“Hey!” Saxon called out, as he and Herman approached Charon’s vehicle.

Situated around the vehicle was Lya, Ada, Lou, Tay, and having just arrived, Dr. Emmanuel Cadet.

“Wait, they’re fine!” Lou exclaimed. “How’s that possible?”

“Told you,” Lya said. “You three gotta pay up.”

“I believe I was also in on that,” Emmanuel reminded the group.

Tay shook her head and handed over some money to Lya and Emmanuel. “If we want to be technical, they do look fairly tired.”

“We specified unharmed,” Lya replied. “We never said anything about them being tired or not.”

“We aren’t that exhausted,” Saxon said, arriving at the vehicle. “It’s mainly ‘cause we’ve been lugging these guys around,” he said, signaling to Pyry and Drache, who Saxon and Herman had carried through the tunnel.

“Speaking of which, Charon, would you mind taking them off our hands?” Herman asked.

Charon carried Pyry and Drache inside his vehicle and placed them in the back alongside the other members of the Chimera family that the rest of the infiltration team had managed to capture: Alizeh, Darrius, Anaka, Kallan, and Echidna.

“Hey, Tay, can you cover for me?” Ada asked, patting her pockets. “Think I left my wallet at my parent’s house.”

Tay rolled her eyes and forked over some more money.

“Can you cover me too?” Lou asked.

Tay's eyes glazed over to Lou with a disappointed look.

“You did it for Ada,” Lou protested.

“One, she’ll actually pay me back,” Ada contended, “and two, you brought your wallet.”

“Fine,” Lou said, pulled out his wallet, and handed over his share to Lya and Emmanuel.

“While you’re at it, want to pay me what you owe me?” Tay suggested.

‘I wouldn’t mind that either,” Ada concurred.

“And, I’m all out,” Lou remarked, hastily putting his wallet back.

“Good to see everyone’s lively,” Herman said. “Well done doctor.”

“Thank you,” Emmanuel said. “They pushed themselves pretty hard, but they should be good to go for now.”

“Yeah, sorry about calling you useless,” Lya said.

“Apology accepted,” Emmanuel replied.

“So what’s this about betting on my wellness?” Saxon asked.

“They thought you two were gonna come back as beaten as them,” Emmanuel said.

“So, I asked if they wanted to put money on it,” Lya continued.

“Admittedly, I should have realized that level of confidence couldn’t have been baseless,” Tay remarked.

“So you come back half-dead, with the mission’s main target still not captured, and your first thought is how can I make some money?” Herman questioned.

“You told Saxon to teach me, and he told me never to waste a good opportunity,” Lya retorted.

“I mean it was free money,” Saxon said.

“Yes it was, but that’s not the priority,” Herman responded. “Even still, I understand the newer ones, but Emmanuel you too?”

“I mean it was free money,” Emmanuel replied. “We’re all old enough to know the saying.”

“What’s the saying?” Ada asked.

“Never underestimate experience,” Saxon said. “Popular amongst the older FMPD members.”

“That explains why you like it,” Lya said.

“Hey, I’m not that old, okay,” Saxon replied. “I joined when I was young. I’m probably closer to your age than Herman’s.”

“Really!” Lya exclaimed.

“Do I look that old?” Saxon asked.

Without missing a beat, both Emmanul and Herman replied in unison. “Yes.”

“Charon?” Saxon asked.

The driver-side window of Charon’s vehicle rolled down and black-gloved thumbs up shot out from it.

“Oh no,” Saxon lamented.

“By the way, there is something you should know,” Emmanuel said, packing up his medical supplies. “While Charon was taking me down here, we heard some sounds that sounded as if people were descending the tunnels.”

“What?!” Lou exclaimed. “How could they know we’re here?”

“Conroy,” Tay replied. “We let him get away. He probably alerted some of their forces to come down.”

“Figured this would happen,” Herman said. “That’s why Saxon and I are going to stay here.”

“Hold on a second,” Saxon said.

