Solemn was everyone's collective mood that morning when we began our expedition. Everyone knew our current task would tolerate neither delay nor detour. Not long after sunrise, my housemaid woke me up and helped prepare my equipment. Her experienced hands made quick work of the many buckles and straps required to holster my new weapons, not to mention my utilitarian garb. My twinblades were sheathed along my hips, my dagger was strapped to my thigh, and my revolver was holstered under my left arm. I wore a long-sleeved black turtleneck shirt with a beige leather buckled vest overtop and dark green cargo pants. For protection, I had black gloves and brown leather bracers with matching elbow guards. My knees were sheltered by identical knee guards, and below them, I wore black leather boots with thick, treaded soles. For warmth, I brought a dark blue wool shawl. My hair was fastened into a neat crown braid. That was merely the first time of who knows how many that I'd get suited up for a dangerous assignment. After a nutritious breakfast and a journey's blessing from the Queen, it was time to set out.

In due time, I found myself being ushered onto a large swamp boat, which resembled a mix of a gondola and a canoe, with a sophisticated motor attached to the back. The helmsman was one of the Queen's most trusted pilots. He would take the eight of us to our destination, deep into one of Kelnesath's treacherous bogs. Most of the realm's settlements were atop hills, far from swamps, which meant we'd had to first traverse through town and down cliffside roads into the forest below. Our boat wasn't very far from Lin Seriar and the castle, but the swamp's sludge made travelling by boat almost impossible without a trained pilot to navigate the irregular terrain. Not to mention, certain areas of water were teeming with not-exactly-harmless creatures. Everyone was careful to keep their arms and legs inside the boat at all times.

Thankfully, between Reyshore, Morgina's maps, and the helmsman, getting lost was last on the list of potential issues. Also low on that list was a lack of preparation. The Queen had loaned us plenty of rope, cords, rappel devices, harnesses, and other climbing equipment. It didn't take long for me to figure out what we were going to do. I was just nervous to ask where, or why.

"Estimated time of arrival, sir?" Kadia asked the helmsman, shifting in her seat.

"About an hour to go, Captain. Should the muck be kind to us today," he replied in a gruff voice. As we advanced into the dark green bog, a tepid breeze formed in the air, whistling through the giant trees that steadily blocked more and more sunlight.

"Copy that." She turned to the rest of the group. "Steel yourselves if you haven't already. These mires are dicey, even for a seasoned explorer. Always watch your footing. Keep a keen eye out. Remember, failing to plan is planning to fail. And a knife is only as sharp as its wielder."

Soon, the towering castle behind us was nothing but a painting far in the distance. I kept my gaze on the scenery ahead. The trees grew thicker and the muddy water, green at the top, slowly turned a purple-brown colour near the floor, until it got so deep that you couldn't see anything below the surface.

Reyshore, hunched over across from me, had a copy of the gemstone's riddle sprawled out on his lap. Curious, I scanned the upside-down words.

Miry and treacherous is this crumbling fortress

Only the steadiest of feet may scale its turbulent corpus

A seemingly gentle element, yet often erratic or noxious

Here, His pure craft still thins and is sporadically toxic

"Where are we headed, exactly?" Ashkan spoke up, voicing my exact thoughts.

Reyshore looked up from the page. "The Bog's Pillar. 'Tis a relatively thin but extremely tall – and extremely old – tower located in the thickest area of this swamp. Many believe this is where Iton spent a great deal of his time when in human form."

"Iton?" I echoed, recognizing the familiarity of that name.

Shaye jumped in, "The god of air. He was known to be reclusive, which explains the everlasting staircase…" I gave her a puzzled look, and she clarified, "The tower has interior stairs that only go up about halfway, after which they've been charmed to repeat eternally. I believe it was to punish unwanted visitors. Considering its bottom half is not nearly as dilapidated as the top half, I'm inclined to believe it."

"So, we'll need to scale the tower up to the top," Ashkan said. "…Smashing."

"I don't reckon the jewel will be waitin' for us in a neat little cupboard two steps from the door," Morgina joked, munching on a piece of fruit. "Where else would it be, besides the tippy-top?"

"Be that as it may, we are more than prepared. Fear not," Reyshore assured us. "While the tower is in bad repair, and we cannot vouch for its exact structural integrity, it will serve to use everything in our arsenal."

Shaye nodded in agreement. I could tell she was nervous, but thankfully, not much more than everyone else was. I figured that since air was the element she majored in, this expedition must carry some excitement for her, at least.

She then glanced at Ashkan. "My, he's in shaky spirits today," she whispered to me.

"Really? He seems fine to me," I said. Eyeing him briefly, I took in his expression, which was practically robotic. Ashkan was one of the few people I'd ever met that had every emotion on such a short leash that he'd have instances of pure blankness. No eye twitch, no furrowed brow, no lip curl in any direction. Nothing indicative of any glimpse of feeling. It was almost a talent.

"He's wiping smudges off his axe," Shaye continued, "but watch his hands. Notice how he keeps going over the same spot, again and again? In a rhythmic pattern? No doubt he's stuck in his own head about something…"

My eyebrows raised. She was right. "Your scrupulous eye never ceases to impress, Shaylie. Ashkan's lucky to have a friend that knows him so well, in and out."

"Stars, thank you," she smiled. "Reading him has never been a challenge for me. Comforting him, on the other hand… Our brains are quite different in that respect. It tends to be a constant battle between risking making him feel worse or saying nothing at all." She leaned away from me. "How are you doing over there, Ashkan?"

Flinching slightly, he whipped his head towards us before giving a subtly insincere grin. "I'm just fine. Worry about yourself, all right?"

Shaye huffed defeatedly, retrieved a small sketchpad from her bag, and began scribbling. I, however, was not giving up so easily.

I slid across the bench until I sat beside Ashkan, maintaining a polite distance. "Managed to get all those flowers out?"

His gaze flickered to mine, then darted away. The corner of his mouth quirked upward slightly. "You tell me."

"I think you're good," I replied after leaning over to check the back of his head.

He smiled reflexively, but just with his eyes – the kind of look that let me know he was at ease. At that moment, a light bulb went off in my head. Maybe that was the key to cheering Ashkan up. If he was feeling down, it never seemed like a good idea to point it out directly or put him under a spotlight. That always seemed to make him feel uncomfortable. I mean… Considering what he has to deal with at home… I wondered if simply chatting about random things was a better method to lighten the mood.

