Weeks blurred into a haze of relentless progress, each day merging with the next as Asher, Brynn, and Vicky, guided by Aetheros, forged ahead through the untamed wilderness. At every campsite, they stopped to lay the foundation of their journey—a newly formed Aether vein.
Brynn crouched by the firelight, drawing a gleaming prism from her satchel. The Crystal refracted a kaleidoscope of colors across her weathered features as she held it up for Asher to see.
“This is an Aether Crystal,” she explained, her voice measured but edged with concern. “I only have so many left.”
“How many have we used so far?” Asher asked, his tone heavy with exhaustion.
Brynn glanced skyward as if tallying the distance in her mind. “About seventy-five miles' worth. We’re still another forty miles from the heart of the Gloamfields, we will likely run out by then.” Brynn pauses opening her bag for Asher to see what looked like twelve crystals, clearing her throat Brynn speaks again, “Once we reach it, we can cleanse the corruption and focus on what lies ahead.”
With practiced precision, she slid the crystal into a makeshift lantern, locking it into place. The soft hum of resonating energy filled the air as Asher took the glowing device. He knelt, thrusting the base into the earth with a deliberate motion.
Aetheros’s voice rang out, calm yet commanding. “Asher, remember to anchor this lantern to the vein using multiple threads. Each thread strengthens the foundation we’re building. A single weak link, and the entire network could collapse.”
Asher exhaled sharply, the weariness in his voice evident. “Every new anchor drains me more. I need to train tonight—my ice, my water. I must unlock the power of this black ice.”
Aetheros’s tone softened but carried an unyielding authority. “Anchoring these lanterns is training, Champion. It hones your control over the Aether, and that mastery will flow into your elemental manipulation. Each anchor strengthens not only the vein but you.”
For a moment, Asher hesitated, his hand still pressed against the lantern. He felt the pulse of energy beneath his palm, a rhythmic thrum in time with his own heartbeat. Despite the ache in his limbs and the gnawing fatigue in his mind, he nodded.
“Fine,” he muttered. “But tonight, I’ll still train my water manipulation. I can’t afford to be caught without every possible weapon to my advantage
”
Brynn watched him silently, her gaze lingering as the light of the lantern diffused through the growing shadows. “We’ll need every edge we can get,” she said at last, her voice steady but laced with quiet urgency.
The lantern flared briefly as Asher focused, weaving delicate threads of Aether to bind it to the growing vein. The act was more than physical—it was a test of will, precision, and endurance.
The last Aether thread locked into place with a faint hum, the newly built lantern glowing softly against the encroaching night. Asher leaned back onto his hands, his chest heaving with exertion. The effort had drained him, but he kept his gaze fixed on the lantern as if willing it to stay steady.
He turned to Brynn, his voice low but resolute. “I’m going to train my Aether now. The enemy won’t rest, and neither can I. If I don’t master this power, I’ll only be a liability.”
Brynn stepped closer, her tone soft but firm, carrying an intimacy that cut through the tension. “Asher, come to bed with me tonight. You’ve barely rested, and you need it more than you realize. We haven’t... shared a bed yet, but I can hold you until you sleep.” Her eyes searched his face, vulnerable but unwavering.
For a moment, Asher seemed to consider her words, the weight of her offer pressing against the walls he’d built around himself. But just as quickly, he shook his head, as though dispelling the thought. “I want to, Brynn. I really do. But I can’t—at least, not tonight.” His voice tightened, and he avoided her gaze. “I’m not sure I can control myself with you, not now. And I can’t do anything that might hurt Vicky. I... I still don’t know what to do.”
Brynn stood motionless, shoulders slumping as she gazed into the shadows where Asher had disappeared. Her quiet defeat lingered in the air, an almost tangible weight.
“You look like someone just stole your favorite Aether crystal,” came a voice behind her, sharp yet laced with weariness. Brynn startled slightly, turning to find Vicky watching her, arms crossed, the faint glow of her runes casting flickering shadows on her face.
Brynn managed a weak smile. “Just… worried about him,” she murmured.
