When the red mist disappeared from behind his closed eyelids, Gawyn opened his eyes and found himself alone in front of the palace.

"Sky? Zephyr?" he called, looking around, but there was no answer. He also noticed that ghosts had disappeared, leaving the place empty and eerie. He cursed and waved his hand through the air, where Skylar was standing just a moment ago. There was nothing there.

He gripped the handle of his sword tighter and walked back to the main gate to look back at the city. The streets were vacant and quiet. It seemed he entered a place where the only illusion remaining was the town itself. Curious.

But the disappearance of Sky and Zephyr worried him. The sorcerers needed to isolate them for some reason, which was a wise move. And they did it far too easily for his taste. He turned back and strolled towards the castle.

All his muscles were tense as strings, and the hair on his body was standing on ends. They surely awaited him inside, but he had no other way of getting out of this situation. He needed to destroy this illusion first, but to do that, he had to find the ones responsible for casting it. And they would be surely hiding in some dark corner, letting their filthy spells and half-dead slaves deal with him.

He clenched his teeth and stopped at the palace threshold. Let them come for him. He was ready to send them to hell where they belonged. His heart throbbed at the thought of Skylar trapped in some magic illusion all alone, but he trusted her and her skills. He would find his way back to her, whatever it takes.

And then they would show the sorcerers that they were not the ones to be trifled with.

He walked into the vast hall. His steps echoed throughout empty walls. The place was beautiful – rows of stone columns rose high up to the sculpted arcs of the ceiling. The windows were fitted with colourful stained glass depicting robed people with books, probably symbolising the nation's drive towards knowledge.

Gawyn scoffed - it served them well. Some things would be better to stay forever undiscovered. He admired pursuing knowledge to move economics and industry forward for the betterment of all people. But seeking old and forbidden lore, the domain of ancient gods and spirits for selfish reasons of getting more power for oneself, would always lead to destruction.

He passed the entrance hall and stopped at the grand staircase leading up. After the first landing, the stairs were divided into four separate ways leading to different palace sections. Gawyn looked up. Countless staircases led in all directions, some small, while others wide. There was no way he would ever be able to find anything in this vast place.

"Are you expecting me to just walk around this place for the rest of my life?" he asked no one in particular. "Because if yes, that is a dreadfully boring way of torture."

"It is so like you to just ignore the convoluted rules and demand the most straightforward resolution," answered the voice behind him. He certainly did not expect to hear that voice ever again. He felt all the hair on his body standing on ends again, and his heart lost a beat.

He turned on his heel, drawing his sword and pointing it at the figure leaning lazily on the closest pillar.

"Is that a way to treat your brother?" Alarat asked with his easy smile, his blue eyes shining brightly.

Gawyn looked him up and down. He seemed perfectly accurate - from the tip of his toes in the most fashionable boots to the seemingly unruly but carefully styled brown hair and perfectly trimmed beard. "You are not him," he said coldly. "Alarat is long dead."

"Oh, death is such an annoying little thing, you know." Alarat waved his hands with exasperation and straightened. "What do you think happens to us when we die?"

"Nothing happens to us," Gawyn replied, annoyed. "We cease to exist. Our story is over. The only thing left of us is how others remember us."

"That's a nice way to put it," Alarat mused, rubbing his beard in thought. "I thought so too. But then I died. And guess what? Somehow, I'm still here."

"You are not. You are an illusion meant to torment me."

"Torment you? But I'm delightful! If I'd like to torment you, I'd get you to the party!" Alarat laughed.

Gawyn felt a painful tug in his heart. Alarat felt far too real. The way he talked, the way he laughed. And the way he knew him so perfectly well. He didn't think about it much, but he missed his brother so much it hurt. "Yet here you are."

"Yes, to help you."

"I think not."

"Oh, come on! Why would I want to hurt my favourite little brother?"

"I'm your only brother," Gawyn growled, annoyed. It felt far too real. "But that's not the point. Everything in this damn place is an illusion, and so are you, so stop wasting my time and go away. I have sorcerers to kill."

"Sure, go and do your thing. But this is a big place, and they are hiding like cockroaches. Good luck finding them."

Gawyn narrowed his eyes. "And you know where they are, of course."

Alarat shrugged. "I've been here quite a while. Look, you getting here is the most exciting thing that happened to me after I died. You can't believe how boring the afterlife is when you have absolutely nothing to do. Do me a favour and just let me help you."

Gawyn scoffed. "You'll lead me into some trap. Or stab me in the back as soon as I turn away."

"I would never do that. I swear I have no ill intent." He placed his hand on his heart and smiled innocently. "Besides, I'd like nothing better than getting back on those shady bastards for getting me killed!"

"Elinora killed you."

"Yes, but she was already working with them, and that's why I'm here."

Gawyn frowned. "Explain."

Alarat sighed and walked past Gawyn to sit on the stairs. "You know Elinora was dabbling in dark magic herself?"

"I might have noticed, yes," Gawyn said when the memory of a dragon-like creature came back to him.

"Well, it's an awful business, their magic - requires loads of blood, sacrifices and such. They also have a use for souls, apparently."

"What use?"