Within that same hour, we eventually reached the base of the Pillar. The very top was difficult to see through the dense foliage, but after a few seconds of observation, I estimated it to be well over a thousand feet in height.

The helmsman propelled us as close to the tower as possible, then promptly anchored his boat and wished us well, promising not to leave until we returned. The eight of us thanked him and exited, planting our feet right into the almost waist-high swamp water. My treaded boots sunk into the mud. It felt like wading through taffy, but much more unpleasant. Poor Shaye couldn't hide the look of disgust on her face. It didn't help that, although it was about midday, the light level was far closer to what a typical evening would look like outside the marsh.

I sped up a little in order to walk beside Kadia. "You sure there's nothing deadly near us? I can barely see my feet."

"Positive," she replied. "This section of water isn't deep enough for harmful creatures. Nothing you can ask me, Brielle, is something I haven't already thought of."

"Is that a challenge?" I quipped. Kadia simply rolled her eyes.

Soon enough, the water shallowed until it was below my knees. I was walking with minimal difficulty like the others until I happened to step on an abnormally cavernous pocket of muck. My right leg shot straight down as the marsh floor gave way underneath me. However, before I could sink too far or even ask for help, I felt myself being quickly scooped up by my armpits. After being set aside, I turned around.

"I swear, this mud could suffice as a substitute for glue," Reyshore said, dusting off my shoulders.

I laughed. "Thank you for the help. What would I do without you guys?"

"Even after all these months, our assistance surprises you yet," he commented with a smile. His earrings clinked together as he tilted his head. "You are aware of the breadth of my occupation, are you not? I am your defender, after all. I shall protect you with my life."

"I know, I know," I answered, shrugging. "I can't help but worry that it's such a waste of talent, though. I'm only a so-called saviour, and I barely know what that means. I'm no saint or monarch. I don't want anybody risking anything for me."

Reyshore's trio of eyes turned from attentive to sympathetic, and his ears drooped slightly. After a moment of careful pause, he spoke. "I would argue that a saviour's duties are just as crucial as those to any sovereign. Saviours are heroes. But understand this, Brielle." His voice was quiet but encouraging. "Heroism is not only about confronting peril and crusading for good. It is just as much about carving your own path and possessing the resilience to remain on that path, to adhere to your own compass, straying not even when faced with adversity. It is about listening to your instincts and trusting yourself. That, from what I've learned, is the very definition of a hero. Those who strive for justice and righteousness are not merely heroes, but pioneers. They dare to do the right thing. You are a saviour, Brielle, that much cannot be changed. It is up to you to choose what kind of champion you will become."

I bit the inside of my cheek. Was Reyshore ever wrong? "Thanks," was all I could think of in response.

By then, the group had reached dry ground. That is, as dry as swamp ground can realistically be. Surrounding the Pillar in all directions by about a thirty-foot radius was a collection of relatively short trees with white bark. Curiously, they were arranged sparsely, and I would soon learn why this was an important detail.

Kadia stepped in front of the group. "Right, there's no reassuring way to say this. These trees are home to venomous snakes. Theistekydes, also known as glass vipers. If you get too close, there's a chance one will drop down and bite you. The only way to avoid this is to steer clear of their reach and not step into the shadows. Understood? Follow me, single file." Everyone nodded and formed a line, with us saviours in the middle. Slowly and carefully, we dodged around each tree's overhang. It was unsettling, to say the least, not knowing if the nearby rustling was a snake preparing to attack, or just the wind.

I had almost reached the other side when I heard Shaye scream from behind me. I turned on my heel to look for her and saw her scrambling away from a near-transparent snake hanging from a tree. Panicked, she quickly cast a strong blast of wind, which stunned the snake. Then, before anyone else could take action, Tyrath grabbed Shaye's arm and pulled her aside.

He yanked the snake out of the tree by its throat, threw it onto the ground, and smashed its head in with his boot. "Got it," was all he said afterwards.

"Well done, Tyrath," Kadia nodded, motioning for everyone to keep moving. "We're almost there."

"Goddamn…" I whispered, glancing at Ashkan. His eyes were as wide as mine.

Minutes later, we approached the tower's entrance. Although it was staggeringly tall, it was far from skinny, and the interior was surprisingly spacious. The entire thing was constructed of greyscale stone and somewhat rusted metal. Behind the wooden cathedral door, the moderate amount of light from outside spilled in through narrow windows. Some were covered in colourful stained glass, and some were left open. Our voices and footsteps echoed off the rounded walls. A few pieces of simple furniture lined the room, along with random barrels and crates. To the left, I could see the beginning of a stone staircase.

Thorne crossed his arms. "I'm guessing we're not even going to try climbing the stairs?"

"It's unlikely to prove fruitful," Kadia said, shrugging. "But there are windows just over halfway up. If we can climb that high, and skip the charmed staircase, I think it's well worth examining this tower's secrets."

So, Tyrath set down the small, but magically bottomless backpack he'd been carrying and began fishing out all sorts of climbing gear. There were enough ropes, helmets, harnesses, and other devices for everybody. The eight of us geared up before heading back outside. Rather than a traditional hooking method, the end of each rope was secured to the edges of the target window using magic. The spell splayed out in a net-like fashion, clinging to the stone as if impossible to separate.

Adjusting the thigh straps of my harness, I took a deep breath and looked up, squinting slightly. Morgina and Thorne were far ahead, with Tyrath not far behind. Reyshore and Kadia insisted on going last.

"Not exactly how I was planning to die," Ashkan muttered from near me. I chuckled and watched for a few seconds as he began scaling the tower. This was almost exactly like training exercises we'd had before, thank god.

Rather than thinking about looking down, I focused on how lucky it was that none of us were afraid of heights. The harness held me securely and bore most of my body weight. The device on its front allowed the rope to pass through downward but not upward, so there was no chance of falling that way. I made progress slowly but surely, and only when I felt safe in my footing, using grooves and gaps in the stone to lift myself up. Every now and then, I'd catch a glimpse of the ground below me, and my stomach would lurch. It wasn't necessarily the concept of being high up that was scary, but rather the idea of having no walls or floor around me.

As a temporary distraction, I observed everyone else. Morgina and Thorne were neck-and-neck above the rest of us, likely competing for the fastest time, laughing as they went. Tyrath was hot on their heels but struggling slightly. Ashkan was roughly beside him. To my surprise, Ashkan almost gave off an impression of boredom; his hands and feet passed quickly from stone to stone, and sometimes he'd jump to reach the next. He glanced down at me a few times, hanging from one hand.

I rolled my eyes. Show-off.

