KEMAL

Well, if there was ever a shite situation... this would be one. He tossed a piece of wood into their sputtered campfire within the thick woods of oak where nary a shed of sunlight struck through the boughs. He drew his teeth over his lips and waited for Julis to return — a cold comfort considering their state of affairs, an Elvkin town nearby, one of the many not vanished into thin air. Though Julis' behavior unsettled him more when they first arrived, lost and confused, greeted with warmth by the villagers, but Julis turned to him with a quirked brow and anxious movements.

"Can you see them?"

Why would he ask that? Of course I can see them. Why wouldn't I see them? Questions danced on his tongue when he tapped his foot and the rest of his chosen team sat in the warm glow of their circle. He used a smaller stick to prod the logs into place, snapping an ember to life from his fingertips to heighten the light. Unable to see the sky above, he took solace in the sounds of owls softly hooting in the thickness of the trees. It's when the world falls silent that it's time to worry. He checked his Derelict Resonator, tapping his thumb against the golden casing while the needles remained still. With the instrument back in his pocket, he sighed and enjoyed the sea-touched wind coursing through the trees. As long as I can smell that salt spray, I know which direction I'm going... would that where we came from hadn't closed the moment it sent us through it. Answers which gave him more questions, he had taken the first watch.

Except none of them could sleep soundly.

Tyber and Loto stared up at the shadow-coated boughs, crescent blades pressed up against them while they waited for Julis to arrive. Spine upright when the bushes rustled, he relaxed when Julis pushed through the foliage with a huff, brushing off his armor as Tyber and Loto sat up to greet him. He let the three chatter away for comfort, eyes closed to focus on the starry connection, still bright and coiled. At least you're alright... I know I haven't said much to you through here, but... well... Save from the direction of the ocean, we're good and lost... He tightened his fingers together. We're trying to find a way back. We've learned a lot over the course of this venture... The shaman of the Elvkin pointed them onto their current heading, deeper into the woods with a promise that the answers he sought would be in a misty grove of crystals — only when the lover moons danced upon its reflective surface.

"Captain."

Neven's silence spoke volumes. And you must still be angry with me. He sighed and let go of his focus to study Julis. "What's your report? Any change from when we left the village?" Are my suspicions correct? Questions, so many yet unanswered. It sent waves of agitation through his throat, tearing into weariness at Julis' next words.

"There's no one there," Julis whispered. "I went back, and it looks like it's been abandoned for Turns." He knelt down in front of the fire. "Are we still going to go to where they directed us?"

"Lacking any other recourse... would that we had a boat we could sail back along the coastline, but we don't," Kemal muttered. "So, we might as well gather as much information as we can." He closed his eyes, tasting the mead of home, using the famous Tyronai distilleries. Popular commodities, but he let it all go for his duty and oaths. Up on his feet, it caused the others to follow with haste to obey his authority. "We move forward." No matter what comes. He scuffed dirt onto the fire, dousing the rest by pulling at the magick. It tickled his fingertips, the smoke slipping into the circuitry of his Runic Expanders. It pulsed out mist, then locked the mechanism, ready for usage. "Keep your weapons at the ready. We're still shambling through the dark and we don't know what's on the other side of this."

"Do you think this is what all those other patrols experienced?" Tyber asked. "Is it possible they're still alive?"

"The likeliness of that dramatically increased," Kemal mumbled and led the way into the darkness once the final coals died. Though I don't think that might be a good thing. Especially if they're in Kayal's condition. At that point... might not be so different to death, but if we can find them... if I can get answers to the questions Neven's been asking and whatever the hells they're creating... Kemal rubbed his chin, comforted by the footsteps of the other three, unfurling the small map of the area the Shaman gave them. With the sea far off to his left, it was the salty spray which gave him a sense of home and clarity. Once we check here, we'll head in the direction of the coast, see what we can do... camp out by the water... Already, the taste of cooked meat over a fire started to make his stomach long for home.

A hand on his shoulder made him stop, and he turned to see Loto pointing into the undergrowth. Wisps bounced along the leaves, piercing the thick shadows. Kemal checked his map, not wanting to test the validity of Hanekan superstition when it came to wisps in the night. Julis approached one, hand out, but it disappeared with ease, along with the others. His spiraling blue eyes swept over the forest, but he gave a small nod. "There is a magick confluence over yonder," he reported to them. "Just like the shaman told you." Julis fiddled with his leather strap, eyeing him. "I still don't like this, Captain. I didn't like how that village made me feel, even if I sensed no malevolence."

