(POV Richard — Blood Knight)
…What is that light?
Damn, it's irritating.
I crack my eyes open.
The moon hangs high above me.
Full… yet strangely dull, suspended in a sky with no stars at all.
How long was I out?
I glance at my right arm and slowly lift it.
No pain.
Then the left.
Nothing there either.
I'm fine.
No—better than fine.
I shoot to my feet, unsheathe my sword, and slash through the air twice.
Fast. Sharp. Precise.
Yeah. Completely healed.
Just like every other time, my body stitched itself back together perfectly.
The clearing, though…
Not so much.
I don't remember it looking like this.
Everything's dry. Dead.
Broken branches everywhere. Shattered rocks. Burn marks carved into the ground.
And Teallach is gone.
I can't stop thinking about what he promised me.
Power. Greatness.
That's why I fell.
Why I betrayed everything.
And deep down… I know he'll never honor our deal.
I'm nothing but a pawn to him.
Still… that's not what matters right now.
If I even want a chance at reaching that power, I need to fix the disaster I caused.
I have to find that knight.
And kill him.
"Pheist! C'mere, boy."
I whistle softly, and a familiar wave of warm air brushes against my face as Pheist's wings cut through the night.
Less than a second later, he lands in front of me.
Then lowers those piercing eyes toward mine.
Pheist.
My only friend in this strange world.
The only good thing that's happened to me since I got here.
I hold his gaze and gesture for him to lower himself.
He sits, stretching his long neck toward me.
I can see my own reflection inside his irises. Like mirrors.
I run a hand along his scales.
A low guttural rumble vibrates in his throat as his eyes drift shut, almost like a giant cat enjoying affection.
Then he opens them again, utterly pleased with himself.
"Good boy, Pheist. Now stay still… we need to find him."
…That's strange.
Why is there nothing in his pupils?
No place. No face. Not even a shadow of my enemy.
No.
No, this is bad.
Really bad.
If I can't find him, I'm the one who dies.
Anxiety crashes into me so hard I start sweating.
"Focus, Pheist. We have to find him. Please."
He tries again.
Nothing.
My chest tightens.
That's impossible.
"Focus, you useless flying idiot! Something should be there!" I snap.
The second the words leave my mouth, I regret them.
Pheist doesn't like that.
He lifts his head with an offended roar, smoke curling from his nostrils as his tail lashes sharply behind him.
Teallach's right.
I really am an idiot.
"No, wait— it's okay. I'm sorry. I didn't mean it. Really. Wanna try again?"
Please… say yes.
He side-eyes me and snorts loudly.
"Come on…" I whisper, stroking his neck.
A few seconds pass.
Then he huffs again.
Different this time.
Like he's forgiven me.
He moves closer and lowers his eyes to my level once more.
Nothing.
We try again.
And again.
Again.
…
Over and over.
We push harder, trying to picture the unknown knight riding his horse… then the knight alone… then just the horse.
Nothing.
No trace at all.
(POV Fheall)
I can't do this anymore.
I'm exhausted.
We've been trying for hours to break through the energy barrier sealing the entrance to the Inner Realm… and we've gotten nowhere.
This isn't working.
"We can't do it alone. The energy is far too powerful," I say, forcing myself to stay upright. "We need every mage from both armies."
"Yes. Fheall's right," Aeltiàfisar declares immediately. "Varsos. Ceansì. Baelnes. Gather anyone who might be useful. We try again in two hours. Three at most."
(POV Aileen)
Grogher and I have just finished telling them everything.
Everything from the very beginning.
Gaithy didn't lose focus even once.
She's tiny… but strong.
Fayrin, though, looks troubled.
I understand why.
This isn't only about restoring the Sigillum Maximum anymore.
Now we also have to uncover who destroyed her kingdom… and why.
But right now…
None of that is what's crushing me.
My stomach twists painfully.
I need to ask.
I can't hold it in anymore.
"Do you think Dorcha… will come back to himself?"
Fayrin looks at me uncertainly.
"I hope so…"
Hope?
Then that means—
"You said he was out of danger before. So you're not sure!"
She slowly shakes her head.
It's impossible to read what's going through her mind.
"I'd be lying if I told you otherwise."
My chest drops.
I instinctively look toward Grogher for reassurance, but he's just as pale as I am.
"You must understand, dear… Dark Magic is very different from the Light Magic we use. Its effects are unpredictable. However…"
"Howeverrr?" Grogher presses immediately.
Fayrin turns toward him, steady and unreadable.
"One thing is certain. As long as he remains here, no one will be able to find him. My home— and the healing chamber— are protected by the Magic of the Fairy Night."
"Lin's magic?!" Grogher blurts out.
She nods.
"But enhanced. Far beyond its original form. It conceals even through visualization."
A sudden noise makes all of us flinch.
We turn instantly.
Dorcha's bedroom door is wide open.
He's standing there pale, disoriented, sword already drawn and ready to fight.
