Robert slumped against a tree, his breath protesting the evening chill in large plumes of steam. With each breath, a new layer of awareness seemed to fill the gaps in his mind, like memories hiding in plain sight. He was free now, liberated from the subtle manipulation of whispers and doubt. It was like waking from a dream; only being aware of how wrong and twisted it was, after the fact.

The crackling of branches and twigs to his left snapped him out of his reverie. He opened one eye to see Avria, leaning against her own tree, her silhouette outlined by the moon's pale light. A wave of dread gripped his heart like a vice. She had saved him from torment and darkness, descending like an angel from heaven to clear the perpetual fog that had clouded his mind. After everything he had done to her and her people, she had chosen the path of righteousness, a path he once thought he understood.

“I—” He started, clearing his throat with a cough. “I think we lost them back there. We’re cloaked completely now, so, even if they somehow get here and walk up to us, they won't be able to see us.”

Her golden eyes shot towards him, creasing with clear irritation and anger. Her mouth opened to speak but closed again with a hiss, while she turned away.

Robert felt the grip on his heart tighten, an urgency building within him. “Avria…” he spoke softly, waiting for her to turn back. “Nothing I can say will undo what I’ve done to you… And… somehow, you managed to save me from my prison, despite all of it. Something you shouldn’t have done—but did.” He hung his head, searching for the right words. “What can I do to repay you? I wi—”

“You are a fool, Robert,” she hissed, her voice trembling between fury and fatigue. "I saved you… not for you, but for what you are and what you are capable of doing. Your power, your help — that's all I need to end this nightmare."

The scent of trees mingled with the cold air, each breath feeling like inhaling shards of ice, sharp and clarifying. The trees around them creaked in the chilling wind, a chorus to their fraught conversation. Shadows danced across their faces, as if the forest itself was listening, waiting for her to proceed.

“I want your power,” Avria continued, her voice a mix of anger and something unspoken, perhaps a plea for redemption or understanding. “I need it to destroy whatever evil has been unleashed in our world. Beyond that, there isn’t anything I want from the likes of you, Robert, or Reku, or whatever they call you now.”

Memories of his actions flooded back like a river breaching its banks, each one a sharp reminder of the man he had been, the one who had caused such pain to Avria and her kin. But now, things were different. And it would take all of their combined power to stop what now threatened them. The creatures they fled from were not merely hunting them like a pack of wolves; they were the harbingers of a darkness that could snuff out the light of their entire world if not stopped.

“I will do everything I can. I promise. But…” His voice trailed off, the gravity of the situation clear in his nod. “What they have planned, Avria, it’s beyond anything we've ever faced.”

“What exactly is it?” she asked, rising from her seat with a fluid motion, signaling her readiness to move on.

“They want to unleash demons on this world,” Robert confessed, standing with a grunt, his body echoing the weight of his words. “Unlimited hordes of them.”

Avria's eyes flared with a mix of anger and fear as she turned to confront him. “They want to unleash the nether realms upon Pelemont? That's impossible. The great spirits would never permit such an atrocity.” She turned away, her steps quickening as she resumed walking.

Robert hastened to keep pace, the urgency in his voice clear. “You’ve gotta stay close to me. Otherwise, your disguise fades.”

“Didn’t you cloak an entire army?” She spat, her tone mocking.

“The smaller stuff is harder.” He sighed, “It’s hard to explain in terms a Dae would understand.”

Avria’s yellow eyes flashed toward him, but quickly focused forward again.

“I mean, If I were to tell you, it’s like using a big paint brush to color a canvas, instead of using a pencil to sketch a detailed picture, you probably wouldn’t get what I’m saying.”

“I suppose.” She scoffed.

Robert winced, the awkwardness palpable in the air. He knew he needed to mend what he had broken with her clan, though it seemed an insurmountable task. The silence that followed was like a lead blanket, heavy and oppressive. After several minutes, driven by a genuine curiosity and a desperate need to connect, he finally spoke.

“You said the great spirits wouldn’t allow demons to be unleashed on Pelemont. How come? Have they ever intervened before?” His question hung in the ai

Avria took several moments to answer. Grumbling something under her breath before she did. “The four great spirits rule over all our world. Their words spoken down through the ancient spirits, then down the line of spirits to the Espi-Dae. As far as direct interference from the great spirits? They interceded only once in our recorded history. During the war of the Ascended.”

Robert nodded, “Five.”

“What?” Avria turned toward him, her face twisted in confusion.

“Five great spirits.” Robert answered. “There are five of them.”

“No.” Avria waved her hand dismissively toward him. “There are only four of them. The Great spirit of fire, of water, of stone, and air.” She held four of her fingers up toward him for emphasis.

“And life.” Robert held out his thumb. “Misa, the elder spirit within the Spirit-Forest told me about them. She said there were five. Fire, water, wind, earth, and life.”

