Evelyn moved into the tunnel, feeling the need to see Clarissa and Sylvar interacting. It was such a rare occurrence. There were hushed voices as she walked further in, the cooler air a nice contrast to the outside. It wasn’t August hot outside, but still no doubt uncomfortably warm for a forest elf. Though now that Sylvar was awake, he started to show his necromantic skills, and things around him were a cooler temperature.

“I’m fine, Clarissa,” she heard Sylvar say. “Thank you. You and your group undoubtably saved my life.”

“What of your own group of adventurers?” Ezekiel asked.

Evelyn walked toward the staircase with no rail, keeping to herself. Sylvar sighed, shaking his head. “They didn’t make it.” There was a sadness in his eyes as he looked away. “My friends fought till the end.”

Ezekiel touched his medallion, bowing his head. “May they find peace in the heavenly realm.”

“I should hope so. They were some of the finest people I served with,” Sylvar said.

Sylvar must have found his clothes. That or Tyler rolling for him made them appear like how they worked on Clarissa. He had a simple shirt and trousers, with an earthy brown robe over him. The only indication that he was royalty was the crown on his head. It wasn’t as garish as Clarissa’s, as it hid in his curly, wild green hair, but it was there if people looked for it.

“You are stronger on your feet. Do you think you can walk with us to the van?” Clarissa asked.

“This van you speak of. It is a cart that can drive itself, yes?”

“It is,” Ezekiel said. “Have you seen much of this new realm?”

“Sadly, no. It was far too hot, and we spent most of our time finding shelter and then staying in it. I saw these driverless carts, though. Very fast. Very loud,” Sylvar said.

“Yes. We can catch you up on a lot of this realm as you recuperate,” Clarissa said.

“I’d like that.”

Ezekiel’s eyes practically lit up with excitement. “Lord of the Rings! I must show you this trilogy!”

Sylvar chuckled. “Yes, I shall happily oblige. We can—” Sylvar had grabbed the staff and was walking with it toward the stairs when he stopped.

“Sylvar?” Clarissa asked.

The druid prince glanced down at the staff in his hands. “It no longer speaks to me.”

Clarissa’s eyes widened as she covered her mouth. Sylvar looked at the staff again, then kept walking. “The mana you have brought to this world is rich, sister. I will heal myself of what happened. Do not worry. And you must tell me about your marriage! There is much to tell me about!”

The three characters went back to chatting, and Evelyn rested against the wall, looking again at Sylvar. He had appeared once in their campaign, but she remembered it vividly. It was after two experiences that had broken her. Nick was recovering after his crash, and Rafael had assaulted her. She was terrified of attending game night. She was twelve years old and scared. People looked at her and assumed she was heartbroken about her brother being in the hospital, and she didn’t correct them. Nick’s choice had already broken her heart. Her heart shattered with Rafael’s.

Lydia had dropped her off at Derek’s house that night, and the noise of his family seemed so out of place. She wondered, watching Derek’s siblings wrestling in the middle of the living room, if happiness could ever be hers again.

Derek and Tyler were there, discussing some sort of lore. She couldn’t remember. All she remembered was the way they stopped talking the moment she walked toward the dining room table. The gentle way Tyler broke the news about Rafael no longer attending any more sessions. Alejandra wanted to keep coming, but she couldn’t find a ride this time, so it would be the three of them.

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

They went on a side quest with Milo and Clarissa, where they ran into Sylvar. For the entire session, they hung out with him. Helped find someone for him and helped detain the man he was after. It was fun. It was happy. Evelyn had three hours of escape where she hung out with Clarissa’s cool older brother. A brother doing good in the world. A brother not injured, laughing and happy. At the end, Sylvar and Clarissa parted ways. When Tyler said, “Thanks, sister,” Evelyn broke down.

The look of surprise on both Derek and Tyler’s faces when she couldn’t stop crying caused her so much embarrassment, but she couldn’t pretend anymore. Nick had been in such a mood that she didn’t know at the time whether he’d go back to being a rebel. She was terrified of losing her brother, not just in the near-death experience he had, but in never seeing the brother she once knew again. That he’d choose to do crime forever, and he’d end up in prison. Her twelve-year-old mind was terrified, and luckily, they were having this at Derek’s house. Amanda pulled her aside from Tyler and Derek’s confused looks, making sure she was okay, before filling her with food and comforting words. Evelyn felt indebted to Amanda, because Walt and Lydia never did that.