"You weren't exactly specific on how it made you feel, Jules," Tyber pointed out.

"I don't know how to describe it," Julis said with a huff. "It's hard to describe things to Non-Aurus. You'd get what I meant if you were."

"Regardless," Kemal interrupted before it could turn into a bickering match between them. "We're in unknown, dangerous territory. We haven't been this far out in this direction. We're somewhere past the coves. Once we've investigated this spot, that's the direction we'll head. Back to the sea." Sea to sea. Always home. Kemal motioned towards the source of the distant sounds of waves crashing against rocks. One last comfort. "Understood? We have answers to find. Might as well make Neven torturing himself with that Obscura Text mean something." Because as much as they're inconsistent... when someone does see something, you have to take it seriously... but the cost for that information is never worth it in my eyes. Kemal pursed his lips, then motioned for Julis to take the lead towards what he sensed.

Crescent blades at the ready, Kemal took the back to keep an eye behind them on the off chance something tried to sneak up on them. Owls continued to hoot above their heads, and Julis pushed through the undergrowth with his pale blue glyphs until the treeline broke. As promised, a grove of crystals sat ahead. Magick pulsed in his ears, with the pond surrounded by smaller crystals, though the surface remained undisturbed. He held his hand out to stop their approach, retaking his lead to head up to the bank. Underneath the calm surface, the magick-infused water churned and bubbled. One foot forward, he slowly rested his heel, a jolt of surprise running through him at the solid surface. Unable to see his own reflection, he looked back at the others, who loomed. "It's some sort of essence pool."

Tyber approached next. "Think it's enough to create an astral foci to get back to Asairai?"

Magick rang off the crystals when the wind brushed against them. He drove his blade downwards, but it bounced off the clear surface with nary a scratch left. "Well, I don't think breaking it is doable," Kemal muttered as the other two joined them, though they stood on the bank while he and Tyber criss-crossed the surface of the pool. "It clearly means something though if the Shaman suggested it for the answers we asked of them." On one knee, he brushed his hand against the surface. Silver trails followed, tickling at his skin before he drew it back. "Sweep the area. Keep your Derelict Resonators out just in case. Julis, study these crystals and tell me what you feel. Try to follow the root system if there is one."

Julis nodded and headed for the largest crystal, putting his hand flat against it before following with his brow, closing his eyes. And while he does that... Kemal nudged Tyber off of the glassy surface of the pond before tapping his crescent blade against it. Beneath the cover, the essence responded with little starlit flutters. Notepad in his hands, he wrote down his new discovery for Neven. But considering where we must be, and with a magick confluence... we're close. Kemal waited for Julis' report while he opened up his senses to magick alone, tracing the bank of the pond, drawing it in turn as he had drawn upon the two halves of a whole. It's... a clean circle. He hesitated by one of the smaller crystals, full of light and life. As he went to touch it, Julis released a small gasp, detaching himself from one of the crystals with a sickened expression. "What is it?"

"Beneath us," Julis whispered. "It's..."

"What?" Loto demanded.

Kemal frowned. "Is it Derelicts?"

Julis went ashen when he stared down at the pond. "I don't know what it is. It's..." his breath came in small pants, but he steadied it then looked between them. "Rivers and caverns of decay, rot and blood. It churns through the trenches like veins..."

"Do you know the source? Which direction is it coming from?" Kemal pressed for answers to his questions.

Julis took a moment to trace the bank, touching each crystal. Each one shone the same pale blue of his glyphic signature, but he moved on to the next, before stopping once more at the largest crystal and pointing deeper into the forest, past the confluence, farther from the sea. His home. Sea to sea. Always home. "...northward..." he mumbled, writing down the direction. He tried to keep track of their steps, the directions to retrace his steps. Satisfied with the information gained, he tapped the notepad and pocketed it. "Come on. We head for the coast. We need to send a report to Euros requesting reinforcements... I think we're on the path." Back to the others, he led the way home, with Tyber and Loto's footsteps following him closely. It took a couple moments for Julis' softer ones to sound out in the silence.

