Meanwhile, Drake was lying in the snow, his mind caught between this world and the next. He was trying with all of his might to stay in the one with Gigi. She had said she loved him. The most important words he had ever heard. He couldn’t die here. For the first time he could remember, he had something to live for. A fountain of memories of their life together so far gushed within him. All that had been, followed by visions of all that could be. A life worth living, a life worth fighting for.

Drake called out to the Black Lord within him. He asked for the power to stand and help his love. For this, he would trade everything.

Kid, you really need to stay down, the Black Lord’s voice slithered through his mind.

Take it all, take my shadow. I can’t let her do this alone.

Silence held sway as the entity beyond the veil considered this.

No.

Please!

Kid, even if I wanted to help you, which I don’t, your insides look like they belong on a butcher’s block.

Then stitch me up. I don’t need long. If I die, I die. Whatever happens to me, Gigi needs to live.

The silence once again returned.

Three minutes.

That’s all I need.

I’ve had a lot of avatars, but, kid, you are by far the dumbest.

Drake smiled and opened his eyes to the pale gray sky. Gentle snow drifts came down from the heavens and landed on his cheeks. Despite the serenity around him, he could feel the darkness inside working to suture his wounds. It hurt beyond words, but thankfully, he didn’t need words. He just needed to stand. Unseen threads held him together like a ragdoll. Drake rose from the snow, a zombie from his grave, each movement slow and jerky, unstable and awkward when he got to his feet. He wasn’t sure he could withstand the wind if it picked up.

He stepped forward. It was the hardest thing he could recall ever doing. His entire body wailed in anguish, but he put one foot in front of the other all the same. Then Gigi screamed. He tried to call out her name, but his voice was hoarse and strained. Panic electrified his muscles to move as fast as the magic holding him together would allow.

When he came upon them, Gigi was on the ice, a pool of blood spreading under her. Drake’s heart cried out in torture at the sight. Then he heard sobbing and looked to see the captain nursing his broken sword. Despite the pain inside of him, a harsh, bitter laugh escaped his lips at the display of grief.

“I didn’t know you could cry. That metal must have meant more than your men ever did,” Drake croaked.

The captain and Gigi both looked to the source of the words. Whatever little color remained in the captain’s face drained. Gigi’s face lit up momentarily before frowning, worry spreading through her expression. Drake made his way on the fractured ice to his beloved.

“How, by the gods, are you standing!”

“I thought you could use a hand.” He winked and reached out to the downed goblin. She smiled and shook her head. With a grunt, he helped her to her feet. Hand in hand, they turned to meet the captain. For a moment, they stood side by side. Together, they would bury his past and start a new future. Drake gently squeezed Gigi’s hand before stepping forward.

“Oh, captain, it looks like you lost something.”

Drake tapped the side of his head. Sargasso took a belabored step back. He reached up to discover that he had indeed lost his helmet. The expression on the captain’s face said it all. The fight was so fierce that he assumed Drake to be neutralized. He hadn’t even considered it. He was exposed to Drake’s magic without it—no enchanted steel to protect his fragile human skull. Drake kept walking forward.

“Never figured you would have normal eyes. Thought they would have been black.”

Sargasso put his hand up defensively. “Listen, Drake...” he started.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

“Oh, I think that’s Lord Sword to you, Captain.”

“L-Lord Sword, Gaius, he’s planning something big. That’s why he wants you back so badly. It’s not too late. We can still-” Drake burst into laughter. Sargasso’s words died on his lips.

“It’s far too late, captain. It’s a lifetime too late for you.”

“You arrogant bastard!” Sargasso raised his broken blade but froze before he brought it down. Drake knew he had been the last thing the captain would ever see. That all he saw now was darkness. Drake stole the light from his eyes as he had done with the dwarves, what seemed a lifetime ago.

“I hope you remember the way back to Paxia. You don’t want to keep Gaius waiting.”

“You...You...Cur!” The captain lashed out toward Drake’s voice, the broken blade shooting forward one last time. Out of luck, skill, or spite, the shattered edge connected with Drake’s flesh. Sargasso went to lean into the cut when his shattered knee finally buckled and gave way. He fell forward, Drake collapsed backward, and they collided with the fractious ice below. The weight of the fall proved too much, and the white plain imploded to the icy torrents below.

