The initial journey with the Gryphons went smoothly. Despite the fatigue and the weight of everything that transpired, we pressed on. The recent events left us tense; our sleep was scarce, and rest was a luxury we couldn’t afford. Yet, we were strapped to these flying creatures, soaring through the sky, with our thoughts lingering on what was ahead.

Also, the novelty of flying through the chilly sky through the day and night, high in the sky, had waned rather quickly. One adult would stay awake while the other tried to get some form of rest. Mila and Dallin sat sandwiched between us and slept most of the time.

The Gryphons could hold two adults and a child at most. We used our collective Spatial Rings to carry luggage. Thankfully, the monsters acted as promised. Without commands or input, they flew straight to their destination. We only stopped for a quick disbursal of water and food, along with bathroom breaks.

What would have taken four days by carriage only took a little more than a day on the back of Gryphons. That was thanks to these Gryphons being bred for only speed and endurance, unlike the Gryphons used for war, which had to tick a number of boxes at an even higher quality. It also helped that flying straight to your destination was naturally quicker than taking a long, winding road, where monsters and bandits lurked, and various obstacles could block the roads.

When we arrived at the fort, the swapping of Gryphons was quick and efficient. In total, we only touched the ground for thirty minutes before taking off again for the capital, much to Mila's frustration, who grumbled a complaint into my chest. I drew my cloak around her and held her tight.

“We’ll be home soon.”

—

We flew through the invisible wards that protected the capital. The uncomfortable gut-churning feeling washed over us like a wave, but that was quickly forgotten as we looked out onto the silent capital. The city, at first glance, seemed normal. But when I looked closer, I could see destroyed sections of homes and districts. Not only that, but it was also surprising to see so few people outside of the capital. Most of the citizens seemed to be indoors; the only people moving about were patrols of armed guards and soldiers.

That wasn’t even taking into account the general vibe of it all. It was like a dark cloud was hanging over the entire capital, sucking away at the usual happy people. The atmosphere of the city could only be described as tense and gloomy. No…it was a familiar sensation.

A populace about to go to war.

There was a loud screech from our right as a squadron of Gryphon Knights intercepted us. Our Gryphons responded with their own bird-like screeches, and the knights escorted us the rest of the way to the royal palace. Soldiers flooded the entire grounds, and tents had been set up in just about every available space that could be seen.

Only a large tent, set off from the rest, had enough space for us to land. The monsters touched down, and a group of handlers rushed out to guide the beasts away as a small group approached us. I turned around and stared into the darkness where a face should have been, but Lin was hiding her identity using her dungeon item.

So it’s bad enough that she is moving about in public…

“I apologize for inconveniencing you upon your immediate arrival, as I’m sure you require rest and answers, but I need to speak with Varnir, Kaladin, and Alanis immediately,” Lin said, her voice garbled and distorted from another dungeon item.

My mother, who had remained chiefly silent the entire trip, glared at Lin, but I stepped forward and nodded. After all, if Lin was here and requesting us, then it had to be of the utmost importance. Sylvia gave me a worried look, but I told her to take Mila somewhere safe for the time being.

I looked at my father and Varnir, and they nodded sternly. “We’ll go. Lead the way,” I said.

Lin guided us to the large command tent. A group of officials and higher-ranked knights were scurrying around. Some leaned over tables, pouring over documents or maps of the city.

“To put things bluntly, we require more knowledge from Alanis than anything, but we figured both of you should be made aware of what’s transpired,” Lin said as she guided us to a large table at the back.

She pointed a finger at the old noble’s district, where the Shadowclan was residing. “There’s no better way to say this, so I’ll just be frank. The Shadowclan, or at least a majority of them, have defected and, in the process, sided with the rebels and caused havoc amongst the population.”

My heart sank in my chest as Varnir gasped. My father simply hung his head as Lin spoke, “However, we are certain that not all the Dark Elves agreed with the situation. Chief Shadowstorm and former royal guard Parhen led the warriors against Luminar and her people. I witnessed it with my own eyes.”

“I see…” Dad mumbled.

“The area of the Dark Elf encampment was also littered with corpses, and signs of a battle and infighting were clear to see. Currently, erected in the center of the encampment is a veil of shadow. We can not see through it, nor can we enter it. Any attempts to make contact with the people inside of it have fallen on deaf ears, and attempts to break it down with magic have failed. Are you aware of anything, Alanis Shadowheart?” Lin questioned.

Dad sighed deeply and nodded slowly. “I knew nothing of this degree. There was concern and discord amongst factions, but I never imagined it would turn out like this. And yes, that barrier was erected by the priest and priestess, I’m sure of it. They are taking turns supplying mana to it. I can get through.”