Herman leaned into Saxon’s ear to whisper. “It’s clear Draumur knows more than we thought. His connection isn’t some nobody. If he knows about our mythoi then we’ll be dead weight in a fight.”

Saxon grit his teeth. “Fine.”

“Wait, how are we supposed to take out Draumur alone?” Lya asked.

“Alone?” Herman questioned. “Strange thing to say when there’s four of you. Alone is how you took down these guys,” he said, gesturing to Charon’s limousine.

“If things go bad, contact us okay,” Saxon ordered.

“Don’t feel pressured to do things on your own, or be perfect, okay,” Herman said. “We aren’t gonna bet on your performance.”

“We aren’t?” Saxon questioned.

Laughter echoed in the space; with the weight of knowing that many lives hinged on their success, and their own was one of that many, the group gathered found levity in their shared laughter, brief as it was.

“Tay, mind figuring out who's coming for us?” Herman requested.

“Sure thing,” Tay said. “Who’s out there?”

Tay’s mythos rippled out, searching for the answer to her question. As she received the answer, her eyes went wide with surprise.

“What’s wrong?” Ada asked.

“Take a look,” Tay said, outstretching her hand.

One by one, everyone grabbed Tay’s hand. The outlines of several people traveling through the tunnels from the surface down to their current location became clear. However, that wasn’t what shocked Tay.

Another outline was visible. Out in the waters that surround the Backwater Bridge district, the visage of an enormous serpent became visible.

“Oh, that’s it?” Saxon asked.

“What do you mean that’s it?” Lou asked. “The serpent’s nearly the size of the bridge itself!!”

“Varrick’s up there, he can handle it,” Saxon replied, matter-of-factly.

“With all due respect, don’t you feel you’re putting a little too much faith in Varrick?” Lya questioned.

“You already forgot what I said?” Saxon questioned. “Never underestimate experience. And when it comes to protecting people, nobody in all of Fable has more experience than Varrick.”

“What’s your call leader?” Ada asked Herman.

“Shockingly, Saxon’s right,” Herman said.

“What do you mean shockingly?” Saxon asked.

“Varrick can handle it,” Herman continued, ignoring Saxon. “That being said, there will likely be significant collateral damage. Charon, I need you to take Emmanuel back topside, and drop the members we have captured off at the Underworld. You’ll need to return in time for us to make a quick getaway.”

Charon gave a thumbs up and signaled for Emmanuel to get into the vehicle. As Emmanuel hopped inside, Charon’s limousine vanished into the land of the dead and departed.

“Alright, the Chimera’s been cornered,” Herman said. “Go get him.”

Lya, Ada, Lou, and Tay all took off toward the vault that held Draumuer. Meanwhile, Saxon and Herman stayed behind.

“How are we gonna set up your mythos?” Saxon asked Herman.

Herman tossed Saxon a radio. “Picked this up off Drache while I was lugging him over here. Can you make an impression?”

“Still hot and cold?” Saxon responded in Drache’s voice, using the mythos of Loki to alter his vocal cords to mimic Drache’s voice.

“I just got in some practice with it, so might as well keep it,” Herman said. “Make the announcement.”

Saxon clicked the radio. “Attention all Chimera family members …”

----------------------------------------

Lya, Ada, Tay, and Lou stood before the vault that held Draumur Chimera inside.

“So, how are we getting in?” Lou asked.

Ada summoned her spear and embedded it into the space that connected the vault door to the cavern wall. “Lya, mind taking it around?”

“No problem,” Lya responded. She grabbed the spear and ran around the exterior of the vault door dragging the spear along its edge.

“Okay, now it's a solid steel block, just standing upright,” Tay said. “Now what?”

Ada retrieved her spear from the door and then summoned her shield in her other hand. With all her might, Ada slammed her shield into the vault door. A loud echo of metal being impacted rang out through the tunnel.

“Guess that works,” Tay remarked.

Slowly, the vault door fell into the vault. The group climbed over the collapsed vault door.

