The rest of the day continued with the same training from the morning, though by late afternoon even Keira was too exhausted to continue. He was to practice drawing his spiritual form into specific areas but he was struggling to concentrate on anything other than going back to Easach. He knew the guild had investigated and been pushing back the miasma but he wasn’t aware they had established an area safe enough for them to return to.

When Keira told him they’d be going back, he asked if there had been much discussion around it. Most people in the section weren’t familiar with the island beyond hearing of the evacuation years ago and according to Keira, their section was given that location and they had no choice on the matter. He couldn’t help feeling that this wasn’t a coincidence given the special interest certain people had in him but when he asked Faye, she denied any intention or reason associated with him.

Faye told the rest of the section to take a short break before they’d be going for a run so Keira and William joined him while he was failing to focus on drawing the spiritual form into his hand. William collapsed by his side and rolled onto his back to look at the ceiling while Keira sat opposite him.

“How are you doing?” She said, holding her knees to her chest and peering over them.

“I can’t focus.”

“I figured, you’ve been staring off into space for a while.”

“I always intended on going back but I wasn’t expecting to do it so soon.”

“Maybe it’ll help you get some closure over the past,” William suggested without moving.

“We might be able to find some answers,” said Keira.

“I think that’s why I’m scared to go.”

“Scared of what you’ll find, or what you’ll remember?”

“Both probably, but I think the uncertainty of everything gave me some comfort. I’m scared I’m going to see the reality of it when we get there and that uncertainty will be gone. I’ll have to face reality again.”

“It’ll be okay, you’ll have us there and Faye, even the rest of the section that never talk to you.”

“Says Miss Popular herself, William’s the only one who’s actually befriended any of them.”

“That was my choice.”

“Uh-huh, I’m sure—”

“Would you really want to find out she was still alive?” William cut him off and they both turned to him in surprise at what he said.

“What kind of ridiculous question is that,” said Keira.

“I’m sorry, I don’t mean to be rude or anything, obviously you wish she was alive. But that would also mean she’d been there alone in whatever environment that was for almost a decade.”

Keira opened her mouth to respond but stopped herself and slunk back into her curled-up position. Finlay was looking at the boy lying beside him but couldn’t find the words at first. It wasn’t as if they hadn’t considered this possibility. When the spirit in the sanctuary had first suggested she might have survived and he told Keira, they both wondered about it. If she had survived then, could she have survived up until now, through whatever was going on there on her own? She was only a child, younger than he was and would have been alone in a place filled with demons.

But there was still a question about it because that memory made it clear that she was not only comfortable with the wraiths but knew they were coming. So while he had initially discarded the idea that she could have survived, it continued to plague him. But being confronted by that question in such a straightforward manner was jarring.

“I don't really believe she’s alive, I don’t think I ever have been able to believe that. I guess there’s a small part of me that hopes somehow she survived and somehow stayed safe all these years but I know that’s not realistic.”

He looked back at Keira, she was still peering over her knees at him and though he couldn’t see her face, he knew it was filled with sadness. “I know she’s not alive but the idea she could have survived makes me a little happy. Still, I know when I get there—when I see what it’s like, I won’t be able to keep that little hope any longer.”

“It might not be a bad thing for you to see that and accept the reality of it, as I said, closure,” William replied.

“You’re probably right but that doesn’t make it any easier right now. Honestly, I think there’s always been a part of me holding onto that hope, even before the sanctuary and the spirit. I think that’s why her birthday’s always affected me so much, even after all these years.”

They sat for a while in silence before Faye called everyone over. She decided that for the end of their session, they’d go on a gentle run with her. Everyone was unenthusiastic over this idea but she told them that while exhausted spiritually, it was important they could at least push themselves physically if necessary. He was currently more concerned that Faye’s idea of a gentle run was likely to be pure torture but no one else had seemed to realise that point until she took off in front of them. He struggled to keep up at full sprint and given his training, that was an area he felt quite proficient in. Keira was keeping up with a push and William wasn’t too far behind them but there were a number of stragglers that he thought might get lost.

