ADARA

Her happiness at finding Fenrer alive dwindled with the half-dead, incoherent state of his mind. His hands gripped hers, a constant shake to his body when he half-guided, but half followed them through the constriction of the tunnels. He dragged his heels, scraping against the stone as a bloody tear slid down his cheek. On his other side, Neven chirped soft, soothing words, though none of it had an effect on him. Dismay squeezed her heart, but she supported him with one arm as his gaze flicked every which way. At their backs, Yuven and Maria watched for cultists, with Yuven's magick pressure against her skin when the lamp lights flickered with Fenrer's every faltering breath.

"I'm sorry," he continued to repeat. "I'm sorry..."

"Do not apologise," Neven soothed, taking up his other side to support. "You have no need to apologise, Fenrer. You did as you thought was best. You have found them. When I failed you did not." Neven's pale-gold feathers fluffed out, and Adara frowned at the older Avaerilian at the tightness to his calm, warm smile. Pupils thin, vertical beads, he continued the assuring movements. "Yuven, are you trying to find a way out of here while we walk?"

"Yes," Yuven said, closing in behind her. "Our best bet sadly seems to be that hollow in the mountain. Right where we felt that colossus far below. We might be able to push enough magick into that platform we saw... All of us, together."

All of us. Together. Adara held onto those words of Yuven's and pressed on through the darkness of the old mining tunnels. "Why haven't we run into any Derelicts?"

"They're being fed..." Fenrer's faltered words sent any last remnants of her hope straight into her stomach to be boiled alive by her own acid. His arm tensed in her grip, and he slammed to a stop. "None of you should be here, least of all you," he rasped to her, gripping onto her shoulders. "Adara, you should not have come. Have you never thought of the timing of what has happened so far? The awakening of your magick? The fall of Prunal? All of it? Don't you—any of you see?" Fenrer tossed his head between her and the other three. Though Yuven and Maria frowned in confusion, it was Neven who frowned and pinched his chin in thought. "This is what they want. You can kill them, uproot them, but the stain is so far deep into the ground, if you want to uproot them, you would need to go to the very center of Aztryxer."

"It would help if you explained yourself," Yuven said from the back. "We know they're looking for the Source Gate."

Fenrer's fingers dug into her collarbone, but she bit on the pressure it caused her and listened. "It's more than that," he rasped. "It was always more than that." He looked over her shoulder to Yuven, who flinched. "You should know that better than anybody, Yuven Traye." His eyes became wild, horrified, and tortured. The green, starry spirals had fallen still, losing all the joy, comfort, and faith. "You, who were made to suffer at their whims. You, who was but one piece they needed. Bloodshed leads to more bloodshed." A weak laugh left his lips. "We've abetted it. What's the adage? We don't hunt them? They hunt us?" His laughter warbled into wheezy sobs. "What makes a perfect predator? Patience. Watching. Learning." He held onto her tighter, and Adara found herself hugging him, for what good it did him. "So it has been for a thousand Turns. We didn't win. We barely even survived."

"There's still hope," Adara said. "You were there with me when we spoke to Evyriaz."

"He is a man," Fenrer rasped. "And we... aren't gods. We're not infallible... we don't know anything."

Neven stepped forward, brow heavy. "Of course we don't know anything," he said through the silence. "But... why do you think so many of us have fought for Turns, chose this life? Because what we learn could be passed down to those that come after us. We learn from the actions that come before us." Fire split the beads, and Neven slammed himself forward. "Fenrer Pyren, do not speak as such. You know nothing, that is true and plain. But I will tell you what I told Yuven Traye. I have been at this longer than you and when it comes my time, I would not have you die regardless of how it feels in a moment. You are more than your faith. That is not where your strength, our strength comes from. It isn't over until the breath leaves your lips — and even then. It is not over until your spirit itself dies. Do not let them win. Kemal and I tried to pound that into your head after the suffering you endured with the Desecration. You are to carry the knowledge of those that have come before you, to make sure their sacrifices weren't in vain."

"Miesero." Yuven reached a hand out.

