She scowled in frustration. “How much of this were you hiding from me?”

“You were not a Justicar at the time when this was relevant. This sort of behavior is expected and was circumvented by your acceptance to our order, Arden.” Rena reminded her. “We have much to share and you must open yourself to us before we can.”

“What do you mean?”

“Among the three of us, you saw more than we have of our society from above. You were given a chance to walk among us...and you believe everything is simple. Nothing is simple, especially when you investigate every avenue into the unknown.” Gelehrter surmised.

“And when we use techniques you believe are forbidden because you were raised to think so, it is a hindrance to remind you what we must do.” Rena said and winced.

“Is something the matter?” Arden asked.

“Just...feeling a bit weak...” Blood trickled from her nose and her eyes lulled into the back of her head. Arden rushed to her side.

“We should deactivate our Blessed Star while we make camp...” Rena pressed her hand to the symbol emblazoned on her chest. The others followed her example and their dark armor dissipated from their frames.

Gelehrter turned his attention to the atmosphere surrounding them. The abyss encroaching on their encampment were filled to the brim with crimson hues. Hands pressed against the barrier and were knocked aside. They released cries which were muffled against the shield, yet the terrifying squeal surged through them. Fear reared its ugly head and glowered at them dubiously.

“Arden...do you sleep?” He focused onto her and his words struck true.

“N-No...I've always had trouble.” She confirmed his suspicions.

“Then you did not--”

“I was forced to with magic. I witnessed Ernald's fall.”

“...Perhaps you should take the night watch. Rena and I need the rest.” He grimaced as he watched the paws of the unknown creatures clawing the invisible walls.

He took his place near Rena, who struggled to breath. Her dark hues appeared to gloss over for an instant and she blinked to attempt to restore them.

Something else is troubling her. This place will be the death of us if we do not return. His thoughts were grim but rang true.

“Help me with a healing spell.” He commanded. Arden nodded and placed her companion onto the stone floor. They prepared a pillow from a spare cloak and placed it underneath her skull.

With their hands joined together, they chanted slowly. Light glistened under their palms and soothing energy permeated her figure. Dark waves attempted to thwart their spell from Rena's chest. She coughed, writhing in agony.

Rena's eyes flashed brilliantly for an instant as the darkness was cleansed from her system. She sat upright and wiped the blood from her nose.

However, the evil energy searched for a new host. Arden rose to her feet and reached for her burning blade. She defiantly pointed the tip to the dark mass as it neared her and it was devoured by the holy power within.

Another form replaced it. The figure stood no taller than they and rose to its feet. Its arm raised to Gelehrter and its fingers tore through his chest. No physical wound was caused as it viciously appeared to dine on his innards.

He felt uplifted and cleansed. His gaze turned to the barrier and only found the darkness peering back at him.

“Perhaps...that thing is more useful than we had imagined.” Gelehrter felt embarrassed to admit it and flushed scarlet.

“Solstice.” Rena blurted.

“Solstice?”

“Solstice. This weapon bears the flames of the summer's solstice; I wish we had thought of it sooner.” She beamed.

Gelehrter tore his boots from his feet and rested them near the fire. What little comfort they were allowed in the harsh alien place they found themselves in was welcome.

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His thoughts turned away from their situation as he felt fatigue engulf him.

The warm summer air brushed against him as he moved through the taiga. He turned about and glimpsed a figure rushing toward him.

He drew his blade to apprehend his new foe. A flash of steel left the figure bloodied onto the ground. Their cries came to him like music and he yanked their body to peer at their visage.

His own face met his gaze. The face of innocence, the face of someone who had so much to lose.

Gelehrter leaped back in horror. His blade fell to the ground and he was embraced by remorse.

A single moment passed as he opened his eyes. The same camp they had set some time ago greeted him. Rena lay sleeping nearby while Arden busied herself with documenting their situation. Her makeshift desk was covered in parchment as she worked furiously. She took no notice of his waking.