Vicky’s eyes narrowed, her expression tightening as she stepped closer. “Worried? You’re always worried about him.” Her voice carried an edge, brittle and pointed. “Do you ever stop and think about the rest of us? About what it’s like for me to stand here and watch you… always there, always waiting for him?”
Brynn blinked, taken aback by the venom in Vicky’s tone. “Vicky, that’s not fair. You know how much he means to all of us.”
“All of us?” Vicky’s laugh was short, humorless. “No, Brynn. To you. He means everything to you. Don’t pretend this is just about the group.”
Brynn frowned, her voice soft but steady. “And you think it’s different for you? You’re here, too, Vicky. You’re just as tied to him as I am.”
“That’s the problem,” Vicky shot back, her voice cracking slightly. She looked away, clenching her fists. “I didn’t sign up for this—to share him, to constantly feel like I’m competing for scraps of his attention. I hate it, Brynn. I hate that you’re so… good at it. At being patient, at being exactly what he needs.”
Brynn hesitated, the sharpness of Vicky’s words cutting deep, but instead of lashing out, she stepped closer, her voice softening. “I’m not good at it. I’m just… trying, like you are. None of this is easy for any of us.”
Vicky turned back to her, and for a fleeting moment, her expression cracked, raw vulnerability shining through. “It’s not supposed to be like this. I’m not supposed to feel this way—angry, jealous, torn apart by something I can’t control.”
Brynn gave a small, understanding nod. “You don’t have to fight it alone. You’re not alone in feeling like this.”
Vicky let out a shaky breath, her shoulders relaxing just slightly. “Maybe. But I don’t know how much longer I can live like this, pretending I’m okay with it.”
Brynn reached out, tentatively resting a hand on Vicky’s arm. “Then stop pretending. Talk to him, Vicky. Let him see you—really see you.”
For a moment, Vicky didn’t respond, her gaze fixed on the ground. When she finally spoke, her voice was quieter, almost a whisper. “I don’t know if I’m ready for that.”
Brynn squeezed her arm gently. “You’ll never know unless you try.”
Asher moved to a secluded grove just beyond the shimmering golden barrier. In the distance, the muted din of camp life reached him—his lieutenants methodically organizing the growing army into tents by unit. The sight of their efficiency should have bolstered his confidence, yet doubt gnawed at him. His forces were expanding, but the weight of his responsibilities threatened to crush him.
“Aetheros,” he began, his voice a low murmur, carried away by the gentle rustle of corrupted trees in the windless gloom. “The deeper we push into this corruption, the greater the strain I feel. I must master Aether control... and everything else. It’s the only way I’ll be able to resist this.” He lifted his hands, studying the intricate runes etched across his skin. Once vibrant with light, they had darkened over time, deep blue veining into near-black beneath his fair complexion. “It’s already beginning to change me,” he muttered, a flicker of unease in his tone.
Aetheros’s response was measured, their voice both calm and commanding. “Champion, you are resisting far more than you realize. It is good that you wish to train, for resistance without discipline is futile. I have an exercise—demanding, but effective. It may aid you in mastering water mana.”
Asher straightened, his attention sharpening. “What must I do?”
“Look to the north, Champion,” Aetheros directed. “Move toward the pond you see there.”
Asher rose and approached the water’s edge, the pond’s surface glinting faintly under the influence of the golden barrier. The gnarled silhouettes of corrupted trees loomed ominously around him, their twisted limbs clawing at the sky. The faint cries of beasts and the heavy footfalls of Veinforged stirred just beyond the barrier, a reminder of the darkness encroaching on this fragile sanctuary.
“Now,” Aetheros continued, their voice steady, “sit at the banks. Focus on drawing water into a shape of your choosing. Sever it from the pond and suspend it in the air. Begin with one form. Hold it as long as you can.”
Asher obeyed, lowering himself onto the damp ground. His focus narrowed, blocking out the faint chorus of horrors in the distance. With a steadying breath, he reached into the Aether, willing the water to rise. A ripple formed on the pond’s surface, then a slender tendril of liquid lifted free, coalescing into a smooth, shimmering sphere.