Needles clanged against crystals bulbs and the world turned crimson death. Faster. He turned at a rattled rumble. Julis froze on the edge of the pond as the essence turned black with multitudes of red eyes. Teeth broke apart the glass, but before he could shout out a warning when a writhing mass of a club grew out of the grass and a boney mass of a hand latched onto it. It cracked, split, and Kemal found enough time to draw out his crescent blade when the fleshy mass slammed into Julis. Tossed aside like a flea at his feet, barely conscious as he murmured, "Captain...?"

"What the Hells—" Loto began, but the swing of the mass hit him too. Into a tree with a sickening crunch.

It split apart the pond, awakened with a yawning moan as a giant beast of a Derelict lifted itself. Crimson liquid poured out of every visible orifice when it unhinged its maw. Another appendage dug into the ground. "Shit." Kemal brought a hand up to his brow when its broken back pressed up against the boughs. Mist, black as night, came out of the grass with its every movement. He ducked when it swung for him and Tyber.

"Captain, what—?" Tyber gasped when the near miss almost crushed him to paste.

Starbound.

A pause in the world, instinctual sense.

"Kem?"

Nev? His breath left in two short exhales when it swung forward, prying itself out of its container. It expanded his lungs, and he bit down on his lips at the realization of what had overcome him. "Tyber! Split off with me!" he ordered. "It's big and slow! We can use that against it!" Gods, Loto... Julis-Julis! The fallen Aurus still at his feet, he knelt downward at the next swing, using the momentum to drag him further away, out of its reach as Tyber followed his instruction, sprinting around to try and grab its attention.

Fleas.

As Kemal set Julis down, he looked over his shoulder at a scream and another crunch. A tendril snaked out of its body to strike Tyber, throwing him further away. Another crunch.

"Kem!"

Steam churned out of the circuitry of his runic expanders, colored sapphire. You couldn't just wait—! Arms raised, he took the brunt of the impact of its heavy swing. Don't come here, Nev! Whatever you do! You need to— Kemal dug in his heels when the visage crawled around him with a hiss. Scales pressed against his skin when some of the Derelict venom poured downwards. It seared off helplessly as the pressure pushed him back, but he sent his own force through the club which slammed against his shield. Staggered, the Derelict roared with a horrible rattle. It cracked the barrier, and he took his chance to duck away from the next strike, around its body to try and find Tyber. Blood pooled along the grass where Tyber had fallen, his crescent blade lodged into the tree.

Tendrils snaked out of the mass in front of him when it stood out of the empty pond to reveal sinew and viscera. Shit! Kemal sent more magick through his Runic Expander when it turned to face him. In front of one of the crystals, he brought up the shield when one of the smaller, much faster tendrils swung forward. Bones rumbling with the pressure, Kemal misdirected it, where the sharp edges lodged into the crystal. It let out a screech, his ears ringing.

Just need to lock it down and get the others away! Onto the next crystal, he jumped over a row of teeth which grew out of the wilted grass. Another lunge. Another broken crystal. He sent his glyph down into the depths. It collected, and he pulled back the power. The explosion rumbled through the beast, but he had no time as he reached Loto to check their vitals.

Alive, if only just.

Shadows grew around him, and he leaped out of the way, but froze when it appeared to drag Loto into its embrace before drawing back into the pond.

The starry sinew tightened against his heart. Brighter. Closer.

Nev, don't!

He kept his front to the beast, with Tyber also disappearing into the dark maws. With only Julis left to defend, he spread out glyphs. Vines wrapped upwards to strike into the Derelict, pulling it apart. Limb by limb, even as they regrew, Kemal tried to return the pressure it brought. Over and over. As it burned his skin, the scales folded over each other when it heaved up a glob straight into his face. It oozed down his body, and he gathered the glyphs. Upwards. It tore through its jaw.

A spark of crimson.

Crescent blade at the ready, the hole revealed what laid on the other side of death.

A bolt slammed through the darkness, catching the Derelict core.

It broke through his armor and shattered the pieces of metal into his skin. In an instant, the scales died — the starry connection faltered. A punch to the gut, but when he glanced downwards, the crimson bolt became barbed and alive. Teeth chewed at his skin, but he kept himself strong as the Derelict yawned — and a person stepped out of it.

"You Storm Wardens sure know how to find yourselves in trouble," the figure said, their face hidden in the same shadows of the Derelicts.