The freezing water swallowed them whole, leaving nothing but wavering pieces of ice in the gentle wake. Drake could feel his body go numb almost immediately. With his last bit of strength, he grabbed the blade and kicked against the captain with all his might. The sword sluiced through him, fresh blood spilling into the water, but he propelled himself back and away from Sargasso.

The captain reached out for Drake as if he were a lifeline from a ship. Even through the murky depth, Drake could see the fear dancing in the captain’s eyes. It would have been amusing, but for the fact Drake couldn’t breathe and found himself sinking.

His muscles would not obey him any longer. Whatever his patron had done to keep him moving had been undone. His three minutes were up. He closed his eyes, and before the blackness retook his mind, his last thought was of the woman he loved. He hoped she would still be happy without him, but he could die in peace, knowing that his past would drown with him.

***

Gigi called out to her love as Drake and his tormentor slid below the ice. She hobbled toward the giant fissure. Mere moments had passed, and there were already no signs of them below the water. She was so angry with herself. If she had just admitted her feelings, perhaps Drake wouldn’t have run off to face this by himself. Yet, she had not, and no matter how much she wished she could go back and change everything in this frozen world, this was the only chance she would ever get.

As she reached the portal to the deadly depths, she pulled off her gauntlets and yanked each of her greaves. The weapons clattered to the ice below. Drake’s pale and lifeless face tormented her mind. She checked her wound. It was still bleeding freely, but there was nothing to be done. She inhaled deeply with a shaky step forward, then dove into the deathly waters.

Despite the pain, she moved with grace and determination. Despite all her physical blessings, she was not resistant to the cold. The Arctic freeze attacked her muscles with every movement, threatening to seize them and drag her to a watery grave.

She could feel panic envelop her more tightly than the cold as she failed to find them. Then she saw the glint of something metal in the dark water. Gigi kicked hard and shot forward. As she drew nearer, the glint became a shimmer. Then it came into view - the captain’s armor.

She saw the man flailing as he struggled for air. The armor he had clung to lord over others had fettered him to his doom. His only ally would rest with him for eternity. The man sunk lower and lower, the heavy steel taking on speed. As the captain slipped beneath the darkness, Gigi watched him shout a silent scream, his eyes bulging in terror. Gigi mentally waved farewell to the captain.

Her eyes darted around to find Drake. All she could see was more inky pitch. She was running out of time and air. Her lungs heaved as she twisted frantically in the water. Then she saw him, listing lifelessly in the current. Gigi turned and kicked as hard as she could. She closed the distance, sliding her freezing arms around him as his life slipped away.

Gigi kicked up toward the surface with every ounce of energy she had left. Her muscles throbbed, her leg was still bleeding, and her lungs were burning, but she didn’t care. She would rather drown than let him die. Drake would live. He would see the Gifts of the Gods, with or without her.

Her head hit something solid. They had come up in a different spot, one covered with ice. Fear’s thorny tendrils ensnared her. No, no, no! She pushed up but found it just forced her back under the water. She would need to break it. Doubt pulsed through her as she could feel time slipping from her. You can do this! Be as strong as he thinks you are! Be his champion!

Gigi shifted Drake in her grip. Their time together flashed through her mind as she lowered her right fist. It flew directly up and into the ice. The frozen ceiling cracked but did not break. She was losing feeling in her body; she needed to make this quick. Gigi lowered her hand once again. Their future called to her from beyond the frozen wall. This time, she focused, putting all her rage and hope into her fist. It catapulted upward and into the ice. The frozen wall cracked and then exploded upward.

Her emerald hand shot out of the water, and with adrenaline streaming through her, she slammed into the ice. Gigi’s nails bit deep into the clear crystal. She heaved herself out of the water, dumping Drake and herself onto the ice. Her breath came heavy as she sucked in as much air as she could.

Soaking wet, the frigid air may have been colder than the water. It didn’t matter, though. Drake was all that she could think about. The shivering goblin went to her beloved. He was not breathing. She pressed on his chest, lighter than when she had saved him months ago, being careful not to break him any further.

A few pumps later, Drake still wasn’t breathing. She began to press harder; the water came from his mouth in gurgles, but still no breath came. No matter what she tried, his pulse did not return. The loss of what was and what could have been smashed into her. Drake was dead. She had failed him. Gigi held her love in her arms and wept.