He held it aloft, the strain palpable in every fiber of his being. Days passed in this relentless routine. Each evening, Asher returned to the grove, ignoring the well-meaning interruptions from those closest to him.
Elara’s attempts to coax him to share a drink went unanswered. Vicky’s invitations to spar fell on deaf ears. Brynn, ever persistent, begged him to join her for dinner, but he could not. His resolve kept him rooted to the corrupted depths of the Gloamfields. The gnarled, Aether-scarred trees loomed ever-present, their malignancy palpable even through the protective barrier.
The nights were restless, haunted by the unending whispers of the Veinforged and the chill of his own doubt. Yet Asher endured, bound to the task.
On the seventh day, Asher sat at the water’s edge once more, two perfect globes of water floating before him. They hovered serenely, refracting the soft, golden light from the barrier. Their purity was a triumph, carved from chaos and refined by the Aether anchor he had erected.
“How long have I held these?” he asked, his voice hoarse but unwavering.
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Aetheros answered, their tone carrying a rare note of approval. “Eight hours, Champion. How do you feel?”
Asher regarded the spheres, their crystalline beauty unmarred by corruption. He flexed his fingers, his body heavy with exhaustion, yet his voice carried a quiet certainty. “I barely feel it anymore.”
In the recesses of his mind, he felt Aetheros’s satisfaction, a weightless acknowledgment. “You have made remarkable progress, Champion. With time, you will expand this exercise—more spheres, greater complexity. Your ice magic will follow naturally.”
Asher nodded, his resolve hardening. “Good.” Rising from his place by the pond, he turned back toward the camp.
Before Asher could leave, a rustle in the woods made him pause. A figure emerged from the shadows. Vicky stepped forward, lowering her hood to reveal her face. The runes etched into her skin glowed with a fierce light, pulsing brighter with every step she took. Power radiated from her, but so did sorrow, anger, jealousy, and confusion—emotions that struck Asher like a tidal wave.
“Vicky,” he began, his voice careful, uncertain. “I’ve been working on my elemental water control. I think I’m finally making progress.”
Vicky’s scoff cut through the quiet. Her voice was sharp, trembling with suppressed fury. “So that’s why you’ve been hiding? Why you’ve thrown off every attempt I’ve made to get you alone? You think this is about your powers?” She stepped closer, her hands trembling. “I needed to talk to you, Asher. But I guess you were too busy training—or too busy with her.”
Asher’s eyes widened. “Vicky, what are you—”
She didn’t wait for him to finish. With a raw cry, she charged. Asher barely had time to draw his blade with his one good arm, moving into a defensive stance as her strikes came fast and relentless.
“Vicky! Stop! What is going on?” he shouted, his voice rising in alarm.
She didn’t answer. Her blows were wild, driven by emotion rather than precision. He deflected two strikes, but the third grazed his neck, leaving a thin line of blood that instantly froze, a trail of frost etching along his skin.
“Damn it, Vicky!” Asher growled. Power surged through him, and the pond behind him froze solid, its surface turning an obsidian black that devoured all light. The snow falling around them darkened to ash, swirling in the unnerving cold.
“Enough!” Asher shouted. With a sharp motion, he thrust his hand forward. Two jagged pillars of black ice erupted from the ground, encasing Vicky’s legs and locking her in place.
She struggled against the icy prison, her blade striking the unyielding surface again and again. Her screams echoed through the clearing, raw with fury and anguish. “You don’t get it, do you? I died to follow you here, Asher! I gave up everything for you! I believed in us! And now, when I’m finally ready to tell you how I feel, you... you have her.”
Tears streamed down her face as her voice cracked. “How could you ask this of me? To share you with Brynn? I can’t do it, Asher. I won’t do it. I need to know—right here, right now—if I’m enough for you. Because if I’m not...” Her voice trembled, and fresh tears fell. “Then I’ll bury this love. I’ll smile and pretend it doesn’t kill me inside. But I need to know.”
