Folainn took another deliberate step forward, the soft glow of his Glyph Bolt casting eerie shadows across his face. He moved with a predatory grace, each step seeming to compress the air around him. "Oh, Raelyn," he said, his voice dripping with mockery. "Still so naive. Did you really think you could stop Baragor? That your little quest would mean anything?" He laughed, a low, hollow sound that echoed off the courtyard walls. "You were so predictable. So... easy to manipulate."

Raelyn's heart pounded in her chest, Folainn's words cutting deeper than any blade. "Why, Folainn?" she managed, her voice trembling. "Why would you aid Baragor? He has corrupted Bromaric. Attacked Ardesco. He killed Keardath!"

At the mention of Keardath, Folainn's expression darkened, the sneer replaced by a cold, venomous glare. "Keardath," he spat, the name laced with disdain. "That old fool? He stood in the way of greatness. Baragor showed me what real power looks like, Raelyn. Not the scraps Keardath and his precious High Council deigned to give us. They preached balance, restraint—chains masquerading as ideals."

He raised the Glyph Bolt slightly, the energy swirling menacingly in his palm, its glow casting jagged shadows across his face. "Baragor promised me the world," Folainn continued, his tone laced with arrogance. "He promised to make me the most powerful magus Unevia has ever seen. All he asked for was the casket that was brought to Ardesco."

He began to circle her slowly, the Glyph Bolt glowing brighter in his hand, an extension of his malice. "I broke into Keardath's office for it, you know," he said, his voice taking on a cold, casual tone. "I was so close. But then you had to meddle, didn't you? You uncovered the locket and brought it into the light before I could claim it. You ruined everything."

Raelyn shook her head, disbelief etched into her features. "You were the one who told Keardath it was me..." she murmured, the realization hitting her like a blow.

"Of course I did," Folainn admitted, his tone flat, as if the betrayal were trivial. "I thought he'd confiscate it, and then I'd have another chance to steal it. But no. Instead, the great Keardath—your precious guardian—entrusted it to you. You. Of all people. After that, you were constantly watched, always protected by that big oaf. I never got another opportunity."

Her Shield of Light wavered as tears welled in her eyes. "Folainn, please," she said, her voice trembling with desperation. "It doesn't have to be this way. Whatever Baragor has promised you, it's a lie. You're better than this. I know you are." She took a cautious step forward. "You can still stop this. Help us. Fight with us, not against us."

"Stop. You're pathetic." Folainn sneered, his pacing halting as his eyes bore into hers. "Baragor gave me a second chance. When Irdarith took me and a few others to the barrier, I knew it was my moment. I opened it, Raelyn. I let the demons in. Ardesco fell because of me."

Raelyn staggered back, her Shield of Light flickering dangerously as her concentration wavered. The weight of his confession threatened to crush her. "No," she murmured, her voice breaking. "You couldn't have. You wouldn't..."

"Oh, but I did," Folainn said, his laughter sharp and cruel. "You all thought I was one of you—weak, idealistic, clinging to pointless hope. But I saw the truth, Raelyn. Unevia isn't worth saving. It's weak, disjointed. They say there's peace between the realms, but it's a lie. The elves care only for their forests, the dwarves for their mountains, the magi cower behind their barrier. The humans lost everything, their entire realm. And no one came to their aid. They don't work together; they don't care about anyone but themselves."

"Not everyone is like that," Raelyn said desperately, her voice trembling. "Keardath wasn't. Corix wasn't."

"And look where that got them! They were fools!" Folainn snapped, his sneer deepening. "Just like you. Baragor understands what Unevia needs—a strong hand to unite it. A ruler who doesn't flinch at the cost of power. He promised me the means to rise above this fractured world, and I took it."

Tears pricked Raelyn's eyes, her heartbreak spilling over into her voice. "You destroyed everything," she whispered, her knees threatening to give way. "For what? To serve Baragor? To watch the world burn?"

"Serve Baragor?" Folainn snarled, his voice rising. "I don't serve anyone. Baragor is a means to an end. And when Unevia is his, when his enemies are ash, I will be the one standing at the top. Me."

The Glyph Bolt in his hand flared brighter, and Raelyn's Shield of Light dimmed further. Her chest tightened as his words twisted the knife in her heart, leaving her barely able to stand against the crushing betrayal.

"You'll never win," she said, her voice trembling but defiant. "People will fight. They'll stand together."

