The sky in Avernus neither darkens nor brightens. The horizon is covered with bloody red clouds, flawed by occasional stroke of dark, almost black volcanic fumes constantly erupting into the sulphuric atmosphere. There is no trace of sunlight or the moon and the only light sinking inside the floating House of Hope is sickly, feverish red. Despite being in the place only for a tad more than a day, you find it hard to suppress the urge to just leave; but you know that the portal inside Moonrise Towers which you've drawn with blood, has a high chance of reawakening your fiendish possession and thus making you a threat to everyone in the closest proximity.

Instead of leaving, you try to memorize everything you've learnt about Raphael, but reading the same plaques and notes is bound to get boring at some point. After sharing a surprisingly vulnerable moment with Korrilla, you notice that the sisters spend more time together and you try not to interrupt them, especially not since you've heard Hope shed a few tears after Korrilla joined her in the portal room.

To show your gratitude, you prepare a hearty meal from the well-supplied kitchen in the House of Hope, finding a surprisingly big stock of spices like cumin, ginger, rosemary, saffron. You wonder for a moment if Raphael dines with his guests or if everything inside the kitchen is for the mortals to enjoy. Quite frankly, the presence of the kitchen is a big surprise to you. You always thought that the food was either transported from somewhere else or simply conjured. But then again, if it was conjured, it would not be rotting away on the table, it would simply disappear - you realize.

At one point during the day or night - it's so hard to tell the difference in this place - you get a chance to catch up with Hope and realize that she is growing more and more frustrated at the lack of progress with lifting Raphael's seals and spells. You delicately try to suggest leaving this place and to your positive astonishment, she approves of this particular advice.

Not long after that, the exhaustion graces your eyelids, weighting them down, commanding you to seek a comfortable surface to lay on. You head back to the boudoir, quietly hoping that a splash inside a rejuvenation pool will help you ease the sleepiness, but the healing water can only do as much.

With a sigh, you seek the single bed placed near the hexagonal pool and change into a soft night gown before slipping underneath the sheets. Almost as soon as you lay down comfortably on your back, you feel your body weight sinking into the lush, heavenly mattress and your breath evening out. The second your consciousness leaves the refreshing surroundings of the boudoir's pool, you find yourself transported somewhere else again. A part of your mind is prepared to see the horrifying images of your fallen companions, but you realize that the usual feeling of dread is not weighting down your shoulders.

As your eyes get used to the dark, you eventually notice tall stone walls, effortlessly blending with shining, icy ones connecting some kind of a building to an enormous glacier. You aren't sure where the walls lead to, as you can only see an insignificant fragment of them compared to their real scale, so you find yourself placing your left hand on the nearest flat surface and following it for some time, which in the dream feels like eternity. You can't feel any cold and there are no sounds coming to your ears. You even try to glance down, but your wish is not granted; instead, your dreaming form keeps following the curving and descending corridor, leading somewhere deeper. At this point, a part of your consciousness suspects the place to be some kind of a building inside Cania, if it's not the Citadel - Mephistar - itself, that is.

The scene melts away as if you used a misty step spell, blinking some distance up ahead. Suddenly, a weird sensation passes through your skin. It's similar to a pressure, as if the air around you turned into water, making every movement slower and heavier, straining your muscles as you try to move forward. It must be some protection magic, you realize as your form is guided deeper into a dimly lit room until a massive door materializes in front of you. A shiver passes across your back and for a moment you think that you see someone's outstretched hand casting a shadow on the door. It swipes across the room and you can hear a few different clicks before the door slowly swings open, revealing another room and an opened vault.

You are confused but intrigued. Your dreaming body steps inside the newly revealed space, then your head turns to the right, pointing your attention towards a big, decorative desk. Out of nowhere, you feel as if some other being emerged from your own body and turned straight to the right. A sudden wave of terror passes through you and you try to touch your own torso, but there are no hands you can command. The shadow figure morphs into a humanoid shape, before a pair of impressive wings grows out of its back. A crown of four, sharp horns sprouts from its head and you recognize that shape immediately. You are looking at Raphael. The cambion approaches the desk and plucks something perfectly in the middle of it, before leaving hastily, his form dissolving into the same kind of dark mist just like when it first emerged. You look towards the entrance, but after seeing nothing but darkness, you approach the desk, soundlessly gliding across the snowy ground. Only when you are around a meter away from it, you notice a book and can distinguish the letters on the cover.
'Accelerated Grand Design.'