Asher stared at her, the weight of her words pressing down on him like a physical force. Slowly, he sheathed his sword and stepped closer. His hand reached out, brushing a tear from her cheek. “Vicky,” he began, his voice thick with emotion, “You are enough. You’ve always been enough. But... this isn’t just about that.”
Her breath hitched, her fury simmering beneath the surface. “Then what is it about, Asher? Why would you put me through this? Do you know what it feels like to be second? To think I’m just another piece of your life instead of your whole world?”
He exhaled heavily, closing his eyes for a moment as if bracing himself. “Because this isn’t about choosing one of you over the other. It’s about what this world has given me—a chance to be someone I couldn’t be before.”
She blinked, confused, as he continued. “On Earth, I tried so hard to fight for something better. I gave everything I had to stop monsters from hurting people, to stop evil from spreading. And all it ever got me was more pain. Murderers kept killing. Rapists kept raping. The system we fought for, the one we believed in, just let them walk free, deal after deal, excuse after excuse.” His voice cracked, and tears welled in his eyes.
“I lost everything,” he whispered. “I lost my family, Vicky. I gave up on hope. I gave up on everything. I thought there was no right, no wrong, just suffering and cruelty. So I ended it. And that final act brought me here.”
Asher gestured to the frozen clearing around them, his voice gaining strength. “But this world is different. Here, I’m not just a cog in a broken system. Here, my choices, my will, my power—they matter. I can change things. I can save something. And for the first time, I want to live. I want to love. And I want that with you.”
Vicky’s tears fell harder, her voice barely a whisper. “Then why Brynn? Why do you need her, too?”
Asher met her gaze, his expression raw, his voice trembling with sincerity. “Because she saved me, Vicky. When I was broken, ready to give up, she pulled me back. She reminded me that I could still fight. But it’s more than that now—it’s not just about what we’ve been through together. When I fixed the lantern, when we brought light back to the settlement, something happened. Brynn became linked to Aetheros, to this world’s very essence. That bond—it’s a part of her now. A part of me. Separating those feelings, breaking that connection... it would be like cutting away a piece of myself. It’s not simple.”
His voice softened as he stepped closer. “But if this hurts you—if it’s too much for you to bear—I’ll find a way. I won’t ask you to share this burden if it breaks you. I can’t lose you, too.”
Vicky’s lips trembled as she stared at him, the glow of her runes flickering as emotions warred within her. “I don’t know if I can promise anything yet,” she admitted, her voice low and unsteady. Her gaze dropped, and her hands curled into fists at her sides. “But... this bond you’ve described—it’s not as simple as I thought, is it? If you and Brynn are connected through Aetheros, through the lantern and the veins... trying to break that could destroy her. And you.”
Asher said nothing, letting her words hang in the cold air.
Vicky swallowed hard, her voice thick with realization. “This isn’t just about feelings, is it? These are souls we’re talking about. If I asked you to sever that bond, I’d be asking you to risk everything—your power, your survival in this world. Even Brynn’s life.”
A voice suddenly echoed in her mind, steady and otherworldly, its presence like a weight pressing against her thoughts. You see the truth now, Victoria Hayes. The bond cannot be undone without consequences. Brynn has regained part of her power through this connection, her soul intertwined with the veins you all purify. To sever it would be to unravel her... and the expanding veins you all depend on.
Vicky’s breath hitched as Aetheros’s words settled into her mind. The full gravity of her choice bore down on her, and tears welled in her eyes again. “So that’s it,” she whispered, more to herself than to Asher. “I can’t ask you to let her go. Not without risking everything you’re trying to build.”
She looked up at him, her expression torn between love and sorrow. “I thought this would be simpler. That I could force you to choose. But now I see... I can’t do that. I have to make my own choice. Whether I can stand beside you, support you—not as a rival to Brynn, but as your partner. Or whether I have to step back and just... be your friend.”
Her voice cracked, and she pressed a trembling hand to her chest. “I don’t know if I can do it, Asher. But I do know one thing—I won’t force you to break a bond that no one truly understands. I won’t put you, or Brynn, or this world, in danger because of what I feel.”