Shaye was only a bit lower than I was, weaving among stones almost as if they weren't there. I wondered if there was anything she could do ungracefully. Reyshore was not too far from her, only having a little trouble climbing due to his height. Finally, Kadia was monitoring everything from the back, clearly moving at a speed lower than what she was used to.

We ascended higher and higher. Alongside the verticality came increasingly stronger winds, which made climbing an even bigger challenge. My face flushed against the rushing air. If not for my gloves, my hands would've been torn to the bone. The last thing we wanted was to get caught in the drafts and go flying sideways into the wall. I needed to stay close to the stones.

Once, after a particularly strong gust, I lost my footing and swung harshly to the side like a tetherball. Thankfully, I always had help. Before I crashed into the wall, Tyrath caught me by the elbow and set me back on track. Our trainers were constantly looking out for us saviours, but I could've sworn they had eyes on the back of their heads.

About half an hour went by before we reached the open window. One by one, we passed through it, landing in a room that seemed untouched for many decades. I was relieved to be on solid ground again. As everyone removed their climbing equipment and returned it to Tyrath's backpack, I scanned the room. Like the bottom of the tower, it was quite spacious. However, the windows were wider and lacked glass, the furniture was much dustier, and there was no staircase in sight. Besides that, it wasn't much more than a round, grey room.

"Don't tell me we came all this way for nothin'," Morgina huffed, combing the hair out of her eyes.

"Give it a chance," Thorne told her. "We just got here."

Separate from the group, Reyshore was already examining something on the far wall. I wandered over to see what it was – a set of three small tablets with spiral patterns, protruding from the stone ever so slightly. The symbol of air, I thought.

"Buttons?" I questioned, likely echoing his own theory.

"I see not another way to progress," he answered. "Kadia?"

Kadia approached us, then placed her hand on one of the tablets. "Might as well."

On the count of three, we pressed the tablets in unison. With some effort, they moved back into the wall. For a moment, it was silent. A series of clinks and whirs started up, and we all watched, frozen, as a pedestal arose from the floor in the centre of the room. On it was an array of pale turquoise glass tubes of varying lengths. They stood upright, seemingly immovable from the pedestal.

I retrieved my dagger from its sheath and tapped the blade gingerly against one of the tubes. A clear, crisp note echoed across the room. Almost immediately, we heard more whirring from inside the back wall. Then, a melody of five muffled notes played from the same direction.

Ashkan folded his arms. "Sounds like a flute."

"In the wall?" Shaye added. "We can't access that…"

Kadia shook her head. "That can't be what it wants."

"Iton's hobby was music," Morgina said. "So, this makes nothing but sense."

I tapped the same glass tube again. Once more, the hidden mechanism whirred to life and played the five-note melody. "I can't think of anything other than copying those notes," I said, "but I'm not the one with an ear for that."

"Let's hope we don't have a limited amount of tries," Ashkan commented. He brandished his own dagger and tapped it against a random five of the nine tubes. Their tones were different, that was certain. The flute played its melody a third time.

Thorne nudged Reyshore. "Didn't you use to play an instrument, mate?"

"That was…many years ago," Reyshore explained, looking a bit sheepish.

"Ah, go on, then!" Thorne said.

"Very well…"

For the next few minutes, Ashkan and Reyshore went back and forth with the hidden flute, trying to match its song to the glass tubes. They tried many different patterns, each one closer to the target than the last. Finally, after some trial and error, a perfect copy was achieved.

Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding!

"That should do it," Ashkan said, nodding. Sure enough, the pedestal slowly retracted back into the floor, covered by a stone tile. Seconds later, the walls shook faintly, and a large panel moved to reveal a staircase. The dark passage was lined with torches, which suddenly burst into white flames, burning away the abundant cobwebs. It was narrow enough that it necessitated going single file.

Naturally, Morgina pulled out her notebook and added the discovery to her draft map. "Not sure I like the look of these stairs," she said quietly. Indeed, many steps were cracked and crumbling, and some had already given way to the murk below. The walls of the spiral passage weren't much better. We'd occasionally pass a broken spot, and I'd be rudely reminded of how high up I was.

"Tread lightly, everyone," Kadia ordered.

We were mostly silent as we ascended, passing ever so carefully from step to step – or, sometimes, it was more like platform to platform. The handful of holes in the walls made it worse, letting in the harsh winds from outside. A few of us lost our balance for a split second. I was grateful to have people behind and before me to avoid falling over. The stairs might not have been able to handle that kind of sudden force. The wind grew in intensity as we went higher and was particularly severe from the northeast. As we progressed, the torches grew fewer and weaker. Their white flames looked like wisps of mist, growing ever thinner with each step.

Eventually, just as my legs started to burn, we reached the next floor. This was the first level we'd encountered without any windows. The contents of the room could still be discerned, though, thanks to lit torches. Amongst miscellaneous barrels and crates stood three large glass canisters. They were connected to the floor and ceiling by thin brass tubes. The canisters themselves had taken on greenish-brown hues, but there was no telling if they'd always been like that or not.

"The way's open," Tyrath pointed out, hooking his thumb towards a far doorway. "We shouldn't bother with all this."

Kadia, who entered the room last, paused to think. "Perhaps–" she began, but was cut off by a loud noise from behind her. Everyone turned to see that a giant iron panel had slid in front of the staircase, effectively blocking us from turning back. At the same moment, an identical panel moved to obstruct the doorway beside Tyrath. He tried to push it back open, but it was no use. We were stuck.

"I suppose it's an indication we're in the right spot," Reyshore mentioned.

"But we can't stay here forever!" Morgina exclaimed. "There must be something with these canisters here."

"Are they a power source?" Thorne posed.

Kadia shook her head. "I doubt that. The mechanisms aren't large enough."

"Hey," Shaye interjected from the corner of the room. "Am I the only one hearing that noise?" Everybody fell silent. Somewhere beyond the whistles and rushes of wind outside, there was another sound. A sort of hiss, like air releasing from a tire.

Looking around for the source, my eyes landed on the end of a skinny black pipe above the blocked doorway. "Up there!" I said, pointing.

Reyshore walked over to it and tilted his head up. He sniffed, scowled, then appeared distressed. "N'seuh gas. This is…poisonous."

Instantly, everyone covered their noses and mouths with whatever they could manage – be it a scarf, collar, or glove.

"Bloody–!" Thorne cursed.

"Calm, Thorne," Kadia told him. "Everyone, stay calm. We just need to solve this puzzle. Morgina, Tyrath, try to block that pipe. Reyshore, come aid us over here."