Folainn's laughter was sharp and derisive. "Let them try. It will only make their fall all the more satisfying." He raised the Glyph Bolt higher, the glow illuminating his sneering face. "And as for you, Raelyn... you've already lost."

With a flick of his wrist, the Glyph Bolt launched toward her. Raelyn braced, her Shield of Light flaring as it absorbed the impact. But the force was too much. The shield shattered with a blinding burst of light, the shockwave knocking Raelyn backward. She hit the ground hard, her breath leaving her in a painful gasp.

Folainn loomed over her, his silhouette a dark shadow against the moonlit courtyard. His gaze was cold and detached, devoid of the charm Raelyn once knew. Slowly, deliberately, he extended his hand, and from the air itself, threads of golden light coalesced at his fingertips. The strands wove together, solidifying into a spear that pulsed with raw energy. The spear's edges shimmered, sharp and menacing, its glow illuminating the cruel sneer on his face.

"Baragor gave you a choice," he said, his voice almost conversational, as if he were discussing a trivial matter. He spun the spear once, its light casting eerie patterns on the cracked stone tiles. "Join him and help him find the weapon of the gods so he can destroy it, or die and take that locket with you." His lips curled into a cold smile. "It looks like you made your choice."

Raelyn's chest tightened as she scrambled backward, her arms trembling as she tried to push herself away. Her breath came in shallow gasps, her mind struggling to come to terms with the deep betrayal. The spear in Folainn's hand brightened, its tip glowing with lethal intent as he raised it above her.

"Goodbye, Raelyn," he said, his voice chillingly void of emotion as he prepared to strike.

A voice rang out like a shot, sharp and defiant. "Leave her alone, you bastard!"

Folainn froze, his head snapping toward the sound. His expression twisted into annoyance, his grip on the spear tightening. He barely had time to register the source of the interruption before a fist collided with his face. The crack of the impact echoed in the courtyard, sharp and sickening. The force sent him sprawling, his spear of light shattering into fragments of glowing energy that fizzled out before they hit the ground.

Folainn hit the stone tiles with a grunt, his body twisting awkwardly as he struggled to push himself up. Before he could fully regain his footing, a boot came down hard on his chest, driving him back against the ground.

Benji loomed over him, his jaw clenched and his eyes blazing with fury. "That was for Raelyn" he growled, shaking his hand out as if the punch had stung more than he let on. "And this..." He lifted his foot and delivered a swift, brutal kick to Folainn's face. The thud of the impact sent Folainn sprawling again, his head snapping to the side as blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.

"This one's for Unevia, you arrogant prick,"

Raelyn stared up at him, her breath catching. Benji turned to her, his expression softening as he extended a hand. "Get up," he said firmly. "We've got to get out of here."

For a moment, all Raelyn could do was stare up at Benji. The boyish, unsure figure she had always seen was gone, replaced by someone resolute and commanding, his outstretched hand steady and unwavering. The moonlight cast a soft glow on his determined features, and in that instant, he didn't seem like the young companion who often trailed behind—he was a hero. Her chest fluttered, warmth spreading despite the chaos surrounding them. Her mind struggled to reconcile this new version of Benji with the one she thought she knew.

She hesitated for just a fraction of a second before reaching up and placing her hand in his. His grip was firm yet gentle as he pulled her to her feet, his presence grounding her even as the world seemed to tilt on its axis.

"Thank you," she said softly, the words carrying more weight than she intended. Her voice was almost a whisper, the cacophony of her thoughts drowning out the distant sounds of demons.

Benji's cheeks flushed a deep crimson. "It's nothing. I mean—it's what anyone would have done."

Raelyn's lips curved into the faintest of smiles, the tension in her chest momentarily easing. She opened her mouth to respond, but before she could, Danio's exasperated voice shattered the fragile moment.

"Oh, please!" he called out, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Can the lovebirds finish gazing into each other's eyes after I'm not a magical prisoner anymore? Kind of a priority here!"

Raelyn's cheeks flamed as she jerked her gaze away from Benji, quickly moving toward the Glyph Trap. "Hold still," she muttered, her fingers already tracing the glowing runes. Her touch was careful but decisive, her focus snapping back to the task at hand. Despite Danio's words, her thoughts lingered on the shift in her perception of Benji, a realization that both confused and steadied her.

Benji, standing close by, adjusted his grip on his sword and cast a wary glance around the courtyard. His posture was protective, his eyes scanning the shifting shadows for any signs of movement. "Can you hurry?" he urged, his voice low but steady. "We don't have much time."