Asher took a slow step toward her, his eyes heavy with emotion. “Vicky, whatever you decide, I need you to know this—you matter to me. You always will. I want you in my life, no matter what form that takes.”
Vicky’s jaw tightened, and she let out a shuddering breath. “I’ll need time,” she murmured. “To decide if I can stand beside you... and her.”
Her gaze flicked to the darkened snow beneath them, then back to him. For a moment, silence stretched between them, heavy but unspoken.
Aetheros’s voice returned, softer this time, as if only for her ears. You are stronger than you realize, Victoria Hayes. And this world needs your strength. Whatever choice you make, trust that it will shape not just you, but the future of Aeloria.
Asher left the grove, his boots crunching against frost-softened ground. Vicky’s words lingered like a weight around his neck, heavier with each step. The grove behind him grew still, the frost fading to white, but the oppressive mist of the Gloamfields loomed ahead, a reminder of the trials yet to come.
The camp sprawled across a rocky outcrop overlooking the twisted expanse of the Gloamfields. Fires burned low, warriors sharpened their weapons in silence, and the hum of anticipation filled the air. The massive column of light that had risen from their Aether lantern pierced the mist, visible even here, forty miles from the enemy’s stronghold. It had drawn warriors, vagabonds, and survivors from across the region, swelling their numbers into an army.
Asher ducked into the command tent, where his lieutenants were already gathered. A large map of the Gloamfields was spread across the central table, marked with rough figurines to represent their forces and known enemy positions.
Brynn sat cross-legged on the floor beside Asher’s seat, her Aether mirror resting on her lap. Its surface shimmered faintly, casting ghostly images of Veinforged movement into the dim light. Kaelen stood to Asher’s left, his broad shoulders squared and his gaze focused. Jorven leaned against a support beam, his irritation palpable, his dark eyes flicking toward Asher with unspoken disapproval.
Dravyn lingered near the map, his imposing presence felt even in silence. The Azure Fang captain’s crimson eyes scanned the table, his expression unreadable as he waited for direction. Vicky stood apart in the corner, her runes glowing dimly, her thoughts seemingly elsewhere.
Elara “Whisper” Neryn, her lean frame draped in the shadows of the tent, toyed with one of her daggers as her sharp gaze flitted between the others, assessing and listening. Garran Veld, the group’s steadying anchor, loomed near the edge of the table, his arms crossed over his broad chest, the lines of his face carved deep with resolve. Malisya Corren sat on a crate, her hands working a piece of enchanted thread between her fingers. She glanced up occasionally, her expression one of quiet focus.
Asher took his seat, placing both hands on the table as the room fell silent. “We’re forty miles from their stronghold,” he began, his voice calm but firm. “This isn’t the heart of the corruption, but it’s the largest force we’ve faced yet. The stronghold ahead is critical to their operations, and if we take it, we’ll cripple their hold on this region.”
He gestured to Brynn, who glanced up from her mirror. “What do we know about their numbers?”
Brynn’s voice was steady, though her brow furrowed as she focused on the shifting images in her mirror. “The Veinforged defending the stronghold number between fifteen and twenty thousand,” she said. “They’re clustered heavily near the main gates and along the northern perimeter. Reinforcements from the mist are a possibility, but I can’t determine how quickly they can arrive. The Aether currents are unstable, making clear predictions difficult.”
Kaelen nodded grimly. “If reinforcements come, we’ll be fighting uphill. We need to hit them hard and fast.”
Asher turned to Dravyn. “What about the Azure Fang? What do we have from them?”
Dravyn inclined his head, his voice deep and deliberate. “The Azure Fang has committed 1,000 warriors. Battle-hardened, trained in skirmishes with the Veinforged. They know this terrain and how to navigate it better than anyone.”
Kaelen spoke next. “From Duskshade, we still have 2,000 soldiers. They’ve seen battle, but this will be their first real siege.”
Jorven’s voice was gruff as he pushed off the wall. “The Frostbound are ready. 1,200 of us. We’ve fought worse odds in harsher places. Just tell us where to hold the line.”