There seemed to be some kind of magical resistance to the gas pipe, as it was countering most of Tyrath and Morgina's efforts. The former tried capturing the gas in water bubbles, but he had to be extremely careful not to burst them accidentally. The latter had some success with her ice powers as she attempted to crystallize the gas. Either way, the task required constant effort.

Meanwhile, six of us were trying to decipher the canister puzzle. It hadn't even been five minutes before my eyes began stinging and watering. The tubes had brass medallions on them, each with a different number. 79, 104, 26. They also each had a small, round gauge.

"Reyshore?" Kadia asked in between coughs. "Any thoughts?"

"The sole idea that remains to me is pressure," he said. "These might be units of pressure. All gauges read fifty units; therefore, we must heat or cool each canister to reach the target."

"It sounds very plausible," Kadia replied. "And it is the best idea we have." She, being the most proficient in ice magic, got to work on the right canister. It was finicky, but after some tuning, she managed to cool the gas to a reading of 26.

Ashkan and Shaye used fire to increase the pressures of the left and middle canisters. The poison in the air made it understandably difficult for them to concentrate. Soon, the room was filled with the sounds of coughing and sniffling. Tears streamed down my face. Reyshore and I focused on healing them as they worked. I wasn't sure how helpful I was being, though. He had his hands on Shaye's shoulder, and I had mine on Ashkan's. A warm, silvery-gold light appeared in my palms.

There are healing spells that are projectile, or can be sent out from a distance, but it's more efficient to have physical contact with the person. My knowledge of healing magic was still more based on theory than practice. There was this special mode, this state I had to go into for it to work. In that mode, I would close my eyes and I could feel what kind of pain the person was in, where it was, and how bad it felt. Afterimages of shapes and colours would pulse behind my eyelids. They would change depending on the type and severity of the ailment, and I would respond to them accordingly. I could almost see tissue knitting together or mending. Long story short, healing while pushing through strained breaths wasn't easy. I tried my best to focus on Ashkan's lungs, releasing energy to combat the poison molecules. On the bright side, this didn't tire me out as much as it used to.

Slowly, my ears drowned out every noise other than my wheezing breath and Ashkan's heartbeat. Everything sounded exactly as if I was underwater. Right when I began to wonder if I'd pass out, I felt him move away from underneath my hands. I halted my spell and opened my eyes. My hearing returned to normal, but my vision was blurred with tears. Blinking forcefully, Ashkan's worried face – something I'd seldom seen – materialized before me. He was gripping my shoulders.

His voice snapped me out of my focus. "It's over!" he yelled. "Let's go!" He grabbed my hand, and we ran out of the room along with the other six. The doorway we'd found earlier had opened for us, and promptly shut behind us once more. In front of me was yet another staircase. Coughing, I braced myself against the wall.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

"Wait," Kadia called out to those ahead. "Give her a moment." She looked me up and down. "Well done, Brielle. Take some time to catch your breath."

"Sorry, I–" I inhaled, trying to clear my throat. The poison gas mixed with the strain of magic had knocked some wind out of me. How did Reyshore manage just fine for that long?

"Don't apologize," Shaye cut in, putting her arm around me. "You did wonderfully. We all did!" She grabbed a cloth from a pouch on her belt and dampened it using magic, then gently dabbed around my eyes. It felt amazing.

"Thanks, Shaye," I said, my voice still somewhat hoarse. I turned my head towards Ashkan, who I only then noticed was still holding my hand. His brow was furrowed, but his gaze was warm.

He squeezed my hand loosely. "Um… Thank you."

I nodded. "Anytime." My lungs were sore, but my heart got a fuzzy feeling. There was no way I could ever be alone in this. We were a team, and a solid one at that.

The staircase ahead of us was in much better shape than the last. After regaining my strength, I climbed the steps to the next floor after the others. What awaited us upstairs was an odd sight indeed. Nothing inside the room was particularly strange, yet I instantly noticed how lived-in it was. Everyone spread out to investigate. On one side, there was a set of barn-sized double doors that stretched from the floor to the ceiling. On the other, a collection of furniture and various items. It was as if we'd stepped into someone's living quarters, not an ancient tower room left untouched for a century. There was almost no dust in sight. Wooden chairs were arranged neatly around tables, which bore plates, books, and other clutter. There were cupboards, a pantry, bookcases, and even a wardrobe. Clothing and armour were arranged meticulously on racks.

Thorne opened the pantry, pulling out a handful of vegetables. "These are far from expired," he noted. He then sniffed a small loaf of bread. "Fresh."

"It's no secret someone's been living here," Kadia said. "But…who?"

Underneath a window, there was a long display case with objects locked inside it. Upon closer inspection, I saw various journals, letters, sheets with musical scores, small instruments, quills, and other knickknacks. Everything looked extremely old. "Seems like…someone obsessed with Iton," I suggested. "This might be his stuff."

Without notice, I heard an ear-piercing, animalistic screech from the sky outside. We all exchanged alarmed glances.

"That sounded uncomfortably nearby," Tyrath noted.

The same cry rang through the air once more, louder this time. It sounded vaguely bird-like. Just then, a giant rush of wind rattled the massive double doors, followed by the sound of something enormous landing. The floor trembled momentarily. It was a wonder this place hadn't come crashing down yet. My pulse spiked. Something was behind those doors. But did it know we were here?

The five trainers assembled protectively in front of Shaye, Ashkan and me. The doors shook so hard that we all took a step back. Suddenly, they burst open, then slammed against the back wall with a resounding boom. I used my forearm to shield my eyes from the wind and dust. Then, upon getting my first look at the creature, time itself seemed to slow.

Not to sound like a broken record, being in Emiarhia, but I'd never seen anything like it. The beast had landed on a large stone platform just beyond the double doors. It was some kind of mystical bird with a thick, feathered tail, huge, curved wings and a tapered beak. The entire thing was the size of a small jet plane. It had a long neck, and the claws on its hands looked just as sharp as those on its feet. Its feathers were longer than usual and changed from black to green under the sunlight. Its eyes were golden. I thought I'd caught a glimpse of a form on its back, but before I could verify that, the creature took a deep breath and screeched again. I squeezed my eyes shut and braced myself. The force of the cry almost knocked me off my feet. When I looked again, to my shock, the room was full of incredibly dense fog.

