His men, however, were hesitant to pillage from the people. Legosia himself considered it uncouth. But he made the choice his wisdom guided him to. He told his soldiers,

“This victory of ours is great! Arneshal runs like a coward, while we push ever forward. We only need push further, and take back our destiny!”

-From the 11th Chapter of “The Remont of Elneshe”

Steel clanged right outside of Rozu’s prison. He didn’t look up.

What point was there in looking there? He had a rock in his hand. He flipped it over in his hand. It had ground down so far it was humiliating. He raised it to the wall in front of him, only to realize that he’d scratched in the day.

Or had he? Rozu genuinely couldn’t tell. And the days didn’t do him any good. So cloudy it was that it made it impossible to realize whether he’d slept for a few minutes or a few days.

They’d tried to feed him every day, but at a certain point he’d stopped accepting the food. It sat now, in a frozen tray in front of him, barely edible. He pushed the tray away, stuffing his head in between his legs once more.

He was tired. Rozu would deal with the food later. After he’d slept and regained his strength. But the clangs of steel never stopped. And in its chorus joined the screams of women and children. It got the Devourer’s attention. What was happening up there? Couldn’t they leave him alone for a single day?

But worry also flowered through his heart. A hint of interest as to the sources of those screams. He stuffed that feeling back down inside. He didn’t care for the ones who’d cast him aside. He had no more loyalty to Ravenishtan or its people.

The sounds continued to grow, and Rozu heard another scream. More metal ringing, this time of the bars above his cell. Blood dripped down to the snowy floor of Rozu’s cell, and he looked back up at the attacker.

He locked eyes with a bloody and brutal looking man, eyes widened and breathing heavy. He stared back at Rozu, gripping his sword tight in his hands. Then a hand covered his shoulder and a second soldier appeared.

“Leave the prisoners. We’ve got better things to do!” He shouted at the swordsman. They both started to move away, talking of something inconsequential to Rozu. He couldn’t even speak their language. But he did catch one word.

“Is Dero around?”

“Shrine’s back at the main battlefield. Better so, old man’s too soft for what need’s doing,” the other soldier replied.

Dero and Shrine. Those were the only words he needed to hear. Rozu stood up from his rough bed. He took another look at the dangling body above the bars. And the keys that jingled in the belt pocket of the corpse.

Bewl flooded through the young Devourer’s body. He shot off of the floor, jumping off rocks and outcroppings. His body was sluggish, but Dero’s face kept him moving. Rozu scratched himself on the rocks, bleeding from feet and hands alike as he made it to the top. Then he clutched the ice cold bars with one hand and ripped the keys off the guard with another.

He took a deep breath as he clutched those keys. Rozu opened the bars of his prison cell and climbed out. He stood up for the first time in months and took in the outside. Chaos rampaged all around the camps. Screams weren’t the only things bombarding him anymore. Bright flames and smoke flickered from every edge of the camps.

Rozu could see the camp falling all around him. Someone fell near the grates of his prison, nursing a wound at his side. He stared up at Rozu, pleading.

“You’re a Devourer aren’t you? One of ours. Help us!” he begged the freed Bladeborn.

“And why should I?”

“Look around! Do you want this to happen?” the man asked.

“No,” Rozu replied, throwing the keys aside and grabbing the dead guard’s boots.

“Then help us! The Armon will pardon you. I’ll support you throughout it all! Just help us!”

Rozu finished stripping the guard of his clothing. He scoffed back at the pleading man.

“There’s nothing more for me here. Hide in the tents. Hide in my cell. Hide wherever you want, it’s none of my concern,” Rozu told the man. he let the shouts of help fade out in the background as he walked through the camps.

He stopped once for a Katar and dagger. There were scarcely any men in the stations guarding the weapons. And those that were had no manpower to spare for him. He scooped up his weapons, only for Phasgorians to surround him from all sides.

He could’ve tried explaining himself. But truth be told, Rozu wanted the fight. So when the first of the Phasgorians rushed him, Rozu ran him through with his Katar. the others panicked and Rozu swiped his dagger at the nearest soldier.

The Phasgorian clutched his eyes. Rozu kicked him into the larger group and knocked them over. He’d thought they’d try to fight him, but the Phasgorians instead just cowered under his gaze. Rozu spared them a single glance as he left the barracks.

He ran straight through the camp afterwards. People screamed all around him. they were being hounded by the invading Phasgorians. Somehow, they’d even managed to bring their trebuchets so close to their camp. Rozu winced as a line of them fired upon the camp, felling tents and structures alike.

Why are they so close? Where are our troops? He cursed. Another line of catapults fired upon the camp. The majority of them landed, but Rozu saw a few portals catching some of the fire and sending it back.

He found the source of those portals, Planars who defended the camps as best as they could. Rozu dropped down past them and tried to run, escaping the camp. He made it out into the open, only to find a volley of arrows awaiting him.

He saw soldiers rush past him with shields. Arrows embedded themselves onto their protection, slowing the pursuit of the defenders. And those who tried to make it closer to the archers were hunted down by enemy Devourers.

Rozu retreated back to the front of the camp and waited for the next shot of catapult fire. He braced himself for the impact, grunting as more tents fell around him. He was trapped in the camps, with an army between him and his goal. That wasn’t going to stop him, however.

”You! Come here!” Rozu shouted at one of the Planars. He was a short lad with broad shoulders, who looked like he was at death’s door.

“Make me a portal to their back ranks!” Rozu commanded him. The Planar hesitated for a moment, looking at the Devourer’s attire.

“Don’t look at my clothes, hear my words! Why haven’t you done anything about them!” Rozu shouted.

“T-they’re destroying the tents! We had to defend ourselves!”

“You’ll die that way. Bring me some troops and a portal to their catapults, and I’ll end your troubles for you!” Rozu told him. He didn’t mention the part where he’d sneak off right after.

“Yes sir!” the soldier shouted at him.

The sound of catapults firing again shocked the both of them. But the Planar managed to do his job, scrounging up the soldiers that were willing to accompany Rozu. It was a pitiful team, but it would do.

The young Devourer raised a hand. As soon as the next volley of arrows soared overhead, he dropped it.

“Now!” he shouted.

The Planar pushed all of his bewl into the next portal. He created one right at their back ranks. Rozu and his small squadron barged through the tiny hole, and ended up in the midst of the invading Phasgorians.

“Spread out!” Rozu ordered them.

The Phasgorians scrambled to mount an offensive. But they were suddenly being hounded from two sides. Rozu cut the reins of their catapults, slashed the throats of their soldiers and dispersed their troops. From the camps, more soldiers ran out, bolstered by the attack.

They punched a hole through the offensive of the Phasgorians, cutting them down where they stood.

Rozu lost himself in the fight, fighting and killing soldiers. He shouted at them, trying to grab a single soldier by the collar. But the soldier jumped back and through a portal that winked out behind him. Rozu turned his attention around to look for more Phasgorians, only to be met with the sight of smiling soldiers.

“Thank you. We wouldn’t have been able to break through without your help!” the soldier hugged Rozu. He recoiled at the gratitude. Hadn’t they hated him only a moment before? But it seemed to have slipped the minds of the soldiers, who only looked to him in respect.

“We still need to clear out the camps. Will you help us, Squadron Leader Rozu?” the man asked expectantly. It felt good to hear his old title again, but Rozu brushed it aside. He hadn’t done it for glory.

