Heresh was brighter than usual—perhaps influenced by its owner’s good mood. Naghren had whisked Jason and Reyneld to Heresh to the necromantian palace and sat them down at a small dining room in his wing of the palace. The tables and chairs were made of cold marble the colour of obsidian, in contrast to the bone-white walls of the dining room and an airy terrace to one side overlooking the barren landscape of Heresh. Naghren quickly brought forth food and drinks—all the rarest delicacies from both Dargon and Heresh were present on the table.

“No need to worry about eternal servitude to me, since you’re both in-between,” Naghren joked lightly.

Food served in the realm of Heresh had an interesting property of ensnaring the person consuming it to the ruler of Heresh’s control. For visitors, it meant they could never leave Heresh, though vampires were exempt from this condition—likely due to the fact that they were not originally inhabitants of Dargon, but rather from the Abyss.

Reyneld explained that to Jason, who had been rendered quite perplexed at Naghren’s words.

“So… it’s safe for me to eat, Lord Naghren?” Jason asked cautiously, picking up a haunch of ignu roast.

Reyneld chuckled as Naghren nodded and Jason took a small, hesitant bite.

This is so relaxing, He thought, As long as I’m here I’m free of the Horrors I think… It's been longer than usual and there are no signs of a Horror reappearing.

He leaned back and let himself relax a little before leaning forward and directing a question at Naghren.

“Naag… Jason’s body has been possessed. Do you know of any way to free his body so he can return from the in-between?”

Naghren frowned, thought for a few moments and then sighed, shaking his head.

“Your best chance would be to wait until it dies and the spirit naturally leaves the body. I don’t know of any ways to forcefully remove the spirit from his body, I’m afraid.”

Reyneld sighed and leaned his elbow on the table, resting his head in his hand.

I was afraid of that answer, He thought, though at least there is hope that Jason can regain his body someday but he might have to spend ages in the in-between…

They finished the meal in amicable silence as Heresh darkened.

Naghren stood up and clapped his hands and said, “Well, it’s gotten late, hasn’t it? I’ll have a ghost take you to your rooms.”

“Meanwhile, I’ll search the records to see if there’s any solution to help your son regain his mortal body,” Naghren reassured Reyneld, then snapped his fingers and the ghost of a young boy appeared. He had short, mousy brown hair that covered his ears and he was dressed in a plain grey tunic and leather boots.

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Reyneld shuddered.

No! It’s started again, He thought, despair clouding all rational thoughts, I thought I’d have some respite from the Horrors here!

He covered his eyes, his heart thundering as he desperately tried to ignore the figure in front of him. It never worked. The horrors always froze him in place and made him see and feel every agonising moment. Reyneld felt a chill run down his spine as he awaited the inevitable horror.

“Da… ddy?”

It was a soft voice with a slight tremor.

Oh, what horrible trick is this… have the horrors started to create new illusions?! He cried out mentally.

“Father! He’s real!” Jason cried and Reyneld felt a warm, steadying hand on his arm.

“It’s not an illusion,” Jason continued in a softer voice and Reyneld slowly pulled his hands from his face and saw the ghost staring straight at him.

“Jem… Jem, can you hear me?” Reyneld asked quietly, his heart yearning to hear something… anything from the boy in front of him. Just the smallest indication that he wasn’t just another illusion conjured up by the horrors.

Jemery stepped forward and asked, “I-Is that really you, daddy?”

Reyneld’s legs gave way and he fell to his knees, but he felt no pain at all—only a lightness in his heart as though an invisible weight had been lifted from him and he felt like he could finally breathe.

He stretched out his arm and whispered, “Yeah… Jem, it’s me…”

Jem hesitated a moment, then ran to Reyneld and tried to hug him, though his body went straight through Reyneld’s.

Reyneld felt a twinge of sadness and he turned to ask Naghren, “Couldn’t you let Jem rest in the Ether, Naag? For me…?”

Naghren shook his head and explained, “I’m sorry… that’s not within my power. But I’ll make sure he’s treated well within my realm—I’ll take him in as my own and treat him like a prince, you have my word. For you, Reyneld, it’s the least I can do for doubting you and thinking you’d broken your promise.”

Reyneld held his arms around Jem’s form and whispered, “I’m sorry I couldn’t save you… and just want you to know that me and mommy never, ever forgot you. I love you, Jem.”

Jem nodded, his translucent body shaking as he teared up.

“Jem, I want you to be happy here with my friend, Naghren. I know you’re my strong boy… you can do that for me, right?” Reyneld asked gently, looking Jem in the eyes.

Jem stood a little taller and wiped his tears from his and sniffed, composing himself.

In a trembling voice, he said, “Yeah, I can do that. I’ll make you proud!”

<--<< >>-->

Jason watched his father’s reunion with mixed feelings. It was with curiosity that he regarded his elder brother in the form of a ten year old child and perhaps a tinge of envy that his father embraced his first son so emotionally. He knew he should feel happy for them, and deep down he did, but he felt a little left out. Jason concealed all of those conflicting emotions under a cordial smile as he looked on.

All of a sudden, something within him shifted and jolt shot through him. He felt a rush of mana and a familiar insistent tug.

“Father!” He yelped, “I can feel my mana! I can feel my body!”

Reyneld looked back at him quickly, realising the implications. He stood up and strode to Jason.

“Good! Don’t stay here any longer! Go back to Dargon, Jason!” Reyneld said, pulling him into a hug.

Jason felt the tug get stronger and his form began to slowly fade, and with it, Reyneld’s voice became distant.

As Reyneld saw his form begin to fade, he rushed to say, “Jason, remember my words: Sagar… paradise is a lie! Sagar doesn’t exist! And… I love you, my son. Please be safe!”

Those were the last words Jason heard before he heard nothing more and his vision faded.