Fangs slipped over Neven's lips, and Fenrer quieted in her hands at the thorough lecture the older Warden provided. Mist expelled out of Neven's nose, but the tension broke in the air, and he smiled at Fenrer. "Now... let us resume what we were supposed to be doing instead of bickering amongst ourselves. Finding Kemal. Any arguments can wait until after we're out of here and safe. That's your priority." Neven headed further down the tunnel, though she found herself locked in place with Fenrer hugging her tight.

"Yuv..." Maria mumbled. "Do you have any escape route?"

Yuven frowned, not ripping his attention away from Neven who bathed in the darkness ahead. "I'm looking for one." Adara shuffled out of the way when Yuven went to go catch up with him.

"Thirty missing, thirty lives, thirty dreams, thirty oaths," Fenrer whispered the haunted refrain in her ear. "Keep count. It's not over yet."

"Fen?" Adara whispered and touched his cheek with her finger. Silver flames washed into his eyes, and he shook himself out with a confused hum. "Stay with us, alright? We're going to get you out of here."

"I don't like this," Maria growled and adjusted the pack across her shoulders. "Adara, we might have to fight our way out of here. Make like Yuven told you and explode this entire mountain if you have to. We can manage, but Fenrer is right about one thing. We can't let the cult have access to your blood or magick." It took her no time at all to speed from them, and with some cajoling, Fenrer let go of her and enabled her to catch up with the others, though Fenrer looked over his shoulder with a shake of his body and his features going ashen once more. He hung behind her, flicking his attention into every flicker of shadow underneath the lamplights. Another junction barred their way, and when Fenrer lifted a trembling hand to point down into the dead-end, the other three wasted no time in following his silent indication. A thick, metal door lodged itself in the stone wall with tiny slits to act as a view into the pitch black air inside, but Yuven wasted no time in kicking it down.

It rattled off its hinges and hit the ground with a thundering clunk, scattering red dust.

"We're supposed to be quiet," Adara hissed.

Maria sent out magelights, but Adara nearly let a scream escape her lips when one of the shapes in the divots moved at the ripple of cruelty the lights revealed underneath the warmth.

Neven knelt down to the first, before looking over at the slumped over corpse in the left hole. "It's Tyber, and Loto—" His gaze raised to the farthest right shape when a death rattle escaped it, its chains clinking against the stone. Each of them tore out their crescent blades, but Adara found Fenrer's face tucked into her shoulder with a quiet sob. Adara followed the unsettled sound when both Neven and Yuven sent their own magelights to investigate it. Missing digits revealed rotted bone, scarred with black and pulsating with red.

Maria, Neven, and Yuven had gone silent as they stood around the rattling figure.

"What?" Adara pressed when all but Fenrer had froze, who clutched at her back with a shake of his head.

"I'm sorry," Fenrer whispered.

The glow from the white light settled across Yuven's face when he turned his head to Neven, and a terror she had never seen Yuven show writ itself plain across his features, his lips twisted inwards, his fangs threatening to tear them open. Adara peeked through his raised arm. In the shadows, a gaunt, skeletal figure stared at all of them with empty, bloodshot brown eyes. Blood splattered across its tattered clothes, chunks of flesh missing. Neven lifted his hand a bit to allow a magelight to sink to the ground, casting the same sapphire glow into the dead colours of the figure. A mark of life when the rattle quieted and their attention zoned in on Neven, whose back was to her, his face hidden.

"I see." Neven's hand dropped to his side, the other sheathing the crescent blade.

The draugr raised a saggy arm, fingers missing when it stretched its hand out. Adara choked at the puddle of blood it sat in. Neven took a step for it, but threw his hand out when Yuven went to grab onto him. "He won't hurt me." He squatted in front of the corpse. "Hello again, Kem."

Kem? Wait, is that...? Adara allowed her gaze to drift back into the cruelty of the light where Fenrer hid in the dark.

Kemal Tyronai.