“The battlefield… Bring me to the battlefield!” Rozu shouted at them, looking towards the horizon and Sanasira. That’s where Dero was, and that meant it was where he needed to be.

The same Planar from before came up to him and gave a salute.

“I can be your escort, sir!” the Planar offered.

“Make it fast, fool. We need to get there quickly,” Rozu told him.

The Planar complied, and Rozu found his heart beating faster than ever.

****

Stele was getting the worst workout of his life. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d stopped to take a breath in the middle of everything. It seemed that any time the battle was slowing down, everyone would shift to another place in the skies entirely. It was so clouded with smoke and dust that Stele had a hard time breathing without coughing.

Beside him, Ninel was feeling much the same. He had fallen to the ground several times. Only the bewl coursing through both their veins had kept them alive so long, as the stabs and blasts they’d taken would’ve killed any normal man.

Stele held the neck of a Ravenishtani Afterburner in the middle of his hands. He squeezed tightly, even as the Ravenishtani elbowed him over and over. It didn’t matter so long as the stocky man bereaved him of air.

Stele started coughing blood as he continued to choke the Ravenishtani. He felt more rise up in the back of his throat, only for the struggle to finally end. Then he let the fainted Ravenishtani fall to the ground. With any luck, he’d hit the ground and not have time to come back up.

Stele held his side and flushed bewl to the wound. He slowly fell from the air in the pursuit of steady ground. His legs felt wobbly, his eyesight unfocused and woozy. More bewl solved that, but he had to dip into his supply of crystals for it.

He picked the only spot he knew he’d be safe. A little haven carved out by the Counts and Countesses for the soldiers. Stele landed on the ground and fell onto his back. He gulped air like it was gold, and rested for the few seconds he had.

“Stele, you look awful,” Janel told him from nearby. He hadn’t known she’d be there. Beside her was Countess Noviselle. The both of them looked weary. The side of Janel’s head was caked in blood.

“How long have you been flying out there?” Noviselle asked him.

Stele looked down to his unbuttoned uniform caked in sweat.

“I can’t tell.”

Raya and Ninel fell down beside him in a similar fashion. The both of them clutched the ground like they’d been away from it for months. Neither dared look back up in the sky, where their forces were being overwhelmed.

“Recover yourselves, all of you. We won’t win if you stay here!” Noviselle ordered them.

“What are you on about? We’re not going to win either way!” Ninel snapped at her.

“What did you say to me?” Noviselle asked him.

“We’re dropping like flies out there, Countess. And the King seems to be dawdling by himself. So, why should we bother going back up?” the moody Afterburner told her.

“Because if you don’t, the battle won’t be the only thing we lose!”

Noviselle stomped over to Ninel and dropped a sack of bewllan crystals in front of him.

“Galeon is out there trying to save all of us. You could do him the honour of at least trying in his stead,” Noviselle told him.

“Galeon? I haven’t seen a hint of that overactive idiot ever since we got here!” Ninel shouted.

Noviselle suddenly seemed to shrink, darting her eyes away from the Afterburners.

“Where is he, Countess?” Stele asked her.

“He’s… at Sanasira,” Noviselle admitted.

“Inside of the city? Did the King give him some special job?” Stele asked.

“Not the King. He took it on himself. Galeon is going to take control of the Spear of Arneshal,” Noviselle admitted to the bunch.

“What?” Janel finally piped up. The petite girl’s face twisted into a scornful look.

“That’s the Grand Duchess’ mission, Countess. Are you…” Janel tried to accuse her, but Noviselle raised a hand.

“I know. But Arelia cannot be trusted. She’s been working against us this entire time!” Noviselle launched into a tirade, explaining every treachery the Grand Duchess had pulled.

“Even the Stronghold. I swear on Antov himself Arelia rigged the fortress for failure. Have none of you considered how it fell so easily after so long?” Noviselle asked them.

“It was a bit suspicious…” Stele admitted.

“The Grand Duchess doesn’t plan on handing the Spear over to King Selerin anytime soon. And now Galeon’s gone to make sure she never lays a hand on it,” Noviselle said.

The battle hadn’t stopped around them. Noviselle glanced back at the field, where more explosions and steel rang out.

“He won’t be able to do it alone,” Raya said. She’d stood up straight. “If what you say is true, he has two armies to contend with, not just one.”

“More than even he can handle,” Stele said. He finally sat up, buttoning together his uniform. He drank freely from the crystals in his pouch, soothing the last of his aches. It did nothing for his mind, however.

“We’ll fly with him this time,” Janel added.

The three of them formed up. The only one that remained was Ninel, who opened his mouth in protest several times. But every time it came back silent.

“I don’t even have a choice. If he fails, everything’s gone,” Ninel grumbled. He stood up next to the others, joining their group.

“You’ll be bombarded by the enemy,” Noviselle warned them. As if on cue, they heard a distant explosion.

The five of them looked up at the slopes of the mountain, where a distraction was forming. An avalanche of snow started to fall from the heights of the hills.

“Lucky,” Noviselle scoffed. She nodded towards the group, who blasted off immediately.

The sight didn’t keep Noviselle’s attention long, as portals opened all around her. Phasgorians came out of those portals, disoriented and in need of orders. The young Countess dusted off her uniform and started walking again. She had her own job. To prevent the Armon from destroying Phasgoria.

****

Galeon flew over the largest battle he’d seen in his life. At first, he thought he was looking at a dark sheet over the ground. Only upon closer inspection had he realized it was instead the sight of thousands of soldiers bunched together.

His hair whipped in the wind. His bewl pool was full and despite the sight, he was optimistic. Galeon rushed through the skies, only to find a firelance exploding to his right. Below the parting smoke, a body was falling to the ground.

He fought against the urge, but lost despite it. Galeon blasted himself downwards towards the falling Afterburner. He grasped the Afterburner’s collar, slowing her descent. He then slowly lowered her to the ground, near other Phasgorian troops. Then he set off back into the sky.

But then another body fell, and Galeon grabbed it. This one was Ravenishtani. Galeon had arrows and spears chucked at him as he delivered their own hallowmancer to them. An arrow struck his shoulder and he let out a yelp.

He yanked it out and healed the wound. But by then, another body was falling from the sky. This issue repeated a few more times until Galeon had to leave. Arelia was getting closer to the Spear by the second. And if she had it, a few Afterburners would be the least of his worries.

Galeon jumped off of the branch of a tree and into the air. The jets on his legs blasted him further into the air. His ears popped and he gave one last glance back downwards. A glance that made the young Afterburner stop in his tracks.

There was one person among all those soldiers that caught his interest. A Devourer who was cutting down the soldiers around him. He hated seeing the merciless slaughter. But more than that, it was what the Devourer reminded him of.

Was that the same man who’d killed Isil and Emile? They’d fallen to a hallowmancer, and Devourers were the ones that engaged most with normal soldiers. Why else would Galeon have picked him out of a crowd of thousands.

It must have been providence or a blessing from Seraphas. He was showing Galeon his friends’ killer, so that he might finally avenge him. He started to lower himself to the ground again only to stop himself.

An explosion rocked the mountainside and Galeon looked towards it. A snowslide was coming down to rock the entire army.

“No….” Galeon wondered.

It would kill hundreds of soldiers near the ground. The young Afterburner hadn’t the time to save them all. And all the while Galeon watched, the Devourer was getting away from him. He clenched his fist tightly in his hand and looked away from him.