The interior of the vault was an empty box; the only signs of construction were the steel walls surrounding it. At the other end of the vault, sat Draumur Chimera atop a small safe.

Draumur squinted his eyes. “Huh, none of you match the description I got. He must be somewhere else.”

“Hey,” Lya said.

“Oh, we’re talking,” Draumur remarked. “That’s good.”

“And why is that?” Ada asked.

“I just think it's fascinating,” Draumur said.

“How so?” Tay questioned.

Draumur hopped off his safe. “Well, it shows we have something in common.”

“Hope it's not our sense of interior design,” Lou joked.

“No, something far more human, and far too rare,” Draumur said. “Faith.”

“Sorry, not religious,” Lya replied.

“Not like that,” Draumur clarified. “Faith in our allies. I mean we’re both talking to buy time, aren’t we? At the very least neither of us is in any kind of rush. That’s because we believe things will turn out fine for us.”

“They’ve been going well so far,” Lya said.

Draumur nodded his head. “And that they have.”

“I don’t like when he agrees with us,” Lou whispered.

“Me neither,” Tay concurred.

“I mean it’s fascinating isn’t it?” Draumur said. “We sit here and chat, rather than act, because we both believe our success will occur irrespective of our actions. But, unfortunately, we both can’t be right. One of us has to be wrong, yet both sides are dedicating themselves on the basis that they are right.”

“Well spoiler alert,” Ada said, “it’s us.”

“Is it?” Draumur asked. “How can you be so sure? Typically, I find the more informed party is most likely to be correct.”

“I’m pretty uninformed, and I’ve been right before,” Lou remarked.

“Well …,” Tay said.

“Whose side are you on?” Lou questioned, turning to Tay.

Draumur chuckled. “I don’t disagree that a broken clock is right twice a day. However, today has been a long day, and I’d hope I’ve been right more than twice.”

“How can you be so sure?” Lya asked, mimicking Draumur’s words.

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Draumur paused for a moment. His eyes stared at the ground, and for a brief moment, he became lost in thought. “Allow me to say something quite strange.”

“You’re allowed,” Lou said.

Draumur smiled. “Thank you. You all seem like good people.”

“It’s never a good sign when the villain compliments you,” Lou remarked.

“Why?” Tay asked Draumur. “Why are we, good people?”

“Don’t you like your questions,” Draumur said. “Never knew somebody to question their goodness, especially when it’s handed to them on a silver platter. Well for starters you didn’t kill any of my friends.”

“How does he know that?” Lya asked, whispering to her group.

“He might just be guessing,” Ada replied. “Either way, doesn’t matter.”

Draumur continued. “It’s because I believe that you are good people that I want to share the purpose behind my actions. Likely, you will not be swayed. However, there may be a chance so small that if I explain myself, you may at the very least understand my position.”

“What’s the play?” Ada asked Lya.

After some thought, Lya gave her answer. “Let him speak.”

“Here comes a monologue,” Lou remarked.

“I’ll take notes,” Tay responded.

“And I’ll get the popcorn,” Lou said.

Draumur began to pace around the room. “Did you ever question why these tunnels were built, or why there were vaults in them?”

“Oh, an interactive monologue,” Lou said. “I like these better, they’re more engaging.”

“They were built to hide away wealth for downtown’s elite,” Lya answered, ignoring Lou’s commentary. “That was until the cost of transporting goods across the bridge became too expensive so they scrapped the whole project, leaving this place abandoned.”

“Half-right,” Draumur replied. “Perhaps the prospect of turning Backwater into some paradise was abandoned, but what makes you so confident these tunnels were as well.”

Lya paused. She and Saxon had presumed that downtown’s wealthy elite removed themselves from the construction of the Backwater Bridge district entirely. However, there was no reason that had to be true.

That’s when Lya had a revelation. What if, Lya thought, these tunnels were completed? What the Anagrams found in their vaults could be explained. A crime family had its uses for files, money, and medical supplies.