“How long was I asleep for?”

“Not long...I predict a few hours at best...” She murmured, dipping her quill into the inkwell.

Silence rested with them.

Rena stirred and rubbed her eyes. She mumbled a quick spell and the blaze died into a wisp of smoke. They worked to collapse their cantonment and hastily activated their Blessed Stars. Dark armor embraced them once again before the barrier burst from view.

They scarcely had time to pull their masks over their faces before the torrential poisonous air threatened to siphon their strength.

Though little had transpired as they stood near one another in the dark, they felt a familiar grasp of fear take hold of them deep in their psyche.

Arden drew her blade, the small form of illumination from the weapon was strangely comforting. They departed soon afterward, eyeing the walls about them. Torch sconces lit themselves and provided little to no light in the hallway which extended for an eternity.

Around them the corridor shook. The stonework underneath their feet began to shift and turn. They took to a sprint as the hallway behind them began to be swallowed by a gigantic maw.

A swirl of dust attempted to swallow them as they bolted forward. Bricks tossed themselves from their place and struck them. A tiny barrier was their only saving grace and the massive stones crumbled against their armor.

“There, ahead of us!” Rena pointed out. Nothing in particular held the hinges of a door in place. It remained in the center of the hallway.

They gasped as it opened wide, the vortex from within lifted them from their feet. Sound appeared to vanish as a massive hand emanated from the door and clutched each of them in its palm.

Atoms were displaced and then replaced back into their normal configuration. Like a man spitting out food in disgust, they were ejected from the entrance into a nearby shelf. Papers and other tomes were scattered about as they rose to their feet.

Gelehrter spat blood. He shook as he tried to stand and he deactivated his Blessed Star immediately. They too followed suit.

Sound returned to them in a few moments after they leaned against the bookshelf. To their amazement, the scattered objects returned to their original places.

Arden glanced about. Tomes and volumes of unknown origin floated above them. She glanced over her shoulder and the threshold which forced them there had vanished.

Rena murmured and healing energies forced his inner wounds to close.

“I see you have returned safely.” Gavilis's voice met their ears after a moment's reprieve.

They snapped to attention and the Grandmaster raised a hand.

“S-Sir...how long were we missing for--” Arden's question was halted by a sudden command.

“You are to follow me. I have been given instructions to have you brought before our Sanguine Overlord if you were found.” Gavilis spoke nonchalantly, his Blessed Star adorning his frame with similar dark armor. He did not wait for them to recover, he merely trudged on ahead. They gathered themselves and followed him.

Carpet muffled their feet as they trotted behind him. His pace was unnaturally quick and he seemed strangely alert. Gavilis lowered his head to avoid several books floating by. Many others were seated at nearby tables, their noses in books. Others were jotting down notes which floated off into some other reach of the expanse. The scent of must and dust in the air plagued their breathing.

This must be the Grand Atheneum... Gelehrter surmised as he rounded a corner with his companions.

A lift had met them as Gavilis approached. He pulled onto the lever and it opened for them to step inside. A series of button presses and they ascended without delay.

“S-Sir...” Arden stammered.

“I am Gavilis, refer to me by name.”

“Y-Yes. Gavilis...how long were we absent?”

“Four months.”

She shook head in disbelief. “What happened since then?”

“You will be briefed and we will question you. King Thalanil was killed during that time and we sent a few Justicar after we were given the news from Accalia. She made her way here.” Gavilis crossed his arms and tapped his foot impatiently. “Damn thing.”

“Question us? Whatever for?” Rena interjected.

“I have much to present to the Council. They have been growing impatient and were unable to see things my way. Without proper evidence of what transpired in Burm, they will make it harder for us to move forward from here. The defense matrix was restored and a few innocent lives were lost. We had accounted for some casualties.” He fell silent once the door to the lift opened. They stepped outside and into the familiar corridor. Memories of the dark corridors in the Lower Sector haunted them, but they stomached their fear and pressed on.

Gavilis was unaffected.