The avalanche was only the start. Arelia wouldn’t just kill hundreds, but hundreds of thousands if she got her way. He couldn’t be chasing after petty revenge when there were more lives at stake than those already gone.

I’m sorry, he prayed to Seraphas, hoping that his late friends would forgive him. And then Galeon rose high into the skies again.

When he tried to approach Sanasira, a group of Afterburners blocked his path.

“Stop him!” they shouted at Galeon.

The Ravenishtanis threw grenades that Galeon blasted over. He flashed them a smile as he swept past, enraging the soldiers. They gave chase, and Galeon moved closer to the slopes of the mountain.

The group of Ravenishtanis stuck to his tail throughout the whole chase. As they slowly scaled to the tops of the mountain, a short forest came into view.

I can lose them here.

Galeon landed on the ground in his sliding configuration. He didn’t stop, blasting himself forward with his hands. behind him, he heard one of the Ravenishtanis crash into a cedar tree.

The rest of them split apart. Some of them took to the air, while others followed Galeon into the forest. He jumped over boulders and slid over rivers. His sudden movements made it difficult to adapt, and more Afterburners lost themselves in the woods.

When he burst out of the other end, Galeon glanced backwards. Less than half of the original pursuers remained.

More grenades soared overhead, but these ones were boosted by Afterburner jets. Some of them crashed into Galeon’s back. The tar spread over his body, but most of it fell off behind him. More would land, however, and those posed a threat to Galeon.

He climbed up the steeper cliffs, breaths coming shallower and shallower. Finally, a cloud bank came into view and Galeon got an idea.

He freed as much bewl as he could, climbing faster until he pierced the clouds. As soon as he did, the young Afterburner slowed himself to a crawl. He blasted himself sideways instead. Ahead of him, the Ravenishtanis kept flying, unaware their target wasn’t ahead.

Galeon soared through the clouds, careful not to breath them in. His clothes grew wet as he traversed them to another side of the mountains entirely. He burst out of them from an awkward angle and dropped to the ground in a cough. His clothes were dripping and cold pierced through his body, but he was alive.

Now all he had were two armies to go between to reach his destination. Galeon chuckled, half in horror and amazement. If he made it out alive, he’d gorge himself on sweets till he couldn’t lift himself off with a full pool.

Galeon raised himself off, wrung his clothes and started off once more. He flew quickly and quietly, cresting the top of the mountains. And despite preparing for it, Galeon couldn’t fathom the level of what he saw there.

****

Bringing an entire army through cramped tunnels didn’t do well for morale. And having to abandon the only cavalry they had in horses made it worse. That’s why Dolish made sure to keep his Commander field up at all times. The blue beacon of light shone through the tunnels and could be seen from the back ranks. He soothed the worries of his men under him. He wouldn’t let them be ambushed.

Several ideas warred in the aged General’s head of how to respond. But ideas could only stay ideas and not strategies when they remained in the minds of people instead of the world.

Some of the soldiers behind the General breathed heavy, as if it would be their last. It made the other soldiers panic all the more, though they stowed it away in their spirits.

“Don’t be afraid, soldier. The tunnels are aerated. The Elneshi made sure of that,” he soothed them in tongue and spirit, dampening fear as it bloomed.

Half of Dolish’s attention was on his troops while the other half rested on what was ahead of him. They’d been walking for hours at this point, and even his honour guard grew worried.

“You sure this leads out into Sanasira, Dolish?” Borne asked from beside him.

“The map confirms it, Borne,” Dolish replied.

“Are the walls closing in the further we get?” Alef asked, fear again rising in his spirit. Dolish had learned it was better for the boy to have some rather than none, as he’d never be without it for more than a moment.

“No, they aren’t.”

“What if they trapped the inside of the tunnels as well?” Alef asked.

“Then Yennel and his forces wouldn’t have been able to move in either,” Saeda said in Dolish’s place. He was thankful. The girl had proven herself stolid.

Beside them, Bark placed bewllan crystals in the crevices. It provided the soldiers with light, marking their path as they made progress in the tunnels. A thousand marching feet followed Dolish’s lead, stretching back into the cave further than anyone could see.

A thousand feet that belonged to men that trusted him. They’d followed him, and now he would lead them to glory. In the distance a shining sparkle of light caught Dolish’s eyes. He looked at it in relief, thankful to his Form.

We’re close, soldiers! Pray on your Forms and ready yourselves!

The shining light resolved itself into the outline of a rock. They approached that outline until the entire proceeding of the soldiers couldn’t move anymore. Spears and talwars were raised in awaiting hands and Dolish pressed his hands to the large boulder.

“This is a placeholder,” Dolish said. Then the aged General reached out in his Commander field.

They hadn’t entered from only one of the tunnels. No, Dolish had spread his forces out through various ones. Far enough that he couldn’t hear or see them, but close enough to spot with his Commander field. And once they’d all come to the exits, he contacted their spirits.

Push!

He nudged some of his soldiers forward, and they grabbed onto the edges of the giant boulder. With Bladeborn strength, they pushed aside the giant stone, grinding it against the floor of the tunnels. When it was finally set aside, Dolish found an army awaiting him. Or more exactly, three armies.

Dolish knew Yennel had the support of someone from Phasgoria. The man was charismatic, but he wasn’t a leader. He’d figured it would be someone from the other side who was more inclined to this kind of work. With them working on both sides, the two of them could fool both Phasgoria and Ravenishtan.

And who else could pose such a risk to them if not a Grand Duchess. And one whose name Dolish had read before. Arelia Mentir was the name of the woman, as Vaness had uncovered. Someone famed for their interest in history and archaeology.

Only seeing it now confirmed it for him. Phasgorians and Ravenishtani fought alongside each other, though neither was loyal to their own country. Ancient ruins were broken under the colliding forces of the two armies, and traps sprung in a hundred places in the old city of Sanasira.

Dolish had been lucky before, but now the cramped armies couldn’t escape the traps. Grenades and nets flew in the air, and the two armies fought the land as much as they did cloaked soldiers. Those bearing the cloaks ran like Bladeborn, with automatons following them and assaulting soldiers.

This is our chance.

Soldiers! Fan out of the entrance. Get as far away as you can and attack Yennel’s forces.

Yes, sir! Was the reply Dolish got from his men. He ran out of the tunnel entrance, and his soldiers followed.

They flooded out of the holes quickly. Yennel’s Afterburners were the first to notice the oncoming army. Dolish’s army tried to leave, but a deluge of grenades were headed in their direction.

Planars, Shields up! He shouted towards his Bladeborn. A large green portal enveloped the front of the entrance, covering the escape of the soldiers. Grenades went in through the hole and popped out at the other end of the city. They dropped onto buildings and streets, coating them in a thick layer of burning tar that spread around.

Overgrown foliage caught fire and buildings crumbled under the heat. The sun appeared from behind the clothes, illuminating the battlefield clearly. Dolish himself ran forward, flanked on either side by Borne and Bark.

Afterburners, Intercept! He shouted into the minds of his soldiers. A swarm of them took flight towards the skies, reaching the enemy. On the ground in front of him, automatons and enemy soldiers approached.

The General stood unshaken despite the horde that was descending upon him. Neither the human-faced automatons, nor the traitors of his own country made his conviction shudder. Instead, he unsheathed his talwar.