Golden ash spread across his immediate vicinity. Neven sucked in his lips and shook his head. "You fool," he hissed when the arm tried to reach out for him, hungered, or something else from the way it carried its insistence. Less lost than the draugr of Irimount. Every movement measured, calculated, and thoughtful. "I didn't need you to throw me across the bridge. I am not that same stupid child you met." Neven pushed his hands against the ground. "You did not have to do this." Adara flinched when a hiss of anger left Neven's lips. "You did not have to do this to yourself! To me! I could've helped you! Why did you have to act so brazenly when I ordered you not to?" Neven snapped up to his feet, with Yuven reaching out to him. "Why couldn't you trust me?"

Kemal looked past Neven to Fenrer. Another deadly rattle left its—his lips when he tugged at his chains. Fenrer lifted his head slightly with a wince. The draugr made to stand with a growl, and she feared the worst when it made to step out of its divot with what little remained of its body, the blood clotted around it.

Bone cracked when Neven slammed his fist into its jaw. It hobbled back onto the ground with an uneven rattle, raising a hand to crack its jaw back into place. Neven tugged his fist back with a hiss, though tears ran down his face. "Neven," Maria said, holding her arms out.

"Just tell me why," Neven said and let his arm drop while the draugr took the effort to realign his own jaw. "Tell me why, Kem. In what world did you think this wise?" A whimper left his lips when he slumped onto the ground, on his hindquarters. "Why must I live with this now? Why must I be made to be the last one left?" Neven shuffled onto his knees. "...why didn't you just leave me on that stupid bridge? None of this would've happened. We could've gone our entire lives—"

The draugr that had once been Kemal slouched. A plume of dying magick left its nostrils. Gnarled hand outstretched, its rattle came out at a different rhythm. "—tect. —Tect." Its jaw ground against itself when it glared at Neven. "--ight. Oath..."

"What?" Neven rasped.

It started to hit its hand against its chest, before curling its fist and making a tearing motion towards Neven. Once more, Kemal's attention went to Fenrer, who hid away again. Another tearing motion, over his heart. " —ven."

"Nev," Maria whispered.

"Sh." Neven sat up, staring at Kemal.

Kemal's exposed teeth slammed together, until his next 'breath' left through them in streams. "...go. Sev—" The light disappeared for a moment, but the draugr gave a rattly shake of its meat and bones. It fell quiet in the room, and it lifted its head again. Adara tilted her head when a dying melody left its lips, though both Neven and Yuven widened their eyes. It continued to tear at its own chest.

Yuven drew out his crescent blade, but Neven held out his hand again. "Miso," he hissed. "You have to let him go! There's nothing we can do! He knew what he was getting into!"

"Don't yell," Adara snapped.

Kemal gave a sharp incline of his head at Yuven, who readied his crescent blade.

"At least let me have the decency of doing the deed."

Neven remained in front of the animated corpse of Kemal, feathers lowered against his ears. "Thirty individuals," he whispered to himself, and Kemal looked at him. "How many more? How about... we make it just one more?" Neven sighed, any of his previous anger washing off his face. "If you want us to leave... fine, but do not ask me to abandon you. You deserved more than this. You deserved to go back to your family. You... deserved..."

Kemal raised a hand to his neck. A crack of broken promises sounded through her ears when a necklace tumbled in front of Neven's knees with the smallest glint of fervor and faith. Wyvern wings soaked in blood, the tiny star cracked, dim of its light. He scooped it into his hands. "Here I thought I had already found yours... guess I really was just... losing my mind. Just like you warned me."

"Nev..." It spoke out his name with a rattle, but Neven looked up. Kemal, or what was left of him, looked between them, a curious head tilt at her.

All eyes on her, Adara jolted and gripped onto Fenrer. "I'm Adara... hello." Empathy crushed her heart, for a man she never got the chance to meet, for the corpse she was introducing herself to. "It... was—" It wasn't nice to meet the man she had heard much about. Not like this.

Neven lifted his head again. "Kem," he forced through his teeth. "Did you know Yuven's getting married?"

A quieter, almost questioning rattle left the draugr's misshapen lips.