Dravyn added, “More are joining every day. Word of the light has spread. Warriors, vagabonds, and refugees—desperate people with everything to gain and nothing to lose. We’ve gathered nearly 6,800 of them. Many are untrained, but they’ll fight to survive.”
Malisya finally spoke, her voice soft but precise. “We’ll need to focus their efforts. Chaos on our side could be as damaging as the enemy’s assault.”
Brynn looked up, her tone cautious. “Altogether, we’re just over 12,000. But the Veinforged have the advantage in numbers, and their stronghold is heavily fortified. Without a solid plan, we risk losing too much, too quickly.”
Asher leaned over the map, his fingers tracing the routes and defensive positions. “First, we’ll block their reinforcements,” he began, his voice steady but commanding. “The Veinforged rely on overwhelming numbers. I’ll create massive walls of black ice at the northern and eastern choke points, cutting off the main paths reinforcements would use. Dravyn, your Azure Fang will secure the perimeter and hold those positions.”
Dravyn gave a curt nod, his crimson eyes narrowing. “Consider it done.”
“Elara,” Asher said, his tone shifting. “I want traps laid along potential reinforcement routes. If they try to outflank us, they’ll pay for it.”
Elara smirked faintly, spinning her dagger. “Already working on it.”
Asher’s gaze shifted to Kaelen. “The ravine to the west is a natural barrier, but it will slow our advance. I’ll create an ice bridge for our forces to cross quickly. Kaelen, you’ll lead the main charge on the gates.”
Kaelen nodded, his expression resolute. “We’ll break through.”
Brynn cleared her throat, drawing attention. “We have another option,” she said, her voice steady but cautious. “The purified vein we’ve been creating from Duskshade—it’s been growing stronger. Vicky and I can move it to the front of the stronghold. If we connect it to the fortress, it could destabilize the corrupted veins and weaken their forces.”
The room fell silent, tension thick in the air.
“That’s too dangerous,” Kaelen said firmly. “You’d be exposed. If the Veinforged realize what you’re doing, they’ll throw everything they have at you.”
“She’s right,” Jorven added, his tone clipped. “This isn’t worth the risk. You’d need an elite guard just to keep them alive.”
Dravyn, who had remained quiet, spoke up. “The Azure Fang’s best can handle it. I’ll assign twenty-five of our most elite to protect them. They’re disciplined and experienced in Aetheric combat.”
Vicky stepped forward, her glowing runes brighter now, her voice unwavering. “We’re doing this. Brynn and I can expand the purified vein faster if we work together. It’s worth the risk—if this works, we won’t just weaken their defenses. We’ll disrupt their entire connection to the corrupted Aether.”
Aetheros’s voice echoed softly in Vicky’s mind, steady and reassuring. This is a chance, Victoria Hayes. Not just to turn the tide of battle, but to strengthen the bond between you and Brynn. You both hold pieces of his heart—and of this world’s salvation. Open your mind, and see where this can lead.
Vicky glanced at Brynn, who gave her a small, determined nod. The corner of Vicky’s mouth twitched in the faintest of smiles before she turned back to Asher.
“We can do this,” she said, her tone resolute.
Asher looked at Brynn, then at Vicky. He could see the conviction in their eyes, the strength in their stance. He took a slow breath, nodding at last.
“Fine,” he said. “Dravyn, assemble your best to guard them. Brynn, Vicky—you’ll expand the purified vein to the front. But I want updates every step of the way. The moment things get too dangerous, you pull back. Understood?”
Brynn and Vicky nodded in unison, determination etched into their expressions.
Kaelen frowned but didn’t argue further, and Jorven shook his head in frustration but said nothing.
Asher straightened, his voice rising. “The rest of the plan stays. Block their reinforcements, use the ice bridge to cross the ravine, and breach the gates. Vicky and Brynn will focus on the purified vein. This is our first strike. Make it count. At dawn, we move.”
The room buzzed with tension and purpose as the lieutenants dispersed to their tasks, the weight of the coming battle settling over them all.