I stared at the white marble walls—and the gaping hole between them—my thoughts whirling. The compound’s crystal door was open.

And it shouldn’t be.

There was only one explanation: someone was waiting within. A sector boss was dead—and had been since before we arrived. Now, I knew which one it was.

The grandmaster savant—the level five boss.

“Is this a bad thing?” Nyra asked in a low voice.

I tore my gaze away from the final chamber. “What?”

“That the gates are open, I mean.”

“No. No, it isn’t. On the contrary, it’s good news.” It had to be Shael, Anriq, and Bacheus inside. But, on the off chance, it wasn’t...

“We’ll do this slow and quiet,” I whispered. “Here’s what I want you to do…”

✵ ✵ ✵

You have cast engine of war, wind daemon, vanish, and trigger-cast quick mend.

An invisible shadow, I followed in Nyra’s wake.

The young witch was my stalking horse. She strode openly toward the final chamber, but her buffs were cast, and her defenses raised. And both Ghost and I were ready to jump to her aid at the first sign of trouble.

Reaching the missing crystal door, Nyra paused, her tension palpable.

Ten yards behind her, I stopped too. I couldn’t see what lay within the marble compound, and I ached to do so, but I dared not. If there was a trap, it was Nyra who would spring it.

“Nyra!” a familiar voice called from within.

My apprentice’s shoulders relaxed, relief and recognition sweeping across her face. “Anriq! You made it.” She dashed forward and out of sight.

“You know her?” a second voice asked in a hushed tone. I recognized it as well. It was Shael.

“It’s Nyra, Michael’s apprentice,” Anriq replied.

“So, where is he?” a third asked—Bacheus.

It’s them. It really is, I thought, finally letting myself relax. An analysis of their mindglows confirmed it. Using Shael’s mind as a focus, I jumped through the shadows.

You have teleported 50 yards.

“Where’s who?” I asked lightly, letting the shadows around me unravel.

All three jumped.

“Michael!” Shael exclaimed. “You made it. We feared...”

I clapped his shoulder. “I know. I was afraid something had befallen you, too.” Tilting my head to the side, I let my gaze flit between the trio. “Why didn’t you wait for me?” Like I asked.

The three exchanged glances. “We reached the exit from the tundra early,” Anriq replied eventually. “And we didn’t think it wise to just hang around.”

My brows rose. “Early? How early?”

“We got there yesterday,” Bacheus said.

“Yesterday!” Nyra exclaimed, pursing her lips. “That means you crossed the tundra in… four days?” she asked, slightly disbelieving of her own calculations.

A smiling Anriq and Shael both nodded. “All thanks to Bacheus. You won’t believe some of the spells he has.”

The nagian couldn’t blush, but I could tell the others’ praise pleased him.

“Well done, you three,” I said warmly. “Both for getting through the tundra so fast and for finishing the remaining levels.”

“And how did you do that so fast?” Nyra demanded.

Anriq grinned. “I’ll tell you later.”

I rubbed my chin. “I assume you reached this level yesterday?” That would explain why the level three and four sector bosses had reappeared in the interim. The dungeon reset itself every day.

“We got here last night,” Bacheus confirmed. “But we took the opportunity to sleep and recover before entering the final chamber and tackling its boss.”

Shael shuddered. “And a good thing we did.” He glanced over his shoulder at the compound’s lone corpse. “That bastard was hard to kill.”

“Since then, we’ve been waiting,” Anriq said, concluding the trio’s tale. “Just like you asked.”

Nyra rolled her eyes. “You were told to wait on the tundra.”

The werewolf ducked his head sheepishly.

“Never mind,” I murmured. “It’s done.” Swiveling about, my gaze found the sculptured marble form of Kolath. “And we’ve reached him.”

“Prime, can I manifest?” Ghost asked. She’d been following the conversation avidly but now was ready to explore the environs herself.

“Go ahead,” I replied absently. Striding through the ankle-high grass, I approached the colossal statue while the pyre wolf streamed out of me.

The others followed silently on my heels.