"I'm working on it," Raelyn replied, her concentration absolute. Her fingers glided over the intricate spellwork, dismantling the Glyph's structure bit by bit until, with a faint shimmer, the trap dissolved.

Danio stumbled forward, brushing himself off with an exaggerated air of irritation. "About time," he muttered, though the relief in his voice betrayed his bravado. "Honestly, you'd think a guy stuck in a magical bear trap would get a little more priority. But no, let's have a romantic moment instead."

Raelyn shot him a glare but couldn't summon a retort, her flustered state too fresh. "You're free, aren't you?" she said curtly, turning away before Danio could press further.

Before the tension could settle, a guttural roar echoed from the corridor they had come from, the sound chilling and close. Hovan burst into the courtyard a heartbeat later, his sword drawn and his face grim. His armor was streaked with ichor, and his breath came in harsh bursts. "Move!" he barked, his tone commanding as he glanced over his shoulder. Behind him, the shadows shifted ominously before a group of demons spilled into the courtyard, their glowing eyes locking onto the fleeing group.

There was no time to think, no time to hesitate. Raelyn, Benji, and Danio bolted toward the exit, their footsteps echoing against the cracked stone. Raelyn risked one final glance back, her eyes briefly catching on Folainn's crumpled form as he struggled to rise. Her heart clenched, a storm of emotions swirling inside her, but she forced herself to look away. There was no hope of redemption for her old-time crush. Folainn had chosen his side.

The group's frantic footsteps pounded against the frozen ground as they burst out of the courtyard and into the open night. The sharp, bitter air bit at their lungs, their breaths visible in the moonlight as they sprinted toward the hill where salvation lay waiting. Behind them, the guttural roars of demons echoed, growing louder with every passing second.

"Faster!" Hovan bellowed, his voice cutting through the chaos as he urged them on. "Don't look back—just run!"

Danio, despite his usual bravado, was panting heavily, his words coming out in frantic gasps. "I—I hate mansions. I hate demons. And I really hate running uphill!"

Ahead of them, the dim outline of Thomrik came into view, perched on a stocky pony that snorted impatiently as its hooves shifted against the icy ground. Beside him, Rakz stood alert, his sleek form illuminated by the pale moonlight, his glowing yellow eyes fixed on the approaching group. The dragonic creature let out a low growl, his tail lashing against the snow.

Thomrik squinted into the darkness, his eyes widening in shock as the group hurtled toward him. "What in the blazing forges is going on?!" he roared, his voice carrying over the cacophony of growls and snarls behind them.

"Demons!" Danio shouted, waving his arms wildly. "Lots of them! Get ready to move, you stubborn dwarf!"

Thomrik's expression darkened, and he tightened his grip on the reins of his pony. "What happened to remaining unseen and undetected?!"

"No time to explain!" Benji interjected, his sword still clutched tightly in his hand as he sprinted past Thomrik toward the waiting horses. "We need to go. Now!"

The companions reached the hill, their breaths coming in ragged gasps. Raelyn grabbed Maisie's reins, mounting her horse with practiced ease as she shot a quick glance back toward the mansion. Her heart sank at the sight. The towering structure loomed like a monstrous specter, its windows glowing with an unnatural, angry light. Through the shattered panes, she could see demons spilling out, their jagged forms silhouetted against the eerie glow. They surged forward like a wave of shadow, their guttural cries echoing across the open expanse.

Hovan swung himself onto his horse, his expression grim. "Ride!" he barked, the urgency in his voice spurring everyone into motion.

Danio scrambled onto his horse, muttering under his breath. "This is it. This is how I die. On a hill. In the cold. Chased by demons."

"Shut up and ride!" Thomrik growled, urging his pony into motion. The sturdy creature charged forward with surprising speed, its hooves thundering against the frozen ground.

The group took off into the night, their horses' powerful strides carrying them down the hill and away from the horrors behind them. Raelyn clung tightly to Maisie's reins, her heart pounding as the wind whipped through her hair. The ground blurred beneath her, and the rhythmic pounding of hooves filled her ears, mingling with the distant roars of their pursuers.

As the group fled, the glow from the mansion's windows faded into the distance, the angry cries of the demons growing fainter. But the chill in the air and the weight in Raelyn's chest remained. They had escaped Flatrest and the horrors of the mansion, but the shadow of Folainn's betrayal and the specter of Baragor's influence loomed over them like an unrelenting storm. For now, all they could do was keep riding into the night, the promise of safety just out of reach.