He threw the sheath to his side, raising the blade high to the sky to glint under the sun.

“Cut them down!” He shouted, voice piercing through the veil of noise. His soldiers’ screams dwarfed the enemies as they rushed them down.

Dolish ran alongside them. The armies collided together in the middle and exploded into blood. Bodies and automatons went flying. Afterburners carried soldiers away from the ground like flies. Devourers shifted through a million different materials, and even the common man bloodied himself under the gaze of his Form.

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An Afterburner swooped down towards Dolish. The General sent a single order and Borne jumped into the skies to meet him. Beside him, a Planar portal formed. Saeda blocked it with one of her own. Alef’s face twisted into the form of another, and he took to the skies as well. Bark pinned a man to a building’s walls with a spear.

Dolish cut down soldiers by the droves. He hacked a path further into the city. The thrill of battle threatened to overwhelm him. the sweat and blood of soldiers was a terrible drug, urging them forward into more death. But the aged General never forgot his mission. Even as he manipulated others’ emotions, he kept his own focused. He had a mission beyond victory!

A soldier tried to stab Dolish, but he wrenched the knife out of his hand. He stabbed down into the soldier’s hand, pinning him to the ground. Then he kicked him across the mouth. An Afterburner threw a net from above but Dolish hacked it in half. They retreated to grab another net from the rooves.

Borne, Bark. Stop those Afterburners! Dolish ordered. two bright red stars flitted away in the direction of the nets.

Alef, Saeda, with me! He grabbed the spirits of those two. When the diminutive Planar arrived, she was already covered in bruises and ash.

“Bring me to the western side of the city,” Dolish ordered her, raising his talwar. A portal popped open a second later, and the three of them dropped through.

Dolish cut down the first figures he saw. Only his blade met metal when it came to fight. The cloaked figures he’d tried to cut jumped backwards onto the rooves of the buildings. They ran away, but Dolish couldn’t give chase. There were still soldiers present in the street. And the target of the General’s interest, a Commander. It turned out not to be Arelia but instead a man.

The other Commander seemed startled by Dolish’s powers heralding him.

Y-you! Get away from me! He tried a crude working of emotional manipulation to no avail. Such a rough touch on someone’s mind would alert them immediately to external workings. A sloppy technique, by Dolish’s estimate.

The man’s swordsmanship was more impressive. He managed to block the first sideways slash the General threw at him. The next few weren’t so easily missed, leaving knicks and cuts on the Commander’s skin.

Where are Yennel and Arelia! Dolish shouted into the man’s mind. In the heat of battle, he could let something slip. But he never did, only blocking and countering Dolish with moves of his own.

The man went for a thrust and Dolish grabbed onto the blade of his weapon. He cut his hand apart, but yanked anyways. The saber fell out of the Commander’s grip, and Dolish slit the man’s throat with his talwar. He placed hnads to stop the bleeding before the General cut his stomach open.

The Commander crumpled. Dolish set his sights onto the closest Commander field he could see, in the centre of the city. He carved a path through the streets only for reinforcements to block him. Automatons, these ones less human and more mechanical, dropped down into the streets from the rooves.

Dolish could scarcely push them back, but he found something else that could help him. There was a tripwire in the middle of the street behind them.

Soldiers, watch your footing and retreat towards the centre! He shouted the orders into their mind, praying on his Form none of them tripped.

Thankfully, they jumped over the tripwire and made it to the other side. Only the automatons chasing them weren’t as lucky. They ran straight into the trap as a chasm opened up underneath them. the spikes at the bottom did them barely a scratch, but they were still stuck.

Dolish then raised his talwar again and shouted.

“Forward!”

They continued on their warpath before grenades dropped at their feet. The soldiers ahead mixed arrows with grenades, and Dolish’s forces jumped into the houses beside them. The ruined walls Hof Elneshi housing protected them from the bombardment outside. But the General knew it would not hold long. Dust fell and cracks spread across the walls.

“Saeda, can you see outside?” Dolish asked her.

“B-but, they might target me!” Saeda complained.

“I’ll tell you when,” Dolish grunted.

He observed the emotions of the soldiers outside. He timed the emotions with the sound of exploding jars. Now! He ordered through his field. Saeda jumped outside to take a view of the enemy. She carved open a portal behind the enemy, and soldiers flew through to greet the enemy.

Dolish cut down two archers in front of him, and spread the chaos they felt among the rest. They broke formation on their own, and the General’s forces only helped to hasten the process.

He broke through their ranks. Dolish looked to his left and right and found more of his forces coalescing. There was an open plaza in front of them, where soldiers had barricaded themselves. Carts, wood and rocks created a barrier, while a blue beacon shone from within the defenses.

A portal opened up in the middle of that barricade and a catapult came through.

Duck! The Commander ordered. Dolish forced Saeda and Alef’s heads down to the ground and a rock went soaring overhead. The rock impacted a building nearby, breaking it apart into chunks.

Take cover! He swept along the entire squadron, and they rushed to hide. Dolish jumped over the rubble of destroyed buildings and caught his breath. Alef put his hands all over his head, gauging whether he’d been grazed while Saeda just breathed quickly and shallowly.

“Calm yourself, soldier. You’ll have time to panic later,” Dolish told her. She quieted, nodding feverishly at the General’s commands.

More rocks came soaring for them. They only hit the rubble of the building, sending shale and pebbles clattering down the pile and onto Dolish’s men. They aimed for him for the blue beacon of his powers, and Dolish considered turning it off.

No, the soldiers need commands. He told himself. But even the spirits of those men were hard to parse. Sifting through them to find his men was a difficult task, and the repeated banging of the catapults dispersed the General’s focus.

Whoever was inside that barricade was pressuring him. And General Venastian had a good idea of who it could be.

Grand Duchess Arelia, I presume? He touched on the mind of the Commander.

General Venastian? I didn’t expect such direct communication from you, Arelia replied in his mind, in his own tongue even. Though how did you know my spirit out of thousands? Was I just that irresistible?

Stop playing games with me, woman. Why are you here? And why are you working with a Ravenishtani General! Dolish asked.

I could very well ask you the same question. From what Yennel tells me, your Armon had sent you away, had he not? Arelia asked him.

A catapult freed its ammo towards them. Saeda stepped out and opened a portal, catching the stone and sending it back to the barricade. It hit the defences and knocked a hole through them, but soldiers took its place as guards.

The Armon is in grieving. Because of what you and Yennel have done! Not even Phasgoria wanted to continue this war, so why assassinate Mortici’s son?

Haha! Come now, General Venastian. Even you cannot believe that I’m still doing all of this for King Selerin.

The picture became clearer to Dolish then. Both of you. You’re both traitors to your countries! Dolish grunted. An automaton was clawing its way up his legs. Dolish grabbed it and smashed it into the walls. He clenched his fists in anger and looked towards that blue beacon once again.

I would call ourselves more ambitious than traitorous. Wasn’t this what you wanted, General? Yennel also told me you were quite the pacifist. Thought there was a path for our countries to work together. I would say we are accomplishing your goal better than you have.

And burying both Ravenishtan and Phasgoria in the process. You’re both of the Formless, Dolish replied. He braced himself for the next impact, but it never came. It was too late for his powers, as soldiers began to surround the broken ruins they’d been using as shields.