You reach towards it and flip it open, but the pages turn on its own, showing you only glimpses of detailed sketches of the elder brain, the dormant ilithid colony underneath the Moonrise Towers and the three netherstones. You can feel your heart speed up and for a moment your dreaming body allows you to snap your head towards the looted vault. This is most definitely Mephistar - you realize. But how in the Nine Hells are you seeing something like this? A place you have never heard nor seen before? This is Mephistopheles' vault.

Your attention returns to the book. The three powerful stones capable of dominating the crown-wearer, the influence of the netherease magic that can evolve the tadpoles. The domination of the elder brain allowing for the suspension of the process of ceremorphosis.

Before you manage to see any other details, the book shuts, sealing it's knowledge between the leather cover. You try to protest, but no sound escapes your lips. You are instead pulled backwards as the whole scene melts away. Your body feels like it's about to fall into the void and the horrible sensation is enough for you to lift your real eyelids.

The boudoir materializes before you as you lean onto your elbow and breathe heavily. You glance outside the window, used to checking the time this way.
'Bloody Avernus,' you curse and wipe your sweaty forehead before sitting down at the edge of the bed, collecting your thoughts.

The chilly, spring wind swipes across the land, carrying the metallic smell to his nostrils. Raphael inhales, welcoming it with a sly smile gracing his lips. The scenery in front of him brings back a sour memory and instead of relishing in the landscape, he steps forward, making his way across a field of debris. He navigates between the pieces of walls, roofs, furniture, torn limbs, wet and red splatters with ease, looking completely out of place for such a grim surroundings. He allows his senses and the attraction to the powerful magic to guide him through the annihilated town. When he gets closer to the epicenter of the explosion, a glint appears in his eyes and a cheerful smirk stretches his lips. As if responding to his joy - a shining piece of metal flickers in the dark, awaiting patiently to be picked up by its new owner.

Finally! After more than a thousand years, he finally has exactly what he wanted. Oh, how he wants to thank his little mouse for aligning herself so perfectly on his lance board, allowing all the rest of the pawns to follow his desired order. But, the time to celebrate will have yet to come. For now, his favorite figure on the lance board is trying to come up with their own maneuver, which is of course inevitably bound to fail.

Raphael stretches his wings, flexing the strong muscles of his back, before allowing them to retract and relax. He traces his clawed fingers lovingly across the metal crown imbued with three nether stones. He realizes that the design of the Crown might prevent him from wearing it in his cambion form, thus he decides to swap with his mortal flesh and only then, the impressive Karsus' handiwork graces the top of his dark-haired head.

With a trembling heart, he feels the surge of power dwell into his veins and he focuses, ignoring the destroyed landscape around him, attempting to open a portal between the planes. But the moment he does so, nothing happens. A tinge of anger poisons his otherwise joyful mood.

The Crown allows the wearer to amplify their magic output, command the magic as if it was your own inseparable limb and achieve the mastery of oneself. But how could he grasp his full potential, if he isn't even whole to begin with; a part of his soul branded onto that of a mortal. As long as that condition is met, he will not be able to utilize the Crown to its full extent and any attempt of harnessing its power will be futile.

Raphael traces his slender fingers on the bottom of his jaw, pondering about the possible strategies with closed eyes. The initial anger slowly fades away, as he realizes that his little mouse might've granted him a surprising advantage, at least in the grand scheme of things. No access to House of Hope is a slight inconvenience, that is true, but lack of access and banishment from Hells also means keeping a low profile. No one is going to send a High Inquisitor after him, because he no longer spends time in the devils' domain. There is no Haarlep and their incubi magic that he needs to shield himself against, no personnel he has to chastise to keep on the straight and narrow. It almost reminds him of a time from around two hundred years ago, when the House of Hope did not exist yet.

Of course, there are some disadvantages, too. Whether it is the lack of access to the portal room, or safe and guarded space to keep his contracts. Be it absence of storage for his harvested souls and the acquired valuable treasures. There is also no access to the wine cellar, to the library, to the rejuvenation pool and finally to Haarlep's services.

He sighs deeply and opens his eyes to look around.
'This would certainly be enough to break her spirit,' he thinks to himself, his gaze tracing the torn apart pieces of a once familiar human, scattered across the field of ruins and debris. 'The presence of gore will surely trigger the curse,' he states under his nose and barely brakes a chuckle at the savage image appearing in his mind. 'But it can prove to be a two-edged sword. Hmmm,' he hums. Soon, he will have various opportunities to verify his inklings.