Avria stopped dead in her tracks, her boots crunching the underbrush as she faced him, her expression unreadable but eyes blazing with intensity. “What nonsense are you spouting?”

“You remember when I went to the Spirit-Forest with Amynta? To search for a way to get home, right?” Robert asked, his voice leveled. “Well, we were allowed by the spirits there to go deep in it; like all the way to the center. We spoke to several of the younger spirits, most could barely communicate, but there was one that was really old. Her name was Misa. She didn’t know how to get us home, but we learned a lot from her. One thing she mentioned that, Amynta thought was ‘very’ interesting was her history of the five great spirits.”

Avria blinked, her face now clearly in disbelief. “That’s impossible. The Espi-Dae would have written it.”

“I don’t know.” Robert shrugged, “Maybe I misunderstood her or something. Either way, I don’t think she would just make something up like that. I mean she was a really old spirit.”

“If there was such a thing.” Avria shook her head. “It would be a great discovery. Who did you say you were with?”

“Uh— Amynta of house… uh. Sorros or… Sozo! Yeah, House Sozo.” Robert’s thoughts turned to her, she had been such an instrumental part of his early days in this world, but all thought of her had seemed to take a back seat after the battle of Vul De Rah. “I heard she was rescued by Dan and… uh… you know… I wonder where she is right now.”

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“That’s right.” Avria nodded, “I remember her now. She should be in Vul De Mar with house Bodilla. I will send for her as soon as I am able.” With that, she turned and continued walking.

Robert caught up with her again, and she resumed speaking as though nothing had changed. “All this talk of demons is troubling. We now know they are a real threat. And humans are helping them.”

“Not all of them.” Robert added, the barest hint of desperation in his voice.

“Enough to put some merit behind the High Espi-Dae’s words.” Avria’s response was quick, “If it comes to it, we must keep Greyson and his group of humans a secret for as long as possible. The Espi-Dae would use it, ‘can’ use it, to sow further discourse.”

“Do you think it’s true?” Robert’s question came with a high level of tension. He knew what the High Espi-Dae thought of humans all too well. But the fact that he might have been correct haunted him. They feared that humans were demons. And as it turned out, humans were brought here by demons and were now actively helping them to destroy their world.

“Absolutely not,” Avria snapped back, her voice fierce. “I saw something... before I came to your Dunem Dae Espa to rescue you. It left no doubt in my mind about your true purpose here.” She shot him a glance, her eyes burning with a sudden fury. “Well, at least for Daniel and Katrina. For you... I need more time to decide.”

Robert exhaled a heavy sigh, his head shaking in a cocktail of disappointment and frustration. “You never really explained how you found me.”

Avria's steps faltered, her pace slowing as if each word was a burden. “I was… devoured by a demon.”

Robert’s face contorted into a mask of disbelief. “How the hell did that happen?”

“I was part of an expedition, led by Daniel,” she answered, her voice quick, betraying her discomfort. “We were on a mission to find humans, to bring them back to Vul De Rah. But Greyson and his group ambushed us on our way south… They summoned creatures from the void… and then, a demon.” Her eyes lost focus, as if she was back in that moment of terror.

“And the demon— devoured you?” Robert asked, his tone as gentle as he could manage. “That sounds, uh— uncomfortable.”

“It was the most horrific thing I’ve ever experienced…” She shook her head, a shudder running through her. “I'll never forget it. The feeling of its teeth tearing into me… or the hopelessness I felt as the darkness enveloped me.”

“But you survived,” Robert stated, his curiosity genuine.

“I don’t know how…” Avria’s voice was barely above a whisper. “I tried to escape the darkness, to die in peace, I suppose, by fleeing to my Dunem Dae Espa. But the darkness followed. I was tormented by unbearable pain. Visions and…” She winced, signaling her reluctance to delve deeper. “I can’t speak of it any further.”

“How did you escape, Avria?” Robert's voice came out sterner than he intended, driven by a need to understand, haunted by the possibility that this could be another one of Dio’Mar’s tricks.

Avria shot him a glare, her anger and irritation palpable, but then her expression softened as she pondered. “I was saved by… a spirit of some kind. It guided me to find the light within my core.” She halted, turning to face him fully. “The same light I saw within you when I saved you. Daniel had it too, in his Dunem Dae Espa. It saved you both. Changed your powers.” She glanced down at her hands. “It changed mine as well. My Dunamis was ineffective against the demon before. After, it destroyed it.”

“A spirit saved you?” Robert pressed, skepticism threading his words. “And found this… light within you? How do you know it wasn’t a demon playing tricks? Did the spirit identify itself? What did it look like?”

“Enough,” Avria said, her hand raised in frustration. “I don’t know what kind of spirit it was. I just know it wasn’t a demon. The feeling was unmistakable.”

“But how can you be certain?” Robert's doubt earned him another sharp look.