The soldiers raised spears and started tearing down the General’s soldiers. Dolish raised his talwar, wondering how he could’ve been so foolish. But he knew the answer then. The Grand Duchess had a subtle touch of emotional manipulation, one that had fooled even him.

****

Rozu clawed at the spear stuck in his chest. Blood pooled around the wound, yet he kept the point at bay with one hand. the others were bound in ropes, held back by groups of soldiers. They struggled to keep him at bay, and Rozu tried to break out suspended in the air between them.

With a scream of pain, Rozu snapped one of the ropes on his arms. He grabbed the spear with his free hand and turned it aside, grabbing its wielder.

“N-no!” the man screamed, but Rozu didn’t listen. He threw the man into a crowd of other soldiers, loosening their grip. They fell to the ground and Rozu pulled on the last rope with his hands.

He should’ve killed them for their insolence, but he had no time. Rozu trudged through the battlefield. A grenade fell near him, and he kicked it away from himself. Soldiers tried to rush him, but Rozu jumped over them.

Finally, he found his quarry around a mound of dead bodies. A discarded bow was near the old man’s feet, yet he still looked unblemished. Rozu smiled, punching out the soldier that approached him. He ran like a wild animal, hands clawing at snow and grass as he approached Dero Shrine.

“I FOUND YOU!” he shouted at the man.

The old man’s eyes stopped darting around the battlefield. He turned them slowly towards Rozu. The young Devourer was taking heavy breaths, closing up the wounds around his body to prepare for his final battle.

“You… Why won’t you stop?” Dero asked him. “How much more are you willing to shave away?”

“Everything, if it means you die.”

Rozu started to walk once more. But Dero raised his blade in defiance. He held the point up to Rozu, before throwing it in front of the Devourer.

“You win. You’ve proven your mettle. I see no need to continue this furth-”

“Who said you decided?” Rozu asked, stepping over the blade. He came right up to the old man’s face, staring into his soul.

“You wanted respect, did you not? You can have it. I yield.”

“No. that’s not enough,” Rozu replied.

“Then what will be?”

“Your life.”

“I won’t fight you, Rozu Katar,” Dero told him with a sneer.

“You don’t understand, Dero. Do you know how many men I’ve killed? All to reach you?”

For the first time, Rozu’s words seemed to shake the old Devourer.

“Dozens. Hundreds, even. All to get to you,” Rozu told him. “After all of that, why would I ever let you go?”

“I should’ve killed you when I first had the chance,” Dero admitted.

“Your mistake.”

“I’ll amend it today,” Dero said.

A fist came flashing up into Rozu’s stomach, throwing him back several feet. He kept himself on his toes— however— and smiled back at Dero.

“Yes! That’s what I’m looking for!” Rozu chuckled. Then he lunged at Dero like a wild animal.

****

Galeon watched as armies tore each other apart. It wasn’t as simple as Ravenishtani against Phasogorians. They were teaming up against other Ravenishtanis as well. Blue beacons shone all over the battlefield, and some locations were imperceptible through the thick smoke rising into the air.

Galeon watched from his position atop the mountains. But he knew he couldn’t intervene. He pulled out the map of the tunnels from his jacket.

Those line up with the street, but… The carnage wrought upon Sanasira prevented Galeon from identifying the entrance to the ruins. He glanced at the map one last time and stuffed it into his pocket, deciding to take a more direct approach.

The Afterburner jumped down into the fray. Jets on his feet carried him downwards with extreme force. He reinforced his body with bewl to fight against it, rocketing through the crowd of Afterburners in the sky. Galeon glided over the city, avoiding nets and bombs thrown his way from all sides.

He would find no friends here. He passed ruined and smoking buildings, underneath which were trapped soldiers that ached and cried out. Galeon tried to make himself look away, but he was already floating down before he could stop.

He bent down near a soldier in the rubble who was raising his hand.

“…Please… someone…” he muttered, too wounded to even look up at Galeon.

The young Afterburner grabbed his outreaching arm and pulled him out.

“Thank you… you…?” the man raised his head, only to be astonished at the sight of the Phasgorian uniform.

He stepped back a bit, kicking over stones behind himself.

“Not… fighting,” Galeon spoke in Ofnah.

The soldier only paused for a second, before running into an alley and out of sight. Galeon turned to the skies again, only to find a figure floating there.

Dark skin was covered by folds of a black cloak. Golden eyes reflected hate towards the young Afterburner on the ground. A barely concealed sneer was spreading across Retruv’s face.

“Helping your enemy, now, Dull-end?” he asked in his slimy voice. A cruel grin replaced his frown. “I wonder if he’s going to pick up a sword again and run someone through?”

“Not an enemy. Just another victim of this war,” Galeon replied, smiling back.

“Bleeding heart you have there.”

“Least I’ve got one,” Galeon fired back.

Retruv dropped to the ground. He landed with a thud but never broke eye contact with the young Afterburner. Galeon kept his smile up, something that seemed to annoy Retruv.

“What’s with that stupid grin plastered over your face? Got something to hide?” Retruv asked. He rolled a knife in between his fingers.

“Can’t I smile?”

“You’re in the middle of a warzone. Not much to smile about.”

“Maybe there isn’t, but what would frowning get me?” Galeon asked.

“…You’ve gone mad,” Retruv finished. He got into a ready stance. Galeon mimicked the form, and they both lunged at each other.

****

Rozu threw blow after blow against the impenetrable armour Dero had taken on. The metallic sheen of his skin prevented any stabs or jabs from going through. But the Devourer didn’t care.

His hands were bloody clumps now, held together only by bewl and sheer will. He beat them against the older man, pushing him back a step every moment.

Rozu had rarely seen the man so focused before. Dero spoke not a word to him. he silently took the abuse, even as it made him trip over a branch behind him.

Rozu caught him by the scruff of his clothes and punched down on his face. It broke bones in his hand, but he planted Dero’s face into the ground. A rush of glee flew through his body. He was winning! He could finally end the man who’d humiliated him all this time!

Rozu tried to pull a knife from his pockets, but came up short. It slipped through his mangled fingers and fell straight into Dero’s outreaching hand. A single open eye watched him. the old man swiftly cut Rozu’s feet, right at the tendons. Then he pulled back his foot and launched Rozu into the skies.

The breath was stolen from his lungs as he rose into the air. Rozu flew for a few seconds before landing on the side of a snowy hill.

He took a moment to breath. Bewl healed his cracked ribcage as he rose himself up. He tried to step onto his feet, only to fall over once again. Unhallowed bastard! He cursed, healing his feet. Dero slowly approached him from afar, dried blood caking the side of his face.

Rozu felt fear again at the sight, but stuffed it deep inside himself. If he didn’t take Dero out now, it wouldn’t matter anyways.

He took out a bead of iron from a hidden pouch and Devoured it. He sank further into the snow as his body hardened and metallicized. Dero threw a knife at his face but it hardened before the knife could pierce it.

Sparks flew from the impact and the knife fell beside Rozu. He rose himself up from the floor once more, punching one hand in the other. He kicked snow up at Dero’s face and tackled him.

****

Fire rained overhead as Dolish once again took shelter. He grabbed his bloody Talwar and ducked into another ruined horse. Outside, the streets filled with fire and screams. The smell of burnt flesh unnerved the aged General, even then.

The Duchess stayed hidden in her little shielding while he was covered in dirt, dust and the blood of both friends and enemies.

You could stop this at any moment, General Venastian. Tell your men to stand down and I’ll do the same.