Raphael believes that his humiliation might have dulled the precaution of his enemies; Zariel will most definitely not go as far as to send Verillius Receptor to the Material Plane to check on him and his schemes, nor will any other Archdevil for that matter... except the dearest Lord of Cania. Tav's foolish plan provided him a piece of entertainment that is bound to satisfy him for some time, but Raphael is certain that he will turn it into a competition.

'He already did,' Raphael realizes, thinking about Tav's scar, planted right on top of the scar she initially received when the two of them faced off. Mephistopheles wants to claim everything that was Raphael's as his own.

The very thought of it makes Raphael clench his jaw in annoyance, but he knows that the little mouse won't yield. It will not be Mephistopheles, the Lord of Cania, who claims her soul, but Raphael, the Archdevil Supreme. He smirks to himself, as his eyelids fall just enough to darken his malicious eyes.

Now that the motion has altered and he secured the Crown, he has to either cause a commotion which would attract a desired pair of eyes back to him and at the same time keep up the delicate mask of vengeance; in order to keep his father's wit dormant, his eyes cannot leave the fake persona that Raphael cautiously creates.

A shiver of ecstatic thrill passes through Raphael, tickling him across the spine. He hooks his left hand underneath his right elbow while gently stroking his clean-shaved chin.
'A sudden change of warmth towards the little mouse will surely not remain unnoticed. She is gifted with perception, but her loyalty doesn't lie with me, but her own untainted morality. Breaking her is bound to force her into making a move I so desire, but will risk the backlash from her caring companions,' he thinks then ceases his movements and frowns. It would be the wisest decision to push her away from them, if he was to take her away, simply transport them hundreds of kilometers away he could proceed with his plans as he desires, but the artificial separation would certainly strengthen the bond. The friends, at least the ones who spend time on the Material Plane, would come seeking her.

Suddenly, his lips stretch, revealing pearly white, sharp teeth. He grins, clearly self-satisfied. It's almost like he doesn't even have to try, you somehow managed to help him in his own plans. Ah, if only you came around thousand years ago, maybe he would already have the Crown back then.

Raphael's smile immediately drops as he puts on a mask of determination. He secures the Crown on top of his head with a little bit of magic and conceals it, making it invisible.

He releases the pressure inside the joints of his shoulders and fixes the sleeves of his doublet, as if they weren't aligned perfectly. With one last look at the rather amusing scene, he is gone.

As the time draws near, you feel increasingly more enthusiastic about meeting your companions. You try not to think too much of what everyone has been up to, instead allowing yourself to be surprised by the stories you will definitely get to hear. But along with the excitement, comes the feeling of dread. A sensation nibbling on the back of your neck, preventing you from fully relaxing. Fear is a gift and you are wise to not shove it down into the depths of your consciousness, rather choosing to stay alert.

You bid your goodbyes to Korrilla and Hope, promising both of them to send them a message the second you stumble upon a Scroll of Sending or come up with some other means of communication. To your surprise, Hope shares a decision she has made over the course of a few days about leaving this foul place behind and joining Halsin. You ask her if she wishes you to share this information to the Archdruid, but the woman assures you she will contact him herself. With that, you feel the familiar shift in the air as a portal between the planes is being opened. You move towards it and with one last look at Hope, standing in front of the house's entrance door, you are gone.

The sensation of being transported back to Material Plane is uncomfortable and unnatural, but fortunately brief. When the dizziness finally steps away and merges into clarity, you feel a solid ground beneath your soles and the white noise of teleportation quiets down, revealing a pleasant hum of a nearby stream and a gentle plucking at the lyre's strings.

You blink a few times, taking in your surroundings. You are back at one of your favourite camping spots, somewhere in between the Emerald Grove and the Mountain Pass. The rock formations and the nearby hill guards you from the wind and the night sky is clear, leaving no clouds to cover the shining stars above your head. You notice a nice tent near a dining table full of wine and simple, but inviting food and before you have a chance to take in any other details, more portals spawn near you, bringing your attention to them.

You see Wyll and Karlach jumping from the blazing circle tearing a hole between time and space; they come straight from Avernus, just like you. Your heart leaps inside your chest and you launch yourself towards the muscular tiefling woman, who spots you immediately and catches you in her arms, picking you up from the ground with ease.

