Meera ran through the woods with Dirik on her tail, but the sounds of the undead—people and animals were right behind them. The worst part was they could run in the dark without needing light. So far, Meera and Dirik had managed as well, thanks to Mirithia's light, but when the foliage of the trees got thicker, it was a gamble.

Dirik overtook her and took the lead.

She figured his shadow abilities would let him see in the dark or make it easier. She jumped over a thick root and ducked a low-hanging branch. But it was getting darker as they ran deeper into the forest.

Meera heard the howls and barks coming closer, so she took off a chakram and got ready to fight. Dirik took out his blade, but they both kept running. With the number of enemies coming after them, their only chance was to escape.

The first thing to come after them was something Meera had not expected.

[Undead Monkey – Level 48]

Dirik cut him in half when it pounced on them. The strange thing did not even chitter or screech. Meera had her fair share of monkey kills under her belt. Ah, simpler times.

She didn't have time to reminisce as more of its brothers came after them. Some of them did chitter and screech, while most stayed quiet. Meera pulled off more of her chakrams and used Mirror Wing to have them spin in the air around her as a very sharp shield.

Monkey's speed as they climbed and jumped from tree to tree was unparalleled. She knew that firsthand. She could have taken them out, but if she did, it would only give the other more dangerous kind of undead time to fall upon them.

Her Shade companion might as well be a shadow himself. He ran quietly and hadn't uttered a word since they had started running. Something was up with him, and Meera couldn't figure out what.

She gasped lightly as she finally realized. Did he see his mother amongst the undead?

She wanted to ask him, but this was not the time or place. She could only feel for him if the worst had come to pass.

Two monkeys jumped for her from the trees overhead, but Dirik cut them right through the middle. Another jumped for Dirik, but the Shade teleported off to the side, reappearing while swinging his sword. The monkey's head and body fell separately.

He continued running, and Meera followed close behind, hoping he knew where they were going. The footfalls of the undead were growing fainter, which was a good sign. Dirik took a sharp left and ran through some shrubs. Meera followed, and they both stopped in their tracks.

They were in the clearing where they had fought the werewolf. Its body and the bodies of the wolf pack littered the area. Their dark blood stained the trampled grass. The smell of rot assaulted their nostrils. But that is not what made them stop.

They were staring down another pack of undead wolves, and that was not all. Some undead people were amongst them, along with an undead bear with dark fur who stood on his hind legs. There must have been about thirty to forty enemies in total here.

How did they get here without me hearing them?

She identified them all.

[Undead Wolf – Level 187]

[Undead Wolf – Level 188]

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[Undead Wolf – Level 195]

[Undead Bear – Level 211]

[Undead Man – Level 178]

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[Undead Man – Level 179]

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[Undead Man – Level 201]

"This is not good," Meera stated. "And there's more coming after us."

Dirik had his eyes on the enemy, and she knew he was scanning them. The sounds they had left behind were getting closer again.

Meera's heartbeat quickened. She had a way out of this, but only she could teleport with Mirror Step, but that meant she would be leaving him behind.

"Dirik?" Meera shook him. "Say something."

"We need to split up," Dirik finally said. "We can't take them all. They'll overrun us."

The look in his eyes worried Meera. "How will you get out of here?"

"You leave that to me. I can meld into the shadows and be gone in a snap. You can fly, so get out of here before more of them come."

"You remember the werewolf. He saw right through your shadows and knew where you were hiding."

"I'll be fine."

Meera gritted her teeth. There was no arguing with him, and they didn't have the time either. The rest of them would show up here any moment. She took one of her floating chakrams out of the air and gripped his arm. He tried pulling back, but she didn't let go.

"I'll do a sweep of the area from above and give you the signal, and if things get too hairy, I'll come to help you," Meera said.

He nodded. "Okay."

Meera slid the chakram over his hand and pushed it onto his arm. It was a snug fit, and she hoped it would be. The lad didn't even wince. He just kept his eyes on the undead. The undead were waiting for something or someone as they didn't attack. They simply stared.

"What is this?" Dirik asked.

Meera activated Mirror Wing.

He finally looked at her. His eyes widened when he finally realized why Meera put the chakram on his arm.

She flicked a finger up. The chakram pulled his arm into the air, and he shot off into the sky. Meera wasn't far behind.

"What the hell are you doing?" Dirik shouted as he tried to reach for her chakram, but they were moving too fast for him to do anything.

"How's your first time flying?" Meera asked.

"Shut up, Meera. This is not what we agreed upon."

He finally got a good grip on the chakram, so she moved her chakram in a zig-zag motion, and he was rag-dolled in the air until he lost his grip. Then she switched directions and flew towards the city over the trees.

Meera looked at the clearing where the Heart had made its lair. Some people will be coming back for you soon.

Meera deposited them at the edge of the forest. By then, Dirik had given up trying to take her chakram off. She could feel him pouting underneath his mask.

"We're safe now," Meera said. "Relatively speaking, of course. If I had known it would be this easy, I would have done all the scouting from the air to begin with."

Of course, she didn't mention the flight of escape had cost her nearly a third of her Mana. She could only make flying a thing once she had considerably more Mana.

"Can you get this thing off me now?" Dirik practically barked, holding up his arm with the chakram.

"Sure." Meera took the chakram off his arm, which was a considerable effort on both their parts. "I'm sorry."

He glared at her.

"That thing has your mom, doesn't it? She was one of the undead."

He looked away and wiped his eyes.

"You were going to die if I hadn't flown you to safety," Meera said. "I can understand your pain. I, too, lost my mother, but unlike you, to a horrible disease, and when she passed, I wanted to rage as well, but it didn't help. I lost my father a few months ago, and again, I wanted to rage, but this time, I didn't have the time even to grieve properly before another task was thrust upon me…another worry."

He looked at her with teary eyes.

She sighed. "I've lost my brother, and Narikas knows where he went. This is why I'm doing this. Now that I've found his queen, he'll have no option but to honor his end of the bargain."

"So…this is goodbye?" Dirik's eyes were numb again.

She wished she could've lied to him, but she wouldn't. She wouldn't give him false hope after what he learned about his mother.

"Yes, I'm afraid so." Meera smiled. "I'm going to get help."

"Get help?" Dirik tilted his head.

"It's about time the Shadowsteel Warlord did something to get his queen back," Meera said.

She couldn't read his eyes. There was an emotion there, but it was hard to gauge with his ever-present mask. "W-What should I tell the other Wardens?"

"Tell them all what you saw and that I've gone to get them the help they need because there is no way those five can take on the entire undead army and whatever that heart was." She patted his arm. "Don't worry, though, I'll get you the means to get your revenge."

He was quiet for a long moment. "You know, you're right. I would've killed myself fighting the horde. So, thank you for saving my life. You are a true friend."

She smiled. "I hope we see each other someday, and a word of advice, don't go back to your father ever again. He's not a good man."

"Don't worry, I'll only go to him to end his miserable existence."

"Remember what I said about revenge…"

"This wouldn't be revenge. It'll be justice."

Meera didn't know what to say to that. She simply nodded and left the Shade there. She made her way to the Gateway Mirror. There was no line at this time of night, only two sleep-deprived guards. One leaned against his long spear and did his best to keep his feet under him.

Meera thought they would stop her, but they didn't. She wasn't even sure, they registered her. So, she placed her palm on the Gateway Mirror, selected Tearsfell Prison, and stepped into the mirror.

It's time to get what I'm owed.

She was not expecting what she saw when she stepped out of the mirror. It was like there was a tent city outside of the fortress, but even that could've been excused. But the two glowing, red-hot swords aimed at her she could not.

"State your business or die where you stand," said one of the Phoenix Protectors.

Meera raised her hands. "My name is Meera. I'm here to see the Shadowsteel Warlord. I'm a friend."

Their heads snapped to each other.

"Isn't that the name of the one who killed Garas?" said the one on the right.

Meera's eyes widened. How do they know? Has the real Delkoris returned?

The other nodded. "It is, and she was a Varshan. You're coming with us to face the king's justice."