"May Gavphine protect us from harm," Shaye whispered from beside me. I shifted all of my focus to the fog cloud, watching for even the smallest movement. Nothing happened for what felt like forever. I then heard the sounds of leather and metal, followed by several sets of footsteps.

Kadia readied her scythe in one hand. "Stranger," she declared, her voice echoing, "I am Kadia Lowell, captain of the fourth company of the Rime Guard of Winithas. My lieutenants and I have been deployed on this mission on behalf of His Majesty King Typhis. Our intentions are virtuous."

The fog began to settle, and I could make out three towering figures standing about twenty feet away. More details reached my eyes as the billows settled towards the floor. They were all dressed similarly in silver plate armour. Overtop, they wore capes of tattered tartan fabric made of black, grey and teal lines. Every facial feature below their eyes was hidden behind black scarves, and their heads were wrapped elegantly in matching fabric. A chain of silver and gold charms glinted across their belts. One sported a pair of round goggles.

"Captain Lowell," one of them spoke. "I am familiar with thee. Thy face, however, is new." He stepped forward and bowed his head. "I am Edgar. My comrades, Ingram, and Valessya." The other figures bowed their heads in unison. Edgar continued, "Many soles have graced– Alas, invaded, these quarters. Yours, Captain, along with those of the Luminaries, are most welcome. Dare I say, overdue." He snapped his fingers, and with a final gust of wind, the giant bird took off into the skies.

"My thanks, Edgar," Kadia replied. "I presume you understand what we are in search of?"

"What other than our god's powers?" Edgar countered after he'd closed the double doors.

Ingram cut in, "Please accept, Captain, we shan't sit idly while the stone is pilfered. Our covenant of knights defends these holy grounds; our ancestors have done so for centuries."

"Yes. Instead, we ask that the Luminaries best us in combat," Edgar said, folding his arms. "If they emerge victorious, to them I shall grant the stone." Ashkan, Shaye and I glanced at each other nervously. Was it even possible for us to beat them?

Kadia bit her lip. "They can't very well continue their mission to rescue our planet if they're harmed. A fair fight it must be."

Edgar nodded. "A clean one. We give thee our sincerest promise. Three rounds, one for each saviour. To prove their worth. Otherwise, I must punish thee for disturbing our god's slumber."

Kadia eyed her lieutenants. They looked back at her blankly, knowing that she had the final say in the decision. She sighed, then said, "Very well. I shall agree, but on one condition. I reserve the right to cease the battle whenever I choose, even if it yields a loss."

"Of course, Captain," Edgar agreed. He stepped closer to shake Kadia's hand. I felt my throat run dry. There were serious things at stake here. Hopefully, the knights would accept a two-out-of-three victory.

Edgar, who seemed to be the leader of the group of knights, chose first – Ashkan. I wasn't sure whether to be relieved or offended.

"Just pretend it's training," I murmured to him, trying to be encouraging.

"No pressure at all," he said dryly.

The rest of us, including Ingram and Valessya, gathered on one side of the room. Ashkan and Edgar stood in the middle, staring each other down. Any furniture in the way was moved to achieve the most amount of open space possible.

"Lord Wroet'by," Edgar began. "A most unexpected visitor… A warrior, lost in this nightmare. 'Tis not your fault. Then the world is in good hands. "

Ashkan stretched his neck from side to side, brandishing his axe and shield. "I'll sign an autograph later."

Edgar chuckled and drew a broadsword from his hip. "Indulge me, milord. Have you profited at all from thy new status?"

"I'll find out soon enough."

"That glint in thine eyes… Hmm. Have respect for Iton's wishes. You face no enemies here, sire. The relic in this room shall be thy parting award. If, that is…you defeat me."

"Ready when you are, then."

Ashkan and Edgar stood facing each other, weapons at the ready. They circled one another, eyes locked, waiting for the other to make the first move. Without warning, Ashkan lunged forward, his axe aimed at Edgar's chest. Edgar deflected the blow and countered with a swift strike, which Ashkan barely blocked in time.

The two continued exchanging hits, each one matching the other's strength and skill. Sparks flew as their blades clashed. Ashkan was strong and deadly, but Edgar was big and powerful. Ashkan's steadiness with a shield allowed him to withstand most of Edgar's strikes, but one immense blow sent him stumbling. Edgar seized the opportunity and charged, but Ashkan rolled out of the way, flipping back onto his feet. His eyes burned with determination. With a simple flick, he enchanted his weapon, creating a stunning display of green and gold on the axe's blade. A magically enhanced weapon was always a sight to behold. My brain couldn't decide if it more resembled liquid, flame, or plasma, or perhaps a unique effervescence of mercury.

The battle raged on, with both combatants showing almost no signs of exhaustion. Edgar's sword clashed against Ashkan's shield, sending sparks flying. He quickly retaliated, swinging his axe at Edgar's head, but the agile knight dodged it with ease. Suddenly, Edgar charged toward Ashkan, hoping to catch him off guard. However, he was ready for him and parried his attack. The clash of steel echoed through the room as they battled fiercely. Ashkan delivered a heel kick to Edgar's side, knocking him off balance. Taking advantage of the moment, he lunged forward and slashed his axe sideways, giving Edgar a gash across his cheek. Audible gasps erupted from around me. Ashkan seemed stunned too, and paused for a second, giving Edgar just enough time to wind up a strong gust of wind. I watched in fear as Ashkan went flying and crashed into the wall. He groaned in pain but stood back up almost instantly.

"Come on, Ashkan," Kadia muttered under her breath. She gripped the edge of the bench we were sitting on. "Wait for an opening… You almost had him…"

I could tell Ashkan was angry now. He gritted his teeth and readied his shield once more. He then charged at Edgar, this time with a fierce energy that threatened to overpower his opponent. Using his shield to block Edgar's counters, he unleashed a series of incredibly fast strikes, then finished by summoning a patch of magic roots from the ground, grabbing his adversary, and pulling him forcefully downward. The force caused Edgar to cough and sputter. I thought he'd give up at that point, but surprisingly, he got back up.

With a furious cry, he ran at Ashkan, sword raised. I could see Ashkan calculating before he ducked and lifted Edgar over his shoulder by his legs. The maneuver was astounding considering the weight difference between the two. Edgar accidentally dropped his sword in the process as he was flipped onto his back.

"A weapon fumble, good gods," Thorne mumbled, "Someone get Edgar a cow because he is butchering this." Morgina stifled a laugh. I myself had to hide my grin with my hand.

Ashkan spun around, kicked the sword away, then pushed his boot into Edgar's chest, axe pointed at his forehead. "With all due respect, I believe this is over."