By the time they got back to the guild hall they trained in, he was ready to throw up and they had definitely lost several people on the route. He was feeling good about himself for keeping pace until William reminded him that he hadn’t been training like they were all morning. Faye congratulated them and told them to head home for a well-deserved rest. She set off back the way they had come to find the stragglers and make sure they made it back alright.

The three picked up some food from a nearby cafe and headed back to their apartments. William waved them off and as expected, Keira followed him into his room. As they ate, she seemed distracted and after he finished his meal noting she wasn't even close to finishing hers, he asked her what was going on.

She didn’t look up at him but stared at the rice dish she was stirring. “I guess I’m just worried.”

“About?”

“You.”

“Okay, maybe unpack that a little more.”

“We’re about to go to Easach. You know a part of me was excited at first, excited to see the place you grew up.”

He smiled. “You know, I’ve been so stressed I never thought about that. It might be nice to see the island again.”

The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

“Yeah—but I’m also terrified something’s going to happen again.”

"The guild aren't going to put us in danger, it'll definitely be safer than the mining station."

"Didn't I just say it was you that I was worried about?"

“I’m not going to do anything stupid either, I’ve learned my lesson.”

“Have you?” She looked at him, her eyes serious. “What if you see something that reminds you of her, that you think might be some clue to what happened, what if you disappear again?”

“I’m not going to do anything rash, Keira. I’m not going to let another spirit steal me away again. Besides, Faye will be there.”

“The spirits, they really mess with your head. I didn’t understand just how powerful that could be but now I do, now I’ve experienced those feelings and thinking about what you went through in that place... If it happens again, if something tempts you with her again, I’m not convinced you’ll be able to stop yourself.”

He sighed, unable to dispute her worry and so he slumped back and looked up at the ceiling. After a moment he was able to respond. “Then you’ll stop me.”

“That didn’t work very well last time.”

“It was different, you were injured and we didn’t know what was happening. But this time; if things go weird, if something appears before me, well you can always smack me with that walking stick of yours.”

She laughed. “I guess I can do that.”

“It’s going to be okay, plus, I still remember this amazing waterfall and pool that’s just the best place to go swimming.”

They continued to discuss the island and places he remembered, a few spots he hoped they’d get to see and he’d get to show her. As the evening went on, Keira’s worry calmed and she gave in to her tiredness from the challenging day and drifted off before him. He decided to go for a walk before going to sleep himself so crept out of the room.

There was a cool breeze that whistled through the streets. People were still walking around but they were quiet enough that he became lost in thought without awareness of his surroundings. After wandering until he was in an area less than familiar, he decided to call his father and tell him about the island.

“Finn! How’s life in the city, is everything okay?”

“Everything’s great dad, I’ve been learning a lot, they’re working us pretty hard.”

“That’s good to hear, a young man should be worked hard, it builds character. How’s Keira?”

“She’s sleeping and exhausted, it was a pretty intense day for her. She’s turned into a bit of a star performer as far as our section goes.”

“Of course she is, you better be careful or she’ll leave you behind.”

“She’d drag me along with her long before leaving me behind.”

The man laughed and he was starting to second guess breaking the happy phone call with his less settling news. “Dad—I have something to tell you.”

“Sounds serious, well don’t drag it out, what’s going on?”

He explained everything from the start, about going to low miasma areas for training, that the island had been getting safer over the last few years and that his section would be going there. When he finished, he could hear his father breathing over the phone but he didn’t answer. He stopped walking, standing in the middle of the street which would have been annoying to others had it been busier but he felt as though he couldn’t move on until his father responded.

“Finn, listen—I think we need to talk. I’ll come visit you tomorrow.”

“Wait, what do you mean, what’s so important you can’t just say it now?”

“It’s difficult, don’t worry about it, it’s just there are a few things that you don’t really remember from back then but I think it’s time you did.”

“I don’t remember, like what? Can’t you just tell me now?”

