking rapidly as Kresley thought she saw wrong.

Waynev’s face was whiter than a wraith and worse she was freezing.

“Wah-Waynev?” Still huffing she could feel the potion finally lose it’s affects.

She was out of time.

Nearly flopping down next to her, Kresley’s faced was still trained on Waynev as she barely perceived the words being spoken.

“She-She’s ****,” The words broke off from the whimpering voice but a deep voice told Kresley before she joined her friend in her temporary sleep.

“She’s dead.”

Except it wasn’t temporary for Waynev.

…

“***dow…”

She knew.

She couldn’t see.

She couldn’t hear.

But she could feel it.

She was back.

Was Vein going to torture her now?

Vein had orchestrated everything but still she failed.

Had it been all for naught.

It couldn’t finish this soon.

Could it?

“Shadow.”

Again the voice came.

She knew her plan had variables.

She only had a small chance to rescue Waynev in time before she died.

How could she have let it pass her b-

“SHADOW.”

Her being vibrated until she opened herself up to the world around her.

There was no luxurious wooden floor.

Or a fish tank filled with alien fish.

Nor was there the prompt that resembled a computer, instead there was her.

A dragonkin.

Her scales told Shadow of her divinity but her clothes spoke of her status.

Golden scales met normal, almost bland clothing.

Like a slave’s or a beggar’s.

“Who-” Shadow found her voice, it was the same way she spoke to Waynev.

It wasn’t a physical voice but a mental one.

“I’m sorry. But we don’t have time for a discussion, Shadow.” The voice spoke with a purpose, yet in a measured tone that showed respect.

“I’m Humiem, god of the servants and you Shadow have a decision that will cost a life to save a life. A decision that Waynev had made years ago.” As the words left her lips Shadow realised that she wasn’t dead.

Not yet at least, she was still in the golem.

But contained somehow, she couldn’t feel any of the appendages or controls.

“Focus Shadow, time is slowed but you still don’t have a lot of it.” Shadow guiltily focused on the entity, she was right.

“Right now you lie next to Waynev in an orb your friend knew to take, but you arrived too late.” Humiem bowed lightly and a picture came to her right.

Projecting against the void was Waynev and Kresley.

Kresley was clearly sleeping but Waynev… Waynev was the illustration of dead.

“The decision that cost you a body wasn’t a conscious one. You could say that it was chance, regardless it is up to you now.” Both hands entered her servant garb, filled with pockets her hands quickly grabbed what they were looking for.

“The orb that your friend took can be used to resuscitate the… ‘skeletons’ using their soul energy, normally leaving the husks empty but allowing the skeletons to gain sentience.” Her tone was still respectful but sounded guilty.

She gave a short pause as Shadow realised what she was asking.

“Shadow. You must choose whether to use your soul or Waynev’s to resuscitate her body.”

Shadow stared at her face which gradually turned solemn as she talked.

“There’s… a third option as well. Isn’t there?” Shadow’s voice nearly cracked as she realised the gravity of the situation.

“... You may stay in the orb, however Waynev’s soul is already leaving her body. If you don’t act now neither of you will gain control over her body.” As she spoke the picture which was still illuminating the voice zoomed in on Waynev’s corpse.

“How much time do we have left?” Shadow spoke softly, tone biding unknown emotions.

“Enough time to answer two questions.” Just as Humiem spoke Shadow jumped on the opportunity.

“What will happen to… the soul that’s used to resuscitate our body-and what will happen to our quest?”

“The soul will be used. It’s not the natural order of things, it is artificial. Abnormal. Sometimes if the soul is strong enough it persists, other times it… dissolves.” Giving a second for Shadow to process the information she jumped to her second question.

“The quest-I do not know. It is Vein’s work and will likely persist unless the parameters he set were dependent on… No. It is not my place to speculate.” Humiem finished, again giving Shadow a moment before it was time.

“You are out of time, now choose.”

Shadow didn’t have a body.

But at the same time she shuddered.

She knew Waynev would make the same choice but still she was scared.

Scared of what she would lose.

Scared of what would happen.

“I choose-”