“You will just have to trust me, Robert,” she declared, turning to walk away, her steps now more resolute. “Just as I've chosen to trust that you aren't merely a betrayer, but a man who was tormented into actions he didn't fully understand.”

There was very little chatter after that. Robert’s thoughts now dwelled on her last words to him. Part of him wanted to believe her, that he was manipulated by Dio’Mar and Alektor, but he feared the truth was far less convenient. He had made the decision to help the Rexunii over Lokkon. For better or worse he chose to free a people who were oppressed, and ultimately betrayed not only his friends, but the people who had harbored them. Were these thoughts your own though? His mind raced, unsure of what feelings were truly his and not the manipulative whispers of a demon he had foolishly chosen to put his trust in.

“There.” Avria's voice sliced through the quietude of the forest, drawing Robert's attention to a break in the treeline, a sliver of light against the dense foliage.

Robert followed her gaze, squinting slightly as his eyes adjusted to the sight before them. There, in the distance, was the unmistakable outline of a massive wall, its smooth stone gleaming with a pale, almost ethereal white that stood in stark contrast to the encroaching darkness of the horizon. “Is that what I think it is?” he asked, a mix of awe and relief in his voice.

“The border of Baa’Yega and Eastern Lokkadonia,” Avria replied, her tone laced with a satisfaction that seemed to lighten the weight of their journey. “I’ve never been so happy to see it.”

“Let’s get down there, then.” Robert's words were followed by action as he channeled his Dunamis, feeling the surge of energy that propelled him forward with unnatural speed. Avria was right behind, her movements graceful yet urgent, matching his pace with the ease of an elite warrior.

The path to the wall was not a straight one; it meandered through the last vestiges of the forest, finally opening onto a well-trodden road that led towards a fortified guard house. This structure, built against the great wall, was a testament to the defensive prowess of Baa’Yega, its architecture both imposing and welcoming to those who came in peace.

As they approached, the silence was shattered by a sharp command. “Halt!” A young warrior stood before them, clad in bone armor and wearing a blue cloak that fluttered in the evening breeze as he pointed a spear at them. “Identify yourselves!”

Robert raised his hands in a non-threatening manner, ready to speak, but Avria's commanding voice boomed out, silencing any need for him to explain.

“I am Avria of House Regios, Princess of Lokkon!” Her declaration was not just words; it was a force, a reminder of her royal lineage that made even the spear in the warrior’s hands waver. “And this is King Reku of Visgo, Spirit-Sent, and your High King’s brother. I demand you bring us to your captain immediately.”

The young guard, clearly taken aback by such an unexpected encounter, paused, his youthful features reflecting his inner turmoil. He reached for a horn at his belt, a carved bone piece that looked ancient yet functional, and blew three long, resonant blasts into the air. The sound was a call to arms, or in this case, a call to attention.

From the guard house and the surrounding structures, more warriors emerged, their armor a mosaic of bone and metal, their cloaks varying shades of blue, each moving with purpose towards the newcomers. Robert and Avria, drained from their ordeal, could only sigh, too weary to protest the sudden mobilization.

“You don’t look like a princess to me,” the young warrior remarked, his voice betraying his youthful disbelief. “And he doesn’t look like a king. So, stay where you are, and the captain will get this sorted out.”

They were quickly bound, the ropes tight but not uncomfortable, at least compared to Robert’s last captors. They were led into what appeared to be the officers' quarters of the guard house. Inside, the room was austere, the walls lined with weapons and banners, and at its center, two stone chairs where Robert and Avria were placed, under the watchful eyes of several Baa’Yega warriors.

“At least we can finally sit down,” Robert whispered, his feet aching from the long trek.

Avria responded with a faint smirk, a brief moment of camaraderie that spoke volumes about how far they had actually come, in such a short amount of time. Small victories, Robert thought, just as the stone door of the room slid open.

A figure entered, his cloak a darker navy blue, adorned with golden embroidery that spoke of his high rank. His eyes, sharp and assessing, scanned them before recognition dawned.

“Princess?” he asked, confusion etched across his face. He then turned to Robert, then back to his men. “Unbind them, you fools!”

“Your highness, I must apologize for your treatment,” he said, bowing slightly, his voice carrying the weight of sincerity. “Everyone said that you had fallen in battle against a demon.”

Avria shook her head, her long, tangled hair moving with the gesture. “I was only imprisoned. I escaped from them, managed to free King Reku as well. I recognize you, Captain. Weren’t you among our hosts when we passed through here last?” Her gaze drifted down to her own attire, once regal but now tattered and stained with blood and grime, then to Robert’s equally disheveled state. “We’ve both been through quite the ordeal. Do you have facilities where we can freshen up?”

“We will draw you a bath this instant,” the captain assured, his tone respectful yet efficient. “I am Captain Pe’ton, of House Bute’. You look exhausted.”

Avria, after a moment of collecting herself, looked up at him, her request simple yet poignant after their trials. “Could we trouble you for a water skin, Captain?”