I’m not so foolish. You will not slaughter my men! Dolish bit back.

Oh, General. Is that not already happening? You’re an accomplished strategist, you should know when the battle is lost.

I do, Duchess. And it isn’t over yet, Dolish told her through their shared powers.

He wiped the blood off of his blade out of habit. Then once the flames died down, he had the Afterburners distract their bombardments. A Planar portal appeared next to Dolish and he stepped through. Saeda was on the other side, with a burnt Alef beside him. His face and sides were healing, albeit slowly.

They were at the fringes of the city now, where the overwhelming sensation of battle was lessened. The wounded lay here, and portals appeared and disappeared every second.

“We need to go for an all out offensive. Their position nets them too many benefits. Saeda, gather the other Commanders and tell them to storm the centre at once!” Dolish ordered her.

“But, sir, won’t that lead the enemy towards us?” Saeda asked.

“We’ll use their fortifications against them, after we take control of them,” Dolish explained.

Bark landed beside Dolish. He was bleeding from a hundred places. How he could stand in that state, the General did not know.

“General…. What are your orders?” he asked.

“Attack on the central defences,” Dolish replied.

Bark stared off into the distance, grunting.

“General Venastian. Perhaps… you shouldn’t go along with this?” Bark asked.

“What are you talking about, Bark? The men need me.”

“Ravenishtan needs you more. Every second we spend here is another second we’re not finding the Spear of Arneshal. Form’s sake, Dolish, maybe they’ve already found it!” Bark shouted at him. It was the first time Dolish had seen him so aggravated.

“…After we take the centre,” Dolish reasoned. “You all can defend yourselves after that. But I still have unfinished business with the Lieutenant General.”

He started to move towards the centre of the city once more, only to stop a moment later.

“Where’s Borne?”

****

Galeon and Retruv flew circles around each other.

“Come back here!” Retruv screamed from behind him. Galeon jumped through one of the windows and landed in a decrepit house. Retruv followed, and they ran through the whole building.

Portals popped up around Galeon. To stop him from entering a hallway, to try to trap him. But he jumped and dodged around each one of them. He could feel Retruv growing annoyed with the play fighting.

He cursed and shouted after Galeon. His voice boomed over the burning building, echoing into the distance. Galeon jumped down a stairwell and through another window. But then a hand caught onto his leg just as he took flight.

Galeon looked back at the small portal through which it had come from. He kicked with his other leg and taunted Retruv. The Afterplanar looked none too happy about it, growling with anger as he gave chase once more.

Portals would appear Galeon’s flight path all the while he ran. Retruv tried to trap him at every moment. He forced the young Afterburner to readjust his flight course in the air. Wind rushed past the both of them as their dance took them across the battlefield. When arrows rained on top of them, Galeon ducked under another building.

Retruv didn’t need such crutches. He simply opened a portal above him. It was linked to one pointed right at Galeon, and he had to kick over a table to stop the hail. He chuckled in awe, eyes inches away from several pointed tips. He got up from behind the table, only to be tackled through a wall.

It knocked the wind right out of the Afterburner. He felt his chest being squeezed, and Retruv looked none too likely to let him go. Galeon clasped his fists together and beat down on the Afterplanar, but his iron grip was unwavering. They flew through several more walls. With every impact Galeon felt himself slip little by little into a dream.

But he kept his hands clasped tight. He raised them one last time before the next impact, driving them into Retruv’s back as hard as he could. His grip loosened, sending the both of them rolling across the ground.

Galeon tried to stand up, but he was still too weak. His bewl pool was straining to keep up with his injuries. Galeon reached into his pockets for his pouch, but a small portal appeared next to him. A hand snatched away his crystals.

Galeon looked up to find Retruv leaning against an old broken chair. He shook the two pouches in his hands before throwing them outside. A moment later, grenades fell upon the streets, engulfing the bewllan in flames.

“You’re a skilled one. But nothing compared to me,” Retruv gloated. His jaw straightened itself and cuts disappeared across his face.

Galeon let the healing fade from his body. Right now, he couldn’t afford to waste even a hint of bewl. Instead, he stood up on shaky legs and clenched his fists.

Then he blasted himself forwards.

****

Fists, feet and blades clashed over and over again as Rozu and Dero duelled. Cracks ran down the skin of their metallic bodies, and each blow felt heavy as it rang against their bones.

Rozu ducked a hook from Dero and uppercut him. The old soul clenched his teeth and backhanded Rozu with his other hand. they split apart and circled each other, carving paths in the snow.

Then Dero used Rozu’s own trick against him. he kicked up some snow and turned tail. Rozu swept it aside and gave chase. He tried to grab Dero, but the old man skin shifted. It took on a papery quality and his speed doubled. He took off faster than Rozu, forcing the young man to ingest some of his own.

The weight of his bones lightened, but Rozu also felt weaker than he should’ve. He gave chase to the old man, who avoided the other skirmishes on the ground just as deftly as he avoided Rozu. They ended up in the path of a stampede of elephants. Dero, without missing a beat, grabbed onto the sides of the beasts and hoisted himself atop them.

Rozu instead used a passing soldier as a stool, jumping off his shoulders to land on the back of the animals. Dero jumped between elephants as if it was nary a problem for him. But it wasn’t just the beasts they needed to be wary of.

There were still archers and warriors who rode the beasts. Rozu only wore the armour of a guard, not a warrior. Arrows flew at Rozu and he ducked into the seat of one of the elephants. He kicked the rider off screaming, and grabbed his shield.

Ahead of him, Dero was trying to gain distance. But Rozu wouldn’t let him. He jumped off the elephant. Arrows and bolts pinged off of the shield as he lunged between the beasts. The uneven footing slowed him down.

Rozu grunted even as he made progress towards Dero. He reached into his pouch for a handful of bewllan, drinking the last of the energy that remained. He fed as much bewl into his feet to reinforce them, and jumped out into the air.

With a twist, Rozu threw the shield in his arm at the old man. Dero glanced back but couldn’t block the shield. It hit the side of his arm, twisting it unnaturally in its sockets. The Devourer fell to the ground skidding over a hill and Rozu smiled.

The stampede turned another way, giving him the time to catch up to the old man. Rozu climbed over the hill behind which he’d fallen. He smiled in expectation only to find a nasty surprise on the other end.

Dero’s arm was perfectly fine, and he shot a firelance right into Rozu’s face. The young Devourer had no time to raise his hands. the blast took him apart, lodging holes into his face and chest.

Rozu screamed in pain, flinching back and onto the ground. But he knew he couldn’t rest. He kicked off the ground and took off running into the woods. Fear overtook the bravado he had. Blindly, he kept running.

He didn’t know if it was Dero behind him or someone else. All he could hear was the second set of footfalls that were following his own. His eyes were healing so slowly all he could see were outlines of things in the forest. Branches that scratched him, rocks that tripped him up.

Rozu didn’t know where he was on the battlefield, only that the second footfalls were following him. But then, his eyes healed, and Rozu looked behind himself. There was no one there.

He stopped in the middle of the forest. It was quiet here. Too quiet. The sound of fighting was distant. It was like he’d entered an entirely new world. Something foreign. And despite having no one around, fear still stabbed at the young Devourer’s heart.

“You were right, Rozu. Whatever I was trying to accomplish with you, it had no effect,” Rozu heard the voice of the man echo from the woods. He ran to the source, only to find not a trace of anyone.