“Then we shouldn’t waste any time. There may be survivors who need our assistance,” Lin said quickly as she began ordering around the officials.

“My parents…are they alive?” Varnir asked quietly.

Lin turned her head slightly and said, “They aren’t part of the bodies, and we didn’t capture them either.”

“Your parents are going to be okay, Varnir. Your father wouldn’t be the type of man to turn his back on his people,” Dad said.

Varnir hung his head and weakly managed to say, “Yes…that’s right. They must be fine.”

—

We hopped into a carriage, followed by a group of knights and medical staff. It wasn’t a long ride, but it felt like an eternity. I was worried for Aunt Illyssia, Sededa, and even Zydrae. I had a gut feeling that Zydrae and Sededa wouldn’t defect to the Holy Kingdom…but Aunt Illyssia was different.

She’s a warrior, and her husband and son are part of the same faction. If most of the warriors decided to side with the Holy Kingdom while the priestess with Zydrae went against them…

It was anyone’s guess. I’m not entirely surprised some of the Shadowclan joined sides with Arotal, as they were mercenaries and sellswords for most of their existence. It makes sense that many would want to continue that lifestyle rather than settle down in Luminar forever. But to burn the bridges along the way and fight amongst each other to the death…that was what surprised me the most. The friction amongst the Shadowclan must have been even more tense than I expected.

That also answers the question about what happened with Terstus and why he suddenly left the tournament without a fight. He must have caught wind of the impending schism and went back home. I also had no doubts about which side he chose in the end.

“We’ve arrived,” Lin said.

We dismounted from the carriage into a defensive line. Soldiers, knights, and mages all stood behind barriers, watching the dark, shadowy glob in the center of the settlement. With a quick glance, much of the small town within the capital had been destroyed.

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The glass was broken in store windows, doors were busted down, lying in splinters, and houses collapsed or burned a charcoal black. The stench of death was everywhere, along with splatters and puddles of dried blood.

Lin walked over to a Royal Guard, and with just a few words, the guard was barking orders, “Move and spread out! Take up formations!”

“We have no idea what’s beyond the barrier. We will take up a defensive perimeter in case of attack. If any are to come at us with hostile intentions…” Lin trailed off.

“That won’t happen. I promise I’ll handle it,” Dad said.

“Hold on a moment,” I interjected.

I fed mana into my left eye, and the world changed. I could see the spell itself, manifested and maintained by mana. It reached all the way into the sky and even underground, forming a perfect barrier. I fed more mana into my eye and pushed through the initial barrier, only to see a vast open space and a second, tinier spell.

“There are two barriers. In between the first and second barrier is what I assume to be open ground. There is nothing alive there,” I said.

Dad nodded. “What about the second one? There must be people inside that one,” he said.

I nodded and fed more mana to my eye. I focused and felt a tinge of discomfort at the back of my head as I zoomed in deeper and pierced the glowing structure made of mana, which was the spell.

“Beyond the second barrier…I see…over a hundred people gathered and tightly packed inside of it. It’s difficult to get an exact number on the living, but I see a lot of small souls; they must be children,” I said.

“Then the likelihood that they are going to fight us will be low,” Dad inferred.

Lin shook her hooded head. “I have orders to secure this place, and we have no idea what’s going on besides the fact that they are alive. I won’t be pulling our troops back until the scene is safe.”

I put a hand on my father’s shoulder and said, “She’s right, Dad. I can’t tell the difference between hostile and friendly in this situation. And although there are many children, I also see plenty of adults—even some who are quite strong.”

“Then I’ll just have to do my best,” Dad mumbled.

The Royal Guard from before marched over to Lin and gave a quick salute. “We are ready and awaiting orders.”

“There are two barriers. The one on the outside has nothing alive, but remain vigilant for any physical traps. The second one has a large group of people still alive, including children. Alert everyone to this new information and tell the archers and mages not to fire unless I give the order,” Lin commanded.

“Yes, Ma’am.”

Lin turned to my father and said, “Then everything hinges on you, Alanis Shadowheart. We’ll remain behind you unless danger strikes.”

“Thank you,” Dad said with a slight bow.

Varnir, my father, and I began to walk toward the shadowy barrier. Everyone had surrounded the large sphere, awaiting its departure. But while walking toward it, Varnir tugged on my sleeve.

“Kaladin…did you…” he trailed off.

“I’ve never met your parents before, so I’m unsure what to look for. Also, there are far too many people, so unless your parents were incredibly powerful with bright souls…I wouldn’t be able to tell the difference,” I said honestly.

“Yes…that’s right…I shouldn’t be bothering you, sorry…” he muttered.