Alarat shrugged. "I have no idea. You are the smart one, remember? They have some... machinery to harvest the magic from human souls? It all looks very complicated."

"Machinery?" Gawyn frowned and leaned on his sword as if it was a cane. "Then why didn't you get sucked into it?"

"I think Elinora messed it up. I gather they need to make a sacrifice in some specific way to use it. But she used Skylar's sword to frame her. It worked well for her but not for the sorcerers. So, I did appear right here, but I'm not bound to do their bidding. And funnily enough, they can't seem to do anything about it."

Gawyn looked at him for the moment. If Alarat was lying, it was an unnecessarily convoluted deception. It would be far easier to say he saw his distress and came to help. And yet, he was sitting on the stairs, returning his gaze with his usual half innocent and half-mocking smile.

"Do you know where Skylar and Zephyr are right now?"

"No. But I suspect the sorcerers closed them in separate illusions. They can create a lot of those, as you have probably noticed. You got here unexpectedly quickly, and I think they got scared. That's why they separated you."

"That was my assumption too, yes. Can you help me get out of this bubble?"

Alarat jumped to his feet. "Yes! I was hoping you would ask! I'm so glad you believed me!" He raised his hand toward his brother, offering him a handshake. Gawyn scowled, picked up his sword and thrust it into the man's chest.

"Woah, did you just stab me?!" Alarat asked with disbelief.

The sword went right through him, not meeting any resistance.

"I was just checking if you are truly a ghost." Gawyn shrugged and sheathed his sword.

"And what if I had a body?"

"That would mean you are a demon, and I'd be glad you are dead already. Are you done whining? I want to get out of here as soon as possible."

"Always so cold." Alarat sighed. "Fine, fine. I suggest going upwards."

"Upwards? Really?" Gawyn growled. "There is nowhere to go on this level, so it's obvious we have to go up. That's all you can help with?"

Alarat laughed. The sound echoed through the empty hall, sounding weird and out of place. "You didn't change a bit. Lead the way, and I tell you which way to pick on the crossing."

They climbed up several staircases, their footsteps sounding dull in the ever-present silence of the halls and towers. Gawyn could not see anyone, just the beautiful empty spaces. Even though Alarat led him, he tried to enter other ways, but he encountered an invisible wall every time.

He turned to look at his brother's ghost with narrowed eyes. "I don't need you to guide me, as they set up the route for me already."

"It seems so, yes," Alarat nodded. "I didn't know that. We are not far anyway."

"Not far from what exactly?"

"The closest sorcerer hideout I know of. I bet he's the one weaving this illusion."

"If this illusion is meant to trap me, how are you here?"

"I'm a ghost." Alarat shrugged. "I can walk around this place and through illusion as I please."

"Can you go and find Skylar then?"

"Probably. But it would take time. And I'd rather get you out from here first and look for your wife together later. I can do nothing but talk now, as painful as it is to say. Can't get out anyone without the assistance of a living person."

They continued their ascent until they reached the wide arc leading to the spacious room. It was full of shelves bending under the weight of heavy tomes and parchment sticking out in several places. The scent of paper, ink, and dust hit him like a breeze. Gawyn entered reluctantly, with a hand resting on his sword handle. He slowly walked in and slid his fingers over leatherbound tomes on the closest shelf. If not for the eerie atmosphere of this place, he would love to explore it.

He didn't get far when a too familiar voice called his name.

"Gawyn!" Skylar dashed at him from behind the shelves further down in the room. She hit him at full speed, almost knocking him down and hugged him tightly. She was warm and smelled right. "I was so worried when you disappeared!"

He hugged her back. His heart lightened with relief from seeing her back safe in his arms. "Are you all right?"

"Yes. What about you?" She took his face in her hands, searching for any signs of hurt.

"How did you find me?"

"I don't know. I just walked where I could, and the way led me here." She slowly withdrew from his arms and looked around. "What is this place anyway?"

"A library, most likely." He looked around, but Alarat was nowhere in sight. Gawyn frowned. That was unexpected. He turned back at Skylar, staring at countless shelves filling the room. She was all dirty and battered, just like him, but gods, she was beautiful. Her big dark eyes, full lips, and those strong arms. Sometimes he forgot how much he loved her, and his heart clenched painfully at the thought that they might have to die soon.

"Maybe we can find something about the cure here?" she asked, looking back at him, her eyes shining. "There are so many books. There surely must be something here, right?"

Gawyn's heart sunk.

"You want to search for it in the books?"

"Yes. You love books, don't you?" Sky said and pulled the dusty tome from the shelf and started to flick through the pages. "You always tell me that there is so much knowledge in them and that I should read more."

"You chose an odd moment to take that lesson seriously," he said, trying hard not to show the anger that was raging inside of him.

"Better late than never, no?" She grinned. "Look, if we start now, I'm sure we can be done in no time! I'll take this side and you─" she trailed off as Gawyn drew his sword with a solemn face. She cocked her head. "What are you doing?"

He slowly walked toward Skylar, and she took a step back, but her back hit the shelf.

"Gawyn? Love? What are you doing?" she asked, and her voice started to break.

He didn't respond. He suddenly lunged forward and thrust his sword into Skylar's chest.