However, Lya’s vault had confused her. Jewelry, art, what was a crime family doing with these things? The Chimera family didn’t commit any major robberies--keeping their operations local, and small-scale was a big part of how they managed to stay hidden.

It made sense, after all, what was more suspicious: wealth hidden below wealth, or wealth hidden below poverty?

Still, this didn’t explain one thing.

“Ah, you’re getting there,” Draumur remarked, cutting off Lya’s train of thought. “But you’re stuck on something. How can we be based in these tunnels, if Fable’s elite are using them?”

Lya made eye contact with Draumur.

“Thought so,” Draumur said. “It’s a fair question, with a simple answer. Whenever they come, we simply leave. There’s a reason we have so many hideouts throughout Backwater. We need somewhere to be while they’re down here.”

“How do you know when they’re coming?” Lya asked.

“Rich people have tight schedules,” Draumur said. “Besides, it’s not easy to hide a visit, when there’s only one entrance. We have people at the bridge, and when they give the signal, we all vacate. Though some have made a game of hiding in the few vaults they don’t make use of.”

“Didn’t you say you were going to explain the purpose behind your actions?” Ada asked.

“Well to first explain the purpose behind my actions, I have to explain what my actions are,” Draumur responded.

“We know your actions,” Tay said. “You’re a bully. You extort people for the value they can give to you because you’re stronger. You take money from the poor, and power from the confused, in promise for protection. Protection from who, you? You create a problem and then sell people the solution.”

Draumur solemnly nodded. “I’ve done those things.” His voice almost sounded remorseful, almost. “Backwater has always been a place for bullies.”

“Doesn’t justify being one,” Ada remarked.

“No, it doesn’t,” Draumur said. “However, in a place where survival is only possible through evil, the best, and most moral choice, is to indulge in necessary evil. Do you know what my name means?”

“Feel like you’re gonna tell us,” Lya replied.

“It’s dream,” Draumur said. “Many say dreams are a curse, you know. Especially in a place like this, where they can never be achieved. I disagree.

We are blessed with the ability to dream, to believe in something beyond ourselves. Illogical as our dreams may be, we are still permitted to believe in them anyway. Isn’t that beautiful?”

“So you squander everyone else’s dream for the sake of your own?” Lya questioned. “People used to walk out of here on that bridge, but they don’t anymore, because of you.”

“And where do they walk to?” Draumur asked. “Out into the very world that put them here, that caged them here. We always love to tell the story of the rise, but never the harsh reality of the fall. Most of the people who walk out, come crawling back. Those who don’t either endure more suffering out there than in here or are somewhere high in the sky. You can’t walk out of Backwater.

You say I squander everyone else’ dreams, when I can’t, because the world did that long before I was ever born into it. Yet, the world pulled me from underneath the boot of society and allowed me to be one of the few who could achieve their dream. At first, when I became an avatar I used it to survive; I used it for myself.

Then I was punished for that. When I served my time, I came out with a new perspective. If the world gave me the ability to fulfill my dream, then I would make it so that everybody could do so as well. If we are all allowed to dream, then we should all be allowed to pursue our dreams. Why should chance dictate whose dreams become real? Shouldn’t that be up for us to decide?”

No one could answer Draumur’s inquiries, so he continued to speak. “Are you aware I have a brother? Not by blood. I found the kid on the street when I got back from the Underworld. Tried to rob me; he was doing the same dumb things I was. I wanted him to be better than me. Seems someone else did too.

When I learned what he could do, my dream became tangible. That kid is the future of Backwater, so it's only appropriate that he takes the first steps toward making it better.”

“Tay, do a scan of the area,” Lya requested.

“I already scanned the tunnels, and passed the answer on to Herman and Saxon,” Tay responded.

“I meant the water,” Lya said.

Tay paused for a moment, though the seriousness in Lya’s eyes convinced her to check. “Who’s out there?”

Tay’s eyes widened. Her hand was outstretched to the group. As everybody grasped it, the answer to Tay’s question was passed onto them.