Varnir winced and looked genuinely pained. His pink eyes, swelled by dark bags, had sunk into his face. His lips were chapped from the wind and cold. Like everyone else, he hadn’t slept much the last few days. Now he had returned to his home to find everything destroyed, his people dead or betraying the place he lived. Just to make matters even worse for him, his parents, his only family in the entire world, were missing.

I felt incredibly awful for him. The only things I could offer him were my words and being by his side.

I gripped his upper arm and looked him dead in the eyes, “Remain strong, Varnir. Have faith in your family. We’ll get through all of this together.”

“I’m starting it,” Dad said as he walked right up to the barrier.

My father extended his arms as tendrils of shadow creeped out from beneath him and swallowed his whole hand. The shadows shaped themselves into a long blade, which he used to stab the shadowy barrier. However, he did not break through it. Instead, he continued to stab at the barrier in what seemed to be random. But soon enough, a pattern emerged.

“You are trying to contact the mages holding the barrier up?” I questioned.

Dad nodded. “Zydrae had told me many, many years ago if she ever erected a barrier, she would open it for me if I knocked on it with a certain pattern. I’ve never forgotten it.”

“I see…and is this truly all shadow magic? Couldn’t light magic burst through it?” I asked.

Dad continued to beat the barrier rhythmically. “No. In truth, this barrier is made up of shadow magic and barrier magic. Zydrae is talented at both schools of magic. She’s even a better mage than me.”

With a final stab, the shadowy barrier dissolved instantly. And then, it hit us.

The stench of death and decay.

An audible groan echoed out from all around us. The soldiers and everyone took a step back as the smell hit their nostrils. I even caught a Beastmen guard, hunched over and vomiting. That was only on the smell alone; the scene before everyone was just as gruesome.

The scene of a bloody battle had been played out. Corpses sprawled out everywhere, laying in pools of their dried blood—craters from significant magical impacts and bodies torn to shreds. The dead were numerous, and not all of them were fighters. Many civilians were in the mix. And they were all dead.

The last remaining barrier stood at the center. My father looked out at the scene, fists clenched but face devoid of emotion. Varnir was in a state of shock as he stumbledshambled forward, nudging bodies over to see their faces.

Lin walked up behind me and solemnly said, “We need to move forward. I swear to you we will assist with the bodies and clean up under your command once things are safe, Sir Shadowheart.”

But Dad was already moving. He stepped over piles of bodies, burned-down tents, and broken weapons in dreadful silence. I followed close behind him, examining the faces of the dead to see if I recognized anyone, but I didn’t. I wasn’t very close with many of the people who lived in the encampment, but it was all heart-wrenching the same. It was apparent that Dad and Varnir recognized people. After all, they had lived here and called this place home.

We crossed a row of tents and what looked like a defensive line. Dirt walls had been erected by mages, dried blood splattered across the stones, and bodies slumped over it lay in a small ditch. There were also far more warriors here than on the other side.

The soldiers and knights combed through the bodies and homes while we went straight to the final barrier. The fighting here was more intense. More signs of higher-level magic dotted the pocked land. Entire houses and tents had been decimated, barely scraps showing they once existed.

And at the foot of the last barrier was a mountain…a mountain of bodies. It was easy to tell what happened here. The defenders had their backs to the shadowy sphere. It appeared it was true that not all the warriors and Shadow Dancers had sided with my grandfather. Many had held their own against their own kind. But there were also familiar white-robed insurgents thrown into the chaos now.

My father had stopped just shy of the mountain. He looked up at it, tears rolling down his face. I followed his gaze and closed my eyes slowly. I, too, wanted to cry. Maybe it was just because I was tired and angry. But I knew that wasn’t true. Out of all the people I wanted to hope were alive the most…she treated me with nothing but warmth and kindness despite barely knowing me.

She had told me we were family, regardless of what anyone said. I wished I had more memories with her or just gone to see and speak with her... but I would never be able to do that again because Aunt Illyssia had died, still standing with a broken spear in one hand and a dead man’s head in the other.

A broken spear in her leg, another through her chest, and an arrow to her neck. She was the last one before the barrier. In front of her was a sea of her slain enemies. Dark Elves, Humans, Beastmen- she had killed them all with spear and magic.

“Wi—will you help me, Kal?” Dad choked.

“Yes…”

We climbed the corpse mountain, and I helped my father free his sister’s body from the pile. He carried her gently down the pile and laid her across the ground. He broke the spear still in her chest and knelt down beside her. He slowly ran his shaking hands across her cheek and closed her still-open eyes.

“Kal…”

“Yes, Dad…”

“Will you give me a moment?”

I backed away and moved elsewhere. I had seen and heard my father cry before. But this was the first time I had heard him wail. I never wanted to listen to my father or anyone sound like that again. Although that may be impossible, regardless, I looked up to the sky and made a new promise to myself and my family.

“Those who did this today…they will come to regret it.”