"You won't take me! Let me out of here!" he shouts.
Dorcha…
Gaithy quickly flutters toward him with the gentlest smile I've ever seen.
"Easy, Knight. You're among friends now."
He stares at her in confusion.
Hesitates.
Then slowly scans our faces one by one.
"Gaithy's right," Fayrin says softly, stepping forward. "Besides… how exactly do you plan on fighting in your condition? You're far too weak. You need rest. Come, Dorcha. Sit with us and drink some mead instead. It'll help."
(POV Dorcha)
…Who the hell are these people?
A massive warrior sitting beside a white lion curled at his feet… honestly, he looks like some kind of Orc-Troll hybrid.
A beautiful girl glowing with golden light.
Her.
Yes… she's the young fairy from the forest.
And then there's the older one. The one who offered me a drink.
Honestly… aside from the Orc-Troll, they don't seem dangerous.
Even he looks strangely calm.
"Where's my horse?"
"With my unicorn, Dorcha. They're both in the stables," the girl answers softly.
Her eyes…
They're so gentle.
She looks like she's about to cry.
"Come now, warrrior," Grogher says, rolling the r dramatically. "Come closer."
I step forward cautiously, my hand never leaving the hilt of my sword.
Can't be too careful.
"How do you know my name?" I ask.
I genuinely don't understand.
The older fairy holds out a transparent crystal sphere toward me.
What am I supposed to do with that?
"Look inside," she says quietly. "This Sphere of Time will show you your past."
I take it.
And do exactly that.
…
By the storms—
A violent current tears through me like something trying to drag my soul under.
I see myself as a child in a cradle…
Then older.
Prince of the Orcs.
Fighting beside my stepfather.
Destroying a golden scroll.
Killing.
Massacring.
Then… a girl.
I save her from poison.
We become… friends.
Grogher joins us.
We train together.
We save the Gnome Princess.
We become prisoners of the sirens.
We return to the valley and…
We make love.
… She's beautiful.
My heart feels like it's about to burst apart.
Then—
Little by little, everything comes back to me.
Everything.
Up until now.
My eyes burn.
I can feel tears building behind them.
Aileen slowly approaches me, trembling, uncertain of what to do.
Aileen…
I grab her hand, pull her against me, and hold her tightly to my chest.
How could I ever forget her?
(POV Brick)
Nothing.
The barrier won't break.
How is that even possible?
What kind of force could overpower all of us at once?
"So… what now?" I ask, sounding far more defeated than I'd like.
"Nothing," Baelkers replies grimly.
Even he looks shaken.
"At this point… all we can do is wait."
(POV Queen Urchoicha)
Well, well.
There's the little dwarf.
Legs crossed on top of a boulder, casually eating blackberry pie while sipping some kind of tea…
Ginger root and mint, judging by the smell.
Refined taste. I'll give him that.
And of course that ridiculous little insect of his— Batty— is right beside him, happily devouring a pile of fresh berries.
Neither of them even noticed I was here.
Magnificent warriors indeed.
"It's five in the morning and you're still eating breakfast?!" I call out, stepping from behind a monolith.
Iarrthòir nearly jumps out of his skin and spills the rest of his tea straight into his beard.
Gods, this is entertaining.
"You're a terrible example for your soldiers," I add smugly.
I can already feel the irritation building inside the tiny man.
He turns toward me and climbs fully onto the rock, then slowly looks me up and down— or rather… up and up and up… to the point he practically has to lie flat just to glare at me properly.
Honestly.
It's adorable.
He brushes his rough beard with one hand and takes another huge bite of pie.
"I assume if you came all the way here, you have news," he says at last.
"You assume correctly, Gnome."
Ah… yes.
That got him.
Lightning practically flashes through his eyes.
"Listen here, Orc, I have a name!" he snaps.
"Orchess," I correct lazily. "And why exactly are you offended by being called what you are? It's not as though I called you a horse."
He visibly trembles with rage.
This is far too much fun.
"What's the news?!" he practically shouts, marching toward my ankle with a raised fist and a murderous glare.
I can't help it anymore.
I burst out laughing.
"Oh, you're sensitive, little dwarf. Sensitive and predictable."
"Li— li— little dwarf?!" he sputters, eyes nearly bulging out of his skull.
Alright.
Enough playing.
I pull a small flask from my skirt and place it on the ground in front of him.
"There."
He picks it up carefully, weighing it in his hand before looking back at me.
"What is it?"
"The solution to your problem," I reply. "An extremely powerful concoction. Dilute it into the trolls' midday meal and make sure they eat it."
His expression sharpens immediately.
"They'll fall asleep. And when they wake up… they'll be coordinated, cooperative, and most importantly… capable of controlling their strength."
"How long will the effect last?" he asks, all traces of irritation suddenly gone.
"Considering my stepson and the Princess should be arriving soon enough…"
I smile faintly.
"Long enough to win the battle."
A slow smile appears on his face.
He understands.
We can still do this.