"You are not her!" he growled, twisting the blade.

Skylar stared at him with wide, dark eyes and wanted to say something, but the blood poured from her mouth, muffling the words.

For the longest moment in his life, nothing happened. Skylar whimpered in pain, and her body trembled as she tried to take a breath but couldn't. The light slowly dimmed in her dark eyes as the blood gushed from the wound in her chest.

But he knew his wife. And that poor imitation was not her.

He wrenched his sword out and stepped back.

Skylar fell to her knees, clutching at the wound.

And then she started laughing.

It was a horrible, unnatural sound that could never get out of Skylar's mouth.

She raised her head and looked at him with unnatural, yellow eyes. Her pale face twisted in a hateful scowl. "You bloody fool! You thought you could simply stab me, and I would die?" She laughed again, making his skin crawl.

"Don't worry, I planned to stab you some more," he said, adjusting his hold on the sword and taking up a defensive position.

The thing that wasn't Skylar got back to her feet while the dark blood was still gushing from her wound and pooling on the floor.

"How did you know I was not her? I weaved her perfect for you - her looks, her smell, the feeling of her weight in your arms. I took it all right from your head," the creature said, tilting her head. "What gave me away?"

"Skylar is not a book lover. She would never choose reading books over killing annoying sorcerers," he said, slowly circling her to have the open space behind his back."

"Right, I thought I may overdo the enthusiasm a bit. Oh well." The creature shrugged. "Doesn't matter. Now, let's have some fun, shall we?" She raised her hands, and her fingers turned to long sharp claws. Her mouth filled with razor-sharp teeth, and the spiral horns protruded from her head. "Come, give your little wifey a kiss!"

She laughed and dashed at him with such an unnatural speed he barely managed to dodge the swiping claws in time. "Stay still, will you? Don't you want to play with me? Didn't you miss me, love?"

"You can drop your act, demon," he growled, stabbing at her, but she was too swift for his attack.

"Ah, but it is soooo entertaining to rile you up like that," she purred.

They jumped back and forth for a while, but it was evident that the demon had the advantage of both speed and strength over him. Gawyn clenched his teeth. His blade seemed to be unsuitable to do any lasting damage to the creature.

He positioned himself so that he backed away deeper into the room.

"Are you trying to run away, little man? There's nowhere to go!" She laughed and lunged at him again. He dodged and kicked her, pushing her back. Then he grabbed the nearby shelf and pulled it with all his might. The heavy frame creaked and started slowly toppling towards them. The demon shrieked and started to run, but thick books were already raining down, slowing her down and tripping as the wooden shelf collapsed.

Gawyn knew it was only a temporary setback for her, but it gave him a few precious moments to get some distance between them and work out a more permanent solution. He quickly reached the end of the chamber, chased by the furious screams and sounds of breaking wood.

And then he saw it. The back wall was decorated with crests, and underneath stood a set of armour.

It was holding a huge halberd in its iron gloves.

He dashed towards it, but he hesitated a second too long.

"Where do you think you're going?" hissed the voice right behind his back, and before he could jump out of the way, he was thrown at the wall with such might that all the breath escaped his lungs immediately. He slipped down to the ground, his vision blurry.

He tried to scramble up, but the demon kicked his ribs, sending him back down again.

"Not so cocky now, are you?" she hissed.

"Hey, freak! Fight me!" called the voice. The demon growled and swiftly turned around, looking for another threat. Gawyn took advantage of the momentary distraction and clambered towards the decorative armour set.

"Where are you, coward?" the creature spat.

"Right here!" Alarat walked from behind the shelf and waved cheerfully.

The demon scoffed. "You're just a shadow. You can't do anything but run your dirty little mouth! I'll make you regret you interfere as soon as I'm done with him." She turned around and spotted Gwyn crawling away. She shrieked and dashed at him.

Gawyn jumped to his feet and grabbed the halberd.

The demon was already upon him.

He turned and swiped the massive weapon in a wide arc, cleanly separating the horned head from the rest of the body. It hit the floor with a dull thud and rolled away, leaving a smear of dark red blood behind. The sound of shattering glass pierced the air. The world trembled around him, but the sensation was gone after a moment as if nothing had happened.

Gawyn dropped the halberd with a loud clank and leaned on his knees, trying to slow his breathing. The body on the floor started to blur and change once again into the female form dressed in dark robes. The head that rolled further away lost the horns and hair, turning bald and covered with black inked tattoos.

"Well, that's one sorcerer less," Alarat said, breaking the silence. "The halberd trick was quite impressive, I must say. And I think the illusion bubble around you was burst as well."

Gawyn looked up at him with narrowed eyes. "Where did you disappear?"

Alarat shrugged. "I'm a ghost, remember? That's what we do. Disappear here, and then get back to appear in the most convenient moment."

"You knew it wasn't Skylar."

"You knew it too, deep down. I didn't think I needed to tell you that. It's not something someone as cunning as you could miss. I did save you back there, though."

Gawyn wiped the blood from his face with his sleeve and straightened. "That you did. Come now. If I truly broke out of my illusion, it's time to get Skylar out of hers."