Once again, a deathly silence had taken hold of the Dungeon Crucible. A silence that ironically spoke of the impasse that had been reached between the three parties in question.

Zirel, for the most part, maintained a stoic expression. His body language and that cold, piercing gaze of his served as a reminder of the fact that while Riven Blackheart had only been a persona, the tales of his exploits had only been slightly exaggerated.

Zirel, on his own, had been enough for three Elite Guards of the Nottrakon Family.

Aleph, on the other hand, seemed to be…. lost. While Tom had always known that the cheerful front she put up before him was nothing more than an act, her insight and breadth of knowledge had been crucial in letting them get to this point.

Perhaps it was her conviction that had allowed her to maintain that front, the belief that the path she was on would eventually lead her to what she desired the most—- revenge.

Regardless of what it had exactly been though, Tom had spent long enough a time with Aleph to tell that her determination had wavered.

Aleph Longstradia was now traversing through unchartered territory.

As for Tom, if he was being truthful to himself… he felt guilty. A part of him still wanted to influence Aleph’s judgment, guide her or atleast make her aware of what he wanted, the vision he saw

Was it because he still couldn’t bring himself to completely trust Aleph’s judgment? Or was he afraid of the eerie composure Zirel still maintained; the possibility that they would lose if it came to a showdown?

He didn’t know.

‘Blast it all,’ He chided himself for hesitating.

His mind may have been a confused jumble of conflicting thoughts and arguments, but his heart knew what the right decision was.

And besides, how could he convince Zirel to play along his scheme if he couldn’t even bring himself to trust his companion.

“Well Aleph,” Tom began. “It’s time to make a decision,” His words were spoken with an air of finality to it, as the beginnings of a smile tugged at his face.

He didn’t know why he was smiling. Perhaps, it was because it could very well be the last time he got to smile, ever.

There was a pause. A moment of calm, before the supposed tempest.

And then Aleph spoke.

“Would your father be angry if you died, right here and right now?” Aleph asked bluntly, as her body language shifted. From a sheathed sword to a blade held in open challenge.

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Tom’s stomach sank even as he shifted to a more guarded, combat-oriented stance. He hadn’t yet reached for his inventory and consequently, the glass jar full of blood yet though. Negotiations hadn’t irrevocably broken down just yet, though Tom didn’t hold much hope at this point.

“That depends,” Zirel Covan Nottrakon replied with a nonchalant shrug. “Would you be angry on behalf of someone you’ve only met thrice in your entire life? Probably not. Would he personally hunt you down and avenge me regardless of constraints like time or cost though? Likely, yes. You see, the only one that is allowed the prestigious right to kill a Nottrakon is another Nottrakon. Got to preserve our family’s honor, you know?”

The somber silence that followed was interrupted by a long, deep sigh from Aleph.

“Is he speaking the truth?” She asked Tom half-heartedly, not even bothering to question how he was supposed to know the answer. If Tom had any nefarious intent, all he had to do was side with Zirel and Aleph would lose, regardless of all her strength. Instead, he had sworn to fight alongside her.

“As far as I am aware, yes,” Tom replied briskly, not willing to give any additional information to Zirel.

Aleph sighed again.

“Killing you won’t bring me any satisfaction,” She sadly shook her head. “Even if everything you said was a lie, you would have been too young back then to have made the decision, or participate in the carnage that followed. I’m done here, unless you choose otherwise.”

“Aleph, wait,” Tom interjected.

Reluctantly, she stopped in her retreat.

The third option.

Tom was sure that she hadn’t forgotten.

She just didn’t want to consider it.

“Zirel, can I ask you a question in her stead?” Tom asked, drawing the gazes of both Aleph and the prince.

“I don’t see why not,” he answered.

“What if,” Tom took a deep breath as he contemplated the sheer audacity of his suggestion. “---Look, I know you want to amass power and you’re willing to take the shortest way to it.”

Aleph’s gaze immediately sharpened, her melancholic mood temporarily blown back by a sudden interest in Tom’s words.

“You sure know a lot,” The prince tried his best not to sound flummoxed, but it was hard not to when confronted by one’s own hidden desires and ambitions.

“And you have to be wondering— asking yourself, why we came to hunt you in the first place. Hunt the notorious Riven Blackheart in his own lair.”

“What do you mean?” Zirel asked. “Weren’t you aware of my identity? Wait, no. That doesn’t add up. If your friend there knew my true identity, she would have prepared an arsenal fit to slay tower-dwellers. There would have been no talking, only a ruthless ambush. Then, you withheld that information from her? No, no— you seem almost as ill-equipped to deal with this situation as she is. What in the world is going on here?”

The clarity in Aleph’s gaze was back with a burning intensity and Tom could almost feel her gaze boring through his skull.

“Look, I get these visions, okay. And they’re almost completely random. I can’t control them but,” Tom hesitated, or more accurately, feigned hesitation. Except the feelings behind his hesitation were genuine. He really didn’t want to betray the nature of his ability, but Aleph was bound to figure it out anyway. “There’s a prerequisite. Namely, they don’t activate until I’ve seen the person at least once, in person. Once I’ve seen you, there’s no time limit. The vision could be a year from now. A decade. Or as it is for most people, never.”

“I.. ,” Zirel began. “I don’t know if that’s a preposterous ability or a completely atrocious one. But…. The scenario does make sense if I factor in the nature of your ability. Of course, it could be something else entirely and you could be lying but the fact that I am still alive, gives credence to your theory. Such a powerful ability being balanced by such a heavy restriction.... I suppose I can accept that. Regardless, what is your question, clairvoyant?”

“What would, no, how would your father feel if…..,”Tom trailed off, as his heart pounded in his chest.”....If you teamed up with the last successor of House Longstradia to conquer the final sector of the Zelez Dungeon.”