A massive figure was just underneath the waters that surrounded Backwater. A serpent whose size was comparable to that of the Backwater Bridge itself--if not larger.

Draumur was able to pick up on the group’s shocked expressions. “He is a bit big for his age.”

“What are you playing at?” Lya questioned.

If the serpent tried to burst into the tunnels, everything would be flooded in an instant. Worst case scenario, the infrastructure of the tunnels would be destroyed, and all of Backwater would collapse into the water below.

“Tonight, the Backwater Bridge falls,” Draumur replied, “and with it, the only point of access for all the wealth those who looked down upon us have accrued over their lives. They’ll come for it, but we’ve been given the strength to protect our dreams.

Their wealth can be put to better use than oppressing more people; it can be used to build schools, hospitals, supermarkets, banks, libraries, and so much more. Backwater can finally be a place where people can not only dream but achieve what they dream of.”

Draumur looked toward the group to see that each had breathed a sigh of relief. Draumur had just tipped his whole hand to the group, and somehow the distress that riddled their faces just moments ago had become relief.

“It’s not fair,” Lya said. “Everyone deserves to have a chance at their dreams. However, dreams are dangerous, because they aren’t real. If we get lost in them we can lose track of reality.

Sometimes we need to pull our heads out of the clouds, because although from there we can see our dreams, if we try to walk toward our dreams upon clouds we’ll fall right through them. The only path to our dreams is the rocky road of reality.”

Lya recalled how when she had initially joined the FMPD as a detective she dreamed of instant greatness--the same kind she had at the academy. Then, almost immediately, reality struck her. However, this didn’t deter Lya. She chose to walk the rocky road of reality to her dreams, rather than fall through the clouds that were meters from it.

“Your plan isn’t going to work,” Lya said.

“It will!” Draumur exclaimed, angered by Lya’s proclamation.

“You think those wealthy elites put all their eggs in one basket?” Lya questioned. “They’re going to come after you. And even if you can defend the money, who will take it? Who will build the schools, the hospitals, the supermarkets, the banks, the libraries? Are you going to work with criminals? Does that sound like a bright future to you?

Just because you’ve been beaten up by the world, doesn’t mean everyone in it is your enemy. You said yourself, that you thought we were good people.”

“And so I should open the door and let everyone in, with the hope that the good people protect me from the bad people?” Draumur asked. “Or should I shut the door, and guarantee my safety?”

“You’d be locking yourself in an empty box,” Lya said.

“Backwater will become a place where people can dream!” Draumur exclaimed. “That is my dream! I refuse to let anybody squander anybody’s dreams ever again! The Backwater Bridge will fall!”

“It won’t,” Lya stated matter-of-factly.

“And why is that?” Draumur questioned, his anger beginning to surface.

“Because everyone in the FMPD, right now is risking their lives,” Lya said. “Many of them have done it before, and they’d all do it again. Just like you, they each have their dreams, and just like you, they refuse to let anybody squander them.”

“My brother is strong,” Draumur contended. “I doubt the FMPD can stop him.”

The reason for the group’s sudden relief was that they had feared the serpent would attack the tunnels, risking plunging all of Backwater into the waters below. However, now knowing its target was the bridge, they did not need to fear, for one simple reason. Varrick Volstead was on the Backwater Bridge.

Lya grinned. “Never underestimate experience.”

Rage erupted across Draumur’s face. “You don’t know the first thing about being underestimated!”

----------------------------------------

Varrick sat on the edge of a helicopter that flew high above the Backwater Bridge district. From his vantage point, Varrick oversaw all events on Backwater’s surface; as for the operation occurring beneath the surface, Varrick could only hope things were going well.

As Varrick flew around the perimeter of Backwater, surveying the district for anywhere that needed his help, he noticed something out of the corner of his eye: a massive shadow just below the water, near downtown’s shore. Varrick turned toward it, but it was gone. However, Varrick didn’t doubt what he had seen.

“Take me to the bridge,” Varrick requested.