'YOU'RE HERE!' she yells straight in your ear, rendering you deaf for a short moment before setting you back on the ground.

You attempt to crush her between your squeezing arms but her hold is much stronger and soon the tears of pain join your joyfully glossy eyes.

'Sorry!,' Karlach says and let's go of you, blue flames licking the surface of her skin. 'Gods! You look...' she trails off and purses her lips. 'A bit tired, soldier.'

'Oh yea, a lot has happened,' you respond as Wyll approaches her side. You smile brightly at your friend and take in his new armor. 'The Blade of Avernus!' you announce and he smiles back.

'It's good to see you, Tav,' the man says.

All three of you watch Astarion casually emerging through the portal, as Jaheira, Halsin and Shadowheart all join the party seemingly from the same location. Three second later, Lae'Zel's Astral projection appears between the two of the remaining portals and with her, two more blazing gates open, one for Minsc and one for Minthara.

The vampire eyes you up and down with a mocking brow.
'Oh darling, where are your usual rags? Has your quality of life improved since our heroic shenanigans?' he asks, his eyes half-lidded and a bit challenging.

'You look well, too,' you smile at him gently and shake his cold hand, the other palm unconsciously gliding across the simple, dark red shirt you are wearing. The lack of temperature of the man's skin reminds you about the absence of your usual monastic robes.

The two of you join the group just in time to see Karlach jumping with joy because of Jaheira's pressence. You glance at Halsin, who makes eye contact with you and moves his chin to the side, asking you to follow. You take a few steps towards the Archdruid, to separate yourself from the chatting group and stand nearby a rock formation in the center of the cozy camp. Halsin slides a backpack off his muscular shoulders and hands it over to you.

'Dawnmaster Keith delivered the goods you have requested from him. Your backpack was retrieved from the tavern and handed over to me two days ago. I'm not sure if everything is there, but at least the travelling robes are safe.'

'Gods above, thank you so much,' you say and hug the man. 'I was literally thinking just now that as much as the shirt that Hope gave me is very pretty, it might not be enough to keep me warm without my Ki. I highly appreciate the gesture.'

He nods once with a smile. You look inside the backpack and notice a small item inside. You reach towards it, feeling the smoothed out texture of willow wood under your thumbs. 'Ha, what's that?' you chuckle and raise your eyes to meet Halsin's.

'I know that with your current state you will not be able to come back to the Moonrise Towers, so I was hoping that this little parting gift will ensure that you won't forget about the community you helped to build,' he waves his right palm slowly, emphasizing some of the words.

'I will never forget,' you respond, placing the backpack on your feet and straightening your spine. 'This whole group made memories that will last our whole lives and beyond. I wouldn't just forget you or anyone else from our team.'

'I'm glad to hear,' he rubs his hands, slightly hesitant before spreading his arms with a questioning look on his face. 'Another hug, then?'

You grin and wrap your arms around his upper torso, squeezing him in a friendly embrace. When the two of you part, Halsin lowers his voice to a whisper.
'Have you made contact with him since your time in Avernus?'

'No,' you reply simply. 'No letters, no messengers, no signs.' You turn your head towards the group of friends standing near a stream and a shore of a shallow river. 'Did Shadowheart return from her journey, I saw all three of you stepping from the same portal?'

'Yes, she came to Moonrise today with the first rays of the sunlight,' Halsin informs and glances at the cleric.

The two of them catch each other's eyes and for a moment you sense a wave of pleasant, almost intimate energy coursing through both of them. Your face relaxes before an elated smile graces your lips. It's not the first time you see the two of them making the similar kind of connection. Shadowheart even stated once that she finds Halsin very attractive and you are certainly delighted to see that her feelings are mutual.

You turn your head back to Halsin and move your chin towards the group, suggesting that you should join the rest. He chuckles once and steps forward, while you close the lid of your backpack and set it safely aside before joining others. Despite the great mood that everyone seems to be in, you can't help but feel anxiety crawling its way to the forefront of your thoughts.

'Where is Gale?' you ask, looking around the faces. Karlach frowns and looks around with you, but you are already glancing above Shadowheart's shoulder, looking straight at the very being who summoned you all in here this fine evening. You approach the mysterious creature whose divine aura never ceased to intrigue you and look at him questioningly. 'Is Gale late?'

