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𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟐𝟔
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐀𝐑'𝐒 𝐄𝐍𝐃

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No one spoke as Tolya and Jens led their allies toward the fort. Half of the fortress was swallowed by the Fold, creating an unsettling atmosphere. Inessa stayed close to Nikolai, Fedyor, and Ivan as they neared the sea of night. With each step, the urge to run grew stronger within the Smirnoff girl. But she pushed herself to keep going, knowing that going into the Fold was the only way to save Mal.

It wasn't long before they were only a few yards away from the edge of the Fold. They were so close that they could clearly see where light met dark. Their pace seemed to slow as each of them took in the wall of night in front of them, something that none of them had willingly walked toward. Inessa could feel all of their rapid heartbeats, which made her feel better about her own fear. But knowing that everyone around her was just as terrified as she was made everything they were about to do so much worse.

"The Fold should have fallen by now," Inessa muttered under her breath just loud enough for those around her to hear.

They barely made it a few steps when Jens slowed his pace to walk beside the Smirnoff girl. "Did you find the Firebird?"

The Heartrender couldn't help but hesitate before letting out a long sigh. "Sort of. It's Mal."

"I'm sorry. Did you say Mal is a bird?" Ezra questioned, only to earn silence in response from those surrounding them. It wasn't long after that when he let out a long sigh. "Ravka is so strange."

The small group climbed down a hill and approached the fort, expecting a fight. Instead, they were met with an unnerving silence. The great wooden doors were left open and unguarded, revealing the cloud of black that filled the halls. The quiet was more menacing than any battle cry, filling them with a sense of dread. They soon realized the real danger was not the enemy they had prepared for, but the mystery of what waited for them inside the fort.

"Still no sign of Kirigan," Nikolai announced as they walked toward the hall filled with the Fold. Thunder rumbled from within, but that didn't make any of them turn away. "We go in, we find Alina and Mal. 

Kaz approached the future King of Ravka the second the latter finished speaking. The two of them just stared at each other until the Brekker boy offered Nikolai his cane. The Lantsov boy studied it before looking back up at the Leader of the Crows. "Don't you need it?"

The Brekker boy simply shrugged in response before gesturing to the fresh wound on Nikolai's thigh. "I've got more experience with pain."

After sending Kaz a thankful nod, the Prince stepped into the Fold. Everyone was quick to follow, finally ready to face whatever was on the other side. Everyone except Inessa, who hadn't moved an inch from her place. Fedyor and Ivan waited for her, knowing what the darkness meant to her. It was always used as a punishment by General Kirigan. He would lock the young Heartrender in a cage of night whenever she did something he was displeased with. He left her for minutes, sometimes hours, each time leaving Inessa more and more fearful. They knew she needed a moment to calm her nerves. And as soon as she was ready, the three of them stepped into the Fold together.

They could barely make out the outlines of their allies as they walked down the dark corridor. What felt like an eternity passed before they reached the other side, only for them to be greeted by a horrifying scene. Soldiers were lying all around the courtyard, something that the Volcra were responsible for. But they didn't have time to dwell on their losses. They needed to find Alina and Mal sooner rather than later.

"Follow me," Tolya told them before heading toward another building. Everyone was quick to follow, wanting to get away from the Volcra's destruction.

It wasn't long before they found themselves walking down a different hallway, one that was dimly lit by the candles hung on the walls. However, they barely turned the corner when they were greeted by two Volcra at the end of the corridor. No one made a sound, hoping they wouldn't be spotted. Unfortunately for them, the creatures sensed them.

The Volcra screeched as they raced toward the small group. They quickly rushed into the nearest room and slammed the door behind them. Tolya and Jens placed all their weight against the wooden door as the Volcra crashed against it. Just as they were beginning to think that was where their story was going to end, Jesper stepped up and placed his hands against the door. Not even a second after that passed when the metal edges began to glow, welding the door shut and making it so that the Volcra couldn't get in...and they couldn't get out.

"That should hold the Volcra," Nadia announced while keeping her eyes on the door.

The Fahey boy let out a long sigh as he turned to face his allies. "We'll see."

However, their moment of victory was cut short by a faint hissing sound. Everyone instantly turned around to find a nichevo'ya forming on the other side of the room. Inessa felt everyone's heartbeats speed up as they took a step away from the shadow monster. It continued to grow until its head grazed the ceiling. But the creature paid no mind to what was above it, only what was in front of it.

"Kirigan's shadow monster," Kaz muttered just loud enough for them to hear.

"But without the blade, how do you kill a shadow?" Waylen asked with terror laced within every word.

"All we have is this," Adrik announced before he and Nadia tapped their fists together, creating a gust of wind. The siblings didn't hesitate to send it toward the nichevo'ya, making it disappear. To their dismay, a low growling met their ears as the shadow monster quickly reformed. 