Kemal opened his mouth to reply, but a sharp pang of pressure slammed into both his knees. It cracked against his joints, and he gasped when he found himself on the ground. Tearing pressure against his skin with the teeth dug into them. Bile and blood filled his nose and throat, but he scowled at the enemy while Julis stirred behind him. "It's been you," Kemal growled through the bubbles rising in his lungs. "What have you done to my men?"

"You should ask yourself that, Warden," they said softly. "You've seen the warnings, have you not? The little gifts we left you and yours? You are slaves to your oath with only a minute understanding of the forces at play." Their crystal sword bled red when they raised it to him. The pressure it exuded sliced through the air, brushing against his ear and sending hot flames into his head. "You've made your choices, Storm Wardens — are you ready to see them to the end? You want answers, Warden? What are you willing to lose for them? I give you back your men—" They pointed the sword at the Derelict, which stood far too obediently for a creature of depraved hunger. It drooled rivers of tar back into the pond when it opened its broken jaw, but a visage grew out of it.

In the pool, Neven, running through the woods. Familiar pathways. His heart dropped when the cultist lowered their blade to his chin. "You're trying to open another rift," he answered. "I just can't fathom why. If you do that, it wouldn't just be us doomed. It would be you too." He tried to lift himself to his knees, but the pain popped in his lungs, and he coughed up black tar himself. What...? It slammed against his heart as it started to split the veins underneath his skin.

"You have only a little bit of time, Warden," they said, pushing their sword in the ground. "Before it overtakes you. You want your men back, but magick decrees an equilibrium of equal importance." Their blade pointed at the vision of Neven running through the forest, the sounds of the sea far too loud.

They knew... Kemal stared down at Neven while he ran into darkness.

"Shall I send a little taste if you cannot decide? If you cannot ask?" The shadowed figure turned to the Derelict, which snapped shut its jaws and raised itself again, lumbering for the edge of the trees. "What can one man do?" The blade set against his chin again, he tried to find his heartbeat, but it dwindled in his own ears. "Go on, ask. Ask yourself. Ask me. Ask it." It tilted its head at the slowly lumbering Derelict, causing the trees around it to die.

Kemal shut his eyes tight.

Neven.

Mountain air embraced him, made him feel warm and safe, but he sat upon a rotted bridge with the maws of the beast below. Slavering. Across the way, Neven. Deja vu. It made him start to chuckle. Now... this takes me back. Planks cracked underneath his knees when Neven reached a hand out, the starry sinew was all that was left. Out of the bolt which slammed into his chest, it started to douse the stars.

"Don't do this, Kemal!" Neven pleaded, so long ago.

I am... the sword in the darkness. Hands wrapped around not the bolt, but the starry sinew, he crushed it with his giant strength, stopping the flood of his consequences from reaching Neven, who widened his eyes. A shield... against obscurity. Another bubble of blood slipped past his lips. Depraved. Hungry. Shut up. It rumbled against his chest, a growl not his own. A thing not of his being. He tore at the stars which remained bright, to keep them safe. I shall face the abyss.

No matter the cost.

Stars smothered, the bolt driving deeper into his body.

"You and your men... or him?"

Kemal slipped his crescent blade into his hand as he looked down at death, then cut the strings of the bridge of life. His focus went to the pond behind the cultist. Shite... On his feet though the hunger deepened in his stomach, he tasted blood. Fury. Hatred. Steps taken. One foot in front of the other. "Captain..." Julis pleaded in time with Neven's end of the connection screaming out when he grabbed onto the cultist, wanting to satiate the endless hunger given to him.

"No victory without sacrifice," he muttered, trying to drive them closer to the pond. "You ask me to turn away — but you would never give me back my men regardless. It's far too late for that." It slipped down his chin. "So, if I must make a choice at all — I will give my all for this, for the answers you are so keen to give. And if I'm going down into the abyss—" He stopped them at the edge of the dark, where no light shone, and Neven disappeared from his soul, the scales wilted, a magick not his. It fell silent. Far too loud in his ears. Tendrils started to take over his veins, but he pushed on. Strong. Free. Sea to sea. Always home. Always home. Always. No matter the cost!

"— Here's my answer — I'm taking you bastards with me."

The bridge below fell apart. Each plank split in half.

Neven's hand grew out of his reach.

Into the depths below.

THE END