'Thy companion did not answer,' he responds in a deep, resonating voice, moving his right boney palm slowly across the air.

You frown and feel your throat grow dry. You try to shake of the uncertainty, looking for an answer in Withers' eyes. But they are as stoic and expressionless as ever. The cool, but not cold blue iris move to the side, away from your gaze as if sensing something before anyone else around you does. There is a snap of teleportation somewhere behind you and you turn around rapidly with your eyes widened, hoping to see the wizard, but the sudden commotion within the group covers the visitor from your sight.

'WHAT?' Karlach snaps and makes a motion as if to pick up her battleaxe, which fortunately is missing.

Your heart drops inside your chest and you dash towards the group and in between the person you correctly assumed to be Raphael.

'Tut-tut. Is this how you treat your guests, Karlach?'

The tiefling takes a step forward but you appear right in front of her, gently placing hands on her tense shoulders.

'It's ok, soldier, stand down,' you say softly, but the look she gives Raphael could kill.

'What is he doing here? How is he alive?'

Raphael raises his eyebrows and moves closer to you, clearly without intentions to help you extinguish the crisis before the flames of it burst any further.
'You haven't told them?' he raises his eyebrows surprised.

'Oh, Raphael! Boo was hoping you didn't die,' Minsc joins in. 'He was so disappointed we didn't fight you last time.'

'There will be no fighting,' you raise your voice just a tiny bit. Karlach takes a few steps back, still looking at Raphael with pure anger in her golden eyes.

'What the fuck?' She leans forward on her left leg and moves her right foot uneasily across the moist grass. Her fists clench at her sides. 'What the actual fuck, soldier?'

Lae'Zel looks at you intensely, then wraps her arms around her belly, raising her chin. Her gaze is judgmental and she is clearly expecting a satisfying answer. Astarion pops a bottle of wine open (when did he get it) and smirks at you before taking a sip of the alcohol. Halsin and Jaheira exchange knowing glances, before stepping to the sides of the group, as if trying to ensure that they will be able to react to any hostility if necessary. Shadowheart stands firmly on the ground, looking at you expressionless, while Minthara sneers. Even Alfira, hiding somewhere in the background of the scene, decided to stop her repertoire for a moment.

'Let me explain this, guys.' You raise your hands defensively, making sure your right arm is in front of Raphael. You take a step back, forcing him to do the same and to your surprise, he obliges.

'You better do,' Wyll joins Karlach side and you realize that unlike the woman, he can attempt to cast a few spells at Raphael, however foolish it could be.

'As you can see Raphael is alive and,' you glance at him and your eyes meet. 'To a certain degree well. I brought him back from Cania.'

Lae'Zel's face drops and she facepalms herself moments later, shaking her head to the sides.
'Oh, istik,' she says quietly and gentle, despite the offensive meaning of words. You expected her to be a lot more hostile, though, so this behavior is most definitely appreciated.

'And in doing so,' you continue, focusing back on Wyll and Karlach. 'We were sent back with a farewell gift from the Lord of Cania.'

Suddenly, Karlach tilts her body backwards, looking at you like you are the most astonishing creature in all of the realms. Her face is twisted with shock and disbelief, spiced with a pinch of terror. Wyll, on the other hand is just as tense as before.

You open your mouth to elaborate further, but the tiefling woman tilts her head to the side and you are certain there is no way for a human being to paint a clearer image of devastation than this.

'Are you...' she whispers. 'Pregnant?'

Astarion huffs and Shadowheart curves her eyebrow. Jaheira, thanks to years of experience, maintains a stoic face, but a glint appears in her eyes; she clearly wants to burst into laughter at the ridiculousness of the situation.

Your head jerks backwards and your eyes widen despite your furrowed brows. After the barely noticeable, initial surprise passes through Raphael's face, he melts away into a mask of amusement.
'What? No!' you say and frown your brows even harder.

'Then what is it?'

'Why did you think I was pregnant?' you ask Karlach, who returns to her previous position, but with slightly less tension stiffening her form.

'What did you mean by a parting gift?' she ignores your inquiry.

'We are cursed, but not with a baby.'

'You are cursed, darling, but with a hero syndrome. And this,' Astarion waves his right palm to Raphael. 'Is the greatest proof of it.'

Wyll ignores the comment of the vampire, recognizing the seriousness of the revelation. Karlach folds her arms on her belly and looks at you, unable to decide if she is sad or disappointed. Most likely both.
'What is the nature of the curse?' the warlock asks, his voice laced with concern.