The pilot spun the helicopter around and started heading toward the bridge. As they did, Varrick focused on the water for any sign of the creature he had seen moments ago. He found nothing.

As they arrived at one end of the bridge, Varrick received a message from the officers stationed at the other end.

“Sir, we have a child here insisting he needs to be let through the blockade,” the officer informed Varrick. “What should we do?”

Varrick paused to think. “Run!” Varrick commanded. However, Varrick put the pieces together a second too late.

Varrick heard a scream from the other end, followed by the sound of the radio being crushed, and then static.

“Get closer to downtown, now!” Varrick ordered the pilot. “Stay along the bridge, and stay high. Something’s coming our way.”

The helicopter took off toward downtown as fast as it could fly. Eventually, breaching through the thick fog, Varrick saw what he had seen in the water.

A serpent so wide that it encompassed the entirety of the bridge, and so long its tail couldn’t be seen, was now barreling toward Backwater along the bridge. In its wake, a sea of asphalt, and steel was left behind as it ripped and tore the ground beneath it.

The FMPD had several people stationed along the bridge. Mainly, they were using it as a place to treat the injured. Varrick knew that if this serpent made it across the bridge, none of the officers being treated would make it home, as the bridge collapsed plunging them into the freezing, rapid waters below.

“What are we doing sir?” the pilot asked. After not getting a response, the pilot turned to see that Varrick was no longer in the helicopter. Peering out of his window, the pilot saw that Varrick had leaped out of the helicopter.

As Varrick fell, a suit of knightly armor formed around him. The armor glistened a brilliant, pure white. A trail of white light followed Varrick as he careened through the air.

Like a comet, Varrick crashed into the bridge beneath him. The sound of asphalt cracking and steel bending radiated around him. Varrick stood in the center of a crater of cracks; the asphalt around him had been sundered, and the steel had ripped apart.

Varrick held out one hand in front of him. The serpent continued to move forward, unperturbed by his arrival. The serpent’s head impacted Varrick’s hand. Varrick didn’t move an inch.

The serpent came to a sudden stop. It tried to push forward, but Varrick still didn’t move. Varrick gripped the serpent’s head--what little he could get his hand on.

“Can’t let you go any further,” Varrick said.

“Why?” the serpent bellowed out.

“Because there are people on this bridge, and it’s my job to keep them safe,” Varrick replied.

“Why?” the serpent questioned again.

“Does a man need a reason to protect people?” Varrick asked.

“Why?” the serpent questioned again, their voice growing louder.

“Well if you really want one, then I’ll give you one,” Varrick said.

“Why?” the serpent questioned again, their voice loud enough to shake the bridge.

“The reason I protect people,” Varrick said, cocking the hand that wasn’t gripping the serpent’s head back, “is because I’m Fable’s knight in shining armor.”

Varrick unleashed a haymaker, driving his fist into the serpent’s head. For a moment, everyone within miles believed that on a day without rain, thunder had struck. All the rubble the serpent had collected flew into the air and off the bridge. The tides kicked up so high, that water rose past the height of the bridge. As if the bridge had turned to water, it wobbled from the force of Varrick’s strike. Beneath Varrick the ground began to rupture, cracks in the asphalt expanded, and the steel was about to shatter.

Varrick knelt and placed his hand upon the bridge. As he did, white light, the same color as his armor, spread throughout the cracks he had created when he crashed down. Protected by the mythos of the knight in shining armor, the Backwater Bridge remained intact.

Varrick rose to his feet, as he saw the serpent’s eyes fall into unconsciousness. Its body relaxed with a loud thud that echoed out. Slowly, the serpent’s form reverted to that of a young child. Varrick lifted the boy in both arms and gently placed a set of underworld handcuffs on him.

As Varrick pushed the boy’s sleeves back to place the cuffs on him, he noticed scaring along his wrists. Varrick pushed the sleeves further to reveal the boy’s arms were riddled with scars. Based on their leveling of healing, they were from before the Chimera family had formed. Scars worse than what Varrick had seen on those who charged into battlefields, a child had acquired by surviving. The sight sickened Varrick to his stomach.