"After so long," Neven said as he got onto his feet, smiling down at Kemal, who followed him with his eyes. "I'm never going to forgive you for this." Kemal turned to Yuven and Maria, a hand raising, until it formed a simple gesture. Thumb pointed upwards, Maria brought a hand up to her mouth to block out a choked sound, her hang squeezing Yuven's shoulder, who had opted to stare at Neven. "...the swords against darkness. Shields against the light." Neven took in another breath. "All of you... you can leave this room. I recommend it. What I am about to do—"

Yuven blinked, then scowled, "If you break the Oathbound connection—"

"He is dead, Yuven... and it won't kill me, you know this," Neven whispered, raising an icy glaive born from a shattered sapphire glyph to Kemal's chin. "And I need the shard of my soul back, and he needs his to pass on. Right, Kem? You didn't get much of an option when you became this, didn't you? After all... you weren't quite dead. Stuck in a state of undeath until I return to you what you gave me back then. So, Yuven." Neven looked over at his adopted son. "You cannot do this for me. It has to be me." His slender fingers curled around the shaft of the glaive when he sucked in his lips and faced Kemal again. "I would not have any of you bear witness, especially not Fenrer. Once we are done here... Yuven, you must make good on any escape route you have found."

"Obviously..." Yuven looked down at his feet. "But I'm not going to leave you."

"I won't either," Fenrer said from her shoulder.

"Foolish children," Neven said and drew his glaive back. Adara stepped away when a glittering glyph of browns and sapphires mixed together. "Sun and moon. Day and night. Life and death. Light and darkness." He trembled. "I, Neven Lotayrin, but one side of the same coin, release you, Kemal Tyronai, from the binding which entraps us together on this world unto the next. The reflection of my soul," he said, fangs baring. "May you find peace... in your Otherworld. By the grace of the known worlds... shall we meet again, our souls doomed to each other's existence. I, ever the descendant of the ferocity of wyverns, the endlessness of the fae." He looked down at Neven, raising his glaive past his shoulder. "To you, a giant of the sands, the fleeting humanity of which you have taught me." Neven scowled, giving a small jerk, though Kemal listened, and refused to move. "This fleeting moment that I once ignored. You... who reminded me... of why I am here."

Starry twine shimmered into existence, but Adara held her tongue, her questions, and choked on the pain in her throat when Neven trembled. "Uye'lu," his Navei came out pained. "Friend of mine, tell me if it was worth it, Kem."

"Every. Single. Moment, Puffball."

Adara twisted her head to Fenrer at the conviction in his voice. Head raised, brown specks filled the red-stained greens as a determined smile broke the terror. Neven had seized up. Fangs dug into his lips, and Adara clung onto Fenrer tighter when the glaive sped forward on its own ice. It struck through the throat, the final death rattle of Kemal Tyronai, a fallen Storm Warden. Golden stars flecked off, but Neven released a hiss through his teeth, flames in his eyes as he drove his glaive deeper, and the fires of wyverns consumed all that was left of Kemal Tyronai.

It burnt away the puddle of clots.

It left nothing more than the soaked necklace.

The glaive melted away to join the fire.

Maria stepped forward. "Yuven, get him out of here," she hissed. "I'm going to burn the rest of the bodies."

"Miesero..." Yuven shooed him away and towards the door. "Adara, take Fenrer out."

Adara pulled Fenrer along, the last words which left his lips had died back into his whimpering state.

"Nex," Neven brought his hands up to his face, a cry leaving his lips in a tortured chirp.

"I know it must be difficult," Yuven said. "But now we must leave. We did what we could. He's free. They're all free." He gripped onto Neven's wrists, who raised his head. "Give me the word, Miesero." Anger flowed through the fierce violets. "Give me the word, and I will make them all pay for every life they took."

Maria came back out, the rot striking her in the nose.

Neven lowered his head. "No, Yuven," he said, soft. "It's time to escape. Forget their oath necklaces... I'll keep count."

Adara looked back into the room made into a pyre.

Protect the light.