You glance at Raphael, hoping to receive some support. His smirk is all you have to see to know that he has no such intentions. You sigh and turn your head back towards your friends, lowering your arms slowly back to your side.

'It's a hellfire curse, inflicted by Mephistopheles. It allows him to control me under certain conditions and Raphael is bound to me and thus to the Material Plane as long as I am alive. Or at least that's what I think,' you say and scold the cambion with your gaze.

'And what if he dies?' Lae'Zel asks.

Silence falls upon the group; the only sound being the flow of the nearby water, calming cracking of the torches and distant song of crickets, relaxing in their small dens under the night sky.
'I die as well,' you blurt out.

There is another moment during which all of the eyes are evaluating you. The harshest of the gazes belongs to Jaheira.

'Ha ha ha,' Minthara chuckles coldly and it's all it takes to regret your words. 'You are lying, pretty flesh-thing.'

Raphael glances at you pitifully, condemning your attempt at the foolery.

'Really, Tav?' Karlach asks.

'What, I don't want you to start killing each other,' you explain, raising the inner corners of your eyebrows.

'Not each other,' she corrects and points her chin at Raphael. 'This motherfucker.'

'You don't even have a weapon,' you notice and take half a step to the right, shielding Raphael.

'Oh trust me, I won't need any.'

Both Wyll and the barbarian step forward, but before anything goes out of control, the thick, tense air is sliced by a calm, but commanding voice.
'I have bidden thee to rejoice in thine company. Doth a trifling dispute cast a shadow upon thy bonds and accomplishments?'

The camp freezes at Wither's words. Raphael looks at the being and you search his face for any sign of a surprise, but of course he already knows about Withers. More than that, he probably knows who he truly is.

'I was called to lend aid on your quest when the wheel of fate teetered on halting its spin. Thou didst fulfill thy duties and uphold the balance. For this, I shall be eternally grateful, yet I shall not tolerate bloodshed.'

'The bone man is right,' Jaheira says and moves towards Karlach and Wyll, gently plucking a hand on the barbarian's shoulder.

Karlach nods, but her face melts from being angry to disappointed. She turns away to walk towards the camp and the table, escorted by the leader of Harpers. Astarion rotates on his heel, continuing to savior the wine. The rest of the group follows, except for Shadowheart, who approaches both you and Raphael.

She looks at him cautiously and says.
'I'm surprised to see you being so quiet, Raphael,' she teases him. 'Can't say it's a change for the worse.'

'One must be naught more than a spectator, when the need arises,' he replies vaguely.

Shadowheart doesn't say anything to you, but the glance she gives tells all you need to know; 'We will talk later.' - is her silent message. The Selunite cleric brings her palms together and closes her eyelids, drawing from the power of the Weave. White light surrounds her palms and soon envelops the rest of her body and as it does so, she moves her hands towards you and Raphael. She mouths an incantation, casting a Remove Curse spell.

A tickling, almost electrifying sensation passes through you, before finding its target and then settles on your back. It is then, when it starts to feel like a cooling salve poured on a scorching wound. You sigh in temporary relief and the cambion next to you closes his eyes, clearly feeling the same sensation. A few seconds later, the light disappears but the same cannot be said about the curse.

'It was worth a try, I guess,' Shadowheart sighs.

'Thank you so much,' you clasp your hands together and bow your head to her in a gesture of gratitude. For so many people present this evening she is the very first one to actually attempt to solve the problem.

She gives you a quick smile and turns to walk away towards Halsin. As the group leaves and you are left alone with Raphael, the sound of crickets is joined by Alfira's music - this time she is playing a lute. You stand still, looking towards the long table with food and drinks, placed around thirty meters away from the two of you, feeling sudden tension at Raphael's proximity.

Your mind reminds you of Gale and you look to your left, towards the shore, to see if there are any more portals, but all you can see are the reflections of the moonlight across river's surface. You turn your head the opposite side and notice a faint blue light sipping from in between two rock formations, near the foot of the hill. You frown and break into run, feeling a cold grip tightening around your pounding heart. When you come to a stop right behind the giant stone, you find yourself unable to speak. The blue light shines upon your face as you stare at a projection of one of your friends.

You stand in front of him and only then, the knot inside your throat unties, allowing you to whisper.
'Gale?'