"Shield your eyes!" the Hendriks boy shouted. Everyone quickly did as they were told before Waylen threw a phosphorus bomb at the nichevo'ya. The explosion shook the room and was followed by a faint screech. When they looked at where the shadow monster once stood, there was nothing but an empty room.

"Yes! My man!" Jesper exclaimed with a large grin on his face, only for it to quickly fall as he looked over at Waylen, "I mean, we haven't actually put a label on it, yeah? I mean, never mind. He did that!"

Just when they began to think they escaped the nichevo'ya, it once again reformed before them. Everyone readied themselves for a fight as the shadow monster inched closer and closer to them. As they prepared for the nichevo'ya to strike, Inessa picked up on a heartbeat that didn't belong to anyone in the room with her. It was faint, but there was no way she could miss it. While her allies rushed toward the shadow monster, the Smirnoff girl didn't move a muscle, her attention glued to the rhythm in her ears.

The pounding matched hers in every way. That was all it took for her to know it belonged to Mal, bringing her a sense of comfort. But that peace didn't last very long. The tracker's heartbeat soon slowed, differing from hers since the first time they met. However, there was nothing Inessa could do. While he was somewhere deep in the Fold, she was trapped in a room with a shadow monster. The Smirnoff girl felt helpless as she listened to his heartbeat fade until it was no longer there. A pain like no other flowed through Inessa's veins as her legs gave out beneath her. Nikolai was quick to catch her. He had been paying close attention to his cousin after noticing her behavior.

"What's wrong?" the Lantsov boy asked, his gaze glued to the Heartrender despite the battle happening in front of them.

Before Inessa had a chance to respond, a bright light seeped through the windows. To most, the light destroyed the Fold. But to the Smirnoff girl, it took so much more. A single tear rolled down her cheek as she looked over at her cousin. "She did it."

It only took Nikolai a second to figure out what Inessa truly meant. But neither of them had time to dwell on what had happened after hearing Fedyor's words. "Why is the beast still here?!"

"The sun can't kill it!" Ivan exclaimed after watching the shadow monster grow.

Not even a second after that passed when the nichevo'ya's arm plunged into the Prince's shoulder. Inessa felt helpless as she watched the shadow monster lift her cousin into the air and pin him against a pillar. The Heartrender could sense his rapid heartbeat as everyone tried to free him from the creature's grasp, only to fail time and time again. But what they didn't expect was for the nichevo'ya to evaporate into thin air a moment later. That was all it took for Inessa to realize that Alina didn't just take down the Fold, she took down the Black Heretic.

The Smirnoff girl quickly rushed to her cousin's side, who was gasping against the pillar he was pinned to. She didn't hesitate to place her hand on his shoulder, aiming to heal his wound. That was until she felt the strange sensation emanating from it. Her eyes moved to Nikolai, whose eyes were shut tight. A thousand thoughts raced through her mind, but she pushed them aside as she did her best to heal his wound. But deep down, she knew there was a small part of it that she couldn't mend. After helping Nikolai to his feet, Inessa felt a surge of power rush throughout her entire body. A small gasp passed over her lips before the distant heartbeat returned. Hope flowed through every inch of Inessa's body, but she didn't let it get too far. She wasn't about to let her heart break again without visual proof that Mal was alive.

After Jesper unwelded the door, the small group stepped out into the hallway. They were relieved that there was no sign of any Volcra, signalling that the Fold was truly gone. But that feeling was short-lived after watching a pair of soldiers carry their fallen comrade on a stretcher. No one said a word as they followed the men through the corridor until they made it outside.

"Long may the night carry our souls until the dawn renews us," Tolya recited after he and Jens helped Nikolai sit down on a nearby crate.

"Rabinov," Kaz announced, drawing everyone's attention toward him, "Canto Seventeen."

A small smile soon appeared on the Yul-Bataar boy's face. "It seems we both share an appreciation for life's beauty."

Before their conversation had a chance to continue, Nikolai's sharp gasp caught their attention. Inessa didn't hesitate to sit down next to her cousin and place her hand against his shoulder. She was instantly greeted by the strange feeling, but chose to ignore it as she met the Lantsov boy's gaze. "Are you okay?"

"A moment of sun before we deal with our losses," Nikolai declared after sending his cousin a small nod. They let a silent moment pass before the Prince let out a long sigh. "Dominik."

"He did exactly what any of us would have done for each other. For you," Tamar told him, despite knowing her words wouldn't erase his guilt.

The Lantsov boy opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. Instead, his eyes were glued to something in the distance. Everyone instantly followed his gaze to find Alina walking toward them, followed by Inej and Nina, who Inessa never thought she'd see again after her disappearance. But what caught the Smirnoff girl's attention the most was the fourth member among them. It was Mal. He was about a yard behind them with a stoic look on his face, but Inessa was just happy to see him alive.