“Hey, are you okay?”

Evelyn snapped out of her reverie and looked up to see Nick standing there. His eyes were dancing over her face, trying to pick up any facial cues, but her eyes remained on the scar cutting across his eyebrow from that crash almost four years ago.

“Yeah.” Evelyn lifted a hand, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “Yeah. Sorry. Just… remembering the last time Prince Sylvar was in the campaign.”

Nick glanced at Sylvar, then back at Evelyn. “He’s always sort of been there in the background.”

“I mean… physically. When Clarissa and he meet each other. You, um, you weren’t there.”

“Wait, when was he…” The realization dawned on Nick’s face. “Oh. Yeah. Yeah, okay.” He glanced at the stairs. “We’re about ready to leave. I doubt Dad’ll want me to—”

Evelyn didn’t know what possessed her to do it, but she reached out and hugged Nick. Her eyes grew warm, so she closed them tight. She remembered the fear she had at twelve-year-old. How she’d never hang out with her brother again. Terrified Nick would join the next dangerous gang and get murdered in the street before he graduated. She needed a physical reminder that he was here. That he was better. That her twelve-year-old mind was obviously overreacting.

Nick patted her back in an awkward, brotherly manner. “Evie, are you sure you’re okay?”

“I’m just glad you don’t hang out with Anthony anymore,” she whispered.

“Yeah. Obviously.”

“It wasn’t obvious to me back then.”

Nick hesitated, then placed his arms in a firmer hug. “I’m…sorry. About that.”

Evelyn shook her head, breaking away from the hug. “It’s fine. It’s complicated, that’s all. I know dad is getting you down. You will tell us if you’re having a hard time, right?” Evelyn asked. Nick stared at her, and Evelyn wasn’t sure how to interpret his gaze. “Nick?”

“What… happened. Last time Sylvar was with Clarissa?” Nick asked.

Evelyn was confused, but told him of helping Sylvar with one of his missions and hanging out with him. She didn’t tell Nick about her breakdown and Amanda’s heavenly coconut rice pudding.

“It was… nice.” She shrugged as she tried not to remember how hot her tears were running down her face. “Nice to have a session where Princess Clarissa was hanging out with her brother.”

Nick still watched her with a face she couldn’t understand. “So… it seems like in a time you needed comfort for what your actual brother was doing, Tyler made it so you were with Prince Sylvan?”

Evelyn was confused. “Nick, do you… do you think Prince Sylvan was replacing you?”

Nick’s eyebrows rose in surprise. “You heard me?”

“Of course I heard you. And it’s a ridiculous thought.”

“Not ridiculous,” Nick said. “It’s… the game’s way of creating order. Order in a time of chaos. Or… life. Life imitating art. Right?”

Evelyn was so confused. “I… don’t get it. Life imitating art?”

Nick was breathing deeply, like he was panic, yet his eyes were excited. “Think about it. Think about what Sylvar just experienced.”

Evelyn frowned. “A horrific and traumatic ritual that caused the life powers in him to turn more necromantic?”

This part of Nick’s emotions she could understand. Hesitating, like he was trying to connect something in his mind. “Sure. Let’s… start with that.”

Evelyn tilted her head, giving her brother a strange look. “Nick, are you okay?”

Nick sighed, almost like the excitement and hope in his eyes had deflated. “No.”

“What’s wrong?” Evelyn asked. “You can tell me anything.”

Nick glanced back behind his shoulder, giving a sigh. “Later. Dad won’t be happy if we’re not home soon.”

Evelyn shrugged. “Yeah. Let’s go. I’m hanging out with some friends tonight anyway for my birthday. Best to start getting ready for that.” She walked past Nick, doing her best to be careful up the stairs. Once she got to the top, she saw Nick was still at the bottom. “Nick?”

“Yeah. Coming.” He seemed dejected somehow as he stared at the wall. “Just… give me a minute.”

His words seemed strange, but she turned around and followed the tunnel into the bright desert air.