Little about the guardian had changed in the intervening time. Perhaps, his statue body bore a few more hairline cracks, but other than that… there was nothing to indicate Kolath was a declining soul, a spirit who had spent overlong in this world, and whose mind was not quite all there anymore.

“How shall we do this?” Bacheus asked quietly.

I turned to face him. “Are you sure you still want to do this?”

“I am,” he replied without hesitation.

I glanced at Nyra.

She raised her chin. “As am I.”

Shael frowned and Anriq’s eyes widened. “Wait, what?” the werewolf demanded. “Why would—”

“Nyra is only here as a precaution,” I interjected, but it was to Bacheus, not Anriq, that I directed my response.

“A precaution?” Anriq repeated, not at all mollified.

“In case Kolath refuses my offer,” Bacheus explained serenely.

The werewolf’s gaze flitted to the nagian. “Why would he do that?”

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Unexpectedly, Bacheus laughed. “Well, for one, the guardian is somewhat mad, so who knows what he might do?” His humor faded. “And for another, he might deem me unworthy. I’m not a scion anymore, after all.”

“Oh,” Anriq said, deflating.

Ghost has manifested.

“I will try to see that it does not come to that,” I said firmly. My gaze returned to the looming statue. “But it’s probably best if I awaken him. Kolath should still remember me.”

Shael held out his arm. “You’ll need this then.” A guardian amulet rested in his hand.

“I have one of those, too,” I murmured, removing the objects I’d collected from my backpack.

You have acquired all four pieces of the guardian amulet of the elements. Do you wish to combine the pieces?

I replied in the affirmative, prompting another response from the Game.

You have created the artifact: guardian amulet of elements.

I took the amulet from Shael’s outstretched arm, nonetheless. The artifacts served as tithes that powered the guardians, and two offerings would eke more life into Kolath than one could—which would be a good thing.

Hopefully.

“You five better back up a bit,” I said. “Kolath can be a little… touchy.”

My companions retreated hastily, but it was only when they reached the far end of the compound that I stopped shooing them away. Satisfied that they were as safe as they could be, I turned back to the statue. The time had finally come to complete a task long overdue.

Kneeling, I brushed away the sand covering the statue’s stone plinth base, exposing the carving beneath. It was exactly as I remembered. I inhaled deeply. Here goes, I thought. Touching the amulets to the carving, I willed my intent to the Adjudicator.

A Game message unfurled in my mind.

Analyzing offerings…

…

…

Analysis completed. The offerings have been deemed sufficient. Do you wish to tithe these two artifacts to the guardian?

I do.

Tithe accepted. Items lost.

Awakening guardian…

✵ ✵ ✵

Awakening guardian…

Awakening guardian…

The Game message replayed itself in my mind over and over, and still Kolath did not emerge. Finally, tiring of the wait, I sank down, cross-legged in the dirt.

Which, of course, was when the alerts changed.

The revival is complete. Guardian awoken.

I straightened. Here we go.

Bracing myself, I tightened the shields around my mind. My last encounter with Kolath was not one I was likely to forget. The guardian had nearly killed me with his mental assault then.

I couldn’t afford to be incapacitated this time around. The stakes were too high.

Kolath’s eyes snapped open.

“Welcome back,” I greeted softly.

He did not respond. His expression inscrutable, the guardian’s gaze flitted to my companions, then back to me again.

I held firm under his examination, and at the edges of my mind, I thought I detected a telltale tickle. I was being inspected—minutely—I imagined, but I couldn’t be certain.

“Prime, is everything alright?” Ghost asked softly. “I can feel—”

“Shh!” I hissed. But it was too late.

His head snapping around, Kolath pinned the pyre wolf with a hard stare.

I wasn’t sure what Kolath intended, but I couldn’t risk that he would launch an attack next. I rose to my feet.

“NO,” I shouted, the word reverberating across the compound. “It is me you will deal with.”

The guardian’s head creaked slowly back in my direction. “Then they are yours, Wolf?”

I relaxed fractionally. So, he does remember me. “They are.”

Kolath’s lips twisted. “Even the… stygian?”