Edgar laughed, his scarf now loose around his neck. His teeth were somewhat bloodied. "I am a man of honour, not of folly. Indeed, you have won this battle."

Ashkan retracted his foot and helped him to his feet. They exchanged bows before returning to the group. Our side gave Ashkan many quiet congratulations, and Reyshore immediately began healing his very minor wounds.

"Great work," I said, patting him on the back. He gave a small smile in response, still recovering his breath.

Ingram was next to step up to the plate. He was shorter than Edgar, but definitely the heaviest out of the three. Regardless of who he chose as his opponent, it wouldn't be a simple fight. My heart dropped to my stomach when he picked Shaye. While it was true that she was very nimble and more than capable of combat, it felt borderline unfair – like pitting an elephant against a deer. I just hoped she could find a way to use Ingram's lack of speed against him. Air magic versus air magic… This should be interesting.

The setting sun filled the circular room with an amber glow. Ingram perched a large, ornate hammer across his shoulders. One end was spiked, and the other was flat. I gave Shaye an encouraging nod before she faced him in the centre. The two exchanged polite bows.

"As a servant of the God of Air, Aerial Maestro, Banisher of Pollutants, I am honoured to have met thee," Ingram spoke in a low voice.

Shaye took a moment to gather herself, then said, "The sentiment is mutual."

"You are a lady of the church, madam?"

"Indeed I am."

"Lovely," Ingram nodded. "Then thou'st not forgotten. 'Tis why we may confer, perhaps. Those ken to gods are undoubtedly ken to the horrors of the dark. Please, milady. Take not from Iton his rest."

"No, of course not," Shaye answered. "We shall soon be on our way, empty-handed or otherwise." She readied her whip-sword, eyes steeled.

Ingram spread his arms wide, looking unsettlingly relaxed. "I shall grant thee the first strike."

Shaye exhaled coolly, then swung her sword. Ingram caught it in his gloved hand, then went to bash her with his hammer, but Shaye jumped to safety. I sat up straighter. This guy was no joke. The air was thick with tension.

Ingram struck the next blow, his hammer flashing in the sunlight as he lunged toward Shaye. With a swift movement, she parried the attack and countered with a series of quick strikes. Ingram proved to be a skilled fighter, however, and was able to defend himself just as well. The two combatants circled each other, searching for an opening in the other's defense. Shaye feinted to the left, then lunged to the right, catching Ingram off guard. With a simple click, Shaye's sword transformed into a metal whip, lashing Ingram across the back. It snapped forward once more, wrapping itself around his arm. She pulled hard, yanking him off balance and sending him sprawling to the ground.

He rallied quickly, however, and came back at Shaye with renewed vigour. His strikes were heavy and calculated, and each one landed with a resounding thud, missing Shaye by mere inches. The fight seemed to go on forever, with neither of them gaining the upper hand. Shaye was running on pure adrenaline, her movements becoming wild and desperate. She needed to end this fight quickly before she exhausted herself. I watched as her whip became engulfed in blue and grey air magic, making each strike more powerful. Ingram soon became tangled in it entirely. Unfortunately, even with enhanced power, his body was too heavy to spin or pull. I could see Shaye becoming frustrated.

She managed to retract the whip, but only a second later, Ingram's hammer flew at her. She tried to avoid it, but the corner caught her knee. Shaye cried out in pain, collapsing to the floor. I found myself fighting the urge to jump in front of her. Kadia cursed under her breath. Still, Shaye rolled onto her good knee and lashed her whip again, aiming it perfectly to slice between Ingram's pauldron and cuirass. The weapon let out a burst of air as it sliced his flesh, drawing blood immediately. He growled and went to retaliate, swinging his hammer over and over.

Ingram attacked with great ferocity. Shaye, now back on both feet but favouring one leg, dodged and weaved, narrowly avoiding the crushing blows. She whipped out again, lashing Ingram's leg with a swift strike. Ingram's fury increased with every hit, and he continued to slam his hammer with more brute force. I could see the sweat on Shaye's brow. The next few moments were a blur – she tried to evade Ingram's attack, but it was too late. He summoned a giant rush of air, which swept Shaye off her feet before she careened into the opposite wall. I jumped to my feet, watching her slide down and curl into herself.

"That's ENOUGH!" Kadia commanded, her tone aggravated. "Cease this, now!" Ashkan and Morgina rushed over to Shaye and carried her over to Reyshore, who began tending to her injuries. Her eyes were teary.

Edgar held up his hand to Ingram. "What seems to be the matter, Captain?"

"This is a poor match. I will accept a loss, but I will not allow Shaylie to be so grossly harmed," Kadia asserted.

Edgar's expression remained neutral. "As thee wishes. Very well, then if Lady De Mavset can best Valessya, our god's stone is thine."

With Shaye being taken care of by our group, I could shift my attention to the task before me. The stakes were incredibly high. If I mess this up, will we never get the gemstone? That would throw off the entire plan… I walked to the centre of the room to face Valessya, feeling less confident than I appeared.

From her gauntlets emerged ten curved blades, five on each hand. The first sentence I heard her utter was, "A tomb…should be left well alone, yes? Ah, I know how secrets beckon so enticingly. An honest trouncing shall liberate you from your savage nosiness."

"Yeah, we'll see about that," I said, unsheathing both twinblades.

Above her goggles, an eyebrow arched. "How surly… For an Earthian, I suspected as much. Secrets will only spur thee so far." Brazenly, she extended a finger, tilting my head to the side with the flat part of its blade.

I rolled my eyes and pushed it away. "For a knight, I thought you'd be less talk and more action."

"What, thee wishes to tease more?" Valessya replied, feigning offense. "Doth thy solemn duties not consume thee yet? Or…is it a different hunt that calls to thee?"

"You're wasting time," I argued, grabbing my revolver and firing a round of light magic at her feet. She dodged it with zero effort but understood that the fight had begun.

My heart pounded in my chest. I moved swiftly, my blades a blur of silver as I attacked Valessya with all my might. She evaded quickly, her claws flashing as she tried to catch me unaware. I was dexterous, however, and managed to block her attacks. I gripped my blades tighter, striking at Valessya from both sides. Meanwhile, she used her claws to swipe at me, giving my upper arms a few nicks through my shirt. I knew I had to act fast. I thrust my blades forwards, launching an attack at Valessya's midsection. She blocked the attack with her claws, leaving her face unshielded, so I followed up with a back kick to the jaw. It sent her stumbling away. Taking the opportunity, I rushed forward, launching another barrage of attacks. It only lasted until she leaped to the side.