Varrick searched the boy’s body for more recent signs of scarring; he wanted to find any indication that the boy had been harmed while in the Chimera family. He found nothing.

On the boy’s back was a brilliant vibrant tattoo depicting a serpent surrounding the world, and biting its tail; Varrick noticed the tattoo was designed to cover up more scars. He reckoned the tattoo was likely depicting Jörmungandr, the world serpent--which he also reasoned was the boy’s mythos.

The helicopter landed near Varrick. “Good work sir, but we need to keep moving,” the pilot said.

Varrick climbed on the helicopter, gently strapping the boy into one of the seats.

“Shall we continue to sweep the perimeter?” the pilot asked.

“No,” Varrick responded. “Take me to the medics, I want to get this boy treated.”

“Right away sir,” the pilot responded.

----------------------------------------

A thunderous sound echoed in the vault.

“That good for us?” Lou asked.

Draumur’s face sank, and his eyes went hollow.

“Seems so,” Lya said.

Draumur stood there motionless. He could tell his brother was out cold. However, even still, he refused to turn his back on his dream. New-found determination surged through Draumur.

“I need to do something,” Draumur said, marching toward the group. “You should probably move.”

“Funny,” Ada remarked, “I was just about to say the same thing.”

Ada hurled her spear toward Draumur. Across Draumur’s chest, a turtle shell formed to try and block the spear, but Ada’s spear pierced straight through it. The force of the throw caused Draumur to fly backward; the spear embedded itself into the steel wall, pinning Draumur to it.

Without hesitation, Lya blitzed toward Draumur. Draumur’s body became riddled with porcupine spikes, which he promptly expelled toward Lya. Lya weaved her way past the hail of spikes.

Lya reached into her pockets to pull out a set of underworld cuffs. However, before she could get in range to cuff Draumur, she lost her footing. As it happened, Lya was confused, but then suddenly an overwhelming pulling force--one she wasn’t unfamiliar with--sucked her in toward Draumur.

As Draumur pulled Lya in close, he drove a set of claws into her chest. Lya began trying to pull away until she smelled something strange: smoke. She looked up to see Draumur’s mouth aflame.

“Lya!” Ada called out. With a flick of her wrist, Ada’s shield disappeared from her hand and apparated on Lya’s.

Lya managed to raise the shield just in time as a stream of flame emanate from Draumur’s mouth. Lya slammed down on the set of reptilian claws Draumur had sunk into her stomach. The blow briefly freed Lya from Draumur’s grasp.

She yanked Ada’s spear from Draumur and ran back toward the rest of her team. Lya tossed Ada her spear and shield.

“Figured it was better you have your spear, than he just pulls it out, and keeps it for himself,” Lya said.

Draumur stumbled forward, no longer pinned against the wall, clutching the wound from Ada’s spear. Dragon wings erupted from Draumur’s back.

“Recently, I gained a new perspective on my mythos,” Draumur said, slowly ascending into the air. “Originally, all I knew of the Chimera was the classical depiction. Then, somebody told me something interesting, and I had a revelation. The Chimera can be constructed out of any kind or number of creatures.

I continued with that knowledge for a while, but something still bothered me. An inherent limitation of the Chimera was that to be made of parts of a creature, those creatures must be real. That’s when the man told me another interesting fact. By embodying their mythoi avatars bring them into reality.

All of a sudden everything clicked. If other avatars manifested creature mythoi, then those creatures would become reality; and if they were real, then I could stitch together my Chimera out of their mythoi.

In that sense, we are all avatars of our dreams; it is by us embodying them that they become reality. Though you are good people, sadly you stand in the way of my dream. How lucky am I that the final obstacle on the path to my dream brought itself to me; now I need not wander this arduous path any longer, only remove one final obstruction.”

A howling blizzard filled the vault. The rapid snow began to obscure the group’s vision. Before the group completely lost sight of Draumur he called out to them one final time. “So come on then, make my dream, reality.”