After giving Nikolai's hand a gentle squeeze, Inessa jumped to her feet and rushed toward the tracker. The sight of the Heartrender brought a smile to Mal's face as he picked up his speed. They met in the middle of the clearing and engulfed each other in a much-needed embrace. What felt like an eternity passed before they ended their reunion to look each other in the eyes.

"I told you we'd see each other again," Mal said just loud enough for only Inessa to hear.

The Smirnoff girl couldn't help but laugh before she leaned in to kiss him, a kiss the Oretsev boy was more than happy to return. When they finally pulled apart, Inessa looked up at Mal with a large grin on her face. But it quickly fell when she saw the conflict in his eyes. Before the Heartrender had a chance to question his look, the tracker grabbed her hand and led her into the fort. He wanted to be away from prying eyes when he told her what was going on inside his head. They didn't stop walking until they reached a secluded terrace overlooking the sea.

The sound of the waves against the rocks would usually soothe Inessa, but she paid no attention to it. Instead, her eyes were glued to the boy standing beside her, who was looking everywhere but at her. She let another silent moment pass between them before her curiosity finally got the better of her. "What's wrong, Mal? Did something happen in the Fold? Alina used merzost, didn't she?"

The Oretsev boy hesitated for a moment before turning to face the girl beside him. "I died in there, Inessa. Alina put a dagger through my chest to take down the Fold. I was gone, but she brought me back by showing me my memories of you."

A confused look instantly appeared on the Smirnoff girl's face. "I don't understand. How were memories of me able to bring you back?"

A small smile formed on Mal's lips in response. "Have you heard of true north?"

"I think Nikolai mentioned it once when we were young," Inessa said without taking her eyes away from Mal's gaze, "is that the same as cardinal north?"

The tracker couldn't help but laugh before taking the Heartrender's hands into his own. "Cardinal north is a direction on a map. True north is home. It is where you feel safe and loved. You have always been my true north, Inessa. And it was you who brought me home again."

The smile on Inessa's face returned as she placed one of her hands over Mal's heart. "Our hearts have always beat as one. That's how I've always found you. You are my true north, Mal."

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Later that day, Inessa found herself standing beside Mal in what used to be the center of the Fold. On the other side of her were Fedyor and Ivan, who had their hands interlocked as they stared at the scene in front of them. Nikolai stood on the platform beside them with Tamar, Tolya, Jens, Nadia, and Adrik right behind him. Across from them were the rest of their allies, all wearing the same stoic looks on their faces. In the middle of it sat a pyre for the Darkling. Inessa would be the first to admit she was relieved the war was finally over. And yet, she couldn't help but feel a bit of sadness for her former General, but that was something she knew would be short-lived.

Genya and Zoya were the first to step forward and grab torches. They walked side by side until reaching the pyre. Neither of them hesitated to throw their torches onto the pile of sticks before rejoining the group. Inessa stared at the flames for a moment before her gaze moved to Alina, only to find the Sun Summoner already staring back at her. Not even a second after that passed when the Starkov girl nodded, signalling that it was Inessa's turn to approach the pyre.

Mal gave her hand a reassuring squeeze before she walked toward the torches. The Heartrender couldn't help but let out a shaky sigh as she picked one up and turned toward the pyre. Her eyes scanned over the scarred yet peaceful face of the Darkling, which brought back all the memories of everything he had ever put her through. That was all it took for her sadness to vanish, leaving an empty void in its place. Inessa didn't waste another second as she lit the sticks nearest to her. She then returned the torch to where she found it and walked back over to Mal's side. The emptiness was replaced with a calming feeling the second his hand was in hers, causing a relieved sigh to pass over her lips. All the pain she had ever felt was gone, giving her hope that she would have a peaceful future.

It wasn't long after that when Nikolai approached the pyre, drawing everyone's attention toward him. He stared at the flames before opening his mouth to speak. "Today is a new beginning. For all of Ravka. For our whole world. It's a bit daunting, isn't it? Knowing where to go from here. We've had a singular focus for so long. So much blood has been shed. After hundreds of years separated by the Fold, we can celebrate a unified Ravka. Our neighbors to the North will see us unified and will aim to strike. But often it's not the battle that takes the most from us. It's the aftermath. The chance to put the pieces of our lives back together."

The Lantsov boy paused as he looked over at Mal. The two of them stared at each other for a moment before he continued. "When a Firebird rises from the ashes, it is not the same. But in that rebirth, there is potential. Potential for a new purpose. Thanks to what Alina has done for us, we all have a chance to better the world now that the Fold is gone. And above all, you must trust. Trust in each other. In yourselves. Trust in the fact that this is the start of better days to come. And it won't be easy, of course. Nothing is. I had hoped to end that on a more uplifting note, but here we are."

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