My brain felt like it was in overdrive. As I exchanged strikes with Valessya, I tried to analyze her stances and attack patterns, searching for a weak spot. She does have air magic, I thought, but her talons aren't as long as my twinblades. I had the advantage of range. Not wanting to extend things to the point of exhaustion, I swiftly jammed my weapons together, extending them into glaive mode. It became engulfed in iridescent, liquidy flames on my command. Valessya was stunned for a moment. She raised her claws high and struck downward, and I blocked it with the bar of my glaive. I didn't want to get smug, but the odds seemed in my favour.

Just then, Valessya enhanced her own weapons in air magic. Each swipe of her talons now created wind, making my job harder. However, being pushed back gave me distance. Spinning my glaive backwards to rest in between my shoulder blades, my right hand flew to my revolver. Valessya noticed and ran toward me, but a couple of light bullets stopped her in her tracks. She kneeled, gasped painfully, and rolled back a few feet. Maybe I couldn't slash through her armour, but bullets, even magic ones, are enough to bruise.

I returned my glaive to both hands. Taking an offensive position, I cast a bright flash of light toward Valessya's face, which blinded her briefly. I then took a few jabs at her chest. In response, she took hold of my glaive and pulled me in before swiping at my face. I winced as warm blood ran down my cheek. A bold move, I'll give her that. Determined, I spun my glaive in the air before swinging low. Just as I'd hoped, Valessya miscalculated my trajectory and went to block an overhead strike. I quickly swept her feet out from under her and she fell onto her back. I was about to pin her when she cast a strong burst of air, knocking me off balance. My weapon clattered to the ground.

Valessya held me forcefully, my arms stuck to my sides. "I believe I have bested thee," she said, her talons poking into my back.

My chest heaved as my eyes scanned my surroundings. There had to be something I could do. "Agree to disagree," I contested, and in one smooth movement, I kneed her in the stomach while ducking low.

She cried out and doubled over, her claws sailing over my head. I slid on one knee to reach my glaive behind her with my left hand, then brandished my revolver with my right as I spun around and stood up. It was aimed directly at her neck as she kneeled facing away. I kept my finger far from the trigger.

"A gun aimed is a gun fired. Now it's over," I said, nudging the back of her head with the barrel.

A handful of cheers erupted from my companions. Valessya said nothing as I helped her up. We gave each other half-hearted bows before returning to the group.

Reyshore ushered me to sit down, probably because I was still bleeding from the temple. "Fine work, Brielle," he said, wiping my face with a clean rag. "Truly fine work."

"I never lost faith," Ashkan chimed in. I smiled weakly.

Shaye, who looked tired but in much less pain, wrapped an arm around my shoulders. "You can rest now. Excellent job!"

Kadia shook Edgar's hand once more. "An arduous challenge indeed."

"With a clear victor," he said. "I offer my sincerest gratitude. The gods have asked a thing most terrible of the Luminaries. May this be of great aid." From a pocket in his cape, he fished out a tiny container. It was made of dirty glass and rusted metal. Although mostly hidden by grime, I caught a sparkle of something inside. "I know not of how to open it, alas. My apologies."

"And if this is false?" Kadia questioned.

"I err not from my vows. In such a case, I would give any king permission to demolish this tower with us inside it," Edgar answered. "I beg of thee, saviours. Vanquish any corruption that may threaten Emiarhia. Afore the darkness consumeth this good world."

With that, Kadia pocketed the container.

Ingram shifted his eyes to Shaye. "Forgive me for the violence, milady. My intention was not to wound thee. Thou art but this planet's only hope for preservation. 'Twas a test, nothing more."

"With warriors such as thee," Valessya added, "the gods must slumber most gently. We would proudly fight alongside thy forces."

After some more thanks and formalities, and after everyone felt well enough to continue, we said our goodbyes. I was sure everyone was more than ready for a nap after all we'd been through in the span of a few hours. We still had to get out of the tower, though. Fortunately, Edgar was feeling gracious enough to offer us a ride down on his giant bird. Needless to say, we took the offer. On any other day, I would've been super nervous to ride on the back of that kind of creature, but I'd been on pegasi way too many times for that to manifest. I was also way too tired to care. Plus, Edgar was a great pilot, and his bird was docile and quite soft.

In no time, we were back at the foot of the tower. The sky was a lot darker than when we'd entered. Everyone was a little more battered than they were this morning – some more than others – but we were alive and okay. That's all that mattered. That, and another gemstone was in our possession. I could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

"I hope our helmsman is all right," Thorne commented. "Poor bastard's probably bored to death."

"He's a professional, Thorne. This isn't his first excursion," Kadia said.

"Still got the gemstone?" Tyrath asked.

She nodded, fetching the case from her pocket and flashing it to everyone. "There is something very promising inside, that much is certain. I only hope it is possible to open."

Tyrath folded his arms. "It had better be the real thing. Or else none of this was worth it."

"As if you have anything better to do, Ty," Morgina quipped, grinning. The two of them began disputing animatedly, as usual.

The group kept walking. I sped up until I was beside Shaye. "Feeling better?"

"Yes," she replied, stretching. "I'll be sore for a day or two, though. I can't wait to crawl into bed. How about you? Reyshore is such an outstanding healer; those gashes on your face are already half-gone!"

"I'm okay," I said. "Just glad we made it out."

She smiled, then frowned. "I'm sorry I couldn't win my round…"

I shook my head. "Shaye, I don't know if you thought of this, but I don’t think any of us could've taken that guy single-handedly, at least not with as little room as what we had. He had a damn hammer the size of a small child. It was unfair."

She laughed quietly. "Thanks, Brielle."

The eight of us stopped walking at the edge of the snake-tree forest. I'd almost forgotten about that. This was likely going to be more difficult at dusk. I remembered that I couldn't truly relax until I was far, far away from any gemstone-holding area.

"Same as before," Kadia ordered. "Single file; stay in the middle. And be quiet." Everyone promptly followed her orders, treading as lightly as possible. The breeze had picked up noticeably compared to earlier. It was somewhat difficult to walk in a straight line.

"Maybe they're asleep?" Tyrath thought out loud. A chorus of shushing followed his statement.

It didn’t take long for us to reach the other side. I, unfortunately, was near the back of the line. Being as tired as I was, I relied on the pathing of those in front of me rather than watching where I stepped myself. The darkness of nightfall didn't help. There were only a handful of trees left to evade when I tripped on a root sticking out of the ground.