“Perhaps if I’d started earlier… No, that is but an excuse. You’re beyond saving,” Dero told him.

“Where are you!” Rozu shouted for him.

“I’ve been everywhere. Did you know that? Not just Phasgoria and Ravenishtan, but many other places as well. Do you know how small your hate is? How small it all is?” Dero asked him.

“Shut up and face me!”

“… I wonder why I ever took an interest in you,” Dero said sombrely.

But Rozu didn’t care for whatever musings the old soldier had for him. He didn’t care for the lessons he’d been trying to teach him. Dero was a thorn in his mind, an ache he would rather forget. An ache that had been troubling him ever since they first met. Be it through his death or Rozu’s own, he’d make sure that ache was finally silenced.

A piece of shrapnel fell from Rozu’s healed cheek. A step sounded from behind Rozu, who turned around instantly. Dero slowly approached him again. Rozu Devoured stone.

****

Borne thought this was it. A blade was embedded deep into his chest, his arms were pinned and soldiers surrounded him on all sides. It was really his mistake. Bark had told him he was too cocky for his own good. Only before, he could slip out of the kind of situations that would be considered deadly.

He could gloat about it all day after, knowing he was just that good. But even he had to admit defeat sometimes. Yennel’s soldiers kept him pinned in the air, three or four Afterburners had been sent just for him. He should’ve been a bit elated, they didn’t send that many to assassinate people unless they were real important.

As he coughed up a mouthful of blood, the bald Afterburner wondered how he was going to apologize to Bark for this. He was going to be mad about this. He prayed on his Form for the first time in many years, calling upon it to guide his brother to a better end than his.

That’s when a green edged tear in space opened up behind him. Borne’s eyes widened as Alef jumped through and tackled one of the Afterburners holding him. A hand grabbed onto Borne and pulled him through.

He fell onto rough dirty stone. Borne looked up to meet his rescuer, grinning all the while.

“Thank you kindly, General,” he chuckled, rubbing his head.

“Do not go off by yourself again, Borne,” Dolish replied.

“And here I thought I was supposed to be the one protecting you, Dolish,” Borne joked.

“You’re more than my honour guard, Borne. I… value your council,” Dolish admitted, though he wouldn’t face the Afterburner.

Bark raised him off of the ground, though his brother stayed quiet through it all.

“Some days I wonder how my hair hasn’t fallen out worrying over you, Borne,” Bark complained.

“We’d be impossible to tell apart. You wouldn’t want to confuse others,” Borne replied.

They were in the ruins of a small building with a blown out roof. Soldiers stayed by the windows, keeping watch for enemies. On the other end of the building was a wall full of kneeling soldiers. Some nursed wounds while others waited with white clenched knuckles on their spears.

“How do we get through?” Dolish muttered more to himself than anyone else. He stayed under the only part of the roof still not broken down. His Commander field didn’t pierce the stone. Better for it too, or else it would’ve given away their position easily.

Outside the battle raged on as bodies piled up. The cloaked figures had discarded their garments. Most of them were visible now. And they were inhumane looking, by Borne’s standards. Sculpted faces that mocked the visages of humans looked back at them.

They sent smaller automatons to fight for them. the sheer number of troops they send made Borne pause. Were every one of them Soulweavers? How else could they have matched Yennel’s number of soldiers.

“Borne, did you see Yennel?” Dolish asked Borne.

“Off on the western end of the city. He has a whole squadron of Planars with him. Keeps jumping around to deliver his orders,” Borne replied, taking a drink of water from a cask. He smacked his lips and tossed it to the poor soldier who it belonged to.

“You’re faster on the trigger than most Planars I know, Borne. Catch Yennel and bring him back to me. I’m sending over some soldiers to assist you,” Dolish ordered him. The Afterburner groaned at the request. He looked beside himself, to find his brother pensive.

“I’ll go along with him. Make sure he doesn’t get into any trouble again,” Bark told the General.

Dolish nodded and the two of them took off then. They flew over the wreckage of the city. Borne would’ve sworn it wasn’t this bad looking just a moment ago, but he couldn’t tell. Instead, he focused on the separate battle that was going on in the western part of the city.

Two sides clashed against each other there. On one end stood a man with a face that looked like he was asking for it. He looked like the kind of person you wouldn’t feel bad about nicking a few things from, even if you’d never met him. That pretentious air about him hadn’t seized even though they were hours deep into battle, with no rest in sight.

No, the Lieutenant General’s face was glaring all the while he shouted orders at his troops. They were advancing quickly on the enemy, tearing down Dolish’s forces with his help. But he never entered himself. There wasn’t a smidge of dust or debris on him. Even the sweat on his brow only stayed for a few moments before the man wiped it away.

Borne didn’t bother leading the troops. They had orders good enough for them. Instead, he tried to get to the Lieutenant General directly. But as soon as he came close, Borne was tackled back into the skies by another Afterburner.

“Oh you little—” Borne cursed, slamming a jet enhanced elbow down onto the man. He kicked him across the face and looked down, where his brother was much closer. Bark had pulled out a blade and slashed Yennel across the face. It was the first bruise the Lieutenant General had taken and Borne felt prouder in that one moment than any other.

The moment didn’t last, however, as Bark was swarmed by Bladeborn. Yennel stepped away from the man, holding a cloth to his face. Borne blasted downwards into the field, and grabbed Yennel.

“Borne, you don’t have to listen to the General!” Yennel replied frantically.

“You know my name?” Borne asked, surprised.

“Yes!” Yennel said, “Let me go and I can offer you so much more than he ever could! Your family wouldn’t even be exempt! I’d make sure they were brought into the fold!”

The promises fell on deaf ears, however.

“I’m not falling for your tricks,” Borne replied.

Yennel dropped the mask of amicability. He struggled to free himself of Borne’s grasp, but failed. Instead, he started looking around. He stopped after a moment, looking back at Borne.

“You don’t want anything to happen to your brother, do you?” Yennel asked in a cold tone.

Borne looked behind himself. Bark was kneeling on the ground. His hands were grasped by Planars who seemed reluctant to let him go. They twisted Bark’s arms behind him, forcing his chest forward as he winced.

“Let go of me, and I let go of your brother,” Yennel told him.

“Tsk, fine. On my count,” Borne grunted. The two sides stared at each other for a long while. Borne tightened his grip around Yennel’s neck. With his other hand he ruffled around the Lieutenant General’s pockets and stole a few trinkets.

“One.”

Soldiers shouted from the front, noticing the standoff. Some turned back to rescue their leader, but Borne squeezed Yennel’s neck tighter. He stared out at the army, who stopped in their tracks.

“Two.”

Borne started to float. Yennel’s legs dangled under him, and he struggled even further.

“Three.”

Borne spun around and threw Yennel in the air. He lunged for Bark, who freed a single hand. they grasped each other and took off flying. They put as much bewl as they could free into their jets as they took off. Behind them, the ferocity of the battle doubled.

Hope that keeps them occupied.

“Ugh, sorry,” Bark told him. “I shouldn’t have rushed in like that,” Bark said, rolling his arms around in his sockets.

“Not a problem,” Borne replied.

“We were supposed to get Yennel, though. He slipped through our fingers. And I don’t think he’ll leave us another opportunity.”

“Don’t need an opportunity when we have this,” Borne produced a single cloth from his pockets. Not just any cloth, however. It was stained red with Yennel’s blood.