“Ghost is my familiar, and no stygian,” I said firmly. “Let him into your thoughts, Ghost,” I added, knowing that Kolath was likely listening in. “Let him see what you are.”

Mutely, the pyre wolf lowered her defenses.

A second passed.

“Ah, I see now.” Kolath leaned forward, folding himself nearly in half to place his face inches from mine. “It is good you do not seek to lie to me, Wolf child.”

I shrugged as nonchalantly as I could. “I have no cause to.”

The guardian’s eyes glittered. “Then, will you not let me into your mind too?” A gentle but firm prod against my shields. “Your defenses have grown quite impressive.”

I ignored the request altogether. “I’ve completed the task you set me,” I said, seeking to sidetrack the guardian.

Kolath frowned. “What task?”

“I’ve found out what has happened to your brethren.” I paused. “I have even awoken one.”

Kolath jerked upright so fast I barely saw him move. “Who?” he demanded, looming over me in unmistakable threat. “Who did you awake?”

“Draven,” I replied succinctly.

The guardian’s eyes flared. “So, my brother lives. Thank the ancients.” His gaze jerked back to me. “Tell me everything,” he ordered.

Gathering my thoughts, I began my tale.

✵ ✵ ✵

“You’ve done well, Wolf,” Kolath pronounced when I at last ran aground. He had listened to my tale in avid silence, not interrupting once, and for all my fears about the state of his mind, the guardian had shown no sign of the brittleness he had during our first encounter.

“Much better than I expected,” he went on. He chuckled abruptly. His mood had lightened appreciably since hearing my tale. “But then, Wolf was always being underestimated.”

I inclined my head. “I did my best to help.”

“That you did.” A pause. “And now you are here again. Why?”

I inhaled deeply. “To help you.”

Kolath’s brows crinkled. “With the offerings, you mean? I appreciate the tithe but—”

“No,” I interjected softly. “I don’t mean the tithes.”

The guardian’s frown deepened.

“It’s time for you to go to your long sleep, Kolath,” I said.

“Ridiculous,” he scoffed. “I don’t need to—”

“Draven thinks you do,” I continued inexorably. “And so do I.”

The guardian glared at me. “I am perfectly capable—”

Once more, I cut him off. “You are not. Like it or not, your faculties have deteriorated, Kolath. You have simply been too long out of stasis and at this task too long. It is time to hand the reins over to someone else.”

“Tell me what it is you think I cannot do?” he roared.

“Where is the lost Prime?” I shot back without hesitation. I knew where she was. I had figured out the truth with Draven and Adriel, but I had not told Kolath yet.

The guardian’s face grew perplexed. “What?” he asked less stridently.

“You heard me. Locate the lost Prime. She is hiding in one of the dungeons under your control. Draven believes the only reason you can’t determine her location is because you are in decline.” I paused. “Can you tell me otherwise?”

Silence.

“You can’t, can you?”

Kolath hung his head. “I can’t,” he whispered.

“I’m sorry, Guardian,” I said sympathetically, “but neither of us can afford to shirk the truth: the time has come for you to give up this life.”

Kolath’s gaze rose to meet mine. “Who will take my place?”

I waved my companions over. Saying nothing, Kolath watched in silence as they gathered around me.

“Bacheus has volunteered.”

The guardian’s eyes shot to the nagian. “The possessed?”

Bacheus stepped forward. “Former possessed, Lord Guardian,” he corrected, inclining his head. “If you will allow me the honor, I will serve in your place.” He paused. “Perhaps, that way I can wipe away some of the stains besmirching my soul.”

Kolath’s gaze drifted back to me.

“He can be trusted,” I said in response to his look.

The guardian’s shoulders sagged. “Very well. I will do as you ask.”

I bowed low from the hip. “Thank you, Guardian,” I said sincerely.

Kolath sighed. “No, Wolf, it is I who must give thanks. What you do today, what you may still do, could very well save the Kingdom and stop our relentless descent into the void.” Creaking into motion, he mimicked my bow. “Hail Scion! Hail House Wolf! And may the ancients always favor your blade!”

Straightening, the guardian grimaced as if in pain. “Now, let us be done with this and see me to my rest.”