“Finn, please. We can talk about this properly tomorrow. I just want to make sure you’re prepared for what you might see when you go back there. A lot happened that night and you were only a boy.”

“Okay, I guess if that’s all it is. But you don’t need to worry, Dad. I know it’s not going to be good, the guild’s been fighting there for years and it’s only now that the miasma is low enough for us to go. I’m not expecting it to be like I remember as a child.”

He was quiet and it took him longer than natural to respond. “Alright, I’ll talk to you tomorrow, get some rest tonight, I’ll be there in the evening.”

He clarified the time he’d meet him at the station and wished him a good night. He was feeling frustrated that he hadn’t told him what was so serious but decided he was most likely as worried as Keira had been. It had been a long time since he went to the island and there must be things that he never saw when he was a child. His father would have kept him shielded, protected him from seeing the worst and even then he still witnessed some horrifying things.

The walk back felt longer than it had on the way. He was mulling over the strange conversation in his head and continued to reassure him that it was just his father’s worry and not some big secret. He was already feeling insecure over his memory and that conversation didn’t help but he also knew that it wasn’t likely to be about anything serious.

Keira was awake when he got back and she looked quite displeased as he came through the door. “I’m pretty sure I told you no more disappearing while I’m sleeping.”

“I didn’t realise that was a thing.”

“The last time it happened you were gone for a week having a tea party with spirits and hell birds.”

“Right, of course, sorry.”

“It’s fine, I’m partially joking. Though given the conversation, I was worried.”

“Again, sorry. I thought I should talk to my dad, tell him I was going to the island.”

“Oh—well, I guess that’s reasonable.”

“What happens when you finally decide to start sleeping in your own apartment? Then you really won’t know if I’m here or not.”

“I’ve already decided I’m going to break down this wall, I just hadn’t gotten around to telling you. yet”

“Pretty sure that’s not an option.”

“Don’t worry about it, so what did pops say?”

He told her about the short conversation he had and that his father would be coming tomorrow to talk in person. She looked quite puzzled as he said it, and afterwards was tapping her finger to her mouth.

“I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about, there was probably more damage than you remember and other demons—he probably wants to make sure you’re prepared for that.”

“I figured the same, it still seemed weird he wouldn’t talk to me on the phone about it.”

“He’s just using it as an excuse to come visit—it’ll be good to see him though.”

“You’re inviting yourself to my very personal dinner?”

“I’ll be hungry as well.”

“There might be things, I don’t know, that he wants to tell me alone.”

“If there’s something that might make you act weird while you’re over there, I need to know about it as well. I’m going to be the one making sure you don’t do anything stupid, remember.”

“Right, I guess that’s true.”

“Besides, if he really wants to talk to you alone, he can just say, I can give you space if need be.”

“Alright fine, I guess you can come.”

“Obviously.”

The rest of the night was much the same as the others had been. Keira once again had a nightmare but for the first time, her artefact didn’t react and she was able to wake and go back to sleep without his amulet’s intervention. He suspected, though she never said, that her nightmare was different this time, related to their conversations and the coming excursion to the island.

The following day held the same routine. They met William, went for breakfast and then on to the guild to train. Faye told him to run for the morning while the others smashed and sliced their wooden opponents with their artefacts. After lunch, he was focusing on invocations, though Ronan wasn’t around to help, and the others went back to sparring with weapons that replicated their artefact's forms.

William had decided to join them as he also felt it would be good to know more about the island and decided that if they needed some alone time, he could distract Keira. They went to the station together and waited until his father appeared. He was sombre and carrying a small pack which was unexpected for a day trip. Keira ran and hugged him and he and William walked over to join them.

“I was expecting Keira but it seems we have a new face.”

They introduced one another and then went to the same noodle bar that had become one of Finlay’s favourites. It was busy enough that no one would pay much attention to them and they found a table that was out of the way so they could talk privately. After ordering, his father placed the bag on the table, patted it a few times and looked at Finlay.

“I guess it’s time.”