"Shit," I swore, landing harshly on my hands and knees. Most of my front was now covered in mud. Everyone stopped to look at me.

Ashkan was the closest. He started walking towards me to help. "Are you all right?"

I quickly got up and brushed myself off. "I'm fine."

Reyshore, who was behind me, put a hand on my back. "Let's keep moving. It is important not to stay underneath–"

Crunch.

A sharp pain suddenly sliced through my left arm. Alarmed, I looked over to see a nearly invisible theistekyde with its fangs sunken into my outer tricep. I yelped loudly and swatted at it, ripping its fangs out speedily but messily. It retreated into the canopy with a rustle. My heart raced as panic set in.

"Brielle?!" Kadia called out from where she stood with the others, on the edge of the swamp. "What happened?"

I didn't say anything. I didn't move. My face was frozen in an expression of terror.

Reyshore pulled me aside. "Did one bite you?" Shaking, all I could manage was a nod. The pain was building as every second passed. "She's bitten," he exclaimed to the others in a collected but worried tone.

"No!" Kadia shouted. "Bring her over here, now!"

I tried to walk normally with Reyshore's support, but the pain was too distracting. Soon, it was all I could think about.

"Here," Ashkan said, running up to me. Without another word or much effort, he lifted me into a bridal carry and brought me to safety by the marsh's edge. I was too weak to protest. I felt myself being propped up against a large rock, leaning back. Everybody was now crowded around me.

Kadia began removing all the armour covering my left side, then cut away the long sleeve of my shirt underneath with her dagger. "Tyrath. Bandages," she ordered. "Shaye, fetch me several clean rags. Thorne and Morgina, search for four or five long sticks. Reyshore, try to slow the venom. Ashkan, keep her calm if you can." Kadia's eyes were stern, but if I searched hard enough, I could see some agitation. "Just rest, understood?" she told me. "I need you to stay still. Everything will be fine. I promise."

I stared at the trees above me, trying to stay immobile. They were already spinning. My thoughts were a blur. The venom crept through my veins, making my head swirl. Every moment became more laborious, and my breaths were shallow, as if I was being suffocated. The pain escalated in waves, ebbing and flowing like the tide. Reyshore stayed on my left, concentrating determinedly on his healing. I felt one of his hands on my shoulder and one on my wrist. Wounds are one thing, being restricted to a specific area. I couldn't imagine how complicated envenomation was to slow.

I gasped as Kadia wiped the bite with a rag. "Ashkan, tilt her head back a bit. Her airway is too narrow," she instructed. He immediately placed his hand behind my neck, lifting it slightly so I faced more skyward. I noticed a difference right away.

I dared not look to my left. "Is it bad?" I asked Ashkan, rasping.

Continuing to support my head, he gave me a sympathetic look that said, 'Don't ask me that…' "About what you'd expect," he finally expressed.

Shaye kneeled beside him, sobbing quietly. "Everything is okay," she managed to choke out. I wondered if she was talking to me or herself. I could barely look at her. Even if I wanted to, my vision was becoming increasingly spotty.

Tyrath appeared, handing Kadia a roll of bandages. "I don't suppose you have any antivenom on you, right?"

"No," she stated sharply. "ASV needs to be constantly refrigerated. Even if I did, an intramuscular injection should be an absolute last resort. And she could develop anaphylaxis from any antivenom."

Thorne and Morgina returned to the group with some fairly clean sticks. "How much time do we have?" the former asked.

Kadia gritted her teeth. "Enough."

After cleaning and dressing the bite, she began winding bandages from my shoulder to my wrist. Although they were loose, probably to reduce swelling without cutting off blood flow, the pressure sent a wave of agony through my body. It felt like my arm was on fire. I'd never experienced such an intense mix of burning and stinging.

"Ow…!" I groaned, writhing for a moment. Shaye pressed her hands onto my shins, trying to keep me still.

"Ashkan…" Kadia warned.

Nodding his head apologetically, he carefully angled my face to my right side. "Just focus on breathing, okay? Good and steady." He smiled lightly, but I could tell he was stressed. He took several deep breaths, and I mimicked him as best I could. It was impossible to block out my other half entirely. With his free hand, Ashkan took hold of my elbow. "You're safe," he reassured me. "It's… It'll be all right. Just breathe." Somehow, his compassion eased my panic a little.

"What's the plan here?" Morgina queried. I'd never heard her use such a serious tone.

"We need to get her to Lunellia," Kadia muttered. I heard the sound of twigs cracking.

"What?!" Thorne interjected. "She's way too far!"

"I am aware!" she snapped, voice shaky. "But she's the only one I trust with this… And I don't want Brielle here while the rest of us are back in Winithas."

Thorne sighed. "Then maybe we can transport her after she's stable. C'mon, Kadia. She needs to go to an infirmary, for now."

"It will have to do."

Another surge of pain overtook me as she and Morgina fashioned a splint made of sticks and cloth around my arm. I squeezed my eyes shut. My body was beginning to lose sensation. I developed tunnel hearing, only catching every third or fourth word someone said.

Kadia's face became a mottled blur. "…Brielle, if…faint… Glass vipers…prey to sleep. …venom…somniferous." My heartbeat was too loud. I knew I couldn't stay awake much longer. The pain never stopped getting worse.

Ashkan and Shaye's outlines were no better. If I blinked hard enough, I could just make out Ashkan's green eyes, as he wasn't far. They were so full of stress that I almost felt embarrassed. But there was something else in them. Something familiar. That heaviness.

I knew that look. I'd seen it before. When we were getting ready for the Nyvar Festival. During our conversation on that bench in the plaza. When I visited his house. Rosary Day. That indescribable, obscure, elusive look. Fear, confusion, searching. Something. Something like…connection…?

Almost like…

…The way he looked at me while under the influence of Ofelia's potion.

Another tangle in the web. An interwoven thread that had become a knot.

I found myself fighting the sedative-like venom even more. I needed to figure out what was going on in Ashkan's brain. Maybe, just maybe, if I gazed long enough…I'd find the answer. Instead, my vision betrayed me and faded more. My blood burned in my veins. Any sense of equilibrium was gone. I was drained of energy and out of control.

Right before I lost my grip on the vestiges of consciousness, Ashkan's echoey voice reached me, "Temporary… It's just temporary…"

This pain might be temporary, I thought, letting my vision go completely dark. But so is life. Which one will I lose first?

Drastically, I fell into a deep slumber.