“Thought we couldn’t get the whole thing, so might as well take a sample,” Borne chuckled and the two brothers returned to their Commander.

****

The chase was wearing down Galeon faster than he thought. He couldn’t move as fast as he wanted to. He tried losing Retruv in the battle, amidst the other Afterburners and even under the cover of smoke. But the Afterplanar would not give up.

A portal appeared ahead of Galeon and a knife flew by. It grazed his shoulder, cutting along his jacket before Retruv snatched it out of the air. Galeon’s bewl supply was running dangerously low. He glanced back down at the ground, where a familiar house stood.

Good enough.

He dropped down to the ground, in the middle of the street. Galeon ducked into a shaded alley, jumping over a Ravenishtani soldier who came running at him. He kicked off the soldier and grabbed onto an open window, climbing inside.

He knew he couldn’t rest. He confined his bewl, leaving him at half his usual strength. Galeon ran through the building as he pulled out a map. Come on, where’s the entrance!

He could hear Retruv entering the building. Galeon jumped down the stairwell in the building and broke through a door leading to a large room. He pulled out his map and found the spot he thought he was in. The room was furnished with a large counter separating keeping out the tables and chairs. There was a trapdoor behind the counter, the seams of which had become more obvious over time.

Then that should mean…

Galeon ran for the hatch, trying to pry it open. When it came loose, though, only a rocky floor greeted him.

“Running away, Dull-end? We hadn’t even started,” Retruv taunted him. he grabbed Galeon by the neck and threw him through another door. He ended up on the street again, on a rocky sidewalk facing the shop.

Galeon rolled to the side to avoid a stomp. He placed a palm on Retruv’s chest and pushed his bewl onto the man. A jet bloomed on the surface of his cloak the size of his head. It ignited immediately, sending him into the air.

Retruv was pinned to the wall by the jet. He tried to free himself but Galeon wouldn’t let him. The young Afterburner flew into the air and planted both feet into Retruv’s chest, breaking the wall behind him.

They both crashed into the building ahead of them. Galeon swept aside the dust and debris as he walked deeper inside. But Retruv had disappeared.

“Sharpened yourself a bit, haven’t you, Dull-end?”

Galeon looked behind himself, where Retruv was floating in the air. He picked up a brick and threw it at the Afterplanar. A portal appeared to swallow it up. The portal shifted around to catch the next few as well.

Retruv was playing with him, a coy smile across his lips. Galeon sped up the throws. One of the bricks rocketed ahead of the others. Retruv expanded his portal but it still caught him on the side of the face. A jet fell off the rock, dissipating when Galeon dismissed it.

Retruv held a hand up to a cut on his head. It bled for only a moment before he resealed it. Galeon flashed him a smile.

“Got you.”

Retruv screamed and flew at him. Before he could reach Galeon, a portal opened to swallow him up. Galeon turned around but it was too late. He was tackled from behind and into the air once more.

Retruv flew up high into the skies. Galeon elbowed him, but Retruv did not stop. Portals opened, carrying them further and faster. The air became thinner and Galeon’s ears popped violently as they ascended.

He stopped elbowing Retruv and instead placed a jet on his shoulders. He kept his hands there until the jet enveloped all of it. Then Galeon let the bewl flow through it, shooting the both of them off course. Going so fast, it was impossible for Retruv to control. The both of them broke off in the middle of the air, spinning as they started to fall.

Galeon took a moment to look around himself. They were high above the clouds. The field of stars that Galeon saw kept him affixed to the sight for a long time. But he could love those stars another time.

Retruv was still approaching him. he’d discarded his cloak, and the jet that Galeon had placed along with it. Their fall sped up but it mattered to neither of them. Retruv took out another dagger and held it against the palm of his hand. he aimed at Galeon, firing it off like an arrow with a jet behind it.

It struck right into Galeon’s forearm, and he winced. He pulled the dagger out and turned around. Galeon ignited the jets on his feet and hastened his fall in a dire hope. Behind him, he knew Retruv was awaiting.

More portals opened up around him, but he passed them before Retruv could exit. The Afterplanar chased him all the way down back into the mountain range surrounding Sanasira. Galeon glanced back once at the mad Afterplanar. The one he’d though not too long ago was better than him. But Galeon had realized something about the man.

He may have had powers that Galeon didn’t, but he didn’t have his skill.

Galeon and Retruv broke through the clouds and ended up near the mountain range. The ground was fast approaching. It was a scenario the young Afterburner had handled well before. He pulled himself up slowly, missing the ground by inches. But Retruv wasn’t as lucky.

He placed another portal leading to the ground, uncaring of the speed at which he travelled. When he got close enough to worry, it was too late. He tried to stop his descent, only to crash into the dirt.

Galeon circled around the mountainside to look at Retruv. His diminished form was in a small crater of his own creation. Blood was flowing from cracked arms and broken legs. His stark white bones had pierced through the skin in a dozen places. A single metallic bead still was hanging from his necklace, as if it chose not to leave.

Galeon dropped down into the crater near him and dismissed his jets. Lazily, Retruv jerked his head towards the man.

“Come to… finish me off.. Dull-end?” he forced the words out. Even still, there was superiority in every sound.

“I shouldn’t have to. You’re defeated, give up,” Galeon told him.

“No…” Retruv answered.

Galeon clenched his fists, digging nails into his hands.

“Why?! You’re beaten. You can’t move. Why won’t you surrender? What’s the point for you?” Galeon asked him.

“That’s my business, you worthless hallowmancer!” Retruv answered.

Galeon could see the bones in his body reknitting themselves. He could see the arms righting and wounds closing. It was slow, but Retruv was beginning to move again.

“Please. Surrender and you can live,” Galeon begged him.

Retruv glared at him as if he’d been insulted. Galeon thought he saw grey in his eyes for a moment. Something hazy and unknown, before it was replaced with the typical amber.

“Never!” Retruv grunted. He muttered things about winning or payback, but Galeon had long stopped listening. he tried to form jets on his body, but Galeon stopped him.

He plunged a knife right into Retruv’s neck. A frown covered the entirety of the Afterburner’s face as he did.

Retruv stared back, shocked. A final sputter and it was done. It was the same face that he would hold in death. Galeon’s hand shuddered having done it. As he pulled the bloody knife back, several people dropped by beside him.

“Galeon… you really did it,” Stele said.

“Really…?” Ninel asked in awe. Raya and Janel just stared at him silently.

Galeon sheathed the knife and lowered his head. He climbed out of the crater without meeting either of their gazes.

“It had to be done… and I had to be the one to do it,” Galeon said. He closed his eyes for a moment. Did Retruv have family of his own? Friends he talked to and people he loved? No one, how cruel or unusual, was without them.

And Galeon had been the one to take him away from them. Maybe he would’ve fallen deeper into that pit Noviselle had pulled him out of. But now the young Afterburner knew. Despite what he’d done, it’d been the right move.

He smiled through the pain and looked up at his friends.

“Good to see all of you fine. But why are you here?” he asked.

“Noviselle sent us. She thought you could use the help,” Janel answered.

Galeon let out a chuckle. Even now, she was looking after him.

“Now, we’re are we headed?” Stele asked him, placing a hand on his shoulder. Galeon wiped the tears forming in his eyes and pulled out a map.

“We’ve